President Barzani hails poets as guardians of Kurdistan’s identity

Shafaq News– Erbil

Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani said on Saturday that poets embody the conscience, spirit, and living memory of the Kurdish people, stressing that culture remains the cornerstone of social peace and shared human values.

Barzani’s remarks were delivered on his behalf by Fawzi Hariri, head of the Kurdish Presidency’s Diwan, during the opening of the Poets’ Forum of Greater Kurdistan’s Four Parts, organized by the Rwanga Foundation in Erbil. The event featured poetry readings, honors for prominent writers, and specialized literary discussions.

“Bringing poets together today deserves appreciation,” Barzani said, pointing to the historic role of Kurdish writers in defending the rights of their people. “Poets have stood with Kurdistan through verse and word, and through them we continue passing our core values to the next generation.”

He added that culture serves as a bridge between different communities and a safeguard for coexistence, noting that in an increasingly open world, poets and writers carry a responsibility to protect cultural authenticity and preserve national identity.

Barzani concluded by reaffirming the Kurdistan Region Presidency’s support for cultural initiatives, expressing hope that the forum would become an annual gathering that brings creatives together and enriches the region’s literary scene.