No compromise on Kirkuk in exchange for Kurdish support: Abadi

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said on Monday his Nasr (Victory) Alliance will not discuss the subject of Kirkuk with Kurdish political parties “in return for joining the four-party alliance to form the largest bloc,” according to Iraqi media.

His comments contradict earlier remarks from a senior member of Abadi’s party suggesting possible concessions on Kirkuk – particularly the return of Peshmerga to the disputed city.

“Alliances shall be formed between political parties as partners, not by submission of compromises,” Abadi said during a meeting with his party’s successful candidates and political analysts, according to Baghdad Today.

Nechirvan Barzani, prime minister of Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), visited Baghdad on July 30 for talks with Abadi. According to a statement from Abadi’s office, they both said the next government must support the wishes of all Iraqis.  

However, Abadi said he told Barzani there is “no possibility of discussion over the subject of Kirkuk”.

Iraqi parties are busy building alliances which could soon form the basis of the country’s next government. The rival blocs are eager to recruit the Kurdish parties to top up their numbers in the chamber – but their support will come at a price. 

Ahmed al-Hamdani, a high ranking Nasr official, told Rudaw on Sunday there is room for a settlement on Kirkuk. 

“Kirkuk is a Kurdish, Arab, Iraqi city. We agree for the Peshmerga to return Kirkuk, as they bravely fought side by side with our forces to repel ISIS from Iraq,” Hamdani said. 

Last week, the Sayirun alliance – led by firebrand Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr – teamed up with Abadi’s Nasir, the Hikma Front, and Wataniya to form the core of a parliamentary bloc. If the alliance can win over the Sunni and Kurdish parties, it is well placed to form a governing coalition. 

Concessions on Kirkuk – often referred to as the ‘Kurdish Jerusalem’ – could seal the deal. 

A delegation of Shiite parties visited Erbil on Monday, reportedly coming to an “initial” agreement. 

The Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) prepared a 30 point agenda for government formation talks – among them a resolution to the Kirkuk question.

The Peshmerga, which defended Kirkuk from ISIS in 2014, was forced to withdraw from the disputed province when it was seized by the Iraqi Army and Hashd al-Shaabi Shiite paramilitias on October 16, 2017. 

According to Article 140 of the Iraqi constitution, the dispute over whether the ethnically mixed province ought to belong to the Kurdistan Region or remain part of Iraq is supposed to be settled in a referendum.

Under their negotiation terms, the Kurdish parties have called for the contested city to be run jointly between Erbil and Baghdad until the Article 140 is implemented.