Partition of Iraq is likely
"All possibilities are open, including the partition of Iraq."
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (K24) – Ayad Allawi, former vice-president of Iraq, said that the partition of the country is likely as the Federal Government continues to deny the role of the Kurdistan Region.
In an interview with Sharq al-Awsat newspaper on Monday, Allawi stated that the policies and processes of the Iraqi government have failed. “Nowadays, Iraqis pray they lived under the rule of Saddam Hussein due to the improper policies of the government since 2003,” Allawi said.
Concerning the relations between the Federal Government of Iraq and Kurdistan, Allawi said, “The Iraqi government is not transparent with the Kurdistan Region. Masoud Barzani is thinking about independence because of pressures from Baghdad and their continued denial of Kurds' role in Iraq.”
Allawi says the Iraqi government's policy towards Kurds confuses him. “First, the Iraqi government asks me to hold talks with Barzani to open the Kurdistan Region pipeline for exporting oil, but then they start attacking Barzani,” he said.
“If the situation continues like this, all possibilities are open, including the partition of Iraq,” Allawi added.
According to Allawi, “everyone is responsible for what is happening in Iraq after the removal of Saddam Hussein’s regime.”
Allawi agrees that Iraq needs rulers who can control the situation within a genuine political process. “Iraq has witnessed a total economical collapse: the government sells oil at $22 per barrel, the treasury is empty, and the rate of unemployment and poverty is on the rise,” he added.
Reporting by Baxtiyar Goran; Editing by Karzan Sulaivany