1. We heard that PKK is wary of US military action in Iraq. What do you think about US war plan in Iraq?

We have not taken any side in a war between the USA and Saddam Hussein. However, we would be pleased if Saddam’s dictatorship was toppled and replaced by a democratic and federal Iraq. The Baath regime in Baghdad has done terrible things to the Kurds and for decades has torched and smashed Kurdistan. It even used chemical weapons against the Kurdish people and has carried out mass exterminations.

2. What do you think of federalism for the future of Kurds? Have you ever discussed about federalism with US-Government?

We, the Socialist Party of Kurdistan, have always considered a federal solution to the Kurdish question to be realistic, and this is what we want. We have not discussed this specifically with the US government but our views on this issue are generally well known.

3. Turkey seems to play an important role if US stats to attack Iraq. Turkey has been a staunch ally of the US, especially during the Gulf War and recent campaign against terror in Afghanistan. We are afraid that US will approve Turkey’s oppression against Kurds in compensation for the support to US military action. Could you give your opinion on that?

The USA are trying to get support from both Turkey and the Iraqi Kurds in an operation against Iraq. Turkey is not just loyal to the US – Turkey is also dependent on them. But Turkey is afraid that the status quo will be destroyed in the event of an attack. This has led them to speak about the partitioning of Iraq and the creation of a Kurdish state in the north. However, in truth Turkey is just as afraid of a federal Iraq because this could become a “bad example” for the Kurds in Turkey. Turkey is therefore against any US operation. But if Turkey is forced into giving support it will make conditions regarding the Kurds. Because the US want Turkey’s support and needs to use Turkey for other similar operations in the region, the US remain silent concerning Turkey’s oppressive regime and on what has been done to the Kurds.

4. In my thought, the serious problem of federalism is oil buried in Kurdistan. If federalism is built in Turkey, can you share the oil with Turkish government?

Kurdistan is very wealthy in respect of oil and other mineral resources. This wealth is also the main reason for the partitioning of Kurdistan and oppression of the Kurdish people. For peace and for freedoms sake we still say yes to a federal structure with the people we live with side by side. But the states between which Kurdistan is partitioned (Turkey, Iran, Iraq and Syria) are not prepared to give the Kurds any rights.

If a federation based on equality could be created, we could certainly share the resources. That is our wish.

5. If US support federalism, would you help US military action in Iraq?

If the US is determined to attack Iraq we can not prevent it. Irrespective of this, it is not our task to prevent an attack against a merciless dictator such as Saddam. If the US could guarantee the Kurds a federal structure following the fall of Saddam, we would certainly be happy.

6. Were there many covert military actions by CIA or US-Army? Did US ask for your assistance in military actions?

There has certainly been overt and covert US actions against Iraq. Some of these are already publicly known. However, we have had no contact with the US concerning such. There has also been at no time any requests for the support of such.

7. Could you explain the situation of Kurdistan after 11^th September terror? Since the Bush administration began speaking of its desire to see Saddam Hussein toppled, Kurdistan may be threatened in its existence by Hussein.

From the point of view of the Kurds, the effects of September 11^th will become clearer in the coming developments. They will show how the Iraq crisis will be settled and what then follows. I think that that Middle East is to be affected even further and that other crowns will fall.

We are for a change to the status quo because the price of its continuation will be in the main the oppression of the Kurdish people. We have noting more to lose than our chains.

Saddam is a lunatic. In the event of a war he might attack the Kurds. The USA is a long way away but the Kurds are right in front of him.

8. US may want to exploit Kurdish People in the war against terrorism. If the war burst out in Iraq, what are you going to do? Do you think that Kurdish People should be involved in the war?

The USA, Iraq, Turkey, the Kurds and everyone in the region act in their own interests. This conflict is very complicated. We are an organization from northern Kurdistan (Turkey-Kurdistan). If it came to war we would take a stance for the freedom and security of our people. We would stand by our Kurdish brothers in the south. We are against any Turkish offensive into southern Kurdistan (Iraq-Kurdistan). If it came to war the Kurds would on the one hand defend itself and at the same time be active for the establishment of a democratic and federal Iraq, post-Saddam.

9. What do you think is the proper alternative plan for democracy in Iraq? Are you trying to make it?

The best way would be for the Iraqi people alone to topple the dictatorship or for Saddam to freely step down and open the way for a democratic and federal Iraq. The Iraqi people, Arabs and Kurds could then break away from the curse together and achieve democracy and freedom. There would then be no need for any US intervention. But the Iraqi people can not overcome the power of this dictatorship alone and we are far away from expecting a vain dictator such as Saddam taking any such step.

10. At the end of the Gulf War, Washington encouraged Kurds to rise up against Hussein. The United States’ failure to intervene when the Iraqi leaders remaining forces retailed haunt many Kurds. So Iraqi Kurds massed along the bitterly cold mountains separating Iraq from Turkey and Iran. Do your think that the terrible situation may be repeated if US attacks Iraq?

It was as you describe in the first Gulf War. The Kurds were encouraged by the USA to revolt and were then left alone. There was a high price for this. That is why the Kurds are being more careful this time. They want guarantees.

However, I do not think that things will repeat themselves this time round. There is now a free region controlled by the Kurds, and they are better prepared. I reckon that in the event of a war things will develop much quicker and Saddam will have neither time nor the resources to drive out the Kurds. However, if the Turks move into the region everything might become chaotic.

11. Are you communicating with any other opposition groups in Iraq? If so, what kind of groups and what do you talk to them?

Our party has friendly and brotherly relations to the 2 major parties (the KDP-Democratic Party of Kurdistan and the PUK-Patriotic Union of Kurdistan) in south Kurdistan (Iraq-Kurdistan). We share views on the Iraq crisis.