Answers
to the Questions of Ms. Ulla Jelpke(*), PDS Interview
with E. Havin, Head of the Office for Foreign Affairs of the Socialist Party of
Kurdistan (PSK), on the Planned US Strikes Against Iraq 1. It
appears as if the US government is determined to enter into a war against Saddam’s
government in Iraq. What position does the PSK take in respect of the USA’s plans? Like
the war in Afghanistan, the USA will go to war against the Saddam regime only
out of its own interests. The “War on Terror” is just a pretext. It is an attempt
by the USA, especially the arms and oil monopolists, to shape the world in its
new phase. Our views on any planned US war against
the Saddam regime are consistent, on the main points, with those of the Democratic
Party of Kurdistan. Those that have suffered the most under Saddam, and have been
the targets for his terror, are chiefly the Kurds. For years now the regime has
been destroying Kurdistan. Even poison gas has been used against the Kurds. Regrettably,
the world remained silent then. In 1975 US Foreign
Secretary Kissinger urged the Kurds to go to war with a promise of support, and
then left them hanging. The war led to a bitter defeat for the Kurdish national
movement. Bush senior encouraged Kurds and Shiites
to revolt during the Gulf War of 1990-91, but then eventually left them on their
own. The Kurds have not forgotten this and they shouldn’t forget it. They should
not allow themselves to be dragged into any war perpetrated out of US interests. Furthermore,
from the point of view of the Kurds and the Iraqi people as a whole, a solution
will not be achieved just by Saddam going. If
no positive developments can take place in Iraq following Saddam’s fall, and if
one dictator is just replaced by another, why then is a war necessary? However,
if a democratic and federal Iraq can come about post-Saddam, then the Kurds and
everybody else in the country would benefit. The Kurds would support such a change
if assurances were given for it. 2. Talabani has requested German
NBC military units to protect Kurdistan against attacks from Saddam. What has
the PSK to say to such a request? The Kurds
would obviously be putting themselves at risk by giving the USA and its allies
any support in such a war. Saddam’s missiles and tanks can not reach the US but
Kurdish towns and cities are in easy range. If Saddam does possess biological
and chemical weapons – and in all probability he does – he might use them against
the defenseless Kurds as a last act of desperation, like a suicide bomber. For
this reason, the USA and its allies must make serious efforts to protect the people
in the region. 3. If the Kurds fight on the side of the USA
in Iraq won’t they just be damaging themselves in the end? Of
course it could damage them. I have mentioned this earlier. However, there could
be positive outcomes in certain situations. That’s what happened at the end of
the Gulf War. The Kurds did gain something at
the end of the Gulf war. They currently live freely and independently under the
protection of the allies north of the 36th parallel. They have a parliament
and a government. They are building up their country with income from the UN-Programme
“Oil for Food”. There is relative progress in the spheres of democracy and culture.
But the Kurds do not want to lose what has already been achieved by a war whose
outcome is unforeseeable. If, following a war, a federal
Iraq can be established of which the Kurds can be a part and which is internationally
recognized, then this would be a gain from a Kurdish view point.. 4.
Turkey can not just be spectator in a war against Saddam. How should the Kurds
react if the Turkish army enters Iraq? Turkey
has no right to do this. We are strictly against any Turkish incursion into Iraq
or southern Kurdistan. Whatever regime comes about in Iraq should be decided by
the people of Iraq. The Kurds would defend themselves against any Turkish occupation. 5.
How should Kurdish youths in Turkey react in such a case? Are there calls from
the PSK or other Kurdish parties to refuse military service or to desert? We
have always spoken out against aggressive Turkish policies and interference towards
its neighbors, especially towards southern Kurdistan, and have done this publicly
by means of statements, reports and appeals. Our message is aimed at Turkish as
well as Kurdish youths who are sent to war for the militaristic and aggressive
aims of the Turkish regime 6. Are the PSK making any efforts
to develop common policies with other Kurdish parties to be implemented in the
event of a US war against Iraq and an incursion of the Turkish army into Kurdish
regions in northern Iraq? For a joint assessment
of the situation, we have presented suggestions to the leading parties but the
two Kurdish parties in southern Kurdistan (KDP and PUK) do not currently see a
need for such. 7. How should European peace movements and Kurdish
exiles react to a US war against Saddam? We
Kurds are not in favor war between the USA and Saddam. However, we would be happy
if at the end of the war Saddam was gone and a democratic and federal system was
set up in Iraq. Saddam is a cruel dictator. We do not consider his opposition
to the USA to be an “anti-imperial” act. It
is also the irrational, erroneous and irresponsible policies of Saddam’s chauvinistic
Baath regime which has led to the tragic situation of the Iraqi people – for the
Kurds and the Arabs. If the regime had acknowledged
the rights of the Kurds it could have led to peaceful coexistence within the country.
Instead there has been a decades-long war against the Kurds with the country going
from one disaster to the next (firstly the 8 year war against Iran and then the
occupation of Kuwait). We are of the opinion
that the peace movement, who are rightly against any war, should also consider
the above aspects in their deliberations. ---------------- (*)
Ms. Ulla Jelpke is member of the Democratic Socialism Party (PDS) and member of
the Bundestag. In her party she is responsible for Foreign Affairs. | 
