Kurdistan's President declares support for other regions; says Iraqi forces not yet able to protect the country.
Fresh off a diplomatic trip to several nations, including the United States, President Massoud Barzani speaks about Basra, SOFA, and relations between Turkey and Kurdistan Region.
The president of Iraqi Kurdistan Region, Massoud Barzani, announced his support for the establishment of a federal Basra region in southern Iraq. "We support other regions. Iraq is federal itself and we support and aid it [Basra region]," said President Barzani.
Thousands of Basra people are demanding that their province become a federal region, something that has mostly been rejected.
President Barzani insisted on consulting the Iraqi Constitution to solve the disputes between Erbil and Baghdad, and he renewed Kurds' support for the Iraqi-U.S. status of faorces agreement (SOFA).
"Our relations are organized by a Constitution. It's normal if sometimes difference occur between two sides or while interpreting an item of the Constitution. Doubtlessly, the Constitution governs; we are committed to the Constitution, and if they hold their commitment to it too, the solution will be much easier," said President Barzani during a press conference in Erbil on Wednesday. The President had been on a two-week visit to several countries, including the United States.
On the Kurdish role in the SOFA negotiations, President Barzani said: "The agreement will have no impact, positive or negative, on the situations in Kurdistan Region, as there are no U.S. troops in Kurdistan Region at all. No security or administration vacancy ever happened in Kurdistan after the [former] system collapsed."
President Barzani gave assurances that "the agreement provides Iraq a protection to its properties, provides Iraq a big international political support, and provides Iraq a military cover that it lacks now. Iraqi forces are incapable of protecting Iraq's air and border or even in confronting internal terror."
The security agreement, which is supposed to be signed between Baghdad and Washington, authorizes the presence of U.S. troops for another three years after the UN mandate expires at the end of 2008. "Thus, the agreement is in favor of Iraq's interest," said President Barzani. "The deal is not a good one, but it is better than any other alternative."
He warned of serious consequences if the SOFA goes unsigned. "If it is not signed, the Iraqi military and police will not be ready to keep security and the situation will worsen; this is according to a report by the Iraqi Defense Minister, which he presented during a meeting October 12. Also, civil war may occur."
The President revealed that Iraq's Finance Minister said there are US$1 trillion in lawsuits against Iraq by several individuals and companies. "Without this agreement, some of those lawsuits may be renewed, and then any court in Europe will be able block Iraq's money."
Regarding neighboring countries' fears about the security deal, Barzani said they have the right to demand that Iraq and American forces not sign an agreement that allows Iraqi land to become a base for launching attacks on them. But, he added, "If they interfere, whether the agreement is signed or not, this will be regarded as clear interference within Iraq's affairs."
Regarding Kurdistan Region relations with neighboring Turkey, President Barzani, who replied in English, said that relations between the two sides are not secret as both parts have already met. He said the time will come to make relations between the two sides more public, and he hopes this does not take long.
Asked whether he has been invited to Ankara and whether U.S. President George W. Bush had a big role in improving relations between Kurdistan Region and Turkey, Barzani noted, "Of course the U.S. had an important role, and they like that these relations are being rebuilt; this is true, but it was never a plan for me to visit Turkey. I may visit [Turkey], but it was not planned on this last journey."
© The Kurdish Globe 2008
