Kurdish Leaders To Act As Mediators In Baghdad
26/12/2011 04:36:00
ERBIL, Iraqi Kurdistan – Kurdish political parties unanimously agree that the Kurds should play the role of mediators in the current political crisis Baghdad is going through. Some Kurdish politicians argue that Kurds should in the meantime push for the fulfillment of their own agenda in the capital.
Sorish Haji, an MP for the Change Movement (Gorran) in the Iraqi Parliament believes that, “Since the fall of Saddam Hussein’s regime in 2003 the Kurds haven’t had an opportunity as this to use their weight towards fulfilling their demands.”
Haji believes that Kurdistan’s opposition groups and the ruling parties should meet as soon as possible and find a mechanism with which to present their demands while playing the role of mediators.
Haji who is a senior Gorran leader told Rudaw that all sides in Kurdistan are to participate in drawing the mechanism and introducing it in a way that wouldn’t antagonize one Iraqi group or another.
Iraq’s two major Parliamentary blocs—the State of Law of Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki and the al-Iraqiya bloc of former PM Ayad Alwai—are locked in a deep political crisis. Iraqi Vice President Tariq al-Hashimi, a Sunni leader who was once perceived as the main hurdle in the way of implementing Article 140 has taken refuge in the Kurdistan Region and Erbil is looked upon with hope to find a solution for Baghdad’s turmoil.
At this critical time, the Kurds don’t appear to have an organized and clear agenda.
Shiwan Muhammad Taha, an MP from the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) in the Iraqi Parliament doesn’t think seizing this crisis to push for Kurdish demands would be successful.
“In a state of instability nothing is guaranteed,” Taha told Rudaw. “The Kurds should pacify the situation first and only then advocate for their own demands. If we do that successfully, it means everyone would come to the conclusion that Iraq can’t do without us.”
Taha said that it is important as mediators to remain neutral.
Following Iraq’s general elections in 2010, the country faced a serious political deadlock and with the intervention of Kurdistan Region President Massoud Barzani, disputes between Iraq’s parties were solved and a government was formed under Maliki.
For his part Maliki signed on meeting 18 Kurdish demands namely the full implementation of Article 140 within two years. But Kurdish leaders say Maliki has not delivered any of his promises.
Alla Talabani, politburo member of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) and MP in the Iraqi Parliament said that Iraqi leaders have resorted to Kurdistan for help and this means, “if we have a plan for them, we shouldn’t offer it without mentioning our own demands first.”
Talabani added, “The Kurds would never have another golden opportunity as this. We must use our strong cards and tell them (Baghdad) that if they back out on their pledges, we would withdraw from the government.”
Other Kurdish leaders believe a third party can be involved in any agreement between Baghdad and Erbil. Fatih Daraghayi, an MP from the Islamic League (Komal) told Rudaw, “It would be good to bring the United Nations as a witness to the signing of any agreement about Kurdish demands. In that case there would be no room for evasion.”
Political observers say that if the Kurds play their role as mediators this time, they can certainly put more weight behind their demands.
Political observer and constitutional expert, Nuri Talabani said, “This time the Kurds must be neutral mediators as well as demanders,”
Talabani added, “This time though, both the State of Law and al-Iraqiya blocs should sign any agreement and two other Shia and Sunni parties should act witnesses.”
https://www.rudaw.net/english/news/iraq/4263.html