European Council: The stability of Kirkuk is part of the stability of a federal, democratic Iraq

POSTED ON[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] BY [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

[size=52]European Council: The stability of Kirkuk is part of the stability of a federal, democratic Iraq[/size]

[size=45]Translated by / Hamed Ahmed[/size]
[size=45]A report by the European Council on Foreign Relations addressed the issue of the recent crisis that the city of Kirkuk witnessed and its impact on the political and security stability of the country, stressing the need for the federal government to resort to calming the situation there and preventing any political tension that might be an opportunity for external regional intervention or even be exploited by organization cells. ISIS, especially since the country is heading towards elections for provincial councils at the end of this year.[/size]
[size=45]The report indicates that Kirkuk has remained, for decades, a scene of ethnic and political tensions, especially after the American invasion of Iraq in 2003, as the governorate is located within the disputed areas and has become one of the most complex cities in the country in terms of its problems and a source of instability. The report states that the Iraqi constitution, as a means to find a final solution to the Kirkuk issue, stipulated that there be a referendum for the people of the city to decide its administrative fate after conducting a population census, but this has not happened so far.[/size]
[size=45]Tensions had recently flared in Kirkuk following the Iraqi government's decision to allow Kurdish parties to restore their political and military offices in the city, which sparked protests from the Arab and Turkmen component, which in turn sparked corresponding protests from the Kurdish component residing in the city. This resulted in clashes and unrest in which four people were killed, which prompted the Supreme Court to issue a decision to stop the handover of the headquarters.[/size]
[size=45]The European Council report states that these events indicate the fragile situation of Kirkuk, which may worsen further with the approaching provincial council elections scheduled to be held next December, and tensions may expand regionally to Turkey and Iran, stressing that the government of Prime Minister, Muhammad Shia al-Sudani, must satisfy All parties to maintain stability, which is what the current government is pursuing. At the same time, the report indicates that the Iraqi government could have avoided the ethnic tensions that occurred in the city, in which four people were killed.[/size]
[size=45]While Kirkuk is still considered a disputed area, the risks of destabilization there will cast a shadow over the country and the government. Although the Prime Minister has been doing his best since assuming power to keep the parties of the country and the government together and to move forward amid ongoing challenges, the fact remains that important deep questions, such as the fate of Kirkuk’s status, are still unresolved and unresolved. This is why the report states that the Iraqi political parties should not make the Kirkuk issue a gain for one party at the expense of another, but rather that its fate be based on what the people of the city decide through a referendum held among them according to what is stipulated in the Iraqi constitution.[/size]
[size=45]The report states that Kirkuk's special status is often a source of tension between multiple parties and a fertile region for political exploitation. While Kirkuk will participate in the provincial council elections, the first since 2005, as a small step towards moving its representation forward, there are risks that it will continue. Political parties are exploiting recent events to mobilize their electoral bases and perpetuate ethnic polarization and political tension. This could lead to security gaps in the city that are exploited by ISIS sleeper cells to carry out terrorist attacks.[/size]
[size=45]Therefore, raising any further tensions in Kirkuk could have destabilizing effects across the region and beyond. The report recommends that the foreign ministers of the European Union countries and their missions in Iraq should focus on their programs for promoting democracy and emphasizing to Iraqi politicians that their parties are partners in a coalition government and a federal state that requires pledges in order to strengthen democratic federalism, and that without social harmony between the different racial and ethnic components. For the Iraqi community, the international coalition against ISIS, as well as the NATO mission, alone cannot achieve the country’s goals.[/size]
[size=45]Until this time, the report states, the Sudanese government has continued, since assuming power, its efforts to improve relations with neighboring countries, which has a positive impact on the stability of the country. Although the Kirkuk issue is a local and sensitive issue, the missions of European countries must help create the conditions to find a solution to it. By reaffirming their support for Iraqi federalism and democracy, this would allay fears about the status of Kirkuk within the Iraqi state and calm relations with neighboring countries Turkey and Iran, as well as avoiding any negative impact on the security operations of the international coalition and the NATO mission in Iraq.[/size]
[size=45]• About the European Council on Foreign Relations[/size]
[size=45][You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]