KurdistanObserver.com
Success in Kurdistan Should Inspire Rest of
Iraq
By Qubad Talabani
The Tennessean Mar 12,
2007
As the troop surge approaches full speed,
significant progress appears to have been made in Iraq. This progress could be
jeopardized, however, if a sound political strategy does not follow soon.
While there are many key issues in Iraqi politics that must be addressed to
ensure a viable outcome in Iraq, ignoring a critical few will lead to failure.
These include federalism, resolving the status of Kirkuk and the management of
natural resources.
In the debate over Iraq, the mere utterance of federalism causes a stir. But
whether the reaction is a disapproving grimace or a warm embrace, one thing is
certain: No long-term, sustainable political settlement in Iraq is possible
without federalism.
Iraqi Kurdistan, which today stands as a secure and peaceful federal region with
its own government, security structure and development plan, is Iraq's success
story. The creation of federal regions in other parts of Iraq, as defined in
Iraq's democratically ratified constitution and further put into law by Iraq's
parliament, could over time foster success stories similar to those in Iraqi
Kurdistan.
Given the insecurities, the lack of trust and
the sectarian tensions that exist today, a centralized system of governance will
surely lead to failure. Devolving power from the central government would give
Iraqi citizens greater control over their own political, social and economic
affairs.
As long as the political prize remains Baghdad and all decision-making powers
rest within a central authority, groups will continue to resort to violence in
order to claim this prize. Federalism offers a viable solution to the threat of
more violence or ultimately the complete break-up of Iraq.
Kirkuk is key
Equally critical to ensuring stability in Iraq is the necessity to determine the
future of Kirkuk. Kirkuk, a governorate that had been ethnically cleansed by
Saddam's regime — a crime that resulted in the eviction of hundreds of thousands
of Kurds and Turkomans from their homes purely on the basis of identity —
symbolizes Iraq's current tragedy.
To delay the proposed referendum that resolves the status of Kirkuk, as some
have suggested, will only lead to an escalation of already high tensions and
will raise the risk of the situation erupting out of control.
It would be prudent to allow the process established by the Iraqis themselves to
rectify the injustices committed by the former regime to advance naturally; this
includes the much needed referendum, based upon Article 140 of Iraq's
constitution.
As for Kirkuk's oil, the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) has taken great
care to ensure that tensions are not raised over Kirkuk's petroleum. Even if or
when Kirkuk becomes part of the Kurdistan region following the referendum, the
KRG has confirmed that it has no unilateral claim to the rights or revenues on
the Kirkuk oil fields. Under the Iraqi constitution the management of those
fields is to be shared by the central government and the region, and the
revenues shared throughout the country.
Oil, other resources
Moreover, Iraq's federal system requires a sound natural resources policy in
order to thrive. Oil revenues, if properly managed, can ensure both a viable
federal government as well as strong, self-sustaining regions, as the
constitution of Iraq envisages.
Progress has been made in establishing a natural resources cooperative agreement
between federal and regional authorities. An acceptable draft hydrocarbons law
includes the creation of an intergovernmental entity, the Federal Council of Oil
and Gas, with both federal and regional membership, to manage the country's
petroleum policy. Under the law there will be a role for private-sector
petroleum investment to maximize the speed and size of the returns to the Iraqi
people.
A revenue-sharing law will also be prepared soon. It will ensure that all
petroleum revenues in Iraq are forwarded — again to an intergovernmental account
— and shared equitably across Iraq based on population and other criteria
defined in the constitution.
These two laws are major achievements because they are the result of arduous,
meaningful compromises made by responsible people who genuinely care about
Iraq's future and view this as the fundamental step toward a united, federal and
secure Iraq.
A successful strategy in Iraq, one that will alter the current deteriorating
situation, must come from within Iraq, not Washington or any other capital. An
imposition of a policy from outside, especially one that ignores the glaring
realities on the ground and Iraq's history, will lead to more failure and more
bloodshed.
For its part, the United States must take a more active role in advising Iraqi
leaders to continue along the path of national reconciliation. Rather than
coming up with solutions to Iraq's national problems, the U.S. should work
harder to foster and nurture the ongoing, internal negotiations on key issues.
The U.S. must stand on the side of the Iraqi constitution and not obstruct
democracy.
The Kurdistan Regional Government will continue to do all that it can to ensure
a viable political solution for Iraq. While it is not fully clear what the
future will bring and how Iraq will look, in the success of the Kurdistan region
there remains hope for a federal democracy for all of Iraq.
Qubad Talabani is representative of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) to
the United States. He works with the U.S. government, the media and research
institutions providing information about the situation in Iraq and the Kurdistan
region.
