ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – The Kurds are stuck between their Iranian and American allies, leaving them unable to get off the fence with respect to forming the next Iraqi government, argued a Kurdish socialist leader, warning this will have negative consequences.
“In terms of the formation of a new government in Iraq, the Kurds are stuck between Iran and the US and are therefore unable to accept or oppose initiatives proposed by either of these two countries,” said Muhammad Haji Mahmoud of foreign influences in ongoing talks in Baghdad.
“Being undecided between these two countries will harm Kurdish interests and make the Kurds unable to achieve their rights,” he said.
Mahmoud is secretary general of the Kurdistan Socialist Democratic Party.
Iran is trying to bargain support for Kurdish aspirations in the disputed areas for Erbil backing their favoured candidates in Baghdad, Mahmoud explained.
“Iran might tell the Kurds: ‘if you support [Hadi al-] Amiri and [Nouri al-]Maliki wings just like we do, we reassure you of Kirkuk and other disputed areas, article 140, the positions of deputy prime minister and foreign minister, we will also reinstate your previous ministers and you will enjoy your financial benefits as you did in the past’,” he said.
On the other side, Washington could cut ties with the Kurds if Erbil sides with Iran.
“And the US says: ‘if you support a party affiliated with Iran, why should we help you? Why should we train the Peshmerga and provide you with financial support?’,” explained Mahmoud.
“This has made the Kurds stuck between Iran and the US and they are therefore unable to make a decision.”
Maliki and Amiri, of the Iranian-backed Badr Organization, have united to form on bloc in parliament. Their main opposition is led by Washington’s man in Iraq Haider al-Abadi, united with populist cleric Muqtada al-Sadr.
Since the election of Mohammed al-Halbousi as speaker of the parliament on September 15, talks to cement alliances have intensified ahead of election of a president who will then assign the largest bloc in the parliament with forming the government.
Sunday is the last day to submit nominations for the post of the presidency. According to Iraqi state TV, there are so far 18 candidates registered, including seven Kurds.
The Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) are each fielding their own candidates: Fuad Hussein and Barham Salih, respectively.
Mahmoud wishes the Kurdish parties had only one candidate, however.
“This requires an agreement between the KDP and PUK, who have shared the position between themselves without consulting other parties,” he said.
Kurds were given the largely ceremonial presidency in a power-sharing agreement that gave Sunnis the role of parliamentary speaker and Shiites the prime minister’s office.
Mahmoud explained that the Kurds are secure in that post because Shiites would never trust Sunnis to take the position that comes with an armed presidential guard.
“The position of the president of the republic will be given to the Kurds so that the Shiites survive in Baghdad. If this position is given to Sunnis, the president should be accompanied by 6,000 soldiers, according to the law. And this will enable the president to stage a coup against the prime minister, forcing the Shiites out to Karbala and Najaf.”
“But the position will cause trouble to no one, neither Shiites nor Sunnis, if filled by a Kurd. That is why they will give this post to the Kurds. This position will be occupied by a Kurd as along as the Shiites govern Iraq.”
“Of the 193 presidents in the world, it is important that one of them is a Kurd,” he added.
With respect to the September 30 Kurdistan Region parliamentary election, Mahmoud expects his party to win five or six seats – a big increase from their current one – based on their strong support for the independence referendum.
“The referendum was a historic event in Kurdish history. We were one of the parties who wholeheartedly supported the referendum process and the president of the Kurdistan Region. We are proud of the referendum and believe it is the biggest achievement in history. Independence for Kurdistan in the future doesn’t need another referendum,” said Mahmoud.
They are running on a joint list with two other parties, neither of which have seats in the outgoing legislature – the Kurdistan Workers’ and Toilers’ Party and the Nation Democratic Union of Kurdistan. Their Sardam (Modern) alliance is headed by Mahmoud’s brother, Abdullah Haji Mahmood.
“In terms of the formation of a new government in Iraq, the Kurds are stuck between Iran and the US and are therefore unable to accept or oppose initiatives proposed by either of these two countries,” said Muhammad Haji Mahmoud of foreign influences in ongoing talks in Baghdad.
“Being undecided between these two countries will harm Kurdish interests and make the Kurds unable to achieve their rights,” he said.
Mahmoud is secretary general of the Kurdistan Socialist Democratic Party.
Iran is trying to bargain support for Kurdish aspirations in the disputed areas for Erbil backing their favoured candidates in Baghdad, Mahmoud explained.
“Iran might tell the Kurds: ‘if you support [Hadi al-] Amiri and [Nouri al-]Maliki wings just like we do, we reassure you of Kirkuk and other disputed areas, article 140, the positions of deputy prime minister and foreign minister, we will also reinstate your previous ministers and you will enjoy your financial benefits as you did in the past’,” he said.
On the other side, Washington could cut ties with the Kurds if Erbil sides with Iran.
“And the US says: ‘if you support a party affiliated with Iran, why should we help you? Why should we train the Peshmerga and provide you with financial support?’,” explained Mahmoud.
“This has made the Kurds stuck between Iran and the US and they are therefore unable to make a decision.”
Maliki and Amiri, of the Iranian-backed Badr Organization, have united to form on bloc in parliament. Their main opposition is led by Washington’s man in Iraq Haider al-Abadi, united with populist cleric Muqtada al-Sadr.
Since the election of Mohammed al-Halbousi as speaker of the parliament on September 15, talks to cement alliances have intensified ahead of election of a president who will then assign the largest bloc in the parliament with forming the government.
Sunday is the last day to submit nominations for the post of the presidency. According to Iraqi state TV, there are so far 18 candidates registered, including seven Kurds.
The Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) are each fielding their own candidates: Fuad Hussein and Barham Salih, respectively.
Mahmoud wishes the Kurdish parties had only one candidate, however.
“This requires an agreement between the KDP and PUK, who have shared the position between themselves without consulting other parties,” he said.
Kurds were given the largely ceremonial presidency in a power-sharing agreement that gave Sunnis the role of parliamentary speaker and Shiites the prime minister’s office.
Mahmoud explained that the Kurds are secure in that post because Shiites would never trust Sunnis to take the position that comes with an armed presidential guard.
“The position of the president of the republic will be given to the Kurds so that the Shiites survive in Baghdad. If this position is given to Sunnis, the president should be accompanied by 6,000 soldiers, according to the law. And this will enable the president to stage a coup against the prime minister, forcing the Shiites out to Karbala and Najaf.”
“But the position will cause trouble to no one, neither Shiites nor Sunnis, if filled by a Kurd. That is why they will give this post to the Kurds. This position will be occupied by a Kurd as along as the Shiites govern Iraq.”
“Of the 193 presidents in the world, it is important that one of them is a Kurd,” he added.
With respect to the September 30 Kurdistan Region parliamentary election, Mahmoud expects his party to win five or six seats – a big increase from their current one – based on their strong support for the independence referendum.
“The referendum was a historic event in Kurdish history. We were one of the parties who wholeheartedly supported the referendum process and the president of the Kurdistan Region. We are proud of the referendum and believe it is the biggest achievement in history. Independence for Kurdistan in the future doesn’t need another referendum,” said Mahmoud.
They are running on a joint list with two other parties, neither of which have seats in the outgoing legislature – the Kurdistan Workers’ and Toilers’ Party and the Nation Democratic Union of Kurdistan. Their Sardam (Modern) alliance is headed by Mahmoud’s brother, Abdullah Haji Mahmood.
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