Iraqi President Proposes New Government Solution to Resolve Kirkuk Crisis, 3 OCT

 Iraqi President Proposes New Government Solution to Resolve Kirkuk Crisis, 3 OCT

The Kirkuk Dispute

A critical development has emerged in the Kirkuk crisis in Iraq, with the Iraqi President proposing a solution to the ongoing conflict. He advocates for the formation of a government that represents all components of the province, marking a significant step towards resolution. The city of Kirkuk, located 250 km north of Baghdad, is the capital of the Tamim province, often referred to by some Iraqis as the Kirkuk province. The city is built atop of one of Iraq’s key oil-producing fields, which hold approximately 13 percent of the nation’s proven reserves, making Iraq the third largest global holder of proven reserves.

Kirkuk is one of Iraq’s largest cities and is situated just outside the largely autonomous Kurdistan region, predominantly inhabited by Kurdish people. The city’s population comprises Kurds, Arabs, and Turkmen as its three main ethnic groups, with the presence of Chaldean Catholic Christians and other minorities. The demographic balance in Kirkuk is a contentious issue due to the influx of Arab families during the 1970s and 1980s under former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein’s Arabisation policy, alongside the expulsion of thousands of Kurds and Turkmen.

The Heart of the Dispute

At the heart of the dispute lies the ethnic and political division. Kurds consider Kirkuk their ancient capital and insist that it be part of Kurdistan. On the other hand, Arabs and Turkmen demand that the city remain under central government authority. They believe that Kirkuk has been intentionally populated with Kurds to sway the demographic balance in their favor in any potential ballot. This ethnic tension has even caused concern in neighboring Turkey, which fears that Iraq’s Kurds could gain control of Kirkuk and establish it as the capital of a new state, possibly reigniting separatist movements among its own sizable Kurdish population.

The United Nations’ special representative to Iraq, Staffan de Mistura, termed Kirkuk as the ‘mother of all issues’ in the country, emphasizing the necessity of a peaceful solution to the dispute for Iraq’s stability. The UN has proposed a model to resolve conflicts over several disputed areas near Kirkuk, which could serve as a reference for Kirkuk. This model involves determining administrative responsibility for the disputed areas and applying such a model to Kirkuk, with an emphasis on the protection of minorities.

Proposed Solution and International Intervention

One potential solution to the Kirkuk crisis was a referendum, mandated by the constitution, to decide Kirkuk’s status. However, it was delayed to give the United Nations time to put forth its proposals. The United Nations has urged Iraqi Kurds not to push for a referendum on whether the Kirkuk oil area should be part of their northern enclave, warning that such a vote could ignite conflict.

The United Nations, empowered by the Iraqi government to mediate a solution to the impasse, issued a report outlining possible solutions. These included a new political agreement that would ease the implementation of the constitutional plan for Kirkuk, including a census and referendum. Other proposals suggested Kirkuk become an Iraqi province like any other, become a governorate with special links to both Baghdad and Kurdistan, or gain a certain degree of autonomy.

The Path Forward

The Iraqi President’s proposal for a new government to represent all components of the province comes as a crucial development in this complex situation. If implemented successfully, this could pave the way for a peaceful resolution to the Kirkuk crisis, easing ethnic tensions and promoting stability in the region. However, the road to resolution may be fraught with obstacles, as it would require cooperation, compromise, and a shared commitment to peace from all parties involved.