Barzani: Not allowing extremism to grow in Kurdistan

[Anthea]

Barzani: We will not allow extremism to grow in Kurdistan

ERBIL ــ Massoud Barzani, President of Iraqi Kurdistan Region, said Thursday that the people of Kurdistan will not allow the ideology of extremism and terrorism to emerge and grow in the region.

Brazani’s remarks came during a meeting with the Secretary of State of the Swiss Foreign Ministry Yves Rossier in Erbil.

The two sides discussed the political and security situation in Iraq and Syria as well as the fight against the radical group of Islamic State (ISIS). Rossier praised the victories of the Kurdish Peshmerga forces against ISIS and their preparations to join the battle for Mosul–ISIS’s main bastion in northern Iraq.

Barzani stressed: “Our people enjoy the culture of tolerance, peace and coexistence that will definitely not allow the ideology of extremism and terrorism to emerge in Kurdistan.”

Rossier spoke about the importance of the Kurdistan region for her country and other friendly countries, praising the role of the Peshmerga forces and the Kurdish people in the war against terrorism.

The Secretary of State at the Swiss Foreign Ministry also praised Kurdistan’s efforts in protecting the region’s social components and hosting thousands of displaced people.

Speaking to ARA News, Kurdish writer Adel Remo said: “I support the viewpoint of Mr. Barzani; the Kurds are open-minded people and there is no room for extremism and terrorism among them.”

“Barzani’s remarks reflect his awareness of the current challenges that the Kurds face in the region, as they fight terrorism in Syria and Iraq, while a number of young men from Iraqi Kurdistan had joined ISIS ranks.”

The Peshmerga forces have been engaged in a fierce war against ISIS and have liberated major territories from the radical group in northern Iraq over the past two years. In Syria, Kurdish forces of the People’s Protection Units (YPG) have recaptured key areas after battles against ISIS in Kobane and Hasakah, and their campaign continued to reach the northern countryside of Raqqa–the de facto capital of the ISIS self-declared Caliphate.

http://aranews.net/2016/04/barzani-will ... kurdistan/