Dear guests, respected panelists, and beloved attendees!
As we approach the final moments of the 2025 Hawler (Erbil) Forum, I would like to express endless gratitude on behalf of the esteemed General Director of the Rudaw Media Network, myself, and all my colleagues to all the beloved attendees, both those who in the past few days opened the door to deep and valuable discussions on various issues through their participation and those who in any other way were our helpers and supporters in making this forum successful.
It is a pleasure for us that here at this Rudaw Research Center forum, which in the past few days has been the focus of attention for many local and regional media outlets, we listened to His Excellency Dr. Abdul Latif Rashid, President of Iraq, who spoke about the need for "quick domestic measures" against external pressures and also indicated that Iraq has the potential to become a connecting bridge for regional stability. The Prime Minister of Iraq, in his speech, presented economic cooperation as a way to overcome political disagreements. Dr. Mahmoud Mashhadani, Speaker of the Iraqi Council of Representatives, also had a frank discussion about the current geopolitical situation and drew attention to the divisions within state institutions since 2003, which he believes need to be fixed as soon as possible. Similarly, His Excellency Nechirvan Barzani, President of the Kurdistan Region, highlighted how Erbil plays an effective and facilitating role in Kurdish issues in Syria and the new phase of dialogue between Ocalan and the Turkish state. He also presented a comprehensive vision for internal dialogue within the Kurdistan Region and the paths to political reconciliation between Erbil and Baghdad.
The Erbil Forum coincided with the call from Mr. Abdullah Ocalan for the PKK to lay down arms and end a forty-year war that has resulted in more than forty thousand casualties. Mr. Bulent Arinc, former Speaker of the Turkish Parliament, also mentioned here that it is still unclear how the state wants to resolve the Kurdish issue. He also said that he is curious to know Iran's opinion, as an indication of the multidimensional nature of the PKK's disarmament, suggesting that the call might only be the beginning, as it requires a strategic vision and long-term preparation. The President of the Kurdistan Region, on a broader level, emphasized that the solution to the events after October 7, 2023, despite Israel's tactical success, needs a long-term solution that passes through the door of dialogue; otherwise, the problems will recur because the Palestinian people have a cause that, like the Kurdish cause, will never disappear.
We heard that experts have emphasized that the issues of climate change and water security in the region and Iraq can no longer be delayed and a solution must be found. This is especially important for a country like Iraq that needs 90 billion cubic meters of water annually. From this perspective, the need for quick steps, regional cooperation, and proper management were discussed as solutions. These discussions and others about the situation in the region, Syria, Iraq, and the Kurdistan Region at this year's Erbil Forum once again demonstrated that Erbil is a strong candidate to become a center for strategic dialogue in Western Asia and later in the Middle East as a whole. This was the dream that we worked tirelessly for from the beginning. In recent days, dozens of political figures, diplomats, and analysts from the West to the East, from many different countries around the world, despite their agreements and disagreements, came together here in Erbil, this historic city with a deep human history, to engage in dialogue.
The Erbil Forum 2025 reaffirmed another simple but profound truth: that solutions to the obstacles and challenges in this region cannot be achieved through isolation and avoidance, but rather become possible through dialogue and cooperation. Whether dealing with economic reforms, security and political issues, or climate change and other matters. Of course, dialogue alone is not enough, but it needs to be transformed into political action, strategic initiatives, and long-term partnerships.
Finally, while wishing safe travels to our guests from abroad, I thank you dear participants for your attendance.
