|
Kurds recall historic betrayal: possible
U.S.-Iran talks
24.3.2006
|
|
|
|
For some Kurds, the
issue of Iran-U.S. talks is of special concern.
Kurds claim they were betrayed by Iran and the
United States after Iran concluded the 1975 Algiers
Accord with Saddam Hussein.
The accord, demarcating the Iran-Iraq border, led
the Shah of Iran to withdraw his support for Iraq's
Kurds. The United States followed suit, leaving the
Kurds to fend for themselves against Hussein.
Nevertheless, Iran's borders were open to fleeing
Iraqi Kurds -- and Shi'a -- during crucial periods
in the 1980s and 1990s and many would argue that
countless Iraqi lives were saved as a result.
|
Iraqi
President : Jalal Talabani
Photo: Reuters |
Iraqi President Jalal Talabani, for one, has backed
the talks. "I am one of those who support this and
worked for this purpose. When I visited Tehran, I
met with Iranian officials and raised this issue
with them, since I believe that the Iraqi problem
has become an international problem....
If this action serves Iraq and its sovereignty and
independence -- provided there is no interference in
its domestic affairs -- and if it serves security
and stability, prevents infiltrations, and ends
terrorism...then this is welcome," Talabani said at
a March 19 press briefing in Baghdad.
Meanwhile, Fu'ad Husayn, spokesman for Kurdistan
Regional President Mas'ud Barzani, told RFI in a
March 20 interview that he believes the Kurdistan
Coalition has no official position on the talks. "We
must be realistic, as the borders of Iraq are open
and every [neighboring] country has some influence
in this country.
It may be better, and maybe in the Iraqi interest,
that these countries arrive at concluding agreements
amongst themselves," Husayn said. "If the agreements
are in the interest of Iraq, then why not?" He did
caution, however, that the talks should not be held
at the expense of the Kurdish issue.
Independent Kurdish politician Mahmud Uthman said
that Iraq must be represented at any talks. "The
dialogue between Iran and the United States alone
will be at the expense of Iraq's interests," Uthman
told London-based "Al-Hayat," the daily reported on
March 18.
www.rferl.org
Top |
Kurd Net
does not take credit for and is not responsible for the content of news
information on this page
|
® 