We've been losing wars forever; it's what we Kurds do best . . . We are like the little guy at the bar who wants to fight all the big men. We get beaten up by one, then get up off the floor and go for another. Over and over. A lifetime of war, can you imagine? - Dr Ahmet Talzani

We've always been under sanctions. Even under all those sanctions we have made the growth thus far, so I am not afraid.… If you wish to lift the sanctions then lift them, or if you wish to impose sanctions then impose them. I do not care. We will improve our economy even further no matter what.

The Kurds are part of our people. They were oppressed, just like we were, and it is our duty to protect and defend them, and to let them return to some villages from which they were displaced during the period of the revolution. This is our duty. On the basis of these principles... With regard to the militants in northeast Syria – all the weapons should be held exclusively by the state. Militants who are qualified to join the Ministry of Defense will be welcome there. On the basis of these terms and principles, we will open negotiations track with SDF, and inshallah, we will find a suitable solution through dialogue.

Declaration of a state(Kurdistan) is the legitimate right of the Kurdish nation. This goal should be realized, but without resorting to violence.

This war is not only a military war, but also a life war. It renews the society, renews the culture, renews the spirit, renews the brain and politics. Every Kurd knows that this is his/her rebirth.

We know that threats and sanctions from the enemy have brought difficulties to the management of the country, but there are also considerable sacred, popular, economic and international capabilities that can help us overcome these challenges.

If the civilized world was serious about sanctions, it would sever all ties with autocratic regimes that attempt to redraw national boundaries via force.

Zero trade, zero Internet connectivity, zero money flows, zero visas.