The Kirkuk Test

BY ERDAL SAFAK
SABAH- As it is understood that Washington supports the establishment of a federal system based on provinces in Iraq, Kurdish groups have recently elevated their voices to oppose this model as it divides northern Iraq into three separate parts leaving Kirkuk out of Kurdistan. Now, two main Kurdish leaders Jalal Talabani and Massoud Barzani are trying to persuade Washington to establish a ‘geographical federation.’ First they have decided to form a joint government in northern Iraq. Then they submitted a bill to the Governing Council proposing to establish a geographical federation. The bill envisages that the geographical areas where Kurdish population constitutes the majority according to the results of the 1957 census will be considered Kurdish territories. In other words, Kirkuk and some other provinces will be governed by the joint Talabani-Barzani government. Barzani recently claimed that the Kurds want Kirkuk back for its historical significance, not its oil riches.
In addition, Barzani issued an ultimatum enlisting his conditions to remain as a part of Iraq:
. We cannot make concessions from our self-determination right.
. We cannot accept any alternatives other than a self-governing one.
. We believe that the federation is the best way to prevent Baghdad government’s disregarding the Kurdish parliament.
. We are in favor of a federation based on voluntary unity of the Arab and Kurdish people.
. We cannot abandon Kirkuk and other newly saved provinces of Kurdistan.
Will Washington accept this ultimatum? The recent reports state that Saddam was captured by Talabani’s peshmergas who surrendered him to the US officials after intense discussions and bargaining on the Kurdish political role in northern Iraq. I think these reports are clear enough to understand the recent trend in northern Iraq. In other words, the imminent Kirkuk crisis will be a real test for Turkey’s Iraq policy.