KRG’s ruling party lobbies for Peshmerga in Russia
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan24) – On Thursday, KDP officials stated that they have asked for military support for Peshmerga from the Russian ruling party and they have also encouraged Russian companies to invest in the Kurdistan Region.
Kurdish delegates from the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), the largest and the ruling party of the Kurdistan Region, visited Moscow on Thursday. The delegate was headed by Hemin Hawrami, the head of KDP Foreign Relations Office, and they met the ruling party diplomats of the United Russia.
In the meeting, Hawrami discussed Erbil–Baghdad relations and stated that Russia and neighboring countries can see that KRG is using peaceful and democratic means to solve the issues.
"There is no real partnership with Baghdad, and the Kurdistan Region no longer wants to be part of Iraq as the country is heading toward an unknown future,” he said.
Hawrami noted that Kurdistan Region shares a long border with Islamic State (IS), and he asked Russia to provide military support to Peshmerga. Also, he asked the diplomats to encourage Russian companies to invest in the Kurdistan Region and be part of the economic growth in the Region as there are already oil companies active in the Region.
Additionally, he explained that there are almost two million refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the Kurdistan region that make up “31 percent of the total population of the Kurdistan Region." He mentioned that any humanitarian support from Russia to the IDPs will be very helpful for people who have lost their homes to war and destruction.
Hawrami highlighted the role Russia plays in the Middle East and called on Russia to support Kurdistan.
Regarding the civil war in Syria, he said, “KDP's policy has been clear from the beginning. Military operation is not a solution for the Syrian conflict. We have supported the Geneva peace talks, including Geneva I, II and III.”
Hawrami continued, “We are sure that Syria will never be the country it was before 2011. There is a clear division of power in Syria. Neither the opposition is strong enough to remove Syrian regime and rule the country, nor does the current government of Syria have the strength to overcome the opposition. There should be a peaceful dialogue between both without pre-conditions.”
About the removal of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on power, Hawrami noted that “The people of Syria should make that decision, not the external powers. Our question is whether the future of a person is more important or that of a region?”
He also mentioned that for the KRG, it is important to know what happens to Kurds in the country because they are ethnically distinct and their rights should be recognized. “The KRG has stated before that they support federalism in Syria,” he said.
In an interview with Kurdistan24, Hawrami noted that Russia recognizes the important role Peshmerga and Barzani play in the fight against IS and will work on increasing the military support to Peshmerga.
About Kurdistan Referendum that is planned to be held in 2016, he stated that they have told the Russian delegates that self-determination is a natural right for Kurds, and Kurdish independence will have a positive impact in the region.
Reporting by Mewan Dolamari
Editing by Ava Homa