Wednesday, September 27th., 2017
'Good Cop, Bad Cop': US, Israel 'Interested in Creation of Kurdish State'
©
Sputnik/ Dmitry Vinogradov
Iraqi
Kurdistan's pursuit of independence has dealt a blow to the region's
economic stability, Turkish political analyst Bora Bayraktar told
Sputnik, revealing that while Ankara, Tehran and Baghdad are seeking to
maintain Iraq's territorial integrity, the US, Israel and the Gulf
States are interested in the creation of a Kurdish state.
The
independence referendum has jeopardized the Kurdistan Regional
Government (KRG)'s achievements earned over the last 15 years, claims
Turkish journalist and political analyst Bora Bayraktar, explaining that
the US and Israel play "good cop, bad cop" over the Iraqi Kurds'
pursuit of sovereignty.
On September 20, the US State Department called upon Erbil "to accept the alternative, which is a serious and sustained dialogue with the central [Iraqi] government, facilitated by the United States and United Nations, and other partners" and stressed that "virtually the entire international community" also opposed the independence vote planned for September 25.
However, according to Bayraktar, Washington protested against the referendum "in words only," in order to avoid discontent among regional players, most notably Turkey.
He
believes that currently the US is playing a double game by criticizing
the Iraqi Kurds' initiative and at the same time tacitly endorsing it.
Washington is not the only power that supports Kurdistan's independence,
the analyst added, referring to the Persian Gulf monarchies and Israel.
Israel has repeatedly signaled that it endorses the Iraqi Kurds' aspirations.
In mid-August Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed a "positive attitude" toward a Kurdish state, calling the nation one of "brave, pro-Western people who share our [Israeli] values," The Jerusalem Post reported citing sources familiar with the matter.
In September Netanyahu reiterated his support for Iraqi Kurdistan's incentive to gain sovereignty. His statement came just weeks before the referendum in the Kurdistan Autonomous Region in Iraq.
However, it appears that Ankara has taken a different view. Commenting on Tel Aviv's endorsement of Iraqi Kurdistan's vote, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stated Tuesday that Israel would not be able to help the region should neighboring states introduce an economic blockade.
On Monday Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim dropped a hint about possibly terminating oil transit from Iraqi Kurdistan to Turkey.
The crux of the matter is that the oil pipeline running from the region
to the Turkish port city of Ceyhan is Erbil's main route for crude
trade with its partners. If Ankara closes this valve, the Iraqi
Kurdistan's oil industry will be crippled.
But, it seems that sanctions are not Turkey's only option.
The Turkish parliament has recently extended a mandate authorizing the deployment of Turkish troops in Iraq and Syria.
In a similar move, the Iraqi parliament has provided a "mandate" to Prime Minister Haider Abadi to deploy troops in Iraqi Kurdistan's disputed province of Kirkuk on Wednesday.
Yet another strong signal to Erbil was sent by Iran, Iraq and Turkey's military drills conducted by the powers in close proximity to Iraqi Kurdistan's borders.
Furthermore, on Wednesday the Iraqi Civil Aviation Authority (IraqCAA) signaled that all international flights to and from Erbil and Sulaymaniyah airports will be suspended starting on Friday.
Referendum Backfires?
While trying to bolster his political image and obtain new bargaining chips in negotiations with Baghdad, Masoud Barzani, the KRG head, has instead shot himself in the foot, creating the preconditions for instability and insecurity in the region, the Turkish analyst stressed.
According to the Kurdish broadcaster Rudaw, 91.83 percent of voters in Iraqi Kurdistan supported the idea of independence, based on the 3.4 million ballots counted by Tuesday. According to the official results announced Wednesday, the Iraqi Kurds voted "yes" to the creation of an independent state.
Iraqi authorities said that the referendum was not legitimate and stressed that they would not conduct talks with the authorities of Iraqi Kurdistan on the issue of the vote. The Kurds, who account for about 20 percent of the Iraqi population, have been seeking self-governance for decades. In 2005, Iraq's Constitution recognized Kurdistan as an autonomous region run by the Kurdistan Regional Government.
"If you recollect the US' actions in the region
since the 1990s, it will become clear that they supported the idea
of creating a Kurdish state," Bayraktar told Sputnik Turkey.
"This could also be concluded from the fact that the US provided
assistance to the [Syrian Kurdish] Democratic Union Party (PYD)."
Given this, the Trump administration's notion that the US "strongly
opposes" the KGR's referendum on independence can be regarded as a
tactical ploy, the analyst believes.On September 20, the US State Department called upon Erbil "to accept the alternative, which is a serious and sustained dialogue with the central [Iraqi] government, facilitated by the United States and United Nations, and other partners" and stressed that "virtually the entire international community" also opposed the independence vote planned for September 25.
However, according to Bayraktar, Washington protested against the referendum "in words only," in order to avoid discontent among regional players, most notably Turkey.
"In reality, if you look not at words, but at
actions, it becomes clear that it was the US who was behind the idea
to hold a referendum in the [Iraqi Kurdistan]. In my opinion, this is an
important part of [Washington's] strategic plan in the region," the
analyst suggested.
©
AP Photo/ Ariel Schalit
In mid-August Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed a "positive attitude" toward a Kurdish state, calling the nation one of "brave, pro-Western people who share our [Israeli] values," The Jerusalem Post reported citing sources familiar with the matter.
In September Netanyahu reiterated his support for Iraqi Kurdistan's incentive to gain sovereignty. His statement came just weeks before the referendum in the Kurdistan Autonomous Region in Iraq.
According to Bayraktar, the US, Saudi Arabia and Israel are opposing Iran and Turkey on the Kurdish independence issue.
Erdogan Ready to Take ActionHowever, it appears that Ankara has taken a different view. Commenting on Tel Aviv's endorsement of Iraqi Kurdistan's vote, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stated Tuesday that Israel would not be able to help the region should neighboring states introduce an economic blockade.
"As soon as lorries stop going to northern
Iraq, there will be nothing to eat there. How will Israel supply
anything there? Please, it can try," Erdogan remarked.
Given Baghdad, Turkey and Iran's opposition to the Kurdish
secessionism, the KRG risks finding itself in an awkward position,
Bayraktar noted.
©
Sputnik/ Sputnik, Dmitry Vinogradov
The Turkish parliament has recently extended a mandate authorizing the deployment of Turkish troops in Iraq and Syria.
In a similar move, the Iraqi parliament has provided a "mandate" to Prime Minister Haider Abadi to deploy troops in Iraqi Kurdistan's disputed province of Kirkuk on Wednesday.
Yet another strong signal to Erbil was sent by Iran, Iraq and Turkey's military drills conducted by the powers in close proximity to Iraqi Kurdistan's borders.
Furthermore, on Wednesday the Iraqi Civil Aviation Authority (IraqCAA) signaled that all international flights to and from Erbil and Sulaymaniyah airports will be suspended starting on Friday.
Referendum Backfires?
While trying to bolster his political image and obtain new bargaining chips in negotiations with Baghdad, Masoud Barzani, the KRG head, has instead shot himself in the foot, creating the preconditions for instability and insecurity in the region, the Turkish analyst stressed.
"By holding [the independence] referendum,
Barzani has lost the opportunity for recognizing its legitimacy both
inside the region and outside — from Turkey, Iran and Baghdad,"
Bayraktar remarked, highlighting that the three countries "ensure the
very existence" of the Kurdistan Region.
Barzani's
policies have endangered Erbil's economic cooperation with Ankara, the
KRG's major trade partner. It has become clear that Turkey is likely
to impose sanctions on Iraqi Kurdistan following the referendum,
according to the analyst.
On September 25, the independence vote took place in Iraq's
autonomous region of Kurdistan as well as in the disputed areas de jure
controlled by Baghdad but under de facto control of Kurdish authorities.
According to the Kurdish broadcaster Rudaw, 91.83 percent of voters in Iraqi Kurdistan supported the idea of independence, based on the 3.4 million ballots counted by Tuesday. According to the official results announced Wednesday, the Iraqi Kurds voted "yes" to the creation of an independent state.
Iraqi authorities said that the referendum was not legitimate and stressed that they would not conduct talks with the authorities of Iraqi Kurdistan on the issue of the vote. The Kurds, who account for about 20 percent of the Iraqi population, have been seeking self-governance for decades. In 2005, Iraq's Constitution recognized Kurdistan as an autonomous region run by the Kurdistan Regional Government.