Barzani: If we want to establish our own state
Posted: Mon Aug 01, 2005 2:49 pmBarzani: If we want to establish our own state, no one can stop us
01/08/2005 KurdishMedia.com
London (KurdishMedia.com) 01 August 2005: The President of Kurdistan, Massud Barzani, stated on Sunday, “We cannot accept a constitution that violates our [Kurdish] rights," emphasising that the Iraqi constitution must justify the sacrifices Kurds have made and the destruction that Kurds have had to endure. Barzani made his statement while addressing a group of religious leaders from Sulemani.
Barzani said that the most important issue is the constitution, and that they have not reached any conclusions yet as the negotiation are still going on. Regarding the Kurdish stance on their rights in the constitution, Barzani said that the Kurdish stance is clear and that they have put forward their project. He said that what is given is the Kurdish stance and if others do not accept it then that is up to them. “But we are serious about it,” the Kurdish President added.
Barzani noted that writing the constitution is a good opportunity for Kurds to make sure that it reflects the Kurdish rights, underlining the importance of ensuring that the mistakes of the last century, when the state of Iraq was established, are rectified.
Barzani also expressed his genuine surprise to the stance of some circles who believe that Kurds do not deserve Federalism as a solution to the Kurdish question. “We have the right to establish our own state”, Barzani made clear. He said whenever we want to establish a Kurdish state “No one can stop us”, underlining the point that, “When we only want Federalism, they [those circles] should be grateful.”
Barzani stated that he has great respect for all other ethnic groups, but that there are two main peoples in Iraq: Kurds and Arabs, adding, “We are equals. We are not a minority.” Barzani emphasised that Iraq must be re-built on the voluntary agreement of the Kurds and Arabs.
On the Kirkuk issue, the Kurdish President stated that Kurds renewed fighting with the government in 1974 because of Kirkuk. “All other issues were resolved, except for Kirkuk,” he said, adding “Kirkuk must come back to Kurdistan.”
Barzani said that in 1974 Mustafa Barzani, then the leader of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), told the Baath officials that the Iraqi government occupied Kirkuk, and whenever possible Kurds would liberate it. Mustafa Barzani told the Baathist negotiators that they would not get him to sign the occupation of Kirkuk to the Iraqi governorate.
01/08/2005 KurdishMedia.com
London (KurdishMedia.com) 01 August 2005: The President of Kurdistan, Massud Barzani, stated on Sunday, “We cannot accept a constitution that violates our [Kurdish] rights," emphasising that the Iraqi constitution must justify the sacrifices Kurds have made and the destruction that Kurds have had to endure. Barzani made his statement while addressing a group of religious leaders from Sulemani.
Barzani said that the most important issue is the constitution, and that they have not reached any conclusions yet as the negotiation are still going on. Regarding the Kurdish stance on their rights in the constitution, Barzani said that the Kurdish stance is clear and that they have put forward their project. He said that what is given is the Kurdish stance and if others do not accept it then that is up to them. “But we are serious about it,” the Kurdish President added.
Barzani noted that writing the constitution is a good opportunity for Kurds to make sure that it reflects the Kurdish rights, underlining the importance of ensuring that the mistakes of the last century, when the state of Iraq was established, are rectified.
Barzani also expressed his genuine surprise to the stance of some circles who believe that Kurds do not deserve Federalism as a solution to the Kurdish question. “We have the right to establish our own state”, Barzani made clear. He said whenever we want to establish a Kurdish state “No one can stop us”, underlining the point that, “When we only want Federalism, they [those circles] should be grateful.”
Barzani stated that he has great respect for all other ethnic groups, but that there are two main peoples in Iraq: Kurds and Arabs, adding, “We are equals. We are not a minority.” Barzani emphasised that Iraq must be re-built on the voluntary agreement of the Kurds and Arabs.
On the Kirkuk issue, the Kurdish President stated that Kurds renewed fighting with the government in 1974 because of Kirkuk. “All other issues were resolved, except for Kirkuk,” he said, adding “Kirkuk must come back to Kurdistan.”
Barzani said that in 1974 Mustafa Barzani, then the leader of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), told the Baath officials that the Iraqi government occupied Kirkuk, and whenever possible Kurds would liberate it. Mustafa Barzani told the Baathist negotiators that they would not get him to sign the occupation of Kirkuk to the Iraqi governorate.
