Erbil, Kurdistan – Iraq (KRG.org) - On the 22nd anniversary of the chemical bombing of Halabja, Prime Minister Barham Salih said that its recognition as an act of genocide and the prosecution of the perpetrators provided some justice and consolation for the people of the city. He said that nevertheless nothing could compensate for the lives lost in the crime.

Speaking at a Halabja commemoration ceremony in Erbil on Tuesday March 16th, the Kurdistan Regional Government Prime Minister said, “I thank all those countries who helped the Kurds at a time when not many were concerned. It is our duty is to take to court those companies that sold chemical weapons to Saddam Hussein, and to prove our case to the international courts and organisations”.

Representatives of political parties, diplomatic missions and many others attended the ceremony in remembrance of more than 5,000 men, women and children who were killed by the Ba’ath regime’s chemical bombardment of Halabja in 1988.

Prime Minister Salih said, “It is our mandate to improve the living standards of the people of Halabja, and with that in mind we decided to increase the salaries of families and dependants of the fallen, and to resolve their housing issues. Compared to previous years, the development of Halabja can be seen and felt.”

The Prime Minister announced the establishment of a university in Halabja, which is part of “the efforts in the process of turning Halabja into a governorate. We have also decided to strengthening the local administration and consolidate decentralisation.”

Dr Salih noted that Iraq’s general election, another milestone in the new Iraq’s democratic development, was held just days before the 22nd anniversary of the Halabja massacre. “This is why we need to be united and loyal to those who lost their lives for this cause” he said.

He concluded by saying, “We will continue to make every effort to prevent such a tragedy from ever happening again and we are here today because Halabja must never be forgotten.”