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Head of Foreign Relations: Dictatorial tendencies in Iraq must be stopped

MON, 9 JUL 2012 18:50 | Der Standard

The Head of Foreign Relations of the Kurdistan Regional Government talks to Der Standard about Kurds in Syria, Assad's future and a dismissal of Iraqi Prime Minister Maliki.

Standard: The conflict in Syria also concerns the local Kurds. Not all see the rebellion positive. What do you think?

Bakir: The situation worries us. There are about three million Kurds in Syria. We want a peaceful process. The most important thing for the Kurds is that they remain united, have a clear, peaceful message and a vision for the future.

Standard: How do you imagine this peaceful process?

Bakir: As far as the Kurdish question is concerned, we have not seen any progress – neither from the regime nor the opposition. We therefore want something concrete for the future of the Kurds in Syria.

Standard: Could you please be more specific?

Bakir: We want a recognition of the Kurds as a people and the recognition of their rights as equal citizens of the state. A clear status. Nearly 400,000 Kurds are still stateless, not to mention basic rights. Whatever shape the change in Syria will take: we want it to be democratic.

Standard: How do you see the commitment of Turkey to the Syrian opposition?

Bakir: It is important for the international community and the neighbouring countries to come together to give the opposition a chance. It is important that this dialogue continues.

Standard: Do you think Syria still has a future with President Bashar al-Assad?

Bakir: I doubt it.

Standard:: In Iraq, there is a government crisis. Does Nouri al-Maliki still have a future as Prime Minister?

Bakir: After the 2010 elections President Barzani (President of the Kurdistan Regional Government, note) and the Kurdish leadership have played an important role in forming the government. It was based on a set of principles, first and foremost a commitment to the constitution, rule of law and democracy. The reduction of disparities in the state apparatus, the oil law, a referendum on the status of Kirkuk - all these points were part of the package.

They should have been implemented. Unfortunately, nothing has happened. The government has developed in an authoritarian direction. That is why President Barzani, the former Prime Minister Allawi, Muqtada al-Sadr and Speaker of Parliament al-Nudjaifi have called upon the National Alliance to implement these principles - or to accept a vote of no confidence.

Standard: President Talabani has refrained from doing so for the time being, because it did not seem that there were enough votes.

Bakir: There is a second possibility for the questioning of the Prime Minister, for which one needs a fifth of the parliamentarians. The decision to adopt this strategy has now been made. I am not optimistic that the government will still implement something. If it had the political will, it would have already done so. A no-confidence vote is democratic. It would promote political maturity in Iraq. All dictatorial tendencies must be stopped - that's what this is all about.

By Julia Raabe, Der Standard

Falah Mustafa Bakir is a politician and is responsible for foreign relations in the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) since 2006.

<The original German article has been translated into English by KRG.org

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