SULAIMANI (ESTA) — President of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) Bafel Talabani Saturday reiterated support for the Kurdistan Region university students as they are protesting to improve the education conditions.
The university students have renewed last year’s protests in Sulaimani, calling for further improvement of education conditions at the universities on Sunday.
PUK President sent out a statement for the students, vowing that PUK will support the students before the students unleash the protests.
“You are that innovator generation that our country needs your capabilities and skills, it constructed great hope on your future potential,” Talabani said.
“We considered as our duty to support and continue our efforts to secure your financial entitlements and other studying needs,” Talabani added.
PUK President stressed that he will support all civil activities of the students far from violence or making a negative impact on the people’s livelihoods.
He also called upon students to assist the security forces in protecting their own security as well as our people.
“Together we step toward a brighter future,” Talabani quoted.
It is worth mentioning that last year thousands of university and institute students protested in the Kurdistan Region, calling on the government to resume payment of their monthly stipends which were halted since 2014.
Students were paid 30,000-100,000 Iraqi dinars ($20.5-$68.5) per month.
Ultimately students were able to restore the payment especially after the endeavors were made by President Talabani.
Back then, Talabani met with representatives of the objector students several times and promised to support their demands.
In the meantime, Talabani tasked PUK governmental team to spare no efforts to restore the stipends and do everything possible to resolve their issues.
