PM Barzani: Shiite Militias should be Regulated

Al-Monitor:  But Erdogan was initially opposed to letting the peshmerga forces cross through Turkey.

Barzani:  What matters is the result. Kobani was saved. It was a big issue politically for Turkey to allow our peshmergas in their uniforms and with the Kurdish flag to cross through its territory. We cannot underestimate the importance of this. Turkey’s president and Turkey’s prime minister helped save Kobani, as did the United States and, above all, the brave Kurdish fighters themselves.

Al-Monitor:  You said Turkish officials acknowledged that they were slow to respond. What reasons did they offer for this slow response?

Barzani:  They had presidential elections. Then there was the transition of power from Mr. Erdogan to Mr. Davutoglu both in the government and within the AKP. Most important, the Turkish consulate staff in Mosul were still being held by Daesh. 

Al-Monitor:  All of that is behind us now.

Barzani:  True. Turkey needs to do more to prevent the flow of foreign fighters through its borders. Foreign fighters continue to enter Iraqi Kurdistan and most are coming from Syria via Turkey. In terms of what Turkey is doing here on the ground, Turkish officers are ... training peshmerga in the Soran area in Diyanah and at another camp in Kalacholan near Sulaimaniyah. If we ask for more training they will give it to us.

Al-Monitor:  What about the battle to retake Mosul? Do you believe that Turkey should take part?

Barzani:  Turkey has to be involved in the liberation of Mosul.

Al-Monitor:  With ground troops?

Barzani:  They don’t have to send ground troops. But if there is a need for ground troops to take part in coordination with the Iraqi government, they ought to send troops without hesitation.

Al-Monitor:  Will they?

Barzani:  I don’t know, but in my view they should. I have told the prime minister [Davutoglu] this. Not specifically that they should send ground troops but that they should help the Sunni elements, the Iraqi troops in the battle to liberate Mosul.

Al-Monitor:  Will Iraqi Kurdish forces be involved?