Erbil-Baghdad Stand-Off ‘On the Verge of Explosion'

[Anthea]

Rudaw

KDP Political Bureau Spokesman: Erbil-Baghdad Stand-Off ‘On the Verge of Explosion’

In an interview with Rudaw, Jaafar Ibrahim, spokesman and member of the Kurdistan Democratic Party’s (KDP) political bureau, says that his party will continue to stand by the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK). He adds that his party still backs direct elections for the Kurdistan Region presidency, and that it expects to win the highest number of seats in parliamentary elections scheduled for this year. Ibrahim expresses worries over the Erbil-Baghdad stand-off, saying it is “on the verge of explosion.”

Rudaw: There are a number of complicated problems between Kurdistan and Iraq. What is the KDP doing about them?

Jaafar Ibrahim: For the KDP the current internal affair is very important. How do we deal with this situation and move it forward? That is very important to us.

Rudaw What do you mean by internal affairs?

Jaafar Ibrahim: The upcoming provincial elections and the issues between ruling parties and the opposition parties. The upcoming provincial election will be a basis for parliamentary elections and the Kurdistan presidency elections. Also, the issues between the ruling and opposition parties, if they continue, will leave a negative impact on Kurdistan. Therefore, these two issues are the most important issues to us right now.

Rudaw: After Talabani’s hospitalization, the KDP’s president and leadership visited Talabani’s Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) party several times. Does Talabani’s absence in Iraq pose any danger to Kurdistan?

Jaafar Ibrahim: Talabani has his own importance in the Kurdistan region, Iraq and the whole region. Talabani’s role is necessary for Kurdistan and Baghdad. Besides that, PUK is an important ally to KDP. We value our alliance with PUK. However, KDP believes that there are capable men in the PUK who can replace Talabani. PUK can play its role even when Talabani is away. They can preserve the alliance between KDP and PUK. We were waiting for Talabani to solve the issues between Baghdad and Kurdistan. If the problems deepen, they will leave negative impacts on the Kurdistan Region. Currently, the relation between Arab Sunnis and Shiites is moving towards civil war. The situation between the Kurdistan Region and Iraq is on the verge of explosion. It’s true that there have been meetings, but no concrete results have been gained. Until now, the Iraqi government’s military threat against the disputed areas still exists. There are many worries if the disagreements between the Iraqi government and the Kurdistan Region lead to a very unpleasant situation.

Rudaw: After Talabani’s hospitalization what did PUK expect from the KDP?

Jaafar Ibrahim: Both of us have had our difficult times. Whenever PUK has faced a crisis, the KDP has lent a hand and supported it. When the Gorran Movement broke away from PUK, PUK saw that KDP was there and was supporting PUK. And when KDP faces a problem, we will look to our ally, which is PUK, for help. Therefore, whatever PUK was expecting, the KDP has done it. The recent constant visits of KDP to PUK were to assure PUK’s leadership that KDP is there to support PUK and will do whatever it can to support it.

Rudaw: The opposition asks for the return of the Kurdistan constitution draft to the parliament. What is the KDP’s clear stance on this matter?

Jaafar Ibrahim: KDP believes the constitution has been voted for by the parliament. Any decision or project that is voted for by the parliament will not return to it. That is a parliamentary rule, and it is not up to KDP.

The constitution was not passed in hurry. A number of sessions were held, and the opinions of the people, organizations and experts were taken into consideration. Therefore, we do not think it is right to neglect all of these works. The opposition brothers (Gorran in particular) have only one criticism of the constitution and that is about the Kurdistan political system.

They think the current political system in Kurdistan is a presidential system. But the doors are open to discuss any political system for Kurdistan, as long as national consensus can be reached on that particular system.

We do not want to take the constitution to a referendum and end up dividing the Kurds. The Gorran movement has to be patient. They have to be patient enough to allow political agreements to take place and amend the constitution.

Rudaw: Will the KDP agree that the Kurdistan president should be elected by parliament?

Jaafar Ibrahim: We support direct election of the Kurdistan president by the people. This is very necessary for the Kurdistan region. This does not change the system. In the Kurdistan Region, the prime minister is the head of the executive branch of the government. It is not the president, but the prime minister who holds executive powers. Therefore, direct election of the president does not change the system to a presidential system. In parliamentary systems, the president does not report to the parliament. This is the problem and this is where the misunderstanding comes in.

The president of Kurdistan, whoever it might be, will be more legitimate if elected directly by the people.

Rudaw: So KDP has already made its mind that the president has to be directly elected by the people?

Jaafar Ibrahim: Our view in this regard is that the president should be elected directly by the people. However, KDP does not impose its views. But in the meantime, we will not allow any party to impose its views, either. If a view is in the interest of the people, we will try to accept, even if it is contrary to ours.

Rudaw: Does the KDP think this demand is only made by the Gorran movement?

Jaafar Ibrahim: We say this is what Gorran asks for. The whole idea was created and marketed by Gorran. Sadly, some other people have been convinced. The whole issue revolves around one point, and that is that the Kurdistan president should be elected by the parliament, not directly by the people. They know KDP is the only party who has the chance to win presidential elections if voted for directly by the people. But if the president is to be elected by the parliament, then parliament factions will have their candidates too. We believe Gorran will change their views on this matter, too.

Rudaw: Will Massoud Barzani run for another presidential term?

Jaafar Ibrahim: This is something that is up to Mr. Barzani himself. According to the Kurdistan presidency law, Mr. Barzani can be the president for another term. But this matter has not been discussed in the KDP, yet. In 2005, my opinion together with some of our colleagues in the KDP politburo, was that Mr. Barzani should not run for the presidency. I believe if Mustafa Barzani were alive, he would not accept any posts. This is not to say the posts are not valuable enough, but if he had not run for the posts he could have had more influence and power to untangle knots.

Rudaw: Do you want to all three elections (provincial elections, parliament elections, and Kurdistan presidency election) in 2013?

Jaafar Ibrahim: We support having the provincial elections in the first six months of the current year, and then have the parliamentary and presidential elections done according to their schedules. We know the election was carried out on July 25, 2005 last time, but the parliament session was held at the end of August. Therefore, the time will be counted since then. We think the parliamentary and presidential elections should be carried out in the first week of August. The Kurdistan president has the authority to set the date and he will. Therefore, KDP is serious about the time of the elections. The parties have to accept that. If they do not, they only have themselves to blame.

Rudaw: Has KDP prepared for the elections?

Jaafar Ibrahim: Yes, we have prepared for the elections. We are currently focusing on the provincial elections. We have formed committees and are training our cadres.

Rudaw: Will KDP keep its alliance with PUK for the next election?

Jaafar Ibrahim: That subject has not been determined yet. We will meet with our PUK colleagues and discuss that subject one more time.

Rudaw: How many seats will KDP win in the Kurdistan parliamentary elections?

Jaafar Ibrahim: KDP will win 40 seats if we participate in the elections alone.

Rudaw: Is this the only prediction?

Jaafar Ibrahim: No, but KDP will easily win 40 seats. According to our statistics and surveys we will win 40 seats out of every 100 seats in the Kurdistan parliament.

Rudaw: What are relations between KDP and Gorran like?

Jaafar Ibrahim: We do not have stable relations. There are a lot of fluctuations in our relations. We have tried to stabilize it, but have not been successful. Gorran exercises a policy of pressure and psychological warfare against KDP. It accuses KDP of baseless accusations. We think all these are wrong. They negatively influence the relations between KDP and Gorran. We had bigger expectations from Gorran.

http://www.rudaw.net/english/interview/5684.html