Kirkuk came under Iraqi control on October 16 when federal forces took over the city and much of the disputed areas from the Peshmerga.
Nor will Karim seek a position within his party, arguing that the PUK needs to focus on regaining the trust of the people after accusations of treason were levelled against some party members who are alleged to have made a deal with Iraqi to hand over Kirkuk.
He dismissed accusations that he received $60 million dollars of oil money in his own account as “propaganda,” saying he is taking the matter to court.
Rudaw: In a news conference, an MP from the Kurdistan Region parliament said that $60 million from what is known as the ‘petrodollar revenues’ has been deposited into your account. Can you explain this?
Najmaldin Karim: In the past, the KRG was sending $10 million from petrodollar income to Kirkuk monthly under the name of ‘Kirkuk administration,’ rather than my name. It was sent to Kirkuk six times. But spending the cash was not only vested with me. Rather, three people had to sign for the spending of the money, and this was done as a legal procedure.
Moreover, the money was only being spent to complete old projects and execute news ones. And some of the cash was being loaned. Kirkuk was in substantial debts because it didn’t have any budget for three years.
It is Ali Hama Salih that has leveled this charge against me without presenting any evidence. He has not been able to do anything for the people so far. He is only after propaganda. He should have asked Kurdistan Bank or me before doing this. I have filed a lawsuit against him for defaming me without presenting any evidence. We will face each other in court in the near future.
But the MP is said to have evidence to prove his case. Is this true?
No, he has no evidence. In court, I will prove to all the people of Kurdistan that this propaganda is aimed at discrediting my works
There is no longer freedom in [Kirkuk] city 
To what extent are you aware of the situation in Kirkuk?
The way Iraqi forces behaved in the city on October 16 has not changed. They continue insulting what the Kurds hold sacred. They have raised the Iraqi flag over the Peshmerga statue.
Those who gave the Iraqi government a chance and brought about this day by committing this treason thought they could be free. Yet they can’t even raise the flag of their own party, let alone the flag of Kurdistan. Kurdish neighborhoods in Kirkuk are raided every night. Murder and kidnapping are on the rise. There is no longer freedom in the city. People cannot drive around in posh cars. The people of the city are fed up because this situation has been imposed on them against their will.
What are your predictions for the May elections, given current situations in Kirkuk?
Earlier, I called on political parties to boycott elections in these occupied places because more than 200,000 people have fled Kirkuk. Nearly 60,000 of them are eligible to vote, but cannot return to their places to vote. Furthermore, people who had fled Kirkuk before 2003 and have been living in Kurdistan cities used to go back to Kirkuk to vote. But these people will not return either. This means a loss of 50 percent of the votes. Why should you participate in an election while even the Kurds remaining in Kirkuk might not vote because of losing faith in things? You will surely lose this way.
What are your predictions as regards potential Kurdish parliamentary seats?
The PUK will suffer the heaviest loss in these elections. I cannot determine the number of seats precisely, but it will be the biggest miracle if we win four seats. I think the Kurds will win two to three seats. The problem is taking part in these elections will give
I will not take part in an election held in an occupied city
Why didn’t you register your candidacy for these elections when you have, as you said, many fans in this city?
I will not take part in an election held in an occupied city, void of freedom. I know that the Kurds cannot win the eight seats they have under current circumstances. I think the Kurdish cause is greater than my being reelected.
It’s said that you went back to Kirkuk and stayed in Kaywan. Is this true?
We have relations with parties outside of Kurdistan. We are following up on the situation in Kirkuk. We want them to always have high morale. In regard to your question, I want to say that the situation will not remain the same, and I have worked on this subject.
What are your predictions for the PUK congress? Do you think it will be held? Will you take part in it if it is held?
Any person who joins a party will be looking into whether the party aims to realize the objectives of his nation. Those who joined the PUK did so with this intention in mind. Efforts have been underway for too long to hold the congress. I believe the PUK should investigate the October 16 events, find the culprits, and hold those accountable for losing 50 percent of Kurdish territory, before taking steps to hold the congress so that the party retains its credibility among people, especially in Kirkuk.
The KRG and Kurdish parliament should investigate the Peshmerga commanders who abandoned their fronts. These things are more important than holding the congress. Even holding 10 congresses doesn’t matter, unless the PUK regains peoples’ trust. I will participate in the congress on condition that the people responsible for October 16 are investigated. However, I will not run for a
Even holding 10 congresses doesn’t matter, unless the PUK regains peoples’ trust
A group within the PUK insists that the congress should be held. Can they push the PUK toward the congress?
These are the people who want to know who will inherit Mam Jalal’s position. Mam Jalal [Talabani] never wanted the congress to be held this way – deciding on the congress today and holding it in a week. How can the congress be held while half of Kurdish lands have fallen into the hands of the enemy?
How is your relationship with Mam Jalal’s family post-October 16? Have you spoken to them since then?
There will never be this kind of relationship for me, or anyone else following the death of Mam Jalal. I haven’t seen or spoken to any of them, except Qubad Talabani.
Do you see or meet with other parties?
I see Mr Masoud [Barzani] often. He has high morality, and is very concerned for the people of Kirkuk. I have also met with Mr Kosrat [Rasul] and have spoken some PUK politburo members. I see and talk to KDP and PUK politburo members as well as parliamentarians daily.
Has any entity, such as the Coalition for Democracy and Justice led by Barham Salih, contacted you to join them for
Best way to not legitimize the occupation of Kirkuk is to boycott the elections
No. Before the entities and lists were declared, I expressed my opinion that the best way to not legitimize the occupation of Kirkuk is to boycott the elections.
Do you think Barham Salih will be the surprise of these elections?
Barham has seen many positions of authority in Baghdad, Erbil and within the PUK, since 2003. He certainly has his own fans. He along with the New Generation entity will take the votes of the PUK and Gorran.
Do you have information about the agreement between Iraq and Iran on Kirkuk oil?
The first step of the agreement is to build an oil pipeline from Kirkuk to Kermanshah. Daily, 60,000 oil barrels are exported by tankers until this project is finished. This agreement was also discussed when I was governor. A company along with Aras Sheikh Jangi [nephew of Jalal Talabani] came to me and spoke about it.
I thought it was important to have another pipeline in addition to the Ceyhan line. At that time, I told them that this work should be done via the oil ministry and council of ministers, providing that Kirkuk representatives are aware of it. Abadi and I were at the time against the exportation of oil by tankers because these tankers will ruin the roads and also the job will not be transparent. This project
[Iraq's] clear aim was Kirkuk, not eliminating or ejecting ISIS militants
Most people wonder whether the situation of Kirkuk will normalize easily. What are your thoughts on this?
It will not be easy. However, we hope it will be resolved peacefully and by reaching an agreement. We should return home anyway.
There is talk of ISIS reemergence in Kirkuk area. Do you have information on this?
I am aware they are in Hawija area. It begs the question as to why ISIS militants should still remain in an area that has just been liberated. It is because Baghdad was in a hurry to send its forces to Kirkuk to the extent it didn’t have a chance to inspect and liberate these areas. They went through the town in their military vehicles to reach Kirkuk. Their clear aim was Kirkuk, not eliminating or ejecting ISIS militants. They would still come to Kirkuk to expel the Kurds and Peshmerga even if we didn’t hold the referendum.
Their agreement with some PUK officials facilitated things for them. That is why they couldn’t clear the area of ISIS militants. Therefore, I predict they will carry out armed activities inside Kirkuk too, and the responsibility for this will lie with the Iraqi prime minister and Hashd al-Shaabi commanders.
