What’s Happening In Northern Iraq?

HURRIYET- Columnist Sedat Ergin writes on recent developments in northern Iraq. A summary of his column is as follows:
As far as the Iraq issue is concerned, there are many questions that need to be addressed. The Bush administration is still stepping up pressure for a new UN Security Council disarmament resolution on Iraq, despite Saddam Hussein’s recent dramatic offer to re-admit UN weapons inspectors. President Bush is currently trying to persuade the US Congress to pass a White House draft resolution authorizing the use of military force against Iraq. Since there is still a threat of war in the region, the number of questions calling for answers on Ankara’s part is increasing day by day.
One of the most important questions that comes to mind is what kind of an administrative structure will be established in the post-Saddam period. A new constitution would determine northern Iraq’s status as well as the borders of the Kurdish groups’ territories. Ankara has already conveyed its concern to the Bush administration that Iraq not be made into a federation comprised of relatively independent federal states. Turkey might accept the 1974 autonomy agreement signed between Baghdad and Kurdish groups, a contract which leaves Iraq as the only country which has recognized and granted Kurdish autonomy. However, there are signs that Kurdish groups are currently seeking a solution which is unacceptable to Turkey. Iraqi Kurdistan Democratic Party (IKDP) leader Massoud Barzani and Iraqi Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (IPUK) leader Jalal Talabani are gradually increasing their efforts to persuade all opposition groups to establish a federation in the region. The two leaders agree with each other on the desirability of a federation, but they’ve been unable to agree on its structural characteristics. While Barzani wants to establish a federation based along ethnic lines, Talabani prefers one formed according to regional borders. The most important outcome of this new Barzani-Talabani cooperation is their pact signed on Aug. 6, a treaty aimed at re-establishing the Kurdish National Parliament (KNP). The KNP was formed in 1992 but then had to be dissolved in 1996 due to an armed struggle between the two groups. However, Barzani and Talabani are now likely to have more words to say on the future of Iraq. Washington seems to be stuck in an unpleasant situation since both Turkey and the Kurdish groups are putting pressure on the Bush administration for their own separate demands. The Bush administration doesn’t want to be seen dampening the idea of establishing a federation on the one hand, yet is also afraid of losing Turkey’s support during such a critical period on the other.

SOURCE: OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER, DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF PRESS AND INFORMATION