KURDISH BUREAU for Liaison and Information

Quarterly Newsletter N 93 January 2013 www.kurdishbureau.be - Quai aux Pierres de Taille 11, 1000 Bruxelles Tel. 02 219 80 60 0478 977 882 www.facebook.com/bureaukurde kurdishbureau@scarlet.be IBAN : BE58 3101 2146 2779 BIC : BBRUBEBB

ACTIVITIES OF THE KURDISH BUREAU

DECEMBER 2012
CONFERENCE culturele Dialoog tussen Jongeren" (Intercultural Dialogue between young people) and carried out in partnership with International Committee and two associations of youth, "Chiro" and " DBroej". Like the other projects, it is supervised by the CIMIC (Centrum Intercultureel Management en internationale Communicaties). Two hosts, a Kurdish, Hossein Morovati, nicknamed "Afshin", and a Tunisian, Radh Trabelsi, perform the Kurdish Bureau project. They have contacted nearly one hundred young people of 17 origins, of whom some of mixed origin, and try to attract them to these youth centers in order to practice a sporting or artistic activity (music, football, drawing, theater...) and to promote the formation of a group of friends from different cultures (see our previous newsletters, no. 91 and 92). Here are the origins of these young people: Kurdish, Belgian, Moroccan, Tunisian, Algerian, Turks, Congolese, Spanish, French, Tartars, Afghans, Rwandans, Bulgarians, Guineans, Albanian, Russian and Mauritanians. COLLABORATION WITH OTHER ASSOCIATIONS DAY OF ASSOCIATIONS

16.12.2012: How far reaches the freedom of expression? Franois Sant'Angelo, lawyer at the Centre for equal opportunities and the struggle against racism, made a presentation on the freedom of expression and its limits in Belgium. He said that, according to the Belgian constitution and the jurisprudence of the European Court of human rights, every citizen has the right to express himself or herself freely, but that this freedom cannot be expressed in the form of incitement to hatred or violence against a person or a group of the population. He gave some examples: exaltation of the Nazism, antiSemitism, hatred of immigrants, Islam phobia... PROJECT "INTERCULTURAL DIALOGUE BETWEEN YOUNG PEOPLE". In 2012 , The Ministry of the Flemish community in Brussels "VGC-Welzijn" recognized for two years and supported 9 projects related to the integration of populations of foreign origin and interculturality. Among them, the project of the Kurdish Bureau entitled "Inter-

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December 08, 2012 , in collaboration with 35 associations, including the Kurdish Bureau, Minderhedenforum and Internationaal Committee organized the day of Associations in the large locals of Daarkom. With the help of projections and a short film, these associations of different cultures presented their objectives and activities. A large audience participated in three workshops: living together in diversity, education, and active citizenship. Then, Brigitte Grouwels, Brussels Minister of the VGC-Department, made a brief presentation and awarded the responsible of these associations. In the end, there was a reception and a KurdishAfrican concert, presented by the Kurdish musician Semir EL and a group of three musicians, a Kurd and two African. Happily, some danced to the rhythm of these two kinds of music. This day was prepared well in advance, at many meetings.

PARTICIPATION IN THE ACTIVITIES OF OTHER ASSOCIATIONS 04 and 05.12.2012 : 9eth Conference in the European Parliament: the European Union, Turkey and the Kurds It was organized by the Group of the European United Left and the Nordic Green of this Parliament. A large number of Kurds and Europeans took the floor. 19.12.2012 : Press conference of the Federation of European journalists, at the Residence Palace: freedom of press and expression in Turkey The famous Turkish journalist Ragip Zarakolu, repeatedly jailed for his books and articles, has spoken of the brutal crackdown of the Turkish State on journalists and intellectuals, under the pretext of "the law against terrorism". Philippe Leruth, Belgian journalist and Vice President of the federation, criticized the laxity of the Belgian press on this issue. The moderator was Mehmet Kksal, belgo-turkish freelance journalist.

REVIEW OF THE ACTIVITIES OF THE KURDISH BUREAU IN 2012

1. Daily activities Social work and interpreting. Most of the 241 translations by phone and on location were conducted by Zarali Nikrawesh, for Kurds, Iranians and Afghans, in collaboration with Bruxelles-Accueil. Courses of French, Dutch and Kurdish, for different nationalities. Library: almost 2000 articles in a dozen languages. Project "Intercultural Dialogue between young people" Secretariat Writing and translation in four languages of the monthly newsletter. 2 Monthly activities: 28 Bulletin: 12 issues of the newsletter, no. 81-92, in four languages: Kurdish, French, Dutch and English. Most sent by email to nearly 2,000 addresses. Conference on the Kurds, as well as on immigration in Belgium and Europe: 8 Movies: 2 Exhibition: 1 Interviews: 5 3 Annual activities: 1 (Newroz) 4 Collaboration with other organizations: 50 - Activities: 10 - Meetings: 40 5 Participation in the activities of other associations and institutions: 20

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KURDISTAN NEWS
DECEMBER 2012

KURDISTAN OF TURKEY
ARMENIAN MASS GRAVE According the Firat News Agency, during work on the road of Sert (Siirt) - Dihe, Kurdistan of Turkey, an Armenian grave including 100 bones was discovered near an Armenian church. The official authorities have given no information about it. (rudaw.net, 01.12.2012) CHURCH CONVERTED INTO A MOSQUE The historian and member of the association EitimSen, erafettin Calml, announced that the Armenian Church St. Mary, Dlok, Kurdistan of Turkey, had been used as a place of torture after the military coup of September 12, 1980. Then, it was restored in 1984 and turned into a mosque in 1988 and its name was changed in "Kurtulu" (release)! Gothic style, this church was the largest monument of Dlok. It was to a height of 30 m and an area of 1100 m2. Two witnesses told the historian that when the French had left the city, the Armenians had fled it for fear of attacks. Currently, very few Armenians live there and their living conditions are not good. (rudaw.net, 06.12.2012) FIVE STUDENTS SENTENCED The 6th tribunal of sentences of Diyarbekir has fined 5 students of the Dicle University between 7 and 17 years imprisonment each, because they had organized an activity demanding education in Kurdish, as well as to protest against the murder of their friend, Aydin Erdem, whom they claimed was killed by police officers. Their names are Nilgn Ozkaran, Cuma Karaka, Derya Moray, Erday len and Ramazan Durmaz. (rudaw.net, 02.12.2012) A MINE EXPLOSION: ONE DEAD AND ONE INJURED A mine exploded near a police station in the village of Kzlga, of Bazd (Dou Beyazid), in the region of Agir, Kurdistan of Turkey. A shepherd, Hsn Yiit, father of seven children, was killed and his son of 12, Ali Skmen, was injured. And according to the villagers, in July 2012, another mine explosion had caused the death of a child of fourteen, Ertan Tilavar, and another of 12 years, Adem Yiit, had been seriously wounded. Since 30 years of war between the Turkish army and the PKK, mines in many places killed playing children. 03.12.2012 (peyamner.com) POLICE OPERATIONS AGAINST "KCK" (continued) A former policy arrested The 30.11.2012 , as part of a large military operation against the "KCK" (Organization of Kurdistan, a PKKrelated company), Cihan Sincar, former Chair of the Kurdish party BDP section of Qoser and widow of the killed Kurdish MP, Mehmet Sincar, was arrested at the airport of Istanbul, when she was returning from Germany. She was held in the prison of Bakrky, Istanbul. 03.12.2012 (avestakurd.net) A mayor arrested In a police operation in houses in Diyarbakr, the Mayor of Sert (Siirt), Kurdistan of Turkey, Selim Sadak, was put in police custody. (rudaw.net, avestakurd.net, 08.12.2012) 36 people in custody Following the orders of the public prosecutor of Diyarbekir, there were police operations in Sert (Siirt), Batman, Bedlis (Bitlis) and Istanbul. At least 36 people were put in police custody. (rudaw.net, peyamner.com, 20.12.2012) 12 put in policy custody At home searches in Hezex, the villages of Detadare and Hespist, near irnex (rnak), 12 people, including leaders of the Kurdish party BDP and communal councilors, were put in police custody. In the district of Srtky, the doors of the houses were broken and bullets were fired on livestock. (rudaw.net, 24.12.2012) PRISON GUARDS MURDERERS ACQUITTED The 06.12.2012 , a trial opened against the prison guards Type E of Diyarbekir, Kurdistan of Turkey, that city court of heavy penalties acquitted these guards because the date of the event was too old. September 24, 1996, these guards had beaten to death 10 Kurdish prisoners, using truncheons, iron bars and sticks with nails. (rudaw.net, 06.12.2012) TWO CONFERENCES ON THE KURDISH QUESTION IN ANKARA A two day conference on the Kurdish question was held in Ankara. It was organized by the Institute for social research of Diyarbekir and the German Heinrich Boll Foundation. It was entitled "understanding of the
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Kurdish question, its actors and its process. Intellectuals and representatives of several political parties, Kurdish and Turkish, took the floor. (rizgari.org, 10.12.2012) December 15, 2012 , the Academy of policy of the University of Aydn in Istanbul "IA" and the Association of young Leaders organized their 4th conference at the Hilton hotel in Ankara. Among the speakers there were Kemal Burkay, president of the Kurdish party HAK-PAR. After having reviewed the history of the Kurdish question in Turkey, Burkay said that the best solution was the federalism. He also said that this solution will not suddenly happen, that at the beginning should be the Turkish State to make steps that restore confidence and at the same time the PKK abandoned completely the use of weapons, that the teaching of the language and the recognition of the Kurdish identity, as well as the local administration, are enshrined in the constitution. After answering the questions of young people, the IAU gave him a medal. (rizagri.org, 18.12.2012) BOMBING OF KURDISTAN OF IRAQ 11 and 23 December, 2012 , a Turkish combat aircraft bombarded the border regions of Kurdistan of Iraq. (Kurdish media) REPORTERS WITHOUT BORDERS REPORT The French association "Reporters without borders" has said in its report that 2012 was the darkest year for journalists in the world: in total, 88 were killed and 879 imprisoned, 1,993 attacked, 38 kidnapped and 73 have fled their country. In addition, 6 people working in the field of the press and internet and 47 journalists were killed and 144 bloggers have been imprisoned. According the report, compared to the year 2011, the number of journalists killed worldwide increased by 33%: 26 in the Middle East and North Africa, 24 in Asia and 21 in Africa. The report said that the five countries where most journalists have been killed in 2012 are Syria, Somalia, Pakistan, Mexico and Brazil and that in the world Turkey is the largest prison for journalists and that at least 42 journalists and 4 press-workers are in prison. He added that after Turkey, it is China which has the highest number of imprisoned journalists: 30 (rudaw.net, 19.12.2012) ANNIVERSARY OF THE MASSACRE OF ROBOSKI 44 Kurdish parties and associations met in Diyarbakr and decided to carry out joint activities to commemorate the 1St anniversary of the Roboski massacre. December 28, 2011, Turkish warplanes had bombed the

village of Roboski, related to irnex (irnak), near the Iraqi border. 34 villagers had been killed. (peyamner.com, 19.12.2012) December 27, 2012, under the direction of officials of the BDP party and of more than 850 parties and organizations, thousands of people demonstrated in Diyarbakr. (rizgari.org, rudaw.net, peyamner.com, 27.12.2012) On 28 December , at Roboski, thousands of people gathered. The co-Chair of the BDP, Selahattin Demirta, gave a speech and accused the Turkish Prime Minister, Recep Tayyp Erdogan, of having given the order to this massacre. He added that these civilians had a senior official of the PKK, and that was the reason for which the massacre took place. (avestakurd.net, 28.12.2012) On 28 December , an exhibition of photos of the victims of Roboski was opened at the Chamber of industry and trade of the city of Van. (rudaw.net, 29.12.2012) PHOTOS OF IMPRISONED MPS IN THE TURKISH PARLIAMENT In the Parliament of Turkey, the Kurdish members of the BDP party, Srr reyya nder, Sebahat Tncel, Pervin Buldan and Hasip Kaplan, laid before them the photos of their colleagues who are in prison, in protest, and read their letters sent from prison. (avestakurd.net, 19.12.2012) HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH APPEAL The independent US Organization, Human Rights Watch, has launched an appeal to the Turkish Government, asking to "stop violating the law on the blocking of internet sites". Previously, the European Court of human rights condemned Turkey for the same reason. (rizgari.org, 22.12.2012) COMMEMORATION OF THE MASSACRE OF MARACH On the occasion of the 34th anniversary of the Mara massacre, Kurdistan of Turkey, nearly one thousand people wanted a demonstration. But the police and the gendarmerie have foreclosed them. The event was organized by the Alevi Bektai Federation and political parties. December 23, 1978, a group of fascists attacked the homes of Alevi in Mara. 150 people were killed, more than 200 houses burned and more than 100 shops ransacked. From December 26, 1978, the State of emergency was declared in 13 cities in Kurdistan. And then, this number had been increased. (rudaw.net, avestakurd.ne, 23.12.2012) A TURKISH SOLDIER'S SUICIDE
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According to CNNTurk, a Turkish soldier from Tokat, aged 21, Haci Ali Turan, performed his military service at irnex (rnak), in Kurdistan of Turkey. On his return home during sick leave, he committed suicide with a shotgun, in front of the members of his family. He had psychological problems because of his military service and was treated at the military hospital Gata, Ankara. He had received 25 days sick leave, during which he was taking medication. His uncle, Nedim Turan, said Haci Ali's mental state had deteriorated because of the war against the PKK. His military service would be ended after 53 days. (rudaw.net, 23.12.2012) A WEBSITE OF THE "AKP" PARTY IN KURDISH The internet site of the section of Van of the Turkish ruling AKP Party, began publishing in Kurdish language. (rudaw.net, 24.12.2012) DEATH OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE "KADEP" PARTY

sentenced as part of the famous "trial of 49" (49 Kurds). In 1965, he founded the Democratic Party of Kurdistan - Turkey. In 1977, he was elected member of Parliament and in 1978-1979 he was appointed Minister of construction, at the Government of Blent Ecevit. Since 2006, he was president of the Kurdish party "Kadep". In the 2011 elections, his party is allied with the Kurdish party BDP and Eli was elected independent member of Parliament for Diyarbakr. His political line has always been Liberal-Democrat. On 26 December , the Parliament of Turkey hosted for him a very official funeral ceremony for a statesman, in the presence of Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyp Erdogan. Only the fascist Turkish party, MHP, was absent. Messages of condolence from Kurdish policies and intellectuals, between whom people of the Government of Kurdistan of Iraq, flowed in. The Turkish president, Abdullah Gul, said Eci was a statesman and a good policy of Turkey. Prime Minister Erdogan presented his condolences by telephone to his family, and then the next day, he visited them. On 27 December , a funeral motorcade led the body from Diyarbekir to Cizra Botan where he was buried in the presence of more than 100,000 people. In addition to the BDP officials and other policies of Kurdistan of Turkey, political leaders of Kurdistan of Iraq, including the brother of president Mesd Berzan, Mesrr Berzani, were present. (Kurdish press, 25, 26, 27 and 28.12.2012) IN 7 MONTHS 109 PRISONERS DIED The Turkish Minister of justice, Sadullah Ergin, said that in 2012, in 7 months 109 people have died in prison. He said that in ten years 734 prisoners and convicted are dead. He issued the following statement in writing, in response to a parliamentary question from MP of Dersm (Tnceli), Hseyin Aygn Dibek, of the Turkish opposition CHP party. (rudaw.net, peyamner.com, 27.12.2012) SURVEY IN DIYARBAKIR ON THE INSTITUTIONS The Centre of social research and policy (SAMER) conducted a survey in Diyarbakr on the level of its inhabitants confidence in the institutions of the State. Here are a few figures: 11% have confidence in the police. 20% in the AKP (party to power, the first Minister Erdoan), 20% in the Turkish press. With regard to the Kurdish political parties: 48.1% have confidence in BDP, 46.5% in the communal administrations of the BDP, 29.5% in the last prisoners hunger strike. (avestakurd.net, 27.12.2012)

December 25, 2012 , the president of the Kurdish party "KADEP", erafettin Eli, died of cancer in Ankara. He was a well known personality. Born in 1938 in Cizra Botan (Cizre), Kurdistan of Turkey, he studied law at the University of Ankara, and then became a lawyer in Diyarbakir and Cizr. At the end of the 1950s, he was

STATEMENTS OF THE SON OF THE FORMER PRESIDENT ZAL Regarding the evidence of the poisoning of the former president of Turkey, Turgut zal (see our previous
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newsletter, no. 92), his son, Ahmet zal, told the press that his murder was related to the Kurdish question. zal had a Kurdish mother and had tried to resolve the Kurdish question and the problem of the PKK by democratic means. (avestakurd.net, 28.12.2012) 882 FILES CONCERNING THE WAIVER OF THE PARLIAMENTARY IMMUNITY

In 2012, the Turkish Parliament made 882 files concerning requests for the waiver of parliamentary immunity. Members of the two Turkish parties AKP and CHP and the Kurdish party BDP requested the resolution of this problem. The number of records of the BDP amounted to 668, of CHP to 86, of the AKP to 66, of the MHP to 21 and of independent members to 40. Most of the charges relate to "terror", "propaganda for a terrorist organization. (rudaw.net, 31.12.2012)

KURDISTAN OF IRAQ
WAR OF THE IRAQI PRIME MINISTER ON KIRKUK (CONT'D) December 01, 2012 , Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri ElMaliki, continued his war against the Kurds, about the Arabized region of Kirkuk. He told a press conference: "we do not accept that the pemerge (Kurdish soldiers) have heavy weapons" and "the war this time will not be like the previous ones. It will be the war between the Arab people and the Kurdish people"... (avestakurd.net, 01.12.2012) Students from the universities of Kirmanah and Ilam, Kurdistan of Iran, issued a communiqu in which they protested against the attitude of the Iraqi Prime Minister to Kurdistan of Iraq and expressed their support to the pemerges, saying they would fight beside them. (peyamner.com, 04.12.2012) The 05 December , according to the Director of the radio voice of Kurdistan, engal Murad Heskani, a caravan of 150 people, consisting of Heads of tribes, intellectuals, artists, musicians and women, as well as heads of Arab tribes and Christian personalities, left the engal region of the religious Yezidi Kurds near Mosul, and moved towards Kirkuk in order to support the pemerge. Heskani said that the singers Sed Gebar (blind) and Kako Girnuz have organized a concert where they sang revolutionary songs. (rudaw.net, 05.12.2012) The 05 December, the religious leader of Iran, Ayatollah Sistani, warned the Iraqi Prime Minister that he should not wage war against Kurdistan of Iraq because this would only harm the people of Iraq, and he asked to resolve the problems through dialogue. Previously, other Shiite leaders had also launched a call in this sense. (avestakurd.net, 06.12.2012) On 10 December , president Mesd Berzan has visited the pemerge in the frontlines around Kirkuk. This in his capacity as head of the Kurdish armed forces, because the pemerge depend of the Ministry of the pemerge of Kurdistan of Iraq. He was accompanied by the Minister and two senior officers of the pemerge. On the eve, December 09, a new group of pemerge was sent to reinforce the ranks of those who were already on the spot. (rudaw.net, nefel.com, rizgari.org, 10.12., avestakurd.net, 11.12.2012) On 12 December , president Berzan has published a decree prohibiting to appoint this Arabized region of Kirkuk "discussed areas" or "contested areas". Following this new order, one can only say "parts of Kurdistan outside the Region". And following the constitution of Iraq, it must be said "discussed regions", but currently the Iraqi Prime Minister will no longer accept this name and replaces it with "mixed areas". (avestakurd.net, nefel.com, 14.12.2012)

On 18 December the pemerge forces shot an Iraqi spy aircraft near Kirkuk. (avestakurd.net, 19.12.2012) ORSAM: BERZANI IS THE NEW LEADER OF THE MIDDLE EAST ORSAM, the Middle East Strategic Research Centre, which performs work in Turkey, said that the president of Kurdistan of Iraq, Mesd Berzan, is the new leader of the Middle East. The President of this association in Turkey, Hasan Polat, said that contacts of the president Berzan with the Western countries are strong and that he began economic and political relations with Russia. (rizgari.org, 01.12.2012)

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SULEYMANIYE CULTURAL CAPITAL OF KURDISTAN December 03, 2012, the parliament of Kurdistan of Iraq decided unanimously to appoint the city of Suleymaniye as cultural capital of Kurdistan. (peyamner.com, rudaw.net, 03.12.2012) MAJOR OIL AND GAS CONFERENCE The 03 and 04 December 2012, a major conference on oil and gas took place in Hewlr. The Iraqi Government has prevented the Turkish Minister of energy Taner Yldz, to participate by prohibiting his plane landing! At the end of the conference, the Prime Minister of Kurdistan, Nrvan Berzan and At Hewram, Minister of natural resources, gave five awards to oil companies: the American Chevron, the Turkish Genel Energi, Talisman and two local groups, Oil Serv and Kar Grup. (peyamner.com, avestakurd.net, nefel.com, rizgari.org, 04.12.2012) MEETING OF JOURNALISTS OF KURDISTAN OF IRAQ AND OF SYRIA The 05 and 06 December 2012, more than 200 journalists of Kurdistan of Iraq and of Syria met in Duhok, under the slogan "work on the role of the media in the project of peace and democracy in Western Kurdistan ("Syria").". They participated in four workshops, and then formed a Committee that presented a statement of cooperation, composed of six points, to the president of the Kurdistan of Iraq, the Prime Minister and the president of the Parliament in this part of Kurdistan. (rudaw.net, 14.12.2012) VISITS BY FOREIGN DELEGATIONS South Korea The head of the external relations of Kurdistan of Iraq, Fellah Mustafa received Tae-In Chung, Deputy Director-general of the Bureau for the Affairs of Africa and the Middle East, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and of trade of South Korea. They discussed the bilateral relations of the two parties in the political, economic and cultural fields. Mr. Mustafa recalled that between 2004 and 2008, South Korea had set up its military division "Zeytun" in Kurdistan. The general consul of Korea in Kurdistan, Lee Young Keun, was also present at this meeting. (peyamner.com, 02.12.2012) France December 05, 2012, president Mesd Berzan received Bernard Cazo, Senator and president of the region of Dordogne. This, in the presence of the consul of France in Hewlr and the representative of the Government of Kurdistan in France. They discussed the problems in Iraq and the strengthening of the relations of Kurdistan with France and the region of Dordogne. President

Berzan briefly quoted all the tragedies that the people of Kurdistan has lived along its history and spoke about the progress made in recent years. He also thanked France and the Dordogne for their support in Kurdistan. (peyamner.com, 05.12.2012) Egypt On 06 December, the famous Egyptian actor, Adil Imam , arrived in Hewlr (Erbil, capital of Kurdistan of Iraq) and did a press conference in the presence of the consul of Egypt in Kurdistan. He expressed his happiness to be in Kurdistan and said that in his latest film many peoples including Kurds, sects and religions were represented, and this shows that art does not make differences between them. He added that if the opportunity arose, he would show a play in Kurdistan and Iraq. (peyamner.com, avestakurd.net, 07.12.2012) Vatican On 17 December , the Chairman of the Group of the churches of the East in the Vatican, Leonardo Sandri, met president Mesd Berzan to learn more about the situation of Christians in Kurdistan. He said that president Berzan showed the world a good example. He told him that the Kurdish people have an open culture, that all elements of its society live in peace and that their fate is linked. He added that in Kurdistan the right of each party is insured on basis of citizenship and that there is no discrimination between them. (peyamner.com, avestakurd.net, 18.12.2012) Union of Arab universities On 18 December , president Berzan received a delegation from the Arab universities Union, chaired by its Secretary-General, PhD Dr. Sultan Abu Arabi El-Edwan. This, in the presence of the president of the University of Selaheddin in Hewlr, Dr. Ehmed Dizeyi. The president of this Union has invited the Kurdish University to participate in the annual meeting of presidents of Arab universities, taking place in Hewlr in March 2013, under the patronage of president Mesd Berzan. He said that this Union brings together 260 universities from 22 Arab countries. (peyamner.com, 12.12.2012) Kurdistan of Turkey On 18 December, president Berzan received a delegation of the KCD (the democratic society organization), linked to the PKK, chaired by Ms. Aysel Tuluk. The delegation wanted to know about existing problems between Baghdad and Hewlr, and the situation of the Kurdish refugees from Syria who are in camps in Kurdistan of Iraq. President Berzan told her that the Kurds of Turkey should conduct peaceful, parliamentary and diplomatic activities. (peyamner.com, rudaw.net, rizgari.org, 18.12., avestakurd.net, 19.12.2012) United States
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On 22 December , the head of the external relations of the Government of Kurdistan, Eddie Mustafa, received a delegation from the American Ministry of Foreign Affairs, made up of Bret Magerk, Advisor of the Minister of Foreign Affairs for Iraq and Tim Pawendis, consul general of the United States in Hewlr. Eddie Mustafa explained the reasons for the political crisis between Baghdad and Hewlr, and said that this was due to the individual behavior of Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri ElMaliki. (peyamner.com, 23.12.2012) Diplomatic corps and foreign representations December 23, the head of the external relations of the Government of Kurdistan, Eddie Mustafa, held a meeting with the whole of the diplomatic corps and different foreign representatives in Kurdistan. This, to explain and discuss with them the most important events in 2012. He said that the number of consulates increased in this year. (peyamner.com, 25.12.2012 A MONUMENT OF HALABCA IN THE NETHERLANDS December 05, 2012, the Municipal Council of the city of the Hague has unanimously approved a plan for the construction of a monument of Halabca in this city (Halabca is a small town in Kurdistan of Iraq, which was bombed with chemical weapons by Saddam Hussein in 1988 ; 5000 people have died asphyxiated and thousands of patients still suffer). (rudaw.net, 07.12.2012) 158 BODIES BURIED December 13, 2012 , during an official ceremony, 158 bodies of victims of Enfal (Kurdish genocide of the 1980s, in which 182,000 people were killed) were buried in Kelar. This, in the presence of a large number of people, including officials and members of the families of the victims. (peyamner.com, 13.12.2012) THE KURDISH PRIME MINISTER: "WE ARE CLOSE TO INDEPENDENCE. The Prime Minister of Kurdistan of Iraq, Nchrvan Berzan, told the monthly American " Time World " Kurdistan is closer to independence than in the past, but that today the most important for the Kurds is economic independence inside Iraq. He added that it is especially the Iraqi Prime Minister, Nuri El-Maliki, who puts the unity of Iraq in danger. He added that trade and political relations of Kurdistan with Turkey have made great progress and that through Turkey Kurdistan could sell its oil to the foreign market. According to him, Kurdistan and Turkey need one another: Turkey needs oil and gas from Kurdistan and Kurdistan needs Turkey as a way out. Concerning the independence of Kurdistan, Berzan said that there is a good opportunity, but also many disabilities, about it. He added that the Kurds cannot obtain independence without convincing their neighbors

and it is necessary that in that closed area a great power is convinced. (nefel.com, 21.12; peyamner.com, rudaw.net, avestakurd.net, 22.12.2012) TERRORIST ATTACKS IN ARABIZED REGIONS OF KURDISTAN December 16, 2012 a string of 8 explosions took place in Kirkuk. There were 9 people killed and 59 wounded. On 17 December, a bomb exploded at Mendel. Two people were killed. December 30-31, bombs exploded in Kirkuk and the surrounding area. There were 11 dead and 40 injured. In December 2012: 22 killed and 99 injured. (Kurdish media) THE OIL OF KURDISTAN IS THE HALF OF THE WORLD'S OIL The company Gulf Keystones officer, John Gerstenlauer, said that Kurdistan of Iraqs oil represents half of the oil from other countries in the world. He also said that oil from the xan region (region inhabited by Yezidi religion Kurds near Mosul) is 10.15 billion barrels, and that of the x Adi region (also of the Yezidi Kurds) is 2 billion and 500 million barrels. Gulf Keystone is an international company that works in Kurdistan of Iraq, Algeria and Britain. At the conference of gas and oil on the 03rd and 04th of December in Hewlr (see above), he said the Hewlr and Baghdad disputes were not a problem, because it could be solved politically. He added that the Minister of natural resources of Kurdistan, At Hewram was a very capable man and that the Kurds can, with this oil capacity, make themselves to be accepted by the world, and build an independent State. The vice-president of the society of Western Zagros, Ian McIntosh, said that in six years his company has extracted over a million barrels of oil in the region of Ser Qela, and this number increases every day. He also praised the good cooperation with the Kurdish government, and said that his company isnt worried about the problems created by the Iraqi Ministry of oil at the Kurdistan Government, because it has confidence in the oil policy of the Kurdistan region. (rudaw.net, nefel.com, 22.12.2012) FOUR HUSBANDS KILLED BY THEIR WIVES ! The president of the Husbands Union of Kurdistan, Burhan EL Ferenc, said that his organization deals with violence by wives on their husbands, like women's organizations that fight against violence of men! He said that since the beginning of the year until the end of October 2012, 123 acts of violence by wives against their husbands were committed and saved in files. Among them, 4 murders and 31 suicides. He added that most of these acts were committed in Sleymaniye (considered to be the most advanced in Kurdistan and recently designated cultural capital of this region). Ferenc cited examples of violence against husbands:
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physical violence, evictions, hostage of children, betrayal... He attributed this situation to individual freedom, social progress and the development of modern means of communication. (rudaw.net, 22.12.2012) FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO THE ARABIZED REGIONS OF KURDISTAN In 2010, the Kurdistan Parliament had unanimously approved an annual budget for public services of the Arabized territory of Kurdistan. One of the members of the Committee of the regions, Umer Edalet, said that in 2012, this budget was 50 trillion dinars, and his Committee requested that this amount is raised to 150 trillion dinars in 2013. The former Vice Governor of the region of Ninewa near Mosul, Goran Xosrew, said that 7,000 Kurdish teachers and 3,000 pemerge in Ninewa receive salaries of the Kurdish government. (rudaw.net, 23.12.2012) SYRIAN REFUGEE CAMPS The deputy head for external relations of the Government of Kurdistan of Iraq, Dindar Zibari, said that nearly 500 Syrian refugees arrive daily in Kurdistan. He added that the Kurdistan Government has granted $ 13 million and High Commissioner of Refugees of the United Nations 6 million dollars to the Domiz camp. He added that organizations and benefactors on international and Middle East level have made many donations for these refugees, but most were sent to the camps of Lebanon and Jordan. He also said that the Iraqi Ministry of immigration did not help the Syrian refugees neither did any request for international assistance for them.

Currently, there are more than 60,000 refugees of Syria and Kurdistan of Syria in Kurdistan of Iraq. Among them, more than 51,000 are in the Domiz camp and the others are sent in other towns in Kurdistan. (avestakurd.net, 25.12.2012) THE IRANIAN COMPANIES DECREASED IN KURDISTAN Most Iranian companies working in Kurdistan of Iraq will withdraw because of the economic embargo on Iran. At the city of Suleymaniye, only 20 companies of the 140 remained there. (nefel.com, 30.12.2012) THE KURDS REFUSE THE REQUEST OF THE UNITED STATES TO REDUCE COOPERATION WITH TURKEY December 25, 2012 , the famous British writer and specialist on the Middle East, Patrick Seale wrote in an article that the Government of the United States asked the leaders of Kurdistan of Iraq to decrease their economic collaboration with Turkey, especially in the field of oil and gas export, because this upsets loudly the Iraqi Government, and push to strengthen its collaboration with Iran. But the Kurds have refused this proposal and continue their work. (avestakurd.net, 30.12.2012) A FORMER AMERICAN DIPLOMAT WANTS A KURDISH STATE The former diplomat and member of the U.S. Senate, Peter Galbraith, told Kurdish weekly "Rdaw" that he believes he will see a Kurdish independent State before his death. He said that a small independent Kurdistan is better than staying forever trapped inside Iraq. rudaw.net (31.12.2012)

KURDISTAN OF IRAN
37 CHILDREN BURNED IN A SCHOOL Nearly 80 Kurdish political and social activists issued a communiqu in which they drew attention to the fire which took place in a school in the district of Piranar, Kurdistan of Iran, in which 37 children were burned. They have requested the resignation of the Minister of education. These activists, with three former MPs, reported that Kurdish city schools are very dilapidated and overcrowded, the number of students per class is double the Iranian standards and the study programs, old and inadequate, lead to the annual increase of educational failure in Kurdistan. At first, this statement was published on the website Keleme. Then, the Member of Parliament for the city of Piranar, Resul Xizri, asked the Iranian Government not to remain silent against this fire. Lawyer Osman Muzayan, of the city of Serdest, said that laws defending children's rights have been violated. (rudaw.net, 10 and 26.12.2012)

THREE KURDS WERE HANGED December 14, 2012 , the Iranian Government hanged three Kurds accused of various offences, in the Urmiye prison in Kurdistan of Iran. One of them, Xefur Mirzayi Aksekel, 30 years old, wrote a letter to his family: "do not cry and do not make my jailers happy. Bring the Green shawl of my father on my grave. I committed a single crime, to be Kurdish. They hang me for this reason". The father of this young man was hanged last year and two of his uncles and one of his brothers-in-law are waiting for their hanging. Since the beginning of 2012, 554 Iranians were hanged. (rudaw.net, 15.12., avestakurd.net, 2012)
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A KURDISH MEMBER OF THE ORGANIZATION OF NOT REPRESENTED PEOPLES AND NATIONS (UNPO) Abdullah Hicab, Member of the Democratic Party of Kurdistan of Iran, became a member of the United not represented Nations and Peoples "UNPO", an international association that defends the rights of oppressed peoples. Rudaw (20.12.2012) TWO YOUNG KURDS INVENT AN AIRCRAFT WITHOUT PILOT After the "kurdistantoday.ir" site, two Kurdish students of the University of Kirmanah, Kurdistan of Iran, Ramtn and Sed Selm, manufactured in 9 months a pilot-less plane weighing 1,200 kg. that can fly up to 70 km. This aircraft is electric and can hold a camera. (rudaw.net, avestakurd.net, 22.12.2012) IN IRAN, 13 SUICIDES PER DAY According to the president of the Institute of psychology, sociology Division, Tehran, Dr. Cafer Buelheri, 60,000 people in Iran try to commit suicide annually. And according to official statistics, 13 people commit suicide per day. According to the Secretary of the psychology section, Perviz Muzahiri, in Iran 25 percent of society lives psychological problems. According to official statements of the State concerning health, in 2012

the rate of suicide in Iran increased by 9.4%. And according to Dr. Huseyn Laciwerd, the women suicide rate is 8 times higher than that of men. But the record of suicides of women is in the four provinces of Kurdistan: Ilam, Kirmanah, Sine (Sanandaj) and Hemedan. (rudaw.net, 24.12.2012) A NATURAL GAS PIPE BURSTED December 30, 2012, a natural gas pipe bursted in Kengawer, in the province of Kirmanah in Kurdistan of Iran. A 65-year-old woman and her 45-year-old son died and the surrounding houses suffered major damage. (rudaw.net, 30.12.2012) LAKE URMIYE THREAT OF DRYING The head of water Affairs at the Iranian Ministry of energy, Ali Riza Daim said Lake Urmiye, in Kurdistan of Iran, is in a great danger of drying out and that if this continues, the lake will subsist only 4 years. He added that its service is currently occupied by the opening of the waters of the dams and cleaning of rivers that flow into the lake. He also asked people not to waste water of this lake. Lake Urmiye, North of Kurdistan of Iran, is the 2e salt lake in the world. Its area is 51.876 km2 and 3% of the total area of Iran. rudaw.net (31.12.2012)

KURDISTAN OF SYRIA
SERIOUS ECONOMIC SITUATION IN KURDISTAN Even if the number and the intensity of the fighting are minimal in Kurdistan from the rest of the Syria, the cities inhabitants especially suffer from the lack of bread, water, electricity, fuel... (Kurdish media) KURDS KILLED AND ARRESTED November 27, 2012 a bomb exploded on the car of Atf Abd, local chief of the people's Council in Efrn, in Kurdistan of Syria. He has been slightly wounded. (kurdwatch.org, 18.12.2012) On 10 December , during the bombing of the Kurdish district of Aleppo, x Meqsd, 9 Kurdish civilians were killed. On 10 December also, armed men attacked the direction of the water of the city of Hes, in Kurdistan of Syria. They abducted and then killed the Director of the Sales Department, Mehmd xms, on a road and wounded the driver. (rudaw.net, 10.12.2012) On 12 December , Rodi Ibrahim was arrested by employees of the secret service of the air force at the center of youth, Zelal, in Qamili, Kurdistan of Syria. Ibrahim is the president of this center and is charged of training "radical groups". 3 computers of the center were seized. His family could visit him on 14 December, after paying a ransom. They told Kurdwatch he was tortured. (kurdwatch.org, 16.12.2012) In December, the young Imad Abdul Mecids family said that he had been kidnapped the 18.07.2012 by security forces, and then had been put in police custody for ten days, then killed under torture. (rudaw.net, 23.12.2012) COMMON KURDISH MILITARY COUNCIL Generals and senior Kurdish officers who broke with the Syrian army created the Kurdish common military Council in Aleppo and said they would work with the free Syrian army (Arab armed opposition). (avestakurd.net, 02.12.2012)

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FIGHTING IN KURDISTAN (cont'd) Ser Kaniy December 03, 2012 during the bombing of Ser Kaniy, Kurdistan of Syria, by the Syrian Government military aircraft, 6 Kurds, of whom three children are dead. 5 among them were from the same family. (rudaw.net, avestakurd.net, 03.12.2012) The 05 December , at night, gunmen from the Islamic group Al-Qaeda sought to enter Ser Kaniy. The Protection of the people (related to the Kurdish party PYD) units fought them until morning. 7 Al-Qaeda members were killed and some were injured. (avestakurd.net, 07.12.2012) Tel Abyad The 05 December , the Syrian Government aircraft bombarded the region of Tel Abyad, close to Ruha (Urfa), on the border of Kurdistan of Turkey, because free Syrian army units were present. There were many dead and wounded. (rudaw.net, 05.12.2012) Aleppo On 10 December , the Kurdish district of ex Meqsd has been bombed. 11 people have been killed. On 11 December , a new bombardment of the Kurdish neighborhood of Aleppo has injured 10 people. (avestakurd.net, rizgari.org, 11.12.2012) 'PYD"CONTROL KURDISTAN OF SYRIA November 09, 2012, the Party of the Democratic Union 'PYD", (Syrian wing of the PKK), took control of many Syrian governmental institutions in Dirbsiyy, Kurdistan of Syria and drew up its flag there. There is no more police presence in the towns of Amd, Dirbsiyy and Drik. Government employees continue to work and receive wages of Damascus. But their work is controlled by the PYD. At Dirbsiyy, members of the PYD burned Government records. The members of these government services have burned documents themselves before leaving their offices. (kurdwatch.org, 09.12.2012) CLASHES BETWEEN ARAB MILITIAS AND "PYD. Qamili 1St December 2012 , members of the Arab Tay tribe occupied the building of the private University El Me'mun, in Qamili, Kurdistan of Syria. The YPG (units of the Protection of the people, related to the PYD, Syrian wing of the PKK Kurdish party) tried to surround the building. There were armed clashes and shortly after the Tay left, leaving several wounded, including one person who succumbed following his injuries. (kurdwatch.org, 12.12.2012)

Ser Kaniy On 12 and 13 December, there were armed clashes between different militia groups linked to the free Syrian army and YPG (units of the people's Protection, related PYD Syrian wing of the PKK Kurdish party), Ser Kaniy. Near 15 militiamen were killed and 30 others injured. (rudaw.net, 12.12., avestakurd.net, rizgari.org, 13 and 14.12.2012) On 17 December , following the mediation of the Organization Tev-Dem and Kurdish-Arabic "elders", the two parties have agreed on some points: all militias should leave the city, a civilian Council will be established, the border gates will be controlled by this Council. The militiamen have released all hostages. (avestakurd.net, 17.12.2012) 'PYD"ABDUCTS KURDS AND CONFISCATES HUMANITARIAN AID December 24, 2012 , the PYD party abducted in Koban, Kurdistan of Syria, 6 young Kurds, members of the Azadi party. These hostages were released after the intervention of the Syrian military Council, close to the free Syrian army,. (rudaw.net, 25.12., kurtwatch.org, 30.12.2012) Ibraim Murad, a member of the Kurdish National Council in Syria, accused the Kurdish "PYD" party of confiscating humanitarian aid. The PYD denied this. (rudaw.net, 25.12.2012) SYRIAN FREE ARMY ENTERS IN KURDISTAN Fighting between the Free Syrian army and the Syrian Government army took place in Tel Birak, 42 km from Hesi, as well as in Efrn, Kurdistan of Syria. The Free army imprisoned some soldiers and took all the heavy and light Government army weapons. (rudaw.net, 23.12.2012) MASSACRE OF ALEVI According to the Reuters news agency, December 11, 2012, bombs were thrown at the Alevi village of Akrab, close to Hama. Nearly 200 people have been killed and injured. According to the Association of Human Rights in Syria, their number amounted to 125. (rudaw.net, avestakurd.net, 12.12.2012) THE UNITED STATES RECOGNIZES THE NATIONAL SYRIAN COALITION US president Barak Obama said in a televised speech that the Syrian National Coalition included many opposition forces and that for this reason the U.S. has decided to recognize it as a legal and official representative of the Syrian people. He added that there is also a small group of opposition linked to Al-Qaeda and found in Iraq, and whom America call 'terrorists '. (avestakurd.net, nefel.com, rizgari.org, peyamner.com, 12.12.2012

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AN AMERICAN BOAT IN SYRIAN WATERS The United States sent a ship of war to Syrian sea waters. It contains 8 combat aircrafts and 8,000 soldiers. (avestakurd.net, 07.12.2012) MEETING OF THE SYRIAN OPPOSITION ARMY IN TURKEY The Free Syrian army held its first meeting in a 5 star hotel in Antalya, at the Turkish coast. 550 Syrian army leaders were present. Representatives of the United States, France, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Turkey took part. The Syrians have asked anti-aircraft rockets. The representatives of those countries have requested that the Free Syrian army be cleaned of Al-Qaida elements. A high military Council was formed and Selim Idris was elected Chief of the Syrian free army. One of the most important topics of this meeting was the YPG (the "Kurdish" people's Protection units) and Kurdish armed groups. Most of the participants asked the free Syrian army not to fight the Kurdish groups in the cities of Kurdistan of Syria, but to agree with them, and not to allow a Kurdish-Arab war. In addition, a plan of taking Damascus was prepared. (avestakurd.net, 09.12.2012) 400 AMERICAN SOLDIERS AND 2 ROCKETS ON THE TURKISH BORDER The spokesman for the Pentagon, George Little, said that the United States have installed 400 soldiers and 2 installations of Patriot rockets in Turkey, on the Syrian border. (avestakurd.net, 15.12.2012) MEETING OF THE AMERICAN AMBASSADOR WITH THE KURDS The U.S. Ambassador in Syria, Robert Ford, met in Hewlr, Kurdistan of Iraq, a delegation from Kurdistan of Syria. He said that the Kurdish question cannot be resolved in Qamili or Efrn, but in Damascus and by a new constitution. He added that he thought that the Syrian regime would collapse in a few weeks or months and that for this the Kurds should join the national Syrian Coalition. (nefle.com, 19.12.2012) UNION OF FOUR KURDISH POLITICAL PARTIES December 15, 2012, four parties of Kurdistan of Syria met in Qamili and declared their union in one party named the Kurdish Democrat Union - Syria". This is the democratic Kurdish party in Syria (El-party), the Party of the Kurdish Union in Syria and two Azadi parties (freedom). They also said that they would participate more actively in the Kurdish National Council in Syria. (avestakurd.net, rizgari.org, 16.12.2012)

"PYD" PRESIDENT MEETS IRAQI PRIME MINISTER The president of the Kurdish party "PYD", Salih Muslim, met with the Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri El-Maliki in Baghdad. He was accompanied by a delegation. In addition, a group of the Arab Syrian opposition including Heysem El-Menna, was present. Since the Iraqi regime supports the Syrian regime, the other Kurdish parties have criticized the PYD for this meeting. (nefel.com, 20.12., rudaw.net, 22.12.2012) UN REPORT: THE SYRIAN CRISIS IS SECTARIAN The UN human rights commission published a new report on Syria. It indicates the increase of the number of dead civilians and the destruction of cities and cultural places and that this war has become openly sectarian (between Sunni majority in Syria and Alevis minority in power since the 1960s). (rizgari.org, 22.12.2012) AID FROM A KURDISTAN OF TURKEY PUBLISHING HOUSE The "Avesta" Publishing House from Kurdistan of Turkey has launched an aid campaign in Kurdistan of Syria, under the slogan "Iro nebe kenge. (If not now, when?). It said that it would send books to Kurdistan of Syria and called to be supported by concerned parties. It comes to school books for the children and their teachers. 6,000 SYRIAN WOMEN IN JAIL The Syria Human Rights Association said that up to now 6,000 women are in Syrian prisons, they are systematically tortured and some of them are raped. (rudaw.net, 29.12.2012) KURDISH EMPLOYEES DISMISSED The Kurdish National Council in Syria made a written statement announcing that since the beginning of the Syrian revolution, the Syrian Government dismissed dozens of Kurdish employees who participate in political and civil activities. rudaw.net (31.12.2012) IN THE ELECTION OF KURDISH WOMEN'S ASSOCIATIONS, THE MEN ARGUE! The President of the Union of Kurdish women in Syria, Nurhan Emin, asked the men and political parties in Kurdistan not to meddle in the Affairs of women. In the elections of this association in Drik, there was a verbal dispute between the head of a Kurdish political party and a few young people from another party. At Koban also, Kurdish women have accused political parties and men to meddle in the election of women. rudaw.net (31.12.2012)

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CULTURAL KURDISH NEWS IN THE WORLD

INTERNATIONAL AWARDS FOR KURDS Belgium (peyamner.com, 01.12.2012) Germany December 10, 2012, the Minister of Interior of the province of Schleswig-Holstein, Andreas Breiter, awarded its annual prize of Integration to a Kurd from Turkey, Semih Inak. Inak was born in Hamburg in 1989. His father, Huseyn Inak, is member of the German Green Party. His brother, Erkan, was elected to the Municipal Council of Wedel. Since 2009, Semih is the Chairman of the youth of this province. He studied at the University of Duisburg-Essen and is the Chairman of the Committee of the 38,000 students of this University. Rudaw (13.12.2012) Kurdistan of Iraq From 15 to 17 December, the 2nd Festival of the Kurdish short film "Law Zrn" (the Golden young) took place in Hewlr, capital of Kurdistan of Iraq. 22 films were screened. Karzan Qadir received the jury prize for his film "Bkes" (without family). 7 other awards have been granted. (peyamner.com, 18.12.2012) On 24 December, on the occasion of the international Cinema day, the direction of the association "Snema Hewlr", linked to the Ministry of culture of Kurdistan, has organized a Film Festival. 10 Kurdish and foreign filmmakers were awarded. (peyamner.com, 24.12.2012) Kurdistan of Turkey The film "The land of Heroes", of the filmmaker Sehmi Umer Xelfe (see above, Belgium), won the prize for the best short film at the Festival of Batman in Kurdistan of Turkey. 15 films were screened. This film was screened in 105 international festivals and has won 21 awards. (peyamner.com, 26.12.2012) KURDISH CULTURAL DAYS IN GEORGIA The 20 and November 21, 2012, the "Days of Culture" took place in Tbilisi, Georgia. A group of artists of Kurdistan of Iraq, including singers, dancers, painters, poets... went from Hewlr, capital of Kurdistan of Iraq, to Tbilisi. They were also accompanied by some representatives of the city hall of Akr. These days were organized by the Ministry of culture of Kurdistan of Iraq and the association of Kurdish Yyezidi in Georgia, "Mala Ezdyan" (the home of the Yezidi). It is the second collaboration of this kind. In addition to the guests, Kurdish singers of Georgia presented a concert and a group of Russian theatre made a representation. (rudaw.net, 01.12.2012)
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September 17, 2012, the16th Belgian Championship of beer tappers took place at the Museum M Leuven. It was attended by 70 professionals working in the hotel and catering industry. A young Kurd from Syria, Alan exo (Allaine Schaiko), 23 years old, obtained the title of Champion. He will represent Belgium at the World Championships, which will take place on 25 October in Montreal, Canada. Belgian press (18.09.2012) The film"Baghdad Messi", from filmmaker Sehm Umer Xelfe, a Kurd of Iraq living in Belgium, was awarded the prize of the Jury at the 18th International Film short Festival of Louvain (Leuven). The festival was opened by this film. It is also screened in Dubai. (avestakurd.net, 12.12.2012) At the beginning of December, 2012, Karox Ynis, a Kurd of Iraq living in Belgium, was elected best modeler in Belgium. Then, he participated in an international competition in Istanbul and there was elected among the 15 best modelers in the world. Karox said that in Istanbul he was not elected first because he is Kurdish. (rudaw.net, 18.12.2012) Australia The film photographer, Trej Aslan, Kurdistan of Iran, won the photography award of the 6th International Festival "2012 Asia Pacific" in Brisbane, Australia, for the film "Rhino Season" (season of Rhinoceros), by the famous Kurdish filmmaker of Iran, MJ Qobad. 18 countries participated.

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41TH FESTIVAL OF THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES For the first time, the national artistic group of Kurdistan of Iraq did participate officially in the 41th Festival of the Arab Emirates, held in El-Chariqa, Dubai. The commercial representative of Kurdistan of Iraq, lan Xeneqa, said that upon arrival in Dubai, this artistic Kurdish delegation has been received by the consul of Iraq, Ismet Egd Sedq Amd (Kurdish). (rudaw.net, 01.12.2012) GARCA LORCA IN KURDISH IN KURDISTAN OF TURKEY The play "Bloody Marriage ", of the famous Spanish writer Federico Garcia Lorca, was played in Kurdish language at the theatre of the city of Diyarbakr, Kurdistan of Turkey, in the presence of a large audience. The Director is Ferhat Keskin and the choreographer is Serhat Kural. (peyamner.com, 08.12.2012) POETRY NIGHT IN KURDISTAN OF IRAQ 09 December 2012, the Kurdish writers Union of Duhok hosted a night of poetry reading. The poets Demhat Drik, Mesd Xelef, Hiyar Omer Le'al, Xurset and Diya Ciwan (female), presented their poems. (peyamner.com, 10.12.2012 COMMEMORATION OF TWO WRITERS IN KURDISTAN OF IRAQ Qenat Kurdo On the occasion of the 27th anniversary of the death of the great kurdologue Qenat Kurdo, who had lived in Moscow, the Kurdish Academy in Hewlr, Kurdistan of Iraq, organized an evening of remembrance. A documentary film and a seminar were given by Dr. Tosin Red, a Kurd from the former USSR living in Australia, and Dr. Ibrahm Mehmd, a Kurd from Syria who was educated in Moscow and who lives in Germany. Qenat Kurdo was responsible for the section of kurdology at the Academy of Orientalism, at the University of Moscow. He was also the first Honorary Member of "Kor Zanyar Kurd" (Kurdish Academy in Kurdistan of Iraq). He had written over 20 books and nearly 80 monographs and articles on Kurdish language, history, and folklore. (peyamner.com, 12.12.2012)

Arjen Ar On 12 December , the Union of Kurdish writers in Duhok commemorated the recent death of the Kurdish writer Arjen Ar: speeches, a video, messages, a seminar... (avestakurd.net, 12.12.2012) 210,000 KURDS LIVE IN ISRAEL Nearly 210,000 Jewish Kurds live in Israel. Each year, they celebrate the feast of Keprechine in a plain of the new Orchelim, in the presence of members of the Government and Israeli generals. This area of the Kurds includes 35 villages and a large city. Beir Botan is a Kurd of Duhok, Kurdistan of Iraq, and lives in Israel. He said that this holiday is celebrated only by the Kurds in that country. They are all from Kurdistan of Iraq and preserve their earlier culture: clothes, music, songs, dances... (avestakurd.net, 12.12.2012) A CONSERVATIVE IN KURDISTAN OF SYRIA OF KURDISH FOLKLORE Salih Heydo is a Kurd from Syria. He is in love with the Kurdish folklore. For 40 years, he has gathered tales, songs, dances... in 27 books and 100 music CDs. These books have been published by the Institute of Culture of the city of Suleymaniye, Kurdistan of Iraq. (avestakurd.net, 13.12.2012) FOUR KURDISH FEMALE CINEMA MECANICS IN TURKEY Yksel engl, a film technician, said in the Rudaw weekly that in Turkey there are only 4 female film mechanics and that they are all Kurds. engl works in the "Avrupa" cinema of Diyarbekir, in Kurdistan. (rudaw.net, 27.12.2012) A FOSSIL IN KURDISTAN OF IRAN According to the Iranian news agency, Fars, a fossil dating back to 73 million years was discovered by the University of Kirmanah, Kurdistan of Iran. This is a kind of "Marcan" (sea star), called "knoltid". This discovery was made by Ms. Ronak Grawend, researcher and student in geology at the University. She said specialists at the University of Cairo, Egypt, have confirmed the origin. Grawen made a device called "Bio Reactive Air Lift" that washes a kind of earth, called "kaolin". She is currently making another device of which she has not yet revealed the name, but which will be soon communicated to the public. (rudaw.net, 30.12.2012)

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