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Rudaw's correspondent in Washington, D.C., Namo Abdulla, recently hosted a debate between an American diplomat and a professor well-versed on the issues of Kurdistan, who have expressed differing views on the Kurdistan Region's process to independence.
Peter Galbraith was the US Ambassador to Croatia from 1993 to 1998. He has advised Kurdish leaders and is a proponent of Kurdish independence. Previously, as a staff member in the US Senate, he worked on Kurdish issues beginning in 1979. He visited Kurdistan in 1987 and 1988 after the chemical attacks in Halabja and then worked to advocate for strong US sanctions against the Baathist regime, thereafter.
Galbraith says "I wouldn't say there should be a declaration of independence the day after [the September 25 referendum], but within a reasonable period of time if that's what the people of Kurdistan vote for, then independence should follow." He says there are technical discussions that will have to occur regarding boundaries, assets, and liabilities between Erbil and Baghdad; however, "he has never met a Kurd" who prefers Iraqi to Kurdish citizenship when given the choice. Additionally, he sees “no chance” of the referendum being cancelled. He speaks on the failed state of Iraq providing the example of "1,000 men with pickup trucks" taking over Iraq's second-largest city.
Daniel Serwer is a conflict management professor at Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies where he recently has written and researched the issues of the Kurdistan Region extensively. Serwer in the 1990s served as a US special envoy to Bosnia. He mediated peace talks between the Croats and Muslims.
Serwer explained that his recent Washington Post article that opposed the timing for Kurdistan breaking away from Iraq shouldn't be seen as an opposition to Kurdish independence. He stresses "the process by which it is achieved" is important because independence needs "recognition" to truly achieve sovereignty. He believes the referendum is not really necessary because Kurdish aspirations are well known; however, an agreement between Erbil and Baghdad on independence allows countries like the United States to more easily recognize a sovereign Kurdish state.
Peter Galbraith was the US Ambassador to Croatia from 1993 to 1998. He has advised Kurdish leaders and is a proponent of Kurdish independence. Previously, as a staff member in the US Senate, he worked on Kurdish issues beginning in 1979. He visited Kurdistan in 1987 and 1988 after the chemical attacks in Halabja and then worked to advocate for strong US sanctions against the Baathist regime, thereafter.
Galbraith says "I wouldn't say there should be a declaration of independence the day after [the September 25 referendum], but within a reasonable period of time if that's what the people of Kurdistan vote for, then independence should follow." He says there are technical discussions that will have to occur regarding boundaries, assets, and liabilities between Erbil and Baghdad; however, "he has never met a Kurd" who prefers Iraqi to Kurdish citizenship when given the choice. Additionally, he sees “no chance” of the referendum being cancelled. He speaks on the failed state of Iraq providing the example of "1,000 men with pickup trucks" taking over Iraq's second-largest city.
Daniel Serwer is a conflict management professor at Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies where he recently has written and researched the issues of the Kurdistan Region extensively. Serwer in the 1990s served as a US special envoy to Bosnia. He mediated peace talks between the Croats and Muslims.
Serwer explained that his recent Washington Post article that opposed the timing for Kurdistan breaking away from Iraq shouldn't be seen as an opposition to Kurdish independence. He stresses "the process by which it is achieved" is important because independence needs "recognition" to truly achieve sovereignty. He believes the referendum is not really necessary because Kurdish aspirations are well known; however, an agreement between Erbil and Baghdad on independence allows countries like the United States to more easily recognize a sovereign Kurdish state.
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