Iraqi Sunni leader says no backing down on creating self-governing regions

Iraq’s prominent Sunni politician and Vice President Osama al-Nujaifi says that his community has a clear-cut plan for Iraq after ISIS and it is to establish regions in the country that would enable Sunnis and other minority groups to govern their areas and preserve their culture and economic interests, but all within a united Iraq. Al-Nujaifi is cynical about any reconciliation with the Shiites, saying many such agreements were violated and ignored in the past and that only strong international and regional guarantees could make the rulers of Baghdad stick to their deals.

Al-Juaifi, who once served as speaker of parliament and is an outspoken critic of the Iraqi government, says that he has spoken with Kurdish leaders in Erbil, including President Masoud Barzani, about the creation of a region in Nineveh and that the latter has no objection to the issue.

What is the plan of Iraq’s Sunnis for after ISIS?

Osama al-Nujaifi: ISIS was certainly a big test for the Iraqis and crashed almost all past ideas and notions especially about relations between the country’s different communities. I believe we will have to have something new and not return to what it was like before 2014. A situation that will give everyone a chance to participate in and have a say in governance of economy and security but under the umbrella of one Iraq and one constitution. Our only option for this is to regionalize the provinces not a region for Sunnis, and we hope the southern provinces also take the same path so that is going to be a federal Iraq which will be a cornerstone of stability.

What if it is not possible to form a region?

We certainly want to abide by and honor the constitution on the condition that everyone else would do so. But if it is violated by one party then there will be no meaning left for mutual relations on an equal basis and will force us to take another path. But the current constitution gives much room to freedoms and local powers, one is for the prime minister as commander in chief of all armed forces to give similar authority to the provinces.

There is talk of a Sunni-Shiite list for the coming elections.

That idea has been touched on, but we are working on forming a large umbrella for all the important Sunni groups with one charter which will then be able to represent the Sunnis and could form alliances with Kurds and Shiites. This will lead to stability and true alliances in the country but will we be really able to reach that level at this time?

What will happen to the initiative of the Shiite national alliance to normalize relations with the Sunnis?

That initiative is unrealistic and was suggested at the wrong time. It does not have the full consensus of all Shiites either. Shiite leaders do not see it a national project for all and see it as something of the Supreme Islamic Council only. In the meantime there is no trust lost between us as we have signed many agreements with them in the past that have all been violated. Seven agreements were reached in total in the past and this one will become another one of them. The Shiites are now fully running the country by themselves and this initiative of reconciliation is doomed to fail from the start. And I guess it can be done only once other domestic issues have been resolved.

Two Sunni leaders, Rafe al-Esawi and Atheel al-Nujaifi visited the United States and later said that the US was supporting a Sunni region in Iraq. Is that a possibility?

That issue was not raised and what has been discussed, including in a meeting of my own with the US president in 2012 and 2014 was regionalizing the provinces. They agreed at first as long as it did not conflict with the constitution and then they were concerned over the distribution of resources and wealth. To be honest the current administration made many errors with regards to Iraq and we hope the new administration has a better understanding and keep in mind the rights of all Iraqis.

Will it be all right by the Sunnis if they have guarantees from the US and Iran?

That will not happen. Now, we are asking for an international convention for regional countries such as Turkey, Iran, Saudi Arabia and Jordan as well as world superpowers as the US and Russia. And a meeting of Sunni, Shiite and Kurdish leaders could become a stepping stone for such a convention, but the issue is that internal agreements and deals are more easily ignored and violated.

What did the king of Jordan say to you on your last visit there?

King Abdullah invited us for talks about Iraq, the future of Iraq after ISIS, relations with the new US administration and Iran’s project in the region. This is a sensitive process especially the sectarian issue which has dominated all the equations. We also gave a message to the King of Jordan to deliver it to the US administration on our views on these issues. Jordan itself is also preparing for the next Arab summit and they wanted to know how they could help Iraq.

What did you talk about on your plans for the future of Nineveh?

We certainly put on the table our views and plans for Nineveh which is to turn it into a region made up of different provinces that could represent its different groups such as Yezidis, Christians, Shabak and Turkmen. These groups should be given the chance to run their areas and preserve their cultures and economic and security interests, but all within a united Iraq. We have discussed this and presented it as our project to any and all leaders we have met in the last two years, including with Jordan. 

How have you handled this issue with the Kurdistan Region especially that there are areas in Nineveh province that are considered disputed? How will this one be resolved?

Our last meeting with President Masoud Barzani was wide-ranging. Our party attended the meeting and the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) did attend at a high level on our future relations and the formation of an alliance for future cooperation. We talked about Nineveh and Mr. Barzani has not objection to creating a region, but the issue of the disputed territories has to be solved legally and it is a clear article, 140, in the constitution. That article has to be implemented through its various stages by listening to the will of the people and a referendum and there is no objection whatsoever to direct and peaceful talks with the Kurdistan Region.