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Kurdistan Region's Prime Minister Masrour Barzani giving his main address at the World Government Summit on February 11, 2025. Photo: World Government Summit/YouTube
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ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Prime minister of the Kurdistan Region on Tuesday reasserted the Kurdish people’s “legitimate claims” towards self-determination, stressing that the Region has only acted as a catalyst to peace and stability, posing no threat to any side.
Speaking before global leaders at the World Governments Summit in Dubai, Masrour Barzani, highlighted the plight of the Kurdish people noting, "We have legitimate claims towards self-determination” and “this right has been acknowledged by [the Kurdistan Regions’] friends and allies, [but] they tell us that political imperatives impede their help in delivering [such] historical justice.” Barzani asserted that, “respecting the rights of nations, or in our case a people, should not scare anyone,” since doing so only “strengthens stability and fosters prosperity.”
In his address, Barzani also discussed the importance of regional security, advocating for a new plan to safeguard national and global security. He highlighted the joint efforts in defeating the Islamic State (ISIS) as a “shining example” of successful security efforts.
Barzani further stressed that the Kurdistan Region “has never been a threat to any side,” adding that it rather acts as a catalyst to regional peace and stability. The Region wants “mutual respect and interests” with its regional and international partners, Barzani concluded.
Touching on the developments in Palestine, Barzani described them as “deeply troubling” with a huge “humanitarian toll on civilians” and “a capacity to fuel chaos well beyond Gaza,” so long as “the root causes of injustice remain unaddressed.”
The ‘four pillars’ of progress
The Kurdistan Region’s prime minister underscored combating climate change, economic prosperity, political stability and security as the “four pillars” that nations ought to focus on to achieve their envisioned progress. He further expressed his aspirations to position the Kurdistan Region as a regional hub of economic prosperity, stability, and innovation, with a goal of making it a peaceful, prosperous, and developed region in the next decade.
Barzani highlighted the Kurdistan Region’s efforts to overcome regional instability while enhancing security and economic modernization. He outlined the Region’s future vision pillared on diversifying the economy, stressing "We must deliver the best services to the [Kurdistan Region’s] people, and we will keep fighting to achieve our goals for their benefit.”
On relations with federal Iraq, the Kurdistan Region’s premier confirmed that his government is actively working to resolve outstanding issues with Baghdad stating, “We are exerting efforts to resolve political disputes with the federal government.”
The meetings
Importantly, Barzani posted on X about a series of meetings he held with global leaders on the sidelines of the summit.
On Tuesday, he met with Jasem Mohamed al-Budaiwi, the secretary-general of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) - a political and economic alliance made up of six countries from the Arabian Peninsula: Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Barzani and Budaiwi discussed the importance of "respecting Kurdish rights" and "maintaining regional stability,” as well as ways to bolster ties between the KRG and GCC nations to "advance economic cooperation and shared interests." The two officials touched on the evolving events in Syria, stressing the need to preserve “the rights of the Kurdish people and all Syrian constituents."
The Kurdistan Region’s premier also sat down with the Crown Prince of Dubai, the UAE’s Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. The two leaders underscored the commitment of Abu Dhabi and Erbil to strengthening bilateral ties and advancing cooperation across various sectors. The prime minister thanked the UAE for its continuous support for the Region.
Barzani also met with Kuwait's Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad al-Abdullah al-Sabah who extended an invitation to the Kurdistan Region’s Prime Minister to visit Kuwait. Discussions between the two leaders focused on boosting cooperation across various sectors as well as fostering closer economic and political collaboration.
On Monday, the prime minister of the KRG, Barzani led a high-profile delegation to Dubai to attend the World Government’s Summit held this year under the title “Shaping Future Governments.” The premier has been actively participating in international conferences and forums to elevate the Kurdistan Region’s global profile.
Commenting on the key participation, the KRG stated that it underscores Barzani's “continued commitment to international engagement, reinforcing the Kurdistan Region's position as a key and reliable partner on the global stage.”
The World Government Summit, a major global event, brings together leaders, policymakers, and experts to explore the future of governance and foster international cooperation.
The UAE’s Prime Minister and Vice President, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum on Tuesday stated that the Summit will see a “record-high international participation” this year, as more than 30 heads of state and 140 government delegations, including 400 ministers, will be in attendance.
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