'Kurdish question' as old as Iraq itself: Iraqi PM

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - In comments seldom made by senior Iraqi political figures, Prime Minister Adil Abdul-Mahdi has acknowledged the existence of a “Kurdish question” in Iraq since the country’s foundation, calling for its resolution and separating it from current-day oil and budgetary issues.

In a discussion with three journalists shared by the PM's media office on Monday, Abdul-Mahdi touched on a number of contentious topics, including the Kurdish question. 

“There has [always] been something called the Kurdish question. Do we help in resolving these issues, or do we not? If so, this is a service Iraq must undertake, for there to be equality between everyone and for all issues to be resolved,” the PM said.

“We put this topic under scrutiny to resolve issues, not to escalate or exacerbate it.”

Asked about his treatment of Iraq’s different ethnic groups, the PM dismissed claims of favorable treatment for some, including Kurds.

“All Iraqis are the same for me. However, every group has its own characteristics, situation and history,” said the PM.

Yezidis, for example, are treated with “special importance” because of the exceptional violence they faced at the hands of Islamic State [ISIS], the PM explained.

“The Kurdish question has existed from the foundation of the Iraqi state until today, meaning that before this government, the [Baath] regime, the Kingdom and Bakr Sidqi, there was something called the Kurdish question. It is not related to the budget, oil or anything else,” the PM asserted.

Since the early 20th century denial of a Kurdish state, Kurdish groups have resisted their integration into Iraq in various forms, including multiple waves of armed rebellion - most famously, the September Revolution that lasted from 1961 to 1975.

Under the Baath regime of the 1970s and 1980s, Kurds faced discriminatory violence, including land confiscation and deportation, culminating in the Anfal genocide that killed an estimated 200,000 Kurds.

With the foundation of a new Iraqi state in 2003, it was hoped that Kurds could establish stronger ties with Baghdad and potentially resolve territorial issues.

However, relations between the two parties have been plagued by tensions surrounding KRG independent oil exports and other budgetary issues, as well as new and existing territorial disputes.

Relations hit a low when a Kurdish independence referendum was called in September 2017, resulting in a Baghdad-imposed embargo and military offensives into disputed territories. Relations have since improved under Abdul-Mahdi’s tenure.

Abdul-Mahdi has recently faced mounting challenges to his tenure from senior Iraqi political figures, including former PM Haider al-Abadi, known for his hardline stance on Kurdish issues.

Abadi has persistently criticized the PM over the 2019 budget bill, under which the KRG is to handover 250,000 barrels of oil per day to Baghdad in return for its budget share. However, the KRG is yet to handover a single barrel.

“We are adhering to the [budget] law. Iraqi budget law stipulates that Kurdistan needs to hand over 250,000 barrels of oil to the Iraqi state, to SOMO. If it doesn't hand over [the oil], its share of the budget will be cut [proportional to oil not handed over],” the PM added.

“This is exactly what we are doing. We are paying Kurdistan half of its budget, corresponding to the oil it does not hand over.”

As for the salaries of the Kurdistan Region’s employees, which had been cut from 2014 until the beginning of 2018, the PM vowed not to cut the “livelihoods of the people” again.

It is hoped that with the recent formation of the new Kurdistan Regional Government, talks over contentious issues, including oil, could be jump-started.

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