Iraqi Kurds Say They Don't Plan to Secede

[bufffbison]

http://www.wjla.com/news/stories/0805/252338.html

Iraqi Kurds Say They Don't Plan to Secede
Tuesday August 16, 2005 4:28pm


BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) - Kurdish leaders insisted Tuesday they have no plan to secede from Iraq even if they want the new constitution to give them the right to do so - one of the issues that forced a delay in finishing the draft charter. Meetings were to resume Wednesday among Iraqi leaders seeking to finish the draft by the new deadline - midnight Aug. 22.

Iraqi leaders expressed confidence they would overcome differences over remaining issues, including Kurdish demands for self-determination and the role of Islam, by Monday.

However, many leaders were equally sanguine about prospects for meeting the original Aug. 15 deadline. If no agreement can be reached this time, the interim constitution requires that parliament be dissolved.

Different groups gave conflicting information on what had been resolved and what stood in the way of a deal.

Shiite lawmakers cited the role of Islam - an issue that affects women's rights - and self-determination for the Kurds, which Arabs fear would mean they would eventually secede from the country.

President Jalal Talabani, a Kurd, insisted the Islam issue had been solved and "you will see in the constitution that it is not a problem."

Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari, a Shiite, mentioned federalism, the election law and the formula for distributing revenue from oil and other natural resources. Sunni negotiator Mohammed Abed-Rabbou said "the most important point is federalism."

Most also cited Kurdish demands for self-determination - a step beyond federalism because it would imply the right to break away from Iraq. U.S. Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad insisted that self-determination was "not on the table."

[Orsino]

1. Yep. The Taiwanese have to say the same thing.

And authorizing da Prez to use force wasn't a declaration of war, either.

We can agree, though, that even if Stan can't have babies, he can have the right to have babies.

[primavera]

2. Works for us

Don't we theoretically have the right to secede? But good luck trying, god knows I'd love to if they'd let me.

[MADem]

3. Of COURSE they don't PLAN to secede!!!

They want the "Leave us the Fuck Alone to run our own affairs" clause to be ratified....then, once they've consolidated their power in the Kirkuk region, only then will they start the planning!!!

What's interesting is that the Turks see all this happening, and now are trying to make nice with their Kurds, whom they've treated like crap for years!

[BillZBubb]

4. Yeah, they don't plan to secede right now. But in a few years...

They want independence and have been striving for it for a century. That dream won't die. They'll try to consolidate with the Kurdish areas of Turkey. Once they get stronger by grabbing a chunk of the oil wealth, they'll make their move.

Turkey will not sit by and let that happen. Nor will the Sunnis. It will get very messy.