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Qubad Talabai: Iraq president's son
critical of Iraq study suggestions
7.12.2006 |
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WASHINGTON,
December 6,-- The son of Iraqi President Jalal
Talabani criticized on Wednesday a U.S. panel's view
that government control in Iraq should remain firmly
centralized rather than granting more power to the
regions.
Qubad Talabani, who is the Kurdistan representative
in Washington, said that recommendation alarmed many
in the Kurdish north who were pushing for more
autonomy.
"Many of us feel that centralized tyrannies have led
us to what we have today, which is a failed state,"
said the younger Talabani in a telephone interview,
adding he was not speaking on behalf of his father.
The report by the bipartisan Iraq Study Group, led
by former U.S. Secretary of State James Baker, said
the costs associated with devolving Iraq into three
semiautonomous regions with loose central control
would be too high.
"The United States should support as much as
possible central control by governmental authorities
in Baghdad, particularly on the question of oil
revenues," said the report, which was released on
Wednesday. |
Qubad J. Talabani, representative of Kurdistan's
government to the U.S.
Photo:CSIS |
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Senior Iraqi oil industry officials have pressed for
Iraq's national oil company to centralize revenue
distribution, but Kurdish leaders have aggressively
sought independent oil asset control, the report
said.
The issue of how powers are divided between Baghdad
and the regions is at the heart of bitter sectarian
and ethnic disputes in Iraq.
Talabani also took issue with the report's
suggestion that Iraq's problems should be tackled
from a regional perspective, with neighbors Iran and
Syria playing a role.
"We believe that Iraq's problems can be resolved by
Iraqis alone," said Talabani, who echoed the U.S.
view that Iran and Syria were meddling in Iran's
affairs.
He said Iran and Syria's cooperation should be
linked to practical issues such as securing border
areas rather than on political issues.
"They should not get involved in the nuts and bolts
of what is happening in Iraq," he said.
Control of Iraq's biggest northern oil field in
Kirkuk is a source of tension. The field lies
outside the current Kurdish region but Kurds want a
referendum to bring it into their area.
The Iraq report said the risk of further violence
sparked by a Kirkuk referendum was great.
"It is in no one's interest to keep kicking this can
down the road while tensions are brewing over Kirkuk.
We have to resolve it," said Talabani, referring to
the Kurds' call for a referendum.
Reuters
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