November 21, 1998
Report from KRG Brussels Bureau

November 12, 1998
Speech given by Mr. Nechirvan Barzani on the second anniversary of the formation of the Third Cabinet of the KRG

November 6, 1998
Displaced people from Kirkuk marching on UN
From Khabat Weekly Newspaper
In a recent peaceful demonstration some 50 families displaced from Kirkuk by the Iraqi regime gathered in front of the UN Headsquarters in Erbil. They submitted a memorandum to the UN Secretary General and to international humanitarian organizations asking for their help in returning to home city and in securing compensation from the Iraqi regime for losses resulting from the displacement.

October 29, 1998, Sulaymania
Joint Committee Meetings on Resolution 986
The KDP & PUK Joint Committee held a meeting in Sulaymania with the Habitat Organization, the focus of which was reconstruction and development. They discussed ways of distributing the money allocated for the four phases and the participation of both parties in implementing the programmes.

October 27, 1998
Visiting Lecturers Program at Kurdish Universities
The Ministry of Humanitarian Aid and Cooperation (MHAC) is helping to build a Visiting Lecturers Program. Kurdish scholars and lecturers from abroad will stay for short-term (approximately 1-2 months) lecturing programs at Kurdistan's universities.

MHAC seeks candidates for the program. For more information, please see our page in the Progress section on Higher Education.

October 13, 1998, Erbil
Joint Committee Meetings on Resolution 986
Two meetings were held by the KDP's & PUK's Joint Committee to follow up on Resolution 986. The first meeting was held in the presence of Mr. Max Gaylard, UN head coordinator for the Northern Iraq, at the Ministry of Education in Erbil. Participants discussed shortcomings of 986 with regard to the Ministry's efforts for the 1998-1999 academic year. A second meeting was held at the Ministry of Industry and Energy, where the issue of implementing Resolution 986 in Kurdistan was on the table. Both ministries submitted requests to UN representatives who agreed to address shortcomings and concerns.

October 11, 1998, Shaqlawa
Media Institutions Managers Meeting
In accordance with the Higher Committee's request for coordination of the peace process, managers of KDP's and PUK's media institutions met to figure out how to help implement the ongoing peace pact. Aims include distributing publications of both parties all over Kurdistan, in the effort to serve reconcilliation by creating a solid understanding of and positive reception for the signed Agreement.

September 25, 1998
American Kurdish Center Grand Opening
The American Kurdish Center, a charitable organization, has been established to help fulfill the educational, cultural and social needs of the ever-growing Kurdish community. In seeking to assist new arrivals acclimate to life in the United States, the Center will provide information and assistance on jobs, housing, schooling and finances. The Center will offer Kurdish and English language classes as well as classes on Kurdish culture.

Located in Fairfax, Virginia, the Center also features a library, for books on Kurdish history and folklore, and a museum, which will house Kurdish artifacts and memorabilia. The Center's founders hope that it will become a place all Kurds come to cherish their heritage and enhance their lives.

The honorable Massoud Barzani, President of the Kurdish Democratic Party, will do the honors of opening the center this evening at 6 pm.

For more information, please call 703-591-9750.

—Edited from American Kurdish Center Grand Opening flyer

September 18, 1998
KRG Meets with United Nations
A KRG delegation, consisting of Dr. Shafiq Qazzaz, Chairman of the Steering Committee for 986 and Minister for Humanitarian Aid and Cooperation, and Mr. Nijyar Shemdin, KRG Representative in the United States, met with Mr. Benon Sevan, Executive Director of the Iraq Programme (UNSCR 986, oil-for-food). The meeting took place on September 18, 1998 in Mr. Sevan's office at the United Nations. Also present was Mr. Michael Soussin, Iraq Programme officer.

Dr. Qazzaz submitted to Mr. Sevan a paper containing observations and an evaluation on the implementation of the Programme in Kurdistan, and the constructive meeting covered problems and issues relating to the Programme. Mr. Sevan also asked the delegation to extend his congratulations and best wishes to Masoud Barzani regarding the recent peace agreement.

The delegation also met with Mr. Kevin Farrell, Director of UN Agencies.

September 17, 1998
KDP and PUK Sign Agreement
The KRG is delighted to announce that an agreement has been signed between the KDP and PUK, the outcome of several days of talks in Washington, DC. Among items covered are expansion of the existing KDP-PUK coordinating committees, greater coordination between administrations in Erbil and Sulaimaniya, and new parliament elections in nine months time.

The agreement was announced at a ceremony at the U.S. State Department this afteroon.

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