Erbil, Asharq Al-Awsat – A leading figure within the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, which is led by Iraqi President Jalal Talabani, has stressed that the current escalation between the leadership of Kurdistan Region and the government of Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki “harms” Kurdish interests, because the historic and struggle alliance between the Kurdish and Shiite parties, especially Al-Dawa Party that leads the current government, has been stronger than the alliance with the rest of the Iraqi powers. “The current confrontation and media escalation do not serve the interests of either Iraq or Kurdistan,” the source stressed to Asharq Al-Awsat.
The source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity said, “The escalation undertaken by Kurdistan President Masud Barzani augurs imminent confrontation between the Kurds and the Shiites, especially with Al-Dawa Party, which is led by Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki. This confrontation will not be in the interest of the Kurds, because the Shiites are the strongest allies of the Kurds, they have struggled with us in the same trenches, and they have participated with us in building the new Iraq.”
The source added that, “We in Iraq need the Shiites because they are the majority in the country. Moreover, we need them because they have been our colleagues in the struggle when we were in opposition, and they are closer to us because of our joint suffering at the hands of the previous dictatorial regime. Therefore, losing this strong ally will harm the interests of Iraq and its political process on the one hand, and also the Kurds will not benefit anything from the rest of the Iraqi sides that are trying to settle their account with the Shiites, specifically with Al-Maliki, at the expense of the Kurds.”
“Political disputes have existed among the Iraqi sides since the fall of the previous regime, and it is possible to resolve them; however, if we engage in a confrontation with the Shiites, who are the majority, and who currently are in power, the solutions might be difficult to get out of another crisis that will be added to the deep crisis already facing Iraq.” The source concluded.