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As for these threats, we are not happy about it. We
reject the intervention of any foreign [troops]
especially Turkish troops, in Iraqi Kurdistan. [As
to] the argument that has been used [by Turkey]
regarding [the need to intervene against] the PKK in
the area, it is well known for everybody, especially
for the Turkish authority itself, that the PKK is
more active inside Turkey...not in Iraqi Kurdistan.
Having said that, we would like to have a good
relationship with the Turkish government, and we are
not intervening in Turkish internal affairs. At the
same time, we would not like to see others intervene
in the internal affairs of [Iraqi] Kurdistan.
RFE/RL:
Concerning the buildup of Turkish forces along the
border and their brief entry into Iraq, have any of
the Turkish troops remained inside Iraqi territory,
for example, at Bamarni Airport, or have they
remained on the other side of the border?
Hussein: Most of
the Turkish forces are on the other side of the
border, not inside [Iraqi] Kurdistan. But still,
building the military power on the border is a
threat, which has been published in the Turkish
media. And some members of the Turkish government
threatened intervention in Iraqi Kurdistan. Of
course, we are taking that seriously, and we are not
happy about it.
RFE/RL: We also
saw media reports this week that Iran continues to
bomb Kurdish villages inside Iraq.
Hussein: It
seems that a few days ago, Iran bombed some places
on the border area near Iraq...it's obvious that in
these areas there's some activities of the PKK. But
it's [taking place] on the border with Iran.
RFE/RL: It's
inside Iran or inside Iraq?
Hussein: The
area which has been bombed by Iran is inside Iraqi
Kurdistan.
RFE/RL: Turkish
media reported this week that trilateral meetings
were being held between the United States, Iraq, and
Turkey. Some of these meetings are reportedly taking
place in Baghdad. Are any representatives of the
Kurdistan Region government taking part in these
meetings?
Hussein: No,
according to my information, no representatives of
Iraqi Kurdistan [are taking part]. Anyway, [if]
there will be meetings between the Iraqi government,
and Turkish and American [governments], then it will
be clear that the Iraqi government also rejects this
[proposed] intervention in Iraqi Kurdistan. Iraqi
Kurdistan is part of Iraq, and any intervention in
Kurdistan means an intervention in Iraq.
RFE/RL: Who is
representing the Iraqi government at these meetings
in Baghdad?
Hussein: That I
don't know.
RFE/RL: Are
Kurdish officials concerned that talks are going on
in Baghdad without their participation?
Hussein: Baghdad
is the capital of Iraq and we [Kurds] are also in
Baghdad. Baghdad is not far away from us. I think it
would be good if any kind of conflict or
misunderstanding would be solved through
negotiations around a table. We will support
negotiations, we will support any talks.
But of course, we must be informed about the talks
and the agenda must not be against the Kurds. We are
part of this country; we are part of the Iraqi
system. If there is any negotiation in Baghdad about
the intervention...the Kurds must be there, and the
Kurds must be informed about it.
RFE/RL: But as
of now, Kurdish officials are not taking part in
these talks?
Hussein: I can't
comment on that because I don't have that
information. But I didn't hear that a meeting is
going on in Baghdad.
RFE/RL: This was
reported widely in the Turkish press. There are also
unconfirmed reports in the Turkish press this week
that the United States has agreed to take action by
bombing the Qandil Mountain range.
Hussein: I don't
think this information is correct.
RFE/RL: So,
you're not worried that the United States would take
unilateral steps against the PKK without consulting
the Kurds.
Hussein: No, I
think one must be realistic if one knows the
area...and the relationship between the U.S. and the
Kurdish authorities here. I think the information
which has been published in the Turkish press is not
right.
RFE/RL: Right
now, is the Kurdistan regional government
considering taking any action against the PKK?
Hussein: Where
are the PKK? We are not going to have military
action against anybody. There are refugees in
Kurdistan; we accept refugees in our area. But we
will not let, and we are not accepting, any
activities [being launched] from the Kurdistan area
against our neighboring countries. That is a
principle for us.
But at the same time, we would not like [our
neighbors] to intervene in our area. If the PKK are
moving on the border between Iran and Turkey, and in
areas that are not controlled by neither the Turkish
side nor the Iraqi side, or the Iranian side...so
what can you do with them? It is a border area [and]
it is more near the Turkish border than near the
Kurdish [Iraqi] border, [more] near the Iranian
border than near the Kurdish [Iraqi] border. It is
just on the border.
RFE/RL: What
will be the reaction of the Kurdistan regional
government if Turkey launches a military campaign in
the Qandil Mountain area.
Hussein: I think
that's a theoretical question. We think that all
these maneuvers and military [buildup] and the media
campaign [by Turkey] in the end has to do with some
tendency in the Turkish media and some tendency in
the Turkish military to raise the question and
especially [to compare it to] the situation in
Lebanon, and the intervention of the Israelis in
Lebanon.
I think the whole comparison is wrong, and the whole
situation is different. Iraq is not at war with
Turkey. The Kurds in Iraq want to have a good
relationship with Turkey and with other neighboring
countries. And we are not Hizballah, and Turkey is
not Israel. So, the whole campaign I think is
[related to] internal politics in Turkey.
RFE/RL: But the
Turkish government raised this issue long before the
current crisis in Lebanon erupted.
Hussein: But how
can they enter [Iraqi] Kurdistan? What does it mean?
Occupying the Kurdish cities? What does it mean,
"intervention." It is not a realistic plan. I don't
think they will do that.
RFE/RL: But as
we've seen, they've already entered the Kurdish
autonomous region.
Hussein: They
are not in Kurdish cities. They are not here. They
are on the border with Turkey.
RFE/RL: Are you
confident that the Kurdistan regional government and
[the central government in] Baghdad are in agreement
on how to address this issue, should some kind of
Turkish military campaign begin?
Hussein: I think
both sides, the Kurdistan regional government and
the Iraqi federal government would reject this
[incursion] if it happens.
RFE/RL: Is there
any kind of prepared response, other than to say,
"We reject this." Will the Kurdistan regional
government send peshmerga forces to respond to any
incursion? Is there an agreement now in place with
Baghdad as to how to respond?
Hussein: We have
peshmerga forces everywhere in Kurdistan. They are
in our cities; they are everywhere. So, if there was
to be an attack -- by the way, we are not expecting
[an attack] -- from the Turkish side.... I don't
know if they will bomb some areas on the
border...but an intervention from Turkey is not
expected. So, it is a theoretical question, that's
why I'm not answering it.
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