The governor of Arbil, Nozad Hadi evaluated developments on the Ankara-Arbil line, and the political atmosphere after Iraq’s Parliament Elections. Hadi said that since 1991 Turkey has been a gateway for Kurds that allows them to get through to whole world and to breathe. Hadi added that, “The Kurds’ tendency in international relations is to lean towards Turkey.”
Could you evaluate the March 7, 2010 Iraqi parliamentary elections from the perspective of Iraq’s national politics and the Kurdish parties?
There was a show of force during Saddam’s regime. And there was a political system based on retaining that power. This system’s ideology ignored the truths of Iraq. Many people, especially the Shiites who are the majority of Iraq’s citizens began to participate in the system after Saddam’s fall. But now everybody tries to express their own truth. Shiites votes for Shiite parties, Kurds votes for Kurdish parties. Among Kurds there may be different lists and parties. But we are all Kurdish national forces. On the other hand, the Kurds are not sufficiently powerful to gain the majority. The most important problem for us is the failure to put the Constitution of Iraq in to practice. Article 140 should be implemented. The perspective of Bagdad is different from ours. We are now able to produce oil in our region. We want the new Iraqi government to implement our demands. Because many problems, such as Peshmerge’s situation, have yet to be solved. Sunnis want the prime ministership, and Shiites also want this position since they have the majority. Sunnis have strong links with Arab nations, and Shiites have strong links with Iran. We are in the process of restructuring our region. We want to get along with our neighbor countries. We have no problems with any ethnic or sectarian groups in Kurdistan. There is competition between Kurdish parties, but this rivalry will not be seen in Baghdad.
How do you evaluate the Kurdistan Regional Government’s relations with Turkey? In the near future Barzani will visit Turkey…
Turkey is very important to us. Massoud Barzani’s visit to Ankara holds great importance for the Kurdish people. Turkey is a key that gives us access to the entire world. Turkey has been a gate for us that has allowed us to breathe since 1991. In the opinion both of the government and the people, relations should be improved. Numerous Turkish companies operate in Kurdistan and economic relations are well developed. In this sense, the shadow of the Turks can be seen clearly in Arbil and Duhok.
There are several things that can be counted as negative. But the visits of Turkish authorities were very meaningful. Our people have many expectations. This place also offers many opportunities to Turkey’s economy. Turkey’s support is needed to extract our underground riches. We expect much more from Turkey. In this sense, Barzani’s visit is very important. There is a change in Turkey’s view on Iraqi Kurdistan. Of course, we have no right to interfere in Turkey’s business, but it is changing on its own. We also benefit from Turkey’s stability.
In your opinion, will the situation of Kurds in Baghdad improve or deteriorate in the near future?
Indeed, the Kurds tend to look towards Turkey. In this moment the truth of Iraq has appeared. Previous experiences will not be repeated again. There is a power balance in Iraq. Everybody has an attitude that corresponds to the extent of their power. Nobody can interfere with anybody else. There is a difference in opinion between the Shiites and the Sunnis over Article 140 and oil law. The return of Baghdad’s old model for a relationship with the Kurds is no longer possible. Radical Baathists will not return to their old ways again. Hence, it’s no longer possible that the Kurds’ relations with Baghdad will return to the way they were in the old days. We see our relations with Turkey as a strategic relation.
In your opinion, why have relations with Turkey improved? Are there any threats to this relationship?
Very important developments have occurred in Turkey. The reason for the improvement in relations is this period of change. For example, the President Abdullah Gül’s speeches are very important. He says that they see all the constitutions equally, but Turkey was closer to the Sunnis in the past. Kurdistan is Turkey’s gateway to Iraq. The Turkish authorities are aware of this. Turkmens and Kurds were both affected by oppressive policies under Saddam Hussein’s regime. At the time, they were principally at the same side at the struggle to win a more democratic government. But soon after 2003, especially over the disputed areas, conflict quickly erupted between the Turkmens and the Kurds, while on the other hand, the Turkmens and the Arabs rapidly grew closer.
In your opinion, what should be done to improve relations between the Turkmens and the Kurds? Are there any steps to be made?
The Turkmens that live in Kurdistan have no problems. The former Baathist government caused discrimination between Turkmens and Kurds, and made them enemies. There are no such problems in Arbil. Kurds will not oppress the Turkmens like the Arabs did. There is an important problem due to discrimination between Sunnis and Shiites.
*This interview was conducted by ORSAM Middle East specialist, Oytun Orhan, and ORSAM’s editor in chief, Ogün Duru, in Arbil on May 13, 2010.