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We are all united when it comes to Kurdish
national rights: PUK’s Hakim Qadir
6.7.2012 |
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Hakim Qadir, the director of the executive committee
of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) Photo:
Facebook
Hakim Qadir: More Than
Ever, Kurds Need to Preserve Unity
July 6, 2012
SULAIMANIYAH,
Kurdistan region 'Iraq', — In this interview
with Rudaw.net, Hakim Qadir, the director of the
executive committee of the Patriotic Union of
Kurdistan (PUK), speaks about the political
situation in Iraq and his party’s stance towards
Iraqi PM Nuri al-Maliki and the Change Movement (Gorran).
Q: How does the
PUK evaluate the current situation of Iraq?
Hakim Qadir: We
believe the current political situation in Iraq is
very bad and, if the players in the political arena
do not act responsibly towards each other, it will
get even worse.
Now more than ever we need to put aside personal
interests and focus on the general interest of our
nation. Through peaceful dialogue, referring to the
Iraqi constitution and implementing existing
treaties, and refraining from threats and hostile
exchanges, we can improve the current deadlock.
After the fall of Saddam, Iraq witnessed many
political crises. It became clear that the only way
to solve problems is through dialogue. We are at the
start of a road to democracy and all groups need to
be taken into account as partners in this process.
More than ever, the Kurds need to preserve their
unity while dealing with these problems, and we are
confident Kurdish political groups are up to the
task and will act responsibly as required of them.
Q: In the last
meeting between the PUK and the Kurdistan Democratic
Party (KDP), the common views and opinions were
addressed, and statements by the PUK spokesperson
implied that talks with Baghdad had yet to occur
while the KDP continues to insist on withdrawing
confidence from Maliki.
Hakim Qadir: We
have always supported dialogue as a way of resolving
problems. At the same time, we consider the
constitution and legal solutions vital in settling
disputes. All participants in the political process
can turn to parliament, the law and the constitution
to achieve what they demand, but in all cases we
consider dialogue to be the best solution.
Q: Maliki's bloc
[State of Law] talked about implementing the
eight-point letter of Iraqi President Jalal
Talabani, but has not implemented a single point
yet. Do you think they are just trying to buy more
time?
Hakim Qadir: I
believe all sides agree that Talabani succeeded in
identifying common points between groups and in
treating everyone the same way. He did not allow his
political and national affiliations to influence his
decisions in dealing with the political crisis. He
has preserved his neutrality in the best way
possible and all give him credit for that.
The rest is left to the rival political parties and
whether they will abide by the recommendations of
Talabani or not. A lot of work is needed and it
can’t be solved overnight without a magic stick. The
solution requires the participation of all parties
and the state of Iraq is required to answer the
demands of Kurds which are legal and natural rights.
Failing to fulfill these demands will bring
problems.
Q: In the
attempts to withdraw confidence from Maliki, a new
type of rapprochement has surfaced between the PUK
and Gorran on the one hand, and between the KDP,
Kurdistan Islamic Union (KIU) and Kurdistan Islamic
Group (Komal) on the other. Do you think this has
redrawn Kurdistan’s political map for the future?
Hakim Qadir: I
do not see any division between the political views
of the parties in Kurdistan. On the contrary, the
statements and stances of all these Kurdish
political parties have proved united when it comes
to the important issue of the Kurdish nation in
Iraq. We are all united when it comes to Kurdish
national rights.
At the same time, this does not hinder the existence
of different views and perspectives among parties in
the effort to find solutions, but at the core we all
share the same goals and objectives,www.ekurd.net
which are the demands and the ambitions of the
Kurdish nation. The PUK and KDP have the same stance
and voice in parliament.
Q: Talks between
the PUK and Gorran became official over the past two
months, but then halted. What were the reasons the
talks stopped and have there been any efforts to
resume them?
Hakim Qadir: The
PUK has good relations with all parties in
Kurdistan, not only Gorran. Our goal is to form
strong relations with all parties. The delay in
talks between Gorran and the PUK might be for
technical reasons, not political ones. We believe in
dialogue and we need to treat each other in a modern
manner.
Q: There were
some efforts to organize protests against the
Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) new budget, but
they remained within the administrative borders of
Sulaimani. Why?
Hakim Qadir: To
know the reasons, we would have to talk to the
organizers of the protests. But we always believe it
is a natural right of people to express their
demands legally and peacefully without disturbing
security in Kurdistan. We support all the rights and
logical demands allowed by the principles of freedom
and democracy.
By Adnan Hussein - Rudaw
Copyright ©, respective author or news agency,
rudaw.net
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