French president should support Kurdish state: Barzani

By Rahmi Gunduz

PARIS

In an interview with prominent French daily Le Figaro, Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) President Masoud Barzani called on France’s next president to recognize an independent Kurdish state.

French voters are scheduled to go to the polls on May 7 to elect a new president.

"It’s time for Kurds to declare independence [from the central government in Baghdad],” the paper quoted Barzani as saying. “We want to leave [the state of] Iraq peacefully via dialogue and negotiations."

Asserting that Kurds had safeguarded Iraq's unity and territorial integrity for the last century, the Kurdish leader asked: "What did we get in return for these efforts? About 4,500 [Kurdish] villages were destroyed and we were the target of a chemical attack [by the former Saddam Hussein regime]."

Barzani stressed that the region’s Kurds wanted to get along with their neighbors, saying that regional independence would not cause new political problems but rather “resolve existing ones”.

Asked whether he had obtained any international guarantees regarding the region’s sought-for independence, Barzani responded: "The decision will be made by the Kurdish people. A Kurdish state will never be established if we simply wait for it like a gift to be bestowed by the international community."

Regarding France’s scheduled presidential runoff next Sunday, Barzani said that the Kurds hoped the incoming French president would support -- or at least refrain from opposing -- an independent Kurdish state.

Fighting Daesh

"It’s extremely difficult to completely liberate [the Daesh-held city of] Mosul despite the significant achievements registered so far," Barzani went on to say in the interview with Le Figaro.

Emphasizing that Daesh’s defeat would not resolve all of Iraq’s problems, the KRG leader warned that the terrorist group would likely continue its struggle in another form.

"The Daesh threat to the region will continue unless its cause is completely eradicated," he said. "The [U.S.-led] international coalition should remain in the region until the group is wiped out."

Barzani went on to note that foreign military forces could play a role in rebuilding war-torn Mosul, but said Shia militias should vacate the region.

Describing military cooperation with France in Mosul as "excellent", Barzani stressed that French intelligence had been providing Iraqi forces with significant assistance.

Kirkuk

"Kirkuk is undoubtedly Kurdish in terms of both history and geography,” Barzani told the French daily. “But this doesn't mean it is the sole property of the Kurds."

"Christians, Arabs and Turkmen live there as well,” he said. “We’re not trying to monopolize Kirkuk."

"All groups should respect the results of a referendum [on the Kurdish region’s independence],” Barzani said.

“If any groups -- military or political -- try to change the existing status [of the city], we will do whatever is necessary to protect what we have," he added.

*Ali Murat Alhas contributed to this report from Ankara