Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) President Nechirvan Barzani made notable remarks regarding the Kurdish issue in Turkey at the MERI Forum 2026 held in Erbil. Stating that they are closely following the process underway in Turkey, Barzani said, "Whoever solves the Kurdish issue in Turkey deserves the Nobel Peace Prize; this applies primarily to Erdoğan."
Barzani said that he has seen a serious approach to the process in President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's stance over the last two years. Expressing that there is a similar seriousness on the side of Abdullah Öcalan, Barzani argued that the process is moving "slowly but in a correct and accurate direction."
"A CLEAR INDICATION OF THE SERIOUSNESS WE ATTACH TO THE ISSUE"
Recounting a past meeting with Erdoğan in his speech, Barzani made the following remarks regarding the period when MHP leader Devlet Bahçeli was ill: "When Bahçeli was in the hospital, I said to President Erdoğan: 'The world has changed a lot; now Kurds are praying for Bahçeli to recover.' This is a clear indication of the change and the seriousness we attach to the issue."
Stating that they, as Erbil and Sulaymaniyah, support the process, Barzani said that the necessary contacts are being maintained with Ankara and Qandil. Barzani expressed that what needs to be done from now on is to ensure that no opportunity is given to factions that do not want the process to succeed.
MESSAGES ON SYRIA AND MEDIATION
Barzani also touched upon developments in Syria and Rojava. Stating that the KRG model cannot be applied exactly to Syria, Barzani noted that the determining factor is the guarantee of the rights of Kurds and all ethnic and religious components in the country within a new constitution.
Finding the stance of Rojava officials, who are in contact with the Damascus administration, to be "pragmatic," Barzani congratulated Mazlum Abdi and Ilham Ahmed, stating that they are acting realistically under the conditions they are in.
Barzani also confirmed the claim that he has been conducting secret mediation between the US and Iran. Stating that Washington welcomed this effort, Barzani also thanked the Iranian side for their constructive response to the process.
Speaking about the withdrawal process of the International Coalition forces in Iraq, Barzani reminded that the coalition came to the country at the official invitation of Iraq, and expressed that it is a "normal and natural" process for Iraq to no longer need foreign forces under current conditions.
News Source: 12punto
