PM Barzani: Shiite Militias should be Regulated

Barzani:  If you send in only the peshmerga and the fight is only between Daesh and the peshmerga then you will create another problem: an Arab Kurd conflict.

Al-Monitor:  What of the Shiite militias, are you opposed to their participation, as are most Sunnis?

Barzani:  It’s a very sensitive matter and we need to dwell on it very carefully. Having only the Shiite militia would create a Sunni-Shiite conflict. For now, we have no idea whether the Shiite militias will be involved. So far we have not heard any serious proposal from Baghdad about the liberation of Mosul. They are not consulting on this matter with us.

Al-Monitor:  How are your relations with the PKK [Kurdistan Workers Party, of Turkey]?

Barzani:  We can talk about the cooperation between the KDP [Kurdistan Democratic Party, of Iraq] and the People’s Protection Units, the YPG [of Syria]: They were extremely helpful in the battle against Daesh in Shengal, Makhmour and we are very, very grateful to them. Our cooperation is continuing in Iraq and in Syria.

Al-Monitor:  What about the PKK?

Barzani:  I don’t know about the PKK. I am talking only about the YPG. And when [the co-chair of the People's Democracy Party, the largest pro-Kurdish group in Turkey] Selahattin Demirtas makes statements about establishing cantons inside our territory, in Shengal, that is very unhelpful. Shengal is part of Iraq. It has its own representatives in the Iraqi parliament. And they will decide how they run their own affairs, now and in the future. But again we thank them for their positive contribution.

Al-Monitor:  Whether you make the distinction between the YPG and the PKK or not, the PKK-led Kurds have made big gains in this recent crisis. They have gained greater international legitimacy. They cooperate with the Americans against IS in the field.

Barzani:  We don’t have a problem with that. It’s to the benefit of the Kurdish people. Contacts with the Americans, with the West will bring them [the PKK] out of isolation. It will force them to be more pragmatic. And let us not forget that it was our president [Massoud Barzani] who created the environment for such contacts to materialize.