Dr. Najmaddin Karim held this press interview with representatives from Kurdistan People’s TV and Radio, Al-Ittihad, and Kurdistani Nuwe.  Dr. Karim, President of the Washington Kurdish Institute arrived in the region with Dr. Kendal Nezan, President of the Kurdish Institute in Paris, on 22 December 2001 for a short visit to Kurdistan. Below is the interview:

“The presence of the Kurds in Washington goes back to the beginning of the seventies, although few were here before that time.  With the collapse of the Kurdish revolution 1,000 Kurds were accepted [to immigrate to the US], since then the number increased. There are presently 25,000 Kurds living there [US].   The second wave of Kurds who came to the US was in 1988 when chemical weapons were used against the Kurdish people. The number of those who came was around 3,500.  The biggest number of Kurds who arrived to the US was after the events of 1996. Most of the Kurds in the States are from Iraqi Kurdistan.”

Q: Could you brief us on the activities of the WKI and their relations with American circles?

“WKI was established in Washington in 1996 with the efforts of the Kurds there.  It is an independent institute not related to any political party, it works for all the parts of Kurdistan.  The institute has a board that decides its activities. The institute has implemented numerous activities since its establishment, aiming to serve the people in all parts of Kurdistan to introduce Kurds to the American people.  In this regard, we have relations with the American administration, and political institutions.  We were able to hold several seminars introducing the Kurds to the Americans.”

Q: Did the Institute work on helping the Kurds there to preserve their national identity and the social and political relations among themselves?

“In addition to WKI there are several Kurdish organizations for the PUK and KDP that have good relations with their followers and friends.  This is one of the ways to keep the relations among the Kurds.  WKI does the same thing.  The KNC in the US, that was established long time ago, plays a big role in holding meetings and conferences.    WKI does not have a membership base, whereas the KNC has members in all cities.  We concentrate on collective work, hold activities and seminars to bring the Kurds closer to one another, but the KNC conferences brings more the Kurds close to one another.

Q: Relations between the Kurdish political leaderships and the American administration witnessed noticeable development after the second Gulf War.  Did this positively affect the Kurds in the States and the American government?

“  The Kurds in America played a role in the present relations between the American government and the Kurdish political leaderships that started in 1991 as the role of the Kurdish parties was not that influential.  Therefore, the Kurds in America played a good role in developing these relations although most of them were independent.   We struggled and worked a lot so that representatives from the American government and journalists visit Kurdistan.  We tried to make representatives from different Congress institutions visit Kurdistan during the 1992 elections. “

Q: What is the best way to develop Kurdish relations at the American governmental and public levels?

“The best mechanism is that the Kurds should speak in a unified voice, we should present our case as an oppressed, peace-loving nation. We should continue conveying the news from Kurdistan to the outside world truthfully.  A unified Kurdish voice and peace in Kurdistan and how to strengthen it are the most important matters “

Q: It is known that the Kurdish question in the US is part of the Iraqi question. Are there any changes in this regard?

“This question needs a long reply. Officially, the US looks at Kurdistan as part of Iraq.  But practically the US has good political relations with the Kurds, especially the Iraqi Kurds. Kurdistan skies are protected by American airplanes.  They helped in the return of Kurdish refugees to their places of origin in 1991.  The matter developed and led to allocating 13% of the Iraqi oil sales to Kurdistan region, this happened because of American and British pressure.  Although we are officially in the circle of Iraq policy,  there are two people in the State Department who deal with Kurdish issues.  There was previously one Iraq desk, now there are people within this desk who deal exclusively with the Kurdish issue.  Many American officials have visited Kurdistan and it is up to us how to develop all this.”

Q: What are the ways Kurdish diplomats should use in introducing the Kurdish demands to the world?

“This needs work in two directions. We know that what comes out from Kurdistan to the outside world is very important, especially the news regarding public projects and peace.  The internal conflict created a negative image of the Kurds and their question abroad.  The Kurds abroad should help the Kurdish leadership through their role in developing and introducing the Kurdish question, not necessarily in America where there is a very important point: as those who work in politics are able to register their names to vote in the elections or send letters to their representatives in Congress. This will help in bringing the Kurdish issue forward.  Relations should be developed with the media, American people and the Congress.”

Q: What is your impression on Kurdistan and your remarks about the Kurdish experience?

“We are not only delighted but proud that it is the first time in the history of the Kurds we see this great achievement. This is the fourth time in which I return to Kurdistan.  My first time was in 1991 to a devastated Kurdistan, there was no place to stay, it was very cold with a lot of snow, little fuel was there.  On my second return in 1993 I saw noticeable development and in 1994, we came for the peace process in Kurdistan. And this time, we noticed the development taking place in Kurdistan.  We went through several countries on our way here and it is of great pleasure when we compare our Kurdistan and how it developed within the last ten years despite the limited resources.  This was achieved thanks to the sincere efforts of the people, who work, despite the limited resources, for the development and reconstruction of their region.  The leadership has played a major role in mobilizing the people. Of course there are shortcomings, but the Kurds should be proud that they have achieved all this with their limited resources.

Q:  What are your remarks regarding health and medicine in Kurdistan?

“Kurdistan has developed in the fields of health and medical sciences. The number of doctors has increased.  I visited Chamchamal and there was a hospital there. Previously there was only a health center. It is true that there are some shortcomings, but when we compare the number of doctors today and yesterday, they have increased from 2 to 13. “

Q: How would you look at the project of the Kurdish administration after developing from the experimental stage to building institutions?

“ Important steps were taken in this regard. Institutions were established and not necessarily governmental ones, but also non-governmental ones.  This is a solid beginning in building the civil society in Kurdistan.

Q:  How does the international community see the ethnic cleansing being implemented against the Kurds?

“There is big echo in the international community regarding the arabization policies being implemented by the Iraqi government. The US looks at it in its own way.  Few days ago I visited the cultural and social committee for Kirkuk. On the wall a picture of Kirkuk was hung, taken by American satellites showing how the Iraqi government was changing the national and geographic identity of that city.

We Kurds must show the world the policy of ethnic cleansing implemented by the Iraqi government in Kurkuk and other parts of Kurdistan. It is true that it is good to keep those expelled from Kirkuk close to it, but at the same time we should not forget that they are human beings and need to survive. “

Q: It is early to talk about a Kurdish lobby, but how can we create a political movement abroad that has a positive role in the Kurdish question in Kurdistan?

“In order for any Kurdish lobby to succeed we need to have a question to present.  The most important thing for us in Iraqi Kurdistan is to unify our words and talk with one voice.”

Q: After the September 11 events, how does the US look at the Kurdish question?

“For many years, the Kurds have been trying to show the world, and especially the US which is a super power, that they are victims of terrorism, i.e. they suffer from state terrorism.  After September 11 more attention is being given to combating terrorism and whenever the matter is discussed consideration is given to the Kurds. “