Kosrat Rasul Ali

Kosrat Rasul Ali
Leader of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan
Acting
Assumed office
3 October 2017
Preceded by Jalal Talabani
Vice President of Iraqi Kurdistan
In office
14 June 2005 – 1 November 2017
President Masoud Barzani
2nd Prime Minister of Kurdistan (PUK)
In office
26 April 1993 – 21 January 2001
President Jalal Talabani
Personal details
Born 1952 (age 65–66)
Political party Patriotic Union of Kurdistan

Kosrat Rasul Ali, also known as Kosret Rasoul Ali, is an Iraqi Kurdish politician, First Deputy for the Secretary General of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK),[1] veteran Peshmerga military leader, Second Prime Minister of KRG and Vice President of the Kurdistan Region.[2]

Early life

He was born in 1952 as Abdulla Rasul in the oil-rich village of Shiwashok near the city of Koya which is in the province of Erbil. His father was Rasul Ali, who worked for the oil company near the village. The family was well known in the area.[3]

Peshmerga

Kosrat has reputation for ferocity in a country where everyone considers himself a fighter,[4] Kosrat's body is a roadmap of scars[5]

In 1975, Kosrat joined the Kurdistan Democratic Party and participated in the September Revolution led by Mullah Mustafa Barzani.[6] At the end of 1975, he joined Komala and took over supervision of student activities.[7] He founded the Kurdistan Students Group in Kirkuk with a number of his colleagues in 1976.[8] Kosrat was arrested in 1977 by Baath Party security services in Kirkuk for organizing political activities, and was released the same year.[9] After his release from prison, he rejoined Peshmerga fighters.[10] In 1981, Kosrat became a politburo member of the Komala party and director of its secret branches.[11] Kosrat assumed leadership roles in the PUK, taking control in 1984-5 of the party's Third and Fourth Centers.[12] Kosrat is known as the strongman of Erbil city and its surroundings[13] he has a reputation for bravery[14]

During the 1991 Kurdistan March Uprisings, he served as a prominent Peshmerga commander, responsible for liberating the cities of Erbil and Kirkuk.[15] In Erbil the people had attempted to liberate the city but were unsuccessful. Alongside the Pesharmga the people of Erbil managed to liberate the city on 11 March and Kosrat was the first commander to enter. He walked from the city citadel to the governors office alongside the people, Kosrat, as a native of Erbil, enjoyed huge support within the city and is described as being charismatic figure[16]

As a Peshmerga commander, he led an assault on al-Qaeda-linked Ansar al-Islam forces in 2003, dislodging the group from its stronghold.[17]

Under the leadership of Kosrat, Kurdish forces launched a large-scale military operation to further push back ISIS and eliminate threats on the city of Kirkuk and its oilfields. He then illegally occupied the city, with the help of Peshmerga.[18] he states what has been conquered with Kurdish blood shall remain Kurdish soil.[19]

Former director of International Crisis Group Joost Hiltermann describes Kosrat as vigorous, razor sharp and articulate, and holds a commanding presence despite his ailment which derives from shrapnel lodged in his body.[20]

Patriotic Union of Kurdistan

Kosrat is the first deputy Secretary General of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan and currently acting secretary general performing the duties of Jalal Talabani, he is recognised as the most senior leader in the PUK and chairs all politburo[21] and leadership council meetings.[22]

Iraqi Kurdistan Parliament

In 1992 elected as Member of Kurdistan Parliament.[23]

Kurdistan Regional Government

Kosrat held the post of prime minister from 1993 to 2001, in the second cabinet (1993-1996) and third cabinet (1996-2001).[24] he was succeeded by Barham Salih in 2001. The U.S. state department in a Wikileaks cable describes his tenure as Prime Minister as largely well regarded as a populist leader.[25]

Kurdistan Presidency Council

Kosrat has held the post of Vice President twice 2005 to 2009 and 2009 to present.[26] As vice president he is deputy commander in chief of the Peshmerga.[27] He has called on Turkey to return to peace talks[28] Kosrat has long reiterated the need to forge a single Kurdish army[29] Kosrat has said that Kurds can accomplish their goals if they are united and Kurdish independence is not a dream[30]

PUK Gorran Agreement

The 25-point agreement aimed at coordination on strategic issues between the two parties[31] was signed by the PUK’s Kosrat Rasul Ali and Gorran’s Nawshirwan Mustafa, with all other senior party leaders present.[32]

Personal life

In retaliation for his role as leader of the Peshmerga in the Erbil province, Saddam's Baathist regime killed two of his sons in an airstrike in 1987; they were aged 9 and 10. Kosrat's two surviving sons are prominent military and political figures, his first son Shalaw is a member of the joint PUK and Gorran council, which is the most senior leadership body of both parties; and he also has a military background and was wounded in the battle to retake Mosul in 2016, where five accompanying Peshmerga were killed. [33] Kosrat's second son Darbaz is Minister of Housing and Reconstruction in the eighth cabinet of the Kurdistan Regional Government.[34] Kosrat was seriously injured in fighting in 1985, and continues to suffer from wounds to his neck.[35]

References

  1. ↑ "The Political Bureau set a date for the Leadership Council meeting". PUKMEDIA. Retrieved 20 February 2017.
  2. ↑ Lawrence, Quil (26 May 2009). Invisible Nation How the Kurds' Quest for Statehood Is Shaping Iraq and the Middle East (1st ed.). USA: Bloomsbury Publishing USA. p. 49. ISBN 9780802718815.
  3. ↑ "KDP - PUK RELATIONS: CABINET NEGOTIATIONS SHOW CRACKS". Wikileaks. Retrieved 20 February 2017.
  4. ↑ Lawrence, Quil (26 May 2009). Invisible Nation How the Kurds' Quest for Statehood Is Shaping Iraq and the Middle East (1st ed.). USA: Bloomsbury Publishing USA. p. 106. ISBN 9780802718815.
  5. ↑ Lawrence, Quil (26 May 2009). Invisible Nation: How the Kurds' Quest for Statehood Is Shaping Iraq and the Middle East (1st ed.). USA: Bloomsbury Publishing USA. p. 90. ISBN 9780802718815.
  6. ↑ "KDP - PUK RELATIONS: CABINET NEGOTIATIONS SHOW CRACKS". Wikileaks. Retrieved 20 February 2017.
  7. ↑ "KDP - PUK RELATIONS: CABINET NEGOTIATIONS SHOW CRACKS". Wikileaks. Retrieved 20 February 2017.
  8. ↑ "KDP - PUK RELATIONS: CABINET NEGOTIATIONS SHOW CRACKS". Wikileaks. Retrieved 20 February 2017.
  9. ↑ "KDP - PUK RELATIONS: CABINET NEGOTIATIONS SHOW CRACKS". Wikileaks. Retrieved 20 February 2017.
  10. ↑ "KDP - PUK RELATIONS: CABINET NEGOTIATIONS SHOW CRACKS". Wikileaks. Retrieved 20 February 2017.
  11. ↑ "KDP - PUK RELATIONS: CABINET NEGOTIATIONS SHOW CRACKS". Wikileaks. Retrieved 20 February 2017.
  12. ↑ "KDP - PUK RELATIONS: CABINET NEGOTIATIONS SHOW CRACKS". Wikileaks. Retrieved 20 February 2017.
  13. ↑ Dawod, Hosham (2006). The Kurds: Nationalism and Politics (1st ed.). 178: Saqi. ISBN 0863568254.
  14. ↑ Galbraith, Peter W. (2008). The End of Iraq: How American Incompetence Created a War Without End. Simon and Schuster. p. 62. ISBN 1847396127.
  15. ↑ "KDP - PUK RELATIONS: CABINET NEGOTIATIONS SHOW CRACKS". Wikileaks. Retrieved 20 February 2017.
  16. ↑ Stansfield, Gareth R. V. (29 Aug 2003). Iraqi Kurdistan: Political Development and Emergent Democracy. Routledge. pp. 150, 151. ISBN 1134414161.
  17. ↑ "KDP - PUK RELATIONS: CABINET NEGOTIATIONS SHOW CRACKS". Wikileaks. Retrieved 20 February 2017.
  18. ↑ "Peshmerga continue Kirkuk push after evicting ISIS from key oilfields". Retrieved 20 February 2017.
  19. ↑ "Italian-trained Kurds itch to liberate Mosul from Isis". Retrieved 20 February 2017.
  20. ↑ Hiltermann, Joost. "Kurd leaders need to stick together". The New York Times. Retrieved 20 February 2017.
  21. ↑ "PUK abides by political agreement with Gorran". Retrieved 20 February 2017.
  22. ↑ "PUK's Leadership Council to convene today". PUKMEDIA. Retrieved 22 February 2017.
  23. ↑ "KDP - PUK RELATIONS: CABINET NEGOTIATIONS SHOW CRACKS". Wikileaks. Retrieved 20 February 2017.
  24. ↑ Hazelton, Fran (1994). Iraq since the Gulf war: prospects for democracy (1st ed.). University of Michigan: Zed Books. p. 132. ISBN 1856492311.
  25. ↑ "KDP - PUK RELATIONS: CABINET NEGOTIATIONS SHOW CRACKS". Wikileaks.
  26. ↑ Evans, Mike (May 2007). The Final Move Beyond Iraq: The Final Solution While the World Sleeps. FrontLine. p. 197. ISBN 978-1-59979-188-3. Retrieved 8 August 2011.
  27. ↑ "Peshmerga continue Kirkuk push after evicting ISIS from key oilfields". Rudaw. Retrieved 20 February 2017.
  28. ↑ Battistini, Francesco (12 December 2016). "Il Leone dei curdi "La Turchia? In crisi ma Erdogan pensa solo al suo potere"Il Leone dei curdi "La Turchia? In crisi ma Erdogan pensa solo al suo potere"". Corriere. Retrieved 14 February 2017.
  29. ↑ Fumerton, Mario (23 July 2014). "Kurdistan's Political Armies: The Challenge of Unifying the Peshmerga Forces". Carnegie. Retrieved 14 February 2017.
  30. ↑ "PUK official: A unified Kurdistan necessary for tomorrow's challenges". Retrieved 20 February 2017.
  31. ↑ "Full Text: Gorran, PUK agreement". Retrieved 20 February 2017.
  32. ↑ "Rival Kurdistan Region parties sign deal to end political stalemate, develop relations". Rudaw. Retrieved 20 February 2017.
  33. ↑ "PESHMERGA SON OF KRG VP WOUNDED IN MOSUL BATTLE". NRT. Retrieved 20 February 2017.
  34. ↑ "Darbaz Kosrat Rasul - Minister of Housing and Reconstruction". Kurdistan Regional Government.
  35. ↑ "KDP - PUK RELATIONS: CABINET NEGOTIATIONS SHOW CRACKS". Wikileaks. Retrieved 20 February 2017.
Party political offices
Preceded by
Jalal Talabani		 Leader of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan
Acting
2017–present		 Incumbent
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