PM Barzani: Shiite Militias should be Regulated

Al-Monitor:  Iran is opposed to the establishment of an independent Kurdish state, correct?

Barzani:  Yes, that is correct. Setting aside the fact that if you asked any Kurd about independence they would say they wanted it, independence has not been and is not presently on our agenda.

Al-Monitor:  But as recent events have shown the Kurds’ security remains precarious. Relations with Baghdad remain shaky. Turkey did not rush to your defense when Daesh came within striking distance of Erbil. Would you agree that your security continues to be guaranteed by the United States?

Barzani:  The reality is that after 2003, our goals were focused on rebuilding Kurdistan. We were absolutely opposed to the idea of getting dragged into any kind of conflict. And if there were a war imposed from the outside, it’s the federal government in Baghdad that would have been responsible for that. And far as our internal security was concerned, we were self-sufficient and capable of maintaining law and order. But when ISIL came to Mosul, the whole equation changed. We view Iraq as pre-Mosul and post-Mosul. Without American help we would have been unable to halt the advance of this group. Because Daesh was far better equipped than us.

Al-Monitor:  What if you were in conflict with Baghdad? What would the US do?

Barzani:  I don’t think the Americans would ever place themselves in a position where they would have to choose between Baghdad and the Kurds.

Al-Monitor:  Are you saying that if you declared independence it would only be after attempting to negotiate peacefully with Baghdad and the regional states?

Barzani:  As I said, independence is not currently on our agenda.

If our independence is to be like that of [Northern] Cyprus, we don’t want it. We want a sustainable independence. The geopolitical situation of Kurdistan is extremely delicate. We have Turkey and Iran on our borders.

Al-Monitor:  Relations with Baghdad don’t seem to be going too well.

Barzani:  No, they are not. We have agreements covering two different tracks. One covers political relations, the other economic relations. The big disagreement is on the economic side. The way that Baghdad treats us on the financial front is not sustainable.