and occupation" and seeks to ensure freedom and progress .

Barzani said in a congratulatory message recalled the events of March and Nowruz holiday, briefed by " Shafaq News " , that “Kurdistan people has sacrificed generation after generation , pointing out that a new generation has grown up and does not accept any form of " dictatorship and occupation," and works to ensure freedom and progress.

Barzani added that the Kurdish uprising in March 1991 is not just an incident recorded in the pages of history and is being reminded every year , but it's an eternal message addressed to the whole world that Kurds do not accept " slavery."

He recalled during his speech , the events that have passed in March during the political history of Kurds , including chemical attacks on Halabja city by the former regime and the Convention on the anniversary of the declaration of 11th of March agreement , the beginning of the Kurdish year and Nowruz holiday .

Barzani pointed out that the Kurdish popular uprising in 1991, in which its supporters andPeshmarga have participated with all parties without discrimination in ideas and stood up to the dictatorship and occupation , noting that the victory of the uprising was a message that the Kurds were united in their positions and their voices, there is no force that can stand in the way of their goals .

He added that this victory has made Kurdistan a safe haven for all the oppressed Iraqis , noting that even after the fall of the Baathist regime , there is a vast difference in coexistence , peace and reconstruction between Kurdistan Region and the rest of Iraq .

He went on and that this is evidence of the fact that the Kurds embrace peace and " their rights should not be taken again but they must not be treated with language of threat and political and economic siege ."

March occupies a special place in the hearts of Kurds because it coincided with the passage of many occasions in its history , some happy and others painful .

On 21 March , Nowruz festival and the New Kurdish Year take place on 11 March as March agreement between the leaders of the Kurdish liberation movement led by Gen. Mustafa Barzani and the Iraqi government had been announced , which recognized many of the national rights of Kurds .

Kurds recalls painfully the anniversary of ending the armed revolution after Iraq and Iran had signed the Convention on March 6, 1975 , and on 16 March 1988 the former regime stroke Halabja city with chemical weapons and followed it by Anfal operations that had been carried out on eight stages and killed about 200 000 civilians as well as the destruction of about five thousands villages according to local and international reports .