Nechervan Idris Barzani
Encyclopedia
Nechirvan Idris Barzani , or ) (born September 21, 1966) is a Kurdish
politician in Iraqi Kurdistan
. He served as the prime minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government
from March 2006 to August 2009. He is a grandson of KDP (Kurdistan Democratic Party) founder Mustafa Barzani
and nephew of the president of Iraqi Kurdistan
Region, Massoud Barzani
.
language, and Nêçîrvan means the hunter. This is a name used for ethnic Kurdish
males. Barzani as a surname reflects the individual's origin from Barzan. In 1974, his family was forced into exile in Iran
. He often accompanied his father, Idris
, on official visits to Middle Eastern and Europe
an countries, a foreshadowing of his future political career. Following the sudden death of his father, he took up an active role in Kurdish
politics, working in KDP youth organizations.
, he participated in the negotiations with the Iraqi
government. In 1996, he was appointed deputy prime minister of the Kurdistan Democratic Party's controlled region in Iraqi Kurdistan
. Following the unification process in 2005 between the main Kurdish
parties and the formation of the Kurdistan Regional Government
(KRG), elections were held. In 2006, Barzani was selected as the Prime Minister of the KRG
. His term was expected to end in 2008 but after an agreement by the majority coalition in power, Barzani's term was extended until the elections of 2009.
Many of Barzani's supporters believe that he has played an important role in developing the Kurdistan Region. During his term as prime minister, his supporters nicknamed his cabinet as, "The Development Cabinet" praising his work in the development of the Kurdistan
region. Washington & Jefferson College
presented Barzani with honorary degree and the ceremony was held on May 17, 2008.
Kurdish people
The Kurdish people, or Kurds , are an Iranian people native to the Middle East, mostly inhabiting a region known as Kurdistan, which includes adjacent parts of Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Turkey...
politician in Iraqi Kurdistan
Iraqi Kurdistan
Iraqi Kurdistan or Kurdistan Region is an autonomous region of Iraq. It borders Iran to the east, Turkey to the north, Syria to the west and the rest of Iraq to the south. The regional capital is Arbil, known in Kurdish as Hewlêr...
. He served as the prime minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government
Kurdistan Regional Government
The Kurdistan Regional Government , , is the official ruling body of the predominantly Kurds-populated Kurdistan Region in Northern Iraq...
from March 2006 to August 2009. He is a grandson of KDP (Kurdistan Democratic Party) founder Mustafa Barzani
Mustafa Barzani
Mustafa Barzani also known as Mullah Mustafa was a Kurdish nationalist leader, and the most prominent political figure in the modern Kurdish politics. In 1946 he was chosen as the leader of the Kurdistan Democratic Party to lead the Kurdish revolution against Iraqi regimes...
and nephew of the president of Iraqi Kurdistan
Iraqi Kurdistan
Iraqi Kurdistan or Kurdistan Region is an autonomous region of Iraq. It borders Iran to the east, Turkey to the north, Syria to the west and the rest of Iraq to the south. The regional capital is Arbil, known in Kurdish as Hewlêr...
Region, Massoud Barzani
Massoud Barzani
Massoud Barzani is the current President of the Iraqi Kurdistan Region and the leader of the Kurdistan Democratic Party. Barzani was born in Mahabad, Iran, during the rule of the Republic of Mahabad...
.
Background
Barzani was born in 1966 in the Barzan region of Southern Kurdistan. The word Nêçîr means hunt in the KurdishKurdish language
Kurdish is a dialect continuum spoken by the Kurds in western Asia. It is part of the Iranian branch of the Indo-Iranian group of Indo-European languages....
language, and Nêçîrvan means the hunter. This is a name used for ethnic Kurdish
Kurdish people
The Kurdish people, or Kurds , are an Iranian people native to the Middle East, mostly inhabiting a region known as Kurdistan, which includes adjacent parts of Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Turkey...
males. Barzani as a surname reflects the individual's origin from Barzan. In 1974, his family was forced into exile in Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
. He often accompanied his father, Idris
Idris Barzani
Idris Barzani was a Kurdish politician in Kurdistan. He was the brother of Massoud Barzani, a well-known Kurdish figure, and the father of Nechervan Idris Barzani. He was often on diplomatic trips for the KDP. He died on January 31, 1987, of a heart attack....
, on official visits to Middle Eastern and Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an countries, a foreshadowing of his future political career. Following the sudden death of his father, he took up an active role in Kurdish
Kurdish people
The Kurdish people, or Kurds , are an Iranian people native to the Middle East, mostly inhabiting a region known as Kurdistan, which includes adjacent parts of Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Turkey...
politics, working in KDP youth organizations.
Political activity
Barzani was elected to the KDP central committee at its 10th Congress in 1989 and re-elected at the 11th Congress in 1993, when he assumed a position in the political bureau. After the 1991 Gulf WarGulf War
The Persian Gulf War , commonly referred to as simply the Gulf War, was a war waged by a U.N.-authorized coalition force from 34 nations led by the United States, against Iraq in response to Iraq's invasion and annexation of Kuwait.The war is also known under other names, such as the First Gulf...
, he participated in the negotiations with the Iraqi
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
government. In 1996, he was appointed deputy prime minister of the Kurdistan Democratic Party's controlled region in Iraqi Kurdistan
Iraqi Kurdistan
Iraqi Kurdistan or Kurdistan Region is an autonomous region of Iraq. It borders Iran to the east, Turkey to the north, Syria to the west and the rest of Iraq to the south. The regional capital is Arbil, known in Kurdish as Hewlêr...
. Following the unification process in 2005 between the main Kurdish
Kurdish people
The Kurdish people, or Kurds , are an Iranian people native to the Middle East, mostly inhabiting a region known as Kurdistan, which includes adjacent parts of Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Turkey...
parties and the formation of the Kurdistan Regional Government
Kurdistan Regional Government
The Kurdistan Regional Government , , is the official ruling body of the predominantly Kurds-populated Kurdistan Region in Northern Iraq...
(KRG), elections were held. In 2006, Barzani was selected as the Prime Minister of the KRG
KRG
KRG may refer to:*Kurdistan Regional Government, in Northern Iraq*Kativik Regional Government, in Northern Quebec, Canada...
. His term was expected to end in 2008 but after an agreement by the majority coalition in power, Barzani's term was extended until the elections of 2009.
Many of Barzani's supporters believe that he has played an important role in developing the Kurdistan Region. During his term as prime minister, his supporters nicknamed his cabinet as, "The Development Cabinet" praising his work in the development of the Kurdistan
Iraqi Kurdistan
Iraqi Kurdistan or Kurdistan Region is an autonomous region of Iraq. It borders Iran to the east, Turkey to the north, Syria to the west and the rest of Iraq to the south. The regional capital is Arbil, known in Kurdish as Hewlêr...
region. Washington & Jefferson College
Washington & Jefferson College
Washington & Jefferson College, also known as W & J College or W&J, is a private liberal arts college in Washington, Pennsylvania, in the United States, which is south of Pittsburgh...
presented Barzani with honorary degree and the ceremony was held on May 17, 2008.