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KNCNA: On Iraq Study Group Report
10.12.2006
The Kurdish National Congress of North America |
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On Iraq Study Group
Report
The Kurdish National Congress of North America
PRESS RELEASE
After a long wait for a fresh idea to the
deteriorating state of Iraq, the so called expert
analysis of the Iraq Study Group failed to offer any
fair and just solutions.
The report failed to recognize that one goal of the
war to bring institutional democracy to Iraq and the
Middle East, while it recommend to review the Iraqi
constitution which goes up against the basic
principle of democracy and the vision of President
Bush for new democracy in the region.
Members of the ISG did not visit Kurdistan Region
which is considered a huge shortcoming by the Kurds.
The report plays to the wishes of the Turkish and
Arab governments and ignore the rights of their only
ally in Iraq, Kurdish people. The group did not
visit Kurdistan nor consult with the Kurdish
leadership.
The report ignores the wishes of 80% of Iraqis who
participated in democratic elections. It recommends
reviewing of the constitution to appease minority
Iraqi Sunni population and neighboring countries.
The Kurdish leadership wholly dismisses the report
because it does not recognize the Iraqi constitution
which is the major factor to keep Iraq together.
Some major recommendations which contradict the
rights of the Iraqi people and especially the
Kurdish people are:
RECOMMENDATION 26: Constitution review.
Review of the constitution is essential to national
reconciliation and should be pursued on an urgent
basis. The United Nations has expertise in this
field, and should play a role in this process. This
is against the core principle of democracy. The
people of Iraq overwhelmingly voted for this
constitution. Changing the constitution without
going through the right process set up in the
constitution is very dangerous and sets back the
process of building a democratic society and culture
in Iraq and consequently for the region.
RECOMMENDATION 28: Oil revenue sharing. Oil
revenues should accrue to the central government and
be shared on the basis of population. No formula
that gives control over revenues from future fields
to the regions or gives control of oil fields to the
regions is compatible with national reconciliation.
This will take away the right of the regional
government to exercise their rights according to the
Iraqi constitution.
If the Kurdish leadership give up this right in
drafting the new Iraqi national oil law where the
Shiite and Sunni in agreement against the Kurds to
give the power on the oil revenue to the central
government then it will be another economic disaster
for the Kurdish people to secure their future in
rebuilding the Kurdistan region.
RECOMMENDATION 30: Kirkuk. Given the very
dangerous situation in Kirkuk, international
arbitration is necessary to avert communal violence.
Kirkuk’s mix of Kurdish, Arab, and Turkmen
populations could make it a powder keg. A referendum
on the future of Kirkuk (as required by the Iraqi
Constitution before the end of 2007) would be
explosive and should be delayed. This issue should
be placed on the agenda of the International Iraq
Support Group as part of the New Diplomatic
Offensive. This is against the constitution and it
gives in to the pressure from Turkey and the Arab
countries also support the continuation of
Arbaization policy.
RECOMMENDATION 50: The entire Iraqi National
Police should be transferred to the Ministry of
Defense, where the police commando units will become
part of the new Iraqi Army. Similarly, the Iraqi
Border Police are charged with a role that bears
little resemblance to ordinary policing, especially
in light of the current flow of foreign fighters,
insurgents, and weaponry across Iraq’s borders and
the need for joint patrols of the border with
foreign militaries. Thus the natural home for the
Border Police is within the Ministry of Defense,
which should be the authority for controlling Iraq’s
borders.
This will eliminate the Peshmarga as Border Police
and the Regional Army force while they did ignore
the fact they should eliminate the militias who
fought against American forces and killed American
soldiers Instead the ISG wishes to dissolve their
allied forces. The Regional Army forces, which part
of it has been assigned the task of protecting the
borders, have been very effective in controlling and
stopping terrorists from crossing into
Iraqi/Kurdistan. This role should not be changed, on
the contrary, it should be strengthened and have
them better equipped and trained by the U.S., the
Regional Army forces are the only protecting forces
the Kurdish people have, and the Kurdish Regional
Government must not give up the command of these
forces to anyone until it see real stability and
security in Iraq and especially in Kurdistan region,
then the Kurdish parliament must approve such hand
over of these forces.
Kurdish National Congress demands that the Kurdish
voice be heard and direct talks must be held with
the Kurdish leadership before any steps are taken to
implement any part of these so called “expert”
recommendations. Otherwise it will be a clear
violation to the Iraqi constitution that gives the
Kurdish people the right for self- determination.
Although 98% of the Kurdish population voted for
independence in a referendum, the KRG volunteered to
remain part of Iraq to promote federalism and a
peaceful coexistence. If these basic principles are
ignored, Kurds in Iraq should utilize their natural
right of self determination and declare independence
of Southern Kurdistan.
Kurdish National Congress of North America
www.kncna.org
The Kurdish National Congress of North America
P.O. Box 1663,
Lake Forest, CA 92630
USA
Tel/Fax: 949-583-1417
1975 St. Laurent Blvd
Ottawa, ON
K1G3S7, CANADA
Tel 613-216-1427
P.O. Box 545
Millersville, MD 21108
USA
Tel: 408-834-5557
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