KurdistanObserver.com

Being united paid off, at last! … Xebat Editorial

January 16, 2005
Xebat

In the presence of President Barzani and Mr Talabani and the representatives for various political factions enlisted on Kurdistan Alliance, the Kurdish Parliament gathered for its session in Irbil Saturday. President Barzani delivered an important speech on the upcoming elections to the Parliament touching upon the successes achieved by the Kurdish nation after the visit of the U.S. deputy secretary, Richard Armitage, to Kurdistan.

The general attitude (outside Kurdistan) seemed to be in favour of a Kurdish entrance into the polls in Kirkuk without shifting anything. But state of matters changed and the Kurdish Parliament gave its approval to a Kurdish turnout for polls as Armitage came to Kurdistan and conferred with President Barzani, facing the resolution of Kurditsan’s nation in implementing certain conditions, giving necessary assurances to the Kurds in eradicating the Arabization process.

The decision made by the Parliament should be seen in line with many other assurances including the letters from Iraqi Cabinet and Iraqi National Assembly directed to the Kurdish leadership, in which they ask for a Kurdish participation in January elections in Kirkuk assuring the Kurdish leaders that what ever Kirkuk’s poll outcomes turned to be, it would not affect Kirkuk’s future. They also stress the implementation of the Iraqi interim constitution, article 58 in particular, and the rights of more than 170000 Kurdish refugees from Kirkuk to vote, previously being prevented from voting.

The unified stance of the Kurdistani people regarding their resolution in gaining necessary assurances for entering elections turned to be beneficial. Particularly the reiterations shown in the two letters from Iraqi officials calling for a total end to the Arabization process, and the Kirkuki refugees right to vote, also stating that a general referendum must take place after the elections for the integration of Kirkuk into the Kurdish region

These assurances are all in line with the objectives of the Kurdish leadership in wiping out Arabization. The Kurdish aspiration was a just one, which now also gains achievement benefiting the Kurds.

May the unified standpoint of Kurdistan’s nation live evermore!

Translation by Peyamner