ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — President of the Kurdistan Region Nechirvan Barzani called on Monday for dialogue to “reach a lasting agreement” with Iraq in a statement marking the 30th anniversary of the United Nations Security Council Resolution 688 to establish a no-fly zone shielding the Kurdistan Region from Iraqi airstrikes.
“Undoubtedly, the Kurdistan Region could have become a better model for the promotion of democracy in the past 30 years. There have been setbacks and great challenges. But at the same time, many of the setbacks that prevented the Kurdistan Region’s further development were not of its own making,” President Barzani said in an official statement on Monday.
“It is therefore imperative now, more than ever, that dialogue and tolerance replace disputes and hostilities, and that with the support of the world communities, the Kurdistan Region and the Federal Government reach a lasting agreement for a more promising future for all parties,” he added.
The impetus for Resolution 688 was the humanitarian crisis in 1991, when Saddam Hussein brutally oppressed Kurds after a Kurdish uprising against the Iraqi regime.
Hundreds of thousands of Kurds fled into the mountains and were subsequently trapped, cold and starving.
Two streets were opened in Erbil on Monday, Safe Haven Street and Sir John Major Street to commemorate the event. “[The] Safe Haven of 1991 was not only for the people of Kurdistan, but Kurdistan itself became a safe haven for those who’ve been deprived of liberty. During the Daesh [Islamic State] war over 2 million came to Kurdistan [Region],” Safeen Dizayee, Head of Department of Foreign Relations said in a press conference.
“We are happy that we have gathered here at the command of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), Masrour Barzani, to name a street ‘Safe Haven,’ a name which 30 years ago was a humanitarian and military operation to protect a nation that wanted freedom, that revolted against oppression,” said Sasan Awni, Minister of Municipalities and Tourism.
The president also extended his gratitude to the international community and “all nations that took part in the issuing of the Resolution 688.”
He also thanked journalists and photographers for playing “a major role conveying the sufferings of the people of Kurdistan at the time of the exodus, which led to the humanitarian support of the people of Kurdistan by the world community,” as well as Iran and Turkey for hosting the Kurds as refugees.
“We urge the international community to support us to take further steps towards a better future, peace and stability for Iraq, the greater region and the world. We can together preserve and promote universal values and confront terror and extremism,” said Barzani.
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