PUK and KDP: resisting the division of Iraq or preparing the ground for negation with Saddam?

Both Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) in the last few days have supported negotiation with Saddam’s regime and insisted on the integrity of Iraq.

In its editorial Al-Ittihad, Kurdistan-based PUK Arabic weekly, (23 November 2001) gave a great weight to the Iraqisation of the Kurdish issue.

The paper set out four points to justify negotiation with Saddam. The paper stated:

“- Firstly – we are Iraqis, Iraqi Kurds. We insist on the integrity of Iraqi people and Iraqi territory.”
“- Secondly – We reject removal [of Iraqi regime] and random bombardment of Iraq.”
“- Thirdly – We ask for through democratic changes in Iraq.”
“- Fourthly – The removal [of Iraqi regime] will lead to bringing about a totalitarian regime, which is attractive and acceptable to the Arab countries and US.”

The editorial has addressed several issues:

- Emphasised strongly on that Kurds are Iraqis before being Kurds: a concept that does not go down with Kurds.
- Stood strongly against the US policy of removal of Saddam and bombardment of Iraq: a policy that does not go down well with the US and the West.
- Stood Strongly in favour of the Integrity of Iraq: a policy that does not go down with Kurds.

The question that imposes itself: Why have the PUK and KDP started to put these issues forward just now? This can only raise further quesions.

- Can the editorial be seen as groundwork for a high profile negotiation with Saddam?

- Do the PUK and KDP know a US-led plan of giving Mousul Wilayet to Turkey, which they try to resist? If this is the case, the parties should express this concern to the nation. It is for the Kurdish nation to decide.

Barzani, the leader of the KDP, also expressed similar concerns, albeit milder. So it is not just PUK. Barzani said that Kurds do not pursue an independent Kurdish state. “We are for resolving problems through dialogue and peace,” Barzani added.

However, Barzani emphasised that Kurds do not pursue a Kurdish state, not because a Kurdish state is not Kurdish legitimate rights; but because the international criteria is not ready. “We do not wish to take steps which is not in the interest of Kurdish nation,” Barzani added.

The PUK this week went even further in “the integrity of Iraqi people and Iraqi territory”. In the last page of Al-Ittihad (30 November 2001), the prominent headline of the page was “Southern dates in Sulemani market”, which talked about the availability of Iraqi dates in Kurdish markets. Is this also part of the stitching Iraq together?

The final question is: what is pushing the PUK and KDP to come out in favour of the “unity of Iraq” and stand against the US policy in Iraq?