Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu and Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani met in the Kurdish city of Van over the weekend for their latest talks, which reportedly centered on trade and the important energy deal both sides are trying to push through, against Baghdad’s opposition. “We don't mean to make agreements with one part of Iraq and confront the other,” he said in an interview with Rudaw. But he also stressed that, “Since the Kurdistan Region is the nearest source and our neighbor, why should we not benefit from it?” Asked about the slow-moving peace process between Ankara and the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), the Turkish foreign minister said, “the peace process in Turkey proceeds on the right track.” Here is an edited transcript of his interview with Rudaw:
Rudaw: During your recent visit to Sulaimani, you said, ‘we speak from heart to hearts.’ But many don't see this in practice. What is your view?
Ahmet Davutoglu: There have been lots of changes in the recent years. Our bilateral relations have reached a high level and the psychological obstacles have been overcome. Five years ago, exactly in 2008, we were trying to meet Mr. Nechirvan Barzani in Baghdad, away from the media and behind closed doors. But now, we meet in Erbil, Istanbul, Van and all places. Our people view these meetings with great respect and commitment, which is a dramatic change.
In addition, our trade relations have developed tremendously. Trade with Iraq is worth $17 billion, of which 70 percent is with the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Our investments have increased a lot in Erbil and Sulaimani, including in energy. Today, we agreed on paving the way for transportation via the border. What I said, my speaking in Kurdish is from heart to hearts. And practical serious progress has been witnessed.
Rudaw: The Crimea region asked Russia to protect it. If Kurdistan Region demands similar protection from Turkey, what would be the Turkish position?
Ahmet Davutoglu: In the past, not just in Iraq, but all the brothers in the other places who have had problems, we accepted them and embraced them. For this reason, on the occasion of the Halabja anniversary, I send my condolences for the families of the martyrs who lost their lives. During the gassing of Halabja, when our brothers came in big numbers to Turkey, we opened our heart, houses and parks. In the same way, on June 21, 1932, when Sheikh Ahmed Barzani and Mullah Mustafa had wanted to come to Turkey through British control, we supported them by all means and opened our hearts for them. Now, we are doing the same for the Syrians, Arabs, Kurds and Turkomans. We have assisted all people who came from Syria. In the same way, during the Bosnian events, we embraced the Bosnians. In this area, Turkey supports any brother from any sect and ethnicity when they face problems.
Rudaw: There have been many meetings between you, Nechirvan Barzani and the Turkish consul general to the Kurdistan Region. Is there something hidden that people are not aware of?
Ahmet Davutoglu: We have a brotherhood project between us and these projects are formed during these trips. This is not only between Kurds and Turks, but to bring brotherhood between all ethnicities of this area, and we have tried very hard. This project has been going on through history. We are like flesh and nails and we are not separated. We want to reconnect the relations that were cut off. We created a good environment for it. We will develop these relations more in the future. These relations won’t stay only between Turkey and the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, but will extend to the south of Iraq and other regions of Iraq.
Rudaw: The Kurdistan Region’s oil has reached the Ceyhan port. Do you and the Kurdistan Region insist on selling oil despite Baghdad's protests?
Ahmet Davutoglu: Meetings have been held between me and Mr Nechirvan Barzani, between the Kurdistan Regional Government minister of natural resources and Turkish energy minister Taner Yildiz, also with the prime minister of Turkey. All the understandings and agreements we have made are consistent with the Iraqi constitution, and in these agreements there are no violations of the Iraqi constitution. We hope the agreements between Baghdad and Erbil will reach positive results and the party that will be the happiest would be Turkey, because Turkey needs energy in big quantities. Since the Kurdistan Region is the nearest source and our neighbor, why should we not benefit from it? Besides, we want Turkey's need for energy to impact their (Kurdistan Region’s) economy. We don't mean to make agreements with one part of Iraq and confront the other. We believe our coordination and cooperation with one part of Iraq will open the door of coordination and cooperation in front of the other parts. Fom this angle, our hope is that an agreement between Baghdad and Erbil, and the visits of Mr. Nechirvan Barzani, will get positive results. But Turkey has been honest about its agreements and has taken all steps within the frame of Iraqi law for achieving its needs for energy, and is ready to take more steps.
Rudaw: The US stance is not quite clear on this. Barack Obama has spoken with the Turkish prime minister on this issue. Where does the US stand on your deals with Erbil?
Ahmet Davutoglu: the US has the biggest energy companies in the world, and is one of the countries that make the largest profits in extracting oil and natural gas. If more energy is supplied to world markets, it will influence a reduction in the price of energy. This will stabilize the world markets. All of the international companies, above all from the US, should be thankful for the agreements (between Erbil and Ankara). What matters is resolving the problems between Baghdad and Erbil.
Rudaw: How do you see Abdullah Ocalan's recent comments about the Turkish government?
Ahmet Davutoglu: The peace process in Turkey proceeds on the right track. Within this framework, we will continue all our attempts. We hope all parties show positive influence, because the peace process is not just for Turkey. For all the areas, this would become the example of achieving peace. For this, we will continue all the efforts we have made until now.
