In a speech at the Kurdistan National Assembly-Arbil yesterday, the President of the Kurdistan Democratic Party, Massoud Barzani, touched on three vital issues concerning  all people of Southern Kurdistan. At the outset, Mr. Barzani condemned strongly the evil  attacks against the United States and her innocent people, expressing his profound  sympathy to the American government and to the families and relatives of the victims.

Here is a text of Mr. Barzani's speech 
translated by the editorial board of the Kurdistan Observer. 

On the occasion of inaugurating the second round of the Kurdistan National Assembly in ten
years, I congratulate you and the people of Kurdistan hoping for continued hard work and
for success in serving the people and the country. 

In this century, where the world witnesses changed situations and new developments, the
11th of September marked a historic day for the people of Kurdistan in which the 
Baghdad regime, on this day of 1961, waged a wide range of attacks against the people of 
Kurdistan, using their airforce and heavy artillery bombarding the towns and people of
Kurdistan. This led the Kurds to launch their famous uprising, the September revolution. I
congratulate you and the people of Kurdistan for this day. 

Also, the 11th of September of 2001 has become a historic day in the life of nations since
they were shocked with latest terrorist attacks, that were beyond imagination, against the
United States of America. That act was an act of terrorism as a great number of innocent
people perished. Here, we send our condolences to the U.S. government, the people of the
Unites States, and the families and relatives of the victims. 

It is important to say that our party has always been against terrorist activities. Our nation
and in particular our party [KDP] were the victims of terror all along their struggle. 

We are all aware that the U.S. entered the Second World War following the attack on Pearl 
Harbor, thousands of kilometers away from its mainland. Also, it confronted other wars
when its interest were in danger abroad. But, at this time it has confronted attacks within its
mainland and capital which could result, in our view, to a very strong reation from the
American side. 

It is important to us to examine in detail its evolution [of the attacks] and its consequences. I
believe that a unique situation emerged following the Gulf War. I also believe that a unique
situation will emerge following the latest action against the U.S. 

Fortunately, today we are proud , as the Party, the Kurdish Movement and as nation, to state
that we have never used the terror in our struggle in the past. On the contrary, although we
have been in many cases victims of terrorism, we were always against it, and our reaction to
those terrorist attacks against us were never to sacrifice with human and Kurdish values. 

When wars take place among countries, parties, and nations, there are rules and principles to
follow in the conduct of these wars. Those who do not observe these rules have no religious 
or human values. 

Murdering women and children anywhere, whether it is in the U.S. or anywhere else, is a
crime. We condemn it in the strongest form possible. As I have said, we are proud of our 
leadership and our people's moral values and no one can point a finger of suspicion to us and
say that we have ever committed any act of terrorism. Our pride, originating from our values
and conscience, are guiding our position today and it is significant to say that this is due to
the Immortal Barzani's principal that taught us all. Through his ideological struggle, he
nurtured us as to how conduct ourselves in a civilized manner. 

As you remember, we were asked by the media whether we are concerned if a terrorist group
similar to the ones in Algeria or Afghanistan have appeared in Kurdistan? I have always told
them [the media] that it is a fact that there are some Islamic political parties in our country
but we do not wish nor do we imagine that Kurdistan will become the second Algeria or
Afghanistan or any other places where life is an imaginable. 

As we have witnessed in Arbil last year, a desperate group executed operations involving
explosives, insulted women, and declared themselves as heirs of God and his Prophet, and
legalized the killing of others. In essence, one can't comprehend what religion they belong to. 
But what was known about them was that they were killers and murderers. Therefore the
Party [KDP] has taken legal measures against them. As you know the Party suffered
sacrifices; they [terrorists] murdered our Immortal Faranso Hariri [Governor of Arbil] who
left, in particular here at the National Assembly, a terrible mark in our souls. Also, we have
received reports of certain individuals preparing to recruit terrorists in Biara and Tawela, in
Sulaimani area, in order to turn Kurdistan into a new field for terrorism and terrorists..”

From this chamber, we announce that our party insists in principle on its unchangeable
determination against this phenomenon. We will cooperate with all other parties, in
particular the Patriotic Union Of Kurdistan (PUK), as we do not want Kurdistan to be a base
for terrorism and terrorists. It is correct that freedom is the right of all individuals, by the
same token all individuals must comply by the laws and regulations. Having freedom does
not mean imposing beliefs on others by force; that is dictatorship, oppressing and threatening
the right of others. We want for our Kurdistan nation to live in peace and freedom. Yet, we
enjoy our values and culture that we are proud of and there are boundaries that we can not
cross. These activities that are carried out by this group (Islamic terrorist group) and their
ideologies that they want to apply in Kurdistan, will in fact bring us back to stone and dark
ages which are contrary to Islam or any other religion.

This situation demands on the one hand the Party [KDP] and all Kurdistan's political parties
and all citizens of Kurdistan to protect our achievements, and on the other hand the situation
demands that we stay together and united against terrorism. I assure you again that the
Kurdish Regional Government and the Party (KDP) would be at the forefront fighting the
terrorist groups without fear.

I call upon the Kurdistan Regional Government organizations in particular and all Kurdish
political parties to support our police force and Asayish [Kurdistan Security Force] in their
mission to secure tranquility in Kurdistan. From my side, I will do whatever it takes to 
support these two organizations, so that no one can attack someone else, and all citizens of 
Kurdistan can live freely in their homeland. 

Another issue that I consider important is the Firearm Laws that have been passed by this
Assembly in the past. I ask you again to implement those laws. I do not see any logic to keep
the firearms in the hand of citizens or organizations. To bring a solution to this matter, I
would suggest that citizens register their firearms or sell them to the government. The law
should be clear, any person posseses firearms illegally should be arrested and prosecuted. 

This law must apply to all political parties as well. It will be the duty of the police and
security forces to protect and secure their headquarters. Here, I wouldn't like to mention
names, but we will give them a period of time to comply by these laws, subsequently power
should be given to the proper authorities to raid any headquarters believed to be contain
weapons. Also to arrest and bring to the justice any person holding firearms, no matter what
party the person belongs to. I call upon all parties to help us to practice this law for we
envision a Kurdistan without weapons or terrorism. 

Another issue I would like to discuss is the issue of Peace. Here, I would like to renew our
commitments to the Washington Peace Accord. We have achieved many vital steps toward
the full peace. A positive atmosphere and the building of trust have never been better
between us and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan. I am confident that we [KDP and PUK]
will eliminate the remaining hurdles in a very short time to come. Our thanks to all other
Kurdish political parties for their cooperation with us. We assert the peace is the only 
solution to our problems and fighting will never be the answer. Therefore, I would like to
reassure the people of Kurdistan that we are determined to the fulfillment of the Washington
Peace Accord with the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan and both sides are determined to 
bring about the full peace to Kurdistan. 

Success and peace to all! 
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