KURDISTAN COMMUNIST PARTY POLITBURO

ANNOUNCEMENT - June 4, 2001

The Politburo of the Kurdistan Communist Party would like to take this opportunity to express our satisfaction with the organization and running of the recent municipal elections and to extend our congratulations to the winning candidates. We view these elections as a positive experience and a step forward in the efforts to create a democratic system in the region.

Following are some observations about the elections that took place on May 26, 2001:

1. From the first announcement that elections were to be held, our Party was very pleased. For decades, we have been denied the basic civil right to elect our public officials. These municipal elections mark the first time that elections have been held in Iraqi Kurdistan since the 1992 election that resulted in the creation of the Kurdistan National Assembly. They also follow the more recent municipal elections held in Sulaimaniyah and the liberated Kirkuk areas on February 3, 2001.
   
   
2. These elections are also significant because they provided citizens with the opportunity to practice democracy and give them the opportunity to get acquainted with a democratic system. We hope that elections will become a regular part of the political system in the region.
   
   
3. We decided to participate in the municipal elections without hesitation because it is our belief that the friendly and peaceful competition between the diverse political parties in Kurdistan is the best way to confirm our commitment to democracy. We also believe that it is the best way to serve the people.
   
   
4. It gave us great pleasure to see the wide participation of the diverse political parties throughout the whole election process from start to finish. The competition took place in a responsible manner and where situations arose, everyone cooperated to find an appropriate solution.
   
   
5. The enthusiasm and broad participation of people from the Erbil and Duhok Governorates came as a result of the opportunity for people to participate in the democratic process and we were very pleased with their reaction.
   
   
6. Even though we have stated our satisfaction with the manner that the election process took place, we did observe a few problems here and there, but these problems were not enough to affect the process in general.
   
   
7. We view these elections as a positive event taking the region another step forward to bring a democratic system here for everyone whatever their ethnic, cultural or religious background may be. We must all work to safeguard our experience and protect it from our internal and external enemies who would try to spoil it.
   
   
8. At this point, we would like to congratulate all the candidates who were successfully elected. It is everyone's responsibility to benefit from the election, to learn from it and to reinforce the positive aspects of the experience, through cooperation between the KDP and all other parties participating in the process in the spirit of democracy.
   
   
9. This will not be our last election. We have come a long way and the responsibility of our achievement gives us needed encouragement to continue on our path, to make our experience a solid base from which to move forward and to cooperate with each other for the benefit of our future in a federal, democratic Iraq.
   
   
10. Lastly, we would like to thank the men and women in the Erbil and Duhok Governorates who have supported us throughout the election and put their trust in our candidates by voting for them. We promise them that we will continue to work for the benefit of Iraqi Kurdistan and put our efforts into achieving the goals laid out in our Party's platform.

The Politburo would also like to thank everyone who participated in the election, for whomever they voted, because it is participation in the process that is the most important aspect of the election and gives it meaning. Participation in the process imparts a feeling of responsibility in all of us for the future direction of the region.

Top