Nechervan Idris Barzani

Nechirvan Idris Barzani (Kurdish: نێچیرڤان به‌رزانی), or Kurdish: Nêçîrvan Îdrîs Barzanî) (born September 21, 1966) is a Kurdish politician in Iraqi Kurdistan. He served as the prime minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government from March 2006 to August 2009. He is a grandson of KDP (Kurdistan Democratic Party) founder Mustafa Barzani and nephew of the president of Iraqi Kurdistan Region, Massoud Barzani.

Background

Barzani was born in 1966 in the Barzan region of Southern Kurdistan. The word Nêçîr means hunt in the Kurdish language, and Nêçîrvan means the hunter. This is a name used for ethnic Kurdish males. Barzani as a surname reflects the individual's origin from Barzan. In 1974, his family was forced into exile in Iran. He often accompanied his father, Idris, on official visits to Middle Eastern and European countries, a foreshadowing of his future political career. Following the sudden death of his father, he took up an active role in Kurdish politics, working in KDP youth organizations.

Political activity

Barzani was elected to the KDP central committee at its 10th Congress in 1989 and re-elected at the 11th Congress in 1993, when he assumed a position in the political bureau. After the 1991 Gulf War, he participated in the negotiations with the Iraqi government. In 1996, he was appointed deputy prime minister of the Kurdistan Democratic Party's controlled region in Iraqi Kurdistan. Following the unification process in 2005 between the main Kurdish parties and the formation of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), elections were held. In 2006, Barzani was selected as the Prime Minister of the KRG. His term was expected to end in 2008 but after an agreement by the majority coalition in power, Barzani's term was extended until the elections of 2009.

Many of Barzani's supporters believe that he has played an important role in developing the Kurdistan Region. During his term as prime minister, his supporters nicknamed his cabinet as, "The Development Cabinet" praising his work in the development of the Kurdistan region. Washington & Jefferson College presented Barzani with honorary degree and the ceremony was held on May 17, 2008. ^[1]

References