Home
Iraqi Kurds eager to announce state, activist suggests confederation
[17:40] 12/Mar/24
PNA - Kurds in Iraq's Kurdistan region underlined that the dream to have a state of their own has become closer than ever, urging their leaders to unify their stances and to include other Kurds-majority areas to the region before declaring the independence.
Others believe that to have an independent state you have to get strong economic, political, social and institutional basis, as well as guaranteeing the support from major countries to protect the new state from foreign dangerous and threats, stressing no state for Kurds is possible without a recognition from the rest of the world.
"The dream to have a state of their own is so close, and we are about to made an official referendum on the right to self-determination, and there were some rumors on announcing the state in the Kurdish New Year Newroz, but this did not happen," Nawat Hama, 24m, from Erbil, said.
"Maybe the leaders did not agree on a certain time to declare the independence, but we are sure that this will happen soon, as all circumstances are appropriate, as we enjoy a great economic and political development in the region, and we enjoy foreign support through the consulates in the region," he added.
"Declaring the Kurdistan state is something we have been dreaming of for decades and have been waiting for for years, but the Kurdistan Regional Government has to prepare the necessary infrastructure and to use the natural resources, develop agriculture and industry as well as all economic sectors," Shafan Mohammad, 38,
"It is difficult to declare independence now, because of Iran's and Turkey's stances, which could interfere militarily, and we import from the two states everything we need, and I do not think the leadership of Kurdistan will take this step," Mohammad Khorshed 44, from Duhok, said.
For his part, Mohammad Amir, 41, an activist called on Kurdish leaders to declare independence but within a confederation with Iraq, noting that such a step could be agreed on with the Iraqi authorities through convincing the leaders of the National Alliance with that solution instead of the separation.
He underscored that the step could prevent any strong reaction toward the new state.
Kurd leader Massoud Barzani hinted on Tuesday at a possible break with Iraq's unity government, complaining that premier Nouri al-Maliki was monopolising power and building an army loyal only to him.
His remarks raised the rhetoric between his autonomous regional government in Erbil and the central government in Baghdad, with several key disputes festering between the two sides.
Barzani said the partnership that built a national unity government formed at a meeting he had hosted was now "completely non-existent and has become meaningless."
"There is an attempt to establish a one-million-strong army whose loyalty is only to a single person," Barzani, president of Kurdistan, said in a speech in Erbil, according to an English transcript.
He claimed that Maliki and the government were "waiting to get F-16 combat planes to examine its chances again with the Peshmerga (Kurdish forces)," referring to a government order for 36 warplanes from the United States.
"Where in the world can the same person be the prime minister, the chief of staff of the armed forces, the minister of defense, the minister of interior, the chief of intelligence and the head of the national security council?" he asked.
Barzani said that while he was committed to an alliance with Iraq's majority Shiites, he was not committed to one with Maliki.
Barzani continued, "We are committed to our alliance with the Shiites but not with this group of people who have monopolised power and with their policies have even marginalised other Shiites."
"It is time to say enough is enough.
The current status of affairs in unacceptable to us and I call on all Iraqi political leaders to urgently try to find a solution.
Otherwise, we will return to our people and will decide on whatever course of action that our people deem appropriate."
Since 1991, the Kurds of Iraq achieved self-rule in part of the country. Today's teenagers are the first generation to grow up under Kurdish rule. Most Kurds don’t speak Arabic, especially the younger generation, the 2nd language in Kurdistan after Kurdish is English language. In the new Iraqi Constitution, it is referred to as Kurdistan region.
Kurdistan region has all the trappings of an independent state -- its own constitution, its own parliament, its own flag, its own army, its own border patrol, its own national anthem, its own education system, its own International airports, even its own stamp inked into the passports of visitors, a large number of foreign consulates and embassies are located in Kurdistan's capital, Erbil.
[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]
[17:40] 12/Mar/24
PNA - Kurds in Iraq's Kurdistan region underlined that the dream to have a state of their own has become closer than ever, urging their leaders to unify their stances and to include other Kurds-majority areas to the region before declaring the independence.
Others believe that to have an independent state you have to get strong economic, political, social and institutional basis, as well as guaranteeing the support from major countries to protect the new state from foreign dangerous and threats, stressing no state for Kurds is possible without a recognition from the rest of the world.
"The dream to have a state of their own is so close, and we are about to made an official referendum on the right to self-determination, and there were some rumors on announcing the state in the Kurdish New Year Newroz, but this did not happen," Nawat Hama, 24m, from Erbil, said.
"Maybe the leaders did not agree on a certain time to declare the independence, but we are sure that this will happen soon, as all circumstances are appropriate, as we enjoy a great economic and political development in the region, and we enjoy foreign support through the consulates in the region," he added.
"Declaring the Kurdistan state is something we have been dreaming of for decades and have been waiting for for years, but the Kurdistan Regional Government has to prepare the necessary infrastructure and to use the natural resources, develop agriculture and industry as well as all economic sectors," Shafan Mohammad, 38,
"It is difficult to declare independence now, because of Iran's and Turkey's stances, which could interfere militarily, and we import from the two states everything we need, and I do not think the leadership of Kurdistan will take this step," Mohammad Khorshed 44, from Duhok, said.
For his part, Mohammad Amir, 41, an activist called on Kurdish leaders to declare independence but within a confederation with Iraq, noting that such a step could be agreed on with the Iraqi authorities through convincing the leaders of the National Alliance with that solution instead of the separation.
He underscored that the step could prevent any strong reaction toward the new state.
Kurd leader Massoud Barzani hinted on Tuesday at a possible break with Iraq's unity government, complaining that premier Nouri al-Maliki was monopolising power and building an army loyal only to him.
His remarks raised the rhetoric between his autonomous regional government in Erbil and the central government in Baghdad, with several key disputes festering between the two sides.
Barzani said the partnership that built a national unity government formed at a meeting he had hosted was now "completely non-existent and has become meaningless."
"There is an attempt to establish a one-million-strong army whose loyalty is only to a single person," Barzani, president of Kurdistan, said in a speech in Erbil, according to an English transcript.
He claimed that Maliki and the government were "waiting to get F-16 combat planes to examine its chances again with the Peshmerga (Kurdish forces)," referring to a government order for 36 warplanes from the United States.
"Where in the world can the same person be the prime minister, the chief of staff of the armed forces, the minister of defense, the minister of interior, the chief of intelligence and the head of the national security council?" he asked.
Barzani said that while he was committed to an alliance with Iraq's majority Shiites, he was not committed to one with Maliki.
Barzani continued, "We are committed to our alliance with the Shiites but not with this group of people who have monopolised power and with their policies have even marginalised other Shiites."
"It is time to say enough is enough.
The current status of affairs in unacceptable to us and I call on all Iraqi political leaders to urgently try to find a solution.
Otherwise, we will return to our people and will decide on whatever course of action that our people deem appropriate."
Since 1991, the Kurds of Iraq achieved self-rule in part of the country. Today's teenagers are the first generation to grow up under Kurdish rule. Most Kurds don’t speak Arabic, especially the younger generation, the 2nd language in Kurdistan after Kurdish is English language. In the new Iraqi Constitution, it is referred to as Kurdistan region.
Kurdistan region has all the trappings of an independent state -- its own constitution, its own parliament, its own flag, its own army, its own border patrol, its own national anthem, its own education system, its own International airports, even its own stamp inked into the passports of visitors, a large number of foreign consulates and embassies are located in Kurdistan's capital, Erbil.
[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]
