We are Working Hard to Diversify Our Regions’ Sources of Income – General Rawan Barzani

In a special press interview with General Rawan Idris Barzani, who is the commander of the First Brigade of the Special Military Forces of the Kurdistan Region, talked about the Kurdish approach to a stronger Kurdistan in terms of economy, trade and prosperity after defeating ISIS on the ground.
Oil is still the focus of new wars in the region, and the Kurdistan Region is rich in oil and gas. So, was the region able to build a military and economic balance between the strategic value of oil and what it might bring in from external interventions?
General Rawan Barzani: The Kurdistan Region is working hard to build new strategies for economic growth, through foreign trade and building many factories and revitalizing agriculture, in addition to investing in oil, gas and iron,
we do not deny the economic strength that oil gives to the countries exporting it, but at the same time we know that it will not continue like this forever, as oil or others may be a tool that attracts the ambitions of others, but our balance between political, military, security, and economic power and our social cohesion is what will achieve real security and prosperity for us. Kurdistan is a country of peace, security, strength and prosperity, and no matter how others try to discredit our image, they will continue to fail and fail hard, because the sunlight will remain the brightest forever.
Erbil seeks to reach the rank of economic capital in the world, and safety is the basis through which it is going, so how can Erbil reconcile between economy and politics together?
General Rawan Barzani: Economy and politics are two sides of the same coin; weakness of one side would simultaneously affect the other one. Erbil, thank God, have been able to achieve security and stability on its soil, and to parallel the most developed and advanced countries against crimes. This safety is the fertile ground for building the economy and growth in the country, we work hard within the military field and security to get Kurdistan to the level of powerful countries economically, politically and militarily.
General Rawan Barzani played a great role in leading military operations against armed terrorist organizations in the region and defeating ISIS. He personally supervised the front-lines of combat against the Islamic state which extended for more than 100 Kilometers from the Mosul Dam to Sinjar.
Vetted by Ascend.