Barzani calls for rights of Kurds

DİYARBAKIR - Doğan News Agency

Masoud Barzani, the head of the Regional Kurdish Administration in north Iraq, said it was now high time for the Kurds to attain their rights, while speaking yesterday at a conference attended by Kurdish politicians from Turkey.

“All the facts have revealed that the Kurdish problem ought to be solved through peaceful means. It would represent a major gain if we assume responsibility for peace. There will be long term relationships with neighboring countries if we select the path of dialogue. All parts of Kurdistan bear unique attributes, and they all reserve the right of self-determination,” Iraqi Kurdish leader Barzani said.

The conference, which marks the anniversary of the establishment of the Mahabad Kurdish Republic, was also attended by Selahattin Demirtaş, the co-leader of the Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) and Ahmet Türk, the head of the Democratic Society Congress (DTK).

Meanwhile, members of Lebanon’s Kurdish community demonstrated in support of imprisoned PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan Sunday in Beirut, Lebanon’s Daily Star reported. The protesters, around 150 people, also denounced the mistreatment of Kurds in a number of European countries.