|
Massoud Barzani: We are bound by a united
Iraq, as long as Iraq is abiding by the current
constitution
21.2.2008
|
|
|
 |
February
21, 2008
KUWAIT,-- Kurdistan Regional Government
President Massoud Barzani Wednesday addressed the
question of Kurdish independence saying, "As long as
Iraq is abiding by the current constitution, we are
bound by a united Iraq." "We are a major and
important part of the government of Iraq and we are
not in opposition.
It is natural to have differences of opinion but on
the core national and strategic issues, we are part
of the state and have an understanding with the
federal government," said Barzani of the sometimes
at odds Kurdistan capital of Erbil and the federal
capital Baghdad. "We will send a delegation to
Baghdad to resolve the technical problems which have
marred the relationship of late. We hope to reach a
solution," he said at Kuwait's Bayan Palace on
Wednesday.
The problems are not grave. If they cannot be
resolved, we have to search for other solutions. But
all of them will be in the interests of Iraq," he
added. |
Massoud Barzani, the President of the autonomous Regional
Government of Kurdistan 'Iraq' |
Kurdistan, which is situated on about one-fifth of
Iraq's oil reserves, has become known as Iraq's boom
town with its thriving oil sector, experiencing
little of the violence and problems of the violence
plagued in Baghdad. The Kurdish government has major
problems with the Baghdad located federal government
over its independent oil development. Barzani
answered long held allegations by the Iraqi oil
minister that all oil contracts are illegal unless
they go through the federal government. "We have not
taken any steps that contradict the Iraqi
constitution. We are ready to review any step which
is contrary to the constitution," he added.
The region has continued to award oil exploration
and development contracts to foreign oil companies
despite the federal oil ministers long held
objections. Barzani commented,www.ekurd.net
"Regrettably, the
position of the oil minister is a political position
and not a legislative one. So we do not recognize
the decisions or orders which he is making that are
not in line with the constitution and the laws of
the state." He furthered, "We urge the oil minister
to correct his position because according to the
constitution n, oil and gas is owned by all Iraqis
and the revenues should be divided between all the
Iraqi people justly.
Everyone agrees on that principle." In the end he
said, "We hope to gain a mutual understanding. We
have a constitution, and it will be the judge.
Barzani blamed the state's long overdue hydrocarbon
law on Baghdad saying, "The stalling of the
hydrocarbon law is not from our side but from the
federal government. Let this law go to the
Parliament in order to implement it, and end the
problem.
KT asked Barzani who was responsible for the
problems in Iraq's trouble ridden Kirkuk, to which
he responded by saying, "Regrettably, those inside
Iraq stirring the problems are implementing someone
else's foreign agenda." He went on to laud Kuwait
for its avoidance of involvement with Iraq's
internal matters saying, "We have not seen any
Kuwaiti interference in the internal matters of
Iraq." Furthering, "There are a lot of regional
countries that are interfering and are stirring
problems in Iraq.
Kirkuk has been the subject of much attention over
its ethnic identity and accusations of forced
immigration of Arab families. Barzani clarified the
status of Kirkuk saying, "Kirkuk is an Iraqi city
with a Kurdish identity and must go back to the
region of Kurdistan in accordance with the
constitution." Barzani challenged allegations of
forced removals of Arab families from Kirkuk saying,www.ekurd.net
"There is no forced
exodus of Arab families. This is nothing more than
false accusations." He said the assertions
were,manufactured to stir things up, and who is
stirring these problems, I cannot say but they are
very obvious.
Barzani explained that Arab families were moved to
Kirkuk under the regime of Saddam Hussein and these
families should have the choice to stay or to leave
and be compensated. "The Kurdish families should
also have the choice to come to Kirkuk and be
compensated for their losses. This is not mandatory,
only by choice, who comes back or stays," said
Barzani. "After this process is complete, there
should be a census and then a vote and the people of
the area will decide where they want to be," he said
referring to whether Kirkuk would ultimately be a
part of Kurdistan or another region.
Kurdistan and Turkey have been at odds over
militants from the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), a
Northern Territory Iraq based group, which has been
engaged in military actions against Turkey inside
the Turkish border. Turkey has left open its option
for military action inside Iraq against the PKK and
has massed tens of thousands of troops on the border
of the region, Barzani stated, "It is a rugged
mountainous region, 500 kilometers long and from 40
to 100 kilometers deep.
There is no power or army in the world that can
control this region. We respect the Turkish
sovereignty and security and we have no problem with
Turkey, but sometimes Turkey wants to export its
internal crisis to others," said Barzani who added,
"We wish that the tension will not escalate more
than what has already happened. We will work with
all our effort to overcome the problems. You cannot
solve this problem with military action, only
peacefully.
Barzani and his Kurdish brethren were severely
oppressed and victims to gassings of entire
villages, mass forced immigrations and other horrors
under Saddam Hussein. "I believe that our brothers
in Kuwait feel the suffering of the Kurdish people
just like the Kurds feel the suffering of the
Kuwaiti people. We both have suffered from an
oppressive regime," he added.
President Barzani left Kuwait on Wednesday after a
two-day visit in which he met with HH the Crown
Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah. He noted of
the exchange, "I suggested to the Crown Prince that
we have a joint international conference to search
for missing Kuwaitis and Kurds.
kuwaittimes net
Top |
Kurd Net
does not take credit for and is not responsible for the content of news
information on this page
|
® 