Iran pressures PUK to support Maliki

[Piling]

Hemin Salih
BasNews, Erbil


A series of different approaches regarding the formation of the new Iraqi government were noted in the last meeting of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) bureau.

Iran has allegedly put pressure on the PUK to support Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki’s government in return for the Iraqi presidency post going to PUK secretary Barham Salih.

According to exclusive information obtained by BasNews through an anonymous source close to the PUK bureau, PUK central council members Najmadin Kareem, Aso Mamand, Raf’at Abdullah and Adil Morad have suggested that the PUK negotiate with Maliki alone regarding the formation of the new government but other members such as Omar Fatah and Adnan Mufti have disagreed with that and labeled it as an illegitimate move.

Sources from Sulaymaniyah show that Iran has started to link the issue of handing over the Sulaymaniyah governor to Gorran (Change Movement) with the formation of the new government of Iraq by pressuring PUK to support Maliki’s government.

Based on a reliable source who has asked to remain anonymous, Iran has asked Maliki to exclusively visit the head of Gorran (Change Movement) Nawshirwan Mustafa.

Political analyst and former member of PUK bureau Aso Ali told BasNews that regional countries intervene in the internal affairs of Iraq such as formation of the federal government and the political parties in the Kurdistan Region.

“A country like Iran has strong relations with Kurdish political parties and will modify its relations based on its interests. It had more close relations with Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) before while now it has better relations with PUK due to geographic reasons,” said Ali.

Member of PUK Leadership council Farid Asasard pointed out: “Maliki has bought small political parties in Iraq and attempts to do the same strategy with Kurdish political parties to separate them from each other, but he will not be successful.”

In regards to reports that a number of PUK members have agreed to support Maliki’s government, he noted that even if this is true the PUK will prioritize the benefits of parties in Kurdistan.

[Anthea]

Barham Salih is a good man and would be an excellent choice for President - but I am not sure that Kurdistan should continue to be involved in Iraqi politics

However without Kurdistan's involvement I do not think that Iraq will be able to survive much longer in it's present form

The earlier intention had been for Talabani to sit between the 2 warring Islamic groups and provide a calming influence on the country - as we see that did not exactly work

I do not see Kurdish involvement as being of any benefit to the Kurds - there is a grave danger of them being viewed as taking sides - and Kurdistan itself being drawn into the conflict

[Piling]

Iran fears the political raising of KRG and its next independence. It tries to keep a eye on it, and tries also to control it by using Kurdish tensions, as ever.

[Anthea]

Iran fears the political raising of KRG and its next independence. It tries to keep a eye on it, and tries also to control it by using Kurdish tensions, as ever.

I believe that Kurds are politically strong in Iran - Iran must fear a totally united Kurdistan - not that Kurds will ever unite because Ocalan has already put an end to that dream in Turkey

Kurds are not as stupid as Ocalan thought - he is losing his popularity among Kurds in Turkey