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| Kurdistan independence | News; Kurdistan independence | News; Liberation of Kurdish lands news & updates etc... | |
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| Topic Started: 22nd November 2012 - 11:57 AM (205,538 Views) | |
| diako_ber | 22nd November 2012 - 11:57 AM Post #1 |
Pêşeng
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Mod, can you make this sticky? Thank you Demands for referendum on self-determination in East Kurdistan NEWSDESK, -- A group of Kurdish academics, artists, journalists and civil activists have declared in a statement that they demand a referendum to be implemented in East Kurdistan to decide the future administration of Kurdish people in this part of Kurdistan. In response to the antagonistic statement of the Iranian opposition group against the agreement reached by two Kurdish political parties to launch a unified front, a number of Kurdish academics, journalists and activists demand a referendum to be conducted in East Kurdistan on self-determination of the Kurds. The full statement as translated by Rojhelat reads as follow: Declaration of a number of libertarian and civil activists in East Kurdistan For the last few days since the signing of an agreement between the two Kurdish political parties of East Kurdistan (Democrat Party of Iranian Kurdistan and the Iranian Kurdistan Komele) the Iranian chauvinism has once again pointed its focal attacks on Kurdistan. Although this agreement embodies a tiny amount of the legitimate national demands of the Kurdish nation, nevertheless it has been the subject of attacks by the Iranian authoritarian opposition. This fact exhibits the concord between this pretentious opposition and the Islamic Republic of Iran in the suppression of the legitimate rights of the Kurdish nation. Such a scale of hostility toward an agreement which represents a minimal level of aspiration of the Kurdish nation, displays fears of the Iranian authoritarian opposition from the unity and coherence of Kurdish political parties and circles. Hereby we the signatories of this declaration urge all Kurdistan’s parties to launch wider and stronger fronts while we are manifesting our backings for any kinds of unity and cooperation among the political parties of East Kurdistan in the struggle to realise the legitimate rights of Kurdish nation. The antagonistic positioning of pan-Iranist spanning the rights, the lefts and communists as well as the Islamists to the [aforementioned] agreement demonstrates that hostility toward the Kurdish nation and the suppression of liberation movements of this resilient people comes at the top of these circles’ agendas. When it comes to the rights of the Kurdish nation, they would all set aside their previous disagreements and the suppression of the legitimate struggles of Kurdish nation becomes their joint and sanctified goal—whose pretext is the preservation of Iranian territorial integrity. Therefore we have reached a conclusion that maintenance of life within the framework of Iranian borders has become impossible for the Kurdish nation, owing to the fact that the Kurdish nation has been subjected to threats from both the Islamic Republic of Iran as well as its opposition. This would mean that after the downfall of the Islamic Republic of Iran, a new cycle of suppression of the Kurdish nation by the current opposition—the Iran’s potential rulers— would break out. Consequently, we the signatories of this declaration stress on the rights of the Kurds to self-determination and of the Kurds’ power to determine their destiny. To avoid the repetition of catastrophes that have plagued Kurdistan for the last eighty years, we call for a referendum to be implemented in Kurdistan under the supervision of the international institutions and the humanitarian foundations, in order to decide Kurdistan’s future political administration. Long live Liberation Movement of Kurdish Nation A group of Kurdistan’s libertarian and civil activists, 08/09/2012 |
 
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| RawandKurdistani | 23rd November 2012 - 11:59 PM Post #2 |
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Surchi/Xoshnawi
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The Kurdish quiet spring By OFRA BENGIO The big question mark is if Kurds will be able to enhance their national cause for self-determination. With the tectonic changes taking place in the heart of the Middle East little attention is given to developments in the periphery, one of the most important of which is the quiet revolution taking place in Greater Kurdistan, namely among the Kurds of Iraq, Turkey, Iran and Syria. The best illustration of the new Kurdish dynamism was the congress held on February 19, 2012, in Irbil, Iraq, to commemorate the 66th anniversary of Kurdistan Republic, better known as the Mahabad Republic. This short-lived Republic was established in northwest Iran on January, 22, 1946, with Soviet support but it crumbled 11 months later on December 10, 1946, and its president, Qazi Muhammad, was hanged on March 30, 1947. Kurdistan Republic was unique because it was the first time in Kurdish history that the Kurds had established a republic of their own; because it was an attempt to change the territorial map of the region at the end of World War II; and because there was a certain level of cooperation and unity of purpose between the Kurds of Iran and Iraq. Thus, Qazi Muhammad, the president of the republic and the Iranian Kurds, provided the territorial and political basis for the republic, while Mulla Mustafa Barzani and the 10,000 people (3,000 of whom were fighters) who came with him from Iraq provided the military backbone. The commemoration of the event this February in Irbil reflected the changes that have been taking place in the past decade, especially in Iraq and Turkey. The event which brought together Kurdish representatives from the four parts of Kurdistan under the watchful eyes of the governments of these states was unimaginable only five years ago. Among the many Kurdish personalities participating in the commemoration were Mas’ud Barzani (son of Mulla Mustafa), president of Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) in Iraq, Selahattin Demirta, co-chair of the Kurdish Peace and Democracy party (BDP) in Turkey, ‘Abd al-Hakim Bashar, head of Kurdistan Democratic Party in Syria and Hussein Yazdanpana of Kurdistan Freedom Party (PAK) in Iran. There were also many Kurdish representatives from the diaspora who have been active in disseminating the idea of Kurdish nationalism in the world at large. The speakers sought to send a few assertive messages to the world and especially to their governments. Barzani stressed that the Kurds, like any other nation, had the natural right of self-determination, that the governments were required to acknowledge this right but were not in a position to accord it to the Kurds, that the Kurds were striving to act in unity even though they had been separated into four parts, and that they were bent on achieving their goal through peaceful and democratic means. Most of the speakers highlighted the quick and sweeping changes taking place in the Middle East as a result of “the Arab spring” and the Kurds’ need to take advantage of this window of opportunity to achieve their own goals. Signaling a desire to resurrect the Mahabad experience, the speakers sought to impress upon the world the idea of continuity between 1946 and the present. A symbol of this continuity, it was emphasized, was the fact that after the collapse of the Republic, Qazi Muhammad handed over the Kurdish flag to Mulla Mustafa Barzani, stating that the flag was in “safe hands, and a day will come when the flag would be raised [again].” Indeed, Mulla Mustafa continued the struggle until 1975, bequeathing later the flag to his two sons Idris and Mas’ud. It was further emphasized that even though The Mahabad republic was short-lived the Kurds have to look at it as a model to attain in present time. Not only the speeches but the terminology, the symbols, and the general ambiance attested all to the changing dynamics in Kurdistan. Anyone who watched the ceremony, which was aired in its entirety time and again on Kurdistan TV, would have been impressed by the Kurdish nationalist atmosphere and the new-found sense of pride which surrounded it. Thus for example the Kurdish anthem of Mahabad, “Ey Reqip,” which became also the current anthem of the KRG and all the other Kurds, was played many times during the ceremony. Similarly, only Kurdish flags were to be seen in the hall, reflecting the general situation in the KRG where Kurdish flags, but not Iraqi ones, are raised in buildings, being etched on mountain slopes and curiously enough also configuring as badges on the uniforms of the Kurdish men of arms, the Peshmerga. NO LESS intriguing is the conception and terminology used while referring to Kurdistan. The Kurds present a map of Greater Kurdistan constituting one unit. Portraying it as such they refer to Kurdistan of Turkey as bakur, (north), that of Iraq, bashur (south), Iran roshalat (south east) and Syriarojava (west). Curiously enough, I am told that children were selling ornaments carrying this map of Greater Kurdistan in the streets of Irbil. Another no less important development is the process of legitimizing the Kurdish language, which is one of the important pillars of Kurdish nationalism. Noticeably, all the speakers made a point of speaking in Kurdish even though in their countries it had been suppressed for long time. Kurdish is now the official language in Kurdistan of Iraq. The Kurdish language, which was prohibited for many years there, is also being revived in Turkey. Furthermore, in early March 2012, a conference of Kurdish linguists was held in Diyarbakir in Turkey with the aim of unifying the language and its alphabet. Politically speaking, the short-lived Kurdistan Republic in Iran gave way to the Kurdistan Regional Government in Iraq, which is 20 years old now. The distinctive status of the KRG is most conspicuous. Thus South Kurdistan has all the trappings of a state, with all its practical and symbolical characteristics, including constitution, parliament, government, president, army, flag and anthem. The KRG has a vibrant economy, a capital, Irbil, and two airports which connect the landlocked region to the world. Moreover, the KRG has managed to turn itself into the epicenter of Pan-Kurdish activity. Kurds from all the other parts as well as from the diaspora frequent the region on a regular basis to exchange ideas, learn from the experience and take advice. Indeed, all the other three parts are looking at the KRG as a model to follow. The cooperation and coordination between the Kurdish leaders in the KRG and others found expression among others in the many all-Kurdish conferences held in Irbil. An ambitious meeting of Kurdish leaders from all parts of Kurdistan is expected to be held in Irbil this year, with the aim of unifying Kurdish parties and discussing Kurdish questions in such revolutionary times. All in all, at the turn of the 21st century the whole region is in turmoil and so are some of the states in which the Kurds reside. Accordingly, the Kurds are now at an important crossroads. The big question mark is if they will be able to use this window of opportunity to reverse the outcome of the 20th century and enhance their national cause for self-determination. The writer is senior research associate at the Moshe Dayan Center at Tel Aviv University. She is the author of the forthcoming The Kurds of Iraq: Building a State within a Stateand editor of the monthly newsletter Tzomet Hamizrah Hatichon. |
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| FulcrumKAF | 24th November 2012 - 02:29 AM Post #3 |
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Asayish (CI)1993
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why are u banned? |
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| Qandil | 24th November 2012 - 03:57 AM Post #4 |
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Salar
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He was a "messy poster". |
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| RawandKurdistani | 24th November 2012 - 04:54 AM Post #5 |
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Surchi/Xoshnawi
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But without him it has gotten boring as hell. |
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| RawandKurdistani | 5th December 2012 - 02:56 AM Post #6 |
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Surchi/Xoshnawi
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Kurdistan, a Forgotten Nation of 40 Million People By Kamal Chomani - Indian Kafila December 4, 2012 It has been for about 13 months I am living in Bangalore, India. I am here to study masters. India to me, as it is, is incredible. I feel as if I am at home. People here are friendly. My teachers and colleagues are just great. I have to confess that for a student that is his first time to leave his home for such a long time, certainly, will face many difficulties, but no difficulties have hurt me as much as a question of Indian people ‘where are you from?’ I am from Iraq, but Iraq is not my country. I cannot speak Arabic which is the official language the country. Luckily three more Iraqi people are with me who have helped me to manage my Arabic. My culture is different from Arabs. I don’t want to look like a nationalist, because I am telling the truth. I am a Kurd! My mother tongue is Kurdish. My homeland is Kurdistan. So, who are the Kurds? Kurds are the original inhabitants of Middle East. They are the biggest stateless nation around the world that they are still struggling for freedom and independence. They have been forgotten by the world. Yes, Kurds are a forgotten nation of 40 million populations. In India, few people know who Kurds are. I am really surprised when some Indians ‘love’ Saddam Hussein, the former Iraqi president. Saddam has killed more than 300,000 Kurds. He used poisoned gas against Kurds and killed 5000 Kurds in only one hour in Halabja, which is known as Hiroshima and Nagasaki’s sister! He mass murdered more than 182,000 Kurds in Anfal (Genocide) operations. The Anfal case is going to be an international case. Sweden Parliament has just decided to recognize it as a genocide act against humanity. In UK, Kurdish people have started a huge campaign to make pressures on UK parliament to recognize as Genocide. Kurdistan is the land of more than 40 million Kurds which was divided in 1514 for the first time between the Turks and the Persians in the Battle of Caldiran. In the aftermath of the First World War, Kurds were promised independence in the Treaty of Sevres (10 August 1920). But later, in the Treaty of Lausanne (24 July 1923), they were deprived in their natural, political, human and national rights. Now, Kurdistan is divided into four neighboring countries in the heart of Middle East. The biggest part of Kurdistan (Northern Part) is under the occupation of Turkey, the smallest (Western Part) is under the occupation of Syria, Eastern part is under the occupation of Iran and the Southern Part has got freedom which is a part of Federal Republic of Iraq. For the first time, Kurdistan announced a short-period independence in Mahabad (January 22, 1946), a city in Eastern Kurdistan in Iran which ultimately collapsed under repression by the Shah regime. The president of the Republic of Kurdistan, Qazi Muahammad was executed along with massacre of hundreds of other Kurds (March 31, 1947). After Kamal Ataturk, the founder of modern Turkey, came to power in the post First World War in Turkey, Kurdistan was promised a kind of federation within Turkey, but soon Ataturk started killing Kurds. Kurdish people struggled against the new Republic of Turkey, but they were defeated by using the harshest modern technology of arms. The dictatorship of Turkey has been using all kinds of oppression against Kurds. Till the beginning of 1990s, even speaking Kurdish language had been banned. Now, over 20 million Kurds are living in Turkey, but they don’t have any human rights. Kurdish is still not a recognized language. In Turkey, Abdullah Ocalan, the legendary Kurdish leader who is now in prison (arrested in February 15, 1999 in an international conspiracy by Turkish Intelligence Establishment, American CIA and Israeli Mossad), started a revolution under the name of Kurdistan Workers Party, PKK, an armed force founded in 1978, which started armed struggle in 1984. The freedom fighters are now in the mountains struggling for the rights of Kurdish people. In Southern Kurdistan (Iraq’s part), the scene is a bit different, though Kurds have got freedom, but they have faced all kinds of atrocities under the hands of former Saddam Hussein regime. Kurds struggled against the invasion of British but they were defeated during the First World War. Kurds struggled for their rights till they got Self-Autonomy in March 11, 1970 but soon Saddam Hussein, the then Iraqi president, withdrew his agreement with Kurds. Again the revolution of Kurdish people started. In the peak of Kurdish revolution in Iraq,www.ekurd.net Saddam Hussein used chemical poisoned gas against Kurds in March 16, 1988 in which about 5000 innocent men, women and children were killed. And then, the Anfal (Mass Murder) operations started by Saddam Hussein in which 182,000 Kurds were mass murdered by the former regime. In March 5, 1991, Kurds struck against Saddam Hussein in what is known as the March Uprising in which they were able to liberate Kurdistan under the invasion of Iraq. But soon, Saddam sent forces to crackdown the uprising, but people of Kurdistan left the cities to the neighboring countries in a mass departure in which thousands were died because of cold, and hunger. In Syria, still 200,000 Kurds do not have identity to be known as Syrian citizens. The revolution has started. Bashar Asad regime, the president of Syria, has killed more than 10,000 innocent people so far. Syrian opposition parties have held some conferences in Turkey, Tunisia and Europe to discuss about the post-regime. Kurds have been promised of a kind of self-governing after the fall of the regime. Now, Kurds have liberated some cities, but still it takes time. During Saddam Hussein’s massacres against Kurds, people had no chance to leave their cities and villages. The thugs of the regime were going to the villages in the middle of night. They would take all the men and women and children. The regimes thugs and soldiers were coming into the cities with lorries and military trucks. They would not differentiate between any. Basically, for them, it was only important to take Kurds and pick them up on the back of trucks to the lands of Southern Iraq to bury them while they were alive. My uncle was a Kurdish freedom fighter. He was moving from mountain to mountain and place to place to attack the regime’s outposts. My father was living in his hometown which is in the border between Iraq and Iran in the north. He had no chance to leave the city, because he possessed family including five children. When the Kurdish revolution was ended in 1974, my father and thousands of Kurdish people fled to Iran. My uncle was martyred in 1982 but my father had not the right to mourn and manage a funeral for him, nor had he the right to gather with his family to receive other people whom they wanted to express their condolence. When Saddam Hussein arrested 8 thousand Kurds in Erbil province from Barzan tribe, they were sleeping in their homes. They were not aware of the plot. Suddenly there were caught and found themselves in the deserts of Iraq to be mass murdered. Those who wanted to struggle to escape from massacres, left the cities and joined the freedom movement on Kurdistan mountains. In Iraq, South Kurdistan is more a mountains area. The highest peak in Iraq is in Kurdistan. That’s why Kurds have a well-known saying “Only mountains are our friends.” To be honest, mountains are the main reason that Kurds still do exist! The abovementioned are only few fact files in the Kurdish history which I want all Indians to know. I approach Indians in this article because I am here and it hurts me to see that they don’t know about Kurds! What links Kurds and Indians? There are some connections between Kurds and Indians. Perhaps there are older connections. There are many words in common between Kurdish language and Hindi. I think, this is the main reason Kurds love Indian movies, culture and films. Recently, a very close friend of mine, called me that I had to send him back a beautiful Indian Sari for his fiancée. I went to the market and bought two kinds of Indian clothes. She wore them in the most famous Kurdish festival, Newroz. I later realized she has been influenced by Indian movies and film stars. When I was a young boy, my cousin had a video. He used to invite us every night for an Indian film. He had all kinds of Indian films. I still remember those days when we used to gather calmly to watch an Indian film. Now, Bollywood films are widely watched in Kurdistan. Some Indian TVs are available in Kurdistan that people watch, apart from that, in the film stores, anyone can find Indian movies. I was recently met a Kurdish student here in Bangalore who studies pharmacy. I was really amazed by the huge information he has about Bollywood stars. Later, another friend told me that student even can speak some Hindi and his love to India is the reason he has come to India to study. Nowadays, India is a destination for Kurdish students to study masters and bachelor degrees. Kurdish students can be estimated as more than 500 students. Such students are spread all over India. The cities that Kurds are studying in are Pune, Bangalore, Delhi, AurangAbad, Allah Abad, and Heyderabad. In Bangalore, Kurdish students are about 80 in number. Kurdish people love Indians. Indian films are widely watched in Kurdistan. I was told that one of my neighbors in my hometown can speak Hindi now since she has been addicted to Indian movies. I have heard some stories of people who can speak Hindi. Whenever any friend from Kurdistan calls me, or chats with me, his or her first greetings is for Amitabh Bachchan, or Aishwarya. If you look at Kurdish facebook users’ accounts, you will see tens of Kurdish youths have put Mahatma Gandhiji’s photo as their profile pictures. Gandhiji’s quotes are translated into Kurdish and you will see them in the youths’ status updates on their facebook or twitter accounts. Apart from that, tens of Indians are working in Kurdistan now. So, there’s a love of Kurdish people for India, and Indians. In response, we want love from your side for Kurds and Kurdistan, a forgotten nation. India has started investing in oil field in South Kurdistan of Iraq. It is a good step to invigorate our friendship. Media should play its role. Hopefully in the coming years, we will have a better relations. |
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| Brendar | 8th December 2012 - 03:57 AM Post #7 |
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Why Palestinians yes, Kurds no? By Ofra Bengio | Dec.07, 2012 | 10:30 AM At a conference I attended in the mid-1990s, I dared to compare the Kurdish national movement in Iraq with that of the Palestinians. The conference dealt with the changing political map of the Middle East against the background of the 1991 Gulf War, the Oslo Accords of 1993 between Israel and the Palestinians, and the burgeoning autonomies that were developing concurrently in the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG ) and the newly established Palestinian Authority. At the time, both groups spoke of their peoples' right to self-determination, and it was only natural to pinpoint the similarities and differences between the two national movements. The comparison, however, caused an uproar among the participants, who were mostly Palestinians and other Iraqis, with some even leaving the conference hall in protest. Indeed, for many years, such a comparison was considered taboo, both because of a pro-Palestinian bias in the world and the unwillingness of the states where the Kurds lived to accord any legitimacy to their unique identity, let alone fulfill their right to self-determination. The international community, with its own vested interests, followed suit. Today, though, one can reasonably ask if the time has not come to declare the taboo passe, and demonstrate that such a comparison is not far-fetched. In fact, any comparison would show clearly that the Kurds are no less - and perhaps even more - eligible for their own state. To start with, the Kurds in general are an ancient nation who have lived in their homeland from time immemorial. They have a unique language, culture and identity, all of which differentiate them from their neighbors in the various lands where they live. Demographically speaking, the Kurds of Iraq today number more than five million - a sixth of the world's total - compared to four million Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza. Historically speaking, their right to self-determination was proclaimed publicly by U.S. President Woodrow Wilson in his famous Fourteen Points speech of 1918, as well as in the 1920 Treaty of Sevres, though that remained a dead letter. As with the Palestinians, the British were also deeply involved in the Kurdish case, post-World War I, with some British officials encouraging the establishment of a Kurdish state while others opposed it. Unluckily for the Kurds, the second group gained the upper hand, leaving those in Iraq to struggle for the rest of the 20th century to fulfill their right to self-determination. Now, at the beginning of the 21st century, the achievements of the KRG in the realm of both nation building and state building have been much more impressive than those achieved by the PA during the same period. This is all the more striking if we consider the genocide perpetrated against them by Saddam Hussein in 1987-88. Yet, within a short while, the Kurds rose from the ashes to build an entity with all the trappings of a state: A working parliament, an effective government, strong security forces and a more or less functioning democracy. The KRG has also become a model for many countries in the region, with its prosperous economy and thriving and cohesive society. The Kurds of Iraq also compare positively with the Palestinians in that they have rarely resorted to terrorist activities, and that political Islam has not set down roots among them. According to the Montevideo Convention of 1933, to claim statehood a national entity should possess the following qualifications: a permanent population, a defined territory, a government, and the capacity to enter into relations with other states. If we examine the status of the KRG, we can only conclude that it fulfills most of these criteria, certainly no less than the PA. As to the criterion of permanent population, no one would contest the fact that the Kurds have been present in the region since at least the seventh century, and even established principalities beginning in the 16th century, although the last of these was defeated in the middle of the 19th century. To our best knowledge, no such Palestinian principality has ever existed. The question of defined territory is common to both the Kurds and the Palestinians, but according to Prof. Ruth Lapidoth, an expert on international law and professor emeritus at the Hebrew University, the lack of definitively established borders need not be an impediment to statehood. With regard to the third condition - the existence of an effective government with control over the population - there is no doubt that the KRG is much more effective than the PA on this score. Though it did lag behind the PA with regard to entering into relations with states, it has made good progress in this area in recent years. True, it has no representation in the United Nations or other international forums. This is not, however, for any lack of moral justification, but is part of the double standard encountered in international relations. In a recent newspaper column, a Turkish analyst expressed disgust at the American pro-Israel bias and its alleged double standard with regard to the Palestinians. He posed the following question: "Why is Israel a state, but Palestine not?" Can we not ask in the same vein, why Palestine should be a state and the Kurdistan Regional Government not? Prof. Ofra Bengio is head of the Kurdish Studies Program at the Moshe Dayan Center at Tel Aviv University, and author of "The Kurds of Iraq: Building a State within a State." http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/opinion/why-palestinians-yes-kurds-no.premium-1.483312 Its a disgrace to compare Kurds with "palastinians" but we must all appreciate this author for her frequent articles about Kurds and Kurdistan. |
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| Kulka Kurdayati | 8th December 2012 - 05:04 AM Post #8 |
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bullshit
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“If the blood of Kurds is to be shed again, it won’t be for federalism and confederation this time. It must be for Kurdistan’s independence,” said Barzani. Massoud Barzani: Dictatorship Threatens Iraq's Territorial Integrity 23/04/2012 21:23:00 RUDAW ERBIL, Kurdistan Region -- The president of the Kurdistan Region accused Iraq's Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki of reneging on his promises to the Kurds, and said meeting with him would be “fruitless.” Meeting with the senior managers of a couple dozen Kurdish media outlets, President Massoud Barzani said the current situation in Iraq “is totally unacceptable and is not in Iraq or Kurdistan’s interests.” “I have met with Maliki many times. I don’t have any personal problems with him. I have respect for him. But my experience with Maliki is that even if I met him 100 more times, it wouldn’t bear any fruit because he has not implemented any of his promises,” said Barzani in response to a question by Rudaw. “Nothing but dictatorship threatens the territorial integrity of Iraq,” warned Barzani, speaking to journalists in his office in Salahaddin, a resort town northeast of Erbil. Relations between the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) and Baghdad authorities have been tense recently over a range of issues, especially the unsettled oil and gas disputes. “If all the people of Iraq are happy with this situation, they can do as they please. If the people of Kurdistan and all Kurdistani parties are content with the current situation and don’t see any threat, I have no personal problems. But I must clear my conscience with my people,” Barzani said about his recent strong remarks against Baghdad authorities, especially PM Maliki. Barzani met with Kurdish journalists on the 114th anniversary of the publication of the first Kurdish newspaper, Kurdistan. Barzani returned to Erbil on Friday after a tour of Bulgaria, the United States, Hungary and Turkey. He rejected the idea that the latest escalation of tensions between Baghdad and the Kurdistan Region is over personal issues between him and Maliki. “I have not created any crisis. I have only talked about a crisis that was not talked about or discussed behind closed doors,” said Barzani. “I feel I have a historic responsibility toward the people of Kurdistan. We have been waiting on promises for six years, fruitless promises. It is time to settle things.” Barzani said U.S. officials have told him that they want a democratic, federal, plural and united Iraq, and reiterated their commitment to the Kurdistan Region. The U.S. is not against any change “that is within the confines of the Iraqi constitution,” said Barzani. The Kurdish president said the Iraqi government had tried to cancel his trip to the U.S. or ensure that Barzani was not received by senior officials. While in the U.S., Barzani met with President Barack Obama, Vice President Joseph Biden and other senior officials and congressmen. Commenting on the case of Iraq’s fugitive Vice President Tariq al-Hashemi, Barzani said he has proposed that the prime minister, president and parliament speaker of Iraq, alongside former Prime Minister Ayad Allawi, meet together to find a solution to Hashemi’s case. Allawi heads the al-Iraqiya parliamentary bloc, of which Hashemi is a member. Hashemi, who is currently in Turkey, was in the Kurdistan Region for weeks, adding to the tensions between Baghdad and Erbil. The Iraqi government wants the Kurds to hand him over to the Iraqi judiciary for trial on terrorism charges. “I did not invite Hashemi to come to Kurdistan, the president (Jalal Talabani) did. Everybody acts as though they support the law, but the only one who has to handcuff Hashemi and hand him over is me. I will not do that. It is not my problem … He (Hashemi) is free to decide whether he wants to come to Kurdistan or not. We will neither prevent him nor expel him,” said Barzani. Unlike Barzani, Iraq’s President Jalal Talabani, also a Kurd, has maintained a softer stance toward Maliki and the disputes between Baghdad and the KRG. Barzani denied that there is any discrepancy between him and Talabani, saying Talabani’s comments are influenced in his capacity as the president of Iraq, which doesn't allow him to be as frank. The two Kurdish leaders, however, have identical views at the end of the day, Barzani said. Barzani said that if Maliki is replaced, his substitute will not be able to act like Maliki and concentrate power in his hands. Barzani and several other Iraqi leaders have warned that Maliki is laying the foundation for a new dictatorship. The Kurdish president has, in recent months, raised the issue of Kurdistan’s independence, saying that Kurds have the right to declare independence whenever they deem the circumstances fit. When a journalist asked Barzani what would become of the areas whose ownership is disputed by both Baghdad and Erbil if Kurdistan declared independence, Barzani said those areas will have the same fate as the Kurdistan Region. Both Baghdad and Erbil lay claim to the multiethnic oil-rich province of Kirkuk and other territories in Diyala and Mosul provinces. Barzani added that he will make the utmost effort to resolve the disputes with Baghdad in a peaceful way so that Kurdistan will not have to face a new war. “If the blood of Kurds is to be shed again, it won’t be for federalism and confederation this time. It must be for Kurdistan’s independence,” said Barzani. http://www.rudaw.net/english/index.php?news=4657 ------------------------ |
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| RawandKurdistani | 12th December 2012 - 12:00 AM Post #9 |
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Surchi/Xoshnawi
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Turkey may be divided by 2030: U.S. Intelligence report December 11, 2012 WASHINGTON,— A new report from the U.S. National Intelligence council claims the possible formation of Kurdistan may harm Turkey's unity in upcoming years, Turkish Hurriyet daily news reported. One of six scenarios presented in the report consisted of a rising Kurdistan, which in turn affects Turkey's territorial unity by carrying a risk of separation. Turkey will also play an increasing role in the international arena and will have a wider influence in global affairs, the report said. The report suggested that European countries should keep the possibility of Turkey's accession going, as well as the negotiations. The report further stated that Turkey, among countries like Colombia, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Mexico and South Africa may witness an economic rise. Russia, Japan and Europe, however, may undergo an economic decline, according to the report. Further scenarios included a decline in the "superpower" status as the United States as the country becomes “first among equals” in a new multi-polar world order. China, however, is mentioned as a "slowly rising" global power that will "remain a top-tier player in Asia." Islamist terror may be over by 2030, the report read. |
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| RawandKurdistani | 12th December 2012 - 12:02 AM Post #10 |
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Surchi/Xoshnawi
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 It's from a turkish source, so i don't know how trustful it is. |
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| ALAN | 16th December 2012 - 08:38 PM Post #11 |
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A veteran British writer: Kurdistan, a step away from the declaration of the state A veteran British writer David Hirst says that, Kurdistan is step away from the declaration of the state, and wondered if they will be Kurds the biggest winner of the current circumstances in the region. British author David Hirst wrote an article entitled "Arab Spring and Khrifam crisis" began his article by asking about a Kurdish state and says, "Do Kurds become the biggest winner of the Arab Spring, with the current circumstances in the region, which has shifted mostly in their favor to declare an independent state?". He recalls the great loss suffered by the Kurds against the backdrop of Sykes-Picot agreement about 90 years ago, and then points to the political circumstances that are available thus of the Kurds as well as their continuous struggle, he says kurds took advantage of the folly of Saddam Hussein when he invaded Kuwait, in addition to the establishment of no-fly zone in KRG And they benefited from the lessons of the past, to ask themselves as equal partners in the new Iraq. According to what was written by British author David Hirst, the Kurds are waiting for U.S. war on Iran or the fall of the regime of Bashar al-Assad in Syria to declare their independence. And from opinion of the writer, the Kurds in Iraq will rely upon the declaration of their independence and the basis of their belief that Ankara is working to consolidate its relations with Sunni Arabs and Kurds in Iraq, they are aiming their sights towards Turkey, and they have much to offer: from economic integration to mutual security cooperation ... Only if he is convinced the Iraqi Prime Minister, Nuri al-Maliki, and allowed them to create their own state. We have started we see such attitudes from within the perimeter of al-Maliki himself. He pointed to what he wrote editor-Sabah Abdul-Jabbar carp, argues that the time has come to solve the problem of older generation among Arabs of Iraq in response, in the establishment of a Kurdish state. The writer stressed that the Kurds and the result of circumstances and political instability, regional and international are the losers have always been a result of World War I and the collapse of the Ottoman Empire. According to Sykes - Picot of 1916 and promised Britain, France, Kurds state of their own, but Nktta that pledge, and ended up Erd they became minorities subjected to repression in a way or another in the four countries are Iran, Iraq, Turkey and Syria, which shared «their national home» broader. British author says that the geopolitical reality that crammed between these four forces hostile (Iraq, Iran, Turkey and Syria) play always in their best interest and always happened that crushed revolutions latest of which was in the era of Saddam Hussein, who committed a massacre against using chemical weapons. However did not stop the Kurds from dream b «Independence final», and was penetration first in this direction folly committed by Saddam Hussein invading Kuwait in 1990 and the consequences geopolitical unforeseen killing them, and was the most important of the establishment of the Western alliance area international ban backed by the United Nations in the north Iraq. In this 'safe haven' laid Kurds first step in building the state, to hold parliamentary elections and the establishment of some structures of self-government. The penetration second by what he says David Hurst, Vndjem for the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003, and the resulting new constitutional order in full, is what he referred to carp, and enable the Kurds under this system of promoting this special status and autonomy, with access to more of legislative powers and control over their armed forces, as well as a degree of authority on oil, which constitute the backbone of the Iraqi economy, and that this power was still limited. The author also says that the President of the South Kurdistan Massoud Barzani awaits U.S. war on Iran, or the collapse of the regime of President Bashar al-Assad in Syria to declare independence Kurdish state. pukmedia.co |
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| ALAN | 20th December 2012 - 02:24 AM Post #12 |
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so according to few sources i have read, KRG is preparing to divorce iraq by securing the pipelines with turkey, having guaranteed the deal with turkey via Exxon and Chevron deals, but USA is worried that after Kurdistan dumps iraq, milky will even shift more towards iran, something USA is very against for their own interests, but KRG presidency thru its speaker has announced its concerns for US latest view on the matter. kurdistan is only now joint to shithole iraq via an economic bond and the budget, but once these pipelines are operational kurdistan will dump iraq the way it deserves, and the recent Peshmerga deployments to kurdistani areas outside KRG's administration is to secure the oil fields in these territories for Exxon and Chevron, and now iraq is saying they are ready to go to war over these areas not because they are 'i-raqi' but because they are reach in oil, but they forget Exxon and Cehvron means US 10 brigades alone. KRG is playing its game very smoothly and cleverly, it made milky create dijla so that it can unite its political parties inside KRG and it worked 
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| Qandil | 20th December 2012 - 04:23 AM Post #13 |
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Salar
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With big companies like Exxon & Chevron, Turkey can't just like close the pipeline or stuff like that, when they don't like something, right? And yes, I'd think that's why KRG deployed Peshmerga as well, because it is said that Exxon will drill oil, even in the middle of the conflict. Indeed, they only want this land, because there's oil in it. They're even open about it. |
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| FulcrumKAF | 20th December 2012 - 07:14 AM Post #14 |
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Asayish (CI)1993
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do you guys believe kurds in EK will get autonomy after an attack on Iran? if so,which cities will join and which not? can somebody here make a realistic map? |
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| RawandKurdistani | 20th December 2012 - 07:53 AM Post #15 |
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Surchi/Xoshnawi
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I would assume, Kurdistan/Sine, Kermashan, Most of Ilam and Urmia, and parts of Hamadan and Lorestan. |
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| purearch72 | 20th December 2012 - 08:20 AM Post #16 |
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Banned by member request
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Don't underestimate urmiye |
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| Xoybun | 20th December 2012 - 09:49 AM Post #17 |
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Serok
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Urmiye Power!!!!!! |
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| ALAN | 20th December 2012 - 09:52 AM Post #18 |
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yeah just like SK, EK consists of 4 provinces, Kurstan, Urmiya, Kermashan and Ilam. Kermashan might face some challenges as it has persian presence unlike Kordestan and Urmiya provinces which persians are like 1% and not even, but this will be a problem for Ilam to join as well so it is very important we get Kermashan in order to get Ilam as well. |
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| purearch72 | 20th December 2012 - 09:58 AM Post #19 |
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Banned by member request
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It's going to be a war against Ajams not persians for Ormiyeh - Our great leader Dr.ghassumlou is from Urmiye his presence still lingers in all kurds from Urmiye |
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| Xoybun | 20th December 2012 - 11:38 PM Post #20 |
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Serok
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Persians say Kordistan, in Kurdish, it's Kurdistan!!!! |
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| FulcrumKAF | 22nd December 2012 - 08:32 AM Post #21 |
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Asayish (CI)1993
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Nechirvan berzani: Will there be a independent kurdistan? If there is one man who deserves the credit for the growing Turkish-Kurd rapprochement, it’s Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani of south kurdistan. Five years ago Kurds and foreigners alike laughed in his face when he told them that not only did he want south kurdistan to export its own oil, but that he wanted to export it to Turkey, which has had an intractable problem with its own large Kurdish minority. Barzani’s strategy was one of patience: starting with confidence-building with the Turks and then coaxing small oil companies and then larger ones to risk Baghdad’s ire to drill for oil not only in the autonomous region but in territory disputed by both Barzani’s government and the Iraqi central government. Barzani sat down with TIME on December 13 to talk about the Turks, his stormy relationship with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and the potential for an independent Kurdish state–and how that would affect members of the non-Arab ethnicity, which lives in Iraq, Turkey, Iran and Syria. He spoke sometimes in English and other times through the translation services of his Foreign Minister Falah Mustafa Bakir. Below are excepts from that interview: TIME: My understanding is that the people laughed at you when you first suggested that Kurdistan drill and export its own oil. True? Barzani: That’s true [laughs]…. We started with small projects. Small companies. I mean of course always we’ve been accused of bringing small companies but now we have big companies like Exxon Mobil, Chevron, Total, Gazprom. It has been changed a lot. The total investment so far in spending has been about $15 billion. $15 billion they spending in this country. It’s a lot of change. But of course we have a long way to go – this is not all. So the first company that we started with was a Norwegian Company called DNO. Of course at the beginning there was a huge campaign on me personally as well [saying that] I’m crap, I’m benefiting from this personally, stories about me personally. But I resisted and ignored all these accusations and we continued the path. TIME: The U.S. State Department said they oppose the Turkish pipeline because they worry that it could threaten the integrity of Iraq. Do you think building this pipeline could threaten the integrity of Iraq? Barzani: That’s a joke [chuckles]. No, really, that’s a joke. First of all everybody knows and realizes Turkish policy. Turkish policy is against any Kurdish independence, I mean it’s obvious. So this is the fate that we have been given. Turkey has always had that power, that authority to militarily stop us. I will gladly say the opposite. What threatens Iraq’s integrity is the performance of Prime Minister Maliki in Baghdad. Maliki wants to utilize that campaign against us. We have a door of hope, which is Turkey. And if that door, that hope is closed, it will be impossible for us to surrender to Baghdad. We will do something that will put in danger the interests of all those concerned. TIME: Is it ironic that you’re pinning your hopes on Turkey, given how badly they have treated the Kurds in the past? Barzani: Things have changed in Turkey. It’s very simple. Turkey needs something that it doesn’t have. We need certain things that we don’t have. This has been the proper understanding on both sides. And it doesn’t have anything to do with politics. It’s an economic matter. They would like, and we would like likewise, to achieve progress. Because Turkey is a very important country for us. Of course if we are able through economic cooperation to further develop this relationship, we will certainly do it. TIME: You have a large number of Iraqi troops mustered at your border, could this turn into a war? Barzani: They are not far from each other, the forces. But let me discuss that in a different way. Unfortunately, Prime Minister Maliki wants to create tension in these areas. We sent our own delegation to Baghdad. They had a memorandum of 14 points. Our military forces and the Iraqi side, both sides of the military they had agreed on that. And we were pleased that this would be implemented and the problem would be solved. When we went to Maliki he rejected all of that. So the point is in what way he moves to solve the problems? The way we see it his is more interested in sorting out the differences through violence. The areas that are called the disputed territory, this is a very sensitive issue for KRG, for Kurdish. It’s extremely sensitive. When we agreed to all these 14 points he rejected it. We don’t know what formula that we use to create an understanding. But of course we’re expecting these things to happen. We knew that after the withdrawal of the American troops, things would change and this would be a normal thing to happen in Iraq. America came to this country, spent huge amounts of money and have sacrificed lives. But they handed over the keys to others. TIME: To the Iranians? Barzani: I said to others, okay [laughs]. Whatever problems, whatever you like, they have left all these problems behind. I’ll pose a question: Why did you come to Iraq? What’s the reason? If the only intention was to hand over Iraq’s keys to others, then why did you come? Why? This is really the question for Americans. Therefore, America is also responsible for the situation and what happens now. There is a moral responsibility on the United States. Because until the last moment when then Americans were here they did not help us to solve these problems. And they knew that these were problems that would linger. How does Baghdad act? Baghdad believes or perceives that they will be stronger, but especially I’m talking about Prime Minister Maliki, he’s waiting for F16s and M1 tanks, and being in that strong position to come and talk to us. To impose a solution on us. Imposing any kind of solution would create a problem on the ground. There has to be an agreement, a compromise. We are ready for that. We know that we cannot solve this problem through who’s strong and who’s weak. Ok, we have to be ready for compromise, both sides. And we as the KRG are ready for that, we’re ready for dialogue, for compromise, for talk, for everything. TIME: Will there come a point where you feel you can no longer bargain with Maliki and it’s better to be on your own? Barzani: We have a constitution in this country. We will not take any other step until we lose hope in that constitution. There is no doubt if and when we lose hope that the constitution is not adhered to, certainly there are other options. TIME: Also for Turkey, the PKK are here. Is that awkward? For them, for you, for the Turks? Barzani: Regarding that, it’s only the issue of the PKK. Turkey has to understand one thing: this is a political question. It cannot be solved militarily. There has to be a political decision to solve this question. We have continuously raised and discussed this issue with Turkey. Always. And we will continue to do so. We are attempting to play a role so that there will be a political solution for this question. TIME: Did you imagine five years ago that you would be receiving heads of state here? That Kurdistan would have come so far as an independent region? Barzani: Five years ago, it was so difficult, really. Five years or more, it was difficult to expect that, really. Because I remember, Turkey especially, they had 200,000 troops on the border. They threatened us, we will enter here. And instead of that right now we have almost $8 billion in trade with Turkey. Only with the KRG. And the major Turkish companies in construction, in other areas, they are active here. And for the opening ceremony of the new Erbil airport Prime Minister Erdogan, he came here. So, it’s a big change. It’s a really big change in terms of the relationship with Turkey. TIME: Is it possible to say that you are closer than ever to an independent Kurdistan? Barzani: I believe, yes, we have a very good opportunity. But we have a lot of challenges as well. How we can – I mean an independent Kurdistan – first of all we have to convince at least one country around us. Without convincing them, we cannot do this. Being land locked we have to have a partner, a regional power to be convinced and internationally, a big power to be convinced to support that. What we want right now is to have an economic independence within Iraq. And the biggest threat on Iraq’s unity is Prime Minister Maliki. Because Prime Minister Maliki is acting very unilaterally and as a one man show. This will not help to solve Iraq’s problems. The Kurdish concern about Maliki is not only the Kurdish concern. It you go talk to any Shi’a, Turkman, Sunni, they have exactly the same concern about the Prime Minister. This is the reality. Everybody is unhappy with the performance of the prime minister. |
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| Kurdistano | 23rd December 2012 - 04:46 AM Post #22 |
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Sertîp
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Isn't Ilam connected to South Kurdistan? However, I am sure if the chance comes the Kurds from kirmanshan will join. Forget about the Persian presence, since they dont make more than 15% of the population there. |
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| Kurdistano | 23rd December 2012 - 07:05 AM Post #23 |
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Sertîp
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Well thats enough. If there is a connection it doesn't matter how long it is. |
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| RawandKurdistani | 23rd December 2012 - 08:17 AM Post #24 |
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Surchi/Xoshnawi
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What about the kurdish populated parts of Hamadan and Lorestan? And then there's the several million of kurds in Khorasan, what will happen to them? I think they should move back, and start re-populating the areas that are lost to persians. |
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| ALAN | 23rd December 2012 - 01:37 PM Post #25 |
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heval jj the sense of nationality in Kirmashan is NOT as strong as an Ilam, Kurdistan and Urmayia, would you not agree jj  ?
jj why do you think Kirmashan actually was not part of the republic of Mahabad !??
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