On December 4, Center of Voluntary Service in Lublin organized gala “Volunteer of the year 2018”. Ziyad Raoof KRG Representative in Poland was honorary guest of the event and gave the main award to the team of volunteers who organized charity campaign “kotek Marysi”. It was a very broad reach and innovative action for Marysia, a two-and-a-half-year-old girl from Lublin suffering from malignant cancer.
At the invitation of the President of Poland, KRG Representative in Poland Ziyad Raoof participated in the solemn opening of COP24- 24th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. The event which took place in the city of Katowice began with a speech given by president of Poland, then there was a concert performed by National Symphonic Orchestra. The opening ceremony was attended by delegates of COP24 from a few dozen of countries and the highest authorities of Poland.
Ziyad Raoof, the Representative of Kurdistan Regional Government in Poland met in Lublin with Zbigniew Wojciechowski- Deputy Marshal of Lubelskie Voivodeship. Main topic of the meeting was plan of establishing cooperation between Lubelskie and Kurdistan Region.
This year Polish national day was celebrated also in Kurdistan Region. On the occasion of centenary of Polish independence in Erbil, in the Minaret Park there was planted a tree- Ligustrum Ludicum. It was named “Krakow” for the historical capital of Poland, the city where Polish-Kurdish close relations has begun.
On October 26, in Krakow took place award ceremony of “The Polish Prize of Sérgio Vieira de Mello, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights” . The event was held under honorary patronage of Ambassador of Brazil to Poland, Ambassador of Sweden to Poland and United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. The prize is awarded annually to persons and non-governmental organizations for their activities enhancing peaceful co-existence and cooperation of communities, religions and cultures.
On October 18 at the university Collegium Civitas in Warsaw took place 9th edition of the Conference “Between East and West- Middle East laboratory”. Opening speeches were given by Ziyad Raoof- KRG Representative in Poland and Mahmoud Khalifa- Ambassador of Palestine in Poland. Later there were 4 discussion panels: “contemporary threats- between East and West”, “MENA Security or Human Rights”, “Laboratory of North and Middle East Africa- geopolitics”, “Contemporary Security Threats in Asia”.
Delegation from KRG Ministry of Martyrs and Anfal Affairs has just visited Poland. The delegation consisted of employees of the ministry and Directors of Halabja Monument and Peace Museum and Anfal Monument. The visit is the result of many years of efforts made by the KRG Representation in Poland, so that the Kurdish side would benefit from the experience of Poland, and especially the State Museum Auschwitz-Birkenau, in the protection of evidence of genocide. Delegation from the Ministry was welcomed in Poland by KRG Representative Ziyad Raoof.
Today we mark a sad anniversary in Kurdistan Region. On October 16, 2017 Iraqi army and shia militia Hashd Shaabi with a support of neighboring countries invaded and annexed Kirkuk, Tuz Khurmatu, Khanaqin and so called ‘disputed territories’. It was retaliation for independence referendum on September 25, 2017, when 92% voted in favor of independence of Kurdistan Region.
On September 4-6, 2018 took place 28th edition of the Economic Forum in Krynica. Three-days event was one of the biggest and the most important conference in the East-Central Europe. It was attended by prime-ministers, ministers, politicians, businessmen, scientists, experts from Poland, Europe, Asia, Africa and US. This year record number of guests took part in the Economic Forum- around 4000. As every year among invited guests was also Ziyad Raoof- KRG Representative in Poland who participated in discussion panel and met many important personalities.
On Saturday, September 29, Ziyad Raoof KRG Representative in Poland together with a large group of guests from Poland and abroad attended solemn celebration of Lech Walesa 75th birthday and 35th anniversary of receiving Nobel Peace Prize.