Kurdistan, the Other Iraq

The name Kurdistan literally means Land of the Kurds. The term Kurd in turn is derived from the Latin word Cordueni, the inhabitants of the ancient Kingdom of Corduene, which became a Roman province in 66 BC. During the Baath Party administration in the '70s and '80s, the region was called "Kurdish Autonomous Region".

The area of Iraqi Kurdistan is about 80.000 sq. km, and thus it forms 18% of the total area of Iraq, (about 435.000 sq. km). The Kurdish population in Iraq is more than 6 million, about 2/3 inhabiting the three governorates of Arbil, Sulaimanya, Dohuk, in parts of both Kirkuk and Nineva governorates. The majority of these are Sunni Muslims. There are also significant numbers of Yazidis, Kakeyís, Jews and Christians. Kurds comprise the ethnic majority in the region (about 95%) while the Turkmen, Assyrians, Armenians and Arabs who reside particularly in the western part of the area make up the rest.

The Kurds are an Iranian-speaking ethnolinguistic group indigenous to a region often referred to as Kurdistan, an area that includes adjacent parts of Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Turkey. Kurdish communities can also be found in Lebanon, Armenia, Azerbaijan and, in recent decades, some European countries and the United States.

The greatest Kurdish uprising in Iraqi Kurdistan began in 1961 under Mustafa Barzani and lasted until 1970, Which ended as a result of the treasonous Algeria's agreement between Iraq and Iran. Nevertheless the Kurdish revolt flared up again in 1976 in the mountains and valleys of Kurdistan defying deportation campaigns, Arabization and terrorism, and for years, especially in the eighties, the Kurdish people were subjected to brutal military campaigns and genocidal operations by chemical and biological weapons and the ill-famed Anfal operations. More than 4500 village and town were looted and burned by the bloody hands of the regime of Saddam Hussein, and to date the fate of more than 180 000 Kurdistani citizens remains unknown.

In 1991, after Persian Gulf War, northern Iraq's Kurdish area comes under international protection. Turkish, U.S., British, and French forces established a safe haven around Zakho and Duhok protected by a no-fly zone; this later expanded to include Erbil.

After the 2003 Invasion of Iraq Kurdish politicians were represented in the Iraqi governing council. The Kurdistan region's economy is dominated by the oil industry, agriculture and tourism. Due to relative peace in the region it has a more developed economy in comparison to other parts of Iraq.Since 2003, the stronger economy of Kurdistan has attracted around 20,000 Arab workers from Iraq. According to Iraqi president Jalal Talabani, since 2003 the number of millionaires in the Kurdish city of Sulêmani has increased from 12 to 2000, reflecting the high financial and economic growth of the region.

The stability of the Kurdistan region has allowed it to achieve a higher level of development than other regions in Iraq. With a population more of 6 million in an area larger than Switzerland or twice the size of New Jersey, In 2004 the per capita income was 25% higher than in the rest of Iraq. Two international airports at sulaimaniya and Arbil both operate flights to Middle Eastern and European destinations, such as to Berlin , Munich, and Copenhagen. The government continues to receive a portion of the revenue from Iraq's oil exports, and the government will soon implement a unified foreign investment law. To generate economic growth, The goverment also has plans to build a media city in Arbil and free trade zones near the borders of Turkey and Iran. The zone concept based on low tariffs, tax holidays, and other investment incentives could be an important component of their strategy. Than, The Ministry of Tourism has plans to promote the tourist sector in the Region by attracting local and foreign investors.

The Kurds have developed their own government in Kurdistan, with schools, police, courts and other public services, etc. They also have their own military force.Blessed with an agreeable climate, an abundant water supply, and rich, fertile soil, Kurdistan is becoming known as one of the most important locations in the world devoted to organically produced foods. Kurdistan also has beautiful scenery, archeological sites and history of religious tolerance. There are major factors which could help make Kurdistan into a popular tourist destination.Today the people of Kurdistan welcome the world to the 'other' Iraq, a place that has practiced democracy for over a decade. Kurdistan, a peaceful region in Iraq.