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Iraq 10 years on: Good times in Kurdish Irbil | Iraq 10 years on: Good times in Kurdish Irbil |
(about 14 hours later) | |
In the troubled security and political landscape of Iraq, the autonomous northern province of Kurdistan has emerged in the past 10 years as an inspiring success story. | In the troubled security and political landscape of Iraq, the autonomous northern province of Kurdistan has emerged in the past 10 years as an inspiring success story. |
The region's progress is on full display in its capital city of Irbil, some 400km (249 miles) north of Baghdad. | The region's progress is on full display in its capital city of Irbil, some 400km (249 miles) north of Baghdad. |
Iraqi Kurds, roughly estimated at five million, have stunningly rebuilt a dirt-poor and traumatised society from scratch since they gained their autonomy in 1991. | |
Irbil is unmatched by any other city in post-Saddam Iraq and is prospering like no other part of the country. | Irbil is unmatched by any other city in post-Saddam Iraq and is prospering like no other part of the country. |
'Zero worry' | 'Zero worry' |
"We have turned Irbil from a run-down and shabby place into a little Dubai," Mahmoud Othman, an MP for the Kurdish Alliance, said proudly. | "We have turned Irbil from a run-down and shabby place into a little Dubai," Mahmoud Othman, an MP for the Kurdish Alliance, said proudly. |
The skyline of the city, famous for its citadel and ancient monuments, is changing rapidly, with new hotels being built to accommodate visitors form Iraq and beyond. | The skyline of the city, famous for its citadel and ancient monuments, is changing rapidly, with new hotels being built to accommodate visitors form Iraq and beyond. |
Irbil has a glittering airport, European-styled traffic lights, well-paved roads and highly functional infrastructure. | Irbil has a glittering airport, European-styled traffic lights, well-paved roads and highly functional infrastructure. |
"It is the safest place in the whole of Iraq and Irbil has been named the 2014 tourism capital of the year [by the Arab Council of Tourism]," Mr Othman added, a smile breaking out on his face. | "It is the safest place in the whole of Iraq and Irbil has been named the 2014 tourism capital of the year [by the Arab Council of Tourism]," Mr Othman added, a smile breaking out on his face. |
"We have flourished because we are no longer run with an iron fist or fear." | "We have flourished because we are no longer run with an iron fist or fear." |
"Investment is very, very lucrative in Iraq Kurdistan," said Tony Abu Nakad, a Lebanese investor whom I met in the lobby of his luxury hotel. | "Investment is very, very lucrative in Iraq Kurdistan," said Tony Abu Nakad, a Lebanese investor whom I met in the lobby of his luxury hotel. |
"In Irbil, you have zero worry. As a businessman, you don't have to be preoccupied with the security hassle in other cities like Baghdad." | "In Irbil, you have zero worry. As a businessman, you don't have to be preoccupied with the security hassle in other cities like Baghdad." |
Newly discovered oil has fuelled the economic prosperity. | Newly discovered oil has fuelled the economic prosperity. |
Kurdish officials predict that Kurdistan could surpass Libya's output by 2019 by producing 2m barrels per day, putting it in the list of oil-producing giants. | Kurdish officials predict that Kurdistan could surpass Libya's output by 2019 by producing 2m barrels per day, putting it in the list of oil-producing giants. |
But oil is a mixed blessing. It has strained relations with Iraq's central government in Baghdad as there is no agreement on how to share revenues. | But oil is a mixed blessing. It has strained relations with Iraq's central government in Baghdad as there is no agreement on how to share revenues. |
Kurdish dream | Kurdish dream |
The Kurds have angered Baghdad by striking lucrative contracts with dozens of oil companies. Baghdad calls such contracts illegal. | The Kurds have angered Baghdad by striking lucrative contracts with dozens of oil companies. Baghdad calls such contracts illegal. |
The President of Iraqi Kurdistan, Massoud Barzani, hinted last month that the region could seek full independence if disputes over oil revenues and oil-rich territories like the city of Kirkuk were not resolved. | The President of Iraqi Kurdistan, Massoud Barzani, hinted last month that the region could seek full independence if disputes over oil revenues and oil-rich territories like the city of Kirkuk were not resolved. |
But what is not independent about Iraq Kurdistan today? | But what is not independent about Iraq Kurdistan today? |
The region has its own flag, parliament, government, president, powerful armed forces and its own language. | The region has its own flag, parliament, government, president, powerful armed forces and its own language. |
Most of the young Iraqi Kurds, like Tazreen Zaman, a 21-year-old with a degree in accounting from the prestigious Saladin University, do not speak Arabic even as a second language. | Most of the young Iraqi Kurds, like Tazreen Zaman, a 21-year-old with a degree in accounting from the prestigious Saladin University, do not speak Arabic even as a second language. |
"I was more keen on learning English than Arabic because English is a global language and can secure me a decent job in such a competitive market," she told me in impeccable English. | "I was more keen on learning English than Arabic because English is a global language and can secure me a decent job in such a competitive market," she told me in impeccable English. |
The Kurds are sticking hard to their identity and their mother tongue. | The Kurds are sticking hard to their identity and their mother tongue. |
When Shiwan Ismail learnt I was Egyptian, however, he switched to Arabic, which is not widely spoken across Iraq Kurdistan. | When Shiwan Ismail learnt I was Egyptian, however, he switched to Arabic, which is not widely spoken across Iraq Kurdistan. |
"Our heritage is our only asset," said the 65-year-old, who wears traditional Kurdish costume, never out of fashion in Irbil. | "Our heritage is our only asset," said the 65-year-old, who wears traditional Kurdish costume, never out of fashion in Irbil. |
It has long been the Kurdish dream to establish "Greater Kurdistan", a land connecting the Kurdish-inhabited areas of Iran, Iraq, Turkey and Syria. | It has long been the Kurdish dream to establish "Greater Kurdistan", a land connecting the Kurdish-inhabited areas of Iran, Iraq, Turkey and Syria. |
"It is shame that a nation like us with a total population of 40 million people in the diaspora does not have a homeland," said Mr Othman. | "It is shame that a nation like us with a total population of 40 million people in the diaspora does not have a homeland," said Mr Othman. |
But Turkey and Iran remain opposed to an independent Kurdish state. | But Turkey and Iran remain opposed to an independent Kurdish state. |
"I know it is unrealistic to seek independence because we don't want war," said the Kurdish MP. "Greater Kurdistan is still a fantasy but we will not give up our dream." | "I know it is unrealistic to seek independence because we don't want war," said the Kurdish MP. "Greater Kurdistan is still a fantasy but we will not give up our dream." |
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