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Interior Ministry official: We are ready to die to protect Kurds of disputes areas
19/07/2012 14:54
ERBIL, July 19 (AKnews)- Kurdistan Ministry of Peshmarga (Border Guards) will not allow for deploying more forces in the disputes areas and Kurdistan Ministry of Interior is ready to step forward if the security of the Kurdish residents in such areas is at stake, officials said.
The remarks followed a joint statement by the politburos of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK).
The two major parties voiced concern over the military deployments in the disputes areas between Baghdad and Erbil governments and demanded the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) take action.
By virtue of an agreement between Erbil and Baghdad the protection of the disputed areas covered by article 140 of the Iraqi constitution is the joint responsibility of the Iraqi army and peshmarga forces, said Anwar Osman, deputy for Kurdistan peshmarga minister.
Article 140, supposed to be fully implemented by end of 2007, sets a roadmap for ending Baghdad-KRG dispute over the ownership of the multiethnic disputes areas: Kirkuk provinces and areas in Diyala, Salahaddin and Nineveh provinces.
Osman said "it is not acceptable" if Baghdad intends to deploy in the disputes areas a larger force than what is stipulated in a previous agreement.
He continued "in such a case, we leave the decision for the political leadership of the Kurdistan Region…
"Refusing deployment of more forces in the disputes areas is a sign that we have the responsibility of protecting the security of all civilians in these areas, disregard of their ethnicity."
Fayeq Tofiq, deputy for KRG interior minister, said in general protecting the security of and expediting force to the disputes areas is more the duty of Ministry of Peshmarga.
If necessary, Ministry of Peshmarga will send force to these areas, Tofiq said.
He continued "now we are cooperating with them [Ministry of Peshmarga] …but in case of threats against the Kurdish civilians in the disputes areas we will not stand idly and die for [protecting] them."
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19/07/2012 14:54
ERBIL, July 19 (AKnews)- Kurdistan Ministry of Peshmarga (Border Guards) will not allow for deploying more forces in the disputes areas and Kurdistan Ministry of Interior is ready to step forward if the security of the Kurdish residents in such areas is at stake, officials said.
The remarks followed a joint statement by the politburos of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK).
The two major parties voiced concern over the military deployments in the disputes areas between Baghdad and Erbil governments and demanded the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) take action.
By virtue of an agreement between Erbil and Baghdad the protection of the disputed areas covered by article 140 of the Iraqi constitution is the joint responsibility of the Iraqi army and peshmarga forces, said Anwar Osman, deputy for Kurdistan peshmarga minister.
Article 140, supposed to be fully implemented by end of 2007, sets a roadmap for ending Baghdad-KRG dispute over the ownership of the multiethnic disputes areas: Kirkuk provinces and areas in Diyala, Salahaddin and Nineveh provinces.
Osman said "it is not acceptable" if Baghdad intends to deploy in the disputes areas a larger force than what is stipulated in a previous agreement.
He continued "in such a case, we leave the decision for the political leadership of the Kurdistan Region…
"Refusing deployment of more forces in the disputes areas is a sign that we have the responsibility of protecting the security of all civilians in these areas, disregard of their ethnicity."
Fayeq Tofiq, deputy for KRG interior minister, said in general protecting the security of and expediting force to the disputes areas is more the duty of Ministry of Peshmarga.
If necessary, Ministry of Peshmarga will send force to these areas, Tofiq said.
He continued "now we are cooperating with them [Ministry of Peshmarga] …but in case of threats against the Kurdish civilians in the disputes areas we will not stand idly and die for [protecting] them."
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