پەرلەمانی کوردستان
October 1, 2026
This evening in Baghdad, President Nechirvan Barzani attended a ceremony marking the end of the Global Coalition's military mission in Iraq. The ceremony was held in the presence of Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Falih Al-Zaidi, along with numerous senior officials and international representatives.
President Nechirvan Barzani delivered a speech at the ceremony. The full text of his remarks follows:
Your Excellency Mr. Ali Falih al-Zaidi,
Prime Minister and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces,
Mr. Speaker of the Council of Representatives,
Distinguished attendees and esteemed guests,
Good evening.
It is a great pleasure to be with you in Baghdad today, on this important national occasion, as Iraq enters a new transitional phase marked by the conclusion of the Global Coalition’s military mission in Iraq.
Over the course of several decades, Iraq has endured difficult and painful circumstances. When the terrorist organization ISIS attacked our country, the Iraqi people stood united in confronting terrorism and defending the nation.
The Iraqi Army, the Peshmerga, the Popular Mobilization Forces, along with all the armed and security forces, played a vital role in defending our homeland, making shared sacrifices and shedding their blood in its service. We remember all these sacrifices with the highest respect, and we extend our greetings to all the martyrs.
During that difficult period, and at the request of the Iraqi Government, the United States, the Global Coalition, and our friends stood alongside Iraq and provided assistance and support. We, all Iraqis, remember their support with appreciation.
Today, as the Coalition forces depart Iraqi territory pursuant to the agreement concluded with the Federal Government, we will never forget their support and assistance. We will continue to appreciate it. At the same time, genuine gratitude must be expressed through Iraq’s assumption of full national responsibility for its own affairs.
The success of international support should not be measured by the eternal presence of foreign forces. Rather, it should be measured by whether we, as Iraqis, have developed the capacity to assume full responsibility for protecting the security, sovereignty, and stability of our country.
With the conclusion of the Global Coalition’s military mission in Iraq, we are entering a new phase, a phase defined by confidence in our national institutions and reliance on our own capabilities. We look forward to advancing our relations with the United States and Coalition member countries beyond the immediate requirements of the campaign against terrorism, toward a balanced and enduring partnership in security, economy, investment, energy, education, technology, and diplomacy. Such a partnership should be founded on mutual interests, mutual respect, and full regard for the sovereignty of states. It should serve Iraq and all its components, while contributing to the consolidation of security and stability throughout the region.
Distinguished attendees,
When we speak of sovereignty, it is important that we define its meaning clearly:
Sovereignty is not only the withdrawal of foreign military forces; it is an integrated national responsibility.
Sovereignty means that the state possesses the final decision. It means upholding the Constitution and the federal system and ensuring that constitutional institutions remain the recognized and binding reference for all.
It means that decisions on war and peace rest exclusively with the state's legitimate constitutional authorities.
Iraq’s strength does not derive from weapons held outside state authority, nor from escalation or instability. Iraq’s strength lies in addressing issues through dialogue and understanding. It lies in upholding the authority of the state and the Constitution, while safeguarding balance and the rights of all components.
The time has come to address and resolve all outstanding issues in Iraq, starting with Erbil-Baghdad relations, arms control, and the rights of all components. These matters must be addressed based on the Constitution and in accordance with an Iraqi national will, and should not be left unresolved or passed on as crises to future generations.
We aspire to a constitutional, federal, stable, and fully sovereign Iraq, an Iraq that protects the lives and security of all its components without discrimination. We envision an Iraq that cultivates balanced partnerships with neighboring countries and international allies based on mutual interests, serving not as an arena for regional tensions but rather as a platform for constructive dialogue, peaceful coexistence, and enduring stability throughout the region.
That vision of Iraq is a shared responsibility for all of us. We in the Kurdistan Region will always be cooperative and supportive of every step that strengthens Iraq’s sovereignty, security, and stability. Together with the Federal Government and all the components and forces of Iraq, we will proceed through dialogue and in accordance with the Constitution. We underscore the importance of strengthening cooperation among the Peshmerga, the Iraqi Army, and all armed and security forces.
Let us regard this significant moment as the foundation for greater mutual trust and as the beginning of a new phase in which Iraq is safeguarded and able to stand with dignity through the unity, rule of law, and constitutional partnership of all its components.
Thank you, and I wish you a great evening.
