An open letter to:
Mr Masud Barzani, President, KDP
Mr Jalal Talabani, Secretary General, PUK
Mr Nevcherwan Barzani, Prime minister, KRG, Hawler.
Mr Fatah Omer, Prime minister, KRG, Suleimani
Support Koya University
News of the inauguration of the University of Koya (KU) was received with great joy, celebration and optimism. The project was long overdue and it deserves the support of every Kurd.
Koya, the cradle of numerous social, religious, scientific and political leaders, was for centuries a focal centre of education and training. With KoyaÂ’s strategic location, economical potential and educated population, the city is more than capable of hosting a great university. With appropriate support from the other Kurdistani Universities and other fellow Kurds, the success of KU will be more than secure. As you know Duhok University, despite all odds, reached the sky in less than a decade. No doubt the same will be true for many other major towns of Kurdistan.
The decision of establishing the KU was made in the Regional Governement of Suleimani. In Hawler, Mr Nechiravan Barzani has reportedly offered his full support to KU and has encouraged the senior academics in Salahaddin University to do their best to help. However, many fellow Kurds, including those holding key positions in Baghadad and Hawler are questioning the wisdom of having KU and are not pulling their weight to recognise or support KU.
There are far fewer Universities in Kurdistan per population than any other segment of Iraq, Iran, Turkey or Syria. Kurdistan needs few more universities before it can supply its vast growing population with graduates and rise to the level of civilised nations. If we wait for quality, it may be decades before Kurdistan reaches optimal capacity. We should not act as our own best enemies and play into the hand of anti-Kurds.
It is time now for the Kurdish authorities in Suleimany and Hawler to undo SaddamÂ’s legacy, build the urgently needed major institutions in Kurdistan and face the future with great confidence. It is time to build our nation as expediently and comprehensively as possible and KU must be allowed to contribute its share of this process.
We ask you and your members within the interim Iraqi Government to publicly acknowledge, recognise and support Koya University.