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Information and liaison bulletin N° 392

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www.fikp.org E-mail: bulletin@fikp.org Information and liaison bulletin Kurdish Institute of Paris Bulletin N° 392 November 2017

• ROJAVA: PREPARING MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS IN THE CONTEXT OF AN UNCERTAIN FUTURE

• : THE REPRESSION EXPANDS TO LIBER- AL CIRCLES; THE VIOLENCE IS INCREASING

• IRAQI : UNCONSTITUTIONAL DEMANDS FROM BAGHDAD, ARABISATION OF KIRKUK RESTARTED

ROJAVA: PREPARING MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS IN THE CONTEXT OF AN UNCERTAIN FUTURE. broad the “World Day for beginning to return to , liber- the 17th with a suicide attack on a Kobani” was celebrated ated on 17th October. Regarding checkpoint that caused at least 35 on 1st November largely Deir Ezzor, the SDF fighters from victims in the Northeast of Deir as a symbol of this Syrian the “Jezirah Storm” operation, Ezzor , between the hydro- A Kurdish ’s unremit- launched on 9th September, liberated carbon fields of Conoco and Jafra. It ting resistance to the attack 7 near the town and about was, nevertheless, not able to pre- launched by ISIS in 2014 with fifteen km from the Iraqi borders, vent the SDF from reaching the Iraqi Turkish connivance. In London it even discovering there a landmine border on the 28th. was celebrated o the 10th, attended workshop. On the 9th, they took by thousands were also attending control of the river, liberat- These remarkable advances were the funeral of the Kurdish film ing 25 villages, and on the 12th strained in mid-November by rising director Mehmet Aksoy, who was another 12 in the attack on the last doubts about the agreement that killed on 26th September in a jihadist ISIS enclave East of the . had allowed the taking of Raqqa. attack on the SDF Press Centre near On the 13th they began fighting the While the coalition had received Raqqa, to which he had come to Jihadists near the Tanaq oil fields, assurances from the SDF that the work from England. repelling a counter-attack on the foreign jihadists would not be 14th before continuing their advance allowed to leave the , the BBC In the field, the SDF continued to to the East of Mayadîn province, broadcast on the 13th testimony reduce the area controlled by ISIS as eliminating 34 jihadists. Unable to from several of the drivers of the a few hundreds of inhabitants were repel them, ISIS targeted civilians on evacuation convoy that several hun- • 2 • Information and liaison bulletin n° 392 • November 2017

dreds of heavily armed fighters, created by the regime”, with reference ready to join a future Syrian Federal including foreigners, could have to parties claiming belonging to the Army (Rûdaw). It is true that the been able to go to Turkey. The latter, opposition created in Damascus Russians had already proposed a who consider the SDF as “terrorists” after 2011. Despite the creation of future Federal and that on the claimed that this “very serious” de-escalation zones, the regime is 17th Ziyad Sabsabi, representing the news justified their warning to still besieging the East Damascus Foreign Relations Commission of Washington. Questioned about this, suburbs where some 400.000 civil- the Russian Senate, declared that, in the coalition’s spokesman, Colonel ians are trapped (on the 12th, the the event of conflict between the Ryan Dillon, stated that less than World Health Organisation demand- Damascus regime and the SDF, “300 of the 3,500 civilians having left ed a humanitarian access). Several would remain neutral. Raqqa […] were identified as possibly meetings between leaders have However Vassili Nebenzia, the ISIS fighters” thus admitting that failed to make any progress: the Russian Ambassador to the United several hundreds of fighters might Trump-Putin meeting in Vietnam on Nations, still accused on the 29th the have been able to escape. the 14th during the Asia-Pacific sum- coalition of following a policy of mit, the Assad-Putin meeting in partitioning Syria because the SDF These doubts have arisen at a partic- Sochi on the 20th, then again at Sochi had set up a local government in ularly bad time for the SDF, when on the 22nd between the Russian, Raqqa without consulting the probable elimination of ISIS Iranian and Turkish Presidents. At Damascus… could mean the end of the US pres- least the last meeting resulted in an ence and of the coalition’s military agreement for Russia to organise on However the Russians have main- support. Indeed, on the 30th, the its own soil a “Syrian National tained continuous political contacts departure of 400 Marines was Dialogue Congress” (the date for with the SDF and their self-declared announced, and the passive which has yet to be decided) Federal , inviting the PYD to American attitude to the re-occupa- between the Syrian regime and the the Sochi Congress. Yet, partly tion by of the disputed territo- opposition, despite Ankara’s reser- because of Turkish opposition (the ries claimed by “its” was not vations about the presence of the Turkish President’s spokesman, a good omen for Rojava — especial- Kurdish militia. As for the Geneva Ibrahim Kalın, described this invita- ly as the Pentagon has always limit- discussions organised under the tion as “unacceptable”), the ed its support to the purely military aegis of UNO, its 8th session started Congress was continuously post- level, refusing any political commit- on the 28th without, once again, the poned: it was first announced for ment. Moreover, if SDF and the SDF being invited and so failed to the 18th, then “another date” Syrian government have been for produce any tangible results. remained to be chosen, after an ini- the last few years very busy fighting tial list of participants including the other more powerful enemies, they In this turning point phase PYD was removed on the 5th find now themselves face to face. Damascus and its Russian and November from the Russian Foreign While a compromise is not impossi- Iranian allies switched between con- affairs ministry website... For its part ble, a confrontation is to be feared — ciliatory and threatening words the rival Kurdish grouping, the especially over oil. However, faced towards the SDF and the “Federal with the expansion of Iranian influ- Region”. On the 7th Ali Akbar (Encumena Niştimaniya Kurd li Sûriyê, ence, the US might continue its sup- Velayati, Supreme Guide’s ENKS) announced, on the 27th, it port of the SDF to deny Teheran adviser, declared that Damascus was taking part in the Geneva talks access to the Mediterranean corridor would take control of Raqqa from in an official communiqué from its that it started to establish … the SDF, adding that the Syrian president Ibrahim Biro. According Army also wanted to control the to Arab diplomatic sources (Al-Sharq The international negotiations on area East of the Euphrates … For Al-Awsat of the 29th), the United the future of Syria are still stalemat- their part, the SDF leaders were States unsuccessfully tried to secure ed. Damascus rejects any discussion clearly seeking a political compro- the participation of the SDF. involving the departure of al-Assad, mise: on the 17th a PYD cadre which was still required by the US declared: “In Syria only two forces in Another source of concern for the Secretary of State, Rex Tillerson, at the field remain that count — ourselves SDF is the growing tension between the end of October. The opposition, and the Syrian regime. Either there will it and the Turkish Army and the for its part makes this a precondi- be a clash between them and the result jihadist militia it supports round tion for discussion and its will be chaos or we start a dialogue aim- Afrin, where the Turkish Army is spokesman, Ahmed Ramadan, ing at a political solution. We prefer the gradually sending considerable accused the Russians, on 1st dialogue”. On the 26th Riad Darar, a quantities of heavy weaponry. After November, of “seeking to impose [in member of the Syrian Democratic several weeks of clashes, these the negotiations] opposition factions Council, declared that the SDF were “islamist” shelled the of n° 392 • November 2017 Information and liaison bulletin • 3 •

Sherava, then on the 7th Shera with SDF indicated that this was a On the 20th the SDF announced a heavy artillery. The YPD retaliated “Turkish special intelligence operation”, recent intensification of attacks, with light weapons. On the same since Mr. Sello had been subjected to which was confirmed by the jour- day other Turkish troops fired from blackmail regarding his children nalist Chris Thomson, who the South of Jerablous late in the who live in Turkey. described incessant shelling (Al- evening Sheyokh Tahtani, West of Masdar News): “With Turkish recon- Kobané (Hawar), some villages in Turkey has not given up either its naissance aircrafts observing the the region being also target- attempts to obtain the end of US region 24 hours a day the Turkish ed. Other fighting between the SDF support to the SDF. On the 24th the Army and its allied rebel groups and Turkish troops broke out on the Turkish Foreign Ministry announced bombed the villages held by the 12th, when the latter entered Syria that Mr. Erdoğan had received Kurds in the Bilbile district. […] near the of Meydan Ikbis. assurances of the US President that Some of the shells came from inside After the Turkish President threat- the supply of weapons to the SDF Turkey itself. The SDF came under ened Afrin several times, the official would cease. A Kurdish leader con- fire in the villages of Dikmedash, Turkish news Agency Anatolia firmed that an “adjustment” would Maranaz, Aïn Daqna, Yazibax, announced on the 20th that the take place once ISIS eliminated, but Basufane, Bedirxan, Barin, Bashur Turkish Army had retaliated to that the partnership with the inter- and Iki Dame. For a while in the some mortar fire from , aimed national coalition would continue. afternoon artillery could be heard at its observation posts, which The “adjustment” was confirmed by for 40 minutes. The SDF retaliated proved to be areas held by the YPG. the Pentagon on the 27th, but on the by shelling some groups supported The next day a quantity of SDF same day as the SDF received over by Turkey in the countryside North fighters left Raqqa to reinforce Afrin. 100 vehicles … of , but refrained from ripost- According to figures published by ing towards […]Turkey”. the YPG, Turkish troops and their On the 28th, following a meeting of auxiliaries have launched not less the Turkish National Security In anticipation of the second phase than 576 attacks against Afrin, main- Council (MGK), led by President of elections for the Federal Region of ly with both light and heavy Erdogan, the Turkish Presidency North Syria, the selection for the weapons (machine guns and mor- announced that it wished to extend municipal Councils due on Monday tars), causing the death of 12 civil- the observation mission set up at 1st December, a delegation of the ians, including a boy of 14 and a Idlib up to Afrin and to the West of Region arrived in pregnant woman. The Turks also led Aleppo. On the same day CNN Turk Rojava on the 29th, invited by the an “information-seeking war” accord- announced that firing by the PYD authorities. It included, inter alia, a ing to the daily paper Hürriyet of from Afrin had wounded a Turkish KDP Member of Parliament, Amina 17th. Talal Sello, an SDF spokesman soldier in a customs post while the Zikri, Zana Abdulrahman (PUK) of Turkmen origin is said to have TEV-DEM (Movement for a and Sherko Amin (Gorran). At “surrendered” to pro-Ankara Syrian Democratic Society) an organisation the end of the month there were rebels and to have been transferred from the PKK network, announced contradictory rumours about the to Turkey for interrogation by the further Turkish attacks on villages in participation in these elections of the MIT regarding the arms and defence the Sherawa area, accusing Russia Kurdish National Council (KNC), positions of the YPG in Afrin. The and Iran of letting them take place. who had boycotted their first phase.

TURKEY: THE REPRESSION EXPANDS TO LIBERAL CIRCLES; THE VIOLENCE IS INCREASING

he month of November Erdoğan widens still further the “terrorist activity” and simultaneous began with the remand extent of his judicial proceedings, support to 3 different “armed terror- of Osman Kavala, on truly opening a fresh “judicial ist organisations” (the PKK, the the 1st… He is the co- front”. extreme left DHKP-C and the move- T founder of the Iletişim ment led by the preacher Fethullah Publishing house, president of the In parallel to this the cases under Gülen), they face the risk of 43 years NGO Anadolu Kültür, sponsor and way are continuing. Thus also on in prison. Some have been in cus- a public figure enjoying respect in the 1st the press published the first tody for a year already and a book- cultural circles. He was arrested accounts of the hearings (held the keeper for 7 months! The Court has on 17 October and charged with day before) of the trial of 17 staff ordered that the 4 of them already in “trying to overthrow the Turkish members of the daily paper custody remain in jail, and decided State”, links with Gülen and the Cumhuriyet — managers, journalists the next hearing would be held on PKK. By arresting this man Mr. and other employees. Accused of December 25th. • 4 • Information and liaison bulletin n° 392 • November 2017

Also on the 1st the trial of the prevent Selahattin Demirtaş from links with both the Gulénist organi- Kurdish paper Özgür Gündem testifying during his hearings. sation and the PKK… In his defence resumed. Among the accused are he recalled that journalists’ work Inan Kizilkaya, the chief editor and On the 13th the HDP spokesman, was after all still to spread news... Kemal Sancili, the publication man- Osman Baydemir, was briefly On the same day a parliamentary ager, but also the novelist Aslı detained at Istanbul Airport. commission agreed to deprive Leyla Erdoğan, who has preferred, for the Several warrants had been issued Zana, a HDP Member of Parliament time being, to remain abroad. All are for his arrest, including one for elected in 2015, of her Parliamentary accused of “terrorist propaganda” for “terrorist propaganda” in a speech immunity. This decision was justi- the PKK. The Court ordered that made during the Newroz celebra- fied by Zana’s absences and the fact Kizilkaya and Sancili remain on bail tions of 2016. On the 14th, the that she had altered the text of her but they are forbidden to leave Public Prosecutor of the city of oath when taking office. The final Turkish . The novelist Diyarbekir (Amed) demanded an decision against Zana has to be denounced the implausibility of the 18-year prison sentence for the voted in Parliament. On the 27th, charges in an interview with HDP M.P. Imam Tascier for “terror- according to the Anatolia press agen- L’Humanité on the 22nd: “I have sever- ist propaganda”. On the same day cy, the police in a raid and anti-PKK al times lived under regimes of military the police, in a series of raids in searches early in the morning incar- dictatorship. It was simple, everything Ankara and Izmir, arrested several cerated 10 people including a 77- was either all black or all white. The people for publications critical of year old academic and member of junta eliminated all opponents. The pre- the government on social media. the HDP, Fikret Baskaya, charged sent regime is completely outside any These included Evren Celik, of the with “pro-PKK propaganda” on the law — we cannot predict who will be HDP’s external relations office and social networks. Several students arrested next not for what reason […]. Öztürk Türkdoğan, co-president of were also arrested in Ankara and A journalist was arrested for complicity the Association for Human Rights Adana. with DHKP-C, Fetö, and the PKK. How (IHD). On the same day the M.P. can anyone be member of three such dif- for and former HDP Abroad Turkey described as “ridicu- ferent organisations unless they are spokesman Ayhan Bilgen lous and unfounded” a Wall Street completely schizophrenic?”. announced that the HDP offices in Journal report dated 10 November the Esenler quarter of Istanbul had that Turkish representatives had On the 2nd, according to Hürriyet, been targeted by shots in the early tried to obtain the kidnapping in the 10 people were incarcerated on hours of the morning without caus- of the preacher suspicion of membership in an ing any casualties. Bilgen also Fethullah Gülen, who had sought “armed terrorist organisation” during recalled that the HDP parliamen- asylum in Pennsylvania, by propos- a raid on their home ordered by the tary group, in addition to losing its ing 15 million dollars to the former Public Prosecutor’s Office of two co-presidents, has 11,000 of its security adviser of the US President, Ardahan Province, including members arrested, including 750 Michael Flynn, and to his son. The Özcan Yılmazine of the two HDP officials of several , and 10 journal had mentioned that the spe- provincial co-presidents. Two sus- M.P.s. On the 15th, Abdullah cial prosecutor, Robert Mueller, had pects were finally released under Öcalan’s lawyers announced that used this lead in his enquiry. In par- judicial control. In Osmaniye, 3 their demand to see their client had allel, the trial in the case of the HDP officials were arrested and at been rejected for the 704th time. Turco-iranian businessman Reza Hakkari 40 people (Washington The last authorised visit was on Zarrab and the Turkish banker Kurdish Institute). On the 3rd, the 27th July 2016. Mehmet Hakan Atilla, former assis- HDP Member of Parliament Selma tant general manager of the public Irmak was sentenced to 10 years On the 21st, while new arrests tar- bank Halkbank, which is continuing jail by a Diyarbekir Court for geting the HDP and the Congress in the United States, is embarrassing “membership in a terrorist group” for a Democratic Society (DTK) took the Turkish President. Zarrab, a gold because of speeches made during place at Ankara, and magnate, had already been at the election meetings. Irmak is the 9th Diyarbekir, the chief editor of the heart of a sensational corruption HDP Member of Parliament to be online edition of Cumhuriyet, Oğuz case in 2013 that involved some sentenced. On the 4th, on the Güven, was sentenced to 3 years ministers close to the power and anniversary of the jailing of its two and one month’s imprisonment for a had provoked the breach between co-presidents and 10 of its M.P.s, Tweet he had shared on the paper’s Gülen and Erdoğan. The political the HDP published a declaration account about the death in a car leaders of the continue to denouncing as illegal a confidential accident of the Denizli Prosecutor follow the same line of defence as in circular issued by the Minister of Mustafa Alper. At first threatened of 2013: they repeat to whoever wants Justice ordering all the courts to 12 years jail, he was sentenced for to listen, that the scandal is a plot by n° 392 • November 2017 Information and liaison bulletin • 5 •

the preacher. This might not be “village protectors” killed. The involved in fighting in Iraqi enough to prevent American sanc- Army then announced it had elimi- Kurdistan as shown by its announc- tions against the Turkish banking nated in the same area 12 other ing on the 16th that 2 soldiers had sector… fighters in an operation supported died near Avashin-Basyan in Dohuk by helicopters. The total of kill of Province. The Turkish Air Force also The month of November has seen a both camps would be about 25, carried our many air strikes in Iraqi particularly high number of violent including 19 Kurdish fighters, Kurdistan: on the 3rd against the vil- events. Guerrilla operations against according to the Ministry of the lage of Gelî Sargale (Amêdî district) the security forces, arrests giving Interior, which also then claimed 9 and slightly to the East in the Rekan rise to armed confrontations and air other Kurdish fighters had been region (directly opposite Şemdinli) strikes have followed one another eliminated in Tunceli (Dersim) then on the 4th, according to Daily throughout the month. Thus on the Province and 3 others at Şırnak. On Sabah, against other PKK targets, 3rd at Diyarbekir, right in the town the 4th the PKK launched another especially at Qandîl and Avashin- centre a police action aiming to attack at Şemdinli, near the village Basyan. On the 12th according to arrest a presumed member of the of Adilbeg, killing 3 Turkish soldiers Rûdaw, the Piramagrun mountains PKK degenerated into an armed by hitting their armoured vehicle North of Suleimaniyah were clash. Result: one policeman and a with an anti-tank missile (the PKK bombed for the second time in a suspect killed, nine other police broadcast on the 30th on its Gerîla week, especially Mount Asos, near wounded. According to an AFP cor- TV channel a video purporting to the town of Mawat, facing the respondent the police began shoot- show the moment of the strike). On Iranian border, then on the 13th, fur- ing on the top floor of a block of the same day another attack aimed ther North, the Bradost region near flats, then the Kurdish insurgents at a hill near Çukurca, further to the Soran — a raid that killed a civilian. triggered off a home-made bomb. West, killed at least one other sol- On the 29th the Army announced However most of the clashes took dier. On the 16th another skirmish that fresh strikes on Mount Asos, on place in the mountains and near occurred at Tunceli in which 4 the previous Monday (27th), carried Şemdinli (Hakkari Province) in the Kurdish fighters were killed and on out in cooperation with the Iraqi extreme South of Turkey, near the the 19th the Anatolia agency and Iranian Intelligence services, most mountainous of Iraq announced the previous day’s “neu- had killed over 80 “terrorists” and and Iran, where on the 2nd fighting tralisation” of 14 Kurdish fighters destroyed an ammunition dump, broke out between PKK members and the capture of 2 others near two military vehicles and several coming from Iraq and Turkish Kulp (Diyarbakir). shelters. These last raids have not troops. Result: 5 Kurdish fighters been conformed from independent and 6 Turkish soldiers as well as 2 The Turkish Army was also sources.

IRAQI KURDISTAN: UNCONSTITUTIONAL DEMANDS FROM BAGHDAD, ARABISATION OF KIRKUK RESTARTED ollowing the postpone- Nechirvan Barzani invited the Talabani, and the loss of Kirkuk, its ment of the parliamen- Ministers of the Movement for stronghold, held a meeting of its tary and Presidential Change (Gorran) whom he had sus- leaders in the 4th and envisaged dis- elections, originally pended in 2015 to return to their solving its Political Committee with- F planned for 1st posts, but Gorran refused, repeating out making any decision. Kosrat November, the Kurdish Parliament its demand that the KRG dissolve to Rassoul, its interim leader, had to be on the 24th extended it term of office create an “interim Government of brought to hospital in emergency on for a further eight month. The 1st national salvation” that would have the 11th. Transferred to Berlin for also took effect Masud Barzani’s res- to negotiate with Baghdad and pre- intensive care on the 16th he came ignation from the presidency, his pare the elections (Rûdaw). On the out on the 20th and is due to return powers being from this time on 18th the Islamic Union (Yekgirtû) to Kurdistan after his convalescence. shared between the Kurdish adopted a very similar position Parliament and the Regional demanding a transition government. On the evening of the 12th a 7.3 Government (KRG) led by the Prime On the 7th, the High Electoral magnitude earthquake centred at Minister Nechirvan Barzani. Commission called on the KRG and Derbandîkhan hit Iraqi and Iranian Meeting on the 6th the KRG decided Parliament to set a date for Kurdistan, causing 300 deaths and on consultations with the political Parliamentary and Presidential elec- 2,500 injured in the Iranian side and parties on the means of renewing tions. For its part the PUK, faced 8 deaths and 300 injured on the Iraqi the dialogue with Baghdad. with the death of its founder Jalal side. Followed by about a hundred • 6 • Information and liaison bulletin n° 392 • November 2017

“repeats”, some as high as 4.7 He has, indeed, launched many “from below” by proposing to the degrees Richter, it provoked fissures measures against the Kurdistan Kurdish to pay their civil in the Derbandîkhan dam. On the Region, some to strangle it economi- servants directly. The Provincial 18th a second quake of 4.4 degree hit cally. About forty Kurdish Councils refused, calling on Garmiyan. Ambassadors could lose their jobs Baghdad the 5th to use the KRG-cre- under the pretext of “restructuring” ated “biometric system”. Perhaps On the 21st Nechirvan Barzani and (Bas News). The Iraqi Central Bank thanks to this refusal, the 2018 bud- Qubad Talabani, Deputy Prime has ordered, on the 9th, the closing, get draft still mentioned the T Minister, met several political par- before the 14th, of all Kurdistan “”, although Iraqi ties to discuss the elections and the branch banks, local or foreign — an leaders had started systematically to eventuality of an interim govern- order cancelled on the 15th. talk about “North Iraq”. ment, then on the 25th a second Concerning the budget, Abadi had Internationally the German paper round of discussions with the PUK, declared on the 31 October that he Spiegel revealed on the 23rd that Gorran and the Islamic League cov- was ready to pay the salaries of civil Abadi had forbidden the German ered the possibility of a joint delega- servants and Peshmergas, then chal- Foreign Minister, who was planning tion in the event of negotiations lenged their number, telling he to visit Baghdad at the beginning of with Baghdad. The tense relations approved only 680,000 of the November, to visit , and that with Baghdad indeed require unity: 1,480,000 counted by the KRG. even an appeal by Angela Merkel still refusing any dialogue, Mr. While the KRG reduced the number was unable to unblock the situation. Abadi has launched a number of to 1.249.481 thanks to its “biometric” Faced with this refusal the German measures against the Region while system of paying, Abadi demanded Foreign Minister cancelled his visit approving, in the disputed regions a preliminary audit. For the to Iraq. taken back by Bagdad in October, an Peshmergas, Ahmed Hamah, a Arabisation policy worthy of the for- member of the Iraqi Parliament’s On the 6th the Kurdistan Prime mer Ba’athist regime. The calls by Finance Commission, indicated on Minister, Nechirvan Barzani, the KRG for negotiations have the 10th that Baghdad would agree declared that Kurdistan was “ready remained without any effect till the to pay 50,000 of them whereas their to hand over the oil, the airports and all end of the month, a time at which official number is 266,000 (Spoutnik). customs duties to Baghdad if the the Kurdish Airports remained Moreover, supplementary condi- Central Government paid [KRG civil blocked… tions for payment kept appearing: servants] salaries and the Kurdistan must confine all its oil Constitutional 17% of the Federal On the 1st Abadi accused the KRG of exports to the State company SOMO Budget […]” However, after several “going back on the agreements” of the (SOMO Director); payment will only shuttles between the Council of 29th October between the Kurdish be made once Baghdad has regained Ministers and the Iraqi Parliament troops and the Iraqis, which provid- control of the oil wells (Abadi on the and some promises to restore the ed for the withdrawal of the 4th). In Parallel, Baghdad starting 17%, Kurdistan’s share remained, on Peshmergas from the Pêsh Khabur discussing with Ankara SOMO’s the 30th, at 12.67%. The population and Ibrahim Khalil border crossings. direct sales of Kurdish oil arriving at of Kurdistan is however estimated Refusing any joint administration he Ceyhan, thus “short-circuiting” the at 7-8 million, that is about 17-20% threatened: “If they do not observe KRG and announced (on the 10th) an of that of Iraq... (the agreement …), if they fire on our agreement with Iran on refining forces we will show them the strength of about 30-60,000 barrels per day of The Shi’ite coalition “The State of the law”. The KRG denied any agree- oil from Kirkuk at Kermanshah, sent Law” has also demanded the ment, stating that the Iraqi comman- there at first by tankers, then by a Supreme Federal Court criminal ders had proposed two successive pipeline once it is ready. For having sanctions against 14 Kurdish mem- and different texts, to which accused Abadi on FaceBook of hav- bers of the Iraqi Parliament who had Kurdish negotiators had responded, ing “used the country’s armed forces to voted “YES” in the referendum: and the Peshmergas Ministry take back Kirkuk so that the foreign oil Article 156 of the Criminal Code, describing these demands as companies, which helped him become inherited from the Saddam Hussein “unconstitutional”, replied that his Prime Minister, could take control of the period, provides the Death sentence troops were on defensive positions, oil fields” the Iraqi journalist Samir for any person having “intentionally which they were ready to hold. Obeid was arrested for “spreading threatened the sovereignty of the Nothing has changed since then, as rumours and false news to mislead pub- State”. Having returned to sit in Mr. Abadi repeated on the 14th that lic opinion”… Parliament the Kurdish ‘M.P.s left he “would shortly go into action” the session on the 16th when the about the border posts “but without The Iraqi Prime Minister has also question was put to the vote. The using force”… tried to “short-circuit” the KRG Court however, refused to give a n° 392 • November 2017 Information and liaison bulletin • 7 •

ruling, considering the question out- families settled by Saddam Hussein breaches of 55 Articles of the side its terms of reference. on land confiscated from Kurds and Constitution committed by the Iraqi who left after his fall in 2003 with Government” and has questioned its Besides, worrying news are coming compensation, are now returning legitimacy: “Everyone must know that from the taken back by under the protection of the Iraqi the (Supreme) Court was established Baghdad. Following the sacking of Army and Hashd al-Shaabi. before the approval of the Constitution the Governor of Kirkuk, According to Majid Mahmoud, and that it should have been annulled Najmaddine Karim (who had member of the Provincial Council, at after (the latter) and another Court unsuccessfully appealed against it to least 120,000 hectares (300,000 acres) established on the basis and provisions the Supreme Court) and the taking of land belonging to Kurds have of Article 92”. back of the Province, Baghdad been taken back, particularly in the appointed as interim governor a rich regions of Dubiz, Daquq et At the beginning of the month, the Sunni Arab, Rakan al-Jabouri. Yaichi… Furthermore the security Court declared that because of its However, on the 20th, 6 Members of conditions are not such as to encour- absence of contact with one of the the Iraqi Parliament from Kirkuk age Kurds to return. On the 10th the two parties, the KRG, it could not demanded he be sacked for “abuse of Kurdish Parliament closed its offices rule on the Constitutionality of the authority” and “racist policy”. On the in Kirkuk to protect the security of 25 September referendum. However 12th Baghdad sacked 47 police offi- its employees. on the 6th at the government’s cers, from the quota allocated to the request it issued a ruling based on KDP, giving their posts to Arabs and Moreover it is to the South of Kirkuk Article 1 of the Constitution men- Turcmen. Then, in mid-November a Province, at Tuz Khurmatu, that tioning “the unity of Iraq”, whereby Chief of Security for Kirkuk was anti-Kurdish abuses have been the no Iraqi region or province could appointed, Major-General Maan al- greatest. According to the United secede — then on the 20th, still on Saadi, whose Ba’athist past was Nations 35,000 people have been the basis of Article 1, it declared, in recently revealed by a video: he had displaced. On the 3rd UNESCO’s contradiction with its previous rul- received 4 medals from Saddam fol- General Manageress demanded an ing, that it declared the referendum lowing several operations against enquiry into the assassination of the unconstitutional. The decision pro- the Kurds. On the 29th the city’s Kurdish journalist Arkan Sharifi, vides, moreover, for “the annulment Chief of Police and 12 officers were killed by stabbing in his home at of all the consequences and results” of brought to trial, charged under Daquq (between Kirkuk and Touz the referendum. Article 4 of the ant-terrorist law. Khourmatou) by 8 masked men wearing battle-dress, speaking On the 27th the Kurdsh Prime Constitutionally, Baghdad’s taking Turcoman and introducing them- Minister, Nechirvan Barzani, over of the disputed territories does selves as Hashd al-Shaabi members. denounced an “unilateral” decision not change their status, as was On the 8th Abadi did indeed men- taken without input from the KRG, recalled on 20th October by the US tion an enquiry… into dozens of but declared that the latter would State Department and on 27th complaints from Arab families observe it and said he was “ready for November by the President of Iraq, regarding relatives from whom they a dialogue”. He also demanded, on Fuad Massoum, during his visit to say they are without news since the basis of the annulment men- the town: they remain subjected to their arrest by the Kurdish Security. tioned in the ruling the annulment Article 140 of the Constitution, On the 14th the head of Tuz of all punitive measures taken since which provides for the restoration of Khurmatu’s Security estimated at the referendum and called for “the their original population then a ref- 1,500 the number of Kurdish homes full application of the Constitution” (by erendum to decide their future. On pillaged and destroyed. On the 28th implication not only those articles the 7th the Iraqi Vice-President, a video broadcast by Rûdaw selected by Mr. Abadi to justify the Osama al-Nujaifi, a Sunni Arab, revealed that 2,000 houses had been anti-Kurdish sanctions…). He finally declared, from Washington that pillaged and 3,000 confiscated and stated: “They are asking us to transfer these territories could, on the basis tagged with Turcoman slogans. control of the border crossing post and of the Constitution, pass under the Airports. […] We have no problem “Confederal” control. In the field, All this is far from the Constitution with a supervision [by Baghdad]. however, these declarations sound with which Abadi has been cloaking However does this mean that Kurds more like pious hopes: according to himself. The ex-President of working at border posts and airports are Mahdi Mubarak, Diector of Kirkuk’s Kurdistan, Massud Barzani, has, not Iraqis or else that Baghdad only Department of Agriculture, who has moreover, accused the “Supreme want to employ -speaking peo- sought refuge in Erbil, many Arab Court” of having “shut its eyes to the ple?”. Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Ozeti The New York Review of Books November 2,2017 Why the Kurds Are Paying for Trump’s Gift to Iran

PETER W. GALBRAITH November 2, 2017 Shiite militiamen www.nybooks.com celebrating their advance into ajmaldin Karim, the governor of the Kirkuk Kurdish-held , was at his official residence on Iraqi territory NOctober 16 when American special forces sho­ near Kirkuk, wed up. They warned him that the Popular October 17, 2017 Mobilization Forces, an Iraqi Shiite militia controlled by Iran, was on its way to the buil­ Alaa Al- ding. Karim, an ethnic Kurd who had twice been Marjani/ elected governor of this ethnically mixed pro­ vince, understood that they were not coming to oust him or even to arrest him. They were coming to kill him.

The Americans knew there would be an attack on Kirkuk because their special forces were embed­ ded with the outside the city of Kirkuk and with Kurdish troops, known as pesh- merga, within the city. While US soldiers gave to Iran but Soleimani stayed on. As a young doctor in the 1970s, Najmaldin Karim the warning that enabled him to escape, Karim joined Mullah Mustafa Barzani’s Kurdish the Trump administration did nothing to prevent Soleimani is credited with saving Baghdad in insurrection against Iraq’s Baathist regime in an attack in which the Iraqi army and the Iranian- July 2014. The US-trained and -equipped Iraqi which Saddam Hussein was a rising force. When commanded militias used American weapons, army had collapsed and ISIS was approaching the revolt collapsed, after it was double-crossed including Abrams tanks. the capital. Armed with a fatwa from Iraq’s most by the Shah of Iran and Henry Kissinger, Karim senior Shia cleric, the Ayatollah Sistani (himself accompanied Barzani into exile in Iran and the The Kurds have long claimed Kirkuk—with its an Iranian), calling on Iraqi Shiites to fight ter­ Washington suburbs. After Barzani died in 1979, ancient citadel and adjacent oil field—as an inte­ rorists, Soleimani organized tens of thousands of Karim qualified as a neurosurgeon and was on gral part of Kurdistan. With no lack of hyper­ volunteers to defend the capital and the Shiite duty at George Washington Hospital on bole, Jalal Talabani, the Kurdish guerrilla leader holy places. Although Iraq’s constitution 30, 1980 when John Hinckley Jr. shot Ronald who became Iraq’s first ever elected president, expressly prohibits militias outside the Iraqi Reagan and James Brady. He tended to both men called the city “Kurdistan’s Jerusalem.” The army, Iraq’s Shiite-controlled parliament legal­ in the emergency room and then managed Kurds first took full control of Kirkuk in 2003 as ized the militias under the name Popular Brady’s care. He briefed Reagan on Brady’s Saddam Hussein’s army collapsed. At the Mobilization Forces (or PMF). In the early days progress—and the Kurds’, though Karim made request of the Bush administration, the Kurds of the anti-ISIS campaign, the PMF—still under little headway there. The Reagan administration withdrew from the city in exchange for the the effective control of Soleimani—pushed ISIS opposed congressional efforts to cut US aid to promise of a referendum that would determine out of Tikrit, Saddam’s home town. Afterward, Saddam even after he attacked the Kurds with the status of the city and the surrounding they burned Sunni homes, massacred prisoners, chemical weapons. province. Although Iraq’s 2005 constitution and killed civilians thought to have collaborated. required the Iraqi government to hold a referen­ Fearful of initiating a new cycle of anger and Karim discovered, though, that he liked US pol­ dum no later than December 31, 2007, it was rebellion among Iraq’s Sunni population, the US itics. He became a one-man volunteer lobby for never held. prevailed on Iraq’s prime minister, Haider al- the Kurds—then an almost unknown people in Abadi, to keep the PMF out of . The PMF Washington—and made many friends on Capitol But the Kurds ended up in frill control of Kirkuk did, however, participate in the campaigns to Hill, myself included. After the 2003 US inva­ anyway. At 10 AM on June 10, 2014, the com­ take villages around Mosul, with adverse conse­ sion of Iraq, Karim put his medical practice on mander of the Twelfth Division of the Iraqi army, quences for civilians. hold to return to his native Kirkuk. He proved so Major General Mohammed Khalaf al-Fahdawi, popular as governor that his party’s list in the called on Karim. ISIS had just taken Mosul and fter leaving Talabani’s funeral last month, 2014 Iraqi parliamentary elections won a major­ the general wanted to assure the governor that Soleimani met with PMF commanders and ity of the Kirkuk MPs. his division would defend the city. Exactly twen­ Athe Iraqi army to plan how Iraq might reassert its n October 16, two important PMF comman­ ty-four hours later, he was back in Karim’s office authority in Kirkuk. The Iraqis were particularly ders raced to reach Najmaldin Karim’s asking for civilian clothes and transport out of keen to get rid of Governor Karim. Karim, who Ooffice. Qais al-Khazali commands the Asa’ib Ahi Kirkuk. A Kurdish brigade was already in the had won a measure of support from Kirkuk’s al-Haq, an especially violent component of the city and, unlike the Iraqi division, it was willing Arab and Turkmen communities, had angered militias. In 2007, he helped plan the kidnapping to fight. ISIS never took Kirkuk. Baghdad by supporting Kurdistan’s recent inde­ and execution of four US soldiers in Karbala. pendence referendum. In retaliation, the Shiite Abu Mahdi al-Muhandes, the deputy comman­ On October 6, Iraqis gathered in Sulaymaniyah, bloc in the Iraqi parliament voted to remove der of the PMF, was sentenced to death in absen­ about sixty miles east of Kirkuk, to bury Jalal Karim from office, even though Iraq’s high tia by a Kuwaiti court for his part in the 1983 Talabani. Although Talabani was the Iraqi leader degree of decentralized governance under the bombing of the US embassy there. The US most supportive of American goals in the coun­ country’s constitution does not permit the natio­ government has considered both men to be terro­ try, the United States was represented only by its nal parliament to remove an elected governor. rists. local ambassador. Iran sent its foreign minister, Since the Kurdish controlled Kirkuk, Mohammad Javed Zarif, and the commander of Karim stayed in office. Soleimani had an additio­ The Trump administration, which had been care­ the elite al-Quds Force of the Revolutionary nal reason to want Karim gone. Not only was he ful to keep the PMF out of ISIS-held Mosul, did Guards Corps, Qassem Soleimani. Zarif returned pro-American, he is an American. nothing to stop these two Iranian-backed *

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* terrorists from using American weapons to Americans should respect their decision to go Iran’s involvement in the country. Abadi’s attack an American ally. But for the action of US ahead now that ISIS was largely defeated. But spokesman confirmed Qassem Soleimani’s pres­ soldiers in the area, they would almost certainly Tillerson and McGurk had a new request—to ence in Iraq, explaining that Iraq had both have killed another American citizen. After the postpone until after the Iraqi parliamentary elec­ American and Iranian military advisers. Iran’s PMF takeover of Kirkuk, the Pentagon attempt­ tions scheduled for the spring of 2018. army chief of staff, Mohamadi Gulpaigani, was ed ineffectually to its embarrassment by even more direct. According to the Fars news calling the Kurdish-Iraqi fighting a “misunder­ The American motives were transparent. The US agency, he told a Tehran gathering that “the standing.” The administration’s complaisant atti­ strategy in Iraq is built around Prime Minister instructions of the Supreme Leader and the sac­ tude to the Iranian-led action was even more Haider al-Abadi. US diplomats see Abadi as a rifices of General Soleimani spoiled their plots puzzling since it followed ’s deci­ moderate who reversed the sectarian policies of [US and to divide Iraq], and Kirkuk was sion three days earlier to decertify the Iran his predecessor, Nouri al-Maliki. Today, Maliki liberated.” nuclear deal—-justified as a response to Iran’s is blamed for so alienating the Sunnis that he had malign activities in the region, including in Iraq. made possible the rise of ISIS in western Iraq. As a result of the US invasion, Iraq went from What is forgotten is that Maliki, too, was once being Iran’s most bitter enemy to its closest ally. Pique toward the Kurds partially explains the our man in Baghdad, in effect handpicked to be Far from blocking Iran’s expanding influence in administration’s indifference. In February, the prime minister by Bush’s ambassador to Iraq, the region, Iraq has facilitated it. Even as ISIS Kurdistan Regional Government’s president, Zalmay Khalilzad. approached Baghdad in July 2014, the Iraqi gov­ , wrote a letter to President ernment was sending Shiite militiamen to fight Trump announcing his intention to hold an inde­ In order for Abadi to prevail against his more for Assad in Syria. pendence referendum and explaining the reasons extreme Shiite rivals, US diplomats calculated for it. On June 7, the KRG set the date for vote he needed the votes of the Kurdish parliamentar­ Until very recently, Iran’s access to Syrian gov­ as September 25. The only US reaction came ians who hold about a fifth of the seats in the ernment territory was blocked by ISIS-controlled from a State Department spokesman who said Iraqi parliament. The Kurds, however, were territory in both Iraq and Syria and by Kurdish- the timing was inopportune and mischaracter- never persuaded that Abadi was much different controlled territory in northeast Syria and north­ ized the vote as non-binding. (The referendum from his predecessor; indeed, he is a member of west Iraq. When the last ISIS-held towns in the was binding on the KRG but, as Barzani the same Shiite religious party that is headed by Euphrates valley are cleared, Iran will be able to explained, the Kurds would allow up to two Maliki. Moreover, Abadi failed to restore send military equipment directly through Iraq years for negotiations with Baghdad on the Kurdistan’s constitutionally-mandated share of and Syria to the borders of Israel. divorce before actually declaring independence.) the Iraqi budget, which Maliki had cut. He also successfully blocked the US from supplying the ince 2014, the US has been arming and ser­ The Kurds were then caught by surprise when, peshmerga with sophisticated weapons like the Sving as the air force to Syrian Kurdish figh­ just two weeks before the vote, Secretary of State Abrams tank, even when the Kurds were the ters known as the People’s Protection Units, or Rex Tillerson and the special presidential envoy only ground force stopping ISIS from taking the YPG. The YPG now controls about a quarter of to Iraq, Brett McGurk, launched a full-scale entire north of Iraq. To explain why he could not Syria’s territory, including the Islamic State’s diplomatic effort to get the Kurds to postpone it. accept the American request to postpone, former self-declared capital of Raqqa. In the rest Even that initiative was bungled: a US-spon­ Barzani told me: “Iraq is not what was on offer of Syria, Assad—backed by Iran and Russia— sored UN Security Council statement directly in 2003. Iraq is a theocratic, autocratic state. The has largely defeated the opposition. In essence, contradicted private promises made to the Kurds. intention is clear. The faces are different [from Syria is now divided between a zone controlled It was also too late. Saddam’s time] but the goal is the same. As long by the Assad government allied with Iran and as we wait, they get stronger and we get weaker.” Russia and a large area in the north held by long with former foreign ministers from American-supported forces. France and Croatia, I traveled to polling There is now no chance that Kurdish MPs will Aplaces in various parts of Kurdistan on referensupport­ a prime minister who ordered an attack The Trump administration is presently brokering dum day. The enthusiasm was palpable. Women on the Kurds. And Abadi has now demonstrated a deal between Iraq and the Iraqi Kurds that came to vote dressed as if they were going to a sufficient hard-line credentials with Iraq’s Shiite would place Iraqi troops at Fishkhabour, where wedding and many brought their children— majority that he may no longer need Kurdish two pontoon bridges connect Iraqi Kurdistan usually dressed in traditional Kurdish clothes votes to secure a second term. with YPG-controlled territory. Because Turkey and carrying Kurdistan flags—so that the chil­ considers the YPG to be a terrorist organization dren could later say that they were there when rump’s decision to decertify the nuclear deal and the Syrian government aspires to retake its their country was bom. More than one voter told Tfollowed an extensive policy review to come territory, Fishkhabour is the YPG’s only link to me that their people had waited for this moment up with an Iran strategy that, in his words, wouldthe outside world and the only land route for its for a century, recalling Sykes-Picot, the Anglo- “counter the regime’s destabilizing activity and US military supplies. French secret agreement of 1916 that carved up support for terrorist proxies in the region.” By the region and ultimately led to the Kurds’ invo­ supporting Abadi and the Iraqi military, the The success of Trump’s strategy for containing luntary inclusion in the new state of Iraq . There administration hopes to counter Iran’s regional Iran now depends entirely on an Iraqi govern­ is no doubt that the referendum, which took ambitions. There is a logic to this approach. ment and military that is closely allied with Iran. place without a single violent incident, reflected Saddam’s Iraq checked the spread of the Iranian In a day, the same Iraqi government that already the long-held desire of almost every Iraqi Kurd revolution through the eight-year Iran- sent forces to fight for Assad can close the for independence. In an election with a strong 72 in the 1980s. An independent Iraq today could Fishkhabour crossing and thus facilitate Assad’s percent turnout, the people of Kurdistan voted by block Iran’s access to its ally in Syria, President victory against the most substantial portion of 93 percent for independence. Bashar al-Assad, and from there to the territory Syrian territory not under his control. The in controlled by its proxy, . Kurdistan Region in Iraq—much diminished in Even had he wanted to, it would have been With this larger strategic picture in mind, sacrifi­ territory and economic resources, and no longer impossible for Masoud Barzani to cancel the ref­ cing the Kurds may be an acceptable price to in control of its borders—does not now have the erendum days before it took place. But Barzani pay—especially as they had declined to follow capacity to counter Baghdad or Tehran. If the US had no desire to cancel the vote. Already, after US advice on the referendum. objects to Iraq’s pro-Iran policies, the Iraqis ISIS had conquered Mosul and most Iraq’s Sunni always have the option of asking the US to leave. areas in June 2014, he was on the verge of There is, however, an obvious flaw in this But that is not in Iran’s interest right now. declaring independence. As he told me at the approach. Saddam Hussein was a Sunni who Speaking as an American, the ousted governor of time, “Iraq no longer exists. We have a thousand- viewed Iran as the national enemy. In 2003, the Kirkuk Najmaldin Karim observed: “The US has kilometer border with Daesh [the Islamic State] United States toppled Saddam, ending ninety already spent trillions to accomplish Iran’s and thirty kilometers with Iraq.” years of uninterrupted Sunni rule in Iraq and objectives in Iraq. As long as we keep doing it, paving the way for Shiite religious parties to take why would Iran want us to leave?” ♦ When US Secretary of State John Kerry visited power through democratic elections. Dawa, the in Erbil in July 2014, he asked Barzani to post­ party of Maliki and Abadi, was supported by Iran pone the referendum until the defeat of ISIS. for decades. One of its coalition partners, the Barzani agreed. Having done as they were asked Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq, was founded in in 2014, the Kurdish leaders felt that the Tehran in 1982. Neither Iraq nor Iran has hidden

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vat mi nnat n\ (iNir • XÏ VJLjJLj VI JU\_/JlJLj W1 5 JLJX1 1 JLj November 2, 2017 Democracy in Kurdistan and Catalonia: Does the People’s Will Matter?

Separatist movements expose flaws - elected officials not doing jobs, failure to explain governance and neglect of minority rights

Humphrey Hawksley Thursday, November 2, 2017 Independence throngh ballot: Catalan nationalists vote for independence, right, https://yaleglobal.yale.edu as do the Ktirds in Iraq. encouraged the creation of smaller states from larger ones, often based on ethnic or cul­ LONDON: In the early 1990s, as remnants of tural lines. In 1991, President George H.W. the Berlin Wall were transformed into a Bush, hailed the move by three Baltic states - tourist attraction, there was a near-unchal­ Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania - to sever ties lenged presumption that governance, with the disintegrating Soviet Union, saying through the democratic will of the people, that their "democratically elected govern­ would underpin our future. , once ments have declared their independence and divided by two opposing ideologies, united are moving now to control their own national under the democratic banner and territories and their own destinies." In those that had mostly lived under Soviet control heady days, independence often took place quickly became new democracies. American against a violent backdrop. Croatia's 1991 political scientist, Francis Fukuyama summed declaration, recognized quickly by Germany, up the prevailing atmosphere in his 1989 was among the prompts triggering the essay "The End of History," suggesting that breakup of Yugoslavia. In 2008, as the the endpoint of mankind's ideological evolu­ Yugoslav conflict was drawing to a close, the tion had been reached. Western liberal United States pushed through the independ­ democracy was universal, the final form of ence of Kosovo from Serbia, creating a lasting human government. international rift. Kosovo still has no seat in the United Nations. Historians may come to view October 2017 as a turning point unseating this argument, In all, during this period, 34 new nations, when the concept of designing policy through ranging from East Timor to Moldova and the "people's will" had been stretched as far Namibia, were created in processes mostly as it could. The markers are referenda in two overseen by the United States, the United different parts of the world where voters in Nations and the European Union. In most semiautonomous regions chose to break from cases, a newly-democratized nation broke central governments to form independent away from a failed authoritarian one. But, a nations. generation on, Catalonia and Kurdistan are attempting to separate from other democra­ One is the Kurdistan region in northern Iraq. cies, thus risking regional and global stability independence on October 27th, Madrid With a population of about 5.5 million out of and revealing two specific flaws in the system installed direct rule and sought sedition Iraq's total of 40 million, Kurdistan has been as it stands. relatively well-run and peaceful while insur­ charges against separatist leaders. gency raged elsewhere. On September 25th, The first flaw is that the need to hold a refer­ The swift crushing of both results raises the in a referendum not authorized by Baghdad, endum comes largely because elected legisla­ question about the stage at which the "will of Kurds voted by more than 90 percent to break tures are not doing their jobs. If they were, a the people" as determined by the ballot box away. The other is Spain's wealthy province critical mass of citizens would not feel the should be constrained. of Catalonia which comprises 16 percent of need to go outside the system. The second is Spain's 46 million people, but contributes 20 that Western governments have failed to Neither Catalonia nor Kurdistan received percent of its wealth. Catalonia's semiau­ explain fully the pieces that slot together to support from neighbors or the international tonomous government held a similarly unau­ form their democracies, how the global order community which firmly favors holding thorized referendum on October 1st. Despite is a delicate balance among local sentiments, together the status quo despite a strong sense a turnout of 42 percent, more than 2 million, the nation state and regional power blocs. 90 percent, voted for independence from among the Kurds and Catalans of being a dis­ tinctive people with their own languages, cul­ Spain. Western leaders, therefore, would be wise to tures and histories. Their sense, real or not, roll back the increasingly messianic use of slo­ that their identities are misunderstood or neg­ In both cases, central governments swiftly gans such as "the peoples' will." When emo­ lected by their central governments is a main intervened. Iraqi troops took Kurdish posi­ tional sentiment comes face to face with polit­ driver toward separatism. tions and the government implemented ical pragmatism, failure and resentment are measures to isolate Kurdistan. Within hours bound to follow. This happened after the 2003 All of this is a far cry from the momentum of of Catalonia making a formal declaration of invasion of Iraq and the West's botched spon- O the 1990s when Western democracies actively

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O sorship of the abortive in 2011. question by Britain's 2016 surprise Brexit ref­ made clear to the Taiwanese government that Similar disappointments now run through erendum result to separate from the regional American support would diminish if any Catalonia and Kurdistan. power bloc. The 51.9 percent vote in favor of move is made toward an official declaration leaving was a wafer-thin majority, yet the of independence. As former US President Woodrow Wilson "will of the people" is constantly used to jus­ succinctly said: "Democracy is not so much a tify arguments for an EU exit already damag­ Catalonia and Kurdistan are warnings that form of government as a set of principles." ing the economy. Central to the Brexit debate the West must smarten up its act. Democracy, is Britain's future trading relationship with as practiced during the past two decades, has While democratic principle might have fired the EU indicating that if sophisticated negoti­ been filled with so many failures and contra­ Kurdistan's referendum, the result, if imple­ ations between highly developed institutions dictions that few who line up at the polling mented, risked creating more turmoil in the are facing problems, neither Catalonia nor stations know exactly how it works. Too Middle East. Iran and Turkey would not tol­ Kurdistan have much chance of operating as often, democracy has been used as a lever to erate an independent Kurdistan. Kurdistan successful independent nations. The same open the floodgates of nationalism, racism also advocates the division of Iraq into three applies to other places such as 2014 Donetsk and religious and ethnic divisions. independent, confederated nations, Kurds to in Ukraine and 2011 South Sudan, where the north, Sunnis in the center and Shias in independence referenda have been advocated "The people's will" as championed in voting the south. Many areas are mixed and, given as a means to address longstanding problems booths cannot be taken raw. The ballot box Iraq's history, such a division would lead to but have prompted or failed to end conflict. might legitimize a system. It does not design further bloodshed. With Catalonia, the it. European Union is wary of enflaming similar In 1947, the United Nations agreed to a refer­ separatist sentiments embedded throughout endum for Kashmir, the divided and disput­ Humphrey Hawksley has written extensively the continent. If the EU condones Catalonian ed territory straddling India and Pakistan, on democracy. His next book Asian Waters: separatism, nationalism would increase else­ but it was never held. Now, such an election Chinese Expansion and the Shifting Balance where, compounding Europe's already wor­ would enflame already heated tensions, risk­ of Power will be published in April 2018. ♦ rying rise of right-wing xenophobic political ing regional a war. A similar situation is in movements. place for the renegade Chinese province of Taiwan whose 24 million people live as if in The EU's future has already been put into an independent nation. The United States has

Irak: six morts dans Saraya al-Salam fait partie du Hachd al-Chaabi, force armée qui a joué un rôle aux côtés des troupes irakiennes dans la reprise des zones disputées avec le un attentat à Kirkouk, Kurdistan. La double attaque a eu lieu sur le boulevard Atlas, une importante artère de la reprise par Bagdad aux Kurdes ville de près d'un million d'habitants, où se trouvent de nombreux commerces et administrations. KIRKOUK (IRAK), 5 NOVEMBRE 2017 (AFP) Kirkouk a été au coeur des tensions entre Bagdad et Erbil depuis la tenue le 25 septembre d'un référendum d'indépendance organisé contre l'avis de AU MOINS SIX personnes ont été tuées dimanche dans une double Bagdad dans la région autonome et au-delà, notamment dans la province dis­ attaque suicide dans le centre de Kirkouk, ville que les forces fédérales putée de Kirkouk. irakiennes ont reprise il y a moins de trois semaines aux Kurdes, a indi­ qué un responsable des services de sécurité. Moins d'un mois plus tard, le 16 octobre, les forces gouvernementales et para­ militaires irakiennes entraient en mouvement et reprenaient la quasi-totalité En outre, 12 personnes ont été blessées dans ces deux explosions menées à des zones disputées, c'est-à-dire réclamées à la fois par le gouvernement un quart d'heure d'intervalle, a-t-il précisé à l'AFP sous le couvert de l'anony­ régional kurde et Bagdad. mat. Ces zones dépendent, selon la Constitution, du pouvoir central de Bagdad La première a été perpétrée par un kamikaze conduisant une voiture piégée et mais leur statut doit encore être discuté au cours de négociations à venir. la seconde par un autre portant une ceinture d'explosif, a-t-il détaillé. Depuis l'invasion américaine de 2003 et dans le sillage du chaos créé en 2014 Cette attaque a eu lieu près d'un ancien poste de police désormais utilisé par par la percée jihadiste, les peshmergas en avaient de fait pris le contrôle. • Saraya al-Salam ("Brigades de la paix" en arabe), des unités paramilitaires du puissant chef chiite Moqtada Sadr, a indiqué le responsable.

pétrolières de Kirkouk après avoir raccordé peu avant un oléoduc vers la Turquie, pour court-circuiter les exportations irakiennes. L'oléoduc tenu par les autorités centrales à Bagdad, était alors déjà hors doubler la production d'usage. Un plan a été lancé en octobre pour le remettre en état mais les experts estiment que cela pourrait prendre jusqu'à deux ans. de pétrole à Kirkouk Près d'un mois après la reprise par les troupes fédérales du pétrole et des raf­ fineries de Kirkouk aux Kurdes, il faut "mettre au point un plan pour relancer la KIRKOUK (IRAK), 13 NOVEMBRE 2017 (AFP) production des champs de Kirkouk", dont deux sont encore à l'arrêt, a poursuivi le ministre. LE MINISTRE IRAKIEN du Pétrole Jabbar al-Louaïbi a affirmé lundi vou­ loir plus que doubler la production de pétrole de Kirkouk, province riche Il a également plaidé pour une reprise des exportations. en hydrocarbures tout juste reprise par Bagdad aux Kurdes, pour attein­ D'ici là, "30.000 barils par jour seront acheminés par camion-citerne vers l'Iran", dre un million de barils par jour. pays voisin de l'Irak, a-t-il indiqué. Actuellement, la capacité totale de production dans la province septentrionale A terme, "les champs et les puits de Kirkouk seront rénovés et nous ambition­ de Kirkouk est de "420.000 barils par jour", selon M. Louaïbi. nons d'atteindre une production d'un million de barils par jour, nous en sommes Mais seulement 120.000 barils par jour sont effectivement produits et les sûrs", a martelé le ministre. exportations sont à l'arrêt. Pour ce faire, il a évoqué la possibilité d'un contrat avec la compagnie British Lors d'une visite dans les champs pétroliers de cette région que le Kurdistan Petroleum (BP). dispute aux autorités fédérales, M. Louaïbi a estimé que "la priorité est la Cette visite est la première d'un ministre du Pétrole irakien depuis 2003 dans reprise de l'exportation du pétrole de Kirkouk via l'oléoduc irako-turc dès qu'il cette zone qui n'est pas incluse dans les frontières de la région autonome du sera réhabilité ou remplacé par un nouveau". Kurdistan irakien mais où les forces kurdes s'étaient déployées au fil des ans.» Depuis 2014, dans le chaos créé par la percée du groupe Etat islamique (El), les Kurdes s'étaient emparé des champs et de l'ensemble des installations

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lilUlllllUil*' jeudi 2 novembre 2017 AVEC LES KURDES, PLUS QUE JAMAIS ! RASSEMBLEMENT DE SOLIDARITÉ AVEC LE KURDISTAN IRAKIEN CE JEUDI 2 NOVEMBRE À 20H00 AU CINÉMA LE SAINT-GERMAIN

Projection du film La bataille de Nlossoulùe Bernard-Henri Lévy, suivie de prises de parole par CAROLINE FOUREST, ANNE HIDALGO, le général HAJAR AUMARISMAÏL, BERNARD KOUCHNER. BERNARD-HENRI LÉVY, KENDAL NEZAN et MANUEL VALLS

#SupportKurdistan

Une soirée sous legide de la revue LA RÈGLE DU JEU, SOS RACISME, L'UE JF, L’INSTITUT KURDE DE PARIS et LA FONDATION DANIELLE-MITTERRAND - FRANCE LIBERTÉS.

Coupable de vouloir être indépendant au terme de centans de résistance contre toutes les tyrannies, le Kurdistan, qui fut en première ligne faceà Daech. estattaquéetasphyxiéparsespuissants voisins: Irak, Iran.Turquie. Ilestabandonnéàson sort parsesamis d’hier. Etats-Unis en tête, dont les chars Abrams ont permis aux divisions irakiennes et aux milices iraniennes venues de Téhéran de s'emparer de Kirkouk, le poumon du pays. Et l'Europe, quant à elle, assiste sans mot dire à l'écrasement d'un rêve séculaire, au blocus aérien et terrestre d'un petit peuple adepte de ses valeurs, à l'invasion d'une nation où ont trouvé refuge un million et demi de chrétiens, de yézidis et d'Arabes fuyant Daech. Face à cette tragédie qui rappelle les pires abandons de l’histoire européenne du dernier siècle, c'est aux amis du Droit et de la démocratie de se mobiliser pour arrêter la forfaiture. Le peuple français a une longue tradition de solidarité avec le peuple kurde. Plus que jamais, son amitié et son soutien doivent peser dans la bataille de l'opinion et pousser à ce que l'Europe dise stop aux agresseurs.

Entrée libre dans la limite des places disponibles. Il est recommandé de réserver ([email protected]) CINÉMA LE SAINT-GERMAIN 22 RUE GUILLAUME-APOLLINAIRE 75006 PARIS 1 FŒGLE )l FEU

5 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Ozeti s'* - 7 RUDAW 2 November 2017 'H'' US representatives question State Dept policy in Iraq favoring Iran over Kurds

rûdaw.net 2 November, 2017

ASHINGTON, D.C. - Several WUS congressmen including war veterans gathered in front of the Capitol to slam the presence of Iran- backed militias within the Iraqi Interior Ministry and call for more US State Department and White House support for Kurds. "A picture is worth 1,000 words. There's the M1 Abrams tank with a Hezbollah flag. I don't care what the State Department says, they can't argue with this. At the best, the State Department has been derelict in its duties,” US Congressman Duncan Hunter, while holding up a photo of what he believes were Shiite militias on a US tank. “At worse they've been complicit.” Many of congressmen and advi­ US Congressional representatives and others gather in front of the Capitol to sors who took turns talking on support Kurds in Iraq. Photo: Rudaw video Wednesday emphasized that the State Department policy does not instincts rather than the D.C.’s esta­ wer to him [And Hadi al-] Amiri says support on independence from Iraq. match how they see the facts on the blishment when it comes to recogni­ it better than anybody else. He said Nearly 93 percent of ballots indi­ ground. zing the insinuation of the Iranian that 'The Hashd al-Shaabi do not cated 'Yes' for independence. “We are equipping and training influence in Iraq,"said Franks, who is answer to PM Abadi, they answer to Since then, the Iraqi forces and the wrong people. It's time we rose a member of the House Armed me, and I answer to Qassam Kurdish Peshmerga have had above what the State Department Services Committee chairs the Soleimani, '” said Pregent, referring deadly clashes. The Iraqis have has screwed up over and over. Iraq Missile Defense Caucus. to Quds Force commander pushed the Kurds back to the 1992 was a military victory lost by politics There has been speculation that Soleimani The biggest problem I line and aim to impose federal in the State Department... The State the United States is backing Abadi have as a veteran of this war and as authority over the Kurdistan Region, Department is going to lose us Iraq because it prefers him to hold the former intel, is that these militias are which the KRG maintains is not again in one of the worst ways,” prime minister post over other Shiite actually under the ministry of inter­ constitutional under the 2005 Iraqi added Duncan. Alliance leaders like the previous ior." constitution. Duncan cautioned that the deci­ Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. t the height of the war with ISIS, he Kurdish government has sion to ignore Iranian influence in “[Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-] the Iraqi government voted last since agreed to freeze the out­ Iraq is ignoring a larger regional pro­ Abadi promised that we would not ADecember to formally bring thecome of the vote and engage in dia­ blem that would be a military corri­ attack the Kurds weeks ago,” said paramilitary forces - including the logue with Baghdad within the fra­ dor from Tehran to Damascus and Franks. “For him to break his word to Hashd - formally under the umbrella mework of the 2005 constitution. “on Israel's doorstep.” the whole world does not speak well of the Iraqi government. Masoud Barzani, who has been “It's time that we as Americans of his leadership.” Congressmen Franks and criticized for overreaching with the choose a side,” said Duncan. “And thers, including Rep. Lee others paid their appreciation for the referendum, agreed not to extend that side is freedom, and allies, and Zeldin, noted that there are Kurdish-American partnership in the his presidential tenure past Nov. 1. the Kurds.” people in Iraq's government who are invasion and in the ISIS war. "Tragically the only mistake Duncan claimed that US influenced by Iran. “The Kurds were the one group Barzani has really made is unfortu­ President Donald Trump isn't being “It’s important for Abadi to take that did stand up. They stood up and nately overestimating the American informed by the top levels of Iran's more leadership over his own they protected the Yezidis, they pro­ commitment to Kurds," said Franks. influence, while pointing to the pho­ government to reject this Iranian tected the Christians, and they did it "And that's our fault, not his.” tos of Hezbollah flags on US-made influence. The Iranians can’t help without the Obama administration's As the war with ISIS wraps up, weapons in Iraq. themselves, but to meddle all over help,” said Franks, referring to when leaders have warned of what comes “I don't think Secretary [James] the Middle East?” questioned ISIS threatened to overrun all of next in a region where power Mattis has seen this picture of a Zeldin. Iraq. “Now this administration needs vacuums have bred extremism Hezbollah flag on his M1 Abrams “Whether it’s the [Islamic to stand by them and do what we since the 2003 US invasion. tank," said Duncan. Revolutionary Guard Corps'] activi­ can to maintain our commitment to A former assistant to Trump, Dr. ep. Trent Franks asked the ties, Qassam Soleimani is specifi­ that kind of courage.” Sebastian Gorka, expressed that administration of President cally leading that effort. It’s to sup­ The Iraqi central government's "Shiite terrorism" is the next threat in Donald Trump to re-evaluate Iran's port Assad in Syria or Hezbollah.” incursions into disputed or the Middle East after "Sunni terro­ "malicious influence" in Iraq. Michael P. Pregent, who is Kurdistani areas claimed by rism" is defeated. ■ “This president has had a tre­ foreign policy analyst and Hudson Baghdad and Erbil but under the mendously effective instinct in Institute fellow, supported that view administration of the Kurdistan making that we did not re-cer- going so far to say as Abadi has no Regional Government began about tify the Iranian nuclear deal and I control of the Iran-backed militias. three weeks after the Kurdistan hope now that he listens to his own “That’s because they don’t ans­ Region held a referendum to gauge

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FP Foreign Policy November 1, 2017

REPORT X Why the Fight for Fishkhabour Is So Important for Iraqi Kurds

A month after its independence Iraqi security forces launch a rocket toward Kurdish Peshmerga positions near Fishkhabour. (Ahmad al-Rubaye/AFP/Getty referendum, Iraqi Kurdistan is seeing Images) its economic future threatened.

from the country’s crude exports, officials in against Baghdad, [as long as the Kurds con­ landlocked Kurdistan finally got substantial trol Fishkhabour] Turkey can go back to an By Rhys Dubin | November 1, 2017 access to the sea with the completion in 2014 independent energy relationship with the http://foreignpolicy.com of a crude oil pipeline snaking through Kurds,” said Michael Knights, a fellow at the Kurdish territory to the Turkish border. That Washington Institute for Near East Policy. allowed the Kurdish government to export as he post-independence referendum rea­ much as 600,000 barrels of crude per day to Despite the potential leverage, there are big lity doesn’t look bright for Iraqi Kurds, the Mediterranean port of Ceyhan — worth political and financial reasons why Baghdad Tand an ongoing military showdown withbillions a year even with cheap oil prices. would be hesitant to completely cut off Baghdad over control of a key border cros­ Kurdish oil exports at Fishkhabour. sing underscores how fragile Irbil’s hold on Baghdad, which under the Iraqi Constitution autonomy really is. is meant to export all the nation’s oil and The KRG has racked up debts to internation­ then divvy up the proceeds, couldn’t physi­ al oil companies operating in its region; if On Wednesday, negotiations reportedly cally stop the Kurdish exports — especially exports and revenues dry up because of broke down between Kurdish Peshmerga because Irbil had the support of Turkey. Baghdad, it’s unclear if that would create any and Iraqi forces facing off over the legal liability for the Iraqi government. Fishkhabour border crossing with Turkey “The Kurdish pipeline connects to the ITP and Syria. Both sides are now back to [Iraq-Turkey pipeline] downstream of the ore to the point, cutting off Kurdish “square one,” according to reports. federal government’s metering station,” a exports entirely would destroy the This comes days after the United States had former manager with an oil field services MKurdish region’s economy, already reeling nudged Kurdish and Iraqi forces to reach an company active in the Kurdistan region told from relatively low oil prices and a huge bud­ apparent agreement to share control over Foreign Policy — essentially bypassing cen­ get drain that came from accepting displaced the critical border crossing — a vital gateway tral government oversight. “The Iraqis people and refugees during the battle against to Turkey and a chokepoint for Iraqi couldn’t go in and say how much the Kurds the Islamic State. Since the Islamic State Kurdistan’s crude oil exports. could and could not export.” went on a rampage across northern Iraq beginning in 2014, Irbil has struggled to The Iraqi advance all the way north to ut with the renewed prospect of central maintain services, pay civil servants, and Fishkhabour marks an escalation in government control over Fishkhabour care for refugees. Cutting off oil exports Baghdad’s pushback against the Kurdistan Band all the oil infrastructure there, Baghdadwould make that worse. Regional Government (KRG). Fishkhabour has regained the ability to shut down exports is in clearly undisputed Kurdish territories — from Kurdish fields in the north. That will “One of the pillars of [Iraqi Prime Minister] unlike the disputed city of Kirkuk, retaken give the government significant leverage in Haider al-Abadi’s rhetoric has been that he’s from Kurds by Iraqi federal forces in mid- future budget negotiations and might allow acting against an irresponsible and corrupt October. More importantly, Iraqi control of it to force the KRG back into a new revenue­ KRG leadership — but on behalf of the the border crossing and the oil pipeline there sharing agreement. Kurdish citizens of Iraq,” Heuvelen said. represents a serious threat to Kurdish auton­ omy. Without the billions of dollars generat­ “If the federal government controls “If he does something that tanks the Kurdish ed by exporting oil through that pipeline, the Fishkhabour and has the ability to turn off economy, that talking point becomes hol­ region in northern Iraq could never stand on the pipeline at its discretion, the KRG actual­ low,” he said. ♦ its own. ly has to work with Baghdad on the budget,” Heuvelen said. Rhys Dubin is an editorial fellow at “Going forward, Baghdad is trying to erode Foreign Policy. Before coming to FP, he the military and economic pillars of Kurdish Control over Fishkhabour also gives the worked for The Daily Star in Beirut cover­ autonomy,” said Ben Van Heuvelen, the edi­ Iraqi government insurance against a down­ ing defense, security, and Lebanese poli­ tor in chief of Iraq Oil Report. “Given the turn in its relations with Turkey, which has tics. His previous work and research new realities on the ground, the [KRG] does­ facilitated the export and payment of includes time spent in Iraq, Egypt, Jordan, n’t have the luxury of ignoring Baghdad any­ Kurdish crude to global markets. and Tunisia. more.” “The Iraqi government knows that if at some Oil was meant to set Irbil free. After years of point in the future [Turkish President Recep clashing with Baghdad over revenue sharing Tayyip] Erdogan changes his mind and turns

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SljC Wflüllington November 1, 2017

Israelis mainly of Kurdish ori­ Iraq’s parliament gin take part in a gathering out­ side the reinstates ban on American Embassy in Tel Aviv on Oct. 26. Israeli flag (Amir Cohen/Reuters) By Mustafa Salim and Tamer El-Ghobashy November 1, 2017 https://www.washingtonpost.com

AGHDAD — Iraq's parliament voted unanimously to activate a lap­ tivate a dormant law that imposes a criminal penalty on displaying the Bsed law that criminalizes displaying the Israeli flag in public, an Israeli flag. unexpected step that comes in response to a Kurdish bid to secede. He said "raising the Zionist entity flag" is a "dangerous phenome­ The move illustrates both the deep injury Iraq's Arab majority felt non." when the nation’s Kurds held an independence referendum last month Flying the flag during the Kurdish rallies "insulted the reputation of — and the resurgent Arab nationalism the vote has provoked. Iraq and its people considering that Israel is an enemy state to Iraq,” he Israel was the only country to publicly support the referendum for said in a phone interview with . an independent Kurdish state in northern Iraq that took place in Iraq doesn’t have diplomatic relations with Israel and has not been September. The move had been strenuously opposed by Baghdad, Iran, part of a recent effort by Israel and Arab nations including Egypt and Turkey and even the Kurds' closest ally, the United States. Saudi Arabia to normalize relations. In a show of gratitude for Israel’s support, Kurds proudly waved Khudary said the motion, which also bans promoting Zionism, recei­ large Israeli flags at massive rallies held ahead of the vote. Although it ved a unanimous vote. Iraq's cabinet will decide the appropriate crimi­ seemed unusual for the blue and white flag to appear so freely in a nal penalty for any breach of the law, he said. region largely hostile to Israel, for Kurds it was the continuation of a his­ Today's WorldView toric friendship. What's most important from where the world meets Washington Israel had long supported Kurdish uprisings against former Iraqi Israel’s flag has always been a rare sight in Iraq, except for one day dictator Saddam Hussein. per year. On Quds Day, or Jerusalem Day — which is observed on the last The open display of the Israeli flag at the Kurdish rallies in their Friday of the holy month of Ramadan — some Iraqis show support for semi-autonomous region grated on Arabs and even led to conspiracy­ the Palestinian cause by stomping on and burning Israeli flags. laden comments by some Iraqi and Iranian officials that the entire inde­ The practice was adopted from neighboring Iran, which declared the pendence movement was engineered by Israel to hasten the breakup of first Quds Day in 1979. Iraq. How the reactivated Iraqi law will impact the tradition is not clear.» Hamid al-Khudary, a lawmaker from a large Shiite bloc in Iraq's par­ liament, said he introduced a motion in the legislature Tuesday to reac­

ASHARQ AL-AWSAT 5 November 2017

Members of the Kurdish council in the region voiced their fears that Iraqi authorities Kurds Fear would continue the process of “Arabizing’’ the province amid the absence of a Kurdish gover­ nor and the unlikelihood that the post will be ‘’ filled any time soon. The Kurdish governor, Najmeddine Karim, had fled Kirkuk in wake of the Iraqi forces’ of Iraq’s October operation to regain control of the region. Kirkuk Council member Ahmed al-Askari told Kurdish media that the absence of this gover­ A member of Iraqi security forces takes down nor is being exploited once again by some sides the Kurdish flag in Kirkuk, Iraq. (Reuters) Al-Sulaimaniya - 5 November, to once again launch the “Arabization’’ policy 2017https://aawsat.com that was adopted by the previous regime of Saddam Hussein. actions of Karim. Asharq Al-Awsat could not confirm his t appears that the Iraqi federal authority's Turkman official Hassan Touran told claims of “Arabization.” recapturing of Kirkik from Kurdish control Asharq Al-Awsat: “We oppose any demographic “Baghdad has started the process and the Ihas not ended the disputes that have plagued change in the province, whether in government issued a decree allowing Arab the oil-rich region since the collapse of the ‘Arabization’ as practiced by the old regime or Shi’ites to transfer their jobs to Kirkuk,” Askari former regime. ‘Kurdization’ as adopted by the former gover­ said. Successive governments have failed to nor.” They have also been allowed to change resolve differences between the region’s popu­ He instead voiced his support for coexis­ their personal status to Kirkuk and allowed lation of Turkmen, Kurds and Arabs. Signs of a tence in the region, demanding that normaliza­ Kurds to transfer their status outside the pro­ new crisis erupting began to emerge with tion measures be put in place so that all locals vince, he continued. Kurds voicing their concern with Arabs and can live together in peace. • Turkmen officials in the province agreed Turkmen seizing public posts at their expense with the Kurdish view on the latest develop­ and with the support of the Iraqi government. ments in Kirkuk despite their opposition to the

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militants in clashes after the militants sought to cross the border into Hakkari REUTERS Turkish troops, province’s mountainous Semdinli district, the armed forces said in a state­ ment. It said six Turkish soldiers and two members of the country’s state-backed Kurdish militants clash village guard militia were killed in the fighting. A helicopter-backed operation was started in search of further PKK militants, near Iraqi border, 25 killed and Turkish warplanes later killed another 12 militants who were trying to escape across the border to northern Iraq, the military said. NOVEMBER 2,2017 DIYARBAKIR, TURKEY (REUTERS) Separately, President Tayyip Erdogan said another five PKK militants were killed in clashes in the southeastern province of Tunceli. TURKISH security forces killed 17 Kurdish militants near the bor­ He said the clashes in Turkey’s southeast were continuing. der between Iraq and southeast Turkey, the armed forces said on The PKK launched a separatist insurgency in 1984 and more than 40,000 Thursday, after eight members of Turkey’s security forces were people have been killed in the conflict. It is designated a terrorist group by killed in clashes. Turkey, the United States and European Union. • Early on Thursday, Turkish forces killed five Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK)

QjüiiiWüuiijl Jaiaj November 1, 2017 middle EHst nnlinEF Does Washington Have a Plan for the Partition of Syria? Trump is preoccupied with his domestic agenda. This might mean a propitious time for Erdogan to move into Syria, writes Tom Regan.

Middle East Online 2017-11-01 recent referendum on independence by Iraqi Kurds in the north. While http://www.middle-east-online.com/ this infuriated the government in Baghdad and perplexed Kurdish allies abroad, it's not hard to see a similar situation arising in Syria. ow that the fighting in Raqqa is down to clearing out a few pockets ome in the world of Washington think-tanks say the United States of Islamic State (ISIS) fighters the next important regional question is: needs to reward the Syrian Kurds for their courage in the fight against NWhat about the Kurds? ISIS. The United States, they say, should support (or How that question will be answered primarily depends on two men Rojava) as a federal region within Syria. Anything less would be conside­ with outsized egos and a disinclination to back down: US President red a betrayal by the Syrian Kurds and their allies abroad. This would Donald Trump and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan undoubtedly put the United States at odds with Erdogan, however. Relations between the United States and Turkey are at a low point US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson on October 26 said the United and the Syrian Kurds are caught in the middle. Erdogan considers the States sees no place for Syrian President Bashar Assad in the new Syria. Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD) and its military wing, the Kurdish Tillerson met with UN Syrian envoy Staffan de Mistura, who is expected People's Protection Units (YPG), extensions of the Kurdistan Workers' to reconvene peace talks following the SDF's success in Raqqa and gains Party (PKK). The latter is designated a terrorist organisation by Ankara by the Syrian regime's Russian-backed forces. Tillerson said the discus­ and Washington. sions were "fruitful" but his comments on Assad are unlikely to be recei­ The United States has supported the PYD and the YPG as part of the ved well by Russia or Iran. Turkey, however, has no love lost for Assad. Syrian Defence Forces (SDF) because they have been the only fighters The funny thing is that this moment might not have happened if capable of defeating the Islamic State (ISIS) and recapturing Raqqa. That Erdogan had not been so adamant about getting rid of Assad's regime was the number one concern for the United States. instead of simply defeating ISIS. In 2014, the United States approached What happens next with the Kurds? him with a plan to work together. It suggested the creation of an anti-ISIS The YPG will be reluctant to surrender territory captured during the force minus the Kurds but Erdogan insisted on a no-fly zone over sections Syrian conflict. That would enrage Erdogan, who doesn't want an inde­ of Syria as part of his anti-Assad plan, causing the United States to back pendent Kurdish entity on Turkey's border. Many of Erdogan's supporters out of the deal and turn to the YPG for military reasons say the United States and Russia have a secret plan to support the crea­ Now, the situation is very different: ISIS is all but defeated, Tillerson tion of a Kurdish state. It would be a "second Israel," they think, which is may have said "no Assad" but almost no one else is talking about how to why Erdogan's domestic constituency wants him to send troops into Syria actually remove him and the Kurds are in a difficult position. It's hard to and Iraq to deal with this threat as soon as possible. say how long Erdogan will ignore his supporters' demands to send Experts in Washington say the US response to any such move by Turkish forces into Syria and Iraq. If he decides to go into Syria, Erdogan Turkey would depend on two factors: The future of US military bases in risks a massive falling out with the United States and bad blood with Turkey, such as Incirlik near Adana, and Trump's mood, which can change Russia. several times in one day. Trump does not like being directly challenged However, if Erdogan is going to continue to push back against the on foreign policy issues. His war with North Korea's Kim Jong-un United States, he'll need Russian support as a counterbalance so the next is a case in point. move may be up to the Syrian Kurds. Watch what they do in the coming hile Erdogan and Trump have publicly been cordial, it's not clear few weeks. That will foreshadow what happens next between Turkey and how the US president would respond to a direct challenge from the the United States. • Turkish leader. Would Trump be unconcerned about an important mili­ Tom Regan, a columnist at factsandopinion.com, previously worked for the Christian Science Monitor, National Public Radio, the Boston Globe and the tary base in Turkey? Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. He is the former executive director of the Trump, however, is preoccupied with his domestic agenda, not least Online News Association and was a Nieman Fellow at Harvard in 1992. the passing of tax-reform legislation. For Erdogan, this might mean it is a Copyright ©2017 The Arab Weekly propitious time to move into Syria. As for what the Kurds may want, we probably need only look to the

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|p" p ^^NovembeM^017

(gjneujs ‘General Soleimani Had Warned Erbil of Referendum Consequences’ IRAN FRONT PAGE / November 1, 2017 http://ifpnews.com

A SENIOR Kurdish diplomat has revealed that Commander of the IRGC Quds Force Major General Qassem Soleimani had warned the He added that the Iranian side had warned the Kurds not to hold an Iraqi Kurdish officials of the consequences of their independence refe­ independence referendum because all powers will stand united against rendum. the Iraqi Kurdistan region, Fars reported. Nazim Dabagh, the representative of the Iraqi Kurdistan Regional According to Dabagh, the Iranian side also told the KRG officials and Government (KRG) in Tehran, recently disclosed that General Soleimani Kurdish groups that Tehran wants the Iraqi Kurds' achievements to be headed meetings with local delegations in Iraqi Kurdistan region ahead maintained within the framework of the Iraqi constitution. of the Kurdish referendum. He lauded General Soleimani and other Iranian officials' efforts to “General Soleimani also had several private meetings with Masoud help the Kurds, and said, “We always need relations and friendship of Barzani, the president, and Nechirvan Barzani, the prime minister of the Iran.” • Iraqi Kurdistan region and the leaders of other parties, including Change (Goran) party,’’ Dabagh said on Sunday.

NOVEMBER 3, 2017 Kurdish street name changed to Turkmen in Kirkuk Sangar Ali Sangar Ali | November 03-2017 ww w.kur d istan24 .net

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan 24) - On Thursday, Turkmen gathered in the street of Shahid (Martyr) Sherko Shwani in Kirkuk and changed the name to a Turkmen martyr's name, Sehit Dr. Yildrim Demirci. Turkmen gathered in the street of Shahid (Martyr) Sherko Shwani in Kirkuk and changed the name to a Turkmen martyr 'Sehit Dr. The people who gathered in the area were the supporters of Yildrim Demirci', November 3, 2017. (Photo: Social Media) Front party and Turkmen members of the Iranian- backed Shia Hashd al-Shaabi militia also known as Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), locals told Kurdistan 24. Region and north of Iraq. It is a diverse province with different ethnic The street is located in the center of the diverse city where Kurds and religious background, including Kurds, Turkmen, Arabs, and are a majority and have historical claims to the land. Christians. was the leading opposition party who lob­ Following the fall of Kirkuk, Kurdistan national flag, posters of bied in Baghdad against the inclusion of Kirkuk Province in Sep. 25 Peshmerga fighters fallen in defending Kirkuk along with other signs referendum for independence in the Kurdistan Region. They also that link the area to the Kurdistan Region were destroyed, and Iraqi complained in Baghdad court against raising Kurdistan national flag Turkmen Front party and Iraqi flags were instead raised. on all the public offices in Kirkuk. In a recent visit to Turkey, the party leaders met with the Turkish Following the fall of Kirkuk on October 16 which was attacked by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and called for more support in their the Iraqi forces and the PMF, Kurdistan flag was brought down by the alleged effort to recognize the city as a Turkmen region. militia, Iraqi forces, and supporters of the Turkmen Front party. Due to the October attack on Kirkuk, over 100,000 people have The Turkmen People’s Party spokesman on October 17 also slam­ been displaced to Erbil and Sulaimani, among them are Kurds, med the Iraqi Turkmen Front and PMF militia for looting their party Turkmen, Christians, and Arabs. ♦ offices and members’ houses in Kirkuk. Kirkuk is an oil-rich province located in the south of the Kurdistan

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3 novembre 2017 L'appel au secours des derniers fidèles français du Kurdistan

AVEC LES KURDES, PLUS QUE JAMAIS! RASSEMBLEMENT DE SOLIDARITÉ AVEC LE KURDISTAN IRAKIEN CE JEUDI 2 NOVEMBRE À 20HOO

AU CINÉMA LE SAINT-GERMAIN

Projection du film La bataille de Mossoul de Bernard-Henri Lévy, suivie de prises de parole par CAROLINE FOUREST ANNE HIDALGO, le général HAJAR AUMAR ISMAIL. BERNARD KOUCHNER BERNARD-HENRI LÉVY KENDAL NEZAN et MANUEL VALLS

RACISME, L'UEJF, LLE-MIITERRANO-FRANCE LIBERTÉS, coupable ae vouloir eire moepenaantau terme de cent ans («resistance contre toutes les tyrannies, le Kurdistan, qui fut en première ligne laceàDaech. est attaqué et asphyxié parses puissants voisins, Irak. Iran.Turqjie.llestabandonnéàson sort parses amisd'hier. Etats-Unis en tête, dontles chars Abramsont permis aux divisions irakienneset aux milices iraniennes venues deTéhéran de s'emparer de Kirkouk. le poumon du pays.Et l'Europe, quant à elle, assiste sans mot dire à l'écrasement d'un rêve séculaire, au blocus aérien et terrestre d'un Forte mobilisation pour Kurdes au Cinéma St-Germain (uyantDaech. Face à cette tragédie qui rappelle lespiresabandons de l'histoire européenne du dernier siècle,c'est aux amis du Droit et de que jamais, son am fié et son soutien doivent peser dans la bataille de l'opinion et pousser à ce que l Europe dise slop aux agresseurs. Entrée libre dans la limite des places disponibles. Il est recommandé de réserver ([email protected]) CINEMA LE SAINT-GERMAIII22 RUE GUILLAUME-APOILINAIRE 75006 PARIS

Texte par Sylvain ATTAL - 03/11/2017 http://www.france24.com

À Paris, un dernier groupe de fidèles de la cause kurde a lancé jeudi soir un appel à briser l'encerclement et à ren­ dre justice aux combattants qui ont été les fers de lance de la défaite des jihadistes du groupe État islamique. © Christophe Caudroy I Bernard-Henri C'est le dernier carré des amis du Kurdistan. Ou plutôt un carré à cinq, un pentagone, donc Lévy et Manuel Valls au cinéma Le Saint- : Bernard-Henri Lévy, Bernard Kouchner, Germain des-Prés le 2 novembre 2017. compagnon de la première heure, aîné des Pour Bernard Kouchner, il existe un réel "french doctors" et ancien ministre des "amour", entre la France et le Kurdistan, Affaires étrangères, auxquels sont venus puissances qui, il y a encore quelques dont il faut entretenir la flamme. © s'adjoindre l'essayiste Caroline Fourest, l'an­ semaines, louaient le courage des peshmer- Christophe Caudroy cien Premier ministre Manuel Valls et la ga, ces combattants kurdes seuls à combat­ maire de Paris Anne Hidalgo. Ces cinq-là ont tre au sol les jihadistes de l'organisation État pris la parole jeudi 2 novembre dans une salle islamique (El), et à les défaire. se retrouvent seuls, abandonnés par ceux qui de cinéma pleine à craquer de Saint- se disaient leurs alliés contre l'EI. États-Unis Germain-des-Prés. Ce sont les derniers "VIP" Un réel amour de la France en tête. Mais cette fois-ci plus encore, les à se révolter contre la lâcheté des grandes À peine avaient-ils ouvert la voie à l'armée Kurdes ont cru aux louanges des irakienne pour qu’elle entre en libératrice Occidentaux, et que le fait de les débarrasser du cancer de l'EI au nom de valeurs démoc­ dans Mossoul, la deuxième ville du pays, et juste avant que les Kurdes syriens ne chas­ ratiques communes leur vaudrait enfin reconnaissance de leurs droits nationaux sent l'EI de leur "capitale" Raqqa, la même armée irakienne, appuyée par les milices chi­ mentionnés depuis 1920 par le traité de Sèvres. Une fois de plus, ils ont le sentiment ites entraînées et financées par Téhéran, se d'avoir été trahis. jetait sur Kirkouk que les Kurdes, minés par une trahison interne, devaient abandonner Autour de ces derniers défenseurs de la quasiment sans combattre. Depuis, la province autonome du Kurdistan irakien, cause kurde, et du président de l'Institut kurde de Paris Kendal Nezan, des militants réduite à son territoire d'origine, se trouve complètement coupée du monde. Son kurdes brandissant leurs couleurs, des intel­ lectuels français, quelques élus parisiens espace aérien, fermé par le gouvernement aussi, tous venus rappeler, avec Bernard central de Bagdad, comme ses frontières ter­ Kouchner, qu'il existe un réel "amour", entre la Anne HIDALGO : "Non, Paris ne laissera restres. France et le Kurdistan, dont il faut entretenir pas tomber les Kurdes" Ce n'est pas la première fois que les Kurdes la flamme. Manuel Valls, face à Anne =>

11 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Ozeti

=> Hidalgo, fruit de la même histoire famil­ port de forces diplomatique, il a sans doute iale, a évoqué, lui, le souvenir douloureux du servi de prétexte à une offensive conjointe et Front populaire qui n'intervint pas en planifiée de tous ceux qui ne veulent pas d'un Espagne pour défendre les républicains face Kurdistan irakien indépendant, à commencer au danger fasciste. par la Turquie et l'Iran. Offensive du reste assez contenue. Car si Kirkouk, où les milices Quand les États-Unis laissent l'Iran tirer les chiites se sont livrées à des massacres et à marrons du feu alors que, par ailleurs, Donald des pillages, n'a pas été défendue, les Kurdes Trump ne cesse de dénoncer la menace tiennent fermement la frontière sur laquelle régionale que constitue Téhéran, on se perd ils se sont repliés. en conjecture. Quand le gouvernement français tente de défendre coûte que coûte la Les 94 % de "oui" à l'indépendance actent la fiction d’un Irak fédéral uni, il faut bien que volonté des Kurdes de rompre avec Bagdad. quelques-uns, dans la grande tradition Bernard-Henri Lévy à dénoncé la "saloperie" française des intellectuels d'action, se du parallèle fait avec le référendum catalan, dressent contre cette "capitulation sans car en aucun point les deux situations ne précédent" (BHL), dénoncent l'attitude "diplo­ sont comparables. Et Kendal Nezan relève matique assez méprisante" de la France que la cour fédérale de Bagdad, qui fait office (Kouchner) et le feu vert donné par la coali­ de Cour suprême, n'a pas été en mesure de Général Hajar Aumar Ismaïl tion internationale à l'Iran pour qu'elle condamner ce vote comme anticonstitution­ repousse les Kurdes. nel. Les Kurdes sont déterminés à continuer à se battre pour sortir de cette "union libre" l'encerclement du Kurdistan pour assister à La "saloperie" du parallèle avec la Catalogne qu'est l'Irak. Et ce n'est pas le comportement cette "soirée de combat" : "Nous avons com­ des Irakiens à Kirkouk qui y changera quoi battu Saddam Hussein, nous avons triomphé Quant à la question du référendum organisé que ce soit. de l'EI, maintenant c'est le tour des chiites. Le par le président kurde Massoud Barzani, crime reste le crime. Les visages changent, auquel on a reproché une absence de réal­ Clou de la soirée, l'intervention du général mais la culture, la mentalité restent les isme et une mauvaise appréciation du rap­ peshmerga Hajar Ismail, qui a pu déjouer mêmes." ♦

Marianne 10 novembre 2017 mais au moins son désir de liberté ? Comme l’ont répété Pour les Kurdes les amis des Kurdes, Frédéric Tissot, Bernard Henri-Lévy CAROLINE FOUREST ou Bernard Kouchner, « ce n’est jamais le bon moment. Marianne Magazine 10 Nov 2017 Et toujours le moment ». www.marianne.net/ Tout le monde pressentait qu’une fois Raqqa libéré, le a trahison de nos alliés kurdes annonce bien pire monde abandonnerait les qu’un reniement. Une défaite. Malgré tout ce qui L Kurdes à leur sort : un tuteur les différencie et souvent les oppose, les Kurdes de Syrie et d’Irak se sont Mobilisation pro-référendum sur irakien qui n’a jamais respec­ battus contre Daech, pour nous, au nom des mêmes valeurs. En Syrie, les l'indépendance du Kurdistan à Erbil. té les accords prévus par le glorieuses guerrières des YPJ et leurs frères d’armes des YPG portent un septembre 2017(AFP) Constitution. Erbil était projet à l’opposé du drapeau noir de l’obscurantisme : égalitaire, écolo­ même convaincu que Bagdad giste et laïque. planifiait cette reconquête depuis des mois. D’où cette course contre la montre pour arracher un oui à l’indépendance, franc et massif, avant Malgré tous les risques de dogmatisme inhérents aux utopies, cette poche d’entamer une négociation. Au lieu de quoi, Bagdad a envoyé ses milices du Rojava a le mérite inouï de planter une graine d’espoir dans un désert et ses chars - fournis par l’armée américaine pour écraser Daech - rouler sans avenir. Elle permet de croire à un projet alternatif au choix mortel sur les peshmergas. Leurs chenilles se sont arrêtées à quelques kilomètres entre dictature nationaliste ou islamisme. Cette herbe folle qui stérilise d’Erbil. Un coup de force pour imposer une unité irakienne à laquelle l’ancien grenier à blé du monde depuis des décennies. A quelques kilo­ plus personne ne croit. Les tanks n’ont jamais conquis les coeurs. Ils ne mètres de là, les dirigeants du Kurdistan irakien ont parfois les défauts feront pas oublier les 92,7 % en faveur de l’indépendance du Kurdistan. des indépendantistes devenus hommes d’affaires. Mais alentour, tout le Ce chiffre demeure dans les esprits, tel une prise de guerre, enfermé dans monde reconnaît qu’ils ont su faire prospérer autour d’Erbil, l’une des un coffre de l’histoire. Pour l’ouvrir, il faudra la révolte de l’opinion inter­ seules régions de l’ancienne Mésopotamie où il fait bon vivre. nationale et une nouvelle génération de leaders kurdes, animés d’un nou­ vel esprit d’union. Si la plus grande diaspora du monde n’a toujours pas Ce n’est pas un hasard si des Arabes et des Turkmènes de Kirkouk ont de nation ou de confédération, c’est aussi à cause de ses divisions - à la voté en faveur du oui à l’indépendance. La plupart des sunnites des « ter­ fois culturelles, économiques et politiques - qui l’empêchent de faire front ritoires disputés » préfèrent vivre sous une démocratie kurde que sous la face aux deux puissances prêtes à briser le rêve kurde : l’Iran et la tutelle chiite de Bagdad, allié à Téhéran. Les voilà désormais à la merci Turquie. des milices chiites, dirigées par un général iranien, venues aider l’armée irakienne à récupérer la ville et ses puits de pétrole. Rien n’est plus inquiétant que cette alliance entre le régime des mollahs, décidé à tracer un arc chiite jusqu’à la mer, et Recep Tayyip Erdogan, se Les peshmergas qui avaient vaillamment défendu Kirkouk face à Daech prenant pour le nouveau calife. L’Amérique, qui a perdu la tête en élisant l’ont rendu sans combattre. Par peur de verser un sang inutile. Le rapport Trump, laisse faire. Au bord d’une fitna - un schisme, une division - sans de force était perdu d’avance. Mais c’est une branche de l’Union patrio­ précédent, le monde se retrouve sans gendarme et sans garde-fou, plus tique du Kurdistan (PUK) qui a permis d’ouvrir les portes de la ville, en instable que jamais. Que fera l’Europe, déchirée de l’intérieur ? Et la échange d’un marchandage peu glorieux. Trahi de toutes parts, Massoud France ? Notre honneur serait de réclamer la reconnaissance du Barzani annonce prendre du champ. Beaucoup lui en veulent d’avoir Kurdistan au Conseil de sécurité. Laisser nos alliés de coeur se faire porté ce référendum au risque d’échouer. dévorer ne nous amènera pas la paix. Ce signal de faiblesse ne fera qu’en­ graisser l’ogre de l’après-Daech. Or il nous menace aussi. • Y avait-il meilleur moment pour réclamer non pas son indépendance,

12 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Ozeti

November 2, 2017 Syria conflict: What do the US, Russia, Turkey and Iran want? Syria's complex and devastating civil war has drawn in multiple foreign powers since it broke out Turkey has sent ground forces into northern Syria to fight against IS in 2011. DW examines where four key countries and Kurdish opposition troops stand on the conflict. broad consensus among Syria's moderate factions that would allow Assad to remain in power. It has also hinted it may support limited autonomy for Author Alexander Pearson / 02.11.2017 opposition forces in certain regions within Syria. http://www.dw.com - Which peace talks it supports: While supporting the Geneva negotiations, Moscow has also sponsored talks between the Syrian government and the UNITED STATES opposition in Astana, Kazakhstan that began in January 2017. Iran and Turkey are also parties to the talks. The Astana process strives to create "de- - Who it supports: Washington had given moderate rebel factions fighting confliction zones" that can reduce violence and pave the way for political against government forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad weapons and talks. military training, but ended military aid in July. More recently, the US has pro­ vided air support and weapons to the (SDF), an TURKEY alliance of Kurdish and Arab forces fighting against "Islamic State" (IS) mili­ - Who it supports: From the start of the , Turkey has been one tants in northern Syria. Several hundred US special forces are deployed of the main backers of the . Turkey has fought alongside alongside the SDF. Separately, the US backs Syrian rebels fighting IS and has non-Kurdish factions in the Syrian opposition including the Free a base in al-Tanf, near the Iraqi border. (FSA). - Who it's fighting against: The US has been leading an international coalition - Who it's fighting against: Ankara conducted airstrikes against IS targets as of nearly 60 countries, including Germany, targeting IS and other extremist part of the US-led coalition. It has also carried out unilateral airstrikes against groups with airstrikes since late 2014. The US has largely avoided direct con­ Kurdish opposition forces in northern Syria and sent ground forces into Syria flict with pro-regime forces, but in April US President Donald Trump ordered to fight IS and Kurdish forces as part of the Turkish-led operation known as airstrikes on a Syrian airbase in response to a government chemical weapons "Euphrates Shield." As part of a "de-confliction zone" agreed to with Russia attack against civilians. and Iran, Turkey has also moved into Idlib province alongside rebels it backs. - What it wants: The US has remained steadfast in trying to destroy IS in Syria - What it wants: Ankara wants to block Syrian Kurdish territorial gains and and Iraq. But its intentions on other issues have become unclear. Trump told prevent them from gaining autonomy in any post-war settlement. Turkey reporters in Septemberthat the US has "very little to do with Syria otherthan says that Syrian Kurdish fighters are tied to the Kurdistan Workers' Party killing IS." But in July, it had been deeply involved in brokering a ceasefire (PKK), which has fought a more than three decade war in Turkey. Ankara also between government and opposition forces. The new administration has wants to defeat IS and other extremist groups that have committed terrorist also given conflicting signals as to whether the US would oppose a peace attacks on Turkish soil. Recently, Turkish leaders have been ambivalent on deal keeping Assad in power. Trump's predecessor, Barack Obama, had said whether Assad should be allowed to stay in power in a final peace deal. that "Assad must go" for any peace deal to work. The US also seeks to block - Which peace talks it supports: Turkey has been heavily involved in the Iran and the Lebanese Shiite militia Hezbollah from establishing permanent Geneva talks and has co-sponsored the Astana negotiations. It has staunchly presence in Syria that could threaten Israel. opposed Kurdish factions attending peace talks. - Which peace talks it supports: Washington has supported UN peace talks IRAN held in Geneva since 2012 between representatives from the Assad govern­ ment and the Syrian opposition. But those talks have so far failed to reach a - Who it supports: Tehran has supported the Assad government since at least breakthrough. Both sides have disagreed about whether Assad's departure 2012, giving the regime extensive military aid in the form of training, should be a precondition for any final settlement. weapons and intelligence sharing. It has also deployed Iran's elite military force, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), and Shiite militia from RUSSIA across the region. Its ally Hezbollah in Lebanon is also a major backer of the - Who it supports: Moscow has long backed the Assad regime. It has provided Assad regime. government troops with air support and weapons and given it diplomatic - Who it's fighting against: Iran has directly and indirectly been fighting backing at the UN and in international peace talks. Russia also has troops on against both moderate and extremist factions in the Syrian opposition, as the ground. well as IS. - Who it's fighting against: Russia first intervened in Syria in October 2015 - What it wants: Syria has long been Iran's chief ally in the Middle East. when it started airstrikes against "terrorist" targets. While Moscow has said it Propping up Assad ensures an ally against Iran's regional rivals, Israel and is targeting IS and other terrorist groups, US officials have repeatedly coun­ Saudi Arabia. Tehran also needs Syria to transport weapons to Hezbollah, tered that claim by saying Russian airstrikes are primarily directed against which also opposes Israel, in neighboring Lebanon. Iran's larger goal is to cre­ non-IS rebel forces fighting the Assad government. The Kremlin, meanwhile, ate a land corridor extending from Iran to Lebanon through Iraq and Syria. has accused the US of using its campaign against IS as a way to slow Russian and Syrian government military advances. - Which peace talks it supports: Iran joined the Geneva peace talks in November 2015 after the US dropped its longstanding opposition to Iranian - What it wants: Moscow wants to keep Assad - its closest ally in the Middle involvement. Tehran has also sponsored the Astana peace talks along with East - in powerand secure its military influence in the region. It has an impor­ Turkey and Russia. • tant military airbase in the western province of Latakia and a naval base in the Syrian port city of Tartus. Russian leaders support a peace deal with

13 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Ozeti c BROOKINGS November 3, 2017 The U.S. and Kurdistan: Revise and rebuild after Kirkuk

Ranj Alaaldin November 3,2017 https://www.brookings.edu

he Kurdistan Regional Government’s (KRG) loss of Kirkuk province to Baghdad this month, along with a string of other territories in nor­ Tthern Iraq, has shifted the pendulum in Kurdistan from one of jubilation and defiance to despair and uncertainty. Kurdish autonomy is not in doubt, but the balance of power has moved in Baghdad’s favor. U.S. relations with the KRG have also taken a serious blow as a result of Washington’s acquiescence to the Kirkuk offensive, which was aimed at bolstering Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi’s position and sidelining Iran-aligned factions ahead of next year’s elections.

As the dust settles from the Kirkuk crisis, the United States and Kurdistan must revise and rebuild their relationship quickly, for the sake of American, Kurdish, and Iraqi interests. While Washington’s green light for the Kirkuk attempts to prevent ISIS and its ilk from mounting a resurrection in the offensive has hurt relations with the KRG, the damage is not irreparable. coming years. In the interim, to salvage the historical alliance between The decision by Masoud Barzani, the longtime KRG president, to step Kurdistan and the United States, Washington should establish—and down from his role was welcomed by the State Department. This creates an enforce—red lines that prevent Baghdad from making further advances opportunity for Washington to work more closely with KRG Prime toward the undisputed Kurdish border area of Faysh Khabur, which Minister Nechirvan Barzani (Masoud Barzani’s nephew) and Qubad Baghdad wants to control in order to economically suffocate the KRG. Talabani, Kurdistan’s deputy prime minister. Still, the United States has a That could trigger another civil war that reverses U.S. security gains in long way to go before American credibility is fully restored after an recent years and opens up space for Iran to exert its influence and fill the episode that will dominate the Kurdish political outlook for years to come. gap left by the absence of American leadership. Kurdistan and the United States must revise their traditional relationship to or their part, Iraq’s Kurds must look closer to home and collectively conform with the increasingly transactional and less values-based nature of engage in a long, arduous, but worthwhile journey of institution-buil­ U.S. foreign policy today. The Kurds can no longer pin their ambitions on Fding and political reform to enhance self-sufficiency as well as the KRG’s the United States at a time when the country itself is in upheaval over the political and security structures. The Kurdish leadership has few choices shape and definition of America’s engagements abroad. Kurdistan must other than to go back to the drawing board. With technical, political, and learn what others in the region learned the hard way after the turmoil that financial support from the international community, including the United followed the Arab uprisings and the Syrian civil war, without the same suf­ States, it should focus its energy and resources toward institution-building fering and colossal humanitarian consequences. The United States will no and good governance practices, including reconciliation between rival longer invest in policing the region, much less shaping and enforcing a Kurdish parties. The biggest challenge facing the Kurds is a crisis of inter­ regional order that could be conducive to Kurdish statehood. nal sovereignty and heightened tensions between its political parties— Barzani’s Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and the Patriotic Union of U.S. policymakers should take stock of the fall-out from their ineffectual Kurdistan (PUK), its historic rival with whom it clashed throughout the signaling around the Kurds’ aspirations for independence. While 1990s. Washington stressed its opposition to the referendum, its heavy emphasis on the war against ISIS and the centrality of the Kurdish Peshmerga, as The KDP and PUK will reconcile, as they have done before, and there are well as military facilities and political investments in Kurdistan, led to cal­ arbiters within the two rival parties that have long-standing, ongoing inter­ culations that the United States would not permit a military offensive actions that can ensure tensions do not escalate into another intra-Kurdish against the Peshmerga. At least, there were genuine and not entirely unrea­ civil war. While the KDP managed to organize its rivals around a unified sonable assumptions that the United States would mediate tensions. front for the referendum, party leaders must now realize that simply man­ aging the fragmented political climate and the competing power centers ashington could have helped Baghdad and Erbil navigate the volatile between and within Kurdistan’s main parties is no longer sustainable. It is post-referendum climate, but it instead provided carte blanche that only through championing and implementing serious political reform that Wthe Iraqi government then exploited effectively, with support from regional Kurdistan can overcome internal divisions and, potentially, once again powers. In the years to come, the United States may rue these choices and make a push for independence in the coming years. the way it handled its relationship with the Kurds and Baghdad. A stronger Kurdistan can also help build a stronger Iraq that advances the Moving forward, there is still a relationship of interdependency based interests of the region and the international community. Evaluating and re­ around mutual security and geopolitical interests, and the United States and defining the nexus between Erbil and Baghdad could allow for a common the Kurds remain linked by a convergence of interests ahead of parliamen­ national framework that revives the relationship between citizen and state. tary elections next year. In particular, al-Abadi cannot emerge victorious This will require that equitable, just, and sustained power-sharing arrange­ from next year’s parliamentary elections and continue at the helm without ments become firmly entrenched within Iraq’s fragile political system. KRG support, which has been central to the government formation process Otherwise, aspirations for Kurdish statehood will continue to disrupt and in Baghdad since 2003 and has often played the role of kingmaker. The divide an Iraqi state that has a plethora of other challenges ahead, some multiple other factions in Baghdad are either too weak or too malevolent existential and generational. ■ for U.S. purposes. Ranj Alaaldin is Visiting Fellow at the Brookings Doha Center. He was previous­ ly a Visiting Scholar at Columbia University and has worked on conflict resolu­ Losing the Kurds will result in a weakened American hand in Baghdad and tion and institution-building in the Middle East with the Next Century the rest of Iraq, where it will continue to contest regional powers like Iran Foundation, a Track II diplomacy organization. for influence and where the United States will continue to be engaged as it

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Aff> Bagdad accuse les Kurdes de renier l'accord sur leur retrait de zones disputées

BAGDAD, 1 NOVEMBRE 2017 (AFP) "Les forces du Kurdistan sont postées sur leurs lignes de défense mais nous n'hésiterons pas à défendre la vie et les intérêts du peuple kurde", poursuit le LE PREMIER MINISTRE irakien Haider al-Abadi a accusé mercredi les texte qui plaide pour un dialogue politique entre les deux parties. autorités kurdes d'avoir renié l'accord sur le retrait de leurs forces de Hemin Hawrami, un conseiller du leader kurde Massoud Barzani contraint à zones disputées, tandis que l'armée dénonçait des mouvements mili­ renoncer à la présidence de la région autonome, a accusé auparavant Bagdad taires visant à empêcher son redéploiement d'"escalade contre le Kurdistan". Dimanche soir, au terme de deux jours de discussions, commandants kurdes "Le gouvernement irakien n'a pas de considération pour le dialogue", a-t-il et irakiens s'étaient accordés sur un retrait des peshmergas de zones du nord encore écrit sur Twitter, évoquant le "grondement des tambours de guerre au irakien, notamment un poste-frontière proche de la Turquie et de la Syrie. Kurdistan". Mais les Kurdes "sont revenus sur cet accord", a affirmé M. Abadi aux journa­ Le 25 septembre, M. Barzani organisait en grandes pompes un référendum listes. "S'ils ne se conforment pas (à l'accord), nous allons faire ce que nous d'indépendance. voulons, et si nos forces se retrouvent la cible de tirs, nous allons leur montrer Depuis, la crise n'a cessé de s'envenimer entre Erbil et Bagdad. Le 16 octobre, la force de la loi", a-t-il encore menacé. les forces gouvernementales et paramilitaires irakiennes sont entrées en mou­ Cet accord avait été rendu possible par une trêve accordée par Bagdad après vement pour reprendre l'ensemble des zones disputées, c'est-à-dire récla­ une journée de violents combats à l'artillerie lourde. Les troupes des deux mées à la fois par le gouvernement régional kurde et Bagdad. camps sont toutefois toujours déployées dans l'attente d'un ordre de retrait ou Ces zones dépendent, selon la Constitution, du pouvoir central de Bagdad de reprise des combats. mais leur statut doit encore être discuté au cours de négociations à venir. Le Commandement conjoint des opérations (JOC), qui chapeaute l'ensemble Depuis l'invasion américaine de 2003 et dans le sillage du chaos créé en 2014 des forces irakiennes, a affirmé que "durant toute la durée des négociations, le par la percée jihadiste, les peshmergas en avaient de fait pris le contrôle. Kurdistan a procédé à des mouvements de troupes et construit de nouvelles En deux semaines, Bagdad a repris le contrôle de leur quasi-totalité dans le lignes de défense pour ralentir le déploiement des troupes fédérales et leur but de revenir à la "ligne bleue" de 2003, qui limite le Kurdistan irakien aux trois infliger pertes et dégâts". provinces de Dohouk (nord-ouest), Erbil (nord) et Souleimaniyeh (nord-est), Le ministère des peshmergas (combattants kurdes) a jugé plus tard dans la selon le porte-parole de M. Abadi, Saad al-Hadithi. • soirée les demandes du JOC "contraires à la Constitution" et "irréalistes". Il a également "rejeté" dans un communiqué les accusations du JOC concer­ nant une avancée des troupes kurdes.

Aff Turquie: un an après l'arrestation de son chef, le parti prokurde résiste

ANKARA, 3 NOVEMBRE 2017 (AFP) pour novembre de la même année, le HDP a perdu 21 députés. La percée initiale du HDP tient en grande partie à la personnalité de M. UN AN APRÈS l'arrestation de son charismatique chef de file Selahattin Demirtas, qui a transformé le parti en une formation de gauche moderne et pro­ Demirtas, le principal parti prokurde de Turquie refuse de jeter l'éponge, gressiste, séduisant bien au-delà du seul électorat kurde. mais aura fort à faire pour rester une force majeure d'opposition au pré­ Avocat de formation, moderne et charismatique, M. Demirtas s'est révélé sur sident Recep Tayyip Erdogan. la scène nationale lors de l'élection présidentielle de 2014, où il a frôlé les 10% M. Demirtas a été arrêté avec une dizaine d'autres députés du Parti démocra­ et s'est imposé comme le principal rival de M. Erdogan. tique des peuples (HDP) le 4 novembre 2016, alors que les purges lancées Mais les arrestations au sein du HDP mettent le parti dans une situation déli­ après le coup d'Etat manqué du 15 juillet 2016 s'étendaient aux milieux cri­ cate en vue des élections municipales, législatives et présidentielle prévues en tiques et prokurdes. 2019. Accusé d'être membre et de faire de la propagande pour le Parti des travail­ Le parti croit toutefois pouvoir surmonter ces obstacles, même si certains son­ leurs du Kurdistan (PKK), organisation classée "terroriste" par Ankara et ses dages indiquent qu'il pourrait ne pas atteindre le seuil des 10% nécessaire aux alliés occidentaux, M. Demirtas, 44 ans, risque jusqu'à 142 ans d'emprisonne­ législatives pour entrer au Parlement. ment. "Demirtas est en prison, mais il ne se tait pas. Il est en prison, mais il écrit", Le gouvernement "essaie de mettre fin au parti. Mais il n'y arrivera pas", a souligne ainsi Mme Kerestecioglu. "Demirtas est en prison, mais ses propos déclaré à l'AFP Serpil Kemalbay, nommée en mai co-présidente du parti pour continuent de toucher les gens." succéder à Figen Yüksekdag, qui co-dirigeait le HDP avec M. Demirtas et a été arrêtée avec lui. L'universitaire Burak Bilgehan Ôzpek, auteur de "The Peace Process between Turkey and the Kurds: Anatomy of a Failure" (Routledge, à paraître) explique Le HDP, troisième formation au Parlement turc, a toujours nié tout lien avec la que "Demirtas attirait principalement un électorat non-kurde et libéral", qui a rébellion armée kurde, affirmant être ciblé par les autorités pour son opposition voté pour le HDP "par stratégie pour affaiblir l'AKP". farouche au président Erdogan. "Sans Demirtas, on peut s'attendre à ce que le HDP adopte un programme eth­ Actuellement, neuf députés du HDP sont en prison, selon les chiffres du parti. nique et radical", ajoute-t-il. Cinq de ses 59 députés élus en novembre 2015 ont également été déchus de leur mandat, dont Mme Yüksekdag, et 55 d'entre eux font l'objet d'une ou plu­ Mais pour Aykan Erdemir, analyste à la Fondation pour la Défense de la démo­ sieurs enquêtes. cratie basé à Washington, "Demirtas pourrait se révéler être un porte-parole encore plus puissant pour la cause kurde depuis sa cellule de prison". En outre, depuis la rupture à l'été 2015 d'un cessez-le-feu avec le PKK qui visait à mettre fin à un conflit qui a fait plus de 40.000 morts depuis 1984, plus Depuis son incarcération dans la prison d'Edirne (nord-ouest), M. Demirtas a de 4.500 membres et sympathisants du HDP ont été incarcérés à travers le publié un poème -interdit car considéré comme de la "propagande terroriste"- pays, selon le parti. - et un recueil de nouvelles, "Seher" ("Aurore") paru mi-septembre et dont un premier tirage à 20.000 exemplaires s'est épuisé en trois jours, selon sa mai­ Pour Filiz Kerestecioglu, co-cheffe du groupe parlementaire HDP, cette forma­ son d'édition Dipnot, qui l'a réédité depuis. tion est "le seul vrai parti d'opposition". Les autorités, dit-elle, s'efforcent de le "criminaliser" par tous les moyens et de le priver d'espace médiatique. En résumé, sourit Mme Kerestecioglu, "il n'est pas facile de faire taire Demirtas". • - RIVAL D'ERDOGAN - Le HDP avait créé la surprise lors des élections législatives de juin 2015, raflant 80 sièges et privant ainsi le Parti de la justice et du développement (AKP, au pouvoir) de la majorité absolue. Mais lors de nouvelles élections convoquées

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Sl)c jjork (times NOVEMBER 5, 2017 How the Kurdish Quest for Independence in Iraq Backfired

SERGIO PEÇANHA NOV. 5,2017 historically multiethnic city that is home to https://www.nytimes.com about a million people. But days after September’s referendum, gov­ Iraqi Kurds voted overwhelming­ ernment forces swiftly reclaimed control of Kirkuk, along with its oil fields and nearby ly for independence in late towns claimed by the Kurds. September, but in the month since The New York Times I Source: IHS Vast oil reserves and about half of Iraq’s Markit Conflict Monitor that referendum, Iraqi govern­ farmland are in territories claimed by Iraqi Kurds, including the disputed areas. ment forces have seized one-fifth endum. KURDS SIGNED OIL CONTRACTS, of Kurdish-controlled territory. As Kurds gained power in Iraq, Syrian Kurds FUELING RESENTMENT FROM THE became a critical force in the fight against the CENTRAL GOVERNMENT. hat loss of territory has handed the Iraqi Islamic State and made substantial territorial Kurdish leadership a humiliating setback Iraq’s instability in recent years has allowed gains in Syria. T the Kurdish administration to cut deals directly in their generations-long push for statehood. For Turkey, an important United States ally in with industry. In 2011, the Kurdish Regional Kurds in Iraq are mostly concentrated in a the region, the Kurdish growth in Syria and the Government signed a contract with Exxon independence movement in Iraq are considered semiautonomous region whose legal status has Mobil for oil exploration in Kurdish-controlled been in limbo despite an Iraqi constitutional a threat that could embolden Turkey’s own areas, in a deal that angered the Iraqi govern­ Kurdish population. directive in 2005 to negotiate the borders. ment as a violation of Iraqi sovereignty. The boundaries of the Kurdish autonomous For decades, Turkey has been waging a war Two of the exploration areas were beyond the region have been long contested, but they are against militants from the Kurdistan Workers’ cease-fire line. Exxon Mobil was then under the Party, or P.K.K. After a two-year truce, violence often defined by a cease-fire line unilaterally leadership of Rex W. Tillerson, who is now sec­ established by the Iraqi government after it sup­ has picked up again, killing more than 3,200 retary of state. One of those fields, in Bashiqa, pressed a Kurdish uprising in 1991. people since 2015. is on the fringes of the territory recently retaken KURDS TOOK CONTROL OF DISPUT­ by the Iraqi government, according to an analy­ As Kurds gained power in Iraq, Syrian Kurds ED TERRITORIES THAT ARE RICH IN sis by IHS Markit. became a critical force in the fight against the Islamic State and made substantial territorial RESOURCES. NEIGHBORING COUNTRIES gains in Syria. In 2014, as Iraq faced a fight against the OPPOSED THE PUSH FOR IRAQI Islamic State, the Kurds capitalized on chaos in KURDISH INDEPENDENCE. Since the referendum, Turkey and Iran have offered support to Baghdad, increasing pressure the region and took control of contested areas About 30 million Kurds are spread over an that the Kurdish leadership had long claimed as on Kurdish leaders in Iraq. area nearly the size of France that spans the its people’s ancestral lands. Middle East and the Caucasus. International Massoud Barzani, the autonomous region’s The additional territories included oil-rich boundaries drawn after World War I left most president since 2005, recently announced that areas, beyond the boundaries of the area con­ Kurds split between Syria, Iraq, Turkey and he would resign, and this past week the Iraqi trolled by Kurds when the United States invad­ Iran. All four countries, along with the United government said that talks with the Kurds had ed Iraq in 2003. And they included Kirkuk, a States, have condemned the Iraqi Kurdish refer- failed. •

REUTERS 2014. Iraq wants control of Kurdish Peshmerga forces deployed in Kirkuk in 2014, when the Iraqi army fled in the face of an advance by Islamic State militants. The Kurdish move prevent­ ed the militants taking control of the oilfields. Kurdish region’s oil The pipeline carried on average 419,000 bpd in October, down from 600,000 bpd in September, said Farid al-Jadir, the director general of North Oil Company, which operates Kirkuk. exports: state firm NOC should resume exports from Kirkuk through the Kurdish pipeline this month, after the two sides agree on terms of use, Yasiri said. Kirkuk would also November 2,2017 BAGHDAD (Reuters) export by tanker trucks about 15,000 bpd to the refinery of Kermanshah in Iran, he added. IRAQ wants the Kurdistan region to stop independent crude exports Yasiri expected an old pipeline that bypasses most of the Kurdistan region to and to hand over sales operations to the Iraqi state-oil marketer resume operation in three months. SOMO, the company’s director said on Thursday. The pipeline was severely damaged by Islamic State after it took over Mosul’s Iraq is talking to Turkey to allow SOMO to sell the Kurdish crude that arrives by Nineveh province in 2014. U.S.-backed Iraqi forces ousted the group from Mosul pipeline in Ceyhan, the Turkish terminal on the Mediterranean, acting SOMO in July, after a nine-month campaign supported by Kurdish Peshmerga fighters. director general Alaa al-Yasiri told reporters in Baghdad. Iraq, the second-largest producer of the Organization of the Petroleum About 530,000 barrels per day (bpd) used to arrive in Ceyhan via the pipeline Exporting Countries after Saudi Arabia, supported any future decision by the until mid-October, of which about half came from the Kurdistan Regional group to support oil prices, Yasiri said. Government's oilfields and the rest from Kirkuk, a disputed province claimed by OPEC is expected to extend curbs on oil output when it meets in Vienna at the both the Kurdish region and Iraqi authorities in Baghdad. end of month. Output from Kirkuk fell in mid-October, when Iraqi forces took back control of Reporting by Ahmed Rasheed; Writing by Maher Chmaytelli; Editing by the northern region’s oilfields from Kurdish fighters who had been there since Edmund Blair •

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lAL-MONITORI November 6, 2017 Baghdad looks to take control of KRG oil The federal government in Baghdad seeks to extend its full control over all oil wells in the disputed areas between Baghdad and the Kurdistan Region, even those within the Flames emerge from flare stacks at the oil fields on the outskirts of Kirkuk, Iraq, Oct. 17, 2017. REUTERS/Alaa Al-Marjani region.

Adnan Abu Zeed November 6, 2017 www.al-monitor.com Al-Monitor asked Jihad whether the restoration of an oil pipeline far from the Kurdistan Region's territories through Mosul to Turkey would constitute a step on the road to ending the KRG's role in any oil exportations. He answered, “The idea of such a pipeline is not new. It is the main pipeline he Iraqi State Organization for Marketing Oil (SOMO) announced Nov. to transfer oil, and it stopped working after the Islamic State attacked 2 that it is arranging with Turkey to allow SOMO to sell Iraqi crude from Mosul and the areas in north and west Iraq in 2014. Now, after the libera­ Tthe disputed territories through the pipeline from Kirkuk to the Ceyhan tion of Mosul and other regions, the government is bent on restoring the Turkish port. The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) used to export pipeline as a main exportation means from Kirkuk to Ceyhan, passing through Salahuddin and Ninevah.” about 500,000 barrels per day independently through Ceyhan before the Baghdad operation to retake the disputed areas in mid-October. He added, “This pipeline feeds the Baiji oil refinery.” It was not long after the Iraqi army took over the oil fields in Kirkuk in a mil­ lthough the federal government's control of Kirkuk will halt many oil­ itary operation to “impose security,” as described by Prime Minister Haider smuggling operations and exportations that do not have the federal al-Abadi, that the federal government resumed oil pumping operations. A The operations started about a week after the clashes between govern­ government's approval, this step puts into question the future of oil mental forces and Kurdish peshmerga forces. Meanwhile, the Ministry of contracts that the KRG signed with international companies. Those include Oil rushed to increase oil production, and on Oct. 23, the ministry request­ Iraqi Kurdistan's contract with the Russian Rosneft Oil Company, signed a ed the help of the British petroleum company BP in increasing production few days before the Kirkuk incidents to drill oil in five different locations in in Kirkuk oil fields to more than 700,000 barrels per day. The ministry also Iraqi Kurdistan. As per this agreement, the KRG got $2 billion to curb its announced the formation of a ministerial committee to advance the oil budgetary deficit. industry in the province of Kirkuk. Majida al-Tamimi, who is a member of the Iraqi parliament's fiscal commit­ Kirkuk has more than 35 billion barrels in oil reserves and a production tee, told Al-Monitor, “Any contract that does not go through the parliament capacity ranging from 750,000 to 1 million barrels per day. The federal or that is signed without the knowledge of the federal government is illegit­ government seems determined to control the oil sources, especially in imate.” Kirkuk and the disputed areas. In light of this, on Oct. 19, the Iraqi minister of oil warned all countries and international petroleum companies against She said, “The Kurdistan Region receives a yearly share of 17% from the signing contracts with any Iraqi party without first consulting the federal federal budget. The federal government will not bear the burden of any government. loans or debts that Iraqi Kurdistan owes. If the federal government approves the contracts, the parliament would then examine them and con­ Spokesman for the Ministry of Oil, Assem Jihad, told Al-Monitor, “The fed­ duct feasibility studies before taking a decision.” eral government should control the oil wells, even those in the Kurdistan Region, which is seeking independence. The Iraqi Constitution states that Tamimi said, “In the 2018 budget, the Kurdistan Region's name was all oil sources must be under the control of the federal government.” replaced for the first time in budget charts with the name 'northern provinces,' indicating that the parliament and government are politically ihad emphasized, “The government's control of oil wealth does not willing to take away as many privileges as possible from the Kurdistan mean a certain will monopolize the sector. All oil Region, including oil exportation.” Jresources will be fairly distributed among the people.” Although many expected Kirkuk to be a bloody battlefield, the federal gov­ He said, “Oil fields, mainly Bay Hassan and Havana in Kirkuk, are man­ ernment's takeover was smooth. Therefore, oil production will be more aged by the North Oil Company affiliated with the federal authorities and competent and prolific. The government is bent on developing facilities working under the supervision of the Ministry of Oil. No other company is and has promised to distribute oil revenues fairly among citizens, including allowed to operate there without the approval of the federal government.” the Kurds in Iraqi Kurdistan. The government asserted that it would pay the Kurdistan Region's employees’ salaries if it takes control of all the oil fields. Iraqi Kurdistan still exports oil to the Turkish Ceyhan port in the framework of old agreements. Kurdish oil exports range from 220,000 to 240,000 bar­ Oil wealth is past the danger stage of causing a war. Eyes are now set on rels a day. Therefore, the KRG might seek joint control of Kirkuk's oil in the the way the federal government will distribute oil wealth and whether it will future. However, Jihad warned that “any oil exportation without the knowl­ indeed be fair to all Iraqis. ♦ edge of the Ministry of Oil would be considered smuggling punishable by law.” Adnan Abu Zeed is an Iraqi author and journalist. He holds a degree in engineering technology from Iraq and a degree in media techniques from Jihad added that sharing control of Kirkuk's oil “should be decided by the the Netherlands. federal government rather than the Ministry of Oil, which is only an execu­ tive party.” He noted, “The Ministry of Oil is waiting for the government's decisions and policies in this regard.”

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Newsweek r November 7, 2017 WAR IN IRAQ: MASOUD BARZANI, EX-KURDISH LEADER, SAYS U.S. KNEW IN ADVANCE ABOUT IRAQI ASSAULT ON KIRKUK

By Adla Massoud / November 7, 2017 mean for the region and the Kurdish people? http://www.newsweek.com Iraqi decisions are in the hands of Iran. The fter decades of yearning for a state to call Kurds are not going to confront the Iranians their own, Iraqi Kurds flocked to the polls nor compete with Iran. Aon September 25 in a referendum aimed at creating an independent nation. Ninety-three Are you going to work with the Iranians then? percent of Iraqi Kurds backed secession. That will be decided in the future. People from Kirkuk to Irbil were euphoric. Not only had the Kurds been instrumental in Many worry that tensions between Baghdad helping a U.S.-backed coalition defeat the and Irbil could escalate into a new war. What Islamic State group, but now they were finally do you think? on the cusp of realizing their dreams of a sta­ tehood. plan in mind even before the referendum. We hope the fighting and bloodshed will They are using the referendum as a pretext to cease. Our policy is to seek dialogue, to seek Leading the drive: 71-year-old Masoud cover their plan and plot against the Kurdish peaceful ways for conflict resolution and con­ Barzani, who led the Kurdistan Democratic people. We went ahead with the referendum flict prevention with Iraq. If the international Party through two decades of persecution in order to avoid...bloodshed, in order to avoid community and the coalition...genuinely want under Saddam Hussein. This fall, he helped battles and conflict because those [Iraqi to prevent another armed conflict, they can. push the referendum to a vote, despite the forces] who are now fighting us...want to But if a battle erupts, it means they gave it the objections of the U.S., Britain, Turkey, Iran impose a new status quo in the area. Our mis­ green light. and the federal government in Baghdad. take is we should have held the referendum earlier and not later. Your opponents accuse you of holding the ref­ The Kurdish euphoria didn’t last. In October, erendum for your own political gain. What do Iraqi forces backed by Shiite militias launched The Kurdish peshmerga forces worked closely you say to them? a major offensive aimed at retaking the oil- with the UB.-led global coalition against ISIS. rich province of Kirkuk. The Kurds stood Do you think the U.S. has now abandoned The decision to hold the referendum was down, and the crushing defeat prompted you? made in 2014 by the election commission, by Barzani to resign as leader of the Kurdistan parliament. The decision was not a personal Regional Government and president of his Without the role and sacrifices of the pesh­ one, and at that time, it was a collective deci­ party. Now, as allegations swirl that Baghdad merga, ISIS would not have been rolled back sion of all the political parties and all the insti­ is trying to transform the multiethnic and defeated, nor would Mosul have been lib­ tutions in Kurdistan. But because of ISIS, we province into a Shiite stronghold, Barzani erated. But we were not expecting to see Iraqi postponed the date to hold the referendum. spoke to Newsweek about the future of forces use weapons—that were given to them Later, when we did set the date, it was also a Kurdish independence and whether his people by the U.S. to fight ISIS—against their own cit­ collective decision by all the political parties had once again been betrayed. izens. It was a big surprise for us. in Kurdistan.

You won the referendum, but you seemed to Do you believe the U.S. approved the Iraqi Is Kurdish independence still possible? have damaged the chances for a Kurdish plan to enter Kirkuk and other Kurdish-held national homeland. Why did you go ahead areas? What’s going on in [Kurdish territories]...is just with it? temporary because nobody can change the We do believe, yes, that the operation to take identity of those areas. We are not going to The referendum decision was not a personal over Kirkuk was led by the Iranians with the recognize any forced demographic change. decision. It was a collective decision by all the knowledge of the U.S. and British officials. The identities of these areas are still Kurdish. political parties in Kurdistan. And the success We withdrew from many of the areas so as to of the referendum was that 93 percent of the Senator John McCain described the Kurdistan prevent any kind of conflict and bloodshed. Kurdish people [in Iraq] voted yes. So the Regional Government as America’s “long­ We wanted to prevent any kind of military process was successful... and I do believe this standing and valuable partner.” Do you feel confrontation to pave the way for dialogue. referendum has secured the future of the your relationship with the White House has Kurdish people. It’s true that there has been changed under President Donald Trump? To what extent are you willing to go to pre­ some...obstacles...post-referendum, but...it vent a military confrontation with Baghdad? doesn’t mean the determination of the John McCain is a very respected and very Kurdish people was lost. knowledgeable man, who is aware of the sac­ We are ready to go as far as it’s possible to rifices of the peshmerga and the Kurdish peo­ avoid fighting with the Iraqi army...as long as But many believe the timing was wrong. ple. But with regards to the relationship they are not...changing the [autonomous] sta­ between Kurdistan and the White House.,.1 tus of Kurdistan. ♦ We believe the timing was good...because can’t say whether we have a relationship or those Iraqi forces who are currently imple­ not. menting their policies to change the demog­ raphy and situation in areas that they are in Iran was Iraq’s most bitter enemy and now its right now, they had this program and this closest ally. What does this close relationship

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feJîîonàe.fr 7 NOVEMBRE 2017 « Ne laissons pas s’éteindre en nous la flamme du Kurdistan »

« Quand tous se Des personnalités françaises, détournent de ce peu­ parmi lesquelles Anne Hidalgo et ple ami de la France, Bernard-Henri Lévy, Manuel nous nous devons Valls, Bernard Kouchner, d'être fidèles à cette dénoncent, dans une tribune histoire de liberté et au « Monde », le silence des « de grandeur. » (Photo grandes puissances démocra­ : les Kurdes font la tiques » face au drame des fête en cette journée de référendum pour Kurdes, « ce peuple ami de l'indépendance du la France ». Kurdistan irakien, dans le centre de la Mardi 7 novembre 2017 ville historique LE MONDE.FR I d'Erbil, le 25 septembre). Laurence Par un collectif de personnalités français­ Geai/SIPA / SIPA es issues de la sphère politique et de la société civile. pour un peuple décidément en trop, décrè­ de notre admiration et de notre gratitude. • Nul ne semble réaliser que l’Iran tent un embargo aérien et terrestre sur le Quand tous se détournent de lui, nous Kurdistan ; l’enferment ainsi que le million nous devons d’être fidèles à cette histoire met, un peu plus encore, la main sur et demi de réfugiés dans ses frontières ; et de liberté et de grandeur. Nous avons, l’Irak que l’Irak, à l’aide de chars américains et nous, Français, héritiers de Voltaire, de • Exigeons l’arrêt des exactions, avec l’appui de milices chiites et de pas- Gambetta, Zola, Dreyfus, Jean Moulin, un des pillages, des assassinats ciblés darans venus d’Iran, passe à l’attaque, peuple proche de nous et qui s’est inspiré ou collectifs s’empare de la zone de Kirkouk et affronte de nous ; sa flamme - la Fondation les peshmergas jusqu’à 50 kilomètres Danielle Mitterrand, qui contribue à nous TRIBUNE. Un sentiment d’accablement, d’Erbil. rassembler ce soir, est là pour en témoign­ et d’injustice extrême, nous étreint et nous er - a été aussi, un peu, la nôtre et fait par­ réunit pour lancer, ici, aujourd’hui, cet Nul, alors, ne vient au secours du tie de l’histoire de la France et de Paris. appel de Paris en faveur du Kurdistan. Kurdistan. Nul ne condamne l’agression de Voilà une nation amie qui sort de cent ans ces puissants voisins pour qui le silence de Ne laissons pas s’éteindre en nous la de lutte contre toutes les tyrannies. Voilà la communauté internationale est une flamme du Kurdistan. Demandons le un peuple qui s’est porté, trois ans durant, aubaine permettant d’en finir avec ce retrait des troupes irakiennes et des mil­ seul au sol, sur mille kilomètres de front, trublion démocratique, ce mauvais exem­ ices iraniennes qui les appuient sur la ligne contre l’organisation Etat islamique. Voilà ple que serait un Kurdistan libre et où elles se trouvaient avant le référendum des femmes, des hommes, qui ont accueilli indépendant dans une région qui cultive du 25 septembre. Exigeons l’arrêt des exac­ un million et demi de réfugiés chrétiens, les régimes autoritaires et opprime ses tions, des pillages, des assassinats ciblés ou yézidis, musulmans qui fuyaient l’enfer minorités. collectifs qui ravagent, depuis que les mil­ islamiste. ices l’ont envahie, la ville de Kirkouk ainsi Nul ne semble réaliser que l’Iran met, un que ses environs. Ce peuple, le 25 septembre 2017, se peu plus encore, la main sur l’Irak et prononce, par un référendum démocra­ achève d’ouvrir, avec la complicité du sin­ Plaidons pour que la coalition interna­ tique, et à une majorité écrasante, en istre Bachar Al-Assad, le fameux corridor tionale qui a combattu, face à l’organisa­ faveur d’une indépendance qui est son rêve chiite dont elle rêve depuis longtemps et tion Etat islamique, au coude-à-coude avec séculaire. Il se prononce pour l’ouverture qui a vocation à aller du Liban à Bahreïn. les combattants irakiens mais aussi kurdes de pourparlers avec Bagdad, dont il est impose sa médiation aux frères d’armes bien spécifié qu’ils prendront le temps qu’il Trahis par certains en leur sein, abandon­ lancés, aujourd’hui, dans une guerre faudra pour qu’un avenir solide, concerté, nés de leurs amis d’hier, que vont alors ruineuse pour tous. ■ puisse se construire entre peuples consti­ faire les Kurdes ? Se plier à un destin tutifs de la « fédération » irakienne. funeste ? Redevenir, sous la contrainte des LES SIGNATAIRES : « Irakiens », ce fantôme de nation, cette Mais voilà que les grandes puissances chimère sanglante ? Rentrer dans l’ombre, Caroline Fourest, journaliste, essayiste ; démocratiques condamnent, par avance, retourner dans les montagnes dont nul, Anne Hidalgo, maire de Paris ; jamais, n’a pu les chasser ? Va-t-il, ce peu­ ce référendum au nom de l’intégrité terri­ Bernard Kouchner, ancien ministre toriale de l’Irak, ce pays déchiré, désuni, ple fier qui rêvait de prospérité et de chaotique, qu’elles feignent, de manière modernité, qui vivait à l’heure de la démoc­ des affaires étrangères ; incompréhensible, de tenir pour une don­ ratie, qui en avait assez de devoir vivre les Bernard-Henri Lévy, philosophe et armes à la main contre d’éternels ennemis, née intangible de l’équilibre régional. membre du conseil de surveillance du retrouver sa flamme et reprendre sa LE SILENCE DE LA COMMUNAUTÉ marche séculaire vers la liberté ? Monde ; INTERNATIONALE Kendal Nezan, président de l’Institut UNE HISTOIRE DE LIBERTÉ ET DE kurde de Paris ; Et voilà que, forts de cette condamnation GRANDEUR ancien premier ministre. du Kurdistan par ses alliés et amis d’hier, Manuel Valls, les pays voisins (Irak, bien sûr - mais aussi Ce peuple est un ami de la France. Il a reçu, Iran et Turquie) qui tiennent les Kurdes depuis tant d’années, le témoignage répété

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November 7, 2017 4- for !\ear bast Policy The Kurdish Security Dilemma, Explained

lived. Iraq was becoming economically and mili­ Yerevan Saeed November 7, 2017 tarily stronger than it had been before. It was flooded with oil money and signed multiple mil­ http://www.washingtoninstitute.org Iraq's decision to retake Kirkuk and other dis­ itary agreements with the Soviet Union. Thus, puted areas on October 16 and its maximalist the balance of power shifted in favor of Baghdad, demands to deploy Iraqi forces to Kurdistan's ormer Kurdistan region president Masoud and in 1973 the Agreement collapsed and con­ borders reinforce Barzani's fear that Baghdad Barzani miscalculated the potential fallout of flict broke out once again. Fthe referendum. But political miscalculation by has not changed its political mentality towards the Kurds. But this will have severe repercus­ itself cannot explain Barzani's decision to hold The United States, Israel, and Iran were support­ sions not just for the Kurds, but also for Western the controversial referendum on September ing the Iraqi Kurds financially and militarily. countries. 25th. Rather, the security dilemma in which Thus the Kurdish Peshmerga under Mustafa Iraqi Kurds have lived since the foundation of Barzani were able to fight and defeat the Iraqi If Baghdad is left unchecked, it could lead to Iraq in early 1920 can better shed light on the army. Then-Vice President Saddam Hussein met greater instability in Iraq in the same way motive of the former Kurdish leader's ill-fated with the Shah of Iran at the 1975 OPEC summit, unconditional support to former primeminister decision. at which, having suffered a number of defeats by Nuri al-Maliki generated tremendous violence the Kurdish Peshmerga, Iraq made a number of after 2011 when he started cracking down After overthrowing the Hashemite monarchy, territorial concessions to Iran in exchange for Sunnis. This error should teach policy makers in former Iraqi leader Abdul Karim Qasim invited Tehran halting military support to the Kurds. Barzani's father, Mustafa, and his Peshmerga Washington and Europe that investing in one man in Iraq could prove fatal for peace and the forces to return from the Soviet Union in 1958 This agreement led to the collapse of the Kurdish balance of power. after eleven years in exile. Qasim lured the elder revolution in Iraq. Soviet tanks and advanced Barzani on the promise of giving Kurds a real weapons overran the Kurdish Peshmerga, who n theory, it is a good modus vivendi to have partnership in Iraq, including a vice presidential only had light weapons and insufficient ammuni­ Iraqi prime minister Haider al-Abadi govern a post and cultural, economic, and political rights. tion. Barzani fled to Iran along with thousands of Ifederal Iraq, balance relations with neighbors, In addition, Qasim promised to formally recog­ Kurds. nize Kurds as one of two nations living in Iraq. and eventually counter Iran's hegemony in the country. But practically, such an approach Mustafa Barzani took Qasim at his word and asoud Barzani took over leadership of the reveals a detachment from the reality on the returned to Iraq. But Qasim had other plans. KDP after his father's death in 1979. As a ground. Iraqi politics is completely fragmented, Myoung soldier, he learned that Baghdad could not just on ethno-sectarian lines but within, too. After regime change in 1958, Qasim faced stiff not be trusted if it was powerful. Realizing that Shia, Kurds, and Sunnis are more divided resistance from Arab nationalist forces, spear­ Baghdad's armed forces were only growing amongst and within themselves than ever. In headed by the Baathists. Threatened with a stronger, Barzani took a calculated risk of asser­ turn this provides Tehran with an opportunity to number of attempted coups against him, he ting Kurdistan’s independence, figuring it was further exploit such cleavages and exert greater wanted a strong alliance to crash the pan-Arab now or never. nationalists. The best choice to help eliminate influence over the future of Iraq. this threat was to rally the help of the Kurds. This is not to acquit Barzani of his political For Washington to carry greater weight in Iraq, errors. The former president should have put the best policy is to strengthen Kurdish autono­ With the help of Mustafa Barzani, Qasim was the Kurdish house together by considering the my, help promote unity within the Kurdish pop­ able to quell the Baathists and stabilize his interests of other parties. Kurdish disunity—and ulation, and simultaneously assist Iraqi Sunnis in regime. But as Baghdad became stronger, a disregard for the interests and advice of the forming a Sunni Region, where they can have Qasim's Kurdish alliance became weaker and United States—undermined not just the push for their own local security and governance. Iraq became more hostile towards the Kurds. He Kurdish statehood, but Kurdistan's autonomy in However, unless the Sunnis and Kurds realize backtracked on his earlier promises to grant Iraq. Kurdish rights, arrested Kurdish officials, the magnitude of danger coming from a Shia- dominated Baghdad, U.S. investment in either banned Kurdish newspapers, and prohibited And yet, like any other country Kurdish leader­ community can do little to further their cause. Barzani's Kurdistan Democratic Party [KDP] to ship acted in its own interests. Its survival was hold its party conference. Barzani, in response, and will be at stake, as shown by historical evi­ At minimum, such a formula could serve multi­ demanded autonomy for Kurds, which was dence, as long as there is a strong Baghdad. In ple goals, including mitigating extremism, immediately rejected by Baghdad, leading to turn, only real sovereignty can shield Kurdistan addressing the grievances and basic needs of the drawn-out armed conflict. from Iraq's military power. So, Barzani chose Sunnis, and severing Tehran’s ambitious land togo ahead with the referendum despite strong bridge, all while advancing stability and peace. With each change of president in Iraq—in 1963, warnings from regional countries, the United The alternative is perpetual violence, which will 1966, and 1968—Barzani declared a unilateral States, and Europe, and despite the tremendous only generate more extremism and instability. In ceasefire to give dialogue a chance as an alterna­ risks facing the Kurdish people. tive to armed conflict. But each new president in turn, both will jeopardize the United States and Europe's security interests at home and in the Baghdad used the ceasefire to consolidate its There has not been a major armed conflict Middle East. • foothold and launch military campaigns against between the Kurds and Iraq since 2003, because Kurdish forces in Iraqi Kurdistan. the Kurds were the stronger political and mili­ Yerevan Saeed is a Research Associate at Middle East tary force in the country. That balance of power Research Institute. He is a Ph.D. student at the School Eventually realizing it could not defeat Barzani has shifted after the defeat of the Islamic State for Conflict Analysis and Resolution (S-CARf George militarily, Baghdad resorted to negotiations with and the unconditional support by the United Mason. He previously served as White House the Kurds in the late 1960s. In 1970 both sides States, Iran, and Europe to Iraqi Prime Minister Correspondent for Kurdish Rudaw TV, and has worked signed the Iraqi-Kurdish Autonomy Agreement, Haider al-Abadi at the expense of the KRG. Such for news agencies including the New York Times, NPR, in which Baghdad gave the Kurds autonomy, support has already backfired and emboldened the Wall Street Journal, the Boston Globe, the BBC and governmental posts in Baghdad, and legislative Baghdad to relapse into its previous modus as a journalist and translator. powers in the region. But again this was short operandi towards the Kurds.

20 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Ozeti "1 CARNEGIE ENDOWMENT FOR November 9, 2017 INTERNATIONAL PEACE" Is Barzani Stepping Down or Stepping Up? Masoud Barzani’s resignation as president of the Kurdistan Regional Government is part of an attempt by the two main par­ ties to preserve their influence in an increasingly volatile polit­ ical environment.

Prime Minister Qubad Megan Connelly November 09, 2017 Talabani of the PUK. Therefore, in addition to ensuring that the Barzani http://carnegieendowment.org family remains in control of the KRG’s legal institutions, the PUK can also lay claim to a shared presidential mandate. n November 1, 2017, President Masoud Barzani of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), in accordance with legislation passed by The law also delegates the power to veto all or part of legislation passed Othe Kurdistan parliament several days before, stepped down and devol­by parliament, to the “speakership” of parliament—notably not to the ved many of the powers of his office jointly to his nephew Prime Minister “speaker.” This terminology indicates that the KDP and PUK elites who Nechirvan Barzani, Deputy Prime Minister Qubad Talabani, the drafted the law intend for these duties to fall jointly to Secretary of Speakership of Parliament, and the Judicial Council. The bill at first Parliament Begard Talabani of the PUK and to Deputy Speaker Jafar appeared to be a significant concession by Barzani’s Kurdistan Democratic Eminki—a member of the KDP who has assumed the duties of the speaker Party (KDP) to relieve the impasse surrounding his extralegal retention of in the absence of Speaker Yusuf Mohammed. Speaker Yusuf Mohammed, office and raised the possibility of democratic reforms. However, it is ins­ of Gorran, has been prevented from entering the capital Erbil since tead an attempt by the KDP to maintain its dominance over the KRG in Barzani forcibly dissolved parliament in 2015. Therefore, the text of the the wake of the independence referendum, and for the Patriotic Union of law circumvents the issue of Yusuf Mohammed’s readmission to parlia­ Kurdistan (PUK) to preserve what remains of its long-standing and exclu­ ment, which the KDP has steadfastly resisted. Additionally, the KRG’s sive power-sharing relationship with the KDP in an increasingly volatile Judicial Council, led by and comprised mostly of KDP loyalists with some and polarized political environment. seats reserved for PUK members, will be able to appoint judges and pub­ lic prosecutors. After October 16, when the Iraqi central government began to reassert federal authority over the disputed territories in retaliation for the KRG’s The text of the new law does not, however, order the resignation of independence vote, confidence in the KRG as a political system plummet­ Deputy President Kosrat Rasoul of the PUK, whose own term expired in ed and calls increased in volume and urgency for President Barzani, the 2015. Furthermore, it does not delegate the president’s duties as general referendum’s mastermind, to resign. In addition to driving a wedge commander of the peshmerga or his supervisory powers over the KRG between the KDP and the PUK, the referendum galvanized the opposi­ Security Council. The latter appears to be a compromise between Prime tion. The —the KRG’s second-largest bloc in parliament, Minister Nechirvan Barzani and the council’s chair, Masrour Barzani, PM which was expelled from the government in 2015—along with other Barzani’s cousin and Masoud Barzani’s son, who is unlikely to accept Sulaimaniya-based parties Komal and the Alliance for Justice and Nechirvan Barzani’s authority over his own paramilitary units. It is possi­ Democracy, called for dissolving the government and establishing a ble that Masoud Barzani’s cabinet, which the statute enjoins to “continue “national salvation government” to replace what they regard as a dys­ with its duties and responsibilities,” will simply retain these powers. functional, partisan oligarchy. However, on October 25, Gorran agreed to Additionally, Barzani remains the president of the KDP politburo, and return to parliament after receiving guarantees that a legislative propos­ therefore will continue as a de facto source of political and military al would provide for President Barzani’s resignation and the dissolution of authority within the KDP-controlled areas of the Kurdistan Region. the presidency. asoud Barzani will also remain in his capacity as the head of the High While Gorran approved of Barzani’s decision to step down from the pres­ MPolitical Council (HPC). The HPC is the “grand coalition” that succee­ idency, it raised objections to the proposal’s content and to the legisla­ ded the High Referendum Council, the body established to carry out the tive process that drafted it, which Gorran claimed merely packaged a independence referendum in the Kurdistan Region. It is comprised mostly joint KDP PUK decree as a law to be retroactively approved by parlia­ of KDP members and a few PUK executives close to the KDP, such as Mala ment. The proposal was drafted in an inter-politburo summit between the Bakhtiar and Kosrat Rasul. It has no accountability to parliament or any KDP and PUK, along with the Islamic Union. While devolving the presi­ other official institution, but nonetheless declared it would “protect the dent’s powers under the 2005 Presidency Law, which granted the presi­ stability of Kurdistan from any type of threat” and represent the dent of the KRG expansive executive powers, the new bill would only Kurdistan Region in Baghdad and abroad. Therefore, Barzani will remain remain in effect until the next round of presidential and parliamentary the head of a parallel government that can act independently of the elections, which had been scheduled for November 1 but were postponed KRG’s legally established institutions. However, the prime minister and for eight months in late October by act of a PUK and KDP-dominated par­ deputy prime minister have the advantage of being recognized as the liament. This draft law provided that that until elections, “no law or legitimate heads of government by the international community, inclu­ decision shall be made in contradiction of this law,” precluding amend­ ding the United States, which had been the primary external source of ments to the 2005 law until at least June 2018. During the October 29 ses­ President Barzani’s power and legitimacy in the past three years in lieu sion, these provisions raised objections from Gorran lawmakers, who of voter confidence. have consistently demanded that the Presidency Law be repealed and that elections proceed on November 1. Protests from the Gorran and As Barzani steps down as president, the power of the KDP and PUK polit- Komal delegations demanding further debate before a vote were met buros will continue to eclipse that of the KRG’s democratic institutions. with violence from KDP MPs and journalists, and later that evening KDP Yet notwithstanding continued bipartisan participation in the cabinet, supporters stormed the parliament hall, attacking journalists and threat­ parliament, and HPC, the Iraqi federal government’s reassertion of con­ ening opposition MPs while crowds in Dohuk and Zakho burned Gorran and trol over the region’s border points, airports, and the oil-rich disputed PUK party offices. territories has resulted in a weakened KRG that has lost its sources of rev­ enue—and therefore there are fewer incentives for Kurdish parties to According to the new law, Nechirvan Barzani in his capacity as Prime cooperate with each other. The fallout from the referendum empowered Minister will assume most of the powers of the presidency, including the hardline factions within the PUK politburo who used the KDP’s failed gam­ authority to represent the KRG at the federal level and abroad. Yet, in ble as a pretext to cleanse Sulaimaniyah, Hatabja, Kirkuk, and parts of the spirit of prior power-sharing agreements between the KDP and PUK, Diyala of KDP influence. The president’s resignation has he will share the powers to dissolve parliament, declare a state of emer­ exposed similar fault lines within the KDP. Prime Minister Barzani derives gency, and assume legislative powers during emergencies with Deputy the greatest benefit from the devolution of presidential powers. Yet although he maintains cordial relations with PUK moderates and has -•

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the diplomatie experience to control the referendum’s damage to ced to align with more powerful brokers in the PUK in order to regain poli­ relationships with the United States, Iran, and Turkey, he is confronted tical influence—and in the process subvert their objective to build a par­ with Masoud and Masrour Barzani’s increasingly hawkish stance on their liamentary democracy independent of intense partisan influence. party’s relationship with the PUK. The use of provocative rhetoric, includ­ ing accusations that PUK security forces committed “treason” for with­ Masoud Barzani’s resignation and the devolution of executive power from drawing from Kirkuk, and the eruption of violence by KDP supporters in the presidency to the KRG’s other political institutions is not a substantial the wake of Massoud Barzani’s transfer of executive power has escalated change in the KRG’s governance. Rather, it is an attempt by moderates in tensions between the parties. This will further polarize moderates and the KDP and PUK to salvage what remains of their mutually beneficial invigorate hardliners—placing Nechirvan Barzani in the awkward position power-sharing relationship. However, the independence referendum has of putting out fires started by his cousin and uncle. changed the political landscape, bringing latent rivalries to the fore and transforming the KRG from a predictable, relatively stable, bipolar sys­ et, while moderate KDP and PUK elites attempt to preserve their ties, tem to an unpredictable, unstable, multipolar system in which the KDP the opposition will continue to regard this exclusive partnership as the and PUK are divided against each other and within themselves. ♦ Ysource of the failure of KRG governance. Citing the violence at parliament on October 29, Gorran has rejected the prime minister’s invitation for Megan Connelly is a Ph.D. and J.D. candidate at the State University of Gorran ministers and MPs to return to the government and renewed its New York at Buffalo. Follow her on Twitter @meganconnelly48. calls to dissolve the KRG and establish a provisional government to over­ see a transition to a parliamentary democracy. Yet while Gorran has the Note: The statement explaining how the “fallout from the referendum ability to mobilize massive strikes and demonstrations, it cannot compete empowered hardline factions within the PUK politburo ... to cleanse with the ability of the KDP and PUK to bargain through the use of force. Erbil of KDP influence” has been changed to describe the cleansing of Thus, Gorran and other Sulaimaniya-based opposition parties may be for­ Sulaimaniyah, Halabja, Kirkuk, and parts of Diyala governorates.

TheNational November 8, 2017 Iraqi prime minister pushes plan to cut Kurdistan’s budget share Haider Al Abadi said the proposed budget cut to 12.6 per cent was not a punishment to the Kurds for their independence vote

Mina Aldroubi / November 8, 2017 On Monday, the prime minister of the https://www.thenational.ae Kurdistan region, Nechirvan Barzani, said the KRG was ready to hand over the region’s oil and he Iraqi prime minister Haider Al Abadi defen­ other sources of revenues to Baghdad if the ded a proposal to cut Iraqi Kurdistan's share federal government of Iraq agreed to give the full Tin next year’s budget from 17 per cent to less 17 per cent of the budget to Erbil. than 13 per cent in the latest tensions between "We are ready to handover oil, airports, and the central and regional government. all border revenues to Baghdad if the federal The deteriorating relationship between government of Iraq sends the salaries of KRG Baghdad and Erbil, capital of Iraqi Kurdistan, employees, the Kurdistan region’s 17 per cent took a new turn when the Iraqi Kurdish region constitutional budget share, and other financial decided to hold an independence referendum in agencies, and most of them are not reliable," Mr dues," Mr Barzani said. September. Al Abadi said at his weekly press briefing. r Barzani stressed that Baghdad had viola­ The vote was deemed illegal and unconstitu­ Erbil announced this week that it has ted the Iraqi constitution by drafting a bud­ tional by Baghdad, which launched a military approximately 1.2 million people on its payroll, get that does not recognise Kurdish entitle­ operation to recapture the disputed of Kirkuk and including 455,000 public servants and 266,000 ments. the surrounding oil fields. Kurdish forces, which will cost Baghdad approxi­ Meanwhile, Masoud Barzani, who stepped Mr Al Abadi said the proposed budget cut to mately US$771 million (Dh2.83 billion) a month. down last week as president of Iraqi Kurdistan 12.6 per cent was not a punishment to the Kurds According to the KRG, Baghdad's budget after the referendum crisis, said in an interview for their independence vote, but rather that draft includes measures which would have the with NPR radio that he has "no regrets" for hol­ Erbil's demands to receive its 17 per cent of the central government finance only 682,021 public ding the independence referendum. He said that 2018 budget are ''unjust”. servants. the consequences his region has suffered were worth it to make clear that Kurds want indepen­ He maintained that Erbil should receive a aghdad’s responded to the Kurdistan's dence. percentage of the budget that reflects its popula­ Regional Government's (KRG) indepen­ tion compared to the rest of Iraq. dence vote by stripping the Kurds of the oil-fields "I am very proud of the result. I am very Mr Al Abadi said his government is conside­ vital to their budget. proud that we have given the opportunity for the ring the region’s population data, the real needs In response, Erbil has demanded the Iraqi Kurdish people to express their vote and I do not of all Iraq's regions and the poverty level nation­ government to dismiss the budget proposal pre­ regret it," Mr Barzani said. wide before announcing the new 2018 budget sented by Baghdad’s finance ministry. In efforts to resolve the crisis, Kurdish autho­ shares. A statement by the KRG said that "this vio­ rities offered to put their independence push on The proposal is still under discussion in the lates Article 117 of the Iraqi constitution that hold in order to start dialogue with Baghdad, last cabinet, it must be endorsed and sent to parlia­ recognised the Kurdistan region as a federal month. ment for final approval. If approved by the Iraqi region with its own government, parliament and In response, Mr Al Abadi said that "Iraq's parliament, the budget will further damage the judiciary." central government will accept only the cancel­ relationship between Baghdad and Erbil. The KRG said that "ratifying the budget ling of the referendum and following the constitu­ Mr Al Abadi also confirmed that "Baghdad is would harm high interests of the Kurdistan tion." prepared to pay the salaries of the state region, partnership basis, and coexistence in More than 90 per cent of Kurds voted in employees in the Kurdistan region after it takes Iraq.” favor of independence from Iraq in September's control of the region’s oil export, and conducts The Kurdistan region’s allocation of the fede­ nonbinding referendum, which Kurdish leaders an audit of the number of employees." ral budget was cut off three years ago following had billed as an opening bid in negotiations with "The number of employees of the region and disputes with Baghdad over independent oil Baghdad over expanded autonomy. □ Peshmerga is under scrutiny by the government exports and sales.

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NEW YORKER I November 6, 2017

mostly Arab city that lies some forty miles south of the Kurdish region, and declared it the capital of its self-proclaimed caliphate. ISIS then pushed into Kurdish territory, and by October thousands of militants—armed with tanks, mortars, machine guns, and suicide vehicles— had reached Kobanî, a city on the Turkish bor­ der. Although the United States bombarded ISIS from the air, the militants quickly captured several key neighborhoods, and raised their --K flag on a hill visible from Turkey. Recep Tayyip Letter froifi Syria Erdogan, Turkey's President, announced, "Kobanî is about to fall," and ISIS vowed that its members would celebrate the coming holy week of Eid al-Adha by praying in Kobanfs DARK VICTORY mosques.

The Y.P.G. fought back, deploying small, lightly armed units throughout Kobanfs streets. Felat - IN RAQQA was put in charge of eleven other women. Kurdish revolutionaries helped the U.S. expel the Islamic State Some, like her, were former students; some were professionals; some were wives and moth­ from its; . Will we soon abandon them? ers. Apart from their rifles, they had one machine gun and one rocket-propelled-grenade launcher. "There were people who didn't even Female fighters for the Syrian Democratic have a Kalashnikov," Felat told me. "They had to share." When I asked her where she was BY LUKE MOGELSON Forces, who are on the front lines of the war against the Islamic State in Syria. Many when ISIS declared that it would conquer the NOVEMBER 6, 2017 ISSUE city before Eid al-Adha, she answered, "I was https://www.newyorker.com have "joined to protect other women" from Islamists who subject women to repression fighting on Mishtanour Hill." The battle is and rape. famous among Syrian Kurds, partly for the Photograph by Mauricio Lima for The New heroic action of another female fighter, twenty- n August, in the living room of an abandoned Yorker year-old Arin Mirkan. At the time, Felat and house on the western outskirts of Raqqa, Mirkan were on the same side of . ISIS ISyria, I met with Rojda Felat, one of four militants were closing in on them with tanks Kurdish commanders overseeing the campaign Union Party, organized and recruited clandes­ commandeered from Assad's forces. Mirkan, to wrest the city from the Islamic State, or ISIS. Felat recalled, "put a lot of grenades on her tinely. Wearing fatigues, a beaded head scarf, and tur­ chest and snuck under a tank and exploded her­ quoise socks, Felat sat cross-legged on the floor, In 2011, when anti-government protests began self." eating a homemade meal that her mother had spreading throughout Syria, Felat was studying sent in a plastic container from , four Arabic literature at Hasakah University. The ishtanour Hill fell to ISIS, but Kobanî hours away, in the northeast of the country. In daughter of a poor farmer, she'd begun her didn't. The U.S. intensified its bombing, the kitchen, two young female fighters washed Mand air-dropped weapons and medical sup­ studies late, "for economic reasons," she told dishes and glanced surreptitiously at Felat with me. Along with several dozen other students, plies; Iraqi Kurdish soldiers, along with some bright-eyed adoration. At forty years old, she Felat left the university and returned to moderate Arab rebels, reinforced the Y.P.G. By affects a passive, stoic expression that trans­ Qamishli. Within a week, Felat, who'd harbored late January, 2015, ISIS had been pushed back. forms startlingly into one of unguarded felicity ambitions of attending Syria's national military The Y.P.G. capitalized on its momentum and when she is amused—something that, while we academy and becoming an Army officer, had reclaimed swaths of the countryside. spoke, happened often. She had reason to be in joined the Democratic Union Party's militia, the good spirits. Her forces had recently completed Y.P.G. After a day of training, she was issued a Felat was assigned to command forty-five fight­ an encirclement of Raqqa, and victory appeared Kalashnikov. ers, and then three hundred. When I pressed to be imminent. her for the accomplishments that had occa­ elat expected to fight the regime. But, as the sioned her promotions, she reluctantly allowed, The Raqqa offensive, which concluded in mid- anti-government demonstrations evolved "I was good at strategy." By chance, it was the October, marks the culmination of a dramatic week before Eid al-Adha, and I could not help Finto an armed rebellion and insurrections broke rise both for Felat and for the Kurdish political out in major , Assad withdrew nearly all marvelling at how swiftly the besieged had movement to which she belongs. For decades, the troops he had stationed in the predomi­ become besiegers. I asked Felat whether any of the Syrian state—officially, the Syrian Arab nantly Kurdish north. The Democratic Union the women whom she'd fought with in Kobanî Republic—was hostile to Kurds. Tens of thou­ were still with her. Party allowed the regime to maintain control of sands were stripped of citizenship or dispos­ an airport and of administrative offices in sessed of land; cultural and political gatherings downtown Qamishli. Arab opposition groups She shook her head. "Five were killed," she were banned; schools were forbidden to teach decried the arrangement as part of a tacit said. "Two were wounded. The others went the Kurdish language. alliance between Assad and the Kurds. Islamist back to their families." Felat did not mention rebels began launching attacks in northern having been injured herself, but I later met a Qamishli, Felat's home town, has long been a Syria, and the Y.P.G. went to war against them. fighter who recalled sharing a hospital room center of Kurdish political activity. In 2004, dur­ "Many Kurdish families brought their daugh­ with her while they were both recovering from ing a soccer match, Arab fans of a visiting team ters to join," Felat told me. "Many women shrapnel wounds. threw stones at Kurds, causing a stampede; a signed up." She described her female compa­ riot ensued, during which Kurds toppled a stat­ triots as "women who had joined to protect The Y.P.G. presents itself as the antithesis of ue of Hafez al-Assad, the father and predeces­ other women" from extremists and their sexist ISIS. Not only does it aggressively recruit sor of Syria's current President, Bashar. ideologies. women into its ranks; it promotes democracy Government security forces subsequently killed and religious pluralism. Like many of her com­ more than thirty Kurds. Amid the crackdown, a By mid-2014, ISIS had become the largest rades, Felat has decided never to leave the new Kurdish opposition group, the Democratic Islamist rebel group in Syria. It seized Raqqa, a Y.P.G., or marry, or have children. Her younger >•

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>• brother, Mezul, who joined the Y.P.G. after she a thirty-foot-tall statue of a Kurdish female did, was killed by a roadside bomb in 2013. fighter with enormous white wings. Made from Felat, who identifies as a nonpracticing Muslim, iron and fibreglass, the statue towered over two said that she has sworn on Mezul's blood to tanks that ISIS had used in its failed assault on devote her life to the Y.P.G. Although the battle the town. Now onlookers straddled the tanks' for Raqqa is over, she, like most Syrians, fore­ cannons. A Y.P.G. soldier poured black oil from sees more fighting to come. a plastic water bottle onto handmade torches, and distributed them to people. Traditional Two thousand ISIS militants and hundreds of Kurdish songs blared through an industrial Kurds died in the battle of Kobanî. It took sound system installed in the bed of a pickup months to extricate the bodies from the wreck­ truck. Children and teen-agers danced. age. Locals say that the town's feral cats, rum­ maging among the corpses, began to go bald; It was August 14th, the eve of the thirty-third birds lost their feathers. Today, white placards anniversary of the P.K.K.'s first attacks against stand amid rubble and outside damaged build­ In Kobant, women and children mourn two the Turkish government. The conflict has left ings, marking places where Kurdish fighters Kurdish soldiers who died in a mine blast some forty thousand people dead, mainly were killed, and listing their names in black and in Raqqa. Though ISIS militants had begun Kurds. At some point, the music stopped, and a red paint. Many of the names belong to women. fleeing Raqqa weeks earlier, they left woman climbed into the truck, wielding a On a street downtown, two waist-high Plexiglas behind many mines and improvised explo­ megaphone. "No life without our leader!" she boxes are installed in the middle of a sidewalk sive devices. In the final weeks of battle, shouted. that has been carefully rebuilt around them. most fighters were killed by blasts, rather Inside the boxes, debris and broken asphalt are than in firefights. "Long live Apo!" everyone cried, using a nick­ preserved. At first, it's hard to tell what else the Photograph by Mauricio Lima for The New name for Ocalan. boxes contain. Then you notice the remains of Yorker two female fighters who were killed there: tufts n Kurdish parts of Syria, Ocalan is hard to of dust-caked hair still rooted to gray, desiccat­ Iescape. His image appears on billboards, ed flaps of scalp. ernments, should build confederations of "pop­ flags, walls, phones, pins, posters, and patches; ular assemblies" that can function as a parallel usually he is depicted with a warm smile few blocks away, at a local institution system within existing states. In 2004, one of beneath a paintbrush mustache. He tends to Aknown as the Commission for the Martyrs, Ocalan's German translators wrote to look avuncular and professorial, and is rarely the high walls of an expansive gallery are coveBookchin­ —then eighty-three and bedridden, shown with a weapon. In January, 2014, the red with hundreds of framed portraits of slain with osteoarthritis, in Vermont—to inform him Democratic Union Party promulgated a charter Kobanî natives. When I visited recently, the pic­ that Ocalan was determined to "implement based on Ocalan's concept of democratic confe­ tures ended midway across one wall. your ideas." Bookchin confessed to the transla­ deralism. Meant to lay the groundwork for "a Scaffolding had been erected, and dozens of tor that he wasn't really familiar with Ocalan. society free from authoritarianism, militarism, new frames were stacked on the floor. A volun­ "Thanks to our parochial press, Americans are centralism and the intervention of religious teer told me that the memorial was a work in barely informed about Kurdish affairs," he authority in public affairs," the charter establi­ progress; organized chronologically, it hadn't wrote. shed three autonomous cantons in Rojava, as yet caught up to 2017. At a far end of the gallery, the Kurdish region in northern Syria is known. • • faded portraits, from the nineties, showed local calan, who remains imprisoned, has publi­ Each canton would be composed of councils residents who had died in Turkey while fighting shed many pamphlets. In 2011, he released overseen by a general assembly. The charter with the Kurdistan Workers' Party, or P.K.K. O"Democratic Confederalism," in which he repurecognized­ the equal status of religions, lan­ Pointing at one image—a pale girl with cropped diates the pursuit of an independent Kurdish guages, and minority groups—Arabs, Syriacs, hair and a determined stare—the volunteer state, on the ground that nation-states are inhe­ Chechens, Armenians, and . It also man­ said, "My sister. She left before I knew her." rently repressive, sexist, and complicit in the dated that women comprise at least forty per depravities of "the worldwide capitalist sys­ cent of every governing body, institution, and The Democratic Union Party and the Y.P.G. tem." He also discusses the peril of Middle committee. In an echo of Bookchin's extensive grew out of the P.K.K. Though it is a matter of Eastern nations' being defined by religion or writings on social ecology, protecting the envi­ dispute precisely how involved the P.K.K. ethnicity. As an alternative, Ocalan suggests ronment was deemed a "sacred" duty. remains in their activities, the organizations creating decentralized networks of community share the same objectives and beliefs. In the sev­ councils, where all "cultural identities can After the Y.P.G.'s victory in Kobanî, it continued enties, a Turkish university dropout, Abdullah express themselves in local meetings." liberating towns from ISIS, and increasingly col­ Ocalan, founded the P.K.K. as a Marxist- laborated with Arab fighters and Christian mili­ Leninist movement committed to the creation of The P.K.K. had always included female guerril­ tias. The global anti-ISIS coalition, led by the an independent Kurdish state. The group las; the longer Ocalan remained in prison, how­ U.S., offered limited air support. The battlefield launched an insurgency that mainly targeted ever, the more preoccupied with feminism he successes of the Y.P.G. contrasted starkly with Turkish security personnel but also murdered became. In a 2013 manifesto, "Liberating Life," the generally hapless efforts of American prox­ Turkish civilians and Kurdish adversaries. he writes that "the 5,000-year-oId history of civ­ ies elsewhere in Syria. By mid-2015, a five-hun- ilization is essentially the history of the enslave­ dred-million-dollar Pentagon program intend­ In 1997, the United States added the PK.K. to its ment of women," and argues that no genuine ed to train and equip more than five thousand list of foreign terrorist organizations, and two political emancipation can happen without first anti-ISIS fighters had produced only about a years later the Central Intelligence Agency achieving gender equality. hundred of them; according to the Pentagon, helped Turkish agents capture Ocalan. Placed in most had been killed, abducted, or relieved of solitary confinement on a prison island off The P.K.K. adapted to Ocalan's evolving ideas their weapons by Islamists. A C.I.A. initiative, Istanbul, he did what many people would do: with surprising facility. But over the years many which eventually cost more than a billion dol­ he read. He became fascinated by an obscure of its members, seeking refuge from the Turkish lars, sponsored anti-government rebels. In 2015, American political theorist—a Communist authorities, decamped to Iraq's remote Qandil when Russia intervened in Syria, on behalf of turned libertarian socialist named Murray Mountains, where there was little society to rev­ Assad, it effectively neutralized these units with Bookchin. The oeuvre of Bookchin, who died in olutionize. Ocalan's vision seemed destined to air strikes. 2006, is vast and dense (a typical title is "The remain the utopian fancy of—as Bookchin Philosophy of Social Ecology: Essays on called himself—"an old radical." But then the Although the Y.P.G. was prevailing militarily, Dialectical Naturalism"). Ocalan was particular­ Democratic Union Party came into possession the Obama Administration remained leery of it. ly influenced by Bookchin's advocacy of "liber­ of most of northern Syria. Turkey, a nato member that allows the U.S. to tarian municipalism": the proposition that citi­ conduct air strikes over Syria from one of its zens, instead of attempting to change, over­ At a rally in Kobanî this summer, hundreds of military bases, does not distinguish between the throw, or secede from oppressive capitalist gov- residents congregated at a traffic circle, around Y.P.G. and the P.K.K., which it considers an exis- *■

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>. tential threat. At this year's Aspen Security tired," she said with a laugh. Her nom de guerre armed in Rojava, said of the Syrian and Turkish Forum, General Raymond Thomas, the head of was Çîçek 23. In Kurdish, çîçek means "flower." Kurds, "They saved us. They gave their blood to the U.S. Special Operations Command, recount­ Twenty-three comes from the name of a gun prevent our extermination." ed telling Y.P.G. leaders, in late 2015, that if they that she used on Mishtanour Hill. She told me wanted meaningful American support they had that she, too, had devoted herself to the Y.P.G. Zardesht and more than a thousand other to change their "brand." Thomas went on, Yazidis fought alongside the P.K.K. and the "With about a day's notice, they declared that "Think about this society," Sher said. "If you're Y.P.G. on the outskirts of Shingal until they were the Syrian Democratic Forces. It was married here, what can you give your children? November, 2015, when Iraqi Kurdish forces and a stroke of brilliance to put 'democracy' in Clothes? Food? Even slaves have clothes and a heavy U.S. bombing campaign helped them there." Soon after the S.D.F. was conceived, a food. When you are resisting oppression and take back the town. Countless P.K.K. and Y.P.G. U.S. aircraft parachuted a hundred pallets of injustice, you are fighting for more than just flags were raised across Shingal. "We started to weaponry to its Arab contingents, and Obama your own small family. You are fighting for your trust in their ideology, because we thought that dispatched Special Operations Forces to train big family—society." these beliefs would help us to protect our peo­ and advise them. ple," Zardesht told me. "Now we are trying to The frontiers of the society for which Sher and apply the same council system in Shingal as the The Trump Administration has doubled down Çiçek 23 are fighting have expanded consider­ Kurds have in Rojava." When the Raqqa offen­ on the strategy. In May, Trump approved a plan ably since they defended Kobani. On March 17, sive began, Zardesht and about forty other to arm Syrian Kurds in the S.D.F. directly, and 2016, the Democratic Union Party announced Yazidi militia members—half of them women— deployed several hundred marines and Army the creation of a "democratic " in volunteered to take part. rangers to support them. Around this time, Rojava, with the S.D.F. serving as its military. A Turkish jets bombed sites in Rojava, reportedly draft constitution was soon put forward. It "We are ready to sacrifice our lives for the ideas killing twenty Y.P.G. members. The attack largely preserved the canton structure, and of Abdullah Ocalan," Zardesht said. prompted U.S. troops, in marked vehicles, to included a mechanism for incorporating other join Kurdish fighters patrolling the Syrian- parts of Syria into its federal system. lthough most of the commanders in Raqqa Turkish border. "This needs to stop," Erdogan were Kurds, most of the troops were Arabs. declared, adding that the presence of American Sher and Çiçek 23 shared the expectation that A few days after speaking with Ali Sher in West flags in a "terrorist" convoy had "seriously sad­ once ISIS had been expelled from Raqqa the Raqqa, my translator and I followed two pickup dened us." area's citizens would vote to join the new feder­ trucks, crowded with about twenty Arab figh­ ation. They hoped that Raqqa residents, having ters, through the southern fringes of the city. he S.D.F., however, was the only rebel force endured the Draconian rule of ISIS, would be (Arab units of the S.D.F. are entirely male.) As capable of removing ISIS from its capital. open to the diametrically contrary values cham­ the trucks traversed a ravaged dirt road along TAnd though Raqqa does not have a largepioned by Ocalan, from secularism to gender the wide and calm Euphrates River, through Kurdish population, Kurdish fighters were pre­ equality. "When we liberate areas from ISIS, we overgrown orchards and sunflower gardens, the pared to help capture it. Rojda Felat told me, start a revolution in the mentality of the peo­ fighters cried out, "We are from Raqqa!" "There were a lot of discussions. But all of them ple," Sher said. "This is the most important Turning north into ruined residential neighbo­ were about what our role would be, not whe­ part." rhoods, we passed gutted husks of cars and ther we would play a role." buses, levelled buildings, and a depot littered The assertion might have sounded quixotic, if with the twisted remnants of blown-up The U.S. has not only ignored Turkey's objec­ not for some men who were sitting in the room construction equipment. tions; it has bolstered the Kurds diplomatically. with us. They were Yazidis from Shingal, a town In Aspen, General Thomas explained, "They in Iraqi Kurdistan. ISIS harbors a special disdain Inside the city, the devastation was apocalyptic. wanted a seat at the table, and because they had for Yazidis, who are not Muslim, and after its Block after block of tall apartment towers had been branded as P.K.K. they could never get to militants in Iraq seized Mosul, in 2014, they been obliterated. Every building seemed to the table." According to Thomas, U.S. diplomats attacked Shingal. Thousands of Yazidis were have been struck by ordnance: either destroyed have pushed for the S.D.F.'s involvement in slaughtered; thousands of women and girls entirely, scorched black by fire, or in a state of national peace talks that could determine the were abducted and forced into sexual slavery. mid-collapse, with slabs of concrete hanging future of the country. Those who escaped made for a mountain range precariously from exposed rebar and twisted I- that looms over the town and extends into beams. Bulldozers had plowed a path through And yet none of the Kurdish fighters I met Rojava. P.K.K. and Y.P.G. fighters opened a cor­ heaps of cinder blocks, felled power poles, and described the Raqqa campaign as a political ridor from the mountains into Syria. Sick and other detritus. Up ahead, missiles hit: a whistle, quid pro quo. For them, it was a necessary elderly Yazidis were evacuated. Able-bodied then a crash, then a dark plume. Smoke and phase in an ambitious, lifelong revolution. men and women were brought to training dust roiled over rooftops. camps, formed into an armed militia, and sent One afternoon this summer, near a front line in back to fight ISIS. A melee broke out as soon as we stopped. It was West Raqqa, I sat in a requisitioned residence unclear who was in charge. Amid arguments with Ali Sher, a thirty-three-year-old Kurdish A short and stocky twenty-seven-year-old about which teams should go where, some commander with a handlebar mustache and the Yazidi named Zardesht, who'd been trained and fighters were herded inside a building while traditional Y.P.G. uniform: camouflage Hammer others piled into a Humvee, which then sped off pants and a colorful head scarf tied back pirate- toward an abandoned children's hospital that style. Before the war, Sher sold clothes in a mar­ they were meant to capture. I joined a group of ket in Kobani. He joined the Y.P.G. when ISIS fighters gathered on the ground floor of the attacked the city; after the battle, he made the building. Most of them were from Tabqa, a city same blood oath as Rojda Felat. "I have nothing about twenty miles to the west. They had joined else," he told me. "I don't have a wife. I don't the S.D.F. when it liberated Tabqa, in May. After have children. I don't even have a car." seventeen days of training from U.S. soldiers, they told me, they had been given Kalashnikovs When I asked Sher what he was doing in Raqqa, and sent to the front. Some of them looked he said, "Don't think we are fighting only for extremely young. One boy, Joresh Akool, must Rojava. We're not soldiers—we're revolutionar­ have been about fourteen. (He hesitated when I ies." asked his age, then said that he was seventeen.) Smoking a cigarette and wearing a ski vest, wo young women walked into the room, A sniper for the Syrian Democratic despite it being well over a hundred degrees, Tand Sher greeted them enthusiastically. One Forces. On October 19th, the S.D.F. Akool told me that he was the only member of was a P.K.K. fighter from Turkey. ("Leave me announced that it had reclaimed Raqqa his family left in Syria—everyone else had fled alone," she said when I tried to interview her.) from ISIS. to Turkey. "My mother keeps telling me to The other had been Sher's first commander in Photograph by Mauricio Lima for Fhe come," he said. "She says if I come she'll find a Kobani. "During the training, he was very New Yorker wife for me." The men around him laughed. >•

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the bulldozer's blade, often exploding them in Several of the Arab fighters wore patches featur­ the process. One blast had shattered a window ing the face of Abdullah Ocalan. When I asked in the cab. them what they thought about his ideas, how­ ever, they seemed indifferent. Many of them Front-line units carried sacks full of jury-rigged had battled the regime at the beginning of the bombs: softball-size amalgams of homemade war. Akool told me that one of his brothers had explosives, packaged in plastic wrap and spiked been killed in Aleppo while fighting Assad's with six-inch fuses. At least one bomb was forces. "That was a long time ago," he said. It thrown into every building that the fighters wasn't, really—about three years—but I knew planned to enter, in order to set off any mines what he meant. It was before ISIS created its inside. This precautionary measure, however, caliphate, before Russian and U.S. involvement, insured the destruction of whatever structures and before the S.D.F. had managed to evade aerial bombardment— and it wasn't even foolproof. Before the Arab Despite the Arab fighters' lack of interest in the fighters from Tabqa had entered the children's S.D.F. fighters take a break inside a Kurdish social revolution, they said that they hospital, they had deployed ten such bombs. destroyed building in Raqqa. planned to remain in the S.D.F., even after the Photograph by Mauricio Lima for The Raqqa offensive, as long as it continued to Four days after the incident at the hospital, I vis­ New Yorker oppose ISIS. "Wherever there is ISIS in the ited the surrounding area. The Humvee I was in world, I will fight them," one of them said. "I'll stopped next to a Toyota pickup truck with Iraqi go to America to fight them." He wanted plates and a Russian machine gun mounted in removing the firing pin on their sole machine revenge for the indignities that ISIS had made the bed; it had been compressed beneath a gun while they slept. The next day, ISIS mili­ him suffer, and for his friends and relatives who building pancaked by an air strike. Next door, tants ambushed the position, killing all thirteen had been killed. He said, "When ISIS came to in a second-floor bedroom of a once luxurious Kurdish fighters stationed there. "This man had Tabqa, they arrested us and gave us Islamic home, I met three mine-removal technicians— been in my father's unit for two years," Halal instruction in the prison. They collected all the the first I'd seen in Raqqa. said. "They trusted him. He'd said he wanted to children and forced them to do military and help the Kurds." Koranic training." They were preparing to sweep the hospital for a third time. "The first time we went in, we found hether or not the story was true, Halal We hadn't been talking long when the Humvee about twenty mines," one of them, a bearded believed it. I asked him how he felt about returned with several men looking stunned and Arab in gold-rimmed sunglasses, told me. They Wcommanding Arabs now. He nodded toward battered. Upon entering the children's hospital, had no formal training: their primary qualifica­ the broken window, beyond which explosions they'd triggered a mine. "We thought it was tion for the job appeared to be their willingness and sniper fire had been sounding. He said sim­ safe," one of them said, explaining that a coali­ to do it. The man with the sunglasses was coil­ ply, "A lot of them are brave and fighting in a tion jet had hit the hospital with an air strike, ing rope tied to a grappling hook. Whenever strong way." Then, seeming to recognize the which should have detonated any improvised they found an I.E.D., he explained, he placed or irony of his situation—or, in any case, seeming explosive devices that ISIS had planted inside. tossed the hook near its triggering device, paid to recognize that I found it ironic—Halal added, A report came over someone's radio: two men out the rope, and pulled. Their other tool was a "We think that man did what he did for money. were dead, several wounded. The injuries plastic mirror that had been Scotch-taped to a ISISpaid him to do it." As Joresh Akool had told included lost limbs. paint roller. A second technician proudly me, 2014 was a long time ago. showed me how a pole attached to the roller's he vast majority of S.D.F. fighters who were handle extended and collapsed, enabling them In Aleppo, certainly, a lot had changed. After Tkilled in Raqqa were Arabs, and most of to see around corners. ISIS had dug a tunnel regime soldiers killed Akool's brother, moderate them were killed by blasts. Firefights were rare. into the hospital's basement. "That last air strike Arabs in the opposition were gradually van­ While I was there, at least, very few ISIS mili­ was trying to damage it," he said. "We heard on quished by Islamists, and so the Y.P.G. switched tants seemed to be defending the city. The lea­ the radio that ISIS wants to capture some of us sides. Last December, Kurds helped Assad's dership was thought to have escaped south, to alive." forces retake the city. the province of Deir Ezzor. The problem now was the confounding proliferation of mines that In another bedroom of the house, I found the he deep grievances that many Arabs harbor ISIS had left behind—and the S.D.F.'s inability ranking commander for the area, a Kurd, sitting toward ISIS have brought about their unli­ to deal with them. on a box spring beneath a shattered window Tkely collaboration with the disciples of that overlooked the hospital. Twenty-one years Abdullah Ocalan. But it is not clear if this tem­ In Mosul, where ISIS had recently been defeat­ old, diminutive, and clean-shaven, with a line of porary military alliance will translate into an ed, the Iraqi Army had relied on an extensive pale scalp on the side of his head where a bullet enduring political one after ISIS has been pur­ fleet of American tanks and mine-resistant had grazed him, he introduced himself as ged from Syria. In Raqqa, the Kurds seem deter­ armored personnel carriers. But the U.S., in an Vietnam Kobanî. His real name was Khairee mined to try to strengthen the bond. This April, effort to appease Turkey, has strictly limited its Halal. Before the war, Halal had been a barber in a delegation of a hundred and ten displaced supply of matériel to the S.D.F. The five thou­ Aleppo. When Y.P.G. fighters arrived in the city natives of the city—technocrats, teachers, attor­ sand troops fighting in Raqqa had access to only and set up a militia in the Kurdish quarter, he neys, and other professionals—established the fifteen . Ali Sher's men and another joined them. As Aleppo became divided Raqqa Civil Council, a governing body model­ unit—two hundred and fifty fighters, in total— between regime forces and rebel groups, the led on the regional assemblies of the new demo­ shared one of the Humvees, and shortly after I Kurds were caught between the two sides. "We cratic federation in northern Syria. Once Raqqa met them it was disabled for a few days by a were not with either," Halal told me. "We were was secure, the delegation declared, the council, grenade dropped by an ISIS drone. just defending our neighborhood." I spent a which has U.S. backing, would assume admi­ month in Aleppo in 2013, and many Arab rebels nistration of the city. Another afternoon, on a street in East Raqqa, I met there believed that the Kurds were not as where the S.D.F. had pushed into the city's old neutral as they claimed: Assad's intelligence When I visited its interim offices, in a town forty quarter, breaching a huge mud-mortar wall agents were said to enjoy free rein in the miles north of Raqqa, dozens of people had from the eighth century, I watched an armored Kurdish quarter. That April, however, the Y.P.G. crowded outside the door of a senior council­ bulldozer return from clearing some rubble in Aleppo formally allied itself with the opposi­ man, Omar Alloush. Inside, Alloush, a rotund, nearby. Snipers had pierced the bulldozer in tion. gray-haired, chain-smoking Kurdish lawyer three places, and it leaked a black trail of oil in from Kobanî, was talking with two men: an the dirt. The driver was a fifty-seven-year-old In 2015, Halal left Aleppo and joined the cam­ S.D.F. official, in a suit, and an Arab sheikh, in a Arab from Hasakah—the city where Rojda Felat paign against ISIS in northern Syria after his kaffiyeh and traditional white robes. The had attended college. Before joining the S.D.F., father, who was also in the Y.P.G., was killed sheikh, Farris Horan, served on a committee for he'd worked on construction projects. Now his near Kobanî. According to Halal, an Arab mem­ the Raqqa Civil Council that acted as a liaison to >. main responsibility was excavating mines with ber of his father's unit betrayed his comrades,

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Raqqa's Arab tribes. An S.D.F. fighter had acci­ entered the tent—Laila Mustafa, a twenty-nine- dentally shot an Arab civilian, and, after meet­ year-old Kurdish engineer, wearing black jeans ing with the leaders of the victim's tribe, Horan and boots, her hair in a ponytail—the sheikhs was negotiating financial compensation. Once stood to shake her hand. the two men had settled the issue and left the room, Alloush, speaking of the Arab tribes, told mar Alloush, the Kurdish senior council­ me, "They don't necessarily believe in our ide­ man, presided over the ceremony. He stood ology. But they see a future with us. That's why Obefore the tribesmen and passionately condem­ they joined us." ned ISIS, the Assad regime, and anti-govern­ ment rebels not belonging to the S.D.F. Only the By "us," he did not mean only the Raqqa Civil S.D.F., he said, "aims to end the Syrian crisis Council. Alloush had helped found a political and build a new democratic Syria." Other arm of the S.D.F. that is responsible for manag­ Kurdish leaders followed with similar speeches, In Kobanî, children play near buildings ing the envisaged expansion of the democratic vowing to spread their revolution to the entire that were destroyed by air strikes during federation beyond Rojava. "We believe in a new country. the 2014 campaign against ISIS. White constitution for Syria," Alloush told me. Every placards, with red and black lettering, community that the S.D.F. liberated from ISIS The head of the main tribe in Karama, who was memorialize the Kurdish fighters who would be urged to join the federation. "Maybe known as Abu Jihad, stepped forward. An older were killed at the site. some places will be autonomous," he said. man with a pockmarked face, he was, compared Photograph by Mauricio Lima for The "Federal system, noncentral system—this deci­ with the Kurdish speakers, conspicuously tepid. sion will come from the people. We have to wait He thanked people for coming and mumbled, majority-Kurdish cantons, winning Arab sup­ and see how they'll vote." "We are ready to be with you." port is not essential, and indoctrination seems to be more the goal. All men in Rojava between the A few days later, my translator and I gave Alloush stood up again. "Out of respect for ages of eighteen and thirty, regardless of their Horan a ride to a village about ten miles east of everyone who is here today," he said, the S.D.F. ethnicity, must serve at least ten months in a Raqqa, across a black expanse of volcanic sand would release fifty local families who, suspect­ kind of national guard. In a camp outside flats. The village, which hugged the banks of the ed of having especially close ties to ISIS, had Kobanî, I attended a graduation ceremony for Euphrates, was in an area called Karama, and been held in a nearby camp for internally dis­ some five hundred conscripts, who'd just com­ Horan had been invited to attend a ceremony in placed people. The news was greeted with loud pleted basic training. Most of them were Arabs. which Karama's largest Arab tribe would applause. When I asked one of the instructors—nearly all announce its endorsement of the Raqqa Civil of whom were Kurds—what the training entai­ Council. In the car, Horan said, "They were the After an elaborate lunch was served, I spoke led, he said, "We really focus on the mentality, main tribe supporting ISIS around here. Even privately with Abu Jihad. He told me that the beliefs, more than the military stuff. Our now, a lot of them are still with ISIS. But others before ISIS arrived "there were no radical main objective is to send a new man back to are with us. So it's complicated." beliefs" in Karama. "No one thought like that, society, and in this way to build a new society." not even the people who ended up joining ISIS." In March, when the S.D.F. took Karama, hun­ This included his younger brother, Tobat. Abu The instructor's classes were intellectually dreds of villagers retreated to Raqqa with ISIS. Jihad said that Tobat had opposed the Assad ambitious. "I explain the federalist project," he Some were forced to go; some had been recruit­ regime, but was not particularly religious. said. "I begin with the whole history of federal­ ed as militants and went willingly. Among those When ISIS came to Karama, in 2014, Abu Jihad ism, from before the term existed, when it start­ who stayed in Karama, twelve hundred men urged Tobat to stay away. "I told him, 'There's ed in Greece. We talk about the Romans, about had joined the S.D.F. They were now fighting no future with them.' We argued a lot." Abu Columbus discovering America, and about the their former neighbors and relatives on the front Jihad claimed that many people in Karama fell first American Congress and the . Then lines in Raqqa. Indeed, Horan said, the brother under the sway of ISIS simply because "there I explain the system here in Rojava, which is not of the sheikh hosting the day's ceremony had were no schools—there was only the Sharia a nation-state but a mixing of different commu­ joined ISIS, and was a high-ranking official instruction." He added, "ISIS filled all the nities." The class lasts six hours a day for twenty within the caliphate. young people's minds with their ideas. My days. Arab conscripts take workshops in the brother was one of them." Tobat retreated with Kurdish language twice a week. In the village center, five long tents stood in a the ISIS militants to Raqqa, and one day he sent field beside a concrete water tower lying on its envoys home to recruit fighters. "I called him The instructor didn't mention Ocalan to me, but side. (ISIS had sabotaged it.) Under the tents, and told him, strongly, not to do that again," when the graduation ceremony began and con­ hundreds of Arab men, representing forty-odd Abu Jihad recalled. "I said, 'You made your scripts marched across a dirt parade ground to tribes from Raqqa Province, sat on carpets, decision. Now you have to fight alone.' That the bleating of a brass band, they chanted, "No watching several sheikhs mingle with one was the last time we spoke." Still, Abu Jihad life without Apo!" another, as well as with Kurdish members of the insisted that Tobat was "a good person." In S.D.F., many of whom were women. When one Raqqa, he said, Tobat had "helped many peo­ "Who's our leader?" a Kurdish female instruc­ of the two co-chairs of the Raqqa Civil Council ple" by standing up for them against less fair- tor shouted. minded ISIS officials. Abu Jihad said that most of the local men who'd joined ISIS were "Apo!" redeemable. "A lot of them want to come back," he told me. "But ISIS won't let them." Later, in a speech, the female instructor invoked the anniversary of the P.K.K.'s first attacks on I asked him if these men would be welcomed by the Turkish government: "This month was a his tribe if they somehow escaped. holy month, because we are continuing the path that was started by Ocalan." "Absolutely." After the ceremony, a Kurdish poet recited some And Tobat? Did he want to come back? of his revolutionary verse, and musicians per­ formed traditional Kurdish songs. While talking "I don't know," Abu Jihad said. He studied the with a Kurdish instructor, I remarked on the prayer beads in his hands, then told me, "I'm dozens of abandoned mud-mortar dwellings Boots inside the warehouse of a military sure he will leave them and return to us." scattered throughout the camp, which appeared training camp outside Kobanî. Soldiers' to have once been a village. names are written on them in Arabic. he Raqqa Civil Council's forgiving attitude Photograph by Mauricio Lima for The New Ttoward former ISIS sympathizers, and its "Arabs used to live here," he said. Yorker deference to Arab tribal structures, contrasted "God, you know what? You're sweet, but I just ■>, strikingly with what I saw in Rojava. In the

27 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Ozeti

>■ got out of a long thing." approved. The numerous air strikes I witnessed each day in Raqqa seemed incongruous, given "What happened to them?" I asked. the apparent paucity of ISIS fighters there. One day, Sher's unit moved its line forward by five "They left with ISIS." blocks, capturing forty buildings in the process. While they were completing the operation, I tal­ "Where are they now?" ked to Sher, who told me that nobody had shot at them the whole time. According to the latest "Nobody knows." intelligence, he said, between five and six hun­ dred ISIS fighters remained in Raqqa. I asked In late 2015, after a two-month investigation, him what all the bombing was for. accused the Y.P.G. of forcibly displacing Arabs in northern Syria, and "Snipers," he said. "And mines. Sometimes it's of razing Arab villages there. According to At the victory celebration in Naim just one guy." Amnesty, the attacks constituted a "campaign of Square—a former site of ISIS executions— collective punishment of civilians in villages female fighters gather in front of a banner The U.S. has largely disparaged criticism of its previously captured" by ISIS, or in places depicting Abdullah Ocalan, the Turkish strikes. The coalition's commander, Lieutenant "where a small minority were suspected of sup­ dissident. S.D.F. Commander Rojda Felat General Stephen Townsend, recently wrote that porting the group." A subsequent U.N. commis­ (center) said of the battle to liberate assertions by groups like Airwars "are often sion, which investigated more recent allega­ Raqqa, "We thought it would be much unsupported by fact." Omar Alloush, of the tions, found "no evidence to substantiate claims more difficult." Raqqa Civil Council, was similarly dismissive that Y.P.G. or S.D.F. forces ever targeted Arab Photograph by Mauricio Lima for The about civilian casualties. He told me, "There are communities on the basis of ethnicity." New Yorker only two kinds of people left in Raqqa—ISIS and thieves. Otherwise, why haven't they left At the camp, Kurdish instructors never left my yet?" side, and I had difficulty meeting Arab con­ Operations Forces were deployed throughout scripts. Finally, I sat down with a young man the city, but they avoided journalists. The S.D.F. At the time of this conversation, an estimated named Malik Mohammad, and asked him what also severely restricted the press. Reporters twenty thousand civilians were still trapped in he thought of his training. were assigned minders, and access to active Raqqa; attempting to escape was extremely front lines was almost impossible to obtain. dangerous. ISIS snipers often shot at fleeing "It's useful," Mohammad said. More than once, I was told that I couldn't go civilians, and many others were killed or somewhere, only to find out later that U.S. sol­ maimed by mines. S.D.F. commanders told me The reply felt unconvincing. Like most Arab diers had been in the area, or that bombardment that ISIS used civilians as shields, putting them conscripts, he would probably spend the next from coalition planes and artillery had taken on the rooftops of buildings they occupied. Two ten months performing menial duties, away place nearby. U.S. Special Operations Forces ran primitive aid stations treated wounded civilians from his family. Although sixty new graduates a field hospital in Raqqa that treated wounded in Raqqa. At both of them, I was told that the had been selected to become officers, all but two S.D.F. fighters; when I went there and asked if vast majority of patients had stepped on mines were Kurds. anyone would speak with me, I was aggressive­ while trying to reach the S.D.F.'s front line. ly confronted by half a dozen armed Americans, (When I asked the American with the graying hen I asked Mohammad to elaborate, he one of whom said, "Absolutely not." He confis­ beard if the field hospital treated civilians, he glanced timidly at several Kurdish cated my phone and demanded its password. (I replied, "That's not our mission.") Wconscripts hovering around us. Then he said,didn't give it to him, and he eventually returned "They teach us about the importance of a free the phone.) An older American, with a graying After coalition air strikes took out two bridges society. But if we were free we'd be able to beard and a ball cap, told me, "For you, infor­ over the Euphrates, in February, the main choose whether or not to serve" in the national mation is a good thing." He then explained that, option for fleeing civilians was to hire a smug­ guard. for security reasons, it was better if nobody gler with a boat. The next month, the coalition knew that they were there. Several soldiers dropped leaflets over Raqqa with a warning: Many Kurds also dislike the conscription policy. escorted me to my car, and for the next two days "Do not use ferries or boats. Air strikes are com­ But the Democratic Union Party, despite its lofty the S.D.F. shut down the entire area to reporters. ing." Lieutenant General Townsend told the charter and constitution, has shown little Times, "We shoot every boat we find," adding, patience for dissent. While the Party was con­ No doubt the security concerns were legitimate. "If you want to get out of Raqqa right now, solidating power in northern Syria, rival figures But the efforts to limit media coverage in Raqqa, you've got to build a poncho raft." in the Kurdish opposition were arbitrarily by both the Americans and the Kurds, might imprisoned; others were killed, or went miss­ also have been tied to the controversial way that One would think that the killing of civilians, ing. In 2013, Y.P.G. fighters shot and killed three the campaign was conducted. According to the along with the total demolition of Raqqa's infra­ Kurds protesting the detention of anti-Assad watchdog group Airwars, the coalition structure, might risk alienating residents, or activists. The leader of an alliance of Kurdish deployed some twenty thousand munitions turn them against their would-be liberators. For political parties that are wary of the P.K.K. has during the Raqqa offensive and killed more some, surely, this is the case. But others whom I been forced into exile. In March, more than a than thirteen hundred civilians, including at spoke with exhibited a remarkable—and heart­ dozen offices belonging to groups opposed to least two hundred and fifty children. breaking—forbearance from judgment. In South the Democratic Union Party were forcibly shut Thousands were injured. In August, the U.N. Raqqa, I met Ahmed Almoo, an S.D.F. fighter down. High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid who had crossed the Euphrates, in a boat, two Ra'ad Al Hussein, declared that civilians were months earlier. Almoo was fifty-six but looked The Syrian civil war has produced many "paying an unacceptable price." The coalition decades older. I'd noticed him standing guard strange bedfellows. But it's especially curious went on to escalate its bombing. outside an Arab unit's position one morning, that Ocalan's revolution, which strives to elimi­ and was struck by the sight of a man so wizened nate "capitalist modernity," has made its recent any of the coalition's strikes on Raqqa ori­ and fragile wearing a uniform and holding a advancements under the patronage of the Mginated with front-line revolutionary Kalashnikov. He told me that he'd been a butch­ United States. In Rojava, Kurds often refer to Kurdish commanders like Ali Sher. At all times,er in Raqqa. To pay his smuggler, he'd sold all Donald Trump as Bâvê soreç—"Father of the Sher carried an iPad on which was installed a the equipment from his shop and the furniture Revolution"—and in Kobani there is a kebab satellite map of Raqqa. The map allowed him to from his home. His brother, who couldn't afford restaurant called Trump, with the President's pinpoint the G.P.S. coordinates of any structure to join him, had been killed by an air strike. All visage painted on its window. I met a Y.P.G. by touching its image on the screen. He could the same, Almoo had not hesitated to join the fighter who'd named his infant daughter radio the coordinates to a tactical-operations S.D.F. "I suffered a lot from ISIS," he explained. America. center and request that the structure be targeted He blamed the group for the death of his son. by coalition missiles, mortars, rockets, or artil­ "He started feeling sick, and we took him to a During the Raqqa offensive, U.S. Special lery. Usually, Sher told me, his requests were doctor who did some tests and told us he had >•

28 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Ozeti

>• stomach cancer. But there's no medicine or any­ thing in Raqqa, and ISIS won't let people leave This fall, S.D.F. fighters and regime forces have to find a hospital. So I just brought him home, been racing for control of ISIS's last bastion, the and he died." province of Deir Ezzor. The S.D.F. recently cap­ tured a large oil field there. The Assad regime, his echoed previous conversations I'd had. backed by Russian air power, is fighting in the The day I went to Karama, Farris Horan, the provincial capital. A direct phone line connects Ttribal liaison, had pointed out a village on the the command centers of the U.S. and Russian way. His cousin had lived there with her hus­ militaries in Syria, so that they can avoid inad­ band, a sheikh. After they had a son, she invited vertent clashes. Nonetheless, the coalition says, friends over to celebrate. Horan said that the Russian planes have targeted S.D.F. positions, coalition must have mistaken the party for an wounding fighters. ISIS gathering. An air strike hit the house, kil­ ling eleven people, including Horan's cousin ven as the Democratic Union Party has The campaign to liberate Raqqa from ISIS and her baby. In the car, Horan brought out his embraced the U.S.-led coalition and forged has left it virtually uninhabitable. Much of phone and showed me a photograph of the boy, Ealliances with anti-government rebels, it has the city is covered in mines. purple-faced and swaddled in white blankets. tried to reach an accommodation with Assad. Photograph by Mauricio Lima for The New The sheikh survived. I asked Horan what the Crude from northern Syria's abundant oil fields, Yorker sheikh was doing now. "He has a unit in the which the Democratic Union Party largely S.D.F.," Horan said. "He coordinates directly controls, is exported in tanker convoys to with the coalition." Damascus, and an overland route links Rojava regime in political, social, cultural, and military to regime-controlled Aleppo. The Kurdish quar­ aspects," Abdullah declared. "We dedicate the I expressed incredulity. ter in Aleppo has been granted semi-autonomy, liberation of Raqqa to all the women of the and regime soldiers still guard the administra­ world." "All people here want right now is to be fin­ tive buildings that the government was allowed ished with ISIS," Horan told me. "They will to keep after withdrawing troops from Rojava. Whatever the Kurdish revolution is or isn't, and accept almost anything if they can just get rid of however sincerely its adherents have sought to ISIS." Outside Rojava, Bashar al-Assad's military posi­ implement their ideals, its commitment to tion is as strong as it has been in years. He has women's rights cannot be dismissed. For many The willingness to countenance American described the autonomous Kurdish canton­ women in the Y.P.G., the revolution is, above all, crimes because of more egregious ones commit­ ments as "temporary structures," and he has an unprecedented feminist endeavor for the ted by ISIS, Russia, and the regime, speaks to never equivocated about his intention to bring Middle East. One day in Raqqa, in September, I how tragically tolerant some Syrians have the entire country back under his control. met a twenty-two-year-old fighter named grown of what might once have appalled them. Robert S. Ford, the former U.S. Ambassador to Shilan, who was wearing fatigues, Chuck It might also reveal a fear that U.S. involvement Syria, recently wrote in Foreign Affairs that Taylors, and a calculator watch. She told me, in Syria will be short-lived. One day, in a wait­ Assad "will probably succeed." Ford continued, "The men we are fighting against treat women ing room in Kobanî, a stranger handed me his "That means the United States will have to like animals. They make them slaves, they rape phone to show me some Kurdish text that he'd abandon any hopes of supporting a separate them. As a woman, I have to fight these men." typed into Google Translate: "We love Kurdish region or securing respect for human Americans so much I hope you do not give up rights and democracy." In his view, "when the ISIS is spectacularly misogynist, but Kurdish on us." The sentiment was repeated by many Syrian government and Kurdish forces society can also be sexist, Shilan pointed out. others I met in northern Syria, especially by inevitably fight," it would be "a mistake" for the She said that joining the Y.P.G. and battling ISIS Kurdish members of the S.D.F. U.S. to "step in on behalf of old allies." was, in part, a means of transcending limita­ tions that would otherwise define her life at Their worry is understandable. America's part­ On October 19th, in a ceremony at Naim Square, home: "Your family tells you that you can't nership with the S.D.F. still infuriates Turkey. In in the center of Raqqa, the S.D.F. announced that wear certain clothes. When you go out, people July, Turkey's state news agency published a the city had been "liberated." This feels like a say you have to stay with your husband. You're map identifying ten undisclosed U.S. bases in misnomer. The coalition's air campaign has left not free. Nobody listens to you. Here, you have Rojava, and the Turkish military began shelling Raqqa an uninhabitable wasteland. More than the right to your opinion. Men care what you a Kurdish district there. Turkish officials three hundred thousand civilians have been dis­ have to say. They want to put you in the front. announced, "We will never allow the establish­ placed. In September, Omar Alloush told me It's possible to have your place." ment of a terror state along our borders." that he'd met with U.S. State Department offi­ cials who'd pledged American financial help for I asked her whether she could imagine being a Many Kurdish fighters I met in Raqqa said that the rebuilding of Raqqa's infrastructure, power civilian again, when the war in Syria ends. From they were ready to fight the Turkish Army next. plants, schools, and water and sanitation sys­ where we stood, it felt like a frivolously hypo­ At the graduation ceremony in Kobanî, the con­ tems. "Until now, this is only words," he said. thetical question, but Shilan answered right scripts were commanded to stand against "our "They have given nothing." away. enemies in Turkey." From the perspective of U.S. interests, however, once ISIS has been ll the same, the event at Naim Square was No, she'd never go back. • defeated in Syria the utility of Kurdish fighters celebratory. Under ISIS, the square had will diminish significantly. If a direct conflict Abeen the site of beheadings and crucifixions. This article appears in the print edition of the broke out between Turkey and the S.D.F., it is Now a huge banner showing a smiling Ocalan November 6, 2017, issue, with the headline "Dark difficult to imagine the U.S. employing force was unfurled. Y.P.G. flags flew. "My heart was Victory. " against its NATO ally. It is equally difficult to jumping for joy," Rojda Felat said recently. "We imagine the S.D.F. withstanding a Turkish thought it would be much more difficult." She incursion, unless it were supported by U.S. air- noted, "One time, on the front lines, the enemy power. attacked and the men took a step back—but the women didn't. When the men saw them, they In mid-October, ISIS holdouts in Raqqa were started fighting again." granted safe passage out of the city. According to Omar Alloush, the Kurdish senior member of Hundreds of female Kurdish fighters, from var­ the Raqqa Civil Council, two hundred and sev­ ious units around the city, congregated in the enty-five Syrian ISIS members "turned them­ square. Nesrin Abdullah, the commander of an selves in to their tribes, in exchange for forgive­ all-female branch of the Y.P.G., gave a speech ness." (Although some of those who surren­ commemorating the thirty female fighters who dered came from Karama, the home of Abu had been killed during the offensive. "Women Jihad, his brother Tobat was not among them.) have freed themselves of the exploitative male

29 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Ozeti □ n p r November 7, 2017 After Iraqi Kurdish Independence Vote Backfires, 'I Do Not Regret It/ Says Barzani

Jane Arraf — November 7, 2017 Masoud Barzani stepped ttps://www.npr.org down last week as president of Iraq's Kurdistan regional here's a light rain falling in the hills around Masoud Barzani’s palace north of government. The independ­ Irbil. Last week, Barzani stepped down as president of the semi-autonomous ence referendum he pushed TKurdistan regional government in northern Iraq, a position he's held for 12 years. through resulted in a military But the building, with its soaring staircases and footsteps of staff echoing through attack by Iraqi forces. But, he vast marble hallways, is still distinctly presidential. tells NPR, "I am very proud that we have given the The Kurdistan region Barzani was instrumental in carving out from the ruins of opportunity for the Kurdish Saddam Hussein's Iraq has been turned upside down. Barzani, 71, pushed people to express their vote." through a historic referendum for Kurdish independence in September. But it He says the region will backfired, and instead of the repercussions he expected — economic sanctions reassess its relationship with and temporary border closures — the Iraqi government sent in troops. the U.S. Iraqi Troops Enter Kirkuk, Seeking To Take Oil-Rich Area Back From Kurds Jane Arraf/NPR The Two-Way referendum in September. U.S. officials brokered a deal with Baghdad to open Iraqi Troops Enter Kirkuk, Seeking To Take Oil-Rich Area Back From Kurds negotiations with Irbil. If those failed, the U.S. would promise to recognize the need for a referendum. Iraqi forces, including Iranian-backed Shiite paramilitaries, took back the city of Kirkuk, oil fields and towns and cities in a large swath of northern Iraq. Federal But Kurdish officials say the offer came too late - two days before the vote, when troops are retaking borders with Iran, Turkey and Syria that the Kurds have con­ Barzani had already made clear the referendum would go ahead. trolled since the 1990s. After Saddam Hussein's genocidal campaign against the Kurds in the 1980s, the The Kurds have also lost territory they've held since 2014, when Peshmerga fight­ United States created the conditions for the Kurdistan region to flourish, leading ers moved in to fight ISIS after entire divisions of the Iraqi army collapsed. a no-fly zone in 1991 protecting the Kurds from air strikes. For the first time in Iraq, the Kurds gained control of their borders, creating a region that — while not It's undeniably a disaster. Barzani, though, seems unchanged. exactly democratic — was seen as the most stable, prosperous and US-friendly in Although no longer president, Barzani remains head of the Kurdistan Democratic Iraq. Party, the dominant party in the regional government. Crucially, he still leads urdish leaders had made clear the September vote would not trigger an Peshmerga fighters loyal to his party. And as one of the founders of modern-day immediate declaration of independence. Until the last moment - at a press Kurdistan, he retains enormous influence in many parts of this tribal region. Kconference the evening before the referendum - Barzani seemed to think the He walks into an interview with NPR — his first since Kurds went to the polls on worst repercussions would be border closures or economic sanctions. But with so September 25 — wearing his usual traditional Kurdish clothing, khaki baggy pants many fault lines in the Middle East, no country was willing to see the breakup of and a tunic with a cummerbund, along with the red and white headdress of his Iraq. Barzan tribe. He has the bearing of the Kurdish fighter he cherishes as his core "We were expecting some kind of reaction, but we had not calculated on military identity. attack," Barzani tells NPR. arzani professes to have no regrets. He says "of course" the consequences his The Kurds and their Peshmerga fighters have been one of the strongest U.S. allies region has suffered were worth it to make clear that Kurds want indepen­ for two decades. US-backed Kurdish forces — often unpaid and under-equipped Bdence. — played a crucial role in the multinational fight against ISIS. "I am very proud of the result. I am very proud that we have given the opportunity Barzani sees the U.S. willingness to allow Iran-backed Iraqi forces to attack the for the Kurdish people to express their vote - and I do not regret it," he says. Kurds as an inexplicable surrender to Iranian influence. Asked about the expectation that he take some responsibility for the aftermath, "We regard ourselves as friends of the people of the United States, as friends of Barzani says it was a collective decision to hold the referendum and not his alone. the government of the United States but ... we have to revise our relationship He accuses specific Kurdish leaders from the rival Patriotic Union of Kurdistan of with those who are responsible for this," he says. "I can say we are going to have treason in handing over Kirkuk. And he blames the United States for allowing a very strong revising of our relationship." Iranian-backed Iraqi paramilitaries working with Iraqi troops to attack the Kurds. He says the Kurdish people see it as betrayal. "They were using American weapons - Abrams tanks and other things the "From 2003, the people of Kurdistan have received the American people with American government gave to the Iraqi government to use in the fight against hearts and flowers," he says. "The love and hope and trust that people had in the ISIS. But they used it against the Kurdish people, and the Americans stayed silent," United States has declined and is decreasing day by day." he says. Instead of relying on the United States, Barzani says, the Kurds could improve The U.S., the U.K. and almost every other ally had warned Barzani not to hold the their relationship with Russia. Iraqi Kurdish Barzani’s nephew Nechirvan is the region's prime minister. He and deputy prime students hold minister Qubad Talabani - another of the new generation of Kurdish political posters of Iraqi leaders - have been trying to persuade the Iraqi government to sit down to talks. Kurdish leader In much of the rest of the country, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi is a Masoud wave of popularity for regaining Kirkuk. He insists the Kurds have to renounce the Barzani during referendum - declaring it null and void - before he'll sit down to negotiations to a demonstra­ stop further Iraqi military movements. tion in his sup­ port in Irbil, Masoud Barzani says that's impossible. In a concession, the Kurdish government Iraqi has said it would "freeze" the results of the referendum and put seeking inde­ Kurdistan, on pendence on hold. Oct. 3O.Safin "Who can annul 3 million votes?" asks Barzani. "It's really very meaningless, this Hamed/AFP/Ge insistence. There is no way they can be annulled." ♦ tty Images

30 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Ozeti

JL k-zsw ▼ T Iran’s Role in the Kirkuk Operation in Iraq

Official media channels of the Popular By Jennifer Cafarella with Omer Kassim Mobilization Forces (PMF) released little Wednesday, November 8, 2017 information about which units participated http://iswresearch.blogspot.fr in the initial military operations in Kirkuk on October 16. ISW assesses that the PMF imposed a media blackout, since they went dark for an abnormal duration. One Key Takeaway: Iran provided decisive mili­ Facebook page affiliated with an Iranian tary support to compel Iraqi Kurds to sur­ proxy militia took down photos and videos render in Kirkuk, Iraq, on October 16, 2017. about its involvement in Kirkuk that it post­ Military forces from three major Iranian ed from October 13-16. Social media outlets proxies participated in the operation: Kata'ib that normally report on PMF units were also Hezbollah, Asa’ib Ahi al Haq, and the Badr unusually quiet. This media blackout may Organization. Iran did not attempt to out­ have extended to Iraqi press, which also did shine Iraq's Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi not report details on PMF emits. Iraqi sources in public. Iran instead allowed Abadi to take also rarely reported on Iraqi Security Forces credit, while quietly positioning its proxies (ISF) unit numbers in Kirkuk, referring to influence Kirkuk in the future. The instead to general "Iraqi forces." The media Institute for the Study of War (ISW) conduct­ blackout and some retrospective removal of ed a rigorous study of social media activity materials posted on unofficial social media and other reporting of troop movements in links suggest that some authorities within Iraq in order to assess the role of Iran's prox­ the PMF, Iraq, or Iran wished to conceal evi­ ies in Kirkuk and across Iraq's disputed dence that the PMF participated. internal boundaries. Furthermore, some Kurdish press and social Hadi al Ameri, Abu Mehdi al Muhandis, Iranian military proxies in Iraq supported media sources published old, recycled and General Yarallah in Kirkuk City on Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al Abadi's retak­ imagery to argue that the Iranian-backed October 16, 2017. ing of Kirkuk by compelling Iraq's Kurds to proxies were present, undermining the cred­ withdraw from their positions on October ibility of the official Iraqi Kurdish case. U.S. 16. ISW assesses that forces from three major uniformed military spokesmen, senior gen­ Iranian proxies helped compel the Kurdish eral officers, and State Department officials • Hadi al Ameri and Abu Mehdi al surrender in Kirkuk: Kata'ib Hezbollah have added to the confusion by dodging Muhandis attended the flag raising in (KH), Asa’ib Ahi al Haq (AAH), and the Badr press questions about the involvement of Kirkuk City along with Iraq's Organization, as this report will detail. The PMF forces. Counterterrorism Services (CTS) command­ Kurdish collapse in Kirkuk was a turning point in the conflict between Iraqi Kurdistan er General Yarallah. The Iraqi Army's Twitter ISW conducted a rigorous study of the avail­ and the Iraqi Government. Iran and Abadi account posted a photo of the flag raising, able evidence in social media and other are now exploiting their success in Kirkuk showing all three in attendance. Facebook reporting of troop movements in Kirkuk and and expanding their operations against Iraqi across the disputed internal boundaries in accounts affiliated with the Badr Kurdistan. Iran's proxies continue to play a order to assess which units comprised the Organization also posted photos and videos central role. PMF forces whose involvement Iraqi sources showing the flag raising.* The Combined generally reported. Forces from three major METHODOLOGY Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve Iranian proxies were present south of Kirkuk spokesman said that he had not seen" the before the operation and advanced along photos in response to a reporter's inquiry The evidence of Iran's involvement in the with Iraqi forces: the 43rd and 42nd AAH initial confrontation in Kirkuk requires care­ Brigades and a unit also during a press briefing on October 17. ful analysis of openly available sources. known as the PMF 24th Brigade. ISW has provided a list of indicators of the presence • Hadi al Ameri toured the Bai Hasan oil of these units below. ISW cannot assess the field on October 16 after Peshmerga forces specific KH unit with confidence at the time withdrew. A Facebook account linked to the of publication. KH, AAH, and the Badr Badr Organization posted a video of Hadi al Organization are lethal Iranian proxies that Ameri touring the Bai Hasan oil field. Ameri, attacked U.S. forces in Iraq, particularly between 2006 and 2008. during an interview from the field, thanked the Peshmegra for not clashing with the ISF. IRANIAN PROXY LEADERSHIP IN An Emergency Response Division (ERD) KIRKUK officer was standing next to Ameri. When asked if there were oil fields under PMF con­ • Badr Organization leader Hadi al Ameri trol, Ameri stuttered, saying that "oil met with Federal Police (FP) commander fields... I don't think so except for Daybaka Raed Jawat and the deputy head of the PMF oil field which is important to control. and leader of KH Abu Mehdi al Muhandis in Besides that, I don't think we have a prob­ Bashir. An official Badr Organization media lem." * Al Arabiya video on October 16, 2017 site provided pictures of this meeting on • Additional photos and videos that circu­ shows Kata'ib Hezbollah fighters near Facebook on October 15.* Kirkuk. lated on social media also show Hadi ■=>

31 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Ozeti

■=> al Ameri and Abu Mehdi al Muhandis the Kirkuk operation as a sovereign Iraqi touring sites in Kirkuk Province. action. Iran quietly provided critical support that ensured Abadi's success while position­ IRANIAN PROXY MILITIA ing its proxies to have influence in Kirkuk DEPLOYMENTS TO KIRKUK moving forward. Iran also took action to keep the U.S. on the sidelines by deploying an Asa'ib Ahi al Haq (AAH) Explosively Formed Penetrator (EFP) against U.S. forces in early October. The Kirkuk oper­ • Photos and videos taken in the vicinity of ation thus bears signs of Iraq's most likely future on current trajectory: Iraqi Prime Kirkuk City that circulated on social media Minister Abadi notionally in control, Iran's included AAH flags. Western reporters also proxies acting on Tehran's orders but as legit­ cited examples of AAH flags raised near imate arms of the Iraqi state, and the U.S. on Kirkuk. the sidelines. • A Facebook page affiliated with the AAH 42nd PMF Brigade shared photos with a cap­ Photo of Asa'ib Ahi al Haq fighter Iran's proxies will capitalize politically and either on the way to or near Kirkuk militarily on their role in Kirkuk and across tion stating that the 42nd Brigade led by Haj City. Iraq's Disputed Internal Boundaries (DIBS). Abu Bakr Jubouri was deploying to Daquq The battlefield circulations of major proxy for further movement to Kirkuk, and includ­ leaders around Kirkuk bolstered their public ed a photo of a fighter with an AAH flag. flags, in addition to fighters carrying KH flags image ahead of Iraq's elections scheduled for stationed at a checkpoint. early 2018. Their subordinates may compete • A Facebook page affiliated with AAH's in local Kirkuk politics. Their forces will like­ 42nd PMF Brigade posted photos on October These units joined the local Iranian-backed ly control or contest Iraqi government control forces stationed south of Kirkuk, which 16 of fighters holding an AAH flag with a of Kirkuk's military infrastructure and oil included: Kita'ib Jund al Imam, Kirkuk installations. Prime Minister Abadi placed an caption stating the photo was taken at a al Thani, and Firqat Imam Ali al Qitaliya. Iranian client, Ali Fadhil Imran, at the head of Peshmerga position in central Kirkuk.* Qiyadat Quwat Abu Fadl al Abbas and a a new Kirkuk Operations command on • ISW assessed on October 19 that the AAH Hawza-affiliated PMF unit named Firqat al October 28. Imran is the former head of the 43rd PMF Brigade was also present within Abbas al Qitaliya may also have been present. Iranian-influenced 5th Iraqi Army Division. proximity of Kirkuk as of at least October 15. Unconfirmed reports indicate Abadi also Iran's proxies joined an Iraqi force including The 43rd PMF Brigade was deployed in Salah appointed an Iranian client, Abdul-Amir al- the CTS and emits from the 9th Iraqi Armored Zaydi, as the head of "redeployment opera­ al Din province before the Kirkuk operation.* Division. It is unclear from publicly available tions" across Iraq's DIBS and border crossings A Facebook page affiliated with AAH's 43rd information which specific CTS and 9th Iraqi on November 5. Zaydi is the former head of PMF Brigade published information, includ­ Armored Division units participated. The the Iranian-influenced Dijla Operations ing photos and videos, that supported ISW's deployment of elite Iraqi units supported by Command. These appointments enable Iran's assessment that fighters from the Brigade armored artillery indicates Abadi intended proxies to consolidate militarily in Kirkuk both to deter the Peshmerga from fighting deployed close to Kirkuk in early October.* and across the DIBS. and to prepare for that possibility. Abadi also Screenshots from the AAH 43rd Brigade's deployed troops from the FP and ERD, which The U.S. remains multiple steps behind Iran. Facebook page are included below. constituted the only government-controlled President Donald Trump rolled out a new infantry force. The FP and ERD likely includ­ anti-Iran strategy days before the Kirkuk Badr Organization ed units penetrated by Iran. These combined operation, without specifying prescriptions forces staged south of Kirkuk city in order to for containing and reversing the strength of • The Badr Organization's Turkmen allow an avenue for retreat for Kurdish forces Iran's proxy networks. The Trump brigade, also known as the 16th PMF Brigade, to the north. Administration's initial apathy toward Iran's was already stationed near Bashir and may role in the Kirkuk operation appeared to indi­ have received reinforcement from 16th PMF ISW mapped these forces on October 19 and cate the U.S. will not meaningfully push back updated that assessment on October 29. ISW Brigade units in the vicinity of Hamrin and against Iran in Iraq. U.S. Secretary of State will continue updating its assessment and Rex Tillerson provided a more forceful, but Qara Tapa.* map if and when new information becomes still sluggish, U.S. response to Iran's role in An Iraqi news outlet shared a video from available. Kirkuk in a subsequent trip to the Middle September 18 that shows a column of fighters East from October 22-23. Tillerson said from the 24th Badr Brigade arriving near IMPFICATIONS "Iranian militias that are in Iraq...need to go southern Kikuk with Abu Mehdi al home" during a press conference with Saudi Muhandis. Iran's role in Kirkuk was decisive. The leader Arabia's Foreign Minister Adel al Jubeir on of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards October 22. Secretary Tillerson's statement • A Facebook account affiliated with Ansar Corps-Quds Force (IRGC-QF) Qassem recognizes the threat Iran's proxies in Iraq Allah al-Awfiya posted a photo from IVO Suleimani traveled to Iraq on October 14 to pose, but rolling back their influence is not Bashir showing civilians offering food to the convey Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's support for achievable through rhetoric alone. Abadi PMF and security forces.* The post included Abadi's response to the referendum. He also reportedly responded to Secretary Tillerson photos from al-Ghadeer channel (affiliated issued an ultimatum to the Patriotic Union of by stating the PMF "defended their country with the Badr Organization). Kurdistan (PUK) and possibly to the and made the sacrifices that contributed to • The communications directorate of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP). Leader of the victory over ISIS. Abadi subsequently PMF announced that its force,s along with the Badr Organization, Hadi al Ameri, also stated that he will disarm Iran's proxies if ISF, control Bai Hasan oil fields in Kirkuk. The threatened "internal war" if the Peshmerga they refuse to submit to his control, in an PMF in Bai Hasan most likely included a Badr did not withdraw from Kirkuk. The deploy­ effort to reaffirm his intent to remain aligned ment of Iran's proxies to Kirkuk tipped the Organization unit, given Hadi al Ameri's with U.S. policy. He does not have the capa­ scales against Iraqi Kurdistan enough to com­ bility to do so without direct American mili­ visit. pel it to withdraw from Kirkuk and large por­ tary support, however. Only a serious change tions of Iraq's disputed internal boundaries. in U.S. policy in Iraq can save Abadi from de Kata'ib Hezbollah (KH) facto cooptation by Iran. Iran achieved a second goal through its sup­ ♦♦♦ • Al Arabiya published a video on October port in Kirkuk: to further legitimize its prox­ 16 from a location near Kirkuk City showing ies in Iraq while sidelining the United States. two trucks laden with fighters carrying KH Iran seeks to subordinate the Iraqi govern­ ment from within, and was careful to frame

32 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Ozeti ■ • REUTERS Iran vying for leadership of Shi'ites in Iraq

NOVEMBER 7, 2017 ! (REUTERS) -Babak Dehghanpisheh

NAJAF, Iraq — In early September, Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi, a senior Iranian official and cleric, flew to the holy city of Najaf in southern Iraq. His entourage included a sizable security detail Shi'ite clerics study at al-Gharawiya school run by al-Hawza al- and the former head of the Revolutionary Guards, the most powerful mil­ Ilmiyya in Najaf. REUTERS/Abdullah Dhiaa Al-deen itary force in the Islamic Republic. Shahroudi, 69, spent several days on a charm offensive meeting officials, no clear succession process, but Shahroudi would need to obtain the support clerics and seminary students at his office near the golden dome shrine of of a large number of ordinary Shi'ites, seminary students and other clerics. Imam Ali, one of the world's holiest Shi'ite sites. Shahroudi is no stranger to Najaf: he was born in the city to Iranian parents. His aim was to raise his profile as a replacement for the top Shi'ite cleric and In the 1970s he was jailed and tortured by Saddam Hussein's security forces most powerful man in Iraq: the 87-year old Ayatollah Ali Sistani, according because of his political activities. to current and former Iraqi officials. He moved to Iran after the Islamic revolution and has been promoted to top While attention has focused on Iraq's battle against Islamic State, the coun­ posts since Khamenei became supreme leader in 1989. try's future could equally hinge on what is happening in Najaf. Shahroudi was head of the Iranian judiciary for a decade and is currently the With Sistani's advanced age and persistent rumors about his health, the head of the Expediency Council, a body intended to resolve disputes question of his replacement has become more pointed. between parliament and a hardline watchdog body, the Guardian Council. Iraqi Shi'ite factions are jockeying to influence who replaces Sistani. Iran, In public, Shahroudi is often seen sitting next to Khamenei. whose population is mostly Shi'ite, backs Shahroudi. RALLY SUPPORT Shahroudi could prove a controversial replacement for Sistani. Senior clergy in Najaf are wary of Iran trying to expand its influence and Shahroudi is Shahroudi's visit is only one sign of how Tehran is trying to rally support for viewed with some suspicion, although he could still build support among its candidate to replace Sistani. students. A company linked to the Revolutionary Guards is involved in a $300 million Since Sistani has distanced himself from Iranian politics some of his follow­ project to expand the Imam Ali shrine, making it the second largest Muslim ers may not want a replacement who is close to Tehran. holy site after Mecca in Saudi Arabia. Sources in Najaf were unwilling to go on the record on a matter as sensitive "These projects create a state of dependency between recipients of aid and as Sistani's successor, but a former senior Iraqi official told Reuters: "The Tehran since they integrate the Iraqi infrastructure into the Iranian infra­ Iranians will try their best. structure network," said Ali Alfoneh, an expert on the Guards at the Atlantic Council. "Furthermore, such activities provide a cover for the Islamic "ITs not just religious, politics have become part of it. It will decide the fate Republic's intelligence networks operating in Iraq." of Iraq," the official said. In 2011, Shahroudi opened an office in Najaf and began paying clerical stu­ DISPUTED AREAS dents stipends, which observers say was an attempt by Iran to increase its Iran has already expanded its influence in Iraq by helping the Shi'ite-led influence. government in Baghdad retake disputed areas from the Kurds. "It was a provocative move," said an Iraqi analyst familiar with the Shi'ite The head of the branch of the Revolutionary Guards responsible for opera­ clergy who asked not to be identified. tions outside Iran, Qassem Soleimani, personally convinced some Kurdish Shahroudi subsequently opened offices in Baghdad and Karbala. He pays leaders to abandon their claim to contested towns, like the oil-rich Kirkuk. stipends to thousands of seminary students, according to Iraqi officials and Attempts to reach Shahroudi and the Revolutionary Guards media office clerical sources in Najaf. were unsuccessful, as were attempts to reach Sistani's office for comment. Clerics often pay stipends to students to gather support, raise their profile If Iran can influence who becomes the next top Shi'ite cleric in Iraq, it could and perhaps become accepted as a marja, or top cleric, observers say. tighten its grip on power within the country for years. "Iran is trying to influence the process of who comes after Sistani through the A senior cleric in Najaf who is sympathetic to the interests of Iran would also students," said a Western diplomat in Iraq who did not have permission to eliminate a rival to Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who speak on the record. claims to be the leader of Shi'ite Muslims worldwide. Sistani is now the main sponsor of Shi'ite clerical students, paying millions For years, Sistani, who has endorsed a religious and political viewpoint inde­ of dollars in Iraq and elsewhere. His son Mohammed Ridha oversees the pendent of Iran, has been Khamenei's top challenger for the leadership of the financial and administrative work of his office. global Shi'ite community. "Follow the dollars to see what will happen next," said an Iraqi senior official Sistani is rarely seen in public but his decrees are sacrosanct to his millions familiar with the clerical politics of Najaf. "Mohammed Ridha Sistani con­ of Shi'ite followers. Sistani's fatwa to rise up against the Sunni militants of trols all the cash." Islamic State thwarted the group's push toward Baghdad in 2014. Mohammed Ridha's work could position him to replace his father, observers The cleric has also used his decrees to reduce sectarian violence in the coun­ say, though passing the religious mantle within a family would be unprece­ try. Sistani opposed the secession of the Kurdish region after the referendum dented in Shi'ite custom. on independence in September but then urged Baghdad to protect Kurds Top contenders to replace Sistani in Najaf include three other marjas but they after reports of abuses surfaced last month. are old and there is no clear front-runner, according to clerical sources and Without Sistani's restraining influence, clashes are likely to break out Iraqi officials. between sects as well as among rival Shi'ite groups, Iraqi officials and "Nothing is fixed to make a decision for this procedure," said Sheikh Ali observers say. Najafi, son of one of the top Najaf marjas. "Sistani is not just a poor guy sitting in a house. He can control millions of While in Iraq, Shahroudi visited prime minister Haidar al Abadi in Baghdad. people," the Iraqi former senior official said. "It will be a very bloody strug­ Iraqi officials said Sistani refused to see him in Najaf, but they do not expect gle after Sistani passes away." the Iranians to give up. • Sources in Najaf expect Sistani to remain in his post until his death. There is

33 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Ozeti BROOKINGS The constitutional context for Iraq’s latest crisis

By Scott R. Anderson November 7, 2017 www.brookings.edu

or the past three weeks, the central government of Iraq has been engaged in an unprecedented military campaign to re-assert its Fauthority over the country’s internally disputed territories. An explicit response to the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG)’s recent decision to hold a referendum on independence, the offensive quickly recaptured the contested city of Kirkuk, which—like much of the disputed territo­ ries—had been under the KRG’s de facto control for several years. This in turn severed the KRG’s access to the significant oil wealth around Kirkuk, dealing a serious blow to any hopes of secession. Federal Iraqi forces have since pushed even further into the disputed territories, up to the edge of the Kurdistan Region and at times threatening to push past it in order to reestablish control over border crossings, pipeline hubs, and other facilities the Iraqi government maintains should be under federal Gen. Joseph Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, meets control. with the president of the Kurdistan Regional Government, Masoud Barzani, in early 2017. Recently, however, there have been some signs of de-escalation. Both the Iraqi government and the KRG have indicated that they are willing to placement of Kurds and other groups as part of its “Arabization” efforts, negotiate, though the preconditions remain a subject of debate. The par­ the area contains a diverse population that often lives in mixed commu­ ties agreed to a temporary ceasefire last weekend to allow security dia­ nities. While Iraqi Kurds have made demographic and historical claims logues, which appear to be tenuous but ongoing. And last Monday the to the disputed territories for decades—infamously going so far as to KRG’s powerful President Massoud Barzani—a forceful advocate for describe Kirkuk as “our Jerusalem”—other groups contest these claims. Kurdish independence and the lead proponent of the independence ref­ erendum—announced his resignation, removing a potential obstacle to Iraq’s post-2003 interim government settled on a rough process for dialogue. resolving the status of the disputed territories, which it set forth in Article 58 of the pre-constitutional Transnational Administrative Law. Article Echoing calls from the international community, both parties have said 140 of Iraq’s Constitution in turn incorporates Article 58 by reference. that negotiations will take place within the framework of Iraq’s While Iraq’s Constitution places the disputed territories under federal Constitution. This posture is consistent with the Iraqi government’s authority, Article 140 makes the Iraqi government responsible for imple­ framing of its military campaign, which it has consistently described as a menting “normalization” policies intended to unwind the effects of “federal operation aimed at restoring federal authority” as assigned by Arabization. These policies are then to be followed by a census and a “ref­ Iraq’s Constitution. And for the KRG, Iraq’s Constitution not only guar­ erendum in Kirkuk and other disputed territories to determine the will antees Iraqi Kurds certain rights that are especially important in defeat, of their citizens!,]” which will be used to resolve the territories’ status including to continued self-government in the Kurdistan Region, but (though how is left unclear). Article 140 establishes a deadline of Dec. 31, gives some recognition to their own claims. 2007 for these measures, but provides no guidance on what should hap­ pen if this deadline is not met. While this equipoise allows both sides to point to the Constitution as a touchstone for reconciliation, it has also contributed to the present con­ This omission’s significance quickly became apparent as both the flict. A product of a heated and condensed negotiation process, Iraq’s December 2007 deadline and an agreed-upon six-month extension Constitution sacrifices clarity for consensus, as its authors addressed passed with little progress. Several normalization policies proved contro­ major disputes in ambiguous terms in hope that future political process­ versial and stalled—in part over objections to new Kurdish settlement in es would resolve them. As these processes failed, each of the parties advance of the referendum. A national census was repeatedly and then seized on these ambiguities to legitimize their respective positions and at indefinitely delayed due to fears that it would be conducted unfairly or times further them through domestic and international legal processes. stoke further sectarian conflict, even after Iraq’s Federal Supreme Court determined that Article 140 required a “special census” separate from To achieve an enduring reconciliation, both the Iraqi government and any national one. the KRG will eventually need to reach a political agreement that not only resolves the key issues underlying the conflict but is consistent with—and By 2010, then-Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki was publicly suggest­ reflects a shared understanding of—Iraq’s Constitution. This includes ing that Article 140 is “drafted in such a way that it cannot be implement­ certain provisions that require concrete steps of the parties, such as a cen­ ed,” necessitating a constitutional amendment. Others began to describe sus and referendum. Further, recent history shows that the parties will it as a “dead item” no longer having legal effect. But for Iraqi Kurds— likely not be able to implement these provisions on their own. Instead, who widely believed that the results of the referendum would support doing so will almost certainly require renewed engagement from the making the disputed territories part of the Kurdistan Region—this international community. apparent willingness to ignore Article 140 only cast further doubt over the legitimacy of the Iraqi government’s own claims of constitutional A FAILED PROCESS IN THE DISPUTED TERRITORIES authority.

The disputed territories at issue in the present conflict run along the CREATING FACTS ON THE GROUND Kurdistan Region’s southern border, where they overlap with several major oil and gas fields. Despite the Saddam Hussein regime’s brutal dis- The collapse of the Article 140 process created new incentives for =>

34 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Ozeti

=> competition in the disputed territories. Absent any credible legal mechanism for resolving the territories’ status, the KRG began to expand The parties ultimately put this struggle on the back-burner as the Iraqi its efforts to gain leverage in any future conflict or negotiation by acquir­ government and KRG reached a temporary agreement on oil exports to ing de facto control of—and building institutional ties to—strategic areas. fund counter-ISIS efforts. Yet the combination of this export capacity plus control of Kirkuk promised to dramatically increase the KRG’s eco­ While KRG-associated peshmerga forces had been deployed in parts of nomic independence. This helps to explain both the Iraqi government’s the disputed territories since 2003, the scope of their operations expanded early focus on Kirkuk and its ongoing efforts to re-establish control over over time, often under the auspices of responding to internal security the border crossings and pipeline facilities that made KRG oil exports concerns. KRG administration and resources frequently followed, partic­ possible, even where they are within the Kurdistan Region itself. ularly in areas with Kurdish populations. By 2009, these efforts had resulted in a hotly contested “trigger line” that split the disputed territo­ IMPLICATIONS FOR THE FUTURE ries—including Kirkuk—between Iraqi government and KRG control. Tense stand-offs and occasional exchanges of hostilities became com­ If and when the present conflict comes to an end, any progress toward mon, though active mediation by the United States and others was able to reconciliation is likely to be slow. Both Iraq and the KRG will hold elec­ stave off a broader conflict. tions in 2018, making major compromises unlikely in the short-term. And the immediate focus of any negotiations will likely be on interim However, this situation changed in June 2014 when a surprise ISIS offen­ measures to de-escalate the conflict and restore cooperation on areas of sive caused federal Iraqi forces to abandon many of their positions along common interest, such as the fight against ISIS. the trigger line. The KRG responded by moving its forces into Kirkuk and other strategic areas, protecting them from ISIS while simultaneously Any more permanent resolution the parties eventually reach, however, bringing them under its control. As the peshmerga went on to play an will need to be reconciled with Iraq’s Constitution. Failing to do so will important role at the front lines of the counter-offensive, the KRG leave it vulnerable to invalidation by Iraq’s Federal Supreme Court or applied the same strategy to areas it helped to liberate, gradually bringing future repudiation as ultra vires, compromising its durability. While con­ more of the disputed territories under its control. stitutional amendment is an option, it would require both a supermajor­ ity in Iraq’s parliament and approval by a nationwide referendum. Hence, Holding these areas was essential to protecting their civilian populations the easiest path forward would likely be to simply comply with the Iraqi from further ISIS atrocities. Yet statements and actions by the KRG’s Constitution as it currently stands, including Articles 112 and 140. leadership—culminating in the recent referendum on independence, which the KRG administered throughout the parts of the disputed terri­ Fortunately, neither provision need be read as onerous. The KRG’s own tories under its control—made clear that the KRG had no intention of legal expert argues that Article 112 makes the exploitation of new oil and relinquishing its control once the threat from ISIS had receded. Indeed, gas fields subject to “strategic policies” that the Iraqi government formu­ many Iraqi Kurds saw control of the disputed territories and the referen­ lates “with” regional governments, giving a properly enacted federal oil dum on independence as fulfilling the intended promise of Article 140. and gas law primacy. And while Article 140 requires both a census and referendum, it does not define the subject matter of the latter. As the CONTROL OVER OIL AND GAS United Nations has previously suggested, a referendum could simply be used to ensure public approval in the disputed territories for a settlement Further compounding the parties’ territorial dispute is the Iraqi negotiated by the parties, allowing for a range of possible dispositions in Constitution’s ambiguous distribution of authority over the country’s oil Kirkuk and elsewhere. and gas resources. Whichever approach is taken, a joint statement by the parties—attesting Article 112 of Iraq’s Constitution makes “ [t]he federal government, with their shared understanding that the constitutional requirements at issue the producing governorates and regional governments,” responsible both are satisfied—will help mitigate the risk of constitutional invalidation. for managing oil and gas extractions “from present fields” and for setting And while Iraq’s Federal Supreme Court could arrive at a contrary inter­ related “strategic policies.” While it explicitly anticipates that subsequent pretation, its historical reticence to take an independent stance in these legislation will delineate how these authorities will be exercised, efforts to disputes makes this seem unlikely. pass a federal oil and gas law have repeatedly failed. Distrust and suspicion of self-dealing will also make it difficult for the The Iraqi government maintains that Article 112 makes the management parties to implement a mutually credible census and referendum on their of oil and gas resources a federal responsibility. The KRG, however, own. Instead, an independent third party will be needed to provide tech­ argues that Article 112 only applies to “present fields” in operation at the nical expertise, develop options for implementation, and serve as both time that the Iraqi Constitution was ratified in 2006. Further, as no other neutral observer and mediator. The most likely candidate is the United constitutional provision explicitly addresses the exploitation of new oil Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI), whose extensive experi­ and gas resources, the KRG contends that this power should be reserved ence in Iraq and substantial prior work on the disputed territories make for the regions and governorates. it well-qualified for this role. UNAMI will, however, require a new man­ date from the U.N. Security Council that is independent of the Iraqi gov­ Pursuant to this theory, the KRG has aggressively pursued its own con­ ernment’s direction and control. Further, the Security Council itself will tracts with international oil and gas companies. Over time, these con­ need to remain actively engaged to encourage progress and ensure that tracts have increasingly included resources in the disputed territories, the broader international community supports and reinforces the recon­ reinforcing the KRG’s claims to those areas. The Iraqi government has ciliation process. consistently objected to these contracts as unlawful and refused to recog­ nize them. And while it has allowed some resulting exports to pass Ultimately, the likelihood of any permanent resolution to the conflict through the country’s federally-controlled pipeline system, disputes over may be low. For 15 years, half-steps and temporary measures have related cost- and revenue-sharing have led to frequent stoppages. allowed the parties to co-exist without compromising their claims to the disputed territories or oil and gas resources. The same may prove true In 2013, however, the KRG finalized its own pipeline, which intersects moving forward. Yet the longer these core disputes—and the constitu­ with an existing transnational pipeline at the Turkish border. Pursuant to tional ambiguities that help perpetuate them—are left unaddressed, the an agreement with Turkey, the KRG began to use this pipeline to unilat­ more intractable the parties’ positions are likely to become. Further erally export oil and collect the resulting revenue. Unsuccessfiil at secur­ delaying resolution may thus only plant the seeds for a future conflict that ing an injunction from Iraq’s Federal Supreme Court, the Iraqi govern­ is far more devastating. ♦ ment initiated several international legal actions challenging the KRG’s ownership of the exported oil. Successful at limiting the market for Kurdish oil exports, these cases each hinged on the parties’ respective domestic legal authority over oil and gas, effectively exporting their con­ stitutional dispute.

35 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Ozeti International ^rUilhirk cimes November 9,2017 An Iraqi town where religions coexist, in theory

AMADIYA, IRAQ

BY ROÙ NORDLAND This once-pretty picture postcard town, on its own 4,000-foot-high mesa nestling between a pair of much higher mountain ranges, is in a bad neighborhood when it comes to tolerance. So the mystery of the Jewish holy fig­ ure Hazana, who is revered here by peo­ ple of all the local faiths, is even more profound than it might otherwise be. Amadiya is in the semiautonomous province of Kurdistan, which is the tar­ get of a crackdown by Baghdad after aiming to achieve independence from Iraq. This part of northern Iraq has been convulsed by violence since the advance of the Islamic State group, which sent Christians fleeing, enslaved Yazidi women and killed Shiites on sight, until finally being wiped out in the area last month. Today Amadiya’s population of 9,000 is overwhelmingly Kurdish Muslim. But in the early 20 th century there were said to be about two-thirds that many people, about evenly divided among Muslims, Christians and Jews — although there were 10 mosques compared with two churches and two synagogues. Every­ one was packed into a circumference of a mile and a half. Amadiya’s Jews all left after the cre­ ation of Israel in 1948. And so many From top, prayers at the centuries-old Amadi Grand Mosque in Amadiya, Iraq. The town Christians have left amid successive re­ seen from an abandoned hotel. Today the population of 9,000 is mostly Kurdish Muslim. gional upheavals that the remaining 20 or 30 families can no longer sustain both churches. All three faiths here are brought to­ gether by a longstanding reverence for Hazana, a Jewish religious figure of un­ known antiquity — variously described as a son of David, the grandson of Jo­ seph or just a little-known prophet — whose tomb is in Amadiya. “All the religions are going to that grave to pray,” said Muhammad Abdul­ lah, a local teacher and amateur histori­ an. “For all three religions, it’s a sacred place. Each of them thinks he belongs to them.” Hazana’s biography is so hazy that he defeats a Google search. Locals do not have much to add. He was “a really great guy, a pure person,” said Bzhar Ahmad, 55, a retired government worker who had just emerged from noon prayers at the town’s Amadi Grand Mosque, with a group of other Muslim worshipers nod-

Returning home after prayers in Amadiya. Muslims, Christians and Jews have been brought together in the town by a longstanding reverence for Hazana, a Jewish religious figure of unknown antiquity, whose tomb is there.

36 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Ozeti

ding agreement. lim resident and retired government Hazana’s plain rectangular sarcopha­ None of the men found it strange that worker, said people asked for other gus. Muslims, Christians and Jews all things as well. “He was a religious man Just what accounts for the town’s prayed at Hazana’s tomb. “The Jews who was so clear and so devout,” he said. communal tolerance, people say they were always our friends,” Mr. Ahmad It almost sounded as if they had met, are not sure, except that it has always said. “We never thought about what we but it turned out that Mr. Said was not been so. “We grew up like this,” Mr. Said were; we were just people living togeth­ even Sure what epoch Hazana came said. “My father always taught me to be er.” from. “He was before my father’s father, like this and I teach my son the same.” Directions given by locals to find Ha­ that’s all I know,” he said. Partly the town benefits from its re­ zana’s tomb varied, but all ended up in a Mr. Said pointed out the nondescript moteness; even when Kurds engaged in crooked lane narrow enough that in red metal gate of what had been the old civil war from 1994 to 1997, fighting Amadiya’s heyday there were foot­ synagogue, unlocked and unguarded, never arrived here, though both war­ bridges connecting roofs from one side and said visitors were welcome. Inside ring factions were present. to the other so that residents could use was a garden of fig trees and Some attribute it to Amadiya’s his­ their rooftops to go to the mosque while pomegranates, trumpet creepers and tory. Take the Amadi Grand Mosque, for avoiding the visitors in the overcrowded hibiscus, unkempt but well watered. example, the biggest and oldest of the lanes below. Or so they say. Purple and blue prayer cloths, used by town’s 10 mosques. Speculation runs On the way, Saran Sabah stood with those who came to ask Hazana’s help, that it was originally a temple for the an­ her 18-year-old daughter, Amal. In the were hanging on some of the bushes. cient Romans’ Mithraic cult. Then, say side alley leading to her house was a Here and there were piles of rubble, locals, the building became a Jewish huge pile of firewood, ready for the com­ old stone building blocks and sections of synagogue for centuries before becom­ ing winter. A Sunni Muslim, Ms. Sabah walls — the remains of the synagogue it­ ing a Christian church for more cen­ had prayed to Hazana,' and it had self. Cut into the earth was a stone stair­ turies and finally, after the arrival of Is­ worked, she said; there was a daughter case leading to an underground tomb. lam 800 years ago, a mosque. to prove it. / On the plastered walls inside the tomb How much of that is actually true is The men.had not mentioned that Ha­ was some fairly recent graffiti in He­ debatable; Amadiya is such an out-of- zana’s popularity rested on his ability to brew script, the verses of a religious the-way place that it seems not to have bring fertility to supplicants, but later song, along with an emoji-like smiley been much studied. confirmed it. Borhan Said, a local Mus­ face, plus a Star of David sketched over

______TheNational November?, 2017 UN urges dialogue between Baghdad and Erbil on the basis of constitution Baghdad and Erbil have quarrelled over territory and oil revenue sharing since the fall of Saddam Hussein in 2003. Their relationship reached a boiling point after the Kurdish region decided to hold a vote on independence in late September.

Mr Barzani said Baghdad had violated the Mina Aldroubi November 7, 2017 Iraqi constitution by drafting a budget that does https://www.thenational.ae not recognise Kurdish entitlements. he United Nations has appealed to Erbil and Mr Barzani, the nephew of Masoud Barzani Baghdad to resolve their long standing dis­ who stepped down last week as president of Iraqi Kurdistan in the wake of the referendum cri­ putesT on the basis of the constitution. sis, said the Kurdistan Regional Government Baghdad and Erbil have quarrelled over ter­ (KRG) was "prepared to give them the oil reve­ ritory and oil revenue sharing since the fall of nue." Effectively, this means the KRG is offering Saddam Hussein in 2003. Their relationship rea­ to negotiate over its own sales of oil — if the cen­ ched boiling point after the Kurdish region deci­ tral government is prepared to give the Kurds ded to hold a vote on independence in late their customary 17 per cent share of the national September. The referendum followed the launch Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Nechirvan revenue. of a military operation by the central government Barzani met with Jan Kubis, Special that recaptured the disputed oil-rich city of "We are ready to handover oil, airports, and Representative and the Head of UN Iraq, dis­ Kirkuk. all border revenues to Baghdad if the federal cussed pressing issues. government of Iraq sends the salaries of KRG On Tuesday, the United Nations Assistant employees, the Kurdistan region’s 17 per cent Mission in Iraq (UNAMI) reconfirmed its readi­ Kurdish officials said was aimed at further puni­ constitutional budget share, and other financial ness "to play a facilitating role in the dialogue shing them for pressing ahead with their inde­ dues," Mr Barzani said. and negotiations between the two sides if pendence referendum on September 25. The requested by both the federal government and result was a resounding "yes" in favour of brea­ For the past three years, Baghdad has stop­ Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), or king away from Iraqi but Baghdad deems the ped sending funds while the Kurds held nearly all indeed any other role agreed upon by both par­ vote to be illegal. of northern Iraq's oil infrastructure and sold ties based on and in full conformity of its man­ If approved by the Iraqi parliament, the bud­ enough crude to fund themselves. date,” UNAMI said in a statement. get will further damage the relationship between But the Iraqi government offensive that The statement follows talks between the Baghdad and Erbil. recaptured oil-producing territory from the Kurds prime minister of Iraqi Kurdistan, Nechirvan In a press conference on Monday, Mr last month means the autonomous region is Barzani, and the United Nations Secretary Barzani reiterated the call for dialogue with once again financially dependent on Baghdad. General for Iraq, Jàn Kubis, Baghdad. Meanwhile, UNAMI urged Erbil to acknow­ Meanwhile, on Sunday, Iraq's cabinet propo­ "We are even ready to talk to Iraqi political ledge, endorse and respect this ruling of the sed to slash the Kurdish share of the country's parties that genuinely want to understand the federal court and reiterate its full commitment to revenue in the 2018 federal budget, a move that situation and find a solution for it,” he said. the Iraqi constitution. ♦

37 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Ôzeti

November 10, 2017 V«A VOICE of AMERICAl

essential to its long-term stability and to the enduring defeat of ISIS. “We call on all Kurdish Political parties to support the KRG as it works to resolve pending issues over the remainder of its term and prepare for elections in 2018.” said Ms. Transition in Nauert.

The U.S. calls on the government of Iraq and the Iraqi KRG under its new leadership to resolve pend­ ing issues under the Iraqi constitution. “We have been encouraged by the security dialogue that Kurdistan has taken place in recent days, and call for an end to all confrontations and clashes,” said Ms. U.S. also supports the vote of the Iraqi Kurdistan Nauert. Region Parliament to distribute presidential authorities to other Kurdish Regional Government, or KRG, The U.S. also continues to support the strong institutions. EDITORIALS leadership of Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi as he works to ensure the total defeat of ISIS and a November 10, 2017 “President Barzani,” said State Department https://editorials.voa.gov stable Iraq after ISIS. The United States wel­ spokesperson Heather Nauert, “is a historic fig­ comes the recent decision from Prime Minister ure and courageous leader of his people, most Abadi to begin a new dialogue with the KRG, The United States commends the decision of recently in our common fight to destroy ISIS. Masoud Barzani not to seek an additional term under the Iraqi constitution, and avoid further This decision represents an act of statesman­ confrontations. as President of the Iraqi Kurdistan Region. The ship during a difficult period.” U.S. also supports the vote of the Iraqi Kurdistan Parliament to distribute presidential authorities The U.S. will continue to work with all parties as The United States now looks forward to engag­ they address these issues for the benefit of all to other Kurdish Regional Government, or KRG, ing actively with the Prime Minister of the institutions. Iraqis. It is time for all parties to look to the future Kurdistan Regional Government, Nechirvan and focus on peaceful resolution of disputes Barzani, and the Deputy Prime Minister, Qubad under the Iraqi constitution. ■ The United States commends the decision of Talabani. A strong Kurdish Regional Masoud Barzani not to seek an additional term Government within a Dunified and federal Iraq is as President of the Iraqi Kurdistan Region. The

OILPRICEI November 12, 2017 The No. 1 Source for Oil & Energy News The Kurdish oil gamble has backfired

Greg Brew, Nov. 12, 2017 https://oilprice.com Members of Iraqi security forces are ince September’s independence referen­ seen at an oil field in dum and October's dramatic Kirkuk re­ Dibis area on the Scapture by Iraqi troops, the drama over outskirts of Kirkuk, Kurdish oil continues, with new developments Iraq, Oct. 17, 2017. occurring early this week. Alaa Al- On Sunday, the government of the Kurdish Marj ani/Reuters autonomous region of Iraq indicated it was prepared to hand over oil facilities, airports, border points and state revenue to Baghdad, provided the central Iraqi government agreed to hand over the Kurdish share of the national budget. interpreted as a move by Erbil to challenge fund a reconstruction effort, but the Kurds The long-running dispute over the coun­ Baghdad. The re-capture of Kirkuk was thus a claim they're particularly worse off, having try's oil revenues is at the center offensions dramatic setback and an indication that the borne the brunt of fighting against the Islamic between Baghdad and Erbil, the capital of the Kurds possessed far less leverage than once State since 2014. Kurdish region. Since 2014, Iraq hasn't shared thought. of its oil revenues with Kurdistan, and the Part of the new budget is a distribution autonomous region signed its own oil deals The Kurdish announcement on Sunday agenda that would leave the three provinces and funded itself independently. came in response to news that Baghdad, that make up the Kurdish area with separate which is currently in the middle of drafting the shares, rather than a single large apportion for For a time, the Kurds were able to entice 2018 state budget, plans to slash the Kurdish the Kurdish government, further weakening major oil companies like Chevron, ExxonMobil share from 17% to 12.6%. While government the central Kurdish authority and forcing the and Total SA with lucrative offers, persuading officials have said the new figure reflects three provinces to compete with one another, them to ignore the threats of legal action from population distribution and trade data, the the Iraqi government. Yet the original promise n Sunday, Kurdish prime minister Kurds have interpreted the move as a punitive of the Kurdish oil fields has diminished, with Nechirvan Barzani — nephew of former response to the independence referendum, Total and Chevron both backing away from prime minister Masoud Barzani, who resigned one designed to place greater pressure on further investing in Kurdish exploration. in the wake of the defeat in Kirkuk — claimed Erbil. The independence referendum was widely that Kurdistan was prepared to hand over The whole country needs oil money to

38 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Ozeti

its oil money in return for a proper share increasing its output to 550,000 BPD after of Iraqi oil and the country's oil wealth. The of the budget. capturing Kirkuk. Kurdish government gambled for a larger Rudaw, the Kurdish news service, called Kirkuk, a city that the Kurds occupied share of that wealth and lost. It must now be the gesture an “olive branch” and an indication during the war with the Islamic State, which prepared to negotiate from a weaker position, that Erbil was prepared to talk through the they claimed was part of the ancestral a reality reflected by the statement issued on issues that have pulled Iraq and its Kurdish Kurdish-speaking region and hence a part of Sunday. provinces apart. Kurdistan, sits atop a massive oil field. Had With prices rising, potentially reaching $70 When Iraqi forces retook Kirkuk, it trigge­ the Kurds retained it, they would have been in by the end of the year, the question of who will red a minor shockwave in global energy mar­ a much stronger position to dictate terms to get what has become more prevalent than kets. The Kirkuk-Ceyhan pipeline, through Baghdad. ever. With luck, the Iraqis and Kurds will be which most Kurdish oil is exported, was tem­ he Baghdad government led by Prime able to negotiate a settlement that avoids porarily and partially shut down, taking Minister Haider al-Abadi — who has pro­ fresh violence, though it likely won’t be one 275,000 BPD offline. Prices spiked as regional ven capable of excelling at what is arguably that the Kurds will be happy with. • tensions rose and Kurdish exports dipped. The one of the toughest jobs on earth — will press Iraqi government increased exports from sou­ its advantage with Erbil. If al-Abadi succeeds thern Iraq by 200,000 BPD to compensate. in marshaling support in the Iraqi parliament, Iraq is OPEC’s second-largest producer, it’s possible the budget will be accepted, even with an output of 4.5 million BPD. By itself, the with the drastically reduced Kurdish share. Kurdish region possesses one-third of Iraqi's Then again, it's possible the move is an total oil reserves, 45 billion out of a total 150 opening gambit in what could prove to be long billion barrels, and produces 250,000 BPD, and acrimonious negotiations over the future

- -RUDAW 21 November 2017 Unity the byword as KRG leadership sits down with Kurdish parties

ByRudaw.net 21/11/2017 eight months and extend its man­ date until elections can be held. The RBIL, Kurdistan Region - After a legislature made the move in light of busy day of meetings with uncertainties in the Region after the EKurdish parties in Sulaimani, thereferendum. Presidential and parlia­ prime minister told reporters they mentary elections had been schedu­ were pondering two options to over­ led for November 1. come the current crisis - holding a All parties are opposed to any general election or establishing an action that would split the Region interim government until elections into two administrative zones, can be held - stressing that the diffi­ namely Erbil and Sulaimani, said culties could be overcome if the par­ Barzani, a member of the Kurdistan ties are united. Democratic Party (KDP), after mee­ The final decision lies with the tings on Tuesday with Gorran, the Kurdistan Regional Government Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), (KRG), “once we have discussed and the Socialist Democratic Party. this matter with the political parties,” He said they also agreed that said Prime Minister Nechirvan talks with Baghdad have to be held Barzani. He and his deputy, Qubad on a government level and no party PM Barzani met with Hero Ibrahim, PUK leadership member and Talabani, have been sitting down to should enter talks with the Iraqi talk with the various parties this government individually. widow of the party's fotmder Jalal Talabani. He was accompanied week. “As the government... with all by Deputy PM Qtibad Talabani and a number of ministers who In the wake of Baghdad’s rejec­ the parties involved, we will go to come from various parties. Other senior PUK members, including tion of Kurdistan’s independence Baghdad,” Barzani said, adding that Mala Bakhtiyar, were also present at the meeting. vote and Iraq’s assertion of federal no timeframe had been set yet for control over the disputed areas, talks. government. from various parties. Other senior several parties have called the KRG Meetings with the parties will Barzani promised transparency PUK members, including Mala a failure and demanded its dissolu­ continue and decisions will be made on the matter: “We will provide the Bakhtiyar, were also present at the tion, the formation of an interim public. Barzani is hopeful of a posi­ salaries of civil servants as far as we meeting. government to lead talks with tive outcome. can. When we are unable to do, we “We discussed the current situa­ Baghdad and manage affairs, and “It is true that the situation is will come out and explain it to our tion and our future plans,” Barzani preparations for elections. unstable, but if united, we can over­ people.” tweeted, “we insisted on unity and Barzani said he needs more come it together,” he said. PM Barzani met with Hero supporting the Kurdistan Regional information about what role an inte­ The financial crisis, specifically Ibrahim, PUK leadership member Government.” ■ rim government would take on. He lack of full, regular payments of the and widow of the party’s founder said the current government is itself salaries of public employees, is an Jalal Talabani. He was accompanied interim after parliament voted in late issue Gorran and other parties have by Deputy PM Qubad Talabani and October to postpone elections for said must be a priority for the a number of ministers who come

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IAL-MONITSRI November 14, 2017 Who will govern Kirkuk? As Baghdad appointed a temporary governor after reimposing its authority in Kirkuk, three main proposals are available to find a long-term governing solution for the coveted city.

Nahwi Saeed November 14, 2017 www.al-monitor.com

lthough Baghdad imposed its authority on Kirkuk on Oct. 16 and appoin­ ted a new temporary governor, Kurds still hope to reach an agreement Awith Baghdad that will allow them to appoint a Kurdish governor in the dispu­ ted province between Baghdad and Erbil. In the latest development, the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) nominated a Kurdish candidate (the former head of the provincial council, Rizgar Ali) on Nov. 12, and demanded that the provincial council hold a meeting to vote on the new governor.

The Kurds' proposal is one of several options on the table.

The first option is appointing a military governor. Some members of the Arab and Turkmen communities in Kirkuk proposed this before and after the The Kurdish and Iraqi flags are seen on the Kirkuk province's govern­ Kurdish referendum. For Kurds, appointing a military governor, even if for a ment building in Kirkuk, Iraq, April 6, 2017. REUTERS/Ako Rasheed while, means Kirkuk’s restoration to the pre-2003 era and the reminder of bit­ ter memories when the Kurds were the most aggrieved and affected group in tures of members of parliament for that purpose. Similarly, Bafel Talabani, a the city. The central government may be powerful enough to hold Kirkuk for PUK member and son of former Iraqi President Jalal Talabani (who died last now, but appointing a military governor would push the Kurds to one side, month), addressed the people of Kurdistan on Oct. 12, suggesting the disso­ which is likely to prove both provocative and unsustainable. Election results lution of the Kirkuk provincial council and the removal of the governor, if need­ indicate that the Kurds are larger than other groups in the province, although ed. there has been no official and reliable census for some time. After the federal takeover of Kirkuk, 15 to 16 members of the provincial council Kurds will reassert their claim on Kirkuk at the first available opportunity — from the Kurdish Brotherhood list left for Erbil, changing the balance of power both for the symbolic reason that many Kurds regard Kirkuk as their on the council. The current situation and the absence of these members have "Jerusalem," and for the economic reason that control of Kirkuk's oil would put the Kurds in a weak position. If there were to be an election for a new play a big role in any future Kurdish independence bid. The upshot is that council, the Turkmens likely would go from being the second strongest list in Kirkuk was and remains a "disputed territory"; as a US State Department the province to the third; Turkmens are overrepresented on the council as a statement said Oct. 20, "The reassertion of federal authority over disputed result of a low Arab turnout in the 2005 election. areas in no way changes their status — they remain disputed until their status is resolved in accordance with the Iraqi constitution." afel Talabani's statement, on the other hand, had much to do with rivalry between between the PUK and the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) in Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi might decide against this option if he takes into BKirkuk and internecine squabbles within PUK wings. His wing has now struck account that, in the post-lslamic State period, the Arab-Kurdish conflict over against the KDP and his opponents within the PUK. For example, the KDP, Kirkuk and other disputed territories could be the biggest potential threat to which has held sway in Erbil, is the Kurdish party that has been hurt the most stability in Iraq. In addition, such a move could be both ineffective and danger­ by the recent events in Kirkuk and other disputed territories. The governor of ous, for it has a great potential for escalating into ethnic violence. Kirkuk who was removed, Najmaddin Karim, is a Bafel Talabani rival in the PUK. In an interview with Bloomberg commenting on the recent events of The second option is to hold provincial elections in a few months, which would Kirkuk, Karim said, "The day before the attack, Bafel, Talabani's nephew lead to a new council and a new government. Kirkuk province is the only Lahur and his older brother Araz came to Kirkuk and met with [Iranian Islamic province that has had only one election since 2005; the Kirkuk provincial Revolutionary Guard Corps commander] Qasem Soleimani's representative council is now the longest-serving such council in Iraq. In 2005, 41 members there. He gave an ultimatum, 'You either give up your positions or we will were elected in a public election for the council: The Kurdish Brotherhood List attack you.'" Thus, by weakening the position of the KDP in Kirkuk and remo­ has 26 members, while there are nine Turkmens and six Arabs. Other ving Karim, who is accused by some PUK members of being pro-KDP, Bafel provinces (apart from the provinces forming the Kurdistan Region) held elec­ Talabani and his cousins may have achieved their goals and lost interest in tions in 2005, 2009 and 2013. Conducting only one election within 12 years in dissolving the council. As for the Arabs, they seem comfortable to maintain the Kirkuk province is a clear indication of the depth of disputes among the three current status quo, as the Arab who was Kirkuk's deputy governor, Rakan main ethnic groups regarding Kirkuk's governance. Saeed al-Jobouri, now acts as the province's governor.

he current situation in Kirkuk is a good opportunity for holding a new pro­ There also are legal problems to deal with. According to Rebwar Talabani, Tvincial council within a few months. A member of the Kurdish provincial head of the Kirkuk provincial council, "There is no legal or constitutional article council told Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity that "the provincial council isthat allows dissolving the provincial council because the council operates a tired council, let a new council come with new members." Holding a provin­ under Bremer's Law 71, which is the highest authority." Thus, due to both polit­ cial election, however, needs the consent of the main three groups of Kirkuk. ical and legal obstructions, Prime Minister Abadi may avoid resorting to this Attempts to hold provincial elections in 2009 and 2013 failed partly because, option too. in the view of the Arabs and Turkmens, the Kurds would win any election thanks to the process of Kurdification since 2003. The Kurds deny this allega­ To conclude, the current situation presents both risk and opportunity for Abadi. tion of Kurdification. But if Baghdad were to attempt to hold a provincial elec­ The risk is taking further escalatory actions and the opportunity is to put an tion to form a new council and then a new governor, it would need to reach an end to the policy of imposing a fait accompli in Kirkuk and instead try to find a agreement between the three main groups in Kirkuk, which is unlikely to hap­ solution with regard to the future of the province under Article 140 of the con­ pen. stitution. ♦

The third option is to renew the current council and push it to appoint a new Nahwi Saeed is an independent researcher mho specializes in democracy in divided governor. Although Turkmens and the PUK once supported the dismissal of societies, coexistence between ethnic groups in post-conflict situations, power-sharing the council, both now favor the council's renewal. Before the Kurdish referen­ and the prevention of ethnic conflict in post-conflict societies with the focus on Iraq and dum, the Iraqi Turkmen members of parliament had even launched a petition the Kurdistan region. He has written several articles for Kurdish, English and Arabic calling for the dissolution of Kirkuk's provincial council and collected 74 signa- media outlets.

40 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Ôzeti it MôJlâÊ 14 NOVEMBRE 2017 La relation turco-russe à l’épreuve des Kurdes Moscou a choqué Ankara en invitant les Kurdes syriens du PYD à des pourparlers à Sotchi

Istanbul - correspondante pourparlers s’ouvriront à Gënève La Turquie voit cadre des accords signés à Astana le 28 novembre, cette fois-ci sous entre la Russie, la Turquie et e président turc Recep l’égide de l'ONU. De la rencontre de d’un mauvais œil l’Iran. La région d’Idlib est con­ Tayyip Erdogan était at­ Sotchi, il n’est plus question, le l’éventuelle trôlée par Tahrir Al-Cham, une tendu lundi 13 novembre Kremlin dit qu’elle a été reportée. organisation djihadiste dominée Lpar son homologue russe VladiL­’idée d'une conférence sur la émergence d’une par l’ancienne filiale d’Al-Qaida mir Poutine à Sotchi, dans le sud Syrie où les Kurdes du PYD région autonome en Syrie, avec qui les Turcs ont de la Russie. La rencontre entre les auraient été invités a donné des pris langue pour installer leurs deux présidents, la cinquième de­ sueurs froides à la partie turque. kurde aux postes de contrôle sur le terrain. puis le début de l’année, vise à «Nous avons tout de suiteformulé marches du pays Mais aux yeux des Turcs, ce dé­ aplanir leur désaccord croissant nos objections », a expliqué Ibra­ ploiement vise avant tout à en­ au sujet des Kurdes syriens du him Kalin, le porte-parole du pré­ cercler les milices kurdes YPG Parti de l’union démocratique sident turc, dimanche 5 novem­ dans leur fief d’Afrin. (PYD), que la Russie protège et que bre, assurant que la rencontre obligés d’attaquer Afrin, sinon Obsédé par la perspective de la Turquie veut combattre à cause aurait lieu plus tard et sans le PYD. nous allons perdre le Hatay», a gains territoriaux kurdes en Sy­ de ses liens avec le Parti des tra­ «La Russie nous a assuré que le expliqué récemment Ihsan Bas- rie, Ankara n’a de cesse de soup­ vailleurs du Kurdistan (PKK, inter­ PYD n’y participerait pas», a pré­ bozkurt, un général à la retraite çonner le PKK et ses alliés de vou­ dit en Turquie), en guerre contre cisé M. Kalin dans une interview à qui, en février 2015, avait dirigé loir former un couloir jusqu’à la l’Etat turc depuis 1984, la chaîne turque NTV. les opérations d’évacuation de Méditerranée. Le président Erdo­ Le malaise a surgi quand Mos­ Syrie des reliques de Souleyman gan et son chef d’état-major, Hu- cou a annoncé son intention « Obligés d’attaquer » Chah, le grand-père du fondateur lusi Akar, veulent une interven­ d’organiser, le 18 novembre à Le PYD, dont les combattants se de l’Empire ottoman. tion de l’armée turque à Afrin afin Sotchi, un « congrès du dialogue sont illustrés dans le combat Malgré leurs divergences, no­ d’empêcher les forces du PYD de national syrien» avec la partici­ contre l’organisation Etat islami­ tamment sur le sort de Bachar gagner du terrain. Mais une telle pation de trente-trois organisa­ que (El), contrôle une bonne par­ Al-Assad que Moscou veut main­ opération est impossible sans le tions politiques, dont le parti tie du nord de la Syrie, au grand tenir à la tête de la Syrie tandis consentement de Moscou dont Baas de Bachar Al-Assad, l’allié 4am d’Ankara qui considère cette qu’Ankara réclame son départ, les soldats sont aussi présents indéfectible des Russes, ainsi ’’organisation kurde comme les présidents Poutine et Erdo­ dans la poche d’Afrin. que le PYD.syrien. «terroriste». Les autorités tur­ gan ont réussi, depuis un an, à Pour le président Erdogan, qui a Ce projet de réunion a d’emblée ques voient d’un très mauvais coopérer pour trouver une solu­ échoué à persuader les Etats- été écarté par la coalition de l’op­ œil l’éventuelle émergence tion au conflit. Unis de cesser leur coopération position syrienne, la principale d’une région autonome kurde Le 12 octobre, la Turquie a dé­ avec le PYD dans le cadre de la force de l’opposition à Bachar Al- aux marches sud de leur pays, ployé soldats et blindés dans la guerre contre l’EI, le fait que la Assad, réticente à s’engager dans notamment, dans la région région syrienne d’Idlib pour Russie les soutienne est une sé­ un processus «sans le parrainage d’Afrin qui jouxte la province tur­ mettre en place l’une des « zones rieuse déconvenue. ■ des Nations unies». De nouveaux que du Hatay. «Nous sommes de désescalade » prévues dans le MARIE JÉGO EU Pétrole: la Russie au chevet du Kurdistan irakien Le pétrolier russe Rosneft a versé une avance de 1,3 md USD au Kurdistan irakien lien de Rosneft avec le Kremlin. A travers cette aide Par Claire Fages / 15 novembre 2017 ment fédéral irakien les lui a repris le 17 octobre au Kurdistan irakien, la Russie se crée de nou­ http://www.rfi.fr dernier lors de son offensive contre le groupe Etat veaux alliés, comme elle le fait avec les Kurdes de islamique. e géant pétrolier russe Rosneft vient de verser Syrie, sans trop de risques étant donné la faiblesse plus d’un milliard de dollars au Kurdistan ira­ LE KURDISTAN, NOUVEL ALLIÉ DE LA RUSSIE des pouvoirs centraux irakien et syrien. Lkien. Une aide à la région autonome kurde, affaiblie C’est la deuxième fois que Rosneft soutient le L’IRAK SE RAPPROCHE DE L’IRAN depuis que Bagdad lui a repris les champs de Kurdistan irakien en moins de deux mois, un nou­ Pendant ce temps, pour vendre le pétrole de pétrole de Kirkouk. vel affront pour le gouvernement de Bagdad. Kirkouk récupéré aux Kurdes, l’Irak se rapproche La Russie vole au chevet du Kurdistan irakien par Le mois dernier, la compagnie russe avait déjà de l’Iran. Bagdad ne peut plus utiliser l’oléoduc des l’intermédiaire de son géant du pétrole Rosneft. Le signé un contrat d’exploration sur cinq blocs de Kurdes vers la Turquie au Nord, alors il cherche à groupe russe vient d’annoncer qu’il avait versé une pétrole dans la région autonome kurde. Ce qui évacuer le brut vers l’Est, chez son ancien ennemi, avance de 1,3 milliard de dollars aux autorités kur­ avait mis en colère les autorités fédérales iraki­ l’Iran. Un projet d’oléoduc est ressuscité, mais ce des, pour des livraisons futures de pétrole. Une ennes. Bagdad avait dénoncé une « ingérence irre­ sera très long étant donné le relief. Ce sont des aide déguisée de la Russie au gouvernement sponsable ». Ce à quoi le directeur général de la camions qui transporteront le pétrole de Kirkouk d’Erbil. société russe avait répliqué : « S’il y a un problème dans les jours qui viennent, 15 000 barils par jour Malgré son succès au référendum de septembre, entre le gouvernement irakien et le Kurdistan, c’est d’abord puis 60 000 barils. Insuffisant toutefois la région autonome kurde d’Irak aurait perdu près à eux de le résoudre, je ne suis pas un homme poli­ pour évacuer les 300 000 barils de Kirkouk. Le pét­ d’un milliard de dollars depuis qu’elle est privée tique, mon problème c’est de produire du pétrole ». role retiré aux Kurdes est encore loin de profiter des champs pétroliers de Kirkouk. Le gouverne­ Une répartie qui fait sourire quand on connaît le aux Irakiens.*

41 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Ozeti

inlcriialioiial^'eni Burkeiines November m, 2017 Phone diplomacy defuses Iraq rift

FISH KHABBOUR, IRAQ

Back-channel talks avert new clashes between Kurds and federal forces

BY MARGARET COKER Turn on a television or scroll social me­ dia in Iraq and, by almost any measure, more conflict appears imminent be­ tween the federal government in Bagh­ dad and the Kurdish region in the north. Kurdish officials accused federal forces — without corresponding evi­ dence — of committing a slaughter last month when they seized control of 20 percent of territory that had long been under Kurdish domain. Iraqi lawmakers demand prison sentences for Kurds who supported the Sept. 25 independence referendum. Yet amid the acrimony over the last Iraqi security forces last month fired a rocket launcher at Kurdish pesh merga positions near few weeks, leaders in Baghdad and the the Fish Khabbour border crossings with Turkey and Syria. Kurdish strongholds of Erbil and Su- laimaniya have also been exchanging Three officials involved in the infor­ political spectrum in which elected offi­ almost daily phone calls, hoping to hash mal talks say. they are discussing tempo­ cials can be eclipsed, sometimes by rival out solutions to problems exacerbated rary arrangements to the most pressing factions from within their party or even by that vote — and to get thousands of issue for both sides: Controlof Iraq’s family. federal and Kurdish troops massed Fish Khabbour border crossings with While back-channel discussions have within one another’s sight lines to stand Tïirkey and Syria, where about one-fifth helped keep oil, food and consumer down. of Iraq’s oil exports pass through. The goods flowing between Turkey and Syr­ The back-channel chats have taken on officials were granted anonymity to dis­ ia — along with humanitarian aid ffom heightened importance since formal de- cuss a sensitive diplomatic matter. Iraq bound for Syria — over the last two escalation talks stalled on Oct. 29, after This stab at conflict resolution illus­ weeks, they are far from any break­ only two face-to-face meetings. trates the diffuse nature of Iraqi politics, through. “The channels of dialogue and com­ where key power brokers sometimes Diplomats say that Iraq’s tradition of munication have not been interrupted,” have no formal or elected authority. It carrying out delicate negotiations in se­ said Sa’ad al-Hadithi, a spokesman for also highlights a dangerously fractured cret, often by people acting well outside Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi. their official roles, can be baffling to out­ siders. Riding a wave of victories over the Is­ lamic State, Mr, Abadi ordered his troops in October to re-establish govern­ ment control throughout the country. The independence referendum prompted him to include many areas long under Kurdish control. While no official casualty statistics have been released, about 65 men died in clashes sparked by these advances, according to two military commanders familiar with the situation. Beyond the loss of life, the Kurdistan Regional Gov­ ernment lost face over the rapid with­ drawals by their pesh merga security forces. It also lost most of its oil fields to federal troops, and with them the eco­ nomic self-sufficiency that has under­ pinned the region’s de facto autonomy since 2005. In late October, after advancing northward amid several short skir­ mishes, federal forces dug in about 10 Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi plants the Iraqi national flag in the city of Qaim, on the miles froth the Fish Khabbour oil termi­ Syrian border, on Nov. 5 after it was recaptured from the Islamic State. nal and the nearby cargo crossing with

42 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Ôzeti

lïirkey, one of the largest trading part­ oil exports flowing, albeit at a reduced In the second largest Kurdish city, Su- ners for both Iraq and the Kurdish re­ rate, according to Turkish and Iraqi offi­ laimaniya, relatives of the former Iraqi gion. cials. president Jalal Talabani, who died last With tensions boiling, Baghdad on However, not all political factions in month, are immersed in their own feuds Oct. 28 announced a cease-fire and a Baghdad or Kurdistan support de-esca­ over control of Mr. Talabani’s party and round of negotiations between Iraqi and lation or a border deal. the security force loyal to it. Kurdish military commanders, ostensi­ Those include Iraqi Shiite politicians Such divisions have already scuttled bly to allow federal forces to take over close to the Popular Mobilization one attempt to stave off military conflict the border without further bloodshed. Forces, a paramilitary organization between Baghdad and the Kurds. On Oct. 29, however, talks broke made up of dozens of militias recognized In the aftermath of the independence down, amid intransigence by the Kurds by the Iraqi state in 2014 as an auxiliary referendum, Mr. Talabani’s eldest son, about the altered balance of power. force to fight the Islamic State. Bafel, began unilateral negotiations “The talks mixed security and poli­ Although the militias are under the with Mr. Abadi. (Qubad Talabani is tics,” according to Sheikh Jafar formal command of Mr. Abadi, some of Bafel’s brother.) Moustafa, a veteran pesh merga com­ their leaders are his parliamentary ri­ He proposed that troops from the mander anà one of four Kurdish negotia­ vals and profess close allegiance to American-led coalition against the Is­ tors, who added that his side did not Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard lamic State take over a large militafy have the political authority to approve Corps. base near the oil-rich town of Kirkuk, any agreement with the Iraqis. On the Kurdish side, it is unclear who, along with federal forces and Kurdish “We had to get political approval for exactly, could enforce any potential bor­ forces loyal to his father’s party. any deal,” he said, “and no political deci­ der compromise. An aide to Mr. Abadi, and two Western sion was' forthcoming.” Mansour Barzani, the son of the long­ diplomats, confirmed that such a deal At that point, the phone diplomacy in­ time Kurdish leader Masoud Barzani, had been proposed. Mr. Abadi gave Mr. creased among leaders including the commands an elite Kurdish security Talabani until Oct. 16 to get a green light Kurdish regional deputy prime minister, force that is defending a ridge between from the Kurdish leadership to imple­ Qubad Talabani; Mr. Abadi’s deputy an Iraqi artillery unit and the Fish Khab- ment the plan, or he would launch the chief of staff; and Iraq’s intelligence bour border. Last week, he said he would operation to seize the area from Kurdish chief. fight to the death rather than allow the control. These relationships have helped Iraqi federal troops to control the cross­ With the deadline past, Mr. Abadi in­ avert any new clashes near the border, ings. But a cousin, the regional prime stead ordered the federal forces to push despite a buildup of Iraqi forces, and minister Nerchivan Barzani, supports a into Kirkuk, and then farther north to­ helped keep the trade corridor open and negotiated deal. ward the Turkish border.

s'* - ;RUDAW 'll’* 16 November 2017 Najmaldin Karim: I am the legitimate governor of Kirkuk

ByRudaw.net 16/11/2017 nor,” he stated. The Iraqi parliament voted in RBIL, Kurdistan Region - September to remove Karim from Najmaldin Karim, former Kirkuk his post after the governor was a governor,E says he is still the legiti­ vocal supporter of Kurdistan - flying mate governor of Kirkuk according the Kurdistan flag in the disputed Najmaldin Karim, former Kirkuk govenror and member of the Patriotuc to all Iraqi laws. province and promoting the inde­ Union of Kurdistan's (PUK) politburo speaking to Rudaw TV. Photo: “According to all the laws, letters pendence referendum. Rudaw sent to Kirkuk by the Iraqi govern­ Karim appealed the parliament’s ment itself stating that laws enforced decision in the Federal Court, which in other provinces of Iraq do not dismissed the case on Tuesday, “I do not know why he [Masum] was quite better and able to speak apply in Kirkuk, and the final decree saying the matter is administrative, was so eager to sign it. You know and became more conscious,” said of the Kirkuk Provincial Council of not legislative. what, even if the president does not Karim, a medical doctor himself. Kirkuk - I am the legitimate governor “The court rejected Najmaldin sign anything, the ruling is still He praised the care team super­ of Kirkuk,” said Karim in an interview Karim’s appeal and stressed that the issued without him,” Karim said. vising Rasul saying “they did an with Rudaw TV on Wednesday decision was administrative not Iraq’s presidency is largely a excellent job to improve the health of night. legislative, therefore the Iraqi ceremonial role. Rasul.” Asked about the Iraqi Federal Federal Court cannot review it,” Karim added that his party, PUK, Rasul, 64, became the party's Court’s response to his appeal court spokesperson Ayas Samok did not support his removal. acting head after the death of PUK regarding his removal from the post, said in an announcement. Karim also spoke of his longtime founder Jalal Talabani on October 3. Karim said “if there is a just court, if After the takeover of Kirkuk by party member and friend Kosrat A day before his illness, Rasul atten­ there is a court that is not controlled Iraqi forces, Prime Minister Haider Rasul Ali. The top PUK leader was ded a memorial for Talabani in by politics, it would decide that we al-Abadi replaced Karim with an hospitalized this week in Sulaimani Sulaimani. were right.” Arab, Rakan al-Jabouri. before flying to Germany for medical He was Vice President of the Iraqi law commits Kirkuk admi­ Karim’s removal was also treatment. Kurdistan Region until late nistration to work according to the approved by Fuad Masum, presi­ “I went to Sulaimani to check up October.» Bremer Law, according to which dent of Iraq. Masum and Karim are on his health a day after he under­ “only the Provincial Council is autho­ both members of the Patriotic Union went surgery. It was true he was rized to remove or appoint a gover­ of Kurdistan’s (PUK) politburo. unable to speak, but the day after he

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14 novembre 2017 Le Kurdistan accepte l'interdiction juridique de proclamer son indépendance

Par Oriane VERDIER 14/11/2017 sion doit devenir le point de départ d'un dia­ http://www.france24.com logue national ouvert entre Erbil et Bagdad pour résoudre tous les différends." e gouvernement régional du Kurdistan DEUX MOIS DE TENSIONS Lirakien a annoncé, mardi, qu'il respectera La Cour fédérale suprême a estimé, le 6 la décision de la justice fédérale irakienne novembre dernier, qu'aucune région ou sur l'unité de l'Irak et l'interdiction de la province ne pouvait faire sécession. Elle sécession de la région autonome. avait été saisie par le gouvernement central Un peu moins de deux mois après le référ­ qui lui demandait de mettre fin à une "inter­ endum sur l'indépendance du Kurdistan, le prétation erronée" de la Constitution et de gouvernement régional du Kurdistan irakien réaffirmer l'unité de l'Irak. (GRK) a annoncé, mardi 14 novembre, qu'il "Il s'agit d'un rétropédalage annoncé, pré­ Le Premier ministre du kurdistan irakien, respecterait la décision de la justice cise Oriane Verdier, correspondante de Nechirvan Barzani, lors d'une conférence fédérale irakienne interdisant la sécession à Erbil. Aujourd'hui, le gouverne­ de presse le 13 novembre 2017 à Erbil. de la région autonome. ment kurde reconnaît la décision de la jus­ © Safin Hamed, AFP "Nous avons toujours insisté sur la tice fédérale, et c'est une manière pour lui recherche de solutions aux conflits entre les de rappeler que cette même Constitution autorités fédérales et la région du Kurdistan demande l'organisation d’un référendum zones situées hors de la région autonome, par des moyens constitutionnels et légaux, pour savoir quelle autorité sera en charge comme Kirkouk, et dont les combattants et sur notre position connue qui accueille de la ville disputée de Kirkouk". kurdes avaient pris le contrôle depuis 2003. toutes les initiatives pertinentes (...), en ce Le 25 septembre dernier, le leader kurde En quelques jours, la quasi-totalité de ces qui concerne le règlement des différends Massoud Barzani avait organisé un référen­ territoires sont repassés aux mains de sur la base de la Constitution, nous respec­ dum d'indépendance. Ce vote avait Bagdad. ♦ tons l'interprétation de la Cour suprême déclenché une crise sans précédent entre Avec Reuters et AFP fédérale du premier article de la Erbil et Bagdad. Constitution irakienne", déclare le GRK dans Aussitôt après les résultats, le gouverne­ un communiqué. ment central irakien avait envoyé ses Et d’ajouter : "Nous pensons que cette déci­ troupes reprendre le contrôle de toutes les

metr 21 novembre 2017 Un attentat dans un marché fait 32 morts en Irak

Par Murtada Faraj The Associated Turkmènes chiites. unités majoritaire­ Press 21 novembre 2017 Mais depuis le départ de Saddam ment chiites d’Hachd Hussein, Touz Khormatou a été le al-Chaabi qui étaient BAGDAD — Un kamikaze a fait déton­ théâtre de plusieurs violences sectaires responsables de er son camion bourré d’explosifs en qui se sont aggravées depuis le vote sur sécuriser la ville après Irak, mardi soir, tuant 32 personnes l’indépendance des Kurdes en septem­ qu’elle eut été reprise dans une ville revendiquée par le gou­ bre. des mains de Daech (le groupe armé Haider al-Abadi a qualifié le scrutin vernement central à Bagdad et les Personne n’a revendiqué la responsabil­ État islamique). Les forces kurdes et les d’inconstitutionnel et a fermé l’espace autorités de la région kurde. ité de l’attaque de mardi dans l’immédi­ troupes irakiennes — avec les milices aérien dans la région kurde, en plus La puissante explosion survenue à Touz at. chiites — étaient des alliées dans le d’avoir repris le contrôle des territoires Khormatou a également blessé au Lorsque les forces irakiennes ont repris combat contre Daech. contestés. moins 80 personnes. Au moins six le contrôle de Touz Khormatou, de Les combattants chiites ont accusé les Le conflit a forcé Masoud Barzani, le membres des forces de sécurité de l’Irak Kirkouk — une autre ville contestée — Kurdes d’avoir détruit des maisons président de la région kurde, à remettre sont parmi les victimes, selon ce qu’ont et d’autres territoires contestés en octo­ appartenant aux Turkmènes chiites. À sa démission. rapporté la police et les responsables des bre après le référendum controversé des leur tour, les militaires kurdes ont Les Kurdes demandent à Bagdad de hôpitaux à l’Associated Press. Kurdes, Amnistie internationale avait accusé les chiites d’avoir détenu arbi­ reprendre le dialogue pour résoudre le La ville — revendiquée tant par les fait état d’attaques à l’aveugle, trairement des Arabes sunnites. conflit, mais le premier ministre refuse Irakiens que par les Kurdes — est située d’émeutes et d’incendies criminels dans La région kurde et Bagdad sont en ce de discuter tant que le référendum de à environ 210 kilomètres au nord de la ville. moment dans l’impasse après la tenue septembre ne sera pas annulé. ♦ Bagdad et abrite une population diver­ En avril 2016, des conflits ont éclaté du référendum sur l’indépendance des sifiée de Kurdes, d’Arabes sunnites et de entre les combattants kurdes et les Kurdes. Le premier ministre irakien

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iaCroix -mardi 14 novembre 2017 Séisme meurtrier à la frontière Iran-Irak

__ Le tremblement de terre qui a frappé dimanche soir les régions frontalières entre l’Iran et l’Irak, peuplées en majorité de Kurdes, a fait au moins 415 victimes.

Façades arrachées, immeubles aplatis... Les images de destruc­ tion à Sarpol-e Zahab (Iran) évo­ quent les ravages de la guerre. Dif- fiisées par l’Agence de presse des étudiants iraniens (Iranian Stu­ dents’ News Agency, Isna), elles té­ moignent de la violence du séisme qui a secoué dimanche en début de soirée cette région frontalière entre l’Iran et l’Irak. Le bilan est très lourd côté iranien où, lundi matin, on recensait au moins 407 victimes et 6 000 blessés, selon la cellule de crise mise en place par le gouvernement. Côté irakien, le gouvernement régional du Kurdis­ tan d’Irak annonçait pour sa part 8 morts et plus de 500 blessés. Les images de Sarpol-e Zahab, en Iran, montrent une ville dévastée par • la secousse de 7,2 sur l’échelle de Richter. Abedin Taherkenareh/EPA/maxppp

500km à l'ouest _ . Azerb. Rohani dans les régions dévastées gime de Saddam Hussein - 5 000 X Turquie est attendue aujourd’hui, selon civils kurdes y avaient été tués en de Téhéran, ces OTabriz Turkménistan l’agence Associated Press. 1988 par un bombardement au gaz. Syrie Paradoxalement, cette région a zones montagneuses Halabja Téhéran Pour Abdulahhi Khosrow, re­ présentant en France du Parti dé­ peu voté en faveur du référendum du Kermanshah sont Epicentre Bagdad ' Afg. mocratique du Kurdistan d’Iran le 25 septembre. du séisme particulièrement IRAK Bien que les négociations entre (PDKI), mouvement indépendan­ IRAN Erbil et Bagdad soient à l’arrêt de­ Arabie tiste, les autorités iraniennes ont isolées. puis le 29 octobre, le premier mi­ Saoudite surtout peur que la catastrophe nistre irakien, Haïdar Al Abadi, a augmente le mécontentement de L’épicentre se trouvait pratique­ promis hier l’aide du gouverne­ Oman la population kurde de cette pro­ ment sur la frontière entre les deux ment central : « J’ai donné l’ordre 500 km iaCroix^’ vince : « C’est l’une des régions les pays, à 32 km au sud-ouest de la aux équipes de là défense civile et plus pauvres d’Iran. Les gens sur­ ville kurde de Halabja (Irak). D’une des agences humanitaires et de A 500 km à l’ouest de Téhéran, vivent grâce aux colporteurs qui vingtaine de secondes, la secousse santé de faire toùt leur possible ces zones montagneuses du Ker­ commercent avec le Kurdistan ira­ de 7,2 sur l’échelle de Richter, se­ pour fournir leur assistance à nos manshah sont particulièrement lon l’Institut d’études géologiques kien. Le soir du référendum kurde citoyens », a-t-il déclaré sur les isolées. Il va être « difficile d’en­ en Irak, le 25 septembre, des foules des États-Unis, a été ressentie réseaux sociaux. La Turquie, qui voyer des équipes de secours dans jusqu’en Turquie et en Israël. Selon en liesse sont descendues dans les s’est liguée avec l’Irak contre le (certains) villages car les routes ont le Programme alimentaire mon­ rues. Des centaines de personnes référendum, a envoyé un avion été coupées (à cause dé) glissements dial, 450 000 personnes habitent ont été arrêtées. » d’aide médicale et humanitaire, de terrain », s’est alarmé Pir Hos- à moins de 50 km de l’épicentre. La Cette catastrophe tombe après qui a atterri à l’aéroport de Sou- sein Koolivand, le chef du Service province iranienne de Kermans­ un mois et demi de crise entre le leymaniyé - pourtant fermé aux national d’urgence iranien, inter­ hah est la plus touchée, surtout les gouvernement central irakien et vols internationaux, suite au réfé­ rogé par la télévision d’État. villes de Sarpol-e Zahab, d’Azgaleh sa région autonome du Kurdistan, rendum. L’occasion d’une détente Dans ses condoléances, l’ayatol­ et de Qasr-e Shirin. Les photogra­ qui a organisé un référendum d’in­ régionale sur le dossier kurde? lah Ali Khamenei, guide suprême phies de Sarpol-e Zahab montrent dépendance malgré l’opposition Jérémy André de la République islamique d’Iran, des tours d’habitation éventrées, farouche de l’État central et de a pressé les agences de l’État d’« ai­ ses voisins. L’épicentre se trouve à des rues bordées d’habitations ef­ der les blessés, surtout ceux pris au fondrées, des civils jetés dans les piège sous les décombres ». Précédée l’extrémité sud-est des territoires rues dans la nuit glaciale, tandis lundi par une délégation menée contrôlés par les Kurdes d’Irak, que les premiers secours fouillent par le ministre de l’intérieur, une dans la région de Halabja, ville les décombres. visite du président iranien Hassan symbole de la répression du ré­

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LE COU RIER 15 novembre 2017 Le référendum sur l’indépendance du Kurdistan irakien: quels lendemains?

Avec un taux de participation de Cholam-Hossin Vakilzadeh 72% et la victoire du «oui» à Mercredi 15 novembre 2017 l’indépendance, exprimé par plus https://www.lecourrier.ch de 92% des votants, la tenue du référendum du 25 septembre a envoyé une onde de choc vers toutes les parties concernées. D’un Après le vote massif des côté, ce résultat a été révélateur du Kurdes irakiens pour leur soutien massif du peuple kurde indépendance, l’Iran et l’Irak irakien à l’indépendance de ses ter­ ritoires et, de l’autre, il a contribué ont organisé courant octobre à l’exacerbation des hostilités à l’é­ des opérations militaires com­ gard du GRK. Ghassem Soleimani, munes pour reprendre aux chef de la force al-Qods, l’unité peshmergas kurdes les terri­ d’élite des Gardiens de la révolution islami-que (CGRI/Pasdarans) en Iran, toires disputés par Bagdad. Référendum au Kurdistan irakien : le «oui» à l'indépendance a été dépêché à Bagdad et à Dans l’analyse qu’il propose l'emporte avec plus 92% Suleimaniyeh. Sa présence à de cette crise, GHOLAM- Suleimaniyeh pour rendre hom­ nautés kurdes vivent, sont ainsi statu quo ante 2003 - voire pire HOSSIN VAKILZADEH s’in­ mage à Djaial Talabani, ancien prési­ tombées sous l’autorité de facto du concernant l’avenir du Kurdistan -, dent kurde de l’Irak décédé récem­ téresse plus particulièrement GRK. Ainsi, ce dernier avait inclus, a décidé d’organiser le référendum ment, mais aussi ancien chef de aux enjeux politiques liés à la au cours de ces dernières années, du 25 septembre 2017 afin de faire l’UPK (Union patriotique du des villes comme Kirkouk, reconnaître la nouvelle situation. A présence iranienne. Kurdistan) rivale de la formation de Khanaqin... sous son autorité, élar­ savoir: l’indépendance totale du Barzani, le PDK (Parti démocratique gissant ainsi la surface de cette Kurdistan, ses nouvelles frontières près la guerre du Koweït en du Kurdistan), a eu des con­ région. Pendant ces années, on esti­ géographiques, sa propre armée 1991, le Kurdistan irakien est séquences d’une ampleur drama­ A mait le nombre de peshmergas nationale, ainsi que la reconnais­ devenu dans les faits une région tique, dans la mesure où la coordi­ (combattants) et d’autres forces sance de la souveraineté du GRK autonome soutenue par les États- nation, effectuée par ce chef armées du GRK entre 300 000 à sur les territoires contestés. En Unis, notamment grâce à l’instaura­ notoire, des pasdarans iraniens 400 000, selon les sources. De plus, dépit de l’opposition de toutes les tion d’une zone d’interdiction de avec une partie importante de l’ar­ les champs pétrolifères du nord de parties - tous les pays voisins vol («no-fly zone») imposée par les mée nationale irakienne et une par­ l’Irak, notamment près de Kirkouk, (Turquie, Iran et Syrie), Etats-Unis, Américains dans son espace aérien. tie des peshmergas kurdes, a remis étaient contrôlés par le GRK. Europe et ensemble des pays Cette région était ainsi la seule par­ sérieusement en question le résul­ arabes - le GRK a tenu ce référen­ tat du référendum qui perdait sa tie du terri-toire irakien à pouvoir LA SITUATION DE KIRKOUK ET dum à la date prévue. Certains ana­ «raison d’être». bénéficier d’une démocratie rela­ LES TERRITOIRES SUJETS DE DIS­ lystes estiment que le mandat de tive. En 1991, le Kurdistan se compo­ CORDE Massoud Barzani à la tête du GRK C’était ainsi que les forces iraki­ sait de trois provinces - Erbil, touchant à sa fin, celui-ci a voulu ennes, les milices chiites irakiennes Suleimaniyeh et Dohouk - pour une Le contrôle de Kirkouk a été, depuis réaliser son rêve d’un Kurdistan Hachd al-Chaabi et des pasdarans surface totale de 40 000 km2. Cette longtemps, un sujet de discorde, les indépendant pour lequel il avait venus d’Iran ont pu entrer dans la même partie de l’Irak est reconnue Kurdes considérant la ville kurde, combattu pendant des décennies. province de Kirkouk sans affronte­ comme « région autonome » dans les Arabes comme une ville arabe. ment militaire sérieux, à la suite des la Constitution irakienne de 1970. Les résultats du référendum du 25 Le référendum du 25 septembre trahisons de forces kurdes en poste septembre 2017 montrent que la était extrêmement agaçant pour Après la chute de l’ancien régime à Kirkouk, le tout sous l’œil de population de Kirkouk compte une Bagdad, mais surtout très dan­ irakien en 2003, ces trois provinces Ghassem Soleimani. Ces forces ont majorité kurde. L’article 140 de la gereux pour la Turquie et, tout par­ ont été reconnues comme également occupé de nombreux Constitution irakienne de 2005 pré­ ticulièrement, pour ie régime Gouvernement régional du territoires en dehors des trois cise que le gouvernement central iranien. La répression des Kurdes Kurdistan (GRK). provinces principales kurdes, avec devait fixer, avant fin 2007, le sort sunnites et des Kur-des en général parfois des violences contre les de Kirkouk et d’autres terri-toires au Kurdistan iranien a toujours fait L’EXTENSION DES FRONTIÈRES peshmergas, mais aussi contre les dont la souveraineté est contestée, partie du bilan sanglant de la DU KURDISTAN populations civiles. Les miliciens en organisant des référendums au République islamique d’Iran dès son Hachd al-Chaabi sur lesquelles cours desquels les populations avènement, il y a 38 ans. La velléité Depuis 2003, notamment après l’oc­ Soleimani s’appuyait beaucoup locales se prononceraient. Mais le d’indépendance du GRK pouvait cupation de larges portions du terri­ pour faire avancer la stratégie de gouvernement de Bagdad a refusé, donc réveiller les aspirations à la lib­ toire irakien par l’Organisation de Téhéran, ont tenu le rôle principal à ce jour, d’organiser de tels réfé­ erté de la population kurde irani­ l’État islamique (El/Daech) et la par­ dans ces opérations. ticipation active des forces du GRK rendums. enne; cela alors que Téhéran est sous une pression sans précédent aux opérations militaires visant à Selon une enquête de Radio France POURQUOI LE RÉFÉRENDUM DU sur la scène internationale de la repousser les forces de Daech, les Internationale (RFI), les forces 25 SEPTEMBRE? part des Américains et des territoires sous le contrôle du GRK Hachd al-Chaabi sont entièrement Européens, en raison notamment se sont rapidement élargis. La financées et armées par Téhéran. En 2017, alors que la guerre contre de son expansionnisme régional. grande ville de Kirkouk, ainsi que L’AFP estime leur nombre entre 60 Daech touchait à sa fin en Irak, le nombre d’autres villes qui ne font 000 à 110 000. L’agence de presse GRK, craignant que le gouverne­ LE SIÈGE DU KURDISTAN ET L’OF­ pas partie du territoire du GRK, Fars, affiliée au CGRI, considère ment de Bagdad, débarrassé de la FENSIVE DES MILICIENS HACHD selon la nouvelle Constitution iraki­ pour sa part que «l’échec du com­ menace que représentait Daech, ne AL-CHAABI CONTRE KIRKOUK enne, mais où de larges commu­ plot sioniste de la partition de •+ tente de rétablir au nord du pays le

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»+ l’Irak a été rendu possible résultats du référendum, appelant avant tout en raison du ralliement aux négociations avec Bagdad dans d’une partie importante des forces le cadre de la Constitution iraki­ politiques et des peshmergas kur­ enne. Ce recul a été salué par les des à l’autorité de Bagdad et aux États-Unis et implicitement par le forces conjointes du gouvernement Conseil de Sécurité de l’ONU. central, dont les Hachd al-Chaabi et Téhéran en a profité pour réclamer les forces de l’organisation Badr». plus: «Même si la reculade de L’organisation (anciennement Barzani après d’un ‘référendum’ Brigades Badr) est une milice iraki­ déjà tenu et sa résignation aux enne constituée par les pasdaran négociations (!) ne sont en soi sous l’ancien régime. Son comman­ guère suffisantes, il n’en demeure dant Hadi Al-Ameri est l’actuel chef pas moins une avancée importante de l’ensemble des milices réunies et significative... pour laquelle il dans la coalition Hachd al-Chaabi, faut saluer le rôle central joué par le Les forces irakiennes avancent vers le centre de Kirkouk, le 16 censée être contrô-lée par le gou­ général Soleimani», souligne le quo­ octobre 2017 AHMAD AL-RUBAYE ! AFP vernement irakien. En réalité, cette tidien iranien Kayhan, proche du milice irakienne est sous comman­ «Guide suprême» Ali Khamenei (25 des régimes iranien, truc et ira-kien Téhéran dans l’armée régulière dement iranien. Al-Ameri a la dou­ octobre 2017). Bagdad a également et l’occupation de territoires par les irakienne pour que celle-ci soit ble nationalité iranienne et iraki­ déclaré que la «sus-pension» des pasdaran et les Hachd al-Chaabi, libérée de l’emprise du régime enne. résultats du référendum n’était pas certaines factions kurdes ont com­ iranien. suffisante et que ceux-ci devraient mencé à collaborer avec Téhéran en Certains rapports relèvent que les être «annulés». tournant le dos au GRK et à Même si la théocratie iranienne est membres de milices Hachd al- Massoud Barzani. Il y a même eu considérée tactiquement comme le Chaabi ont commis de nombreuses Les États-Unis et la France ont des tentatives pour diviser le vainqueur principal de la crise du exac-tions après leur entrée dans cependant demandé à Bagdad d’ac­ Kurdistan irakien en deux régions Kurdistan irakien, renforçant par-là les territoires occupés du Kurdistan cepter l’offre de dialogue d’Erbil. distinctes, la région de son influence en Irak et au irakien. Des organisations de Dans un changement de position, le Suleimaniyeh et Halabja dans le sud, Kurdistan et portant un coup dur au défense des droits de l’homme ont premier ministre irakien, Heidar et la région d’Erbil et Dohouk dans parti indépendantiste kurde - déclaré, jeudi 2 novembre, que plus Ebadi, a affirmé le 27 octobre avoir le nord. Ainsi, la partition du obstacle majeur sur le chemin de de 180 000 citoyens civils, majori­ donné aux forces irakiennes l’ordre Kurdistan aurait eu pour con­ son projet expansionniste -, la tairement kurdes, sont actuelle­ de stopper leur progression pen­ séquence la diminution du pouvoir République isla-mique pourrait finir, ment victimes de déplacements for­ dant 24 heures pour pouvoir du GRK, maintenu depuis 1991, et la d’un point de vue stratégique, le cés à la suite des affrontements négocier avec le GRK le position­ marginalisation du Parti démocrate principal perdant de cette crise. Car entre le gouver-nement central et la nement de ces forces. Ces négocia­ kurde (PDK). l’exacerbation de la confrontation région kurde du nord (Reuters, 2 tions auraient été entamées le 28 avec Washington entraînera une novembre 2017). Selon le site octobre à Mossoul. Par souci d’éviter l’effusion de sang nouvelle configuration au «Kurdistan 24», des membres de et une attaque contre la région Kurdistan. Les forces de Massoud Hachd al-Chaabi auraient assassiné, L’AVENIR DU KURDISTAN sous son contrôle, Massoud Barzani Barzani et d’autres factions kurdes le 29 octobre, un journaliste-pho­ IRAKIEN a décidé de s’écarter de la prési­ qui s’étaient gardées de réactiver tographe de la chaîne Kurdistan TV dence du GRK, refusant que son leurs points de discorde avec dans le village Hafteh-Ghazi près de Trois éléments seront sans doute mandat soit prolongé jusqu’à la Téhéran, vont s’employer à créer un la ville de Dahough dans la province déterminants dans les développe­ prochaine élection présidentielle front hostile au régime du Guide de Kirkouk. Ces milices sont égale­ ments à venir: qui devait avoir lieu dans huit mois. suprême jusque-là inexistant. ment accusées d’avoir commis de Il a transféré ses prérogatives au nombreuses exactions contre les > Négociations avec le parlement et au premier ministre Par ailleurs, les États-Unis et la citoyens kurdes, pillant et incendi­ gouvernement de Bagdad Netchirvan Barzani qui lui succédera France ne pourront plus se con­ ant des centaines de maisons dans probablement à l’issu de la tenter du rôle d’observateurs des plusieurs localités occupées le 15 Il en va de soi que la situation du prochaine élection. Selon les obser­ avancées de la République octobre dernier. GRK, par rapport à celle dont il vateurs, cette initiative clairvoyante islamique dans la région. La situa­ jouissait avant les événements de a ajouté à son estime auprès de la tion intérieure de l’Iran ne peut, Abu Mahdi Al-Mohandes, le com­ sep-tembre et octobre, s’est nette­ population. Mais il faudrait les pres­ non plus, être ignorée: ces activités mandant-adjoint de Hachd al- ment affaiblie. C’est pourquoi, lors sions américaines et européennes extraterritoriales sont très mal vues Chaabi, affirme: «Je suis fier d’être des négociations entre les deux par­ sur le gouvernement central pour par la population iranienne en prise un soldat sous le commandement ties, on peut s’attendre à un éviter une autre tragé-die au peuple à des crises financiè-res. Le du général Ghassem Soleimani (site énorme règlement de comptes de kurde. Kurdistan iranien, sous une chape K 24-Erbil). Al-Mohandes est pour­ la part de Bagdad, sous l’influence de plomb, est une poudrière. La tant recherché par les forces iraki­ du régime de Téhéran et du CGRI > La politique américaine population de cette région souf-fre ennes pour tentatives d’attentat qui entendent faire avancer leurs dans la région énormément depuis plus de trois contre l’ambassade des États-Unis propres projets, avec le GRK, et la décennies d’une répression brutale, au Ko-weït. Il figure également personne de Massoud Barzani. Toutefois, l’intervention de Téhéran religieuse et ethnique, de la part de parmi les commandants de la force et des Hachd al-Chaabi au Kurdistan Téhéran. Et les mécontentements Qods des pasdaran. Après le référendum kurde, Ali irakien ravive la confrontation envers le pouvoir des mollahs se Akbar Velayati, ancien ministre des géopolitique des États-Unis avec le généralisent un peu partout en Iran, Avec les Hachd al-Chaabi et les Affaires étrangères de Téhéran et régime iranien dans la région. Cette y compris à Téhéran. Les autorités forces irakiennes s’approchant des actuel conseiller de Khamenei, avait situation contribue à réactiver la iraniennes sont de plus en plus frontières du GRK, les combats, dit que Barzani était sur le point de même contradiction qui avait con­ préoccupées par une population c’est-à-dire la résistance des pesh­ chuter, et que les Kurdes eux- duit à l’élaboration de la nouvelle exas-pérée qui risque de ne plus mergas, ont gagné d’intensité. Au mêmes allaient à coup sûr le ren­ stratégie de Washington vis-à-vis de être contrôlable. • cours de ces derniers jours, des verser avant même que le gou­ l’Iran - inscription du CGRI sur la affronte-ments violents ont été rap­ vernement central ne le fasse. liste noire américaine comme entité * Citoyen suisse d’origine iranienne portés du triangle frontalier turco- terroriste et sanctions prises à son résidant à Neuchâtel, Gholam- irako-syrien. > Les divisions internes du encontre. Le Secrétaire d’État Rex Hossin Vakilzadeh est né dans la Kurdistan Tillerson avait demandé, lors de son ville de Chiraz. Militant contre les LA NOUVELLE POSITION DU GRK entretien récent avec le premier excès du régime iranien, il est mem­ Dans les jours qui ont suivi le siège ministre irakien, l’intégration des bre de l’Association des experts Après le retrait de ses forces, le du Kurdistan, les pressions diverses miliciens chiites aux ordres de iraniens en Suisse. GRK a déclaré la suspension des

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IAL-MONITOR! November 15, 2017 Iran, Turkey have own plans for Iraq's strategic The Islamic State has been largely driven out of Iraq, but Turkey and Iran both remain intensely interested in certain areas.

Mahmut Bozarslan November 15, 2017 Swww.al-monitor.com IYARBAKIR, Turkey — Sinjar, Iraq, is shaping up to be the essential gem in someone's crown, but there are several contenders. Turkey, DIran and the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) are all vying for control of the strategic area — all for different reasons. Turkey is working to make good on its threat to demolish PKK strongholds in Iraq by continuing to bombard the group's positions. Though such oper­ ations have been ongoing for years, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stepped up the rhetoric earlier this month, vowing, “If the authori­ Iranian-backed Hashd al-Shaabi fighters in Kurdistan's Sinjar ties there don't solve the problems of Qandil and Sinjar and if [Iraq] does not undertake what is to be done, then we will raze those places to the region. Photo: File- ground." He has followed up the threats with a series of air raids. The pro-govern­ want Iran in the area any more than Erdogan wants the PKK there. ment Daily Sabah reported Turkish forces killed 96 PKK fighters in the Mohammad Keyani, who was a deputy of the Kurdish Gorran movement in mountains of Qandil and Zap and destroyed or seized caches of PKK the Iraqi parliament from 2010 to 2014, is among those who see a potential explosives. Turkey, the United States and the European Union consider the Iranian angle. “Turkey and Iran are [vying for] Sinjar. For Iran, [Sinjar] is the group to be a terrorist organization. key to an Iran-Syria connection via Iraq. If Iran can control [Sinjar], it will The PKK's main headquarters is in the Qandil Mountains in northeast Iraq have easy access to Iraq, Syria and Lebanon. Also, don't forget there are near the Iran border. Sinjar — known to the Kurds as Shengal — is home Sunni areas in [Sinjar], To keep Sunnis under observation is important for to the Yazidis, a Kurdish religious minority, and is in northwest Iraq near the Iran. Syria border. Erdogan is interested because when the PKK came to the He added, "Syria believes that if Sunnis become stronger and Turkey con­ region inn refused to leave despite strong reactions from Turkey and the tinues supporting them, it could create trouble for Iran. To sever the ties Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) in Erbil, Iraqi Kurdistan. This even­ between Sunnis in Iraq and those in Syria, border control is essential for tually made Sinjar a prime target for Turkey. Iran. As for the KRG, to control the Kurdish movements, especially the When Iraq's Popular Mobilization Units (PMU), which are supported by Syrian Kurds, Iran has to control [Sinjar], The United States is sending Iran, showed up at Sinjar five months ago and began taking over control of weapons to Kurds via the Semalke crossing of [Sinjar]." villages from Yazidi forces known as the , it became eyani believes Turkey has additional reasons to be concerned with clear that Iran was interested in the area. KSinjar: “First, it is close to the Syrian border. Syrian Kurds are now The PMU also became the driving force of the Iraqi army's operation last controlling a large territory. Turkey wants to end this. It doesn't want a month to recover Kirkuk from the KRG. Kurds said there were Iranian sol­ [situation] similar to Iraq to emerge. Second, [Sinjar] is close to Tai Afar, diers in the predominately Shiite PMU who, after helping to take over where Turkmens live. Turkey still has historical interest, even ambitions, in Kirkuk, headed north to Sinjar. Ninevah province. If it can't physically control it, it will want to have a proxy" to do it, such as the Barzani family or former Ninevah Gov. Atheel al-Nujaifi, Turkey's interest in Sinjar because of the PKK presence was understand­ who is now commander of the Turkish-backed Ninevah Guard Sunni militia. able, but why was Iran, which had no religious or ethnic ties to Sinjar, sud­ "If you ask me, Barzani will regain his status with Turkey by preventing the denly so interested? other Kurds from gaining prominence.” In 1991 during the first Gulf War, Iraq under Saddam Hussein had fired Keyani said that in the short run it won't be possible for Iran to threaten Scud ballistic missiles into Israel from Mount Sinjar. Some people are won­ Israel with missiles from Mount Sinjar. “It will not be easy to deploy those dering if that's what Iran has in mind now. missiles, to bring them over. [However], a threat that can materialize in Iraq Others, such as Mehmet Alkis, a doctoral student at Marmara University is a total takeover by Iran. But the United States will not allow that. That's who closely monitors the Middle East and Iraqi Kurdistan, said Iran is also why the United States opposed the [Kurdish independence] referendum. seeking to realize its dream of a Shiite crescent. Americans wanted a strong Kurdish region that will have a strong influence “Strategically and politically, Iran wants access to the Mediterranean. That's on the central government. The United States didn’t want Iraq to fall under the best way to export its oil and gas. It is also true that it wants to secure [Iran's control], but sadly the Kurds didn't understand it,” he added. itself against Israel. Iran wants to control a line from Sulaimaniyah, Kirkuk, Iran and Turkey, which had differences over Syria's civil war, found them­ [Sinjar] [all in Iraq], Rojava [northern Syria], Deir ez-Zor [Syria], Damascus selves on the same front when the issue became a Kurdish one. Yet these and Lebanon that will be both its strategic corridor and the base of the two countries, which have been competing for hundreds of years, cant Shiite crescent. [Sinjar] is right between Iraq and Syria,” Alkis told Al- agree to stay on the same line of action forever, even when the issue is the Monitor. “This is a vital connection for Iran that will also enable it to sever Kurds. At the end of the day, they will confront each other at Sinjar, if not the links between the Kurds." militarily, then politically. Turkey, Iran or the PKK — whoever controls Sinjar Iranian control of Sinjar could be considered a threat to some, but Tehran — will have an indisputable advantage in Iraq and Syria. The domination of is building strength to act as a deterrent force and isn't likely to engage in Sinjar will be vitally important to the future of the region's Kurds.* a direct war easily, according to Alkis. Ikis attributes Turkey’s keen interest in Sinjar to the roles of both the Mahmut Bozarslan is based in Diyarbakir, the central city of Turkey’s mainly Kurdish PKK and Iran. "Turkey doesn't want Sinjar to become a new Qandil to southeast. A journalist since 1996, he has worked for the mass-circulation daily be used by the PKK [as a stronghold]. Turkey will not allow a Kurdish cor­ Sabah, the NTV news channel, Al JazeeraTurk and Agence France-Presse (AFP), ridor to emerge, even if it is controlled by Iran, which could also be a threat covering the many aspects of the Kurdish question, as well as the local economy and women’s and refugee issues. He has frequently reported also from Iraqi against Turkey. Turkey's goal is to sever the Kurdish links or control the Kurdistan. On Twitter: @mahmutbozarslan area itself." Alkis said he doesn't know if Turkey could manage to control the area or whether it has developed such a plan. But he does know Turkey doesn't

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Atlantic Council November ie, 2017 Budget Politics and Baghdad-Kurdish Relations By Harith Hasan al-Qarawee / November 16, 2017 http://www.atlanticcouncil.org Photo: An Iraqi flag is seen on a military vehicle at an oilfield in ne of the main disputes behind tensions between the Iraqi federal Dibis area on the outskirts of Kirkuk following the Iraqi government government and Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) includes disa­ takeover of the province from Kurdish control. Photo taken October Ogreement over budget allocation. This month, the Iraqi government appro­ 17, 2017. Taken by Alaa Al-Marjani. ved the proposed budget for 2018 and sent it to the parliament for debate in the coming weeks. The draft budget, strongly criticized by the KRG, is the and undermine the KDP. latest episode in the contention between Baghdad’s vision of a strong center and KRG’s preference of strong regions. It also highlights a fundamental pro­ While Kurdish parties reject any policy aiming to delegitimize the status of blem: the actual meaning of Iraqi federalism, which still lacks a clear institu­ Kurdistan as a unified federal region, they have also proved willing to strike tional framework. separate deals with Baghdad when required. The obvious example was the PUK-Baghdad deal which facilitated the redeployment of federal forces in In the last five years, the KRG used economic policy to further its strategy of Kirkuk. More recently, however, the PUK and Goran also came to a separate securing more autonomy from Iraq, even by increasing the region’s depend­ deal—excluding the KDP—with Iraqi parties over the formation of the ency on Turkey. The strategy worked so long as the KRG could expand its Independent High Electoral Commission’s board members. The deal provid­ control over oil fields and widen its economic relations with foreign coun­ ed each Kurdish party with a representative on the nine-member board, tries and companies, largely encouraged by high expectations over depriving KDP from having its own affiliate on the electoral commission. Kurdistan’s oil reserves and, since 2014, the sustainability of KRG’s control Despite complaints of disunity, the PUK and Goran may argue that they have over Kirkuk’s oil fields. Now, by reclaiming those very oil fields, the federal simply followed the KDP’s example when it unilaterally controlled the government forces the KRG to choose between two difficult options: either region’s policy. continue relying on its shrinking and insufficient resources, or undo a great deal of its constitutionally dubious economic autonomy and accept more ome unconfirmed reports claim that Baghdad made any future negotia­ supervision and intervention from the federal government. tion—about key issues such as budgets, autonomy, and the nature of SBaghdad-KRG relations—conditional on engagement with a KRG delegation The proposed 2018 budget reduces the KRG’s share from 17 percent to 12.67 that includes all major Kurdish factions. Whether true or not, it seems that percent. KRG Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani described it as the worst Baghdad shares a common interest with the PUK and Goran in reducing the budget proposal, urging Baghdad to restore the previous share agreed upon KDP’s influence in the region and at the federal level. This policy appears to with the Iraqi interim government in 2004. The disagreement began during capitalize on a weakened Masoud Barzani and his son, Masrur, who are bla­ former prime minister Nouri al-Maliki’s second term. Intertwined with the med for the ill-fated referendum and increasing authoritarianism in Erbil. discord over managing oil resources and disputed territories, the budget Nonetheless, these expedient alliances will likely change in Iraq’s fluid politi­ clash was exacerbated by conflicting interpretations of the constitution cal context where ideological leanings fall secondary to familial and patrimo­ regarding oil exports and revenue management. At the time, PM Haider al- nial considerations. It would not be surprising if the KDP, internally divided Abadi headed parliament’s financial committee and took the side of Iraqi and increasingly isolated, focused on consolidating its power in its traditional government, arguing that the KRG claimed more than its fair share of the strongholds in Duhok and Erbil, rather than championing the cause of state budget if allocated based on demographic percentage. The problem, of Kurdish independence. In fact, the attacks at the PUK’s and Goran’s offices course, is that Iraq has not conducted a census since 1987. The KRG argues in some KDP-controlled areas after Masoud Barzani’s announcement that he that the 17 percent must continue until a new census takes place. is stepping aside as a president suggest a growing intolerance among Kurdish parties that might intensify geographic segregation. he proposed 2018 budget also demands that the KRG exports no less than 250,000 barrels of oil per day and hand over the revenue to the fede­ Lastly, the KRG welcomed Abadi’s statement expressing his willingness to Tral Ministry of Oil. In other words, Baghdad is directly challenging the KRG’s pay the salaries of the region’s public servants, saying it would provide autonomous oil policy and attempting to impose federal authority, at least Baghdad with the required information about its employees. But again, the when it comes to the management of oil exports and its revenue. With no devil is in the details. The federal government has long suspected that specifications regarding the contracts already signed and debt obligations Kurdish parties exaggerate their number of employees to award their loyal­ between the KRG and international oil companies, it is difficult to envision a ists, given that Kurdistan has more public employees per capita than smooth implementation of this item. Baghdad and Erbil will need to nego­ Baghdad. Abadi demanded that his own auditors verify the lists provided by tiate these details before the parliament votes on it. Without clarity on such the KRG and floated placing a possible ceiling on the number of civil employ­ minutiae, it will plant the seeds of future tension and obstruct budget imple­ ees and peshmerga. mentation. In this and other issues, Iraq’s federal government has taken a more The draft budget also implicitly discredits the KRG by using the term assertive posture, seizing the moment to gain more control and limit “Kurdistan region governorates’’ in a way that implies plurality of Kurdish Kurdistan’s autonomy. But this policy requires strategic vision that addresses actors. The change in language sparked outrage from the KRG’s Council of the long-term relations between the KRG and the federal government and Ministers and PM Barzani accused the federal government of aiming to abol­ the scope, nature, and feasibility of federalism in Iraq. This conversation has ish the KRG as a constitutional entity. Although the budget’s text does not yet to begin, but the longer it takes, the more likely short-term calculations mention it explicitly, Baghdad seems willing to deal directly with gover­ and de facto politics will impose their own unpredictable realities. • norates if the KRG does not cooperate. Abadi previously rejected calls to divide the Kurdistan region, but he also argues that the KRG, controlled by Harith Hasan al-Qarawee is a senior non-resident fellow with the Rafik Hariri the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), violates the constitution and chal­ Center. Follow him on Twitter @harith_hasan lenges federal authority. By directly dealing with the KDP’s main rivals—the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) and Goran movement, both of whom share influence in Sulaimaniyya—Abadi could further delegitimize the KRG

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I |jj!ljql*üuujl Jaii 1 November 19, 2017 'middle east online1 Piece by piece, Iran moves towards a 'new empire' With much of the in decline after the revolutionary convulsions of the "Arab spring," the

Tehran regime saw its chance to strike.

By Ed Blanche - BEIRUT - 2017-11-19 http://www.middle-east-online.com

ran's takeover of Iraq's strategic city of Kirkuk and its surrounding oil fields in a show of force underlined how Tehran is steadily expanding its power Ifrom the Arabian Gulf to the Mediterranean to create a modern-day version of its ancient empires. At their height in 475BC, the Persians ruled over an estimated 44% of the world's population, more than any other empire in history. The Iranians are turning Iraq, their long-time Arab foe delivered into their hands by US President George W. Bush's invasion of March 2003, into an Iranian satrapy. This was a system of governance that was based on the loyalty and obe­ dience of regional monarchs to the central power that was devised by Cyrus the Great, founder of the first great Persian empire in 530BC, which was ruled by the Achaemenid dynasty. Iran's Army Chief of Staff Major-General Mohammad Bagheri The Iranians' armed intervention, using the US-trained and -armed Iraqi Army supported by powerful Iranian proxy militias known as the Popular consolidation of Iran's emerging land bridge between Tehran and the eas­ Mobilisation Units (PMU), to crush Kurdish moves towards independence emphasised Tehran's assiduous penetration of all levels of Iraqi society, par­ tern Mediterranean. ticularly since 2003, as part of its ambitious strategy of dominating its Sunni In war-ravaged Syria, the Iranians extended their control over that coun­ Arab neighbours. try's energy resources by driving the Islamic State (ISIS) out of much of Deir ez-Zor province in the north-east, where most of Syria's major oil and gas Iranian Major-General Qassem Soleimani, commander of the elite al- Quds Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the strate­ fields are located and which borders Iraq. gist behind the Iranian expansion, warned the Kurds not to have an indepen­ This area is a key link in the land bridge that Tehran has been assiduously dence referendum, which produced a clear majority in favour of a breaka­ establishing across Iraq to Syria to create a Shia-controlled corridor from the way republic in northern Iraq. Arabian Gulf to the Mediterranean and Israel's northern border. he Kurdish leadership defied Soleimani and he could not let such audacity Iran stands to gain economically from its massive investment of troops go unanswered. In several hours of fighting on October 16, the forces he and treasure in keeping Syrian President Bashar Assad in power and has controls overwhelmed the Kurds in Kirkuk. amassed formidable investment in infrastructure that will keep Syria depen­ "We appear to have witnessed a masterful exploitation" of long-time dent for decades. divisions within Iraq's Kurdish population, "a sudden and decisive turning of These imperial-style machinations mean that Iranian influence extends the screw... with hardly a shot fired," observed roving analyst Jonathan Spyer to Damascus, Baghdad, Beirut and Sana'a — approximately one-fifth of the on October 18. Arab world. "This deal was only feasible because of smart investments that Iran Iran's efforts at extending its frontiers have invariably been helped by made in the politics of both Shia Arabs and Iraqi Kurds during previous history, particularly when the Middle East is in turmoil — as it is today, decades, plus the judicious mixing of political and military force, an art in arguably the worst turbulence since the collapse of the Ottoman Empire in which the Iranians excel. the first world war — and it is able to manipulate internal divisions to its "Indeed, Iran's influence in Iraq, both political and military, goes beyond advantage. the PMU" and the schism between the pro-Western Kurdistan Democratic or now, much of the fighting involves heavily armed proxies in Syria, Iraq, Party (KDP) and the Iran-aligned Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, Spyer wrote in Yemen, Lebanon and Bahrain. The swelling confrontation between Iran the American Interest. and Saudi Arabia, leader of 's dominant Sunni sect, is the most worrying "The fall of Kirkuk confirms the extent to which Iraq today is an Iran- flashpoint. controlled satrapy and it vividly demonstrates the currently unrivalled effi­ Their military face-off in Yemen, Saudi Arabia's southern neighbour cacy of the Iranian methods of revolutionary and political warfare, as practi­ which dominates the strategic Bab el Mandeb Strait, is steadily escalating, sed by the IRGC throughout the Arab world," Spyer declared. with Houthi rebels firing ballistic missiles into the kingdom in a power strug­ gle that has engulfed other countries in the region. The Iranians' swift acquisition of Kirkuk underlined the sharp increase in Iranian operations across the region since the Tehran regime signed the July Lebanon, a Saudi dependency and a sectarian minefield, was also grip­ 2015 nuclear agreement with the United States and other global powers. ped by alarm as the Iran-backed Hezbollah consolidated its military and poli­ here does not seem to be any reason to believe that will slow down. On tical dominance and talk of war, possibly between Hezbollah and Israel, is on the contrary, the Iran-backed Houthi rebels fighting a Saudi-led Arab everyone's lips. Talliance in Yemen have begun firing ballistic missiles, supposedly supplied by The island state of Bahrain in the Gulf, which has a Shia majority ruled by Iran with crews trained by the IRGC, deep into Saudi Arabia. a heavy-handed Sunni monarchy, is another flashpoint. That will escalate a messy war that began in March 2015 over the Arab Much of the turmoil convulsing the region is the consequence of the world's poorest country and that could ignite the smouldering confrontation United States' ill-advised invasion of Iraq in March 2003 to get rid of Saddam between the two Gulf titans into a full-scale conflict that could eclipse the Hussein and then, eight years later, withdrawing its troops, leaving the other wars ravaging the region. ancient land gripped by Iran-fuelled turmoil. Iran's success in Iraq was clearly a critical setback forthe Americans, who The Americans' bungled occupation and its bewildering failure to face the Iranian takeover of the northern tier of the Middle East and the understand the Arab world sowed the seeds of Islamic jihadist power «•

50 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Ozeti

es- in its fumbled attempt to impose Iran had been working towards regime saw its chance to strike. project influence throughout the Western democracy on the Middle that end since Ayatollah Ruhollah Analysts say the clerical regime region and beyond." East. Khomeini's overthrow of Shah Mo­ in Tehran had been planning its ex­ Ed Blanche has covered Middle All this played into Tehran's hammad Reza Pahlavi in February pansionist strategy since Khomeini's East affairs since 1967. He is the Arab hands. By ousting Saddam, Iraq's 1979. The founding of Hezbollah in Islamic Revolution, which he vowed Weekly analyses section editor. ■ strongman since the 1970s and for Lebanon in the early 1980s was the to extend across the Muslim world. first real step towards achieving a decades the Arab bulwark against Omer Carmi, an Israeli analyst This article was originally published new Persian Empire and provided the their ancient enemies, the Persians, with the Washington Institute for in The Arab Weekly. model for future armed proxies. the Americans allowed Iraq's long- Near East Policy, noted: "Iran has downtrodden Shia majority to seize With the Arab world in decline invested a great deal of money and power. after the revolutionary convulsions effort into developing a complex net­ hat opened the way for Tehran to of the "Arab spring," along with the work of allies, partners and sur­ launch its long-held ambition to perceived betrayal of the United rogates worldwide in hopes that such hold sway over the whole region, States' disengagement in the Middle a network would deter its enemies empowering after nearly East by Barack Obama's pivot to­ from attacking the Islamic Republic 1,400 years of Sunni supremacy. wards countering China, the Tehran while simultaneously enabling it to

REUTERS Iraqi court rules Kurdish independence vote unconstitutional

NOVEMBER 20, 2017 REUTERS Ahmed Rasheed, Raya Jalabi

BAGHDAD/ERBIL, Iraq (Reuters) - Iraq’s Supreme Federal Court ruled on Monday a Sept. 25 Kurdish independence refer­ endum was unconstitutional and the results void, strengthen­ ing Baghdad’s hand in a stand-off with the Kurdish region watched closely by neighbouring Turkey and Iran. The Kurdistan Regional Government did not directly say whether it accepted the effective cancellation of the vote, but its new prime minister called for a third party to oversee talks between Iraq’s central government and the Kurds. The KRG also called on the international community — including the United Nations, European Union and non-governmental organisations - - to intervene and help lift what it called “restrictive” sanctions imposed by Baghdad in retaliation for the referendum. Kurds voted overwhelmingly to break away from Iraq in the referendum, defying the central government in Baghdad and alarming neighbouring People look for their names on the lists at a polling station, dur­ Turkey and Iran who have their own Kurdish minorities. ing Kurds independence referendum in Erbil, Iraq September “The Federal Court issued the decision to consider the Kurdish region’s 25, 2017. REUTERS/Ahmed Jadallah/Files referendum unconstitutional and this ruling is final,” a court spokesman said. “The power of this ruling should now cancel all the results of the ref­ erendum.” Baghdad and the Kurds. The court is responsible for settling disputes between Iraq’s central gov­ “The rights of Kurds are enshrined in the (Iraqi) constitution and we seek ernment and its regions, including Kurdistan. The verdict is not subject the implementation of this constitution to resolve our issues with to appeal. Baghdad,” Barzani told reporters, according to Kurdish Rudaw TV. A statement from Iraq’s Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said: “We call “The constitution is one package and must be applied in its entirety, not upon everybody to... avoid taking any step which violates the constitution selectively.” and law.” However, Barzani did not directly say whether Kurdish officials accepted FLIGHTS BANNED the effective cancellation of the referendum. The KRG had previously The court had ruled on Nov. 6 that no region or province can secede. The offered only to freeze the results. Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) said last week it would respect The KRG later said its chief concern was the lifting of an embargo on that verdict, signalling a new phase in efforts to restart negotiations over international flights to the region, which it said hampered foreign invest­ the region’s future. ment as well as humanitarian efforts for the more than 1.5 million inter­ The Iraqi government responded to the Kurdish independence referen­ nally displaced people currently in the region. dum by seizing the Kurdish-held city of Kirkuk and other territory disput­ “We call on the international community to intercede in urging Baghdad ed between the Kurds and the central government. It also banned direct authorities to lift the embargo, without condition, on international flights to Kurdistan and demanded control over border crossings. flights.” Long-serving Kurdish president Masoud Barzani stepped down over the “The restrictive policies adopted by Baghdad against Erbil are in violation affair and the regional government led by his nephew Prime Minister of Iraq’s obligations and responsibilities under international and human­ Nechirvan Barzani has tried to negotiate an end to the confrontation. itarian law,” the KRG said in a statement. • In a news conference following Monday’s ruling, Nechirvan Barzani said the court’s ruling was reached unilaterally, without input from KRG rep­ resentatives, and called for a third party to oversee negotiations between

51 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Ôzeti Wtrat 17 novembre 2017 LE JOUR Syrie: Erdogan veut « nettoyer » Afrine des milices kurdes

Ankara, 17 nov 2017 (AFP) https://www.lorientlejour.com "Que venez-vous faire en Syrie, vous qui vous e président turc Recep Tayyip Erdogan a indi­ trouvez à 12.000 km de là?", a interrogé le chef de qué vendredi qu'il voulait "nettoyer" Afrine, l'Etat turc. Ldans le nord de la Syrie, de la présence de milices La Turquie a lancé l'an dernier une offensive ter­ kurdes soutenues par les Etats-Unis contre le restre dans le nord de la Syrie pour repousser l'EI groupe jihadiste Etat islamique (El). vers le sud et empêcher les YPG de relier les terri­ toires qu'ils contrôlent dans le nord de la Syrie. "Il nous faut nettoyer Afrine des organisations ter­ roristes PYD et YPG", a dit M. Erdogan lors d'un M. Erdogan a plusieurs fois menacé de lancer une discours à Ankara retransmis à la télévision, opération militaire à Afrine, et sa nouvelle mise ajoutant qu'il fallait y déployer des troupes en garde survient à quelques jours d'un important turques. sommet Russie-Turquie-Iran, mercredi. Le président turc Recep Tayyip Erdogan Ankara considère le Parti de l'Union démocra­ a prévenu vendredi que la Turquie comp­ La Russie et l'Iran, qui soutiennent le régime tique (PYD) et son bras armé, les Unités de pro­ tait chasser la milice kurde YPG (Unités syrien, et la Turquie, qui appuie l'opposition, par­ tection du peuple (YPG), qui contrôlent une large de protection du peuple) de la poche rainent un accord visant à réduire l'intensité des part du nord de la Syrie, comme des organisations d’Afrin dans le nord-ouest de la Syrie. combats pour préparer le terrain à un accord poli­ "terroristes". tique en vue de mettre un terme au conflit syrien Mais les YPG sont aussi la principale composante qui a fait plus de 330.000 morts depuis mars 2011. Dans le cadre de cet accord, la Turquie a notam­ des Forces démocratique syriennes (FDS), une Ce désaccord sur les YPG a contribué à tendre alliance arabo-kurde soutenue et armée par les ment déployé des troupes ayant une mission d'ob­ davantage les rapports ente Ankara et servation dans la province d'Idleb (nord-ouest), Etats-Unis qui a notamment été le fer de lance de Washington, deux alliés au sein de l'Otan, et M. la prise de Raqqa, capitale autoproclamée de l'EI non loin de la zone d'Afrine contrôlée par les Erdogan a une nouvelle fois critiqué vendredi les YPG.* en Syrie. Etats-Unis.

LEuwent JOUR 17 novembre 2017

selon Hürriyet.

Talal Sello, M. Sello a disparu il y a plusieurs jours dans des circonstances troubles, et d'intenses spéculations circulaient à son sujet, certains affirmant qu'il s'é­ porte-parole tait livré à la Turquie, d'autres qu'il avait été cap­ turé.

des FDS, Dans un communiqué publié jeudi, les FDS, une alliance essentiellement composée des milices kurdes YPG, ont estimé que la "disparition" de ’’aux mains” M. Sello était "le résultat d'une opération spé­ ciale des renseignements turcs, en collusion avec des membres de sa famille". Selon ce commu­ Le porte-parole des Forces démocra­ d’Ankara niqué, M. Sello "faisait l'objet de beaucoup de tiques syriennes (FDS), , lors pressions et de chantage de la part de l'Etat turc, d'une conférence de presse jusqu'au point où il a reçu des menaces visant ses Ankara, 17 nov 2017 (AFP) enfants qui se trouvent en Turquie". https://www.lorientlejour.com Le quotidien Hürriyet rapporte vendredi que M. L'Observatoire syrien des droits de l'Homme Sello est interrogé par le MIT sur les positions ne figure importante d'une force arabo- (OSDH), une ONG qui s'appuie sur un vaste défensives des YPG dans la zone d'Afrine, dans Ukurde syrienne combattant le groupe Etat réseau de sources en Syrie, avait affirmé jeudi le nord de la Syrie, ainsi que sur ses alliances et islamique (El) avec l'appui de Washington, maisque M. Sello se trouvait "aux mains des ren­ son armement. honni d'Ankara, est "aux mains" des services seignements turcs". "Il semble qu'il ait été attiré secrets turcs (MIT), a rapporté vendredi le quoti­ en Turquie par la ruse", a indiqué l'OSDH. La Turquie a lancé l'an dernier une offensive dien turc Hürriyet. dans le nord de la Syrie pour empêcher la jonc­ Les FDS sont soutenues par les Etats-Unis et ont tion des différents territoires contrôlés par les Talal Sello, un porte-parole des Forces démocra­ été le fer de lance de la prise de Raqqa, capitale YPG, et répète régulièrement qu'elle a l'intention tiques syriennes (FDS), "s'est rendu" cette autoproclamée de l'EI en Syrie. Mais pour de lancer ses forces sur Afrine. "H nous faut net­ semaine à des rebelles syriens pro-Ankara et a été Ankara, cette structure n'est autre qu'un paravent toyer Affine des organisations terroristes", a transféré dans la province de Gaziantep (sud-est visant à légitimer les YPG, considérées par la ainsi déclaré le président turc Recep Tayyip de la Turquie) où il est interrogé par le MIT, Turquie comme une "organisation terroriste". Erdogan vendredi.*

52 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Ozeti I le nouvel Observateur N°2767 16 novembre 2017 La mémoire saccagée des chrétiens d’Orient Longtemps, les chrétiens du nord de l’Irak ont vécu en sécurité. Ces dernières années, ils ont dû fuir la folie éradicatrice de Daech. Reviendront-ils?Entretien avec le père Najeeb, qui a sauvé une partie des manuscrits de Mossoul

Propos recueillis par SARA DANIEL

pris possession de 80% des maisons. Les on histoire a fait le tour du chrétiens disent que Daech a déjà muté et monde. Daech venait de que les persécutions continuent. Nous conquérir Mossoul, puis sommes dans une situation bancale, pris Qaraqosh, la capitale officieuse entre les Arabes musulmans et les Kurdes, des chrétiens irakiens, et lui et s’allier avec les uns signifie être exclus remplissait des camionnettes de manus­ par les autres. Scrits médiévaux pour les soustraire à la Comment voyez-vous l’avenir institu- folie éradicatrice des djihadistes. Au tionnelde la plaine deNinive? Né en 19SS à Mossoul (Irak) dans une checkpoint, il arrêtait les chrétiens qui Nous vivons sur une terre qui est encore famille catholique de rite chaldêen, fuyaient. Ils n’avaient eu le temps d’em­ disputée. La plaine de Ninive est désirée et porter que quelques habits, peu de souve­ MICHAEEL NAJEEB convoitée par tout le monde depuis des est entré chez les dominicains à 24 ans. nirs, mais le prêtre dominicain les priait décennies déjà. Historiquement, nous Condamné à mort par Al-Qaida, il fuit Erbil de tout abandonner pour prendre à la étions du côté des Arabes musulmans de la après l’offensive de Daech. Il publie place des manuscrits. Il vient de publier grande province de Ninive. Mais ceux-là, « Sauver les livres et les hommes » aux aux Editions Grasset un témoignage, d’une manière ou d’une autre, ont ouvert Editions Grasset (avec Romain Gubert). « Sauver les livres et les hommes ». les portes de Mossoul à Daech, et les chré­ Quel est le message de votre livre? tiens ne peuvent plus leur faire confiance. Les hommes ne peuvent pas vivre sans Les Kurdes aussi ont fui devant l’avancée Kurdistan, l’a lui-même reconnu. Mais il leurs racines. Ni leur mémoire. C’est bien de « l’Etat islamique », nous laissant sans faut croire que les hommes peuvent pour cela que Daech a essayé d’effacer la défense, mais ils ont ensuite accueilli les changer. Les Kurdes ont accueilli les culture, de saccager les musées, détruire réfugiés chrétiens durant quatre ans. chrétiens persécutés par « l’Etat islamique ». les vestiges et brûler des bibliothèques Serons-nous rattachés au Kurdistan ou au Ils reconnaissent leurs errements, et à pré­ dans de véritables autodafés. Ceux qui gouvernement central de Bagdad ? Ce n’est sent il nous faut écrire une nouvelle page de veulent sauver les chrétiens et les minori­ pas clair. Nous sommes une carte, une mon­ notre histoire commune. Mais nous tés doivent avoir conscience qu’il faut naie d’échange entre ceux qui se livrent sommes vigilants : les Kurdes restent majo­ aussi sauver leur passé. Dans ce livre aujourd’hui une guerre ouverte, alors que ritairement des sunnites. Pour eux aussi, j’évoque mon enfance, les moments de fra­ la ville de Kirkouk et une partie de la plaine nous sommes des « dhimmis », c’est-à-dire ternité entre les chrétiens et les musul­ de Ninive viennent d’être occupées par le des citoyens de seconde classe. mans. Nous étions fiers du passé de notre gouvernement central. À vous lire, l’idéologie fondamenta­ pays, pique-niquions ensemble près des Les chrétiens ont-ils pris position à taureaux ailés hérités des Assyriens. l’occasion du référendum sur l’indé­ liste a préexisté à la victoire de Daech Quand j’ai vu les membres de Daech en pendance du Kurdistan ? dans la région ? En 2006, j’ai reçu une lettre de menace qui train de les défigurer au marteau piqueur, Beaucoup ont voté en faveur de l’indépen­ contenaittrois versets du Coran disant que j’ai bien compris que, pour eux, c’était dance. Ils ont nourri l’espoir de voir émer­ je devais être considéré comme un impie, comme s’ils étaient en train de tuer des ger un Kurdistan qui soit un pays ouvert et et un polythéiste. Dans l’enveloppe se trou­ êtres humains. démocratique, où le gouvernement serait vaient une balle et une croix découpée en Les chrétiens étaient près d’un million non confessionnel et la loi laïque. Ce serait morceaux. En 2007, nous avons été obligés et demi avant2003en Irak. Il en reste un exemple pour l’Irak et les pays arabes. de quitter Mossoul. Or Daech n’existait pas à peine deux cent mille. Quelle est leur J’espère d’ailleurs que la mention de la reli­ encore. Cette organisation n’est qu’une des situation actuellement? gion sera retirée de la carte d’identité... émanations de cette idéologie néfaste qui a A Qaraqosh, principale ville chrétienne, Les chrétiens pensent-ils que les 40% de la population qui était réfugiée au persécutions dont ils ont été victimes été propagée par les salafistes, les fonda­ Kurdistan est revenue. A Mossoul, en n’auraient pas lieu dans un Kurdistan mentalistes puis Al-Qaida, et ainsi de suite. revanche, aucun des cinquante mille chré­ indépendant? Une idéologie qui s’impose actuellement tiens n’est rentré. C’est bien trop dange­ Les Kurdes ont, eux aussi, massacré les dans le monde entier, en F rance, en Europe, reux. Dans la ville de Bartella, où vivaient chrétiens, à Simele en 1933, ou participé au en Amérique. aussi beaucoup de chrétiens, les Shabaks, génocide arménien. Massoud Barzani, le Cette violence n’est-elle pas intrin­ une minorité chiite d’origine iranienne, ont président du gouvernement régional du sèque aux religions? N’existe-t-elle

53 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Ozeti

pas aussi dans le christianisme? trésors, et le sarcophage d’un roi assyrien. Quelle sera la destination de vos livres? Bien sûr, il y a eu les croisades, les guerres J’ai proposé à l’Unesco et à sa directrice Ils resteront à Erbil, au Kurdistan. On ne les de Religion entre catholiques et protestants, générale de l’époque, Irina Bokova, de sau­ a pas sauvés pour risquer de les remettre en et les Espagnols qui en Amérique ont ver en personne ce monument historique danger, à Qaraqosh ou à Mossoul. Ce dépôt converti les Indiens avec une grande bruta­ et d’en faire un lieu de mémoire qui pourrait est un trésor pour l’Irak, pas seulement pour lité. C’est un fait historique. Mais ce n’est ni être visité par le monde entier. Il faut restau­ les chrétiens, mais aussi pour les yazidis, les l’Evangile ni Jésus qui ont commandé de rer le site de manière scientifique, mais il musulmans, les sabéens. J’ai même retrouvé prendre l’épée pour tuer ceux qui ne sont faut aller vite pour stopper le mollah du lieu, des manuscrits latins et carolingiens. pas chrétiens. Comme le souhaite une parce que les islamistes ont déj à commencé Oùenestleprocessusdenumérisation grande partie des musulmans, il faut arrêter à injecter du ciment pour recouvrir les qui permettra désormais, quoi qu’il de prendre le Coran au pied de la lettre, vestiges. Or il y a plus de mille mosquées à arrive, d’en conserver le contenu ? replacer les textes qui incitent à la violence Mossoul, donc celle-là n’est pas nécessaire. 8 000 manuscrits et 40 000 documents dans leur contexte historique. Mais est-ce Dans quel état se trouvent votre d’archives ont été numérisés. Je m’oc­ que les prédicateurs intégristes, alors qu’ils couvent et son église à l’horloge à cupe actuellement en priorité des manus­ essaient d’imposer la charia dans le monde Mossoul? crits qu’on a pu arracher aux mains de arabe et même en Europe, l’accepteront? L’église est encore debout mais dénudée de Daech, ceux qui ont été retrouvés à moitié Je n’en suis pas sûr. son habit de marbre et de pierre. C’est une brûlés ou détrempés et que des gens Votre livre parie de l’importance de carcasse désolée. L’horloge n’existe plus, et m’apportent pour que je les restaure. Je préserver les vestiges du passé. Que la tour qui la contenait est à moitié sciée. voudrais aussi faire un musée avec les pensez-vous de la réhabilitation du Daech voulait sans doute faire sortir le objets liturgiques, les tableaux, les livres sitedelamosquéedeJonasàMossoul? mécanisme de cette horloge que l’impéra­ saccagés pendant l’occupation de « l’Etat En faisant sauter cette mosquée, Daech, à trice française Eugénie avait offerte à la ville islamique ». Pour que cette période son corps défendant, a ouvert une porte vers en 1880. Les quatre cloches, fondues à Paris sombre de notre histoire ne soit pas le passé. Ils ont mis au jour l’église qui pré­ en 1887, ont aussi été volées. Actuellement, oubliée par les générations à venir. ■ existait à la mosquée, et, dans la strate je ne sais pas si le mécanisme de l’horloge encore inférieure, des taureaux ailés et des est encore sur place.

Jhallenge ~ 8 novembre 2017

Ali Akbar L'Iranien Velayati s'affiche Velayati, le haut conseiller du Leader de la à Alep, vante les succès Révolution islamique en matière de poli­ chiites au Proche-Orient tique étrangère, le 7 novembre 2017 à Alep, en Syrie. Par Reuters le 08.11.2017 / www.challenges.fr

Hezbollah libanais, ont annoncé mercredi Selon des propos rapportés par un organe MMAN (Reuters) - Le dirigeant iranien être sur le point de reprendre le dernier bas­ de propagande du Hezbollah libanais, le Ali Akbar Velayati, principal conseiller tion urbain du groupe djihadiste sunnite Etat conseiller du guide suprême iranien a évoqué duA guide suprême de la République islamique, islamique dans l'est de la Syrie. devant des miliciens chiites venus combattre a promis mercredi lors d'une visite à Alep la Seul le Nord sous contrôle de forces majo­ en Syrie une "ligne de résistance" allant de reconquête de la province d'Idlib tenue par les ritairement kurdes soutenues par les Etats- Téhéran à Beyrouth, le fameux "arc chiite" rebelles syriens, tout en vantant les succès des Unis et la province d'Idlib divisée entre redouté de longue date par les puissances sun­ alliés de Téhéran dans l'ensemble du Proche- groupes djihadistes et mouvements rebelles nites de la région. Orient. sunnites pro-turcs échapperont alors à l'auto­ "La ligne de résistance part de Téhéran et Lors de ce déplacement aux allures de rité de Damas. traverse Bagdad, Damas et Beyrouth pour provocation envers l'Arabie Saoudite, qui ARC CHIITE atteindre la Palestine", a-t-il dit. vient de dénoncer la déstabilisation régionale La reconquête d'Alep-Est à la fin de l'an­ Outre le régime de Bachar al Assad et le dont se rendrait coupable, selon elle, l'Iran, née dernière a marqué un tournant décisif Hezbollah, l'Iran arme et finance d'influentes Ali Akbar Velayati a indiqué que Téhéran dans le conflit syrien et l'Iran, principal sou­ milices en Irak et le dans la bande de aiderait les forces du président Bachar al tien du régime de Bachar al Assad avec la Gaza. Assad à reprendre le contrôle de l'ensemble Russie, affiche depuis de plus en plus ostensi­ Téhéran appuie également les miliciens du territoire syrien. blement son engagement sur le front syrien. chiites houthis au Yémen, où l'Arabie Saou­ "Nous aurons bientôt nettoyé l'est de la Ali Akbar Velayati est le deuxième diri­ dite et ses alliés sont entrés en guerre il y a Syrie, puis ce sera au tour de la région d'Idlib geant iranien de premier plan à se rendre en deux ans pour soutenir les forces du président dans l'Ouest", a dit le bras droit de l'ayatollah Syrie depuis deux semaines et ses déclarations Abd-Rabbo Mansour Hadi. L'interception Ali Khamenei, selon des propos rapportés par vantant les succès des alliés de Téhéran au près de Ryad, samedi, d'un missile tiré par les l'agence de presse iranienne Mehr. Proche-Orient sont de nature à exacerber un Houthis a été qualifié par l'Arabie Saoudite de Les forces de Bachar al Assad, qui incluent peu plus la crise qui couve avec l'Arabie Saou­ "déclaration de guerre" iranienne. ♦ des milices chiites armées par l'Iran, dont le dite.

54 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Ozeti

Xt Jîlôixâc : 18 novembre 2017 Les Kurdes syriens misent sur un soutien russe Les FDS veulent la reconnaissance par Damas de l’autonomie des territoires passés sous leur contrôle

KAMECHLIYÉ (SYRIE) - envoyé spécial

ucun départ n’est plus prévu depuis de lon­ Deux soldats gues années en gare de kurdes Kamechliyé. Des loco­ des Forces motives diesel et leurs wagonsdémocratiques Arouillent sur des rails qui ne mè­ syriennes postés nent plus nulle part et les voies à un point désaffectées évoquent des trajets de contrôle que la guerre a rendu inconceva­ entre Kamechliyé bles. Les trains ne roulent plus, et Kobané, mais ceux qui contrôlent la ma­ à la frontière jeure partie de la ville ont trouvé turco-syrienne, une nouvelle affectation à la gare. le 15 novembre. Elle abrite les bureaux de l’enca­ LAURENCE GEAI drement politique kurde des For­ POUR «LE MONDE» ces démocratiques syriennes (FDS), victorieuses de l’organisa­ tion Etat islamique (El) à Rakka, à «Les Américains 230 kilomètres de ce terminus TURQUIE Kamechliyé n’ont qu’une frontalier de la Turquie. Afri Forces en présence Perpendiculaires aux voies fer­ •Manbij au 17 novembre stratégie militaire roviaires, les lignes de front conti­ « AfePAle Rakka Forces en Syrie. Pas de nuent de changer dans l’est de la <2»- * arabo-kurdes ^rate Syrie. Les djihadistes, en déroute, Deirez-Zor Forces vision politique. ne contrôlent plus que quelques loyalistes syriennes «SYRIE Les Russes, eux, enclaves désertiques. Au bout du Mayâdin chemin de fer qui part de Ka­ Organisation ont un projet» Homs Etat islamique (El) mechliyé, Deir ez-Zor a été reprise Palmyre Al-Boukamat. par les forces du régime syrien, LIBAN ■' Forces rebelles «CAMARADE» BADRAN cadre kurde qui continuent à avancer sur la IRAK syriennes 100 km rive droite de l’Euphrate. SOURCE : LIVEUAMAP.COM Damas a par ailleurs lancé un Kurdistan (PKK), actif en Turquie matique du Guide suprême ira­ cartes en main sur le terrain sy­ nouvel assaut sur la localité d’Al- depuis les années 1980, revendi­ nien, qui avait indiqué à Bey­ rien.» Cette volonté de rappro­ Boukamal, dernier fief de l’Etat que l’instauration en Syrie d’un routh, le 3 novembre, que le ré­ chement avec Moscou pourrait islamique sur la frontière avec système fédéral. L’enjeu est la re­ gime syrien et ses alliés «libére­ surprendre de la part d’une force l’Irak. Les FDS, soutenues par connaissance parle régime syrien raient» Rakka des FDS dans un armée soutenue par les Etats- la coalition internationale, s'ap­ de l’autonomie des vastes terri­ « avenir proche ». Unis depuis 2015 dans le cadre de prêtent à réduire les dernières toires kurdes, mixtes ou arabes C’est cependant sur un autre al­ la guerre contre l’EI. poches de l’EI sur la rive gauche passés sous leur contrôle à la fa­ lié de Bachar Al-Assad que l’enca­ Elle relève pourtant d’une éva­ du fleuve et se sont déjà empa­ veur de la lutte contre l’EI. Pas drement kurde entend miser luation pragmatique du rapport rées des champs de pétrole et de question d’une quelconque quête pour pousser le régime à une so­ de force. Les dirigeants kurdes gaz avoisinants. La chute du « ca­ d’indépendance. lution négociée. «L’Iran a une po­ n’ont pas cessé d’entretenir des lifat » de l’EI a enfanté une géo­ sition idéologique rigide sur le re­ relations, y compris militaires, graphie nouvelle avec laquelle Déclarations hostiles tour du régime sur tout le terri­ avec la Russie dans l’enclave ceux qui occupent l’ancienne Depuis la chute de Rakka pour­ toire, constate le « camarade » Ba­ d’Afrin, au nord-ouest dÂlep, con­ gare de Kamechliyé doivent dé­ tant, les déclarations en prove­ dran, mais la Russie est plus trôlée par les FDS. Le dénouement sormais composer. nance de Damas sont hostiles. ouverte. Une solution de type fédé­ de la guerre contre l’EI lui permet «En Syrie, il n’y a plus que deux Faisant fi des précautions de l’en­ ral lui permet de garder toutes les aujourd’hui d’affermir ces liens forces qui comptent sur le terrain : cadrement kurde des FDS, elles dans le domaine politique. nous et le régime, lance le « cama­ tendent à l’accuser d’ambitions «Après Rakka, les Etats-Unis ont rade » Badran, l’un des principaux sécessionnistes. Le 7 novembre, Etroite, la voie promis qu’ils feraient des pas en cadres de l’appareil kurde dans le Bachar Al-Assad a indiqué que la d’une coopération avant pour que nous ayons une re­ nord de la Syrie. Soit il y a confron­ guerre se poursuivrait après la connaissance, mais, ce que nous tation et c’est le chaos, soit on victoire de ses troupes à Deir ez- politique avec comprenons, c'est que les Améri­ ouvre un dialogue en vue d'une so­ Zor et qu’elle pourrait être portée la Russie est cains n'ont qu'une stratégie mili­ lution politique. Nous préférons le contre ceux qui cherchent à «divi­ taire en Syrie. Pas de vision politi­ dialogue. » Officiellement, l'enca­ ser et à affaiblir les Etats ». suspendue aux que. Les Russes, eux, ont un pro­ drement politique des FDS, issu Ces commentaires ont été diffu­ relations entre jet», résume le «camarade» Ba­ de la matrice idéologique et mili­ sés après une rencontre avec Ali dran à Kamechliyé. La voie de taire du Parti des travailleurs du Akbar Velayati, le conseiller diplo­ Moscou et Ankara cette coopération politique avec

55 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Ozeti la Russie est cependant étroite et mène dans le sud-est de la Tur­ qui, à leur tour, pourront influen­ encore largement déserte et suspendue aux relations entre quie une guerre de guérilla de­ cer le régime», estime Ilham Ah­ massivement détruite, les FDS Moscou et Ankara. La ville russe puis 1984. Le président turc, Re­ med, coprésidente du Conseil tiennent également les barrages de Sotchi, sur les bords de la mer cep Tayyip Erdogan, avant de ren­ démocratique syrien, la façade de Tichrine et celui de Tabqa, la Noire, devait accueillir, le 18 no­ contrer Vladimir Poutine à Sot­ politique des FDS. plus grande installation hydroé­ vembre, le premier congrès pour chi, avait réitéré sa menace d’une Atouts de poids lectrique du pays. le dialogue national en Syrie. Une opération militaire turque con­ Dans les négociations qu’il sou­ S’ajoutent à ces prises de guerre rencontre qui vise à contourner tre l’enclave kurde syrienne haite établir avec le régime, le lea­ les puits pétroliers de la province les négociations de Genève, sous d’Afrin. Une offensive qui ne peut dership kurde jouit d’atouts ma­ de Deir ez-Zor, dont le vaste l’égide de l’ONU, pour parvenir à être envisagée sans l’assenti­ jeurs. En tant qu’alliés exclusifs champ d’Omar, près de la fron­ une solution politique en Syrie ment de Moscou. au sol de la coalition contre l’EI tière irakienne, passé sous le con­ grâce à des forces qui ne sont pas Malgré cet environnement di­ dirigée par les Etats-Unis, les FDS trôle des FDS fin octobre. «Nous hostiles à la Russie. Exclus des né­ plomatique chargé, dont ils ne ont pris le contrôle de territoires nous sommes engagés loin de nos gociations de Genève et d’Astana peuvent que subir les remous, les très étendus et d’infrastructu­ bases, dans la bataille de Rakka du fait de l’opposition de la Tur­ dirigeants kurdes syriens enten­ res stratégiques. notamment, pour avoir plus de quie, les FDS auraient eu l’occa­ dent profiter de leurs gains sur le Depuis l’été 2016, elles contrô­ poids face au régime après l’Etat sion d’apparaître pour la pre­ terrain pour arracher un soutien lent Manbij, une ville majoritai­ islamique. Aujourd’hui, ces acquis mière fois dans un cadre officiel, russe. Des rencontres avec des rement arabe devenue un carre­ renforcent notre position et nous pourvoyeur de légitimité. délégations venues de Moscou four commercial important en­ permettront de sauvegarder En raison de l’hostilité de la ont eu lieu cet automne à Ka- tre les zones FDS, la Turquie voi­ l’autonomie du cœur de notre ter­ Turquie et des rebelles syriens mechliyé, ville toujours connec­ sine et les zones qu’elle contrôle ritoire, le long de la frontière tur­ qui lui sont alliés, le sommet de tée à Damas par son aéroport, avec ses alliés syriens de l’oppo­ que», indique un conseiller poli­ Sotchi a été repoussé. Vu d’An­ resté aux mains du régime. sition anti-Assad et les territoi­ tique de premier plan de l’enca­ kara, l’encadrement des FDS n’est «Nous pourrons trouver à l’avenir res sous la mainmise du régime. drement kurde des FDS. ■ que le prolongement du PKK, qui un compromis avec les Russes, En plus de la ville de Rakka, ALLAN KAVAL

feMonüe.fr 19 NOVEMBRE 2017 La Turquie n’exclut plus un maintien de Bachar Al-Assad en Syrie Avant le sommet de Sotchi, Ankara est prêteà faire des concessions aux Russes pour marginaliser les forces kurdes

Par Marie Jégo (Istanbul, cor­ verrons bien qui se montrera le respondante) 19.11.2017 plus flexible », a-t-il ajouté. Avant www.lemonde.fr d’esquisser une ouverture sur le sort du dictateur syrien: « Il faut Alors que les grandes manoeu­ d’abord en parler avec l’opposition vres diplomatiques s’accélèrent (syrienne, dont Ankara défend les autour du réglement du conflit intérêts). Désormais, la Russie et syrien, la Turquie a considérable­ l’Iran ne sont pas les seuls à dire ment assoupli sa position sur le que Bachar Al-Assad peut rester. sort du président syrien Bachar Al- L’Arabie Saoudite et la France Assad, dont elle réclamait jusqu’à disent la même chose. Il ne faut récemment le départ. Une revendi­ pas être trop dans l’émotion, mais cation qui constituait un sérieux réunir tout le monde autour de point d’achoppement au sein du Bachar Al-Assad ne sera pas chose groupe d’Astana avec la Russie et Les ministres des affaires étrangères turc (à droite), Mevlüt facile. » l’Iran, les deux autres puissances Çavusoglu, et iranien, Mohammad Javad Zarif (troisième en En mettant un sérieux bémol à du trio qui ambitionne de mettre partant de la gauche), dimanche 19 novembre, à Antalya. ses critiques envers Bachar Al- un point final au conflit syrien en Assad, Ankara insiste également imposant un règlement aux pays cherche à faire passer au second zones de désescalade » en Syrie, sur la nécessité de préserver l’unité arabes et occidentaux, qui conti­ plan les négociations sous l’égide mlais le calme n’y est pas systéma­ de la Syrie, espérant ainsi faire nuent de plaider pour une transi­ de l’ONU entre le régime et l’oppo­ tiquement respecté, notamment pièce aux ambitions autonomistes tion incluant le départ de Bachar sition, dont la prochaine session dans la Ghouta orientale, aux des Kurdes syriens à sa frontières. Al-Assad dans le cadre des pour­ doit s’ouvrir à Genève le 28 novem­ portes de Damas, où le régime Les « gains territoriaux » des parlers de Genève, sous l’égide des bre. syrien bombarde sans relâche et milices kurdes YPG dans le nord de Nations unies. « La Russie tient ses pro­ affame la population pour venir à la Syrie inquiètent en effet la Les ministres des affaires messes. Le processus d’Astana bout de la dernière poche de rébel­ Turquie au plus haut point. étrangères turc, russe et iranien se commence à porter ses fruits. Sur lion proche de la capitale. Dimanche, à Antalya, M. Çavusoglu sont retrouvés, dimanche 19 le terrain, la situation est bien « Il est temps de penser à une a rappelé à ses partenaires russe et novembre, à Antalya, dans le sud meilleure qu’il y a un an ou qu’il y a solution politique », a-t-il pour­ iranien qu’il n’était pas question de la Turquie, pour une rencontre six mois », avait tenu à souligner le suivi. Toutefois, ses grandes lignes que les Kurdes syriens du Parti de de préparation du sommet tripar­ chef de la diplomatie turque, restent à définir. « L’Iran et la Tunion démocratique (PYD), une tite de mercredi 22 novembre dans Mevlüt Çavusoglu, lors d’un brie­ Russie veulent qu’Assad reste pen­ filiale du Parti des travailleurs du la ville russe de Sotchi entre Recep fing avec la presse étrangère, ven­ dant la transition. Les Russes ont Kurdistan (PKK, interdit en Tayyip Erdogan, Vladimir Poutine dredi 17 novembre à Istanbul. Les besoin d’Assad. C’est par lui qu’ils Turquie), prenne part aux négocia­ et Hassan Rohani. La Russie, qui accords d’Astana ont en effet per­ ont été invités à intervenir. Ceci tions sur l’avenir de la Syrie. ■ conduit le processus d’Astana, mis l’instauration de quatre « n’est pas de notre ressort et nous

56 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Ozeti Itërmit LE JOUR 20 NOVEMBRE 2017 Irak : La Cour suprême irakienne déclare le référendum kurde ’’anticonstitutionnel”

Le Premier ministre kurde mine actuellement le budget fédéral pour l'année à venir, et notamment la part qui sera réservée à la Nechirvan Barzani a dénoncé région autonome. une décision "unilatérale", se Lors d'une conférence de presse à Erbil, le disant "prêt au dialogue" avec Premier ministre kurde Nechirvan Barzani a Bagdad. dénoncé une décision "unilatérale" de la Cour suprême, prise sans consulter les représentants de la région autonome. Mais il s'est dit "prêt au dia­ Bagdad,20 nov 20Ï7 (AFP)...... logue" avec Bagdad. www.lorientlejour.com Abdel Salam Barwari, ancien député et mem­ bre du Parti démocratique du Kurdistan (PDK) -le a Cour suprême irakienne a déclaré lundi mouvement de Massoud Barzani, qui a quitté la "anticonstitutionnel" le référendum d'indépen­ présidence de la région autonome début novembre- danceL de la région autonome du Kurdistan, dernier -, a lui dénoncé "une décision prévisible". Et cela, épisode en date de la crise entre Bagdad et Erbil a-t-il dit à l'AFP, "au vu du passé de cette Cour et Des combattants kurdes pointant du doigt née de cette consultation organisée contre l'avis des le fait qu'elle est maintenant devenue un outil poli­ le drapeau ktirde après avoir voté pour autorités fédérales. tique". l'indépendance du Kurdistan irakien, à La Cour suprême a indiqué dans un communi­ De Bagdad, le Premier ministre irakien Haider Erbil, le 25 septembre 2017. AFP / SAFIN qué avoir "rendu une décision déclarant anticonsti­ al-Abadi, déjà à l'origine d'une requête en constitu­ HAMED tutionnel le référendum tenu le 25 septembre 2017 tionnalité avant même la tenue du scrutin, a au au Kurdistan irakien et dans des zones en dehors contraire salué la décision. B a affirmé que son par le gouvernement régional kurde et Bagdad et, de la région autonome". La décision prévoit en gouvernement "refusait ce référendum et refusait selon la Constitution, leur statut doit encore faire outre d'"annuler l'ensemble des conséquences et d'y avoir affaire". l'objet de négociations. des résultats qui en ont découlé". L'annulation de Le 25 septembre, M. Barzani avait organisé en Depuis l'invasion américaine de 2003 et dans cette consultation est la condition préalable au dia­ grande pompe cette consultation sur l'indépen­ le sillage du chaos créé en 2014 par la percée jiha­ logue posée par Bagdad, tandis quErbil refuse de dance dans les trois provinces de Dohouk (nord- diste, les peshmergas (combattants kurdes) en revenir sur la victoire écrasante du "oui". ouest), Erbil (nord) et Souleimaniyeh (nord-est), avaient de fait pris le contrôle. En deux semaines, La semaine dernière, alors qu'approchait qui constituent la région autonome, mais égale­ Bagdad a repris le contrôle de leur quasi-totalité l'échéance annoncée par la Cour suprême pour ren­ ment dans des zones disputées, placées selon la dans le but de revenir à la "ligne bleue" de 2003, qui dre son jugement, le gouvernement du Kurdistan Constitution sous l'autorité du pouvoir central à limite les trois provinces du Kurdistan. irakien avait dit "respecter" les décisions de la plus Bagdad. Bagdad et Erbil ont également délivré des haute instance juridique du pays. Il avait notam­ MANDATS D'ARRÊT mandats d'arrêt contre des personnalités politiques ment dit respecter un jugement précédent insistant et militaires des deux camps. Le Kurdistan irakien Depuis, la crise n'a cessé de s'envenimer. Privé sur l'article premier de la Constitution, qui men­ a délivré des mandats d'arrêt contre 11 personnali­ tionne "l'unité de l'Irak". Erbil avait ajouté vouloir du soutien international sur lequel il comptait, M. tés irakiennes, dont des dirigeants des unités para­ Barzani a quitté son poste début novembre après en faire "une base pour le dialogue". militaires du Hachd al-Chaabi combattant aux avoir perdu la quasi-totalité des zones disputées et "PRÊT AU DIALOGUE" côtés des forces gouvernementales. De son côté, un l'ensemble de leurs ressources pétrolières qui Lundi, la Cour suprême a estimé que la tenue tribunal de Bagdad en a émis contre les organisa­ auraient pu assurer la viabilité économique d'un teurs du référendum ainsi que contre le vice-prési­ du référendum "contredisait" cet article de la hypothétique Etat kurde. Constitution, a expliqué le porte-parole de la Cour, dent du Kurdistan irakien et haut dirigeant de Mi-octobre, les forces gouvernementales et Ayas al-Samouk, cité dans le communiqué. l'Union patriotique du Kurdistan (UPK), Kosrat paramilitaires irakiennes étaient en effet entrées en Rassoul. ♦ Acculé, le Kurdistan tente désormais de mouvement pour reprendre l'ensemble des zones manoeuvrer face à Bagdad, où le Parlement exa­ disputées. Ces régions sont revendiquées à la fois

/H-P cela signifie que les Kurdes travaillant aux postes frontaliers et aux aéroports Irak: Erbil accuse Bagdad ne sont pas des Irakiens ou bien que Bagdad ne veut employer que des per­ sonnes parlant arabe?", a-t-il dit. de refuser le dialogue Après le référendum indépendance au Kurdistan, auquel il était fermement opposé, le gouvernement central a exigé de reprendre en mains les frontières ERBIL (IRAK), 27 NOVEMBRE 2017 (AFP) que les Kurdes contrôlaient et, le 29 septembre, Bagdad avait fermé les aéro­ ports d'Erbil et de Souleimaniyeh aux vols internationaux. LE PREMIER ministre de la région autonome du Kurdistan irakien a accusé lundi le gouvernement de Bagdad de refuser le dialogue malgré Nechervan Barzani a souligné que les Kurdes respectaient la décision de la ses demandes répétées. cour fédérale jugeant anticonstitutionnel le référendum tout en soulignant que Bagdad devait de son côté annuler les sanctions prises à leur égard après Il a par ailleurs demandé l'ouverture d'une enquête sur des événements ayant cette consultation. eu lieu à Touz Khormatou, une localité multi-ethnique du nord du pays dont les Kurdes ont été chassés lors de la reprise de la région par les forces irakiennes. Il a par ailleurs demandé l'ouverture d'une enquête sur des évènements surve­ nus en octobre à Touz Khormatou, dont la population est en majorité turco- "Nous pensons que les problèmes entre Bagdad et Erbil doivent être résolus mane. par un dialogue sérieux (...) mais, jusqu'à présent, Bagdad n'est pas prêt au dialogue", a affirmé Nechervan Barzani lors d'une conférence de presse à "Nous ne pouvions pas imaginer que cela arrive à notre peuple (...) et qu'il soit Erbil, capitale du Kurdistan irakien. contraint de fuir leur région. Nous tenons le gouvernement irakien responsable de ce qui s'est passé et exigeons le retour des déplacés et leur protection". Après la mise à l'écart du président du Kurdistan irakien, Massoud Barzani, à la suite des conséquences désastreuses de son référendum d'indépendance, Selon les Nations unies, 35.000 personnes, en grande majorité des Kurdes, le 25 septembre, c'est son neveu qui dirige la région autonome. ont été déplacées de Touz Khormatou. "Ils nous demandent de leur transférer le contrôle des passages frontaliers et Cette ville, qui comptait 100.000 habitants kurdes, turkmènes et arabes, était des aéroports. Nous ne comprenons pas ce que cela signifie, nous n'avons sous le contrôle conjoint des peshmergas et des unités paramilitaires du pas de problème à ce qu'il y ait une supervision de (Bagdad). Mais est-ce que Hachd al-Chaabi jusqu'au 16 octobre lorsque ces derniers se sont emparés de la ville. •

47 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Ôzeti

ALJAZEERA 8 November 2017 Barzani: US knew Iraqi forces planned Kirkuk takeover

8 Nov 2017 tional support, including from the US. http://www.aljazeera.com Barzani, who quit his position from the KRG and president of his asoud Barzani, the ex-president of the Kurdistan Democratic Party on Former Iraqi Kurdish President Masoud Barzani to Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) in November 1, defended the decision Newsweek: 'Our policy is to seek dialogue' [Reuters] Mnorthern Iraq, has said that a major Iraqi operato­ go ahead with the vote. tion last month to take over Kirkuk and other "We believe the timing was good ... can't say whether we have a relationship or not." Kurdish-held areas took place with the full know­ because those Iraqi forces who are currently 'BIG SURPRISE FOR US' ledge of the US and the UK. implementing their policies to change the Barzani also said without the contribution of the The Iraqi army, backed by Shia militia, captured demography and situation in areas that they are Kurdish Peshmerga forces, ISIL "would not have the entirety of the oil-rich Kirkuk province on in right now, they had this programme and this been rolled back and defeated" in Iraq, including October 21 after a rapid advance in the wake of plan in mind even before the referendum," he in Mosul, the country's second-largest city. a controversial referendum on Kurdish seces­ said in the Newsweek interview. sion that Baghdad had declared illegal. "They are using the referendum as a pretext to "But we were not expecting to see Iraqi forces use weapons - that were given to them by the "We do believe, yes, that the operation to take cover their plan and plot against the Kurdish US to fight ISIS - against their own citizens," he over Kirkuk was led by Iranians with the knowl­ people. said, using a different name for ISIL. edge of the US and British officials," Barzani, 71, "When asked if the KRG's relationship with said in an interview with Newsweek. Washington has changed since President "It was a big surprise for us." The referendum, which was held on September Donald Trump took office in January, Barzani adi Pire, a senior KRG official and member 25, received an overwhelming 93 percent replied: "With regards to the relationship of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan party, told between Kurdistan and the White House ... I approval, despite lacking regional and interna­ SAl Jazeera that the US "definitely had know­ ledge" of the Iraqi forces' plan to enter Kirkuk. "The US saw that the referendum would weaken Territory lost by Kurds in Iraq the relationship between the [Kurdish] Kurds in northern Iraq voted in a non-binding secession referendum on Peshmerga and the Iraqi forces, which would September 25. Since then, they have lost 40 percent of the area lead to clashes and a general weakening of they had taken in the fight against ISIL, as Iraqi forces moved in. forces fighting against terrorism," said Pire. "The US favoured postponing the referendum TURKEY because its main priority is the fight against Daesh," he added, using the Arabic acronym for ISIL. FISH KH ABU R "But it also made it clear that it would not fight □3213 against the Iraqi forces if they took over the Kirkuk province." ll&VI 'Seeking dialogue' The Peshmerga seized Kirkuk, Iraq's second oil hub, in mid-2014 when Iraqi troops withdrew from the advancing ISIL armed group. cssns But last month's operation by the Iraqi army resulted in Baghdad retaking five oil fields from the Kurdish forces. This dealt a heavy blow to the KRG's finances cnzzzna who had depended on revenues from exports of Kirkuk oil. Yet Barzani, whose responsibilities have been distributed to the judiciary and parliament, said KURDISH-HELD AS OF OCT 29, 2017 the Kurds do not seek an escalation of tensions with the federal government in Baghdad. KURDISH LOSSES SINCE OCT 16, 2017 "Our policy is to seek dialogue, to seek peaceful ways for conflict resolution and conflict preven­ APPROXIMATE 2003 tion with Iraq," he told Newsweek. LINE "We are ready to go as far as it's possible to

t: Institute for the Study of War avoid fighting with the Iraqi army, as long as they ALJAZEERA are not ... changing the [autonomous] status of I© <1. - « <® A J Labs Kurdistan." •

58 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Ozeti

L’EXPRESS — 22 NOVEMBRE 20 17 —

Bachar ou comment s'en accommoder La chute de Deir ez-Zor « libère » la Syrie de Daech et donne une actualité nouvelle à la question du soutien du président el-Assad. par Vincent Hugeux

près Bachar, Ba­ Ankara faisaient de son éviction un moins d’une semaine du huitième char? Hier jugé in­ préalable impérieux. Epoque révolue. round des négociations, à ce jour sté­ congru, le scéna­ Le naufrage de la chimère du groupe riles, orchestrées par l’ONU à Genève. rio du maintien de Etat islamique - l’instauration d’un l’héritier de la dy­ califat enjambant la frontière irako- RUSSIE FAUTE DE MIEUX nastie El-Assad à syrienne -, précipité par la chute de Si l’appui aérien massif fourni dès l’au­ la barre d’une Syrie certesses délestéebastions du urbains, Mossoul, tomne 2015 sauve un raïs syrien aux fardeau de Daech, maisRaqqa, amputée puis, etle 3 novembre, Deir ez- abois, Moscou semble un temps prêt à Asous tutelle, fait son chemin. En Zor, change la donne et, à l’échelle lâcher son obligé, mais y renonce vertu, si l’on ose écrire, d’une forme de ce Moyen-Orient plus volatil que faute de féal de substitution. Au-delà de realpolitik par défaut. Longtemps, jamais, redessine une carte aux de son intrusion militaire décisive, le le sort du criminel de guerre alaouite contours incertains. Pour autant, les Kremlin s’active sur le front diploma­ fut la pierre d’achoppement de tout variations quant au destin promis au tique. Pour preuve, les pourparlers règlement appelé à codifier une tran­ Néron de Damas éclairent les calculs, d’Astana (Kazakhstan), mis en mu­ sition négociée. Quoique sans illu­ les ambiguïtés et les reniements des sique depuis janvier 2017 avec l’Iran et sion sur les travers du personnage, acteurs d’une tragédie qui, en six ans, la Turquie. Ce forum à épisodes para­ ses parrains iranien et russe refu­ aura coûté la vie à plus de 330 000 ci­ site le processus de Genève, mais aura saient de le sacrifier; tandis que vils et condamné à l’exil 10 millions eu le mérite de réduire l’intensité des Washington, Bruxelles, Paris et de naufragés. Revue d’effectifs, à combats via l’instauration de quatre

l’express -

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Incontournable Vladimir Poutine dégâts est estimé à 170 milliards d’eu­ famille Assad touche à sa fin ». Quinze et Bachar el-Assad à Moscou, ros - annonce ainsi une âpre compé­ jours plus tard, on apprend dans la en 2015. Le leader russe est devenu tition entre les deux associés. coulisse d’un sommet asiatique à l'interlocuteur de toutes les puissances Danang (Vietnam) que Donald Trump impliquées dans la guerre en Syrie. TURQUIE et Vladimir Poutine sont convenus L'OBSESSION KURDE d’associer Bachar aux palabres de paix Naguère intransigeant, le « sultan » de Genève. Le tandem russo-améri­ « zones de désescalade ». Autre indice Recep Tayyip Erdogan peut lui aussi cain, persuadé qu’« il n’y a pas d’issue de cette ambition, la tenue le 18 no­ s’accommoder de la présence sur militaire à la crise » - à se demander vembre à Sotchi, sur la mer Noire, scène d’El-Assad Jr, dont le mandat pourquoi ce duo a fait du pays un d’un Congrès pour le dialogue natio­ expire en 2021. Car le président turc stand de tir -, envisage un schéma nal censé réunir l’ensemble des forces s’assigne une autre priorité, plus d’un irénisme confondant : cabinet politiques syriennes, Kurdes inclus, vitale à ses yeux : conjurer le spectre d’union nationale, réforme constitu­ mais boudé par les rescapés d’une op­ de l’éclosion à ses portes d’une entité tionnelle, élections générales ouvertes position démocratique fragmentée. kurde souveraine. On ne saurait ex­ à tous les Syriens. Du moins aux survi­ Vladimir Poutine use d’un atout en­ clure que l’envoi le mois dernier d’un vants. Que révèle un consensus à ce viable : s’engouffrant dans la brèche contingent turc dans le secteur d’Idlib point paradoxal? Le désir de désenga­ ouverte par la « stratégie » erratique de préfigure un déploiement durable gement des Etats-Unis, disposés à lais­ l’administration Trump, il a conquis le dans les régions septentrionales ser le champ libre au tsar du Kremlin, titre d’interlocuteur de toutes les puis­ contrôlées par les Forces démocra­ pourvu que les intérêts vitaux d’Israël sances impliquées, y compris l’Arabie tiques syriennes, mouvance assimilée soient préservés et l’ambition ira­ Saoudite, la Turquie et Israël. par Ankara à une filiale du Parti des nienne contenue. Epaulés jusqu’alors travailleurs du Kurdistan (PKK), l’en­ par le Pentagone, les rebelles kurdes, IRAN AND THE WINNER IS... nemi juré. Si la Turquie, membre in­ acteurs décisifs de la reconquête de Bien sûr, il arrive à des diplomates ira­ docile de l’Otan, et la Russie ont scellé Raqqa, ont du souci à se faire. niens de confesser en privé le peu un rapprochement spectaculaire, le d’estime que leur inspire l’allié syrien. devenir des Kurdes trouble ces retrou­ FRANCE UNE PLACE De là à immoler sur l’autel de la mo­ vailles : Moscou leur promet l’octroi PARMI LES GRANDS? rale celui dont les égarements ont d’un statut fédéraliste s’ils consentent Les zigzags de Paris valent bien ceux permis à la République islamique à un modus vivendi avec Damas. For­ de Washington. Durant sa campagne d’étendre son influence dans l’aire mule que récuse fermement Erdogan. victorieuse, Emmanuel Macron avait arabe et de consolider l’assise du Hez­ dénié au raïs miraculé toute préten­ bollah libanais, inféodé à Téhéran... ARABIE SAOUDITE tion à jouer un rôle dans l’après- Un signe : lorsque le général Ghassem LA HANTISE CHIITE carnage. Mais, au détour d’une inter­ Soleimani, patron de la force Al-Qods, La Syrie constitue avec le Yémen, pays view publiée le 22 juin, il dévoile son unité d’élite du corps des Gardiens de à l’agonie, le champ de bataille le plus aggiornamento : le président ne voit la Révolution, vient tisonner in situ crucial de la rivalité régionale entre plus la destitution d’El-Assad comme l’ardeur de ses troupes, il a droit à un Riyad et Téhéran. Rivalité qu’illustre « le préalable à tout ». Suit cet argu­ traitement de chef d’Etat. A l’aune du par ailleurs l’étrange trajectoire du ment insolite : « Personne ne m’a pré­ rendement géopolitique, l’Iran appa­ Premier ministre libanais Saad Hariri, senté de successeur légitime. » L’in­ raît donc comme le grand gagnant de contraint à la démission par des « pro­ flexion procède d’un double dogme. la version moderne et levantine du tecteurs » wahhabites qui voient en Un, la primauté donnée à la lutte Great Game cher à Rudyard Kipling. lui un otage du Hezbollah, et accueilli contre le djihadisme. Deux, le souci de Impossible désormais de reléguer à Paris le 18 novembre. Nul doute que normaliser le dialogue avec Moscou. l’émergence d’un arc chiite courant l’impulsivité de Mohammed ben Sal- La volonté élyséenne de revenir dans du Liban à l’Afghanistan, via la Syrie, mane, le jeune prince héritier du le jeu se heurte pourtant au principe l’Irak et le Yémen, au rang de psy­ royaume, contribue à enfiévrer une de réalité. Témoin, le modeste écho chose millénariste. D’autant que la arène hautement inflammable. que recueille le plaidoyer tricolore en théocratie iranienne dispose de ro­ faveur d’un « groupe de contact », sup­ bustes soutiens au Qatar, au Koweït et ÉTATS-UNIS posé sortir de l’ornière les discussions à Oman. Téhéran s’efforce déjà de AMERICA FIRST, SYRIA LAST genevoises. Cela posé, Paris persiste sanctuariser son quasi-protectorat sy­ Bien malin qui saura déchiffrer la doc­ à souscrire au postulat occidental : rien, quitte à contrarier le partenaire trine de Washington, si doctrine il y a. Bachar el-Assad n’a pas d’avenir. Soit. russe. La reconstruction d’un pays Le 26 octobre, le secrétaire d’Etat Rex Mais il a un passé, écrasant. Et un ravagé par la guerre - le montant des Tillerson claironne que « le règne de la présent, injustifiable. B

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Hier, Vladimir Poutine, sans qui rien ne se fait Le devenir de la Syrie en Syrie, recevait ses homologues turc et iranien à Sotchi. _ À terme, il a le projet entre les mains de la Russie de réunir en Russie chestrer une sortie à terme du pré­ le Congrès de dialogue sident honni par une large partie national syrien pour une de l’opposition syrienne et mis au solution politique en Syrie. Il a appelé opposition ban par les Occidentaux. Le Krem­ et régime de Damas lin devra inclure cette perspective, à faire des concessions. ou du moins entretenir l’espoir de cette perspective, s’il veut mener à bien son projet de Congrès de dia­ ._, Quel est logue national syrien. Les autorités russes comptent l’objectif de la organiser cette rencontre début Russie en Syrie? décembre, toujours à Sotchi, en in­ vitant les forces prorégime, mais En Syrie, Vladimir Poutine aussi tout le spectre de l’opposi­ veut, dit-il, passer à la phase po­ tion. Afin de préparer ce sommet, litique, en gardant l’avantage ac­ encore hautement hypothétique, quis depuis ces deux dernières Vladimir Poutine se démène sur années sur le front militaire et le front diplomatique. Juste après consolider ainsi sa position et le son entretien avec Bachar Al As­ retour de l’influence russe dans sad, il a tout de suite appelé les cette région. Pour mieux orches­ principaux adversaires de Da­ Bachar Al Assad et Vladimir Poutine sur une affiche à Alep. Le chef trer la transition, le président mas. D’abord le président Donald de l'État russe est le seul à parler directement avec tous les acteurs russe a un sérieux atout: il est le Trump, à qui il a assuré vouloir de la crise syrienne. Joseph Eid/AFP seul chef d’État à parler directe­ « œuvrer activement en faveur d’un ment avec tous les acteurs de la règlement à long terme du conflit », Turquie crise syrienne. a insisté le Kremlin. Mais il a aussi Kamechliyé Autour d’une même table, il a appelé le roi Salmane d’Arabie ;obané ainsi retrouvé hier, dans sa rési­ Saoudite, le président égyptien dence de Sotchi, les présidents Hassaké Armée Abdel Fattah Al Sissi et le premier syrienne turc Recep Tayyip Erdogan et ira­ ministre israélien Benyamin Neta­ (soutenue .Rakka parla nien Hassan Rohani. Ses deux ho­ nyahou. Sans surprise, aucun lea­ Russie mologues, qui soutiennent des der européen n’a figuré sur la liste et l’Iran) camps opposés, ont a priori des de Vladimir Poutine. vues radicalement contradic­ OHama 0 Rebelles syriens toires, Téhéran étant avec Moscou __Que peuvent iHoms (soutenus le principal allié de Damas, Ankara par les Palmyre États-Unis) exigeant au contraire jusqu’à peu espérer de Poutine Ghouta Liban orientale le renversement du régime. la Turquie et l’Iran? £ Daech Cette rencontre à trois intervient juste après le tête-à-tête, toujours Les présidents Recep Tayyip Er­ ■ Damas Kurdes à Sotchi lundi soir, de Vladimir dogan et Hassan Rohani ont cha­ Poutine avec Bachar Al Assad. Ces cun leur agenda. L’Iran cherche à retrouvailles surprises semblent g Q Zones obtenir une forme d’approbation peu avoir donné le ton : après avoir pour la présence de ses troupes en Jordanie 100 km habitées sauvé son régime sur le point de Syrie, source de contentieux avec Source : Institute for the Study of War (ISW), situation mi-novembre LACROIX s’effondrer en 2015, le Kremlin Israël et l’Arabie Saoudite. La créa­ veut inclure le président syrien tion - promise par la Russie à Is­ ‘dans le scénario de transition. En raël - d’une zone tampon de 10 à sont associés au processus d’As- pas moins de 140 membres de l’op­ tout cas pour le moment... En cou­ 15 kilomètres le long de la ligne de tana lancé par la Russie (lire les position syrienne, très diverse, aux lisse, y compris lors de ses quatre contrôle israélienne dans le Go­ repères). Recep Tayyip Erdogan et côtés du Haut Comité des négocia­ heures d’entretien avec Bachar lan, où la présence de forces ira­ Hassan Rohani soutiennent la pro­ tions (HCN), qu’elle soutient et qui Al Assad, Vladimir Poutine a en niennes et du Hezbollah libanais position russe de Congrès de dialo­ représentait jusqu’alors l’opposi­ effet peut-être commencé à or- serait interdite, ne s’est toujours gue national syrien à Sotchi, mais tion aux pourparlers de Genève. pas concrétisée. De son côté, la ils doivent trouver un accord avec Le but, cette fois, est d’élargir cette Vladimir Poutine a Turquie veut obtenir le soutien de Vladimir Poutine surïp question délégation qui se présentera aux la Russie pour son plan visant à af­ épineuse de la participation des négociations sur le lac Léman, à peut-être commencé faiblir les Kurdes dans le nord-est Kurdes syriens. une opposition proche de Moscou. à orchestrer de la Syrie. Ankara a récemment « Ce qui est frappant, explique appelé à « nettoyer» Afrin, le plus une sortie à terme —« Quel rôle pour Thomas Pierret, maître de confé­ petit des trois cantons kurdes • • • l’Arabie Saoudite? rences à l’université d’Édimbourg, du président honni, • • • syriens, de toute présence des c’est que les plateformes de Mos­ Unités de protection du peuple Alors que Poutine réunissait à cou et du Caire, opposition proche mis au ban par (YPG), la milice kurde syrienne. Sotchi les présidents iranien et de la Russie, ont été invitées avec les Occidentaux. Par ailleurs, Téhéran et Ankara turc, l’Arabie Saoudite conviait hier un nombre de représentants bien

61 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Ôzeti plus élevé que ce qu’elles repré­ sentent sur le terrain. » Un signe repères cées. Le huitième et dernier se ment des rebelles armés. des concessions faites par Riyad tient à partir du 28 novembre - qui soutient le HCN - à Vladimir sur le lac Léman. Us permettent la mise en place Poutine? De Genève... à Astana de quatre « zones de désesca­ D’autres concessions, comme Janvier 2017. La première lade » sur le territoire syrien et celle de la permanence de Bachar Mars 2016. Début du premier séance de pourparlers sur la l’ouverture de discussions entre Al Assad au pouvoir, ont entraîné round de pourparlers organisé Syrie, parrainée par la Russie représentants du régime et de une série de démissions au sein de à Genève pour tenter de mettre et l’Iran, alliés de Damas, et la l’opposition sur des questions l’opposition syrienne, dont celle un terme à la guerre en Syrie. Turquie, se déroule à Astana au militaires. La création d’une de Riyad Hijab, le coordinateur Conduits par l’envoyé spécial Kazakhstan. Ces discussions cinquième zone et le déploie­ du Haut Comité des négociations de l’ONU, Staffan de Mistura, réunissent des représentants ment de troupes des trois pays (HCN). Pour le chercheur, « les les six rounds suivants n’ont du gouvernement syrien et garants de la zone de désesca­ rencontres de Sotchi et de Riyad ne pas permis de grandes avan­ ceux de l’opposition, notam­ lade d’Idlib sont envisagés. changeront pas grand-chose. » étape finale », a insisté le prési­ Constitution et la tenue d’élections « Vu le rapport deforce déséqui­ — Et pour l’ONL? dent russe. Les Nations unies par­ conformément au mandat défini libré sur le terrain, avec la faiblesse « La tâche principale mainte­ rainent le processus de Genève et par la résolution 2254 du Conseil de l’opposition au plus mal militai­ nant est de lancer le processus po­ son huitième cycle de pourparlers de sécurité, adoptée en 2015. Toute rement, souligne Thomas Pierret, litique », insistait Vladimir Pou­ qui doit s’ouvrir le 28 novembre en la question estde savoir comment l’exercice de négociations semble tine, lundi, à Sotchi, en recevant présence de l’envoyé spécial des les négociations de Genève peu­ bien futile. » Bachar Al Assad. Un processus po­ Nations unies pour la Syrie, Staf­ vent ou non s’articuler sur la réu­ François d’Alançon, litique qui devrait finalement être fan de Mistura. nion de Sotchi et sur l’éventuel Benjamin Quénelle (à Moscou) mis en œuvre sous les auspices de Les négociations doivent se Congrès de dialogue national sy­ et Agnès Rotivel l’ONU. «Nous espérons que l’ONU concentrer sur la gouvernance, la rien, concocté par Moscou. Et le rejoindra ce processus dans son rédaction d’un projet de nouvelle compromis qui pourrait en sortir :

Le Point Dalkurd, le club suédois qui fait la fierté des

Dalkurd, le club suédois qui fait la fierté des Kurdes © TT NEWS AGENCY/AFPIArchives / Kurdes Ulf PALM TT NEWS AGENCY/AFP/Archives Stockholm (AFP) - 17/11/2017 http: //www.lepoint.fr "Des millions de Kurdes dansent de joie [...]. haute division le plus rapidement possible, j'ado­ C'est tellement merveilleux de leur donner ce rerais voir le Dalkurd en Ligue des champions", LASSES des guerres et des persécutions, bonheur", s'était réjoui Rawez Lawan, l'auteur du avait à l'époque déclaré Sarkat Junad. les Kurdes du monde entier amoureux du ballon but de la victoire synonyme d'accession (1-0 face DES MONTAGNES ORIENTALES AUX rond vibrent au rythme des succès de Dalkurd, un au Gais Gôteborg, le 28 octobre), auprès de VALLÉES SUÉDOISES club fondé en Suède par leur communauté, et qui l'agence de presse TT. Avec plus d'un million et demi de fans sur sa vient de rejoindre l'élite. "C'est plus que du football", avait conclu ce page Facebook, le club est devenu un symbole de Créé il y a treize ans par des immigrés kurdes milieu de terrain, qui fait partie d'une équipe l'unité kurdo-suédoise. En témoigne son drapeau dans la petite ville de Borlânge au centre de la composée à majorité de joueurs d'origine kurde, qui mélange deux chevaux de Dalécarlie —des Suède entre lacs et forêts, Dalkurd a gagné fin mais qui est également cosmopolite. figurines en bois traditionnelles de la région— sur octobre son billet pour la première division sué­ EN ROUTE POUR LA LIGUE DES un fond rouge, blanc et vert, les couleurs de dra­ doise (Allsvenskan), sous les hourras de ses sup­ CHAMPIONS ? peau kurde. porters déchaînés arborant fièrement le drapeau Pour l'entraîneur-adjoint Amir Azrafshan "La Suède nous a donné la possibilité de nous kurde. c'est le dynamisme de chacun, qu'ils soient sentir en liberté et de recevoir une éducation que Cette réussite a été acclamée par l'ensemble Kurdes, Américains, Palestinien ou Gambien, qui nous n'avions pas" dans notre pays d'origine, a de la communauté kurde, un peuple touché par la a contribué à la victoire. déclaré le président du club Ramazan Kizil. répression en Turquie, et bouleversé par les "Ils ont tous quelque chose en commun "On nous a beaucoup donné et nous allons le conséquences du référendum controversé sur l'in­ quand il s'agit de relever un défit-..]. Us sont pous­ rendre à cette société", a-t-il ajouté. dépendance du Kurdistan irakien fin septembre. sés par la pression", confit-il. Les Kurdes —qui habitent principalement "J'étais très heureux quand j'ai vu leurs bons D'abord projet social destiné à aider les dans des régions montagneuses au Moyen- résultats", se réjouit Ahmed Karim, habitant jeunes en difficulté à s'intégrer dans la société, le Orient— ont un vieil adage selon lequel ils n'ont d’Erbil, la capitale du Kurdistan irakien. club est devenu une référence dans le football "pas d'amis mais des montagnes". "J'espère qu'ils représenteront le sport kurde suédois. De quoi faire dire à Kurdo Baksi que "ce n'est dans le monde, parce que nous, au Moyen-Orient, "Cela nous prouve que nous pouvons réussir", pas une coïncidence si les Kurdes ont quitté leurs nous n'avons pas notre propre équipe", souligne- se félicite le journaliste suédois d'origine kurde montagnes et se sont retrouvés dans les vallées de t-il. Kurdo Baksi. Suède". Les Kurdes, entre 25 et 35 millions de per­ En février 2016, le quotidien Aftonbladet 16 équipes disputeront la saison 2018-2019 sonnes réparties majoritairement dans quatre révélait que 49 % du club avait été acheté par du championnat de Suède de première division. pays —le sud-est de la Turquie, le nord de la Syrie, deux "frères milliardaires" kurdes, Kawa et Sarkat Pour l'occasion, Dalkurd quittera Borlânge pour l'Irak et l'Iran — n'ont pas de statut reconnu dans Junad. s'installer à Uppsala, à 70 km au nord de aucun de ces pays. "Nous voulons gagner et être dans la plus Stockholm. •

62 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Ozeti En Syrie, Vladimir Poutine bute 24 NOVEMBRE 2017 ' sur la question kurde Hôtes du dirigeant russe à Sotchi, les présidents iranien et turc ont approuvé le projet d’un Congrès national syrien

SOTCHI (Russie) - envoyée spéciale

ladimir Poutine entrevoit une issue au conflit en Sy­ rie et aimerait en récolter Vles lauriers. «Les combats à grande échelle contre les terroristes en Syrie touchent à leur fin, a-t-il déclaré, mercredi 22 novembre. Grâce aux efforts de la Russie, de l’Iran et de la Les présidents russe, turc et iranien étaient réunis mercredi pour Turquie, nous avons pu éviter la dé­ un sommet consacré à la crise syrienne. @ AFP sintégration de la Syrie. » Reste à un ancien sanatorium stalinien de la société syrienne afin d’établir trouver les prémices d’un règle­ rénové en complexe luxueux, le Selon le chef du une nouvelle Constitution. » ment politique, et cet objectif a fait dirigeant turc, qui était venu avec Parrains des accords d’Astana l’objet d’une intense préparation sa propre liste de participants po­ Kremlin, la suite (Kazakhstan), qui ont permis de par le chef du Kremlin, qui recevait tentiels, n’a pas voulu en démor­ dépendra «des réduire la violence des combats ses homologues iranien et turc, dre. Or, le PYD et sa milice armée en Syrie avec la création de quatre Hassan Rohani et Recep Tayyip Er­ sont la principale composante des compromis et des zones de « désescalade », la Russie dogan, dans la station balnéaire Forces démocratiques syriennes concessions de et ses partenaires iranien et turc russe de Sotchi. (FDS), une coalition arabo-kurde cherchent à pousser leur avan­ L’étape suivante a déjà un nom, qui a remporté les principaux suc­ tous, y compris tage sur le volet politique, alors le Congrès du dialogue national cès militaires contre le groupe du gouvernement que les groupes djihadistes sont syrien, dont le principe a été ap­ de l’Etat islamique (El), notam­ aujourd’hui acculés dans des po­ prouvé par les trois chefs d’Etat. ment à Rakka, la «capitale» sy­ syrien» ches de plus en plus réduites. Mais les conditions de son organi­ rienne du califat djihadiste, avec le Cela ne signifie pas pour autant sation ont achoppé sur le profil soutien actif de la coalition inter­ dans la résidence présidentielle à que les forces militaires engagées des participants, alors qu’aucune nationale dirigée par les Etats- Sotchi, à la veille du sommet tri­ par le trio en Syrie vont se retirer. date n’a été fixée. C’était pourtant Unis. Moscou veut s’assurer que le partite de mercredi. Accolade à Le sommet de Sotchi avait été pré­ la deuxième tentative, après l’an­ Congrès, à l’initiative duquel il se l’appui, le président russe escomp­ cédé, la veille, par la réunion, au nonce prématurée, par Moscou, trouve, ne débouchera pas sur un tait bien, alors, en lui renouvelant même endroit, du chef d’état-ma- de la tenue d'un tel congrès le échec, faute de représentativité de ostensiblement son soutien, im­ jor de l’armée russe, Valeri Gueras- 18 novembre à Sotchi, associant le tous les acteurs qui pèsent sur le poser son allié syrien dans le jeu. , simov, et de ses homologues turc, régime syrien et l’ensemble des terrain. Mercredi, aucun des trois chefs Hulusi Akar, et iranien, Moham­ forces politiques'de ce pays détruit d’Etat présents à Sotchi ne s’est mad Baqeri. «Des mesures ont été par six années de guerre. Pour Imposer Assad dans le jeu prononcé sur l’avenir de Bachar adoptées pour améliorer le niveau Poutine, ce projet est la «clé» du Les opérations militaires «tou­ Al-Assad, allant même jusqu’à de coordination dans la zone de dé­ processus de négociations lancé chent à leur fin », avait expliqué un omettre de prononcer son nom. sescalade d’Idlib et pour éliminer en 2014 à Genève, sous l’égide de peu plus tôt en introduction M. Du moins, le président russe les unités restantes en Syrie de l’ONU, afin d’aboutir à la rédaction Poutine, et la suite dépendra «des peut-il se targuer d’avoir obtenu l’Etat islamique et du Front Al- d’une nouvelle Constitution, puis compromis et des concessions de le soutien de ses partenaires ira­ Nosra [lié à Al-Qaida et rebaptisé à des élections en Syrie «sous le tous, y compris, bien sûr, du gou­ nien et turc sur le principe du Fatah Al-Cham]», a fait savoir le contrôle des Nations unies». vernement syrien». Mais, au Congrès, alors qu’un nouveau ministère russe de la défense. La Mais le Turc Erdogan est resté in­ même moment, une autre décon­ round de négociations pour la région d’Idlib est toujours sou­ transigeant, pour refuser qu’as­ venue lui est parvenue d’Arabie paix en Syrie, le cinquième depuis mise à des bombardements et l’ar­ siste au Congrès du PYD, un parti Saoudite : le chef du Kremlin a été 2014, doit débuter à Genève le mée russe a déjà annoncé qu’elle kurde syrien lié au Parti des tra­ informé par son représentant spé­ 28 novembre. Ce sera « un bon sti­ conserverait ses bases en Syrie. vailleurs du Kurdistan (PKK), en cial pour la Syrie, Alexandre La­ mulant», a fait valoir M. Poutine, A Sotchi, les discussions se sont guerre contre l’Etat turc. «Il est vrentiev, présent à Riyad, que les qui avait pris soin, au préalable, de poursuivies autour d’un dîner, hors de question de nous trouver à différents groupes de,l’opposition s’entretenir au téléphone avec mais c’est désormais à un «groupe la même table que des Organisa­ syrienne réunis dans la capitale plusieurs dirigeants, dont son ho­ de travail» mixte, mêlant diplo­ tions terroristes », a martelé M. Er­ saoudienne refusaient de s’enga­ mologue américain Donald mates et militaires, qu’a été con­ dogan devant la presse, ajoutant : ger dans une transition politique Trump. «Les bases de Daech [acro­ fiée la missioq de trouver les «Il n’est pas possible de discuter dans laquelle Bachar Al-Assad nyme arabe de l’EI] ont été détrui­ «compromis et concessions» né­ avec des gens qui veulent diviser ce jouerait encore un rôle. Ce dernier tes, a approuvé l’Iranien Rohani. cessaires à la réunion du Congrès pays et semer la terreur. » Malgré avait été reçu par Vladimir Pou­ Le but principal, maintenant, est syrien souhaité parle Kremlin. ■ deux Heures de discussions dans tine pendant plus de trois heures de [rassembler] toutes les couches ISABELLE MANDRAUD

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-RUDAW 22 November 2017 Gorran and PUK discuss 'interim government' in meeting

By Rudaw 22/11/2017 other issues of concern. Asked about Gorran's proposal RBIL, Kurdistan Region - for an interim government that has EGorran and the Patriotic Union been officially presented to both the of Kurdistan (PUK) met in Kurdistan Regional Government Sulaimani, their first meeting since (KRG) and the Kurdistan Gorran and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, Kurdistan's sec­ the independence referendum. Democratic Party (KDP), Ahmad ond and third largest parties, meet in Sulaimani on November Kurdish parties have been said cryptically, "This will become a 22, 2017. The two share an alliance agreement and a joint lead­ engaged in intensive talks after project for all of us.” ership. Photo: Sbeiy Baghdad rejected the vote and Iraqi Gorran, which had initially called forces pushed the Peshmerga back for the dissolution of the KRG, is eight months and extend its own were suspended in 2015. to 2003 borders. In the wake the now pushing for an "interim govern­ mandate until elections are held. Gorran only returned to the par­ losses, Gorran has called for the ment" after the PUK and KDP refu­ Gorran also put forward several liament after Masoud Barzani resi­ establishment of an interim govern­ sed the more drastic move. proposals: addressing the delayed gned from the presidency on ment tasked with talking to Baghdad Prime Minister Nechirvan and reduced salaries of KRG November 1. The party had called and preparing for elections. Barzani and his deputy Qubad employees, ensuring the protection Masoud Barzani's term illegal, after Hero Ibrahim, among other PUK Talabani, who have been praised of the sovereignty of the Kurdistan it was twice extended. The dispute leaders, met with Gorran's leader­ internationally as "new leadership," Region and preventing other coun­ soured relations between Gorran ship and head Omar Sayeed Ali on met with Gorran on Tuesday. tries from fighting proxy wars in the and Barzani's KDP. ■ Wednesday. PM Barzani said he does not Kurdistan Region, and holding free The PUK's Imad Ahmad told fully understand Gorran's position, and fair elections on time. reporters they discussed ''catastro­ saying the current KRG is "interim" Barzani said he has listened to phic” events that led to the loss of itself. The parliament voted in their demands. He was also expec­ Kirkuk and other areas, among October to postpone elections for ted to invite Gorran's ministers who

\x* 5 RUDAW 23 November 2017 />.*•

with 38 seats. The PUK has 18 seats in the 111-seat chamber. Gorran unveils The would-be interim govern­ ment has to establish a "strong" negotiation team from the interim 7-month interim government and the parliament tas­ ked with holding dialogue with Baghdad on the basis of the Iraqi constitution. government Gorran said the Kurdistan parlia­ ment and the judiciary should conti­ nue to function as normal. roadmap Getting into specifics, the road­ map set out a 4-month plan and a 7- ByRudaw.net 23/11/2017 Gorran argued that an interim (KDP) and the Patriotic Union of month plan. government is needed to establish a Kurdistan (PUK). None have offi­ Within four months, Gorran said the following steps must be imple­ ULAIMANI, Kurdistan Region "strong and active" government cially committed to the plan, but the capable of handling the "sensitive PUK's Imad Ahmad stated on mented: change oil policy within the - Gorran unveiled its roadmap S framework of the Iraqi constitution for the establishment of an interim and dangerous" situation after the Wednesday that it will become a October 16 events that resulted in joint project for all the parties, and in light of Kurdistan's oil and gas government the party wants tasked law; restructure economic policy in with preparing for talks with the Iraqi the loss of most of the disputed without giving further details. areas after the Kurdistan vote on such a way that ensures an accurate government, preparing for free and Gorran backtracked from its ini­ government payroll and restructure fair elections, and making changes independence. tial demand that called for the KRG The party did not support or cabinet to be dissolved after it was tariffs and taxes per the laws already to Kurdistan's financial, security, and in place; fight corruption by activa­ diplomatic bodies. oppose the referendum that saw rejected by both the PUK and the nearly 93 percent support for leaving KDP. ting the integrity body and the office The proposal set a seven-month of the public prosecutor; change and time limit on the interim government, Iraq. The vote was opposed by Iraq, The interim government must neighbouring countries, and most reflect a "true partnership" based on restructure the foreign department coinciding with the end of parlia­ international allies. the outcome of the last parliamen­ to ensure a foreign policy that keeps ment's extended mandate, and Gorran has already presented tary elections held in 2013, the a "balance" of Kurdish parties repre­ mainly targets the finance and sented in missions abroad; remove Peshmerga ministries that were run its interim government roadmap to Gorran roadmap stated. the Kurdistan Regional Government Gorran is Kurdistan Region's "obstacles" that prevent ministers by the party before it was suspen­ (KRG) and the two main ruling par­ second-largest party with 24 seats in from using all their powers; and can­ ded from the government in 2015. ties, the Kurdistan Democratic Party the parliament following the KDP cel "those illegal decisions and

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actions” that were made while tion and Iraqi defense system, giving meeting with a KRG delegation hea­ liament after Masoud Barzani resi­ Gorran ministers and the parliament the Peshmerga minister "all powers” ded by PM Barzani on Tuesday. gned from the presidency on speaker were suspended. to enact this; reactivation of the Kurdistan's largest Islamic party, November 1. The party had called The 7-month plan focuses on committee tasked with drafting a the (KIU), Masoud Barzani’s term illegal after it preparations for elections, including constitution for the Kurdistan Region with 10 seats in the parliament, has was twice extended. The dispute a ''clean” voter list and amendments and "applying the principles of the also called for an interim govern­ soured relations between Gorran to the representation system. Under parliamentary system" in the consti­ ment to be established until elec­ and Barzani’s KDP. ■ the current system, MPs represent tution of the Kurdistan Region; and tions are held. just their party - not a constituency. decentralization in order to give pro­ The Kurdistan parliament in late Gorran wants the introduction of vinces financial and administrative October postponed the November 1 multiple electoral . powers. parliamentary and presidential elec­ It also calls for the unification of Gorran met with a PUK delega­ tions and extended its term by eight the Peshmerga and the force's reor­ tion in Sulaimani on Wednesday to months. ganizing in light of the Iraqi constitu­ discuss the roadmap a day after Gorran only returned to the par­

s'* * ;RUDAW 26 November 2017 'if' Inside Tuz Khurmatu: Kurdish homes targeted under Hashd rule

By Hunar Ahmed 26/11/2017 The houses that were targeted www.rudaw.net mainly belong to volunteer Peshmerga or those who coopera­ HURMATU, Kurdistan Region ted with the Peshmerga. - Many houses in the Kurdish A local guide with Rudaw’s team neighbourhoodsK of Tuz Khurmatu helped them to avoid Hashd check­ have been looted, burned and bom­ points inside the city. Rudaw is ban­ bed, or appear to have been appro­ ned from operating in Iraqi-control- priated by the Shiite Hashd al- led areas. Shaabi. The guide described the tense Rudaw’s war correspondent situation of the now-abandoned Hunar Ahmad and cameraman Kurdish areas in Khurmatu, sou­ Mohammed Jawhar documented theast of Kirkuk. widespread destruction in the ethni­ "The Kurds are afraid to come cally diverse town - the first investi­ back,” he said, driving the Rudaw gative report by Kurdish media since team through scarred neighbou­ the town fell to Iraqi forces and rhoods. Shiite militia on October 16. “The Sunni Arabs from the town About 3,000 houses appear to were told they will be safe if they have been confiscated - Shiite returned to their homes. But to this Turkmen slogans are scrawled on day, they are being killed. There was the walls. About 2,000 houses have a bombing the other day that killed been looted, according to figures 70 to 80 of them, and injured 90. from Kurdish parties. Some 400 This is what makes people afraid to houses have been set on fire and return." more than 50 have been bombed. He said the Kurds are afraid The home of an official looks like they will suffer the same fate. it was looted of all its contents “Last night they bombed two before being bombed and burned. more houses. One belongs to a Just the basic structure remains. Kurd who is called Jahangir,” he

added, explaining why it is hard for shops were looted and burned. Kurds to trust the forces now based Other large markets in Khurmatu A burned-out in the town. suffered the same fate. Kurdish store in Banners that paid tribute to fal­ Hashd al-Shaabi fighters and len Peshmerga have been burned. the Federal Police prevent residents the town of Tuz Buildings of Kurdish parties have from moving to other areas, confis­ Khurmatu been burned or bombed, or turned cating their belongings and giving no alongside an into a base for Iraqi forces. reason for stopping the people. ■ untouched prop­ Graffiti on the wall of the mode­ rate Islamic Kurdistan Union reads erty marked as “No, no for the traitors. Yes, yes for belonging to a united Iraq.” member of the The destruction was also evi­ Shia Turkoman dent in one of the town’s markets, community. Halwest Bazaar, where about 180

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TheNewArab 24 November 2017 Iran reaps economic and strategie rewards from Iraqi-Kurdish dispute

Paul Iddon 24 November, 2017 Iran- Paul Iddon is a freelance backed journalist based in Erbil, PMF mili­ Iraqi Kurdistan who writes tias were about Middle East affairs instrumen­ www.alaraby.co.uk tal in the fight ANALYSIS: The rise of Iran-backed mili­ against IS tias in northern Iraq gives Tehran a geopoli­ [AFP] tical opening, but there are no guarantees it will be able to consolidate power there, writes Paul Iddon.

Just over a month after Kirkuk and other areas disputed between Baghdad and Iraqi Kurdistan were seized by the Iraqi army and the lets and officials, including Supreme Leader areas in [Sinjar], To keep Sunnis under observa­ Iran-backed Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF) Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, routinely referred to the tion is important for Iran." umbrella group of mostly Shia militias, Tehran September 25 Kurdish independence referen­ Mount Sinjar itself is an area of immense looks set to become a major, if not the principal, dum as an Israeli plot to divide Iraq and create a strategic importance. benefactor - at least for now. "new Israel". Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein attempted to Iran reportedly helped Iraq seize Kirkuk so Last month's retaking of Kirkuk by Baghdad use the high ground of the region to build an artil­ swiftly on October 16 by brokering a deal bet­ put a major dent in Kurdistan's potential as a lery super-gun to target Israel. This never mate­ ween Baghdad and the Patriotic Union of major independent oil exporter and, from the rialised, largely due to his military defeat in the Kurdistan (PUK), a major Kurdish party which 1991 Gulf War. constituted the predominant political entity in PMF fighters quickly took position on the Kirkuk and whose Peshmerga fighters constitu­ Last month's retaking of mountain shortly after taking over Sinjar last ted the most significant Kurdish paramilitary Kirkuk by Baghdad put a month. One anonymous Kurdish official has said force in the area. major dent in Kurdistan's that control over the mountain could give Tehran Iran had threatened the PUK beforehand, potential as a major inde­ "control of the area", adding that it could even reportedly also offering them incentives to sur­ "launch an attack on Tel Aviv". render the entire province without a fight, as they pendent oil exporter Israel has launched numerous pre-emptive subsequently did. airstrikes since January 2013 to destroy advan­ The next day, Kurdish Peshmerga loyal to ced missile silos in Syria, which the Israelis claim the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) also with­ Iranian regime’s vantage point, therefore disad­ Hizballah could have obtained and used against drew from disputed areas they had controlled, vantaged Israeli interests in the region. them in a future war. Were Iran to send heavy including the Sinjar region where the Islamic The PMF presence in Sinjar could also give weapons or missiles capable of targeting Israel State group had subjected the Yazidi minority to Tehran another strategic boost in the region and, to its proxies in Sinjar, the Israelis may well a campaign of genocide. ultimately, against Israel. extend their intermittent Syrian airstrikes across PMF forces, many loyal to Iran, had already the border into northern Iraq. seized some villages from IS in Sinjar and clearly STRATEGIC SINJAR It's much more likely that Tehran will, at coveted a significant foothold in that strategically Sinjar is significant in Tehran's eyes since it most, use Sinjar as a transit route as described important region for some time. could provide a secure route stretching all the by Bozarsian. way from Iran's border with Iraq's Diyala pro­ OIL-RICH KIRKUK vince - of which Iran-backed PMF forces control DISPUTED TERRITORIES In Kirkuk, invariably described with the prefix large swathes for years - through Sinjar on the Kirkuk, Sinjar and the other territories re­ ''oil-rich”, Iraq will supply crude oil to the refinery Syrian border, all the way to Syria's taken by the Iraqi army and PMF from the in the Iranian Kurdish city of Kermanshah as part Mediterranean coastline, which also makes Peshmerga last month are constitutionally dispu­ of a new agreement. resupplying Hizballah in Lebanon much easier. ted between Baghdad and Erbil, the legal status "Under the new agreement," reported Al-Monitor columnist Mahmut Bozarsian of which can only be conclusively resolved Reuters, "the first oil will be trucked across the quoted the former deputy of the Kurdish Gorran through implementation of the Iraqi border in the coming days. Initially Iran will (Change) Movement, who assesses the situa­ Constitution's Article 140. receive 15,000 barrels per day, worth nearly $1 tion as follows: "For Iran, [Sinjar] is the key to an On October 20, the US State Department million, rising gradually to 60,000 bpd, according Iran-Syria connection via Iraq. If Iran can control released a statement which unequivocally asser­ to Iraqi officials and trading sources." [Sinjar], it will have easy access to Iraq, Syria ted this. Most of Kirkuk's oil was hitherto piped to and Lebanon. Also don't forget there are Sunni The Kurds completely controlled Kirkuk follo­ Ceyhan in Turkey and sold on the international wing the Iraqi army's retreat in the face of the markets. Iran hopes that the construction of a Were Iran to send lightning IS advance in June 2014. Sinjar, on the pipeline to its central provinces can give it easy other hand, has been under Kurdish control access to the oil of that resource-rich region. heavy weapons or missiles since 2003, as was Khanqin and other territories Tehran no doubt sees attaining a significant capable of targeting Israel seized by the Iraqi/PMF forces last month. stake of Kirkuk's oil exports as significant and to its proxies in Sinjar, the Given the nature of these territories, Iran's perhaps, at least partially, sees it through the proxies may not be able to feasibly justify a per­ lens of its cold war with Israel. Israelis may well extend manent presence there, especially if the political In 2015, the Financial Times reported that their intermittent Syrian situation in Iraq changes in the near future. two-thirds of Israel's oil supply was indepen­ airstrikes across the border Baghdad would likely accept power-sharing dently exported by the Kurds. Iranian press out­ into northern Iraq agreements with the Kurds in the near »

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> future, something the United States, allied as for some Shia Turkmen, which cannot feasibly thold there in the long term. it is with both sides, would doubtlessly welcome. be controlled and/or policed and stabilised by So, while Iran has a lot to gain from the Iraqi This could potentially limit Iran's ability to PMF militias. It certainly cannot remain a stable takeover of these territories, these are still early move proxy forces and weapons to Syria province without the participation - especially in days and the ultimate outcome from last month's through these territories. regards to the administration of the region - of tumultuous events is far from clear. The situation These aren't the only circumstances whe­ the Kurdish-majority there. may again change in the foreseeable future - reby Iran may find it difficult to entrench their Also, as Bozarsian points out, Iran has "no and not necessarily to Tehran's advantage. ♦ proxies. Kirkuk is a Sunni-majority region, save religious or ethnic ties to Sinjar'', which could make it harder for it to retain a significant foo­

;RUDAW 23 November 2017 'ip' KRG asks Baghdad to respect Federal Court ruling on referendum

By Rudaw 23/11/2017 He said the Federal Court was established before the constitution RBIL, Kurdistan Region - The came into effect and, as such, does Kurdistan Regional Government not have the power to decide on the (KRG)E has asked the Iraqi govern­ constitutional validity of the referen­ ment to act on the Federal Court dum. ruling that cancelled the Kurdistan "The decision by the Federal referendum on independence. Court with regard to annulling the Monday’s court ruling demands referendum of the Kurdistan Region that "all unjust procedures, out­ is political, has no constitutional comes and consequences be can­ basis. The Kurdistan parliament celled that were taken by the Iraqi rejects it," he stated. government and the parliament Imniki headed parliament's against the Kurdistan Region solely September 15 session that voted to in response to the referendum," hold the referendum. The motion KRG spokesperson Safeez Dizayee states that the government must on Thursday said in a published sta­ consult the parliament with respect tement interpreting the court verdict. to the result of the plebiscite. He named some of Baghdad’s The KRG has so far offered to punitive measures against the freeze the results of the referendum Members of a Kurdish Peshmerga battalion showing their ink- Kurdistan Region: the international in exchange for unconditional dia­ stained fingers in front of a Kurdish flag after voting in the Kurdish flight ban, slashing the budget logue with Baghdad. independence referendum in Erbil. File photo: AFPI Safin Hamed share, and efforts in the Iraqi parlia­ Dizayee criticized Abadi of ment to punish Kurdish MPs who “mere words” without action on voted for independence. issues like committing Baghdad to Abadi said defended the official the official status of the Kurdistan Other measures announced by pay the salaries of KRG state use of “the provinces of the Region. the Iraqi parliament on September employees. Kurdistan region.” Abadi insists that his demands, 27, including the deployment of The KRG said on November 1 "There are provinces in the including extending federal authority federal forces to disputed areas, that it is willing to send Baghdad its Kurdistan Region," he said in a to the 2003 borders and Kurdistan must be reversed, he demanded. list of state employees collected press conference on Tuesday. He Region’s international borders, are The government spokesperson over the past year through biometric added though that the official name constitutional and Erbil must coope­ did not indicate whether the KRG registration aimed at combatting of "Kurdistan Region," remains in rate. would also respect the ruling, as ghost employees and double place. Dizayee also criticized Baghdad has demanded. entries. The final payroll includes The people of Kurdistan with all Baghdad’s failure to pay Peshmerga The court ruled on Monday that 1.2 million employees with a cost of of its components are unanimous in salaries. The Kurdish forces are part the September 25 independence $772 million a month. their intent to "protect the constitu­ of the official Iraqi defense system, referendum is "unconstitutional" and Dizayee said Thursday that tional unity of the Kurdistan Region yet the post-Saddam Hussein therefore its results and "all of its Baghdad has so far refused to and will never compromise in this government in Baghdad has never consequences" are null and void. accept the biometric list. regard," Dizayee said. covered their payroll, even after Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al- Abadi has said several times Both Erbil and Baghdad insist Abadi praised their contribution to Abadi said Tuesday that he wel­ that Baghdad would pay state sala­ that the constitution is on their side. the war against ISIS. comes the ruling. ries, but he has questioned the The KRG argues that the central He provided the latest figures The Kurdistan Region parlia­ KRG’s numbers. He said on government violated almost one for the Peshmerga casualties in the ment has rejected the court ruling, Tuesday that an audit would have to third of the constitution, thereby war on ISIS: 1,082 killed, 10,233 deputy speaker Jaafar Imniki told be done. pushing Kurdistan to hold the refe­ injured, and 62 missing. ■ Turkey's state-run Anadolu Agency The KRG spokesperson also rendum. on Wednesday. demanded Abadi and his govern­ Erbil's main objections are In remarks also published by ment use the official name of the Baghdad's failure to implement the official website of the Kurdistan "Kurdistan Region," as any other Article 140, addressing the disputed Democratic Party (KDP), Imniki took "invented word for the Kurdistan areas, and the draft 2018 budget bill a similar stance to former President Region is clearly unconstitutional that attempts to cut the KRG's share Masoud Barzani. and we reject it." of the 2018 budget and downgrade

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Slate.fr 24 novembre 2017 L'après-Daech s'annonce explosif pour el-Assad, pressé par les Kurdes et les Turcs

JACQUES MASSEY - 24.11.2017 http://www.slate.fr Seul problème: ce rendez-vous prévu le 18 novembre à Sotchi n’a pas été du goût du prési­ dent turc Recep Tayyip Erdogan, associé au processus. À la place, le Kremlin a dû opter pour Tandis que Vladimir une rencontre au sommet, quatre jours plus tard, Poutine a échafaudé, avec l’autocrate turc et l’Iranien Hassan Rohani - depuis Sotchi, des plans de qui se sont finalement ralliés à l’agenda proposé. Difficile de se défiler quand, entre quatre yeux, paix avec ses homologues Poutine assène: «Je pense qu’il est maintenant turcs et iraniens, Bachar el- temps de passer au processus politique...» Assad s’active pour repren­ dre le contrôle des terri­ Pour autant, la tension reste forte entre les Kurdes et l’armée de Bachar autour de Deir-ez- toires qu’il a perdus dans le Zor, où l’Euphrate coule jusqu’à la frontière iraki­ nord de la Syrie. Avec deux Kurdes. Cette question fait-elle déjà partie ou pas enne. Malgré une commune détermination pour gros obstacles sur son de leurs “deals"?» coincer ce qui reste de l’organisation État islamique dans une enclave quasi désertique en chemin: les Kurdes et les L'ÉPINEUX PROBLÈME DU bordure de la frontière syro-irakienne, un rude Turcs. DÉSARMEMENT bras de fer est engagé pour contrôler les terri­ toires repris aux terroristes. Sur la rive orientale «Une chose à la fois. Notre priorité opéra­ Pas plus qu’il n’imagine quitter le pouvoir, le du fleuve, sont positionnés les Kurdes et des tionnelle reste la guerre contre les djihadistes, président syrien n’entérine en tout cas aucun des Arabes ralliés aux Forces démocratiques syri­ pas contre les Kurdes...» Celui qui s’exprime dans bouleversements démographiques provoqués par ennes (FDS). Nom de code de cette opération un vaste bureau aux fenêtres obturées, dans le les combats. Selon notre interlocuteur, il n’est soutenue par les forces spéciales américaines et quartier résidentiel de Mazzè, non loin de l’aéro­ donc pas question d’accepter que les Kurdes per­ l’aviation des pays de la coalition internationale: port militaire de Damas, est un ami d’enfance de pétuent la gouvernance qu’ils exercent actuelle­ «Cizire Storm» Bachar el-Assad. Son point de vue est aussi celui ment sur les villes de la Djézireh, cette grande des généraux, même si le petit cercle des con­ plaine qui court le long de la frontière avec la LA TURQUIE SUR LA DÉFENSIVE seillers politiques du président syrien ne se con­ Turquie et l'Irak. «Ils n’y ont jamais été majori­ fond pas avec celui des patrons de la sécurité. taires de toute façon.» Dont acte! Pour leur part, les troupes syriennes, iraniennes Leur raisonnement est adossé à un constat sim­ et russes tiennent la rive ouest jusqu’à Al- ple: Difficile dès lors d’imaginer que la création de Boukamal, à la frontière irakienne. Une «ligne de l’Assemblée civile prônée par les Unités de pro­ déconfliction» a bien été établie pour éviter que «Les Américains ne savent pas eux- tection du peuple (YPG) et leur parti (le PYD), les frictions ne dégénèrent. Mais la retenue n’est mêmes ce qu’ils feront lorsque Daech aura assortie d’élections locales et d’un référendum pas toujours à Tordre du jour quand il s’agit de définitivement perdu la partie. Mais ils sur une large autonomie, soit validée en l’état. En décider du sort des importants champs pétroliers pourraient vite se retirer de Syrie. Alors outre, la démilitarisation de cette force con­ d’Al-Jufra et d’Al-Omar -où opéraient avant la leurs alliés du moment, les Kurdes, vien­ stituerait un préalable. Or, son désarmement guerre Shell et Total-, et du gisement gazier de dront tranquillement discuter avec nous du n’est vraiment pas d’actualité. Après tout, les YPG Conoco. Un compromis qui rétablirait l’autorité statut des territoires qu’ils tiennent depuis -quelques 30.000 combattants et combattantes de l’État syrien sur les sites pétrolifères disputés quatre ans; on parle là de 30% du territoire en comptant les Arabes musulmans et chrétiens reste à ce jour une simple hypothèse de sortie de syrien et de près de trois millions d’habi­ enrôlés dans leurs rangs- ont payé le prix fort crise. En pareil cas, les Kurdes syriens montr­ tants.» pour gagner leur liberté. Dans leurs récentes eraient qu’ils préfèrent éviter une longue con­ offensives anti-Daech, 1.200 des leurs auraient frontation, se contentant des gisements à bout de Il est aussi vrai que le souvenir des relations été tués, dont 434 lors de la seule prise de Raqqa. souffle de Rmeilane et de Karatchouk situés sur passées entre le mouvement kurde et le régime de Et plus du double auraient été blessés, selon des «leur» Rojava, près d’Hassaké. Damas peut encore servir de garantie... Reste estimations de la coalition internationale. cette interrogation: «Les Russes récusent bien Même si elle trouve son origine dans un compro­ sûr la présence durable de forces américaines VERS UNE «LARGE mis passé par Vladimir Poutine avec Erdogan en dans le nord du pays, mais nous ne savons pas DÉCENTRALISATION»? 2016, la présence de forces turques aux confins tout de leurs échanges avec Washington. des territoires passés sous domination kurde Notamment à propos du statut réservé aux Pour éviter d’agacer les alliés russes qui s’activent préoccupe plus encore les dirigeants syriens. Et là en coulisse autour d’un plan de paix, le ministre aussi Bachar el-Assad va devoir jouer finement des Affaires étrangères Walid Moallem a évoqué s’il veut retrouver ses prérogatives. Depuis leur l’hypothèse d’une négociation sur un statut opération Bouclier de l’Euphrate engagée en août fédéral pour les Kurdes dès le 25 septembre sur 2016, des troupes d’Ankara sont cantonnées sur une chaîne de télévision moscovite. La formule un saillant d’une trentaine de kilomètres de pro­ dite «de large décentralisation» -qui a les faveurs fondeur allant de la ville frontière de de Moscou- est assurément la seule qui permet­ jusqu’à la localité d’Al Bab, au nord d’Alep. trait d’éviter des affrontements durables entre ces protagonistes. Sans aucun hasard, les autorités À partir de la mi-octobre, un autre contingent - kurdes ont ensuite été invitées à participer à une quelque 500 hommes épaulés par des blindés, conférence pour traiter du sujet. L'idée d’un selon les médias turcs- a pris position dans la Congrès des peuples de Syrie, auquel seraient province d’Idleb, située entre la Rojava kurde et conviées une trentaine organisations politiques a la frontière syro-turque. Ankara doit en principe Frappe aérienne en Syrie, le 23 novembre - été lancée par Vladimir Poutine lors d'un forum y tenir 14 postes d’observation -en fait de vérita­ Amer ALMOHIBANY / AFP universitaire. bles camps retranchés- selon le point 6 des

68 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Ozeti accords tripartites (Russie, Iran, Turquie) scellés 50% des frappes avaient alors été dirigées sur ce à Astana sous la houlette du chef de la délégation secteur. russe Alexandre Lavrentiev. Une initiative que la Syrie a d’abord récusée en dénonçant une «agres­ Des «partenaires» de Bachar soufflent aussi sur sion turque». les braises. Selon des sources concordantes, les Gardiens de la révolution iraniens auraient «ÉVACUEZ LES LIEUX APRÈS AVOIR donné carte blanche à Erdogan, lors de son FAIT LE MÉNAGE» déplacement à Téhéran le 4 octobre. Eux veulent éviter la propagation de l’influence irrédentiste Et pour cause. Dans cette zone dite «de dés­ dans le nord de l’Iran où vivent 6 millions de escalade» où 800.000 personnes vivent dans des Kurdes iraniens et où s’active un mouvement camps de réfugiés et où se sont repliés beaucoup frère du PYD, le Parti pour une vie libre au d’animateurs d’associations civiles après la chute Combattants des YPG - DELIL Kurdistan (PJAK). d’Alep, la Turquie soutient ouvertement des mil­ SOULEIMAN / AFP ices islamiques depuis le début de la guerre civile. PREMIERS ACCROCHAGES Celles-ci sont aujourd’hui dominées par Fateh al- Cham -devenue Hayat Tahrir al-Cham (HTS) en combattants kurdes des YPG. Ceux-ci sont liés À Les implications pratiques d’une telle alliance début d’année. L’ex-Front al-Nostra a officielle­ aux dirigeants du PKK, le parti des travailleurs du de circonstance sont assez simples à deviner, si ment rompu son allégeance à al-Qaida en juillet Kurdistan, un mouvement qui mène depuis l’on s’en tient à l’histoire récente. Des kamikazes 2016, mais des liens perdureraient notamment trente-quatre ans une rébellion armée pour islamistes seront recrutés pour tenter de désta­ via son mufti Abdulrahim Atoun, selon des arracher, sinon l’indépendance, tout au moins biliser la Rojava avec des attentats à répétition, experts comme le journaliste Hassan Hassan. une large autonomie dans les régions de l’Est de tandis que les groupes djihadistes sous tutelle la Turquie où vivent une majorité des 15 millions turque, désireux de s’assurer ainsi les faveurs Depuis Damas, un message sans ambiguïté aurait de Kurdes de nationalité turque. d’Erdogan, seront mobilisés contre l’enclave toutefois été transmis à Erdogan avec lequel des d’Afrine. Depuis plus d’un an, des éléments de émissaires de Bachar el-Assad assurent un con­ Pour y parvenir, dès septembre, les députés réu­ l’Armée syrienne libre s’y confrontent déjà tact aussi discret que régulier: «La présence de nis en session extraordinaire ont entériné le pro­ régulièrement aux YPG. Autour des bourgades forces étrangères sur notre territoire étant illé­ longement d’un an du mandat autorisant l’envoi d’ et de Tai Rifat, les terres sont régulière­ gale, vous devrez évacuer les lieux après y avoir de troupes en Syrie. Dans le même temps, selon le ment visées par des obus qui incendient les fait le ménage». Ce qui n’exclut pas des arrières- renseignement français, James Mattis, le patron champs de blé, principale ressource de cette riche pensées du côté syrien: «En cas de rupture du du Pentagone, avait été prévenu que des initia­ région agricole. Le sort de ces localités frontal­ cessez-le-feu, nous nous autorisons à traiter les tives seraient prises contre Afrine «dès après la ières que les Turcs rêvent de soumettre est aussi rebelles et à les liquider.» En clair, toute provoca­ défaite d’EI à Raqqa». l’enjeu des tractations en cours entre Ankara et tion fournira un prétexte pour rompre la trêve et les émissaires russes. reprendre les bombardements contre ce «nid de ALLIANCES DE CIRCONSTANCE rebelles». La direction du mouvement kurde n’ignore rien Sans aucun hasard, dès leur arrivée sur zone fin de ces manœuvres. «Dans la nouvelle phase de Pour lever toute ambiguïté, dès le 27 octobre, l’é­ octobre, les troupes turques ont choisi d’im­ confrontation à laquelle nous nous attendons, les tat-major de l’armée syrienne a annoncé que l’of­ planter des postes fortifiés au nord d’Idleb sur affrontements seront aussi rudes que l’ont été fensive au nord de Hama contre les ultras de des positions hautes bien utiles pour surveiller la ceux contre Daech», résume l’un de ses représen­ Tahrir al-Cham (HTS) se poursuivrait vers Idleb. plaine qui court jusqu’à Afrine. Une note de la tants. Dès la fin des combats à Raqqa, les YPG ont Objectif avoué: la reprise de l’aéroport militaire Direction générale des relations internationales d’ailleurs repositionné en conséquence des mil­ d’Abu al-Dhuhour. Des frappes de l’aviation et des affaire stratégiques résume ainsi la situa­ liers de combattant(e)s, avec l’appui des Asayech, russe, début octobre, ont déjà éliminé douze de tion: les services de sécurité du mouvement. Pour ses commandants réunis pour un conseil de prévenir des infiltrations. guerre, et blessé leur chef, Mohammad al- «Vu de Moscou, le dialogue avec Ankara Joulani, resté proche des Saoudiens. vise à emmener la partie de l’opposition C’est dans ce contexte qu’à la mi-novembre le syrienne qui est sous influence turque à par­ «général» Talal Sello aurait fait défection -une UNE TURQUIE AUX VISÉES ticiper aux négociations de paix. Vu information non confirmée officiellement. Ce EXPANSIONNISTES? d’Ankara, le rapprochement avec Moscou porte-parole des forces arabes pro-Kurdes aurait permet aux troupes turques de s’implanter rejoint l’antenne du MIT (les services secrets En réalité, le régime craint plus que tout de voir durablement au nord de la Syrie afin de s’y turcs) de Jarablus après avoir traversé les lignes les Turcs s’incruster dans la région. Un conseiller octroyer un droit de poursuite face au PKK au volant de son 4x4 Toyota. En 2015, ce person­ de Bachar el-Assad rappelle que, dans ses et ses affidés, les YPG.» nage haut en couleurs avec son crâne rasé et ses harangues, comme à Bursa le 24 octobre 2016, épaules épaisses avait rallié les Kurdes avec son Erdogan n’hésite pas renouveler le serment Seul (vrai) problème pour Erdogan: la médiocre groupe de rebelles sunnites Liwa ak-Salajika pour national de Mustafa Kemal Pacha. Or, Atatürk a prestation de ses unités lors de l’opération chasser Daech de la ville de Manbij. toujours placé Alep (comme Mossoul en Irak) Bouclier de l’Euphrate en 2016 fait douter de leur dans la sphère d’influence régionale ottomane... capacité à affronter durablement des milices Tous les protagonistes du conflit syrien ont D’ou cette sourde inquiétude: Kurdes très motivées. En début d’année, le sail­ aujourd’hui leurs fusils pointés les uns sur les lant d’al-Bab n’avait ainsi été pris à Daech par les autres, avec des arrières pensées et des planifica­ «Maintenant qu’ils sont installés comme Turcs qu’avec l’appui décisif de l’avion russe dont tions opérationnelles menaçantes. L’élimination une prétendue force d’interposition, il sera de Daech n’est désormais plus qu’une variable difficile d’obtenir un retrait effectif des d’ajustement d’un «grand jeu» à l’échelle Turcs. Il n’est pourtant pas question que régionale où Bachar el-Assad n’est finalement cette partie du territoire syrien soit aussi qu’un protagoniste parmi d’autres. Et où tout longue à récupérer que l’est Chypre-Nord, dérapage risque de mettre en difficulté les arbi­ occupé depuis 1974.» trages laborieux voulus par Moscou pour appli­ quer son plan de paix. Par exemple, en cas d’ac­ Bref, à Damas, on ne croit pas un instant à cette crochages entre forces syriennes et turques fiction qui ferait d’Erdogan l’un des garants de autour d’Idleb, ou encore entre Kurdes et rebelles l’intégrité de la Syrie! soutenus par Ankara. Les coups tordus en Rojava imaginés par les Iraniens avec la Turquie pour­ À court terme, tout dépendra de la marge de raient pareillement gêner le «partenariat manœuvre qui sera laissée ou pas à Ankara pour stratégique» conclu entre Poutine et ses «amis» à neutraliser, en l’assiégeant, le canton d’Afrine qui Téhéran pour maintenir Bachar au pouvoir à voisine Idleb. L’objectif est de le débarrasser des Idleb frappé par le ciel en mars dernier Damas. • Omar haj kadour / AFP

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Cos Anflflts (Tintes November 25, 2017 U.S. cutting off supply of weapons to Kurds fighting in Syria

By Associated Press Nov 25, 2017 Ankara, Turkey Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) fighters ride atop military vehicles president as saying he had given instructions to as they celebrate victory in Raqqa, The United States will cut off its supply of arms U.S. generals and to national security advisor Syria, on October 17, 2017. I Photo to Kurdish fighters in Syria, a move by President H.R. McMaster that "no weapons would be Credit: REUTERS Trump that is sure to please Turkey but further issued." alienate Syrian Kurds who bore much of the fight against the Islamic State group. "Of course, we were very happy with this," working with the SDF. His comments appeared Cavusoglu said. to suggest the possibility that changes in the In a phone call Friday with Turkish President level and type of U.S. military support for the Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Trump said he'd "given Yet for the Kurds, it was the latest demoralizing Syrian Kurds could be coming. clear instructions" that the Kurds receive no blow to their hopes for greater recognition in the more weapons — "and that this nonsense should region. Last month, the Kurds in neighboring As the fight against IS has waned in recent have ended a long time ago," said Turkish Iraq saw their recent territorial gains erased by months, the U.S. has pledged to carefully moni­ Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu. The White the Iraqi military, which seized the oil-rich city tor the weapons it provides the Kurds, notably House confirmed the move in a cryptic state­ of Kirkuk and other disputed areas from the ensuring that they don't wind up in the hands of ment about the phone call that said Trump had Kurdish regional government in retaliation for a Kurdish insurgents in Turkey known as the PKK. informed the Turks of "pending adjustments to Kurdish independence referendum that the U.S. the military support provided to our partners on ardently opposed. Both Turkey and the U.S. consider the PKK a ter­ the ground in Syria." rorist group. But the United States has tried to Trump's decision appeared to catch both the draw a distinction between the PKK and the The White House called the move "consistent Pentagon and the U.S. State Department off Syrian Kurds across the border, while Turkey with our previous policy" and noted the recent guard. Officials at both agencies, who would nor­ insists they're essentially the same. fall of Raqqah, once the Islamic State's self- mally be informed of changes in U.S. policy declared capital but recently liberated by a large­ toward arming the Syrian Kurds, said they were In both Syria and Iraq, the U.S. relied on Kurdish ly Kurdish force. The Trump administration unaware of any changes. The officials spoke on fighters to do much of the fighting against announced in May it would start arming the condition of anonymity. Islamic State, but those efforts have yet to lead to Kurds in anticipation of the fight to retake a realization of the Kurds' broader aspirations, Raqqah. It was unclear whether the Trump administra­ most notably an independent state. tion notified the Kurds of the move before telling "We are progressing into a stabilization phase to the Turks. Nor was it how much significance the Washington's support for the Syrian Kurds, in ensure that ISIS cannot return," the White change would have on the ground, considering particular, has been a major thorn in U.S.- House said, using an acronym for the extremist the fight against Islamic State is almost over. Turkish relations for several years, given group. Turkey's concerns about the Kurds' territorial The United States has been arming the Kurds in aspirations. In particular, Turkey has feared the The move could help ease strained tensions their fight against Islamic State through an establishment of a contiguous, Kurdish-held between the U.S. and Turkey, two NATO allies umbrella group known as the Syrian Democratic canton in northern Syria that runs along the that have been sharply at odds about how best to Forces, or SDF, which is comprised of Kurdish as Turkish border. wage the fight against Islamic State. Turkey con­ well as Arab fighters. But the retreat of Islamic siders the Kurdish Syrian fighters, known by the State, which has lost nearly all its territory in Relations between NATO allies Turkey and the initials YPG, to be terrorists because of their Syria, has altered the dynamics in the region and United States have also soured recently over a affiliation to outlawed Kurdish rebels that have a U.S. Defense official said he was unaware of number of other issues, including Turkey's waged a three decade-long insurgency in Turkey. any additional arms scheduled to be transferred crackdown on dissent following a failed coup Yet the U.S. chose to partner with the YPG in to the Kurds, even before the Turkish announce­ attempt last year. Ankara has demanded that the Syria anyway, arguing that the battle-hardened ment. U.S. extradite a Pennsylvania-based cleric that it Kurds were the most effective fighting force blames for fomenting the coup, but the U.S. says available. Last week, Col. Ryan Dillon, the chief spokesman Turkey lacks sufficient proof. ♦ for the U.S. coalition that is fighting Islamic Cavusoglu, who said he was in the room with State in Iraq and Syria, said there has yet to be Erdogan during Trump's call, quoted the U.S. any reduction in the number of U.S. advisors

70 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Ozeti

Sljc Jfeitr y ork Stones November 28, 2017

The Trump administration announced in May it would start arming the Kurds in antici­ Syrian Kurdish Official to US: pation of the fight to retake the city of Raqqa, the de-facto capital of IS. The Kurdish-led SDF liberated the city last Don't Turn Your Back on Us month. They have been pushing down the Euphrates River Valley, chasing IS militants along the border with Iraq and east of the river, NOV. 28, 2017 - THE ASSOCIATED PRESS aimed at appeasing Turkey. Ankara sees the capturing oil and gas fields and securing the https://www.nytimes.com Syrian Kurdish fighters as an extension of its Kurdish forces' hold in northern and eastern own insurgent group it labels "terrorists." Syria. BEIRUT — A senior Syrian Kurdish offi­ Such vague statements can be a double- Following a call between President Donald cial said Washington would undermine the edged sword, Ahmed said. She spoke to The Trump and Turkey's Recep Tayyib Erdogan on campaign against Islamic State militants and Associated Press in a series of text messages Friday, the White House said there will be "pen­ Americans would lose their place in the region's from northern Syria late on Monday. ding adjustments to the military support provi­ fight against terrorism if they "turn their back" The U.S. said it will maintain its "presence ded to our partners on the ground in Syria, now on their only ally in Syria — the Kurds. to fight Daesh and to reinforce stability in libe­ that the is complete." The comments by Ilham Ahmed, a member rated areas." This means, Ahmed said, the "We are progressing into a stabilization of the political arm of the U.S-backed Syrian administration is "starting a new phase focused phase to ensure that ISIS cannot return," the Democratic Forces, were in response to the on stability and administration." Daesh is the White House said. ISIS is an alternative acro­ U.S. administration's suggestion that military Arabic name for IS. nym for IS aid to the Kurdish-led forces may be halted. "We can't judge what the Americans are The SDF is now believed to be in control of Over the weekend, the White House and the thinking," Ahmed said. "But one thing is about 25 percent of Syria and they fear that a Pentagon said there will be "pending adjust­ obviously clear, and that is if the Americans U.S. withdrawal may pit them against Syrian ments to the military support" to the SDF, turn their back on their only partners (in Syria), government troops and their allies, in the though there was no specific confirmation the it means they will withdraw from the fight absence of a political agreement. arms flow would stop altogether. against Daesh in the Middle East." There are now about 1,500 U.S. troops in Ahmed said nothing in the statements spe­ "If they really decide to stop the support, Syria that initially came to train and support the cifically indicates the arms supply would stop, this means they are giving a chance for Daesh SDF in the anti-IS campaign. • but she added that the "vague" phrasing appears to re-appear and spread," she added.

Hurriyet DailyNews—t * NOVEMBER 29, 2017 Turkey to expand its military mission to Afrin: Top security council

ANKARA/November 29, 2017 Turkey is expected to form 12 observation http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com spots in total, in order to monitor the ongoing truce between the Syrian regime and armed The National Security Council (MGK) on opposition groups. The first of these spots was Nov. 28 discussed expanding the Turkish mili­ set up on Oct. 13. is changing Syria’s demographic structure by tary’s operation in Syria to Afrin and Aleppo, The deal envisages cementing the truce bet­ conducting covert ethnic cleansing. This is according to a statement issued after the mee­ ween fighting groups and allowing humanita­ against international law and human rights and ting. rian aid to reach needy groups inside the coun­ is unacceptable,” the MGK statement read on The statement particularly stressed try, as well as paving the way for launching an Nov. 28. Ankara’s objection to the presence of the Syrian effective political process to end the civil war in “Turkey will continue to take all kinds of Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD) and the Syria. measures, especially at border territories, in People’s Protection Units (YPG), “especially in The Turkish, Russian and Iranian presi­ order to ensure its safety,” it added. border territory.” dents came together in Sochi on Nov. 22 to out­ Meanwhile, PYD forces sprayed a Turkish “It was assessed that the Turkish Army line a fresh roadmap toward a political solution, border post in the southeastern province of Forces (TSK) has been successfully carrying out which includes convening a national dialogue Kilis, on the border with Syria, with gunfire late its ‘observatory mission’ in Idlib’s de-escalation congress with the participation of various war­ on Nov. 28, wounding one soldier, Dogan News zones, and an environment of peace and safety ring groups. Agency has reported. can be obtained by continuing this mission in The Turkish government has repeatedly The gunfire reportedly came from Afrin pro­ western Aleppo and around Afrin,” it said. expressed opposition to the inclusion of the PYD vince in northwest Syria and Turkey responded Turkey on Nov. 19 completed construction and the YPG at the negotiation table for a politi­ with artillery fire. of its third “observation spot” inside Idlib as a cal process, saying the group is the Syrian offs­ The wounded soldier was taken to the Kilis part of its three-way deal with Russia and Iran, hoot of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party State Hospital for treatment. ♦ which stipulates the establishment of de-escala­ (PKK). tion zones in war-tom Syria. “The PKK/PYD-YPG terrorist organization

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Slatefr 24 novembre 2017 Poutine, maître du jeu en Syrie

DANIEL VERNET - 28.11.2017 www.slate.fr

La Russie avance ses pions pour la résolution du conflit syrien. Et il n'y a pas grand monde pour l'en empêcher.

Y Tladimir Poutine a passé une bonne semaine V diplomatique. Lundi, il a reçu dans sa rési­ dence de Sotchi, sur les bords de la mer Noire, Bachar el-Assad. Deux jours plus tard, il s’y est réuni avec les présidents turc Erdogan et ira­ nien Rohani. Une première.

À l’ordre du jour, l’avenir de la Syrie. Deux ans après l’intervention massive de la Russie dans Vladimir Poutine et Bachar el-Assad à Sotchi (Russie), le 20 novembre 2017. I Mikhail la guerre civile, qui dure depuis six ans et demi Klimentyev / Sputnik / AFP. et a fait plus de 400.000 morts, le chef du Kremlin s’est placé en position de principal artisan d’une solution politique. est de passer aux questions politiques», a-t-il d’adopter une nouvelle Constitution. Il aurait MOSCOU, DERNIÈRE PUISSANCE À dit à son obligé, en laissant clairement entendre dû se tenir le 18 novembre à Sotchi, mais la PESER SUR LE PLAN POLITIQUE que les décisions n’appartenaient pas à Assad Turquie s’est opposée à la présence de mais à ceux qui l’ont soutenu pour qu’il reste au représentants de Kurdes de Syrie, qu’elle con­ Vladimir Poutine veut gagner la paix après pouvoir. «Le processus politique ne sera pas sidère comme des avatars du PKK. La réunion avoir gagné la guerre, en apportant une contri­ facile, a souligné publiquement Poutine. Il est maintenant prévue pour début décembre. bution majeure à l’écrasement de l’opposition demandera des compromis et des concessions au dictateur de Damas, sous couvert de lutte de toutes les parties, y compris du gouverne­ L’objectif de la diplomatie russe est de prendre contre le terrorisme. La coalition internationale ment syrien.» Et pour être sûr qu’Assad avait de court les diverses forces d’opposition syri­ formée par les Occidentaux et leurs alliés a bien compris ce qu’il attendait de lui, il a ennes à Bachar el-Assad. Celles-ci se sont réu­ certes participé à l’élimination du «califat» de ajouté: «Je note avec satisfaction votre disponi­ nies à Riyad sous la houlette de l’Arabie Saou­ Daech dans l’espace irako-syrien, mais en Syrie bilité à travailler avec tous ceux qui veulent la dite, pour préparer une éventuelle reprise des elle-même, c’est bien la conjonction de l’en­ paix et une solution au conflit.» négociations de Genève sous l’égide de l’envoyé gagement militaire russe -aérien et terrestre- spécial de l’ONU, Staffan de Mistura. Mais elles et de l’intervention des milices iraniennes avec À quelques mois de l’élection présidentielle peinent à trouver un accord entre elles. le Hezbollah qui ont empêché l’effondrement prévue en mars 2018, Vladimir Poutine veut se du régime. débarrasser de la guerre en Syrie. Au début, elle Moscou voudrait que la délégation comprenne lui a apporté un regain de popularité et a aussi un groupe «d’opposants» à Assad qui lui Donald Trump se désintéresse de la Syrie, détourné l’attention de l’intervention en soit proche. Si le Kremlin réussissait à réunir ce après avoir donné l’impression de vouloir s’y Ukraine. Mais un succès diplomatique «Congrès des peuples» avant Genève, les négo­ engager avec la frappe, en avril dernier, contre témoignant du retour de la Russie parmi les ciations officielles à l’ONU ne seraient alors une base militaire syrienne, qui faisait suite à «Grands» est plus gratifiant qu’un conflit qui plus qu’un décor destiné à légitimer un accord l’utilisation d’armes chimiques par le régime. s’enlise. ficelé par la Russie. Une décision isolée qui soulignait davantage l’absence de stratégie que l’affirmation d’une Le nombre de victimes russes augmente. Il Donald Trump a accepté de laisser la main à volonté politique. Quant aux Européens, il y a provoque des remous dans la population -on Vladimir Poutine, en marge du sommet de l’or­ longtemps qu’en Syrie, ils ne comptent plus. parle de cent à deux cents morts-; le chiffre est ganisation asiatique APEC qui s’est tenu plus Moscou est maître du jeu. tenu secret et les familles des soldats tués sont tôt dans le mois, au Vietnam. contraintes au silence. Vladimir Poutine a convoqué Bachar el-Assad Emmanuel Macron avait souhaité la création en Russie pour le lui rappeler, au cas où il l’au­ D’autre part, le corps expéditionnaire russe est d’un «groupe de contact» des puissances con­ rait oublié. Une partie de la rencontre a été composé de plusieurs milliers de mercenaires cernées par la guerre en Syrie, une façon de filmée. Les téléspectateurs russes ont donc pu appartenant à une entreprise «privée» de sécu­ remettre la France dans le jeu, mais sa proposi­ entendre leur président déclarer sans détour rité appartenant à un proche de Poutine, tion a fait long feu. Les Occidentaux ont mis devant une brochette de généraux en grand Evgueni Prigogine, qui est aussi le traiteur du une sourdine à leur revendication d’un départ uniforme: «J’ai prié le président de la Syrie de Kremlin et le dirigeant de la plus grande usine d’Assad comme préalable à un accord politique. venir [...]. Je veux lui présenter les gens qui ont de trolls russes, près de Saint-Pétersbourg. joué un rôle décisif dans le sauvetage de la RETOUR EN FORCE DE LA RUSSIE Syrie.» Assad a ravalé l’humiliation et les a Il n’empêche: la guerre n’est pas très populaire, DANS LES ÉQUILIBRES DU MOYEN- remerciés les uns après les autres. Il s’est dit elle coûte cher (quelque 3 millions d’euros par ORIENT content de les savoir sur le sol syrien. jour) et sa prolongation favorise l’implantation et l’influence grandissantes de l’Iran dans la De ce côté, la route semble être dégagée. Les UNE GUERRE DEVENUE EMBARRAS­ région, ce qui n'est pas dans l’intérêt de la obstacles qui subsistent pour la Russie tiennent SANTE Russie. plutôt aux divergences d’intérêt des trois prin­ cipaux «alliés»: outre Moscou, Téhéran et Le chef du Kremlin avait un autre message à L'ONU COURT-CIRCUITÉE? Ankara. Recep Tayyip Erdogan est obsédé par faire passer. Selon lui, l’engagement militaire la question kurde. Les Iraniens soutiennent touche à sa fin. «Le plus important maintenant Poutine envisageait la convocation d’un Bachar el-Assad plus fermement que les «Congrès des peuples de Syrie» chargé Russes, car ils craignent qu’une diminution de

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son pouvoir n’entraine à terme un affaiblisse­ Russes laissent entendre que celle-ci devrait ment de leur influence sur la Syrie. prévoir une limitation des pouvoirs présiden­ Après le sommet de Sotchi avec Erdogan et tiels. Rohani, il a informé Donald Trump -en quelque Vladimir Poutine a en revanche convaincu Assad sorte son alter ego comme chef d’une grande qu’il n’avait d’autre choix que de faire des con­ Ne serait-ce que pour des raisons économiques puissance-, le roi Salmane d’Arabie Saoudite et cessions. Il a encore besoin de lui à Damas, mais et financières, la Syrie de l’après-guerre ne peut le maréchal égyptien Sissi, protecteurs des sun­ son soutien n’est pas inconditionnel. Si la Russie apparaître comme un protectorat russe. Ce n’est nites, ainsi que Benjamin Netanyahou, qui ne a bloqué une résolution du Conseil de sécurité de pas l’objectif de Vladimir Poutine. Pour la recon­ veut pas que les milices chiites stationnent sur le l’ONU condamnant l’utilisation d’armes chim­ struction, les capitaux occidentaux, et notam­ Golan, à la frontière avec Israël. Si aucun iques, ça ne veut pas dire qu’elle approuve les ment européens, seront indispensables. En dirigeant européen ne figurait parmi ses inter­ méthodes de son protégé. Elle a empêché une attendant, le chef du Kremlin veut faire la locuteurs, la liste témoigne du retour en force de condamnation pour des raisons d’opportunité, démonstration que la Russie est redevenue une la Russie dans les équilibres du Moyen-Orient. • pour que son protégé garde un certain semblant grande puissance avec laquelle il faut compter, de légitimité internationale. Il en aura besoin capable d’intervenir militairement quand ses pendant la période transitoire qui mènera à la intérêts sont en jeu, et suffisamment influente mise en place d’une nouvelle Constitution. Les pour trouver des issues à des conflits.

Aff les FDS, a précisé ce responsable des relations extérieures. Syrie: futur "ajustement" Il a qualifié l'annonce turque d'"incorrecte" et de "pas précise". "Nous sommes les partenaires d'une coalition internationale officielle qui lutte dans la coopération contre le terrorisme, ce partenariat se poursuit", a renchéri un responsable des avec Washington médias des FDS, Mustefa Bali. "Nous avons encore beaucoup à faire avec nos partenaires de la coalition", a- QAMICHLI (SYRIE), 27 NOVEMBRE 2017 (AFP) t-il souligné. Interrogé à ce sujet, un porte-parole du Pentagone, le colonel Rob Manning, a WASHINGTON va procéder à un "ajustement” dans la livraison d'armes à une confirmé que les Etats-Unis étaient en train de "réévaluer les ajustements à alliance antijihadiste dominée par les Kurdes en Syrie, selon un responsable venir dans le soutien apporté à nos partenaires kurdes". kurde dont les propos ont été confirmés par le Pentagone. Il a refusé de dire si les livraisons d'armes avaient été interrompues. La Turquie a réaffirmé avoir reçu des assurances de la Maison Blanche pour "Nous avons été très clairs avec la Turquie sur le fait que nous donnerions aux l'arrêt de la livraison d'armes aux Unités de protection du peuple kurde (YPG), Forces démocratiques syriennes, qui comptent des éléments kurdes, des la principale milice kurde en Syrie. armes en nombre limité, spécifiquement calibrées pour la mission et distri­ La Maison Blanche avait semblé moins explicite en évoquant de prochains buées petit à petit afin d'atteindre notre objectif, qui est de vaincre l'EI", a-t-il "ajustements". ajouté. Classées comme "terroristes" par Ankara, les YPG sont le noyau dur des La Turquie considère les YPG comme une émanation en Syrie du Parti des tra­ Forces démocratiques syriennes (FDS), alliance soutenue par Washington et vailleurs du Kurdistan turc (PKK), classé "organisation terroriste" par Ankara et fer de lance de la lutte contre le groupe ultraradical Etat islamique (El). ses alliés occidentaux. "Il n'y a pas de changements dans les rapports entre les Forces démocratiques Ankara avait assuré avoir obtenu vendredi des assurances du président amé­ syriennes et l'administration américaine", a assuré à l'AFP Abdel Karim Amr, un ricain Donald Trump selon lesquelles Washington cesserait de fournir des responsable de l'administration semi-autonome kurde en Syrie. armes aux YPG. "Evidemment, il y aura un ajustement dans la livraison d'armes aux FDS après Estimés à 15% de la population syrienne et longtemps opprimés par le régime l'élimination de l'EI, mais il n'y a pas de changement dans la politique des de Damas, les Kurdes ont profité de la guerre ravageant la Syrie depuis 2011 Etats-Unis concernant la coordination avec" l'alliance, a-t-il souligné. pour établir une autonomie de facto dans les territoires qu'ils contrôlent, dans "Le soutien va se poursuivre jusqu'à ce que l'on élimine ce qui reste de (l'EI) le nord et nord-est du pays. • dans toute la région où il y a coordination entre l'administration américaine" et

de protection du peuple (YPG), et a plusieurs fois menacé d'y lancer une opé­ /rr> Syrie: Ankara veut installer ration militaire. Peu après la déclaration du conseil de sécurité nationale mardi soir, un soldat une mission d'observation turc posté à Kilis, près de la frontière syrienne, a été blessé par des tirs prove­ nant d’Afrine et attribués aux YPG, a rapporté l'agence privée Dogan, selon à Afrine laquelle l'armée turque a immédiatement répliqué par des tirs d'artillerie. ANKARA, 28 NOVEMBRE 2017 (AFP) Classées comme "terroristes" par Ankara, les YPG sont le noyau dur des Forces démocratiques syriennes (FDS), alliance soutenue par Washington LA TURQUIE ENVISAGE d'étendre sa mission d'observation dans le nord de pour lutter contre l'EI. la Syrie à Afrine, contrôlée par des milices kurdes soutenues par les Etats-Unis Accusant les YPG de "nettoyage ethnique" en Syrie, le communiqué de la pré­ contre le groupe jihadiste Etat islamique (El) mais considérées comme terro­ sidence ajoute que "la Turquie continuera de prendre toutes les mesures ristes par Ankara, ont déclaré mardi les autorités turques. nécessaires pour garantir sa sécurité, surtout dans la région frontalière". "La mission d'observation (à Idleb, nord-ouest) s'est déroulée avec succès, et La Turquie a déjà mené entre août 2016 et mars 2017 une offensive terrestre pour réellement garantir un environnement paisible et sûr, cette mission doit dans le nord de la Syrie pour repousser l'EI vers le sud et empêcher les YPG être étendue à la région d’Afrine et dans l'ouest d'Alep", a déclaré mardi la pré­ de relier les territoires qu'ils contrôlent dans le nord de la Syrie. sidence turque dans un communiqué cité par l'agence étatique Anadolu, à l'is­ Ankara a affirmé la semaine dernière avoir reçu des assurances de sue d'une réunion du conseil de sécurité nationale, dirigé par le président Washington pour l'arrêt de la livraison d'armes aux YPG, mais la Maison Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Blanche avait semblé moins explicite en évoquant de prochains "ajustements". La Turquie a déployé mi-octobre des troupes ayant une mission d'observation L'ONU a commencé mardi ses discussions à Genève avec l'opposition dans la province d’Idleb, voisine d’Afrine, dans le cadre de la mise en place des syrienne pour tenter de régler le conflit qui dure depuis 2011 en Syrie, mais les "zones de désescalade" décidées lors du processus d’Astana, parrainé par la déclarations de l'opposition réclamant une nouvelle fois le départ du président Russie et l'Iran, alliés du régime de Damas, et la Turquie, soutien des rebelles Bachar al-Assad ont braqué le gouvernement syrien, déjà peu enclin à faire syriens. des concessions alors qu'il a pratiquement gagné la guerre contre les rebelles Mais M. Erdogan a affirmé mi-novembre vouloir "nettoyer Afrine" de la pré­ et les jihadistes. • sence du Parti de l'Union démocratique (PYD) et de son aile armée, les Unités

73 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Ozeti LE FIGARO 27 novembre 2017 Liban, Syrie, Irak : comment l’Iran étend son emprise L’Iran est devenu une puissance régionale dont l’influence s’étend de la frontière afghane jusqu’à la Méditerranée. Sa rivalité avec l’Arabie Saoudite fracture les pays du Levant.

Mer 7 250 km Caspienne 1 GEORGES MALBRUNOT * (SMalbrunoî

AU LEVANT, il y aura un avant et un après Abu Kamal. Cette ville - la dernière de Sy­ jA AFGHANISTAN rie aux mains de Daech le long de l’Euphrate à la frontière avec l’Irak - a été reprise, mi-novembre, par l’armée de Ba­ char el-Assad et ses alliés iraniens des gar­ C73 CTI ' diens de la révolution, épaulés par des mi­ SU® PAKISTAN liciens chiites libanais et irakiens. Ainsi s’ouvrait pour la première fois depuis BAHREÏN T! ŒF , . .%, ,A " , l’avènement de la République islamique QATAR d’Iran en 1979 un corridor territorial re­ SEC'3 \ RÉPARTITION RELIGIEUSE, en/.' liant Téhéran, Bagdad, Damas et Beyrouth. 33 CED Chiites Sunnites Dans une course effrénée, les alliés kur­ É.A.U. OMAN t . ; des des États-Unis dans le nord de la Syrie Sunnisme et chiisme au Moyen-Orient 3 Autres , ont tenté, en vain, de bloquer l’avancée de ' religions J 2 LEADERS RELIGIEUX leurs adversaires. Tandis que les djihadis­ Riyad, leader des populations sunnites, 70 tes sunnites s’enfuyaient dans le désert H(chafiites, hanafites et wahhabites) y Téhéran, leader des populations chiites \ 30 irakien d’al-Anbar, la création de ce POPULATION I (duodécimains, ismaéliens et zaydites) YÉMEN , DU PAYS, \ J- 10 « croissant chiite », redouté dès 2004 par ou apparentées au chiisme (alévis, alaouites.,,) * Jjk en millions \ /— 5 le roi Abdallah de Jordanie, voyait le jour Autres groupes religieux ou régions désertiques^ d'habitants —- 1 dans les sables du désert. Au grand dam de * Lieux de conflits Supposé axe chiite Golfe d'Adetf Sources : M Izady, Gulf/2000 Project - Columbia University. l’Arabie Saoudite, leader du monde sunni­ ' Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life, Graphie News te, qui affronte par procuration son enne­ mi chiite iranien en Irak et en Syrie, mais de ses frontières est doté d’une chaîne de prendre position en faveur du Hezbollah en aussi au Liban au Yémen et à Bahreïn. Une commandement sous les ordres de Qassem cas d’attaque américano-israélienne ». guerre politique pour le contrôle du Soleimani, lui-même relié au numéro un Mais Tsahal n’a pas lancé ses avions pour Moyen-Orient, qui instrumentalise les harden, l’ayatollah Ali Khamenei; défendre l’Arabie, fût-ce contre l’ennemi tensions religieuses entre les frères enne­ commun, le Hezbollah. mis de l’islam. Recréer l’Empire perse En Irak et en Syrie, où les communautés Minoritaires parmi les musulmans du Une telle homogénéité fait cruellement sunnites sont marginalisées, Daech a été, monde entier, mais majoritaires en Irak, défaut au camp sunnite, divisé et sans lea­ dans une large mesure, la réponse à leur les chiites ont repris la main depuis que les dership, depuis les printemps arabes. malaise. Mais une mauvaise réponse, relè­ États-Unis de George Bush leur ont offert I.’É.gypte peine àreprendre sa position de ve la revue américaine Foreign Policy pour l’ancienne Mésopotamie en 2003 et que phare. L’Irak a basculé côté harden. Cer­ qui «favorisés par l’Arabie, les efforts des son successeur Barack Obama a refusé de tes, l’Arabie Saoudite se réveille sous l’im­ sunnites d’aider les rebelles se soldèrent par s’engager militairement aux côtés des re­ pulsion du jeune prince héritier, Moham­ un chaos et la poussée des groupes saiafis- belles sunnites syriens qui cherchent à med Ben Saiman (MBS), mais son offensive tes ». Celle-ci ne fait qu’aggraver un senti­ renverser Bachar el-Assad, depuis 2011. anti-iranienne est risquée. Quant au ment de revanche, profondément ancré. Dans cette guerre qui se joue dans des concubinage des monarchies sunnites du En pleine guerre civile irakienne en 2006- États faibles, le modèle iranien est incon­ Golfe avec Israël, il ne peut encore changer 2007, l’Iran est allé jusqu’à assassiner - via testablement plus efficace. Il repose sur des la donne. ses relais irakiens à Bagdad - les pilotes de milices locales, parfois plus puissantes que C’est ce que MBS semblait pourtant l’armée de Saddam Hussein qui avaient les armées nationales. « Le génie iranien est croire, quand il a déclenché une crise le bombardé, vingt ans plus tôt, Téhéran. De d’avoir su tisser un réseau de relais locaux 4 novembre, en forçant à la démission le la même manière, les Saoudiens n’oubliè­ qui permet à Téhéran de contrôler sans avoir premier ministre libanais, son allié sunnite rent jamais Ahmed Ibrahim al-Mugassil, le besoin d’être massivement déployé sur pla­ Saad Hariri, trop complaisant, selon Riyad, cerveau de l’attentat anti-américain d’al- ce », commente un expert militaire. envers le Hezbollah. «MBS a cru qu’une Khobar en 1996 que leurs alliés libanais Il en va du Hezbollah libanais créé pour attaque américaine et israélienne contre le sunnites des Forces de sécurité intérieure résister à l’invasion israélienne du Liban en Hezbollah au Liban était imminente», dé­ livrèrent à Riyad après F avoir intercepté 1982, et des milices chiites irakiennes, les crypte un diplomate en contact avec lui. en 2015 lorsque le chef de la branche saou­ membres de la Mobilisation populaire éta­ Jared Kushner, le gendre de Donald dienne du Hezbollah sortit de l’aéroport de blie en 2014 pour contrer Daech: 80000 à Trump qui entend rogner les ailes de l’Iran Beyrouth à son retour d’Iran. 100000 Irakiens, pas tous pro-iraniens, hors de ses frontières, venait dé se rendre à Nul ne peut contester que l’interven­ mais dont les trois principales formations - Riyad, où MBS convoqua le chef de l’Auto­ tionnisme iranien se creuse au Bahreïn et Organisation Badr, Kataëb Hezbollah et rité palestinienne, Mahmoud Abbas, pour au Yémen, où des insurgés vont se former Assaïb al-Haq - sont directement bées à la lui transmettre le message que « les réfu­ au Liban auprès du Hezbollah. Mais nul ne Force al-Qods. Ce bras armé de l’Iran hors giés palestiniens du Liban ne devraient pas peut nier, non plus, que les bombarde-

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ments saoudiens contre les rebelles yémé- nites houthistes soutenus par Téhéran, ajoutés à l’incapacité de la monarchie sun­ nite bahreïnienne à répondre aux deman­ des de la majorité chiite, ne font que durcir cette polarisation qui menace de plonger la région dans l’abîme. «Sur chacun de ces théâtres, l’Iran et ses alliés ont gagné la par­ tie», constate Foreign Policy. Que cherche l’Iran en poussant si loin ses pions ? Défen­ dre ses intérêts, mais aussi « retrouver l’in- fluence régionale que l’Iran du chah avait avant 1979 », reconnaissent des diploma­ tes iraniens devant leurs interlocuteurs français. Revigoré par l’accord nucléaire de 2015, Téhéran dorme parfois l’impres­ sion dé vouloir recréer l’Empire perse. « L’axe de la résistance » Dans les villes saintes chiites irakiennes de Karbaia et Nadjaf, la présence iranienne est souvent .pesantfe

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Hassan Nasrallah, dans un dis­ tères iraniens de la Défense et de la d’infiltrer plusieurs serveurs du cours télévisé prononcé à la mi- Sécurité intérieure. Le groupe gouvernement américain, pour ré­ novembre. « Oilrig » est actif depuis un an et colter des informations secrètes Les cyberpirates de l’opération demi. Il s’est illustré dans de nom­ sur les positions de négociations de « Oilrig » seraient des civils, ce qui breuses attaques de serveurs dans l’Administration Obama lors des permettrait au gouvernement ira­ la région, notamment contre négociations sur le nucléaire ira­ nien de réfuter toute implication. l’Arabie Saoudite et lors d’une opé­ nien, puis sur d’éventuelles sanc­ Cependant les services de rensei­ ration massive contre 120 sites is­ tions envisagées par Washington. ■ gnement occidentaux ont établi raéliens, révélée en avril 2017. Les qu’ils sont financés par les minis­ hackers iraniens ont aussi tenté

LE FIGARO 27 novembre 2017 «Le régime syrien est aujourd’hui redevable au Hezbollah libanais »

AURÉLIE DAHER' est enseignante à Pa­ Syrie a renforcé ses compétences mili­ ris-Dauphine (Irisso) et à Sciences Po taires et modifié la teneur de sa relation J II est hors Paris. avec le régime de Bachar el-Assad, qui lui doit sa survie et lui est aujourd’hui ~ de question LE FIGARO. - En quoi le Hezbollah redevable. Cette dette limite les capaci­ d’accepter que diffère-t-il des autres acteurs tés de Damas à contrarier le Hezbollah paraétatiques? et ses intérêts propres. le Hezbollah adopte Aurélie DAHER. - Le Hezbollah est des positions paraétatique dans'sa dimension militai­ Quelle est sa marge de manœuvre ■ qui nuisent à nos re, dans le sens où celle-ci n’est pas pla­ vis-à-vis de l’Iran? cée sous l’autorité du ministère de la Le Hezbollah n’est pas et n’a jamais été frères arabes ou Défense libanais, le pays auquel l’orga­ un simple pion iranien. Il a été créé par visent la sécurité nisation appartient. Pour autant, d’un des Libanais, avec des objectifs libanais, et la stabilité point de vue politique, le Hezbollah est dans un contexte libanais. Contraire­ un acteur inséré dans le jeu institution­ ment à l’idée très répandue d’un Hez­ de ces pays 9 nel au même titre que.les autres partis. Il bollah qui résulterait d’une volonté des SAAD HARIRI, compte deux ministres au gouverne­ Iraniens d’«exporter» leur révolution PREMIER MINISTRE LIBANAIS ment, une dizaine de députés au Parle­ islamique, ce type de projet était déjà ment, et ses institutions d’action sociale officiellement abandonné par Téhéran respectable, pour avoir notamment défait sont enregistrées auprès du ministère Israël à deux reprises ». de l’Intérieur. W Le Hezbollah Quel est son rôle réel au Yémen ? Quelles sont ses forces et ses faiblesses ? n'est pas et n'a On ne dispose pas d’informations fia­ Sur le plan militaire, il dispose d’unités bles à ce sujet. Le Hezbollah a dès le dé­ qui ne sont pas nécessairement très bien jamais été un simple but reconnu son engagement en Syrie et armées, surtout comparées à l’armée is­ pion iranien 99 dernièrement sa présence en Irak. Mais raélienne, mais qui sont très bien for­ AURÉLIE DAHER il nie agir au Yémen et au Bahrein. Des mées et entraînées. Sur le plan politi­ rapports font état de « conseillers » du que, le Hezbollah est surtout fort de ses Hezbollah au Yémen, mais rien n’est alliances et de sa base populaire. Plus de dès 1980-1981, donc avant la création sûr. la moitié de la population libanaise le du Hezbollah, en 1982. Les pasdarans soutient. Il a noué de solides alliances ont été envoyés au Liban à la condition Au Liban, que révèle la récente crise avec Amal, l’autre parti chiite libanais, formelle qu’ils se contenteraient de for­ autour de la démission de Saad Hariri ? et des partis chrétiens comme le Cou­ mer les Libanais sans combattre eux- La coalition à laquelle appartient le rant patriotique libre de Michel Aoun et mêmes. Hezbollah (le 8 Mars) reste majoritaire les Marada de Soleiman Frangié. Ses fai­ au Parlement. Sa politique actuelle est blesses sont plus difficiles à déterminer La Ligue arabe a qualifié le mouvement de soutenir le « compromis » conclu fin pour l’instant. Le vrai point de débat de «terroriste», terme jusqu’à présent 2016 avec les sunnites de Saad Hariri et concerne son intervention en Syrie, utilisé surtout par Israël et les États- les chrétiens menés par Michel Aoun. La mais la peur d’un débordement de l’État Unis. Comment en est-on arrivé là? crise a surtout montré que le Hezbollah islamique au Liban, après l’attaque Depuis la montée récente des tensions et ses alliés maîtrisaient parfaitement la massive de l’EI et de Jâbhat al-Nosra entre l’Arabie et l’Iran, la Ligue arabe situation. À l’annonce de la démission contre la localité d’Ersal en août 2014 est avant tout la voix des Saoudiens. Elle surprise de Hariri, ils ont immédiate­ dans la Bekaa libanaise a beaucoup atté­ ne reflète pas le point de vue des pays ment choisi le discours de la modération nué les critiques populaires, notam­ arabes pris un à un. Au printemps 2016, et de la patience, ont appelé à la rete­ ment chez les chrétiens, contre la pré­ la Ligue avait déjà qualifié le Hezbollah nue. En pratique, il n’y a eu aucune ten­ sence du Hezbollah en Syrie. de terroriste à la demande de l’Arabie. sion sur le terrain, pas une rue n’a été Quelques joins plus tard, plusieurs pays bloquée, pas un pneu n’a été brûlé, pas Cette intervention syrienne a-t-elle arabes, dont l’Irak, l’Algérie et la Tuni­ un mort n’a été déploré. ■ A. J. (À BEYROUTH) contribué à transformer le Hezbollah? sie, avaient fait savoir que «non seule­ Transformé, non. Mais le Hezbollah en ment le Hezbollah n’est pas une organi­ ‘Le Hezbollah. Mobilisation et pouvoir, sation terroriste, mais un parti PUF.

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28 November 2017

He said that the Iraqi government Barzani: Current would have overrun Kirkuk even if no inde­ pendence referendum Crisis Temporary was held by Kurdistan. “We said, even before the vote, Basnews English 28/11/2017 that Baghdad intends http://www.basnews.com to destroy Kurdistan’s legitimate achieve­ ERBIL — Kurdish leader Masoud Barzani has reiterated that the cur­ ments,” Barzani pointed out, noting that, however, the betrayal of a small rent difficulties faced by the Kurdistan Region will not last very long, and faction within a Kurdish political party helped the central government with that the people of Kurdistan will be victorious. its plan. Concerning the fall of Kirkuk into the hands of Iranian-backed Shi’ite “The Kurdish identity of Kirkuk and other disputed territories may not be militias of Hashd al-Shaabi, Barzani reiterated that it cannot be interpreted altered through treason, weapons and military attacks.” into a failure for Kurds, but rather a treason against the people of Kurdistan. However, Barzani once again said that the Kurdish political leadership Barzani made the comments in a meeting with Kurdistan Democratic favours peaceful talks between Erbil and Baghdad to resolve their diffe­ Party (KDP) officials from Sulaymaniyah and Halabja province. rences. •

VA ! November 27, 2017 Despite Claims of US Concessions on Kurds, Turkey Rebukes Washington

Dorian Jones / November 27, 2017 "Overall, there is a problem specifically bet­ https://www.voanews.com ween the U.S. and Turkey,” Ozel said. “Trust is a word that has been struck out of the shared ISTANBUL — Senior Turkish ministers vocabulary of the two countries, neither side have strongly criticized the United States and trusts the other. And that is not really a good its policies toward Turkey and the region. The way of keeping an alliance or keeping a part­ criticisms come after Turkish officials said the nership.” Trump administration met a key Turkish While several ministers have called for the demand to end the arming of a Syrian Kurdish U.S. leadership to honor what they interpret as militia. Washington’s commitment to stop arming the U.S. officials have not confirmed the Syrian Kurdish militia, observers say Ankara Turkish government's claim and have only said remains uneasy about what Washington has that President Donald Trump informed Turkish actually said, compared to Ankara’s takeaway counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan of “pending from conversations between U.S. and Turkish adjustments” to the military support provided to leaders, which was that the U.S. would end Turkish Minister of Interior, Suleyman U.S. partners on the ground in Syria. support for the Kurdish militia immediately. Soylu, speaks to journalists in Ankara, Turkey, Dec. 19, 2016. Turkey accuses the YPG militia of suppor­ A White House statement last week said ting Kurdish insurgents inside the country and that consistent with previous U.S. policy, officials were enraged by what they saw as President Trump had “informed President Turkey through the Zarrab case, but the trade U.S. support of a group Turkey considers a ter­ Erdogan of pending adjustments to the military between Iran and Turkey is in line with our laws rorist organization. Despite Turkish reports of a support provided to our partners on the ground and international laws,” Bozdag said. concession by Trump, Turkish ministers have in Syria,” a move the statement said was possi­ Zarrab, along with a senior state Turkish continued to criticize Washington. On Sunday, ble “now that the battle of Raqqa is complete” banking official and former ministers, are accu­ Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu issued a thinly and the effort has progressed into a “stabiliza­ sed of circumventing U.S. sanctions to avoid veiled threat. tion phase to ensure that ISIS cannot return.” paying billions of dollars. Jury selection for the “I am talking to the Western powers who Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim step­ trial started Monday with proceedings schedu­ are trying to play games over Turkey. You are ped up pressure on Washington, calling for it to led to begin Dec. 4. going to suffer a historic slap and you will be take back the arms it has already given to the The trial comes as Ankara and Tehran are sorry; you cannot trick Turkey,” Soylu said. Kurdish group, something he said the U.S. had increasingly cooperating in Syria and the wider The angry words followed remarks by earlier promised. region. On Sunday, the two countries signed a Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, who spoke Even if differences over Syria are resolved, deal to enhance trade with Qatar and help ease at a rally of party supporters Sunday and said other issues of tension remain. Saudi Arabia’s blockade of the Gulf state. the U.S. will, in his words, be educated on how Turkish government spokesman Bekir Deepening Turkish-Iranian cooperation will to talk to Turkey. Anti-U.S. rhetoric plays well Bozdag on Monday alleged that an Iranian cause unease in Washington, analysts say, with ruling AK Party voters ahead of elections in sanction-busting trial in New York against especially as Turkey is seen as key to curbing two years; but, international relations expert Turkish-Iranian businessman Reza Zarrab was Iran’s growing regional influence. ♦ Soli Ozel of Istanbul's Kadir Has University a plot against Turkey. sees the rhetoric as a sign of the deep distrust “They want to impose certain sanctions on that exists between the NATO allies.

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A l’ONU, Bernard-Henri MORS COMPeilTI PESHMERGA Lévy défend la cause kurde «■UH ■tSNABO-MÏNUtLlŸY

Par Etienne Jacob le 29/11/2017 wwwJefigaro.fr

Le philosophe français s’est exprimé mardi au siège des Nations unies à New York, avant la projection de son documentaire, Peshmerga, dans lequel il suit au plus

près les combattants kurdes L'affiche du film Peshmerga, réalisé par face à Daech. les «blocus» aériens, «l'attaque» et le BHL. Bernard-Henri Lévy «dépeçage» du territoire kurde, ou encore «l'hu­ n symbole fort. Bernard-Henri Lévy a pré­ miliation sans précédent» des dirigeants de la jouter: «Nous leur avons honteusement tourné senté mardi son documentaire Peshmerga région. «BHL» a également pointé du doigt le dos (...) La flamme du Kurdistan, que vous Udevant l'Assemblée générale des Nations unies,«l'abandon par la communauté des nations», allez voir brûler dans ces images, ne s'éteindra à New York. Dans ce film, réalisé en 2016, le estimant que «notre reconnaissance» avait pas et, un jour, renversera les montagnes du philosophe français suit au plus près les com­ «manqué au peuple kurde». «Oui, la juste pro­ Kurdistan jusqu'au Tigre.» battants kurdes en Irak, en guerre contre le tection contre l'agression lui a été refusée», a-t- groupe Etat islamique. Cette projection, organi­ il clamé. Avec Peshmerga, Bernard-Henri Lévy n'en est sée par les missions permanentes de la France et pas à son premier documentaire. Il a déjà tourné du Royaume-Uni, a été vue par plus de 700 per­ Le philosophe a ensuite abordé le référendum Bosna! (1994) dans Sarajevo assiégée et Le sonnes mardi, ambassadeurs, journalistes et kurde. Fin septembre dernier, le «oui» à Serment de Tobrouk (2011) sur la Libye. public compris. l'indépendance avait recueilli 92,73% de suf­ frages, provoquant l'isolement de la région. Le Brocardé pour ce dernier film, dans lequel il se mettait en scène à de nombreuses reprises, il se Peu avant le début du film, «BHL» s'est Conseil de sécurité de l'ONU s'était opposé à ce fait cette fois plus discret, montrant d'âpres exprimé pour évoquer son œuvre et dénoncer la référendum. «Ils avaient troqué les armes de la batailles et des images tournées avec des situation au Kurdistan: «Ce film brosse le por­ guerre pour celles de la démocratie. Mais nous drones, au-delà des lignes ennemies. Ce trait d'un peuple qui a défendu, contre Daech, sa n'avons pas pris la mesure de leur geste mag­ plaidoyer pour le Kurdistan avait été globale­ liberté et la nôtre - mais qui a eu l'audace de se nifique. Nous avons rejeté ce partage de valeurs ment salué par la critique et avait été présenté rêver souverain et qui a payé ce rêve au prix le et d'espérance qu'ils étaient en train de nous lors d'une séance spéciale au Festival de Cannes plus fort». Le philosophe a notamment fustigé offrir», a regretté Bernard-Henri Lévy. Et d'a- 2016. ■

«La flamme du Kurdistan ne s'éteindra pas»

Par Bernard-Henri Lévy, philosophe, cinéaste Bernard-Henri Lévy entouré de général Serwan Sabir Barzani et 29 novembre 2017 du lieutenant-général Mustafa Ali Jaafar à Cannes lors de la pro­ http : //www Jiberation .fr jection du film « Peshmerga ». © AFP Bernard-Henri Levy a monde et qui, il y a un an, ouvrirent lancé, mardi 28 novembre, LE DISCOURS DE BERNARD- les portes de Mossoul aux forces une «adresse aux Nations HENRI LÉVY À L'ONU : irakiennes avec lesquelles ils com­ unies sur l’abandon du battaient, alors, au coude à coude. Kurdistan», en préambule C’est avec une joie remplie d’amer­ à la projection de son film tume que je viens ce soir montrer le Ce grand petit peuple a défendu, courage, la vaillance et l’abnéga­ contre Daech, sa liberté et la nôtre - Peshmerga à l’ONU, à tion de ces combattantes et combat­ mais, à l’heure de la victoire, au New York. tants qui faisaient l’admiration du terme d’un siècle de luttes et de

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souffrances, a eu l’audace de se Oui, notre reconnaissance a man­ jusqu’à l’ancienne ligne de front, pris la mesure de leur geste mag­ rêver souverain et qui a payé ce qué au peuple kurde. Oui, la juste sur les hauteurs de Bachiqa domi­ nifique. Nous avons rejeté ce rêve au prix le plus fort : blocus ; protection contre l’agression lui a nant la plaine de Ninive, où j’ai partage de valeurs et d’espérance attaque et dépeçage de son territoire été refusée. Et, quand les derniers retrouvé le bataillon de peshmergas qu’ils étaient en train de nous offrir. ; humiliation sans précédent de ses pays amis, comme la France, ten­ dont j’avais, à l’époque, accompag­ Et, comme souvent dans notre his­ dirigeants dont les représentants, taient de rappeler les droits his­ né et documenté les offensives. toire commune, nous leur avons soit dit en passant, ont été toriques du Kurdistan, les apôtres honteusement tourné le dos. empêchés de se trouver, ce soir, de la loi du plus fort et de l’éternelle Les hommes, et les femmes, finis­ comme ils l’auraient souhaité, raison d’Etat, les hommes forts de saient de voter, là même où ils L’avenir, mesdames messieurs les parmi nous ; image stupéfiante des la région, ceux pour qui les avaient combattu et vaincu - et, à la ambassadeurs, chers amis, dure armes lourdes que leur allié de tou­ hommes sont faits pour obéir, les clôture du scrutin, fusils posés au longtemps. On n’arrête pas la jours, les Etats-Unis d’Amérique, peuples pour se soumettre et les pied, ils levèrent tous la main vers longue marche de l’histoire et la avait fournies à l’Irak dans le cadre frontières pour être tracées dans le le ciel, leur index taché d’encre volonté d’émancipation qui, plus de la lutte commune contre Daech vif de la chair de l’humanité, ont eu, pour preuve qu’ils avaient fait leur forte que tout, ne meurt jamais. et que l’Irak retournait soudain con­ hélas, le dernier mot. devoir de citoyen. tre eux ; et, face à ce spectacle La flamme du Kurdistan, que vous désolant, l’abandon, pardon de le Je suis revenu au Kurdistan, après Ils avaient troqué, mesdames et allez voir brûler dans ces images, dire, ici même, par la communauté le tournage de ce film, ce fameux messieurs les ambassadeurs, les ne s’éteindra pas et, un jour, ren­ des nations. 25 septembre où s’est tenu le armes de la guerre pour celles de la versera les montagnes du Kurdistan référendum. Je suis retourné démocratie. Mais nous n’avons pas jusqu’au Tigre. ♦

ALJAZEERA 28 November 2017 Barzani adviser: Kurdish secession is inevitable

by Farah Najjar 28 Nov 2017 locally and internationally - do you think that http://www.aljazeera.com it was too soon to hold a referendum on Kurdish secession?

mid rising regional tensions and international Mahmoud: Quite the contrary. In fact, I think we Aopposition, Iraqi Kurds voted in a controver­ were very much delayed in our decision to carry A referendum on Kurdish secession in north­ sial secession referendum in September, settingout a referendum on secession. Personally, I had ern Iraq resulted in a military confrontation off a chain of events that resulted in a military been advocating and fighting for this step since between Erbil and Baghdad [Courtesy of confrontation between Erbil and Baghdad. the United States toppled [late Iraqi] President Kifah Mahmoud] Saddam Hussein's regime back in 2003. Central government troops quickly regained con­ trol of Kirkuk, home to more than one million This step should have been taken directly after : Do you hope to see a successful people and the hub of a major oil-producing April 2003, instead of having gone to Baghdad to Kurdish secession in the near future? negotiate. We're still paying the price for opting area. Kurdish Peshmerga forces withdrew from Mahmoud: Independence is a notion that stems to negotiate. the city, which had been in their control since from the minds and hearts of the Kurdish people. 2014, and government troops also pushed the Al Jazeera: What are the main challenges fac­ Manifesting this on the ground has come in the Peshmerga out of Nineveh and Diyala ing the Kurdish region now that the oil-rich form of policies pushed by the parliament and provinces. city of Kirkuk has been retaken by the central the Kurdish judicial body. The notion is a reality Baghdad has since deployed troops along the government? that cannot be disputed among any Kurd in the semi-autonomous region's borders, in a move Mahmoud: Kirkuk will not be gone forever. For [Iraqi] region. Kurds describe as unconstitutional. more than four decades, Saddam Hussein's gov­ If there is one thing that the Kurdish people and Kifah Mahmoud, an Iraqi Kurdish political analyst ernment and his predecessors tried to change the government are not in sync with -1 would say and former Kurdish President Masoud Barzani’s the city's demographics, but it was reclaimed by it is merely the means of executing this, or per­ media adviser, spoke with Al Jazeera about the the Kurds in a matter of four hours. haps a matter of timing. I am optimistic because ongoing conflict and the ultimate fate of Iraq's Among our biggest challenges at the moment is the referendum proved the will of the Kurdish Kurds. Baghdad's lack of faith in the power of dialogue, people and their determination to make seces­ sion a reality. Al Jazeera: What are the difficulties you face and its inclination to deal with the Kurdish ques­ as Masoud Barzani’s adviser? tion through military force. This has been the Al Jazeera: In your opinion, what steps case with previous governments as well, but should the central government in Baghdad Kifah Mahmoud: On a personal level, I do not they fell, and we remained. adopt moving forward? refer to challenging times as difficulties. Rather, I would say my job entails a lot of pressure from Al Jazeera: What are the main existing inter­ Mahmoud: Today, the central government does the media for several reasons. nal divisions within the Kurdish parliament not have much of a choice, except to speed up that may hinder potential negotiations? the dialogue process and stop its punitive meas­ We're regularly asked to give interviews, and ures against the Kurdish people. It also needs to during these media appearances, we have to Mahmoud: The Kurdish parliament is not divid­ pull out its armed troops from along the Kurdish maintain a certain narrative and level of dia­ ed; it is actually practising democracy by the region's borders, as their presence has violated logue. President Barzani is a national leader, mere fact that it is facing real opposition. The fact various articles of the constitution. • and for years he managed to be an influential fig­ that the majority party has its opinions and ure both regionally and internationally. views, while other parties also have their oppos­ ing positions, reflects a healthy and diverse Al Jazeera: Given the recent backlash - both process adopted by the regional parliament.

79 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Ôzeti l’Humanité Jeudi 30 novembre 2017 Culture Savoirs

DICTIONNAIRE Un monument linguistique qui tombe à point nommé Préfacé par Alain Rey, le dictionnaire franco-kurde de Kendal Nezan constitue un événement éditorial, une étape pour la reconnaissance d’une langue et d’un peuple.

INSTITUT KURDE DE PARIS DICTIONNAIRE KURDE-FRANÇAIS Kendal Nezan Institut kurde et éditions Riveneuve, 1995 pages, 60 euros DICTIONNAIRE

st-ce un hasard? Cette œuvre monumentale de près KURDE-FRANÇAIS de 2 000 pages est publiée au moment où le peuple FERHENGA kurde sort de l’ombre épaisse où l’avait plongé l’histoire tourmentée du Proche-Orient. C’est le fruit d’un travail KURDÎ ■ FRANSIZÎ considérable qui a duré des décennies : Kendal Nezan, le directeur de l’Institut kurde de Paris, qui en a dirigé la réali­ sation ces trente dernières années, explique qu’il a repris les Sous la direction E de Kendal NEZAN travaux entrepris avant lui par un célèbre linguiste et journaliste, Préface enseignant de la langue kurde à Paris, l’émir Kamuran Bedir d'Alain REY 85 000 Khan. «Il avait collecté 23 000 mots. Nous avons poursuivi son entrées travail jusqu’à aboutir à 85 000 entrées. Cent quarante personnes y ont travaillé. Nous avons fait venir ici, pour une semaine deux fois par an, des linguistes kurdes, mais aussi des écrivains, des ^ven^ve journalistes, des bergers pour récolter et expliquer leurs mots. Nous ne nous contentons pas d’une simple traduction. Nous donnons nombreux du kurde à d’autres langues : le persan, dont il est le des exemples d’emploi de ces mots, des citations tirées de la lit­ plus proche, l’arabe, langue de la religion, le français pour les térature, des chants et des contes, des proverbes, du parler popu­ termes techniques et artistiques, ou encore le grec. Comme le laire. Ce dictionnaire permet de comprendre autant le kurde du souligne Alain Rey dans la préface, « il constitue une étape majeure XVe siècle que celui d’aujourd’hui. » dans la description d’une langue malmenée par l’histoire». Une Le dictionnaire inclut les trois dialectes - kurmanci, sora’ni, langue riche et subtile, parlée par 40 millions de Kurdes dispersés. zaza - parlés dans les différentes parties du Kurdistan, pays Une participation majeure au combat pour la reconnaissance de meurtri que l’histoire a divisé entre Turquie, Irak, Iran et Syrie, leurs droits culturels et nationaux. • ainsi que certains parlers provinciaux. Il fait justice aux emprunts FRANÇOISE GERMAIN-ROBIN

Erbil, capitale du Kurdistan irakien. Satin Hamed/AFP

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N° 1411 du 16 au 22 novembre 2017

handicaperont la relance économique iranienne. Pour l’instant, Téhéran n’a aucun intérêt à déclen­ IRAN-ARABIE SAOUDITE cher, en Syrie et au Liban, une guerre entre ses alliés locaux et Israël. L’Iran préférerait entraîner Israël sur un théâtre plus “commode” : la frontière sud entre Israël et la bande de Gaza. Une déléga­ tion du Hamas [qui dirige encore Gaza] est en ce moment en visite à Téhéran, et une seconde devrait s’y rendre d’ici quelques semaines.

Le Hamas et l’Iran avaient vu leurs relations se refroidir au début de la guerre de Syrie, l’Iran aidant le régime syrien à massacrer des centaines de milliers de sunnites, y compris les Frères musul­ Les deux mans, alliés du Hamas. Au plus fort de la guerre camps civile, l’Iran avait même intensifié son soutien à fourbissent l’adversaire du Hamas, le Jihad islamique pales­ leurs armes tinien (JIP). Mais, depuis, des relations ont été etcherchènt renouées, et l’Iran verrait d’un bon oeil le Hamas des alliés et le Jihad joindre leurs forces pour provoquer L’analyse des incidents sur la frontière d’Israël et détour­ de la presse ner l’attention israélienne du théâtre [syrien], étrangère La bande de Gaza. Nonobstant les ingérences iraniennes, la bande de Gaza a ses propres pro­ blèmes et, même si le Hamas est ravi de réta­ blir ses relations avec Téhéran, les intérêts du Mouvement de la résistance islamique se trouvent pour l’instant au Caire, où a été signé en octobre l’accord de réconciliation avec le Fatah [et l’Au­ torité palestinienne (AP)]. L’Égypte veut que Qui veut d’une le Hamas maintienne Tordre à Gaza et que ce territoire ne serve pas de sanctuaire logistique aux combattants de Daech dans le Sinaï. S’il y guerre au avait un doute, en particulier en Israël, que la réconciliation interpalestinienne ne soit qu’un énième fiasco, la destruction (le 30 octobre) par Moyen-Orient ? Israël d’un tunnel du JIP provoquant la mort de 14 combattants du JIP et du Hamas est venue le lever. En d’autres temps, une telle opération Dans le conflit qui oppose l’Iran et ses alliés chiites aurait immédiatement déclenché des repré­ à l’alliance israélo-saoudienne, les acteurs sailles palestiniennes, mais il n’y a finalement eu aucune escalade. Au contraire, le Hamas a prêts au combat savent qu’ils risquent gros, contraint le JIP à respecter l’armistice officieux tant sur le terrain qu’à l’intérieur de leurs pays. négocié avec Israël à Tété 2014.

—Ha’AretZ Tel-Aviv de Damas, recrutement par les milices chiites de dizaines de milliers de civils (essentiellement Les rescapés de Daech es rumeurs se multiplient quant à une guerre des réfugiés afghans) et octroi de crédits à hau­ s’implantent dans la Libye entre la coalition emmenée par l’Iran et une teur d’un milliard de dollars pour garantir la sol­ voisine, et le groupe terroriste improbable alliance anti-iranienne israélo- vabilité du clan Assad. Cependant, tout cela s’est va développer ses bastions Lsaoudienne, mais oh peine à en imaginer le scérévélé­ insuffisant pour assurer une victoire déci­ dans le Sinaï. nario. Chacune des parties aimerait en finir avec sive du régime syrien et n’a permis que de le main­ son adversaire respectif, mais aucune n’a pour tenir à flot jusqu’au débarquement des Russes en le moment intérêt à déclencher elle-même une septembre 2015. Maintenant que la survie d’As­ Le Hamas. Au pouvoir à Gaza depuis juin confrontation militaire. Passage en revue de ces sad est assurée, l’Iran est bien décidé à se servir 2007, le mouvement islamiste ne s’est certes acteurs qui voudraient une bonne guerre... menée sur la bête en obtenant des concessions minières pas converti au sionisme. Mais le blocus per­ par procuration. hautement stratégiques en Syrie ainsi que le droit manent imposé à la bande de Gaza par Israël d’y bâtir une base aérienne et un port militaire en et l’aggravation de la situation économique L’Iran. Depuis plus de six ans, les responsables eaux profondes sur la Méditerranée. ont amené le nouveau “Premier ministre” du des Gardiens de la révolution islamique (GRI) à Hamas, Yahya Sinwar, à la conclusion doulou­ Téhéran se sont lourdement investis en Syrie dans Face à l’Iran, Israël alterne entre pressions diplo­ reuse qu’il fallait trouver au plus vite un terrain le soutien au régime Assad. Ce soutien a pris plu­ matiques et menaces militaires pour empêcher d’entente avec l’Égypte voisine et TAP. C’était sieurs formes : envoi de “conseillers militaires” de Téhéran d’ériger un bastion permanent en Syrie. ça ou voir la situation dans la bande de Gaza la Sepah-e Qods [“Force de Jérusalem”, unités spé­ Cette politique israélienne semble jouer dans échapper à tout contrôle. Sinwar est un faucon ciales des GRI], déploiement de plusieurs milliers les luttes intestines au sein du régime iranien, ayant passé de longues années dans les prisons de combattants du Hezbollah [libanais], débar­ où certaines factions estiment que les milliards israéliennes, mais c’est aussi un natif de Gaza, et quements aériens d’armement neuf à l’aéroport investis dans la mise sur pied des infrastructures il n’en connaît que trop bien les jeux politiques.

81 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Ozeti cr- Et la délégation du Hamas envoyée à Téhéran Dix-huit mois se sont écoulés depuis l’assassinat [ À la une } Les Saoudiens ont n’a aucun poids à Gaza. de son chef militaire, Mustafa Badreddine, un assassinat dont le commanditaire serait Hassan ipai attribué cette attaque aux rebelles houthistes L’Arabie Saoudite. Les événements de ces Nasrallah, le propre chef du Hezbollah, et ce sous derniers jours à Riyad ont surpris les observa­ la pression de l’Iran. Badreddine n’a pas encore du Yémen, contre teurs les plus avertis : arrestations massives de été remplacé. Par ailleurs, Nasrallah a perdu le lesquels le royaume est responsables saoudiens de haut rang, y com­ statut dont il jouissait dans le monde arabe depuis en guerre, les accusant d’agir sur ordre de l’Iran. pris des princes héritiers, accusés de corrup­ la deuxième guerre du Liban [opposant Israël au Si l’engin n’a pas fait tion ; nomination à des postes clés de proches Hezbollah en 2006]. Désormais, il n’est plus vu de victimes sur le coup, du prince héritier Mohammed ben Salmane comme le courageux fer de lance de la résistance* il semble désormais (alias MBS) ; accident d’hélicoptère mysté­ anti-israélienne, mais comme l’assassin qu’il pourrait avoir rieux [causant la mort d’un prince] ; mise sous des résistants syriens au régime UN ACTE des conséquences pression des amis des Saoudiens, comme le Àssad. Nasrallah pourrait être DE GUERRE Premier ministre libanais, Saad Hariri (qui a tenté de déclencher une nou­ “Acte de guerre”, dramatiques. En effet, annoncé sa démission en direct de Riyad), et velle guerre contre Israël titre Arab News. l’Arabie sSaoudite le président de l’OLP (Organisation de la libé­ dans l’espoir de redo­ C’est en effet ainsi “se réserve le droit ration de la Palestine), Mahmoud Abbas ; etc. rer son image, mais il que Le ministre saoudie de répondre en temps voulu à l’action hostile Face à ces événements, les experts se perdent semble conscient que des Affaires étrangères du régime iranien", en conjectures quant aux motivations réelles ses hommes n’y sont Adel Al-Jubeir, a qualifi a déclaré Adel Al-Jubeir, de MBS, qui seraient plus ambitieuses que sa pas prêts et que, surtout, des représailles israé­ le tir de missile sur la capitale, Riyad, toujours selon volonté affichée de consolider son emprise sur liennes dévastatrices ciblant les infrastructures Arab News. le royaume saoudien. civiles du Liban déboucheraient sur un résultat samedi 4 novembre. Une théorie en vogue quant à la démission de contraire à celui escompté. Nasrallah serait tenu Hariri est qu’il aurait reçu l’ordre de s’enfuir à par les Libanais pour responsable de leurs nou­ Riyad, de façon à ce qu’il ne soit pas embarqué velles souffrances. Mais, si le Hezbollah est dans dans une opération imminente d’Israël sou­ une position si vulnérable, Israël pourrait-il être tenue par les Saoudiens contre le Liban, voire tenté d’en tirer profit ? d’une attaque israélienne contre le Hezbollah. Le fait que le Hezbollah ait été accusé de tentative Israël. Une chose est quasi certaine. Même si d’assassinat contre Hariri n’a fait que renfor­ Hariri et les Saoudiens pensent qu’une attaque cer cette théorie. Les Saoudiens seraient cer­ israélienne au Liban est imminente, cela ne sera tainement ravis de voir leurs ennemis iraniens pas possible avant la fin de novembre. Israël est sévèrement châtiés et, à cet égard, le Hezbollah pour l’instant le théâtre des manœuvres mili­ constituerait une cible toute désignée. Le fait est taires internationales les plus ambitieuses de toute aussi que Riyad n’est pas en mesure de déclen­ son histoire en ce qu’elles impliquent les forces cher lui-même une guerre contre Téhéran. Cela fait deux ans et demi que les Saoudiens sont En dépit de sa rhétorique voix plaident certes en faveur d’une large opéra­ englués dans une guerre au Yémen contre les anti-iranienne, Benyamin tion préventive en territoire libanais contre des houthistes soutenus par l’Iran. Le fiasco est tel rampes de missiles du Hezbollah, mais ces voix que ces derniers sont même parvenus à tirer un Nétanyahou préfère s’en tenir restent pour l’instant minoritaires. missile qui a frappé [au début de novembre] l’aé­ à des frappes chirurgicales. En dépit de sa rhétorique anti-iranienne, roport international de Riyad. On voit donc mal Benyamin Nétanyahou se garde bien d’étendre les Saoudiens se lancer dans une offensive dans aériennes de sept pays étrangers. Cet exercice les hostilités au principal homme de main de le Golfe contre des Iraniens bien plus puissants de musculation militaro-diplomatique est pla­ l’Iran, le Hezbollah, et il préfère s’en tenir à des et aguerris. Surtout à un moment où MBS est nifié depuis plus d’un an, et les forces aériennes frappes chirurgicales et ponctuelles. Les leçons accaparé par des enjeux de politique intérieure. israéliennes n’ont pour l’instant pas de temps à de [la guerre de 2006 qui avait duré plusieurs consacrer à autre chose. Israël ne pourra donc semaines] sont encore fraîches dans les mémoires Le Hezbollah. Après six ans de combats menés pas déclencher une guerre avant la fin du mois de des responsables militaires israéliens et, dans le en Syrie pour le compte de l’Iran, le Hezbollah novembre, et encore, à condition que les tensions fond, le vrai Nétanyahou est bien moins va-t-en- peut s’enorgueillir de victoires impressionnantes aient diminué sur ses autres fronts. guerre que l’image qu’il aime à donner de lui. Il et de l’acquisition d’une expérience militaire Pour l’instant^Israël doit à tout prix s’assu­ n’a jamais été un fanatique de ces opérations mili­ accrue grâce au recours à un armement de pointe rer que le calme règne autour de la bande de taires àgrande échelle qui nécessitent la mobilisa­ et à l’exercice du commandement sur d’impo­ Gaza. Son nouveau système de défense souter­ tion de l’armée tout entière, au risque de baisser sa santes brigades paramilitaires syriennes. Mais rain contre des attaques menées à partir des tun­ garde sur les autres fronts. Bien sûr, Nétanyahou l’organisation a perdu au moins 800 hommes au nels du Hamas et du JIP est encore en phase de serait plus que ravi de voir quelqu’un d’autre foncer combat et plusieurs milliers d’autres ont été gra­ déploiement et ne sera pleinement opérationnel tête baissée contre l’Iran (les Américains, pour vement blessés, soit le quart de ses troupes au que d’ici à la fin de 2018. Par ailleurs, Israël ne veut ne pas les nommer). Mais, bien que l’administra­ début de la guerre de Syrie. Des milliers de nou­ pas interférer dans l’effort diplomatique mené tion Trump ne rate jamais une occasion d’assé­ veaux conscrits ont certes été recrutés, entraînés par l’Égypte pour pacifier la bande de Gaza. Par ner sa rhétorique anti-iranienne, Washington ne et envoyés sur le front syrien, mais cela ne s’est contre, sur la frontière israélo-liba­ semble pas saliver à l’idée d’une guerre qui pas­ pas fait sans un certain ressentiment au sein de la naise, le cas du Hezbollah est serait de la rhétorique à la pratique. communauté chiite libanaise, où beaucoup esti­ bien plus complexe. Certes, Israël attaque régu­ Le 6 novembre, à Chatham House, l’ancien ment que le Hezbollah a depuis trop longtemps lièrement des cibles en territoire syrien, le plus secrétaire d’État [de Barack Obama] John Kerry renoncé à son rôle de “résistance libanaise”, pour souvent des convois du Hezbollah tentant d’im­ a déclaré que les dirigeants israéliens, saoudiens faire du Liban un otage de l’Iran. porter au Liban de l’armement de pointe. À plu­ et égyptiens avaient tous supplié Obama de bom­ Sur le plan militaire, le Hezbollah n’est plus en sieurs reprises, la Syrie a tenté de riposter en barder l’Iran. Il en a conclu qu’aucun de ces diri­ état de fournir un effort de guerre contre Israël. Il tirant des missiles plutôt inefficaces contre les geants n’osait s’y coller directement. C’est un bon est toujours en train de combattre sur plusieurs avions israéliens, mais ni le régime d’Assad ni résumé de la situation. fronts syriens et devrait reconstituer ses brigades le Hezbollah n’ont choisi l’escalade. Au sein de —Anshel Pfeffer avant de s’engager dans une nouvelle guerre. la communauté militaire israélienne, certaines Publié le 8 novembre

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UNVASTECHAMPDEBATAILLE Velayati, le conseiller du guide de la révolution D’un territoire qui s’étend de l’Iran au Liban et qui regroupe quatre Ali Khamenei, a annoncé à Alep [en Syrie], devant pays sous contrôle iranien, des missiles peuvent être lancés contre des combattants pro-iraniens, que les prochaines batailles viseraient le reste de l’Est syrien, signi­ Israël, pour prouver au monde la puissance de Téhéran. fiant ainsi une extension de la zone de confron­ tation. Plusieurs responsables iraniens ont répété que l’axe de la résistance partait de Téhéran et pas­ —Al-Modon Beyrouth des chars T90, alors que des T90A, plus efficaces sait par Bagdad, Damas et Beyrouth pour arriver et dotés de canons Chilka, auraient été vus aux en Palestine. Il ne s’agit pas là d’un simple affi­ Après quarante ans d’une rupture histo­ mains du Hezbollah et des milices chiites ira­ chage politique mais bien d’une stratégie mili­ rique entre l’Irak et la Syrie sous le règne kiennes. Cela indiquerait que les armes disponibles taire qui s’est concrétisée quand, notamment, du parti Baas [les deux pays étaient diri­ sont partagées, comme les frontières internatio­ un avion israélien a été visé, au-dessus du terri­ gés par deux partis Baas rivaux], puis nales, mais cela rappelle surtout la supériorité, toire libanais, par un missile sol-air tiré du côté d’une hostilité féroce, la frontière irako- voulue par la politique iranienne, des milices sur syrien de la frontière. syrienne est aujourd’hui sous le contrôle les armées nationales. Comment l’Iran compte-t-il opérer sur ces de deux régimes, alliés stratégiques de l’Iran. Des La continuité géographique de l’axe de la résis­ champs de bataille ouverts les uns sur les autres, membres des milices chiites irakiennes auraient tance [anti-israélien et antisaoudien] est devenue en cas de guerre totale contre Israël ? même traversé la frontière, prêtant main-forte source de fierté pour les responsables iraniens Premièrement, les missiles balistiques seraient aux forces syriennes et à leurs alliés pour libérer qui l’exploitent sur le plan intérieur. Ali Akbar tirés de différents endroits et de manière plus la ville syrienne de Deir Ez-Zor [qui se trouvait intense, paralysant ainsi le système de défense sous la domination de Daech], Qassem Soleimani, antiaérienne appelé “dôme de fer” pour atteindre le chef de la brigade Al-Qods [force iranienne des cibles sensibles. Deuxièmement, les attaques multiples limiteraient la puissance de feu israé­ lienne. Enfin, la continuité géographique faciliterait spéciale impliquée dans les guerres en Irak et le mouvement des combattants arabes et étran­ en Syrie], s’est montré sur le terrain pour saluer gers au sol, même si cela n’est pas vraiment utile les combattants des milices irakiennes. Il passe compte tenu de la supériorité aérienne israélienne aisément d’un'côté à l’autre de la frontière, tout et de sa capacité à stopper les colonnes au sol. comme les dirigeants iraniens, pour inspecter le Il reste que cette continuité géographique contri­ front et se fait prendre en photo avec les soldats. bue à assurer une mission régionale en faisant Le Liban n’est pas en reste, puisque le Hezbollah passer le message [sur la force de l’Iran], en per­ [pro-iranien] est lui aussi présent des deux côtés mettant de mener des guerres et des conflits de la frontière. Au cours des dernières semaines, par procuration, et en fournissant des cartes de des chars performants aux couleurs de la milice négociations dans les dossiers [notamment celui libanaise ont été aperçus dans le nord de l’Irak, du nucléaire] entre l’Iran et le monde extérieur. près de la Syrie, et il semble que ces blindés aient —Mohanad Hage Ali été pris aux forces syriennes. Selon l’agence russe Publié le 10 novembre Spoutnik, l’armée irakienne ne posséderait que

Au cœur de la confrontation Arabie Saoudite-lran DESMILICES 50 km TURQUIE ■ Mer Mer Caspienne Méditerranée TOUJOURSPLUS Réussi □Téhéran

Baalbek* PUISSANTES Beyrouth —Al-Hayat Londres SYRIE

Liens ÉGYPTE l est rare qu’une milice devienne aussi puis­ Damas ; récents avec le sante qu’une armée. En général, elle est infi­ • gouv. QATAR Zone démilitarisée sous niment plus faible que l’armée de son État. , l’autorité de la Fnuod I Prenons les apôtres de la suprématie blanche Plateau du Golan, ARABIE Forces proches ISRAËL occupé par Israël SAOUDITE du gouvernement aux Etats-Unis, ou les colons extrémistes juifs Hadi en exil ^Régions chiites, bastions du Hezbollah A en Cisjordanie. Les milices qu’ils forment ne ■ITroupes du Hezbollah positionnées en Syrie Isauraient tenir tête à la puissance publique. Qui Forces de l’ONU plus est, les causes qu’elles défendent sont suffi­ Zones de rivalité entre ► l’Arabie Saoudite et l’Iran samment choquantes et sectorielles pour que per­ □ États proches de l’Arabie Saoudite Abréviations : __ États proches de l’Iran BA. Bahreïn, RebelleS d’Oman sonne ne puisse croire qu’elles parlent au nom d’un É.A.U. Émirats Groupes ou gouvernements soutenus par : arabes unis, IS. Israël, collectif plus vaste. Leur racisme étant ouverte­ > l’Arabie Saoudite —► l’Iran JO. Jordanie, KO. Koweït ment assumé, elles n’ont pas la prétention d’as­ Situation en novembre 2017 socier les autres à leur posture de supériorité ou

83 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Ozeti

Courrier . £~~" M |||g/ international « Vu d’Arabie N° 1411 du 16 au 22 novembre 2017 Saoudite Contre l’Iran perfide Neutraliser Bjyad •- de leur imposer un unanimisme autour de leur discours. D’ailleurs, personne n’a l’indécence de les adopter comme modèles. Il s’agit par consé­ • “Au cours de semaines stupéfiantes, • Depuis la démission surprise, quent de milices “minimales”. nous avons assisté à la recomposition de le 4 novembre à Riyad, du Premier ministre Mais il existe également des milices “maximales”. la mécanique gouvernementale libanais Saad Hariri, la possibilité Ce sont par exemple les Gardiens de la révolution saoudienne, qui avance maintenant à d’une confrontation entre Téhéran et Riyad en Iran, ou le Hachd Al-Chaabi irakien [milices grande vitesse, alors qu’on la croyait en est au centre des débats abordés chiites]. Plutôt que de faire contrepoids àl’armée panne : des réformes légales, des projets par les journaux iraniens. Pour le quotidien de leur Etat, elles en sont complémentaires. Elles économiques énormes et une politique réformateur Bahar, “la raison principale suivent le modèle des régimes totalitaires euro­ étrangère déterminée”, écrit Asharq des tensions se trouve en Israël. Aux Etats- péens en ce qu’elles exécutent les tâches que leur Al-Awsat. “D’aucuns considéraient que Unis et en Israël, les ultras veulent une guerre assignent les régimes en place. Elles bénéficient l’Arabie Saoudite était un cadavre qui et il y a une grande chance qu’ils réussissent.” pour cela de budgets considérables, alloués au attendait d’être dévoré par le grand voisin Sur le même ton, le quotidien réformateur nom d’une rhétorique idéologique sur la défense iranien et nargué par le petit voisin qatari. Shargh évoque une phase “néfaste de la patrie, la lutte pour déjouer les perfides com­ [...] Le prince héritier Mohammed ben et destructrice, parrainée par les États-Unis plots étrangers ou intérieurs, etc. Salmane n’est pas le genre d’hommes qui de Trump, Israël, et les Saoudiens”. Il fut un temps où le Hezbollah était une milice évitent l’affrontement, que ce soit avec Le quotidien Ebtekar souligne du premier genre, “minimale”. C’était à l’époque le Qatar et les houthistes au Yémen, ou que Washington, Riyad et Tel-Aviv des entraînements menés par les Gardiens de la avec les extrémistes [Frères musulmans] ne supportent pas “la montée et la percée révolution dans la plaine libanaise de la Bekaa ou encore pour combattre la corruption. Et de l’Iran dans la région grâce à sa lutte [dans les années 1980], quand il promouvait le il a dit lui-même récemment : tout cela n’est victorieuse contre Daech”. Ces capitales slogan “Ton voile m’est plus cher que mon sang”, qu’un début.”“Le temps est venu de réagir”, veulent “contenir Téhéran tout en évitant jetait de l’acide sur des femmes [non voilées], etc. écrit pour sa part le journal de Djeddah, toute confrontation directe”, en utilisant Mais, très vite, il est devenu une milice “maxi­ en Arabie Saoudite, Okaz. “Est-ce que les des méthodes soft et des “luttes male”. Pour cela, il s’est drapé dans les habits de bruits de botte ont commencé à résonner ? par intermédiaires”, au Liban et en Syrie. la “résistance”, en disant qu’il n’était mû que par Tout indique qu’il y aura des frappes “Mais Téhéran doit éviter toute réaction le désir de libérer les terres arabes occupées [par militaires contre les milices que l’Iran hystérique face aux manœuvres de Riyad Israël]. Ensuite, il a été reconnu et légitimé par les a implantées un peu partout dans la région. et de Washington, et de leurs alliés. La retenue accords interlibanais de paix. Puis il est entré dans L’Iran a déclaré la guerre aux Saoudiens et la mesure dont fait preuve l’Iran pourront les rouages gouvernementaux, avec ses députés en fournissant des missiles aux houthistes neutraliser lejeu de Riyad”, conclut Ebtekar. et ses ministres. Et, pour finir, il s’est imposé en au Yémen pour viser la capitale saoudienne Le quotidien ultraconservateur Kayhan tant qu’acteur dans la guerre en Syrie. Riyad. L’Iran croit pouvoir faire de l’Irak a, le 6 novembre, suscité une vague La désignation de Michel Aoun comme prési­ un protectorat, de la Syrie une colonie et de critiques en appelant les rebelles dent du Liban, son alliance jamais démentie avec du Liban une annexe, le tout pour achever houthistes (pro-iraniens) au Yémen le Hezbollah, le fait que ce dernier puisse dicter au le croissant chiite. Mais le régime des à viser Dubaï, quelques heures après pays sa politique étrangère... Tout cela a renforcé mollahs à Téhéran doit se rendre compte que ces derniers ont tiré un missile vers son statut de milice “maximale”. Ce mouvement que quand l’Arabie Saoudite a décidé l’Arabie Saoudite. Le 7 novembre encore, s’est toujours érigé en protecteur des frontières. quelque chose, elle lefait. Les Saoudiens ce quotidien a continué à défendre Il l’a fait au sud face à Israël, puis de manière ne sont pas du genre à avoir la main qui son approche agressive, dénonçant plus grossière encore à l’est, avec la Syrie. Mais, tremble. L’Iran va comprendre ce que cela ses détracteurs, qui, selon lui, sont trop en réalité, il n’était pas tant mû par des préoccu­ coûte d’échafauder des complots perfides tendres envers les ennemis de l’Iran. pations pour les frontières extérieures que par et de transplanter ses cellules cancéreuses Un autre quotidien ultraconservateur, des considérations de politique intérieure. Car dans les pays de la région. On va lui couper Javan, proche des Gardiens de la révolution, cette posture lui a permis non seulement de pré­ la main, lui arracher ses griffes et lui faire a publié en première page le 11 novembre tendre incarner la “résistance”, mais également avaler le poison qu’il a lui-même voulu les déclarations du président iranien Hassan de se considérer comme assez légitime pour se répandre.” Pour Al-Hayat, c’est Rohani, qui mettent en garde l’Arabie prononcer sur tous les grands sujets politiques. la perspective du “maintien de Bachar Saoudite et ses alliés. “Des plus grands Et in fine de s’imposer au pouvoir et de devenir El-Assad au pouvoir en Syrie” que vous se sont cassés les dents”, a déclaré plus puissant que l’armée libanaise. qui change la donne. “Les le chef d’État iranien sur un ton Aujourd’hui, nous en payons le prix. Le monde administrations américaines provocateur, ajoutant : traite le Liban et le Hezbollah comme s’ils étaient successives ont consacré leurs “Vous ne comptez même deux cerveaux de la même entité. C’est le propre efforts à combattre Daech, pas.” Chose rare pour des pieuvres d’avoir plusieurs cerveaux, et c’est et pas assez à contenir les Iraniens Javan, d’habitude critique probablement ainsi que le reste du monde voit ce en Syrie”, écrit le journal panarabe envers la politique pays. Les pieuvres, on tend à les tuer. Au même à capitaux saoudiens. Et de de Hassan Rohani, l’article est titre qu’on tend à faire la guerre à un pays qui constater : “Si Trump veut contrer illustré par une grande photo se présente comme l’équivalent d’une milice. l’expansionnisme iranien, il ne peut de Rohani, preuve, s’il en faut, Les récentes sanctions américaines ainsi que la pas le faire au Liban. Israël avait que les propos du président demande européenne de ne plus faire la distinc­ essayé de le faire [en 2006], ce qui sont dans la ligne défendue tion entre la branche “politique” et la branche avait abouti à la destruction par les conservateurs. “militaire” du Hezbollah constituent peut-être un du pays, mais avait renforcé premier pas vers une action hostile, à l’ombre des la présence du Hezbollah. La seule tensions entre les États-Unis et l’Iran. chance de réussir l’affrontement <- Dessin de Hajo —Hazem Saghieh avec l’Iran consiste à renverser paru dans As-Safir, Publié le 31 octobre le régime de Bachar El-Assad.” Beyrouth. 84 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Ozeti

NUMÉRO 44 • NOVEMBRE-DÉCEMBRE 2017

sait toute référence identitaire divergente. Les nationalistes arabes à Damas - dont le régime Quel territoire pour les baasiste à partir de 1963 -, ayant bien compris les enjeux liés à une telle situation, essayèrent de rompre cette continuité démographique en arabisant les régions kurdes le long de la fron­ Kurdes dans le conflit syrien ? tière turque. Cette présence kurde en Syrie était considérée par le pouvoir central comme dange­ Le 25 septembre 2017, les Kurdes ont voté à 92,7 % en faveur de reuse pour l'intégrité territoriale du pays. l’indépendance du territoire qu’ils contrôlent en Irak. En Syrie, acteurs de PREMIÈRE MARCHE la lutte contre l’organisation de l’État islamique (El ou Daech), ils installent VERS UNE AUTONOMIE une administration autonome dans le nord, où ils constituent la seule La révolution syrienne de mars 2011 ouvrit une phase de militarisation des acteurs en présence grande minorité présente sur un vaste espace de peuplement (2 millions dès l’automne. Le régime de Bachar al-Assad d’âmes). Quelle stratégie peuvent-ils adopter pour créer une entité durable (depuis 2000), pragmatique, mit tout en œuvre dans un pays en guerre ? pour diviser l'opposition qui le menaçait : dans le nord de la Syrie, pour éviter que les Kurdes ès 1916, à la suite des négociations se­ des chefs de tribus kurdes, méfiants envers la ne participent au mouvement de contestation, crètes de Sykes-Picot avec le Royaume- politique proarménienne de Paris au Levant, il se retira des secteurs qu’ils occupaient, préfé­ Uni, les Français obtinrent une zone qui l’armée de Mustapha Kemal (1881-1938) reprit le rant jouer la carte communautaire. Cette liberté allait de la Méditerranée à la frontière perse et contrôle de la Cilicie. La France, qui voulait éviter donnée aux Kurdes permit au Parti de l’union qui comprenait la Syrie, la région de Mossoul et un conflit, recula partout dans la région, cédant démocratique (PYD) de s'imposer seul, au détri­ une grande partie du Kurdistan du nord, alors des pans entiers de territoire aux Turcs comme ment de ses concurrents, comme garant de la appelé « Territoire de l’est » (cf. carte 2 p. 40). La toutes les grandes villes de Gaziantep à Mardin sécurisation des secteurs libérés par l’armée sy­ plupart des régions kurdes du nord et de l'ouest (accord de paix d’Ankara, le 20 octobre 1921). La rienne, et comme initiateur d’un nouveau projet (actuellement en Turquie et en Syrie) entrèrent Turquie établit alors sa frontière méridionale -spatial qui repose sur l’autonomie terri­ dans la zone d’influence française-administrées plus au sud que ce qui était prévu lors du traité toriale, avec la formation d’une administration avec la Cilicie, alors que les régions kurdes du sud de Sèvres (10 août 1920). Avec celui de Lausanne locale de substitution aux autorités centrales. (actuel Kurdistan irakien) furent rattachées à la (24 juillet 1923), les Kurdes n’eurent plus aucune Les principales agglomérations tenues par les zone d’influence britannique. Le massacre des terre alors que, trois ans plus tôt, un territoire Kurdes servirent alors dans un premier temps Arméniens (1915-1916) puis leur déportation vers leur avait pourtant été attribué ; pis encore, la de laboratoire à un projet d'autogestion dès le la Syrie et le Liban aboutirent à un changement population fut divisée entre la Turquie kéma- tournant 2012 (cf. carte 1). démographique dans de nombreux secteurs de liste et la Syrie mandataire. Depuis, construire un territoire viable est réel­ l'Anatolie orientale. Du côté syrien, ces zones formèrent le « Kurdistan lement ce à quoi les Kurdes de Syrie tentent de de Syrie » ou « Kurdistan occidental » (Rojava en s’atteler. L'objectif ultime demeure l'accession à TRAUMATISME GÉOGRAPHIQUE kurde), bien que cette appellation fût bannie du­ une région autonome reconnue, sur le modèle À partir de 1920, les opérations militaires tour­ rant toute la période qui suivit l’indépendance irakien, caractérisée par une continuité spatiale. nèrent en faveur de la Turquie. Avec l’appui syrienne (1946), tant le nationalisme arabe refu­ Cette représentation territoriale, un temps rê­

I Le « Rojava » : l’ambition des Kurdes de Syrie

• Lattaquié

Jableh

380000 100000 1 000 Kurdes ___| Arabes __| Chrétiens ___| Turkmènes H Organisation politique Représentation territoriale du Rojava, ___| selon les partis politiques kurdes Limite des cantons envisagés dans la administrative du Rojava Vers Homs et Damas Cam ns 44,2017 O Areion/Capri Sources : Institute (or the Study of War, 10 octobre 2017; Réfaction de Ca rto, 2017; Nelly Mortin, 2017; Enquêtes de terrain de Cyril Roussel et Ai mad Hesso,2017et2014

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vée, devient possible avec le retrait de l'armée les secteurs administrés, aidée par la qualité engagés. Conscients que leur effort de guerre syrienne et la militarisation du conflit. S’ouvre de l’encadrement militaire dispensé par des ne sera pas nécessairement récompensé par alors un nouveau champ de questionnement, membres expérimentés du Parti des travail­ leurs tuteurs (la Turquie, avec qui Américains et comme le devenir des zones non kurdes qui leurs du Kurdistan (PKK). Avec la création d'une Russes doivent compter, s’oppose à toute négo­ se retrouveraient incluses dans les limites de administration autonome, l'effort militaire n'a ciation avec les Kurdes) et donc que la reconnais­ ce territoire. Car, outre les secteurs à majorité plus seulement été le fait de la population sance d’un Rojava autonome dans le cadre d’une arabe qui segmentent les poches de peuple­ kurde, comme le montrent le ralliement des Syrie fédérale est loin d'être acquise, les Kurdes ment kurde, cette partie de la Syrie accueille organisations paramilitaires syriaques et la tentent d'avancer sur le terrain. Leur stratégie aussi une forte présence chrétienne, turkmène formation, dès 2013, d’un bataillon arabe. Issus consiste à diffuser auprès des populations arabes et arabe, localement importante au sein même des zones rurales au sud-est de Ras el-Ain, des leur projet d’autogestion basé sur des conseils des zones tombées sous contrôle kurde. membres des tribus Sharabiyeh et Baggara ont locaux imbriqués (communes, districts, cantons). La victoire, à l'été 2013, des miliciens kurdes été intégrés aux YPG ; la composante arabe L'alliance locale, militaire dans un premier temps, des Unités de défense du peuple (YPG), à Ras est primordiale pour permettre aux Kurdes entre Kurdes et Arabes devient politique, offrant el-Ain, eut un retentissement énorme sur le d'évoluer dans les zones mixtes et dans celles à cette «fédération du nord » syrien plus deforce moral des combattants et des populations d'un reconquises sur l'EI, là où ils pourraient être pour négocier avec Damas et plus de poids pour Rojava naissant encore fragile. Elle constitua un considérés comme des occupants. Ils ont été sortir de son isolement. Il s'agit donc de lever acte fondateur du projet territorial kurde avant rejoints, en 2014, par des combattants de la toute suspicion sur la création d’un projet qui se­ même le succès de Kobané en janvier 2015. Dans tribu Shammar (région de Tell Alo) regroupés rait vu comme uniquement ethnique. Le procédé la province de Hassatké, les victoires des com­ dans une milice tribale, la Jaysh al-Sanadid, soit s'avère d’une portée stratégique essentielle, car, battants des YPG permirent de gagner progres­ l'« Armée des héros ». localement, il est présenté comme un premier sivement du terrain pour constituer le canton de L’entrée en jeu de la coalition internationale pas vers le pluralisme. Il s'agit d’associer les com­ Djézireh autour de Qamishliyé. Lorsque le PYD (fin 2014) et les victoires répétées des YPG ont munautés dans un projet de « vivre ensemble » et annonça unilatéralement, en novembre 2013, incité, à partir de l'automne 2015, au ralliement dans une tentative de « démocratie » locale. Les la création d'une administration autonome au de groupes armés qui ne trouvaient plus leur populations arabes et leurs représentants, loin Rojava, les instances administratives étaient place auprès d'une rébellion dominée par des de partager l’idéologie du PYD, mais dont la dis­ pensées comme pluriconfessionnelles afin de islamistes. Sur le modèle d’une vaste coalition, tribution de postes commence à être convoitée, rallier les minorités locales comme les chrétiens les Forces démocratiques syriennes (FDS) ont peuvent y trouver un intérêt certain qui réside et les Arabes. Fin 2013, les Kurdes ne contrô­ été créées en octobre 2015 sous tutelle améri­ dans la protection américaine et la garantie qu’ils laient que les secteurs dans lesquels ils étaient caine, qui fournit formation militaire et armes. ne retomberont pas sous la coupe de Damas et majoritaires : Afryn et ses alentours, Kobané et Les milices kurdes en constituent toujours le des milices chiites. Le projet kurde s'en trouve une zone autour de Qamishliyé. À cette époque, socle principal, mais l'alliance contre l'EI favo­ légitimé, devenant une alternative crédible. trois cantons furent déclarés autonomes par les rise l’adhésion de groupes armés arabes proches De facto, une fédération de régions s'est consti­ forces politiques présentes sur le terrain. de l’Armée syrienne libre (ASL), qui pensent tuée sans reconnaissance extérieure, mais, loca­ L’EXPANSION DU ROJAVA : avoir un intérêt à se rapprocher des Kurdes et lement, elle se substitue à l’État absent. Kurdes JUSQU’OÙET POURQUOI î des Américains. et Arabes y participent, de nouvelles entités Depuis 2014, la quasi-totalité des opérations S'adaptant au jeu géopolitique régional, les pouvant venir s'y ajouter au gré des compromis militaires des YPG se déroule dans les zones de Kurdes et leurs alliés ont accepté l’alliance améri­ locaux et des avancées militaires. Par exemple, peuplement arabe. Populaires dans les zones caine contre Daech au nord de l'Euphrate et celle les secteurs à majorité arabe, kurdes, elles se sont renforcées par la mise en de la Russie dans la région d'Afryn dans l’espoir comme Raqqa ou Manbij, pour­ place d’une circonscription obligatoire dans de jouer un rôle lors des pourparlers de paix déjà raient rejoindre la fédération en tant que « région autonome » si les conseils locaux le sou­ B Les Kurdes dans le contexte colonial haitent (ou par consultation de la population). Une région nou­ velle, nommée « Euphrate », a TURQUIE Qamishliyé été créée par le regroupement de Kobané la Kurde et de Tel SANDJAK Hassatké D'ALEXANDRETTE Abyad l’Arabe. (rattaché à l'État d'Alep Vilayet en 1925; passed de Mossoul Nul ne peut prédire les futurs la Turquie en 1939) contours de ce territoire en formation, même si les forces

Lattaquié ÉTATD'ALEP kurdo-arabes sont contenues " ÉTAT sur la rive nord de l'Euphrate par DESALAOUITES MANDAT l’armée syrienne, qui a recon­ Baniyas* BRITANNIQUE MANDAT FRANÇAIS Mayadine DE MÉSOPOTAMIE quis les territoires de steppe Tartous SUR LA SYRIE ET LE LIBAN entre Palmyre et Deir ez-Zor. raimyre Les Kurdes demeurent les alliés naturels des Occidentaux contre ÉTAT Frontière DU GRAND en 1923 ÉTAT les djihadistes et un élément de LIBAN Le mandat français Beyrouth DE DAMAS sur la Syrie et le Liban (1920-1936) stabilisation dans le nord de la Territoire du mandat français EH Syrie ; pourtant, aucune alterna­ prevu par la Société des Nations ■ Damas Mandat effectif ___| tive politique ne leur est propo­ Limite des États créés à l'intérieur du mandat sée alors qu'ils escomptent tirer Présence prédominante de la communauté kurde ___| Extension des troupes françaises -► parti de leur lutte contre l’EI en ÉTATDU Front de conflit entre Turcs et Français •— DJEBEL DRUZE échange de leur implication mili­ Principale bataille gagnée m-* ÉMIRAT taire auprès des forces de la coa­ MANDAT f Soueïda par les troupes kémaîistes DE TRANSJORDANIE BRITANNIQUE Carto n’ 44,2017 O Areion/Capri lition internationale.» DE PALESTINE Sources : Compilation de i par Cyril Roussel et Aimad Hesso, 2017 ;M. R. Izady, Gulf 2000 Project, Columbia University, 2017; F. Bc ‘ ' du Proche-Orient arabe, Presses de l'université Paris-Sorbonne et RFI, 2012 A. HessoetC. Roussel

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