The Most Important Obstacles to the Annexation of Kirkuk to the Kurdistan Region

Roj Qaderi

The fate of Kirkuk province and the disputed areas, after the fall of the Ba'ath regime in Iraq, is considered the most serious issue between the Iraqi central government and the Kurdistan Regional Government. From the Kurdish point of view, Kirkuk province is an integral part of the Kurdish regions of Iraq and all negotiations between the Iraqi central government and the Kurdish movement in the Southern part of Kurdistan, in order to resolve the Kurdish issue, are related to the fate of Kirkuk. All negotiations between the Kurds and the Iraqi central government during the monarchy and Ba'ath regimes in Iraq have also failed due to disagreements over the fate of Kirkuk. Failure to resolve the Kirkuk issue peacefully could disrupt the relations between the Iraqi central government and the Kurdistan Regional Government and even involve Iraq's neighboring countries directly and indirectly, which we have seen so far from the continuous interference of Turkey and Iran.

But what are the most important obstacles facing Kirkuk joining the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG)?

First; in the historical discussion of the Kirkuk issue and considering the content of the negotiations between the Kurdistan political movement and the Iraqi states, the most important reason for the failure of the Iraqi central government to agree on joining Kirkuk to Kurdistan is the geopolitical issue and geoeconomic position of the region in Iraq; the presence of a significant part of Iraq's oil reserves in Kirkuk province, the location of the relationship between the center and the north, as well as the high potential of environmental resources in the region, has increased the geopolitical issue of this region. Therefore, from the point of view of the political authorities in Baghdad, the annexation of Kirkuk to Kurdistan will not only put the central Iraqi state in an economic crisis but also create a favorable situation for Kurdistan's independence.

Second; analysis of library and internet sources, as well as on ground research, has shown that the most important obstacle facing the attachment of Kirkuk to the Kurdistan Region is the geopolitical and geo-economic of Kirkuk.

Third; the ethnic and religious composition of Kirkuk province, especially the city of Kirkuk, is another important factor that the Iraqi central government in the process of negotiations between themselves and the Kurds, to prevent Kirkuk from becoming part of the Kurdistan Region.

The Turkmen of Kirkuk, for example, say that Kirkuk has a Turkmen identity and that Kurds and Arabs have migrated there to work.

In the 1990s, a significant number of Kirkuk Turkmens organized themselves within a party called the Iraqi Turkmen Party, with the support and assistance of the Turkish state. The political approach of this group, which is directed from Turkey, is seriously against the annexation of Kirkuk to the Kurdistan Region. Through its leadership, this party has always emphasized that its red line is to determine the fate of Kirkuk and joining Kirkuk to the Kurdistan Region.

In addition, the political and cultural rights of the Turkmen living in the Kurdistan Region have been respected and they have ministers in the Kurdistan Regional Government according to their population and have been given a number of seats in the Kurdistan Parliament and publishing their culture through studying in their mother tongue, publications) are completely free, but the Turkmen of Kirkuk, due to their historical background and internal and external motives, do not incline to link Kirkuk to the Kurdistan Region. They generally agree with the Kirkuk Arabs on political decisions.

Fourth; since its independence in 1923, the Turkish state has always been one of the dominant states in Kurdistan, which has actively participated in the events in all parts of Kurdistan and has always been against the provision of Kurdish political rights at the domestic and foreign levels.

The most important reasons for Turkey's sensitivity to the Kurdish issue in different parts of Kurdistan, especially the southern part of Kurdistan, have been influenced by the following factors:

- The Kurds of Turkey make up a large part of the country's population.

- Kurds in Turkey have been fighting for their rights since the country was founded in 1923, except for a few special stages.

- The establishment of the Kurdistan Regional Government in 1992 increased Turkey's fears and concerns about the Kurdish issue. Therefore, the Kurdistan Region has always been under monitoring and has always tried to put pressure on the southern part of Kurdistan under various pretexts.

- From the point of view of the Turkish state, the annexation of Kirkuk to the Kurdistan Region is the basis for the formation of an independent Kurdistan state. Therefore, under the pretext of supporting the Turkmen of Kirkuk, he is against the annexation of Kirkuk to Kurdistan.

The fifth of most important obstacles to the annexation of Kirkuk to the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) is the Islamic Republic of Iran, which has always been against the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) and has tried to destroy it in various ways. The creation of various armed groups in Iraq and the support of a number of political and religious groups in Iraq by the Islamic Republic of Iran were not only attempts to strengthen their position in Iraq and their presence in all political, cultural, and religious fields and putting pressure on this government.

Like Turkey, the Islamic Republic believes that the annexation of Kirkuk to the Kurdistan Region will create the conditions for the formation of an independent Kurdistan state. Therefore, it makes all efforts to keep Kirkuk under the administration of the central Iraqi state.