These days there is a single item on the agenda of the Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) in northern Iraq: The Sept. 25 independence referendum. KRG President Masoud Barzani has started a public relations campaign. On the one hand, he is making visits, and on the other, he is frequently giving interviews, cultivating the \u201cno retreat from the referendum\u201d perception.<\/p>\n
The Turkish translation of his interview on Al-Ahram newspaper was published on news portal Rudaw, known for its affinity to Barzani. When asked about what his message to Ankara was, Barzani said, \u201cKurdistan is a secure and a prosperous place.\u201d<\/p>\n
Asked about Turkey\u2019s attitude toward the referendum, Barzani said remarks in the media were contradictory. \u201cBut generally they are not against the Kurdish people\u2019s rights,\u201d he added. <\/p>\n
Barzani was also asked about his relationship with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and what he requested from him on his last visit to Turkey, to which he said, \u201cOur Turkish friends, looking from their perspective know very well that the Kurdistan region is very important… [Erdogan] does not want anything else but to strengthen and develop our relations.\u201d<\/p>\n
Barzani tried to reassure Turkey in an interview with London-based Al Hayat newspaper, saying, \u201cOur referendum does not mean a war against any of our neighbors. We want good relationships with them and especially with Turkey.\u201d<\/p>\n
When you read Barzani\u2019s comments, you get a feeling that he has trust in something. What he trusts appears between the lines in his conversations.<\/p>\n
For example, he said the U.S. and Russia will not ignore the Kurdish people who \u201cpaid big prices in protecting themselves in the last 100 years and inflicted a big defeat against terrorism.\u201d<\/p>\n
Barzani also frequently uses former American diplomat and advisors\u2019 statements that say, \u201cThe U.N. agreement entitles this right to the Kurds\u201d and mentions their expectations from U.N. members, including Turkey, that they will show respect to the Kurdish people\u2019s given rights.<\/p>\n
At the same time, developments are happening in the area and especially in Syria that lends credence to Barzani\u2019s \u201cfreedom idea is supported by the U.S., Russia and the Western\u201d claim.<\/p>\n
For example, Col. Ryan Dillon, the spokesman of the anti-Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) coalition under the guidance of the U.S., said they trained 17,000 Peshmergas. At a military ceremony at the \u201c14th Peshmerga Infantry Command,\u201d a German commander said they work with the Peshmerga forces on a brigade level and give them training at a NATO level. One Peshmerga commander gives details about the training they give, which are war tactics of NATO and to identify the enemy targets (along with the NATO coordinates) on the map and intervention techniques in a short span of time.<\/p>\n
If Barzani goes ahead with the referendum, which holds the key to his political future, and if the answer is \u201cYes,\u201d this will not necessarily mean that a \u201cKurdistan state\u201d will be founded.<\/p>\n
But it will be too late and in Syria, where the outlawed Kurdistan Workers\u2019 Party (PKK) controls the People\u2019s Protection Units\u2019 (YPG) armed components, a similar discussion will start.<\/p>\n
While an Iranian diplomat said, \u201cWe and Turkey must not give permission to this, it will give the biggest damage to both of us,\u201d and as an American diplomat said, \u201cTurkey must make a decision and stop criticizing us. If they do not take a stand against the deeds of the \u2018Good Kurd\u2019 Barzani, the group in Syria which they say is terrorist, will be encouraged to take similar step.\u201d<\/p>\n
After hearing this striking comment, I looked at the statements made in Turkey about the \u201cKurdistan referendum.\u201d I could not find a sufficient reaction apart from Erdogan\u2019s \u201cI do not find it right\u201d statement, besides the usual \u201creason for war\u201d and \u201cred lines\u201d phrases we keep hearing.<\/p>\n
This subject influences not only Iraq but also Turkey directly, as well as Iran and Syria. Therefore, Turkey must develop a reasonable attitude toward the Kurdish problem together with its government and opposition, and more precisely with a \u201ccommon sense\u201d and put it into practice as soon as possible.<\/p>\n
Hurriyet daily<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
These days there is a single item on the agenda of the Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) in northern Iraq: The Sept. 25 independence referendum. KRG President Masoud Barzani has started a public relations campaign. On the one hand, he is making visits, and on the other, he is frequently giving interviews, cultivating the \u201cno retreat […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":395,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1,6],"tags":[198,451,429,126,453,452,234,23,191],"yoast_head":"\n