Kurdistan independence related articles & photos

[alan131210]

On his FB , regarding the Anfal campaign he says "it is a shame if we consider ourselves iraqis" .

http://www.niha24.com/Direje.aspx?Jimar ... 4.facebook

[alan131210]

i have said it many times how important it was to have an independent oil pipeline which many of you overlooked .




June 7, 2012

Oil means power, and after almost a century-long struggle for independence, the semi-autonomous state of Iraqi-Kurdistan has wrested control over its oil resources, giving greater voice to Kurdish demands for independence.

Since the break up of the Ottoman Empire in the early 20th century, the Kurds have been systematically displaced and denied their independence. The Allies of World War I divided up predominantly Kurdish territory between Turkey, Iraq, Iran, and Syria. Although the Kurds are the 4th largest ethnic group in the Middle East (following the Arabs, Persians, and Turks), they have had difficultly achieving independence. It wasn’t until the 1970s that Iraqi-Kurdistan gained any semblance of autonomy. In 2005, the region was finally granted an official, autonomous status within Iraq. Now known as the Kurdistan Region of Northern Iraq, the area is run by the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG). Iraqi-Kurdish influence in the world of petro-politics is growing in the face of the Kurds' (increasingly autonomous) position on top of Iraq's richest oil fields.

At the insistence of major regional powers (Iraq, Turkey, and Iran) that do not want to see an independent Kurdish state—because of the possible flight risk from the large Kurdish minorities in their own countries—the plight of the Kurds has been put on the back-burner. Most recently however, the Kurds have taken a bold step toward the betterment of their people through an oil pipeline that is planned to run from the field of Taq Taq to Turkey by August 2013.

Oil could be the answer the Kurds have been looking for. Although it will still be Iraqi oil, it will no longer travel through the Iraq National Pipeline, thereby giving the Kurds authority over the natural resources of their region. According to United Press International, “plans for Iraq's semiautonomous Kurdish enclave to build an oil pipeline to Turkey points to a major political and economic realignment in the Middle East that will impact heavily on Iraq.” This decision not only signals to Baghdad and the international community that the Kurds have strengthened their autonomous state, but that they are seeking independence.

Estimated to have 45 billion barrels of oil, Iraqi-Kurdistan is the 6th largest source of oil in the world. Specifically, the field of Kirkuk—where a second pipeline is scheduled in 2014—holds a third of Iraq’s reserves. Baghdad refuses to recognize this land as Kurdistan, even though it is clearly in Iraqi-Kurdistan. Iraq wants to retain the resource-rich land that has the potential to skyrocket the nation's economy above that of their neighbors. With this new pipeline, 17 percent of oil revenue will be allotted to the Kurds—the maximum allowed by Iraq’s National Budget—while the rest will go to the Iraqi federal government, stated the KRG’s Natural Resource Minister, Ashti Hawrami.

Aram Azez, a former Kurdish politician and current editor-in-chief of the Independent Kurdistan Journalism news website, says, “if Turkey would be sincere about the deal and [if] this oil pipeline [is] completed, it could mean a major step towards Kurdistan's complete independence from Iraq.”

David Romano, a columnist for Rudaw magazine as well as a Professor of Middle Eastern Politics at Missouri State University, describes this development as a “strategic step” that would allow Iraqi-Kurdistan to create relationships independent of Baghdad.

For years, Iraqi-oil led to “the greed [that] encouraged authoritarianism and raised the stakes for controlling Baghdad, while the weapons purchased with oil money saw use suppressing Kurdistan year after year,” explains Romano in his recent article for Gulan magazine.

All sides must tread with caution since any regional dispute at this moment in time would not end well for either party. It is also not in the Kurds best interest to completely detach themselves from Baghdad as they have yet to establish themselves as independent players in the global oil market. By losing Baghdad and becoming dependent on Turkey, they would just be “shifting one patron with another. Their ideal scenario is that they mend fences with Baghdad and still do the pipeline with Turkey,” explains Romano. At least, for now.

The pipeline process may not be an easy one. Although some call the pipeline illegal, the KRG argues otherwise. Many simply fear the power Kurdistan will gain from this oil deal and how a powerful Kurdish state will impact their own countries.

Kurds have been struggling for their independence for nearly a century, and many experts recognize that oil could be their ticket. Romano believes that Iraqi-Kurdish independence is possible, but not without a “patron ally.” Ten years ago, he says, “no one would have expected this but [today] Turkey is emerging as that possible ally for the Iraqi-Kurds that could allow them independence.”

Not everyone agrees. Azez, for one, is skeptical. While “Kurdistan is surrounded by four unfriendly states that are suffering from their own Kurdish problems,” he personally doubts that “Turkey will be a friendly neighbor to Kurdistan.” In fact, the former Kurdish politician goes so far as to blame Turkey for any political friction. “Turkey is the only country that creates regional tensions. So, if Turkey will be a supportive country of [Iraqi] Kurds to export their natural wealth via Turkey, then there won't be any crisis even if the Kurdish leaders would be brave enough to declare independence from Iraq.”

Whether or not Turkey will or even wishes to become a Kurdish ally in the ethnic minority's struggle for independence, the pipeline marks the beginning of a relationship that could potentially benefit both parties—one that could facilitate the achievement of other "political, economic, and security plans," according to Azez.

If Kurds can control Iraq's oil spigot to Turkey, they will have the kind of wealth and influence they could only dream of until recently. Oil revenue will transform the future of Iraq's Kurdish population and quite possibly—put them on the road to true independence.

World Policy Journal

[Rando]

iBy Daniel Brode

While the media is focused on Iranian nuclear talks, the war in Syria, and the elections in Egypt, Iraqi Kurdistan (KRG) is making headways in severing Baghdad's grip over its national ambitions, chiefly the establishment of an independent Kurdish state.

Still, numerous obstacles remain along with plenty of regional and international dissenters, not to mention the task of overcoming a web of Kurdish political rivalries. While a myriad of concerns exist, fresh geopolitical realities are furthering the Iraqi Kurdish cause. Those realities, which have manifested into a new pipeline deal with Turkey, are turning the KRG into an influential and crucial player in the Middle East, which could arguably propel a push for Kurdish independence – sooner rather than later.

While ethnic Kurds are spread out throughout Iraq, Iran, Syria, and Turkey, their Iraqi brethren have advanced the most in terms of achieving Kurdish-nationalist goals. Since 2005, Iraqi Kurdistan is a semi-autonomous region, and one that is secured by its own forces, relatively stable, and increasingly able to make unilateral foreign policy decisions - much to the chagrin of Baghdad. Moreover, the defeat of their premier threat, the Iraqi army, by the Americans in 2003, contributed immensely to Kurdish sovereignty. Then America's continued presence fostered a period of internal stability and growth, while the region’s preoccupation with a ruthless Sunni and Shiite bloodletting enabled the KRG to entrench itself as a formidable player in Iraqi politics.

With that in mind, the issue of oil remains one of the main obstructions to Kurdish independence in Iraq. As a developing entity, the Kurds rely on their southern Arab neighbor to transfer and ship newly discovered oil reserves to foreign markets. The long running Arab and Kurdish dispute within Iraq continually jeopardizes existing oil agreements, notably leading to a recent halt of all oil traffic from Kurdistan. Iraq realizes that its hold over Iraqi Kurdistan lies mainly in controlling oil infrastructure and the market, thereby limiting Kurdish abilities to sell oil on its own - a major step towards independence from the Arabs.

Then late last month, it was reported that Ankara and Erbil agreed on energy pipelines from Iraqi Kurdistan to Turkish terminals, two of which were made without Baghdad’s consent. The plan has enraged Baghdad not only for its timing - as Shiite Iraq remains in a diplomatic quarrel with Turkey, but also for its brazen and purposeful meddling in Iraq’s internal affairs. But for the Kurds, the pipelines are a strategic breakthrough and likely to alleviate the long term problem of Baghdad’s monopoly of infrastructure development in all of Iraq.

Building and securing pipelines in the Middle East is no easy task. Hence, the Turkish-Kurdish plan signals Ankara’s faith in the KRG’s ability to secure territory and enable the continuous flow of energy to meet Turkey’s growing needs. That said, Iraqi Kurds are likely wary of Turkish intent, given the ongoing feud between Shiite Iraq and Sunni Turkey, plus the nature of Middle East power politics. To that point, the Kurds are used to being a chess piece in a region of competing powers, mainly Iraq, Iran, Turkey and Syria - all fighting for their own geostrategic ascendancy.

With that in mind, Kurdish alliances are often short-term and need-based, thus warming Turkish-Kurdish relations do not mean Turkey wants Iraqi Kurdish independence. Turkey has its own very violent Kurdish conflict, thus cooperation between Turks and Kurds is likely a strategy of increasing Ankara’s influence in Iraq by taking advantage of the current political stalemate in Baghdad, while giving a sharp blow to its new regional rival, the Iranian aligned Maliki government. Nonetheless, the pipelines offer them concrete gains in the form of energy infrastructure, thus the Kurds will gladly play along with Turkey as long as their partnership mitigates their most pressing issue - removing themselves from the Iraqi vice.

That vice is widening, as Iraq’s ability to control a stable, ethnically homogeneous, and increasingly influential and prosperous Kurdish entity wanes. The pipelines mark an important step forward for Iraqi Kurds; however, no step was possible if they had not laid the foundations that necessitate such a development. These are primarily two: stability within Iraqi Kurdistan and the increasingly hostile relationship between Iraq and Turkey. In the future, Iraq will undoubtedly seek to maintain its influence over its separatist northern regions, however, the Kurds are pressing ahead with independence from Baghdad - with or without their consent.

Daniel Brode is an Intelligence Analyst with Max Security Solutions, a geopolitical risk consulting firm based in the Middle East

Source: Middle East Online

PUKmedia 2012-06-07 17:47:38

[alan131210]

[burnsss]

We are waiting for that pipeline which should be finished soon. i think 400k b/d would be enough for independence. Al-tikriti must be shitting his pants right now and he cant do anything when is out of power soon

[alan131210]

For independence I am positive , as for another face replacing Maliki I am not , yes i want him thrown to the dustbin where he belongs but I am not so sure the guy after him will be any better , think about it from 1923 we were attached to this doomed Iraq we have been deprived of our god given rights , Iraq still occupies our lands she still is killing kurds and arabizing policy continues in Jalawla and sadyea , and the status we enjoy today has nothing to do with Iraq it was provided to us by the NATO after the uprising and creating the no fly zone for us in 1991.

Saddam , jafari , milky , next face it will not change a thing for Kurds for article 140 pretty much most of Iraqis are genocidal freaks just go thru the Iraq forum you will see young Iraqis calling for more Anfal with their F16s while the mods shamelessly allows it to be posted while if it was other way around instant ban .

Kurds should stay united and work on proclaiming the state with isolated areas and the hell with Iraq .

At least we Kurds never want to kill its always the opposite and god exists still that is all I had to say .

[burnsss]

You are right kak Alan its not the regime its the whole population that wants to exterminate kurds. The arabs want to export their desert mentality and arabization to the whole world. Look at Syrians, Egyptians, Libyans, Algerians they all call themselves arabs and are lost forever. If we dont get our state we will become the mountain arabs. Brothers rise up against the chauvinism and declare your state, all jash will be executed for treason.

[alan131210]

June 16, 2012

I am much more impressed by Sherkoh Abbas, who is a leading figure in the Kurdish national movement, than I am with the usual well-intentioned but politically useless letters with signatures of the famous or wannabe famous, sent by Jewish organizers to leading politicians, beseeching this or that piece of good think.

Mr Abbas recently has called on Israel to assist the Kurdish nation in breaking up Syria into separate ethnically-feclined regions, which, of course, would markedly assist the Kurds in established their own long-sought state. All this was reported by Jonathan Spyer last month in the Jerusalem Post. Here's the link:

http://www.ekurd.net/mismas/articles/mi ... urd499.htm

Yes indeed, making points against Obama with mostly-Republican and mostly-rightwing people like me in the USA is heart-warming. But it is far more in Israel's national interests to build up independent and potentially powerful national entities such as Azerbaijan and Kurdistan that are located in the environs of Iran. If I must pick and choose between siding with the Armenians as opposed to siding with the Azerbaijanis, I always will side with Azerbaijan. As for Kurdistan, they very likely will be the best regional Middle East ally that Israel could ever acquire.

Expand Kurdistan and at once Iraq, Iran, Turkey and Syria are all shrunken and weakened. Yes indeed, the Kurds are Sun'a Muslims. But the Arabs, Sun'a or Shi'a, are among their long-standing and probably permanent enemies. And for them as well as for us, the enemy of my enemy truly and naturally is my friend. Besides which, the Kurds, mountaineers to the core of their being, are among the toughest fighters of the Middle East.

So, how hints do you need, Israel, to go after the sturdy allies available -- right in the heart of the Middle East -- and forget about pimping for somebody to invite Israel in the dying European Union?

By Arnold Harris

Mount Horeb WI

[jjmuneer]

We said 2012 indepedance will come, yet nothing. It is either now or never.

[alan131210]

We said 2012 indepedance will come, yet nothing. It is either now or never.

4 million people could starve to death , so we have to have an independent oil route so we can sell our oil ourselves when we divorce iraq "officially" as we have divorced her since 1991.

[hevalo27]

dont worry, independence will come defenitely. the once question is when?
i personally think after the kurds have their own oil-pipeline.
maybe a short time bevore that, because the investors of this project are mostly turks, they would never destroy this chance for big money, but long-term its a big mistake for the terrorist-turkish-regime. it will be the beginning of a more nationalistic kurdish population and united kurdisan.
i can see it already. all northkurds i know (friends and familiar) swing the kurdish flag on demonstrations since southkurdistan is free, they are more nationalistic then ever.
they same by demonstrations and newroz i could see, beside apo and PKK flags a lot kurdish flags.
the northkurds gets stronger with the national movement in the south, thats the reason why turkey arrest so many peoples sincne the 90thens, they loose insidious the controle over kurdistan.

i have the feel our childrens or the childrens of our childrens will see a united and free kurdistan. maybe we too, you never know.

[jjmuneer]

From Belarus to Kurdistan: Lessons in Independence

A promise of independence.

When Belarus declared independence in 1991, the country was full of hope. The change was palpable and real, with national symbols such as crest and flag returning to prominence, Belarusian language flourished in schools, and the nation finally free to make it’s own choices. All the elements that make a country in the eyes of the international community were established, - a founding member of the UN, Belarus acquired it’s own currency, customs, demarcated borders, parliament and, after it’s first independent election, it’s president. A young charismatic leader by the name of Alexandr Lukashenko emerged, running an anti-corruption ticket, and was promptly elected in a victory over both pro-European liberals and right-wing nationalist forces.

As of today, Lukashenko’s reign has lasted for almost two decades. Landslide victor in four consecutive presidential elections, he re-wrote the constitution, exploiting loopholes to retain power for more than two terms. Marked by human rights violations, systematic decline of economy and continuous flirting with Russian government for cheap oil and gas that sustained the so-called “Belarussian Economic Miracle”, the country now faces a debt of 60% of it’s GDP and a wave of privatization that threatens the very sovereignty of the nation of Belarus.

While the situation in Iraq is much more complex and entirely different, the fate of Kurdistan ultimately belongs to its people. The national project is a continuous and ongoing one, and will require constant undivided attention, but once started, it will inevitably come to fruition.

Kurdish people, known to be one of the largest groups to have never been granted self-governance, must endlessly affirm their sovereignty both on personal level – in family, friends, co-workers, and the like, - and seek international representation, as well. Other forces will always be reluctant to “grant” anything that threatens the status-quo, and therefore the initiative belongs to the people of Kurdistan and their leaders. All great things have small beginnings: perhaps, Al-Jazeera may stop billing Erbil as Iraqi city after numerous petitions, or the region officials will start introducing Kurdish symbols and names. It’s only a start, but it matters.

The main difference between my home and people and the people of Kurdistan is in how we behave ourselves when we are abroad. If it is accurate that truth is in the eyes of the beholder, then it is evident that Kurds have a fully-formed sense of national affiliation, and statehood is only a matter of time. The Belarusians, however, have had their own state for nearly two decades, but our national identity remains malformed.

A Syrian or Iraqi Kurd will proudly answer to the question “Where are you from?” as “I am a Kurd”, specifying the country of origin. Regrettably, with many conversations I have had with my compatriots abroad, I found that the same question invokes uncertainty and confusion. A response I got most often was “I am from Russia”, with a guilty half-grin or a devil-may-care wave into an undefined direction.

When inquiring where specifically, it was often followed by “well, technically I am from Belarus, it’s this small country you‘ve never heard about...” . And it’s the crux of the problem as I understand it - if you keep saying that no one’s heard of your country, no one ever will. It is only by stepping up and accepting our heritage, being proud of what we are that we can start building something great. Nations of South and North Sudan are resolving their differences, the people of Palestine seek recognition with the international community; these are only the latest examples.

The recent discovery of significant amounts of oil and gas in Kurdistan further complicates the situation, but could also be a promise of prosperity. Foreign corporations stand at the ready to start the extraction, and it is up to the population of Kurdistan and their compatriots abroad to ensure a fair, sustainable project that will provide long term wealth to the community, much desired jobs, infrastructure and exposure – all under the patronage and protection of the Kurdish nation and soon to be, state.

The challenges of a national project may truly seem insurmountable, but the rewards are even greater. It is high time that a nation of more than 30 million Kurds claim what belongs to them from the start.

[Rando]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6o-dj21t6y0&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0&hd=1   

[zaxo10]

Will something happen this year ?? Whit do you belive?

[Rando]

Will something happen this year ?? Whit do you belive?

i believe it will happen either this year (berzani said he would hold a referendum to take our own way in september this year if iraq keeps on going into a dictatorship) or next year (when the pipeline to turkey will be finished)