US can play role of attorney in Kurdistan-Iraq marriage divorce: FM

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan 24) – The US could take on the role of divorce attorney between Erbil and Baghdad instead of advising the Kurdistan Region to wait for a "better time" to hold a referendum on independence, a Kurdish official said on Saturday.

A delegation from the Kurdistan Region headed to Washington DC last week to discuss the independence referendum, scheduled for Sep. 25, 2017, with the US administration.

Speaking from Washington, DC, in a live-broadcast interview with Kurdistan 24, Falah Mustafa, the head of the Kurdistan Region’s Department of Foreign Relations (DFR), stated US officials recognized the role of the Kurdish Peshmerga forces in defeating the Islamic State (IS).

They also acknowledged the Kurdistan Region's intake of 1.8 million displaced people and refugees, and the coexistence of various ethnic and religious groups in the Region.

Commenting on the US’ stance concerning the referendum, Mustafa said Washington DC was "not against the right to self-determination of the people of the Kurdistan Region," but that they were opposed to the timing of the vote.

“They think the timing of the referendum might not be appropriate for the plan they have in Iraq. We emphasized the decision to hold the referendum is the result of years of waiting to be considered a real partner in Iraq and to build a democratic and federal country together [with Baghdad],” he added.

The Kurdish official mentioned that it is unfortunate Baghdad was not ready for this process and failed to implement the Constitution of Iraq.

“Therefore, we concluded that we [Kurds] have no future in Iraq, but rather wish to hold a referendum to guarantee a bright future for our people in the Kurdistan Region.”

He mentioned the US could play a positive role in this case. “We requested the US be our partner in this process, rather than simply advise us on the timing of the referendum.”

“In meetings, we mention the relationship between the Kurdistan Region and Iraq is like an incomplete marriage. We wanted to live together as two real partners, but Baghdad did not accept this.”

“If the US intends to help in building stability by respecting the right of nations and self-determination, they can be our divorce attorney and deliver a peaceful separation between Erbil and Baghdad,” he mentioned.

In the interview, Mustafa stated the Kurdistan Region wants to have friendly relations with Baghdad in the future and behave as good neighbors.

“We can be neighbors with a low fence between us, allowing us to communicate and cooperate in the future instead of building high walls keeping us from even seeing each other,” he noted.

Regarding future relations between the Kurdistan Region and the US, Mustafa emphasized that US officials have stated the difference of opinions between Erbil and Washington concerning the timing of the referendum "would not affect the cooperation and relationship between the two nations."

The US and the international community recognize Peshmerga forces have been at the forefront of the battle against IS and terrorism, and the Kurds have in the past proven they believe in peace, coexistence, and human rights and values, he added.

“We opened our doors for 1.8 million IDPs and refugees who fled to the Kurdistan Region to escape from the threat of Da’esh,” Mustafa said, using the Arabic acronym for IS.

He mentioned that the peaceful coexistence between different ethnic and religious groups in the Kurdistan Region is a model that is rarely seen elsewhere in the Middle East.

“We might have differing opinions, but Washington has a vested interest with the Kurds: We as an ally can protect their interests in the region,” Mustafa concluded.

Editing by G.H. Renaud
(Umed Ali and Iman Darbas conducted the interview)