Speaker Rewaz Faiq welcomes Ambassador Saywan Barzani and Mazhar Khaleqi, receives proposal for a Kurdish language unification project

Kurdistan Parliament Speaker Dr. Rewaz Faiq on 4 January 2022 welcomed Ambassador Saywan Barzani, Iraq’s envoy to Portugal, and the artist and singer Mazhar Khaleqi, who is the head of the Institute for Kurdish Tradition. Mr. Khaleqi presented Speaker Faiq with his draft national project on Kurdish language and culture, which has Ambassador Barzani’s support and was prepared with the help of the famous poet Abdulrahman Belaf.

In the meeting attended by Mr. Romeo Hakkari MP (National Union Coalition), Speaker Faiq said that such a national project is important to overcome some of the challenges created by the Kurdish language having many dialects.

The Speaker of Parliament commended the tireless efforts and achievements of the Kurdish Academy in the service of Kurdish language and culture.

Ambassador Barzani talked about the importance and influence of a unified Kurdish language, and the cultural development of different regions of Kurdistan.

Mr. Khaleqi asked Speaker Faiq to support the draft project for a National Academy of Kurdistan, which he said will not only serve the Kurdish language, but will also include many other artistic and cultural aspects that will support language unification.

Dr. Faiq assured Mr. Khaleqi and the delegation of her support for the project and hoped that the draft will garner the support of the minimum number of MPs needed to pass it through the legislative procedures of drafting, readings and voting.