Sen. Bob Corker hails Peshmerga, friendship of Kurdish people

Sen. Bob Corker
kurdistan24.net

WASHINGTON DC, United States (Kurdistan24) - Earlier this week, the influential Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Sen. Bob Corker, discussed with Kurdistan24 his deep respect and appreciation for the Kurds. “I cannot thank enough the people of Kurdistan for their friendship over many, many years,” he said. 

The Republican Senator from Tennessee had special words of gratitude for “the dedication, bravery, and sacrifice of the Peshmerga in routing out [the Islamic State] and taking care of other evils” in the region.

Corker spoke of the “incredible strength and support that comes from Congress toward the people of Kurdistan.” 

But the Senator was not entirely sure what the policy of the next administration would be because he didn't “think that anybody yet has heard them speak to the issue.” 

Nonetheless, Corker was confident that support for the Kurds would not be less than it is now.

He pointed to Rex Tillerson, who has headed the oil giant Exxon-Mobil for the past decade and who is now President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for Secretary of State. 

Corker, who is chairing Tillerson’s nomination hearings, described him as “a person who knows the Kurdish people well.” 

Exxon-Mobil was the first major oil company to conclude a deal with the Kurdistan Regional Government, in 2012, to explore for oil in the Kurdistan Region. 

Thus, Corker affirmed that Tillerson has dealt “directly with the leaders of Kurdistan.” He “has a business relationship with them and knows his way around that part of the world.”

Corker also stressed, “It’s important that the Peshmerga have all the equipment that is necessary to be successful.” He acknowledged, “I know they’d like to have more,” adding, “that’s constantly a subject of conversation.” But Corker, nonetheless, concluded, “I think the way that we’re getting armaments to the Peshmerga today is working.”

“I’ve had direct discussions with your President, your Foreign Minister, and others,” Corker revealed. “We’ve had discussions about the longer term: where Kurdistan goes, what its relationship with Baghdad ultimately is.”

But the Senator did not think it was the proper time to resolve such problems. “Right now, with the issue of [the Islamic State]” and the other problems in Iraq, “It’s my view that now is not the time to move toward total autonomy.” Corker added, “We know there are discussions that are taking place” and “we know that at the end of the day, the people of Kurdistan will make their own decision.”

 

 

(Rahim Rashidi conducted the interview in Washington, DC)

Editing by Delovan Barwari