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Apart from our atittud, that some of us might be with and
some against Article 140, but we must see the sitution and
the historical value of this article. In fact, Article 140
is the product of the situation, and the complex political
balances in Iraq. Therefore, we should not simplify this
issue. Actually, there are
shortcomings in Article 140, but emotions must not lead us,
therefore we have to take into account the facts and
interests also. In fact, the politics is not only black and
white. In politics always we need to build balances.
Unfortunately, Today, there are people and
intellectual currents in Kurdistan does not understand and
some of them do not want to understand that the politics is
not like the thought or ideology, but has special
properties. In politics we have to look for things at two
levels, In other words, we must look to the present and the
future.
In any case, indicated in Article (140) of the Iraqi
Constitution, how to normalize the situation in the city of
Kirkuk and areas contested by the government of Kurdistan
and the central government in Baghdad. So far, the Iraqi
government is trying to postpone the implementation of
Article 140 and the Supreme Committee for the application of
this article is facing many obstacles. I think we must
expect more obstacles by the central government and the
Islamic movements and Arab chauvinism, But in the end, the
implementation of Article 140 depends on the ability of the
Kurdish leadership to create intellectual and popular
mobilization and adopt a correct policy towards the
application of Article 140.
History, geography and composition of the population in
Kirkuk show Kurdish identity of this city and all the
liberated areas after the fall of the Baathist regime.
Therefore, I have no doubt over the recovery of Kirkuk and
other areas to the embrace of Kurdistan. Some may ask: Is
Article 140 will be implemented until late 2007? We must try
to implement Article 140, But if applied or not, For us
there is a red line which is: not bargaining on one inch of
the land of Kurdistan. The world must understand: we will
not compromise on Kirkuk and the elimination of the
consequences of the policy of Arabization and displacement
in Kirkuk and other areas of Kurdistan.
The Kurdish leadership and Kurdistan government should not
leave everything to the central government, but they have to
participate in the implementation of Article 140, if we see
that Baghdad hampers the implementation of this article.
When I say, we must participate in the process of
normalization in Kirkuk, I mean the implementation of
constitutional and legal provisions, simply, because so far,
we benefit from the adoption of moderate policy. This does
not mean that we should adopt the same policy in all
circumstances, but I mean, depending on the circumstances,
we have to be moderates or not. In short, in all the
circumstances, we should not lose our priority, in order not
to lose our balance and interests.
The Iraqi Constitution develops practical mechanisms to
restore Kirkuk to the demographic and geographic nature, as
stated in Article 140:
“First:
The executive authority shall undertake the necessary steps
to complete the
implementation
of the requirements of all subparagraphs of
Article 58 of the Transitional Administrative Law.
Second:
The responsibility placed upon the executive branch of the
Iraqi Transitional Government stipulated in
Article 58 of the
Transitional Administrative Law shall extend and continue to
the executive authority elected In accordance with this
Constitution, provided that it accomplishes completely
(Normalization and census and concludes with a referendum in
Kirkuk and other disputed territories to determine the will
of their citizens), by a date not to exceed the 31st of
December 2007”.
Therefore it is not the right of
any side
to propose solutions and alternatives for Kirkuk outside the
constitutional frameworks.
To accelerate the process of normalization in Kirkuk and
other areas we need to strengthen our political, economic,
cultural and culture of peaceful coexistence between ethnic
and religious groups in Kirkuk, and a strong emphasis on the
return of the Arabs to their places of origin and the
definition of Kirkuk as part of Kurdistan.
In the past three years, the failure of the Kurdish
leadership to improve the lives of Kurds returnees. There is
clear evidence of negligence of the Kurdish leadership to
clarify the crucial importance of Kirkuk to Kurdistan and
the Kurdish nation. Even today we do not see a unified
national policy of the Kurdish parties towards kerkuk.
Today, the situation in Kurdistan help to shape more united
and clearer political and social discourse between the
political leadership, media and the people of Kurdistan to
forge ahead the implementation of Article 140, But who
feel that ? Let's wait and see.
28 November 2006 - Holland
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