President Nechirvan Barzani: Our destiny is tied to a strong partnership with Baghdad

The address combined military directives with high-stakes political messaging, extending an optimistic hand of cooperation toward the federal cabinet of Prime Minister Ali Falih al-Zaidi to build a genuine national partnership.

President Barzani delivered his remarks during the graduation ceremony of the 5th officer training course at the 3rd Military College in Qachaghulan, Sulaymaniah, where 210 highly qualified university graduates entered the official ranks of the Ministry of Peshmerga affairs. Notably, Barzani pointed out that the new officers standing under both the Iraqi national flag and the Kurdistan Regional flag perfectly reflects the region’s lawful status within the federal state.

• Depoliticizing the Armed Forces: Barzani issued a strict directive to the new officer corps to distance themselves entirely from partisan politics and internal rivalries. He stressed that a unified, professional Peshmerga force is the ultimate guarantee for protecting the constitutional status of the Kurdistan Region.
• Federal Funding and Armament Responsibilities: The KRG President firmly reminded the federal government in Baghdad of its explicit legal duties toward the Peshmerga. Under the Iraqi Constitution, the Peshmerga is recognized as a vital component of the national defense apparatus, meaning Baghdad must systematically guarantee its share of weaponry, munitions, and financial funding.
• Honoring Historical Foundations: The President paid tribute to the late Iraqi President Jalal Talabani, who originally ordered the establishment of the Qachaghulan Military College in 1992 to serve the defense needs of Kurdistan and the entirety of Iraq.

Turning to regional security, Barzani reiterated that internal Kurdish unity remains the bedrock of regional resilience. He described the ethno-religious diversity within the Kurdistan Region as a primary source of political and social strength rather than a point of fracture.

He also expressed deep gratitude to the US-led International Coalition for its unwavering tactical support during the war against ISIS, while praising international allies for their ongoing mediation in fast-tracking structural institutional reforms within the Ministry of Peshmerga.

“A shared destiny links Erbil and Baghdad. Our national successes are unified, and our regional challenges are entirely mutual. The Kurdistan Region looks forward with great optimism to working hand-in-hand with the government of Prime Minister Ali Falih al-Zaidi to ensure economic reconstruction and equal development for all Iraqi citizens on the basis of constitutional respect.”

On the geopolitical front, Barzani warmly welcomed recent diplomatic efforts to de-escalate long-standing military and political frictions between the United States and Iran through active dialogue.

He reasserted that the Kurdistan Region will continuously operate as a bridge of trust and a stabilizing anchor in the Middle East. Barzani made it clear that neither the KRG nor federal Iraq should ever be drawn into proxy conflicts or regional axes, prioritizing regional welfare, peace, and sustainable commercial partnerships over geopolitical confrontation.

[Source: Iraqi News]