Dr Kamiran Berwari, Vice President of the Politics and Democratic Thought Academy in Southern Kurdistan, has argued that Turkey’s attacks on Iraqi Kurdistan are the result of a comprehensive plan.
Speaking to Hawar News regarding Turkey’s latest offensive against Garê, Berwari said, “Turkey was preparing itself for these attacks a long time ago. Turkey was given eight months from 15 June 2020 to occupy Southern Kurdistan. The plan was divided into four stages”.
Berwari described the four stages as follows: “The first stage was from the border of Mount Zaxo to Kêlashin (especially the strategic locations of Berwari and Çiya Serani Mountain). Then from Gara to Metina in the second stage, before moving to the back of Şêxan Mountain, Meqlubê Şêxa and Akrê for the third stage. In the fourth stage they went to Hemrin Mountain and the Southern Kurdistan border near Iraq”.
Berwari also said that this alliance took place after Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi’s visit to Ankara and the agreement they made with Turkey’s Defence Minister Hulusi Akar.
He drew attention to the role Roj Pashmergas played during the attacks. “Apart from the soldiers of the Turkish state, different groups took part in the attacks. The same thing happened 30 years ago.
“Were the Kurdistan Airports and the roads to the mountains built to protect the region or to help the occupiers invade Iraqi Kurdistan?” asked Berwari. “Today, the Turkish state has destroyed the sovereignty of Iraq and occupied a part of Bashure Kurdistan. For this reason, the President, Prime Minister, Iraqi Parliamentarians, the United States and Europe must take action”.
We have to work for national unity
Berwari also mentioned that Turkey aims to force the US to continue its policy regarding the Middle East that was initiated during the Trump administration. He urged the Bashure Kurdistan government to consider national unity among Kurds.
“This war is between 60 million Kurds and the Justice and Development Party (AKP) government”, he said. “South Kurdistan should act according to this reality. It should not be allied with Turkey. The Kurdistan Democratic Party has been fighting for 75 years, it did not fight to let Turkey occupy Bashure Kurdistan or let the Iraqi government have all power and control over Bashure Kurdistan. We have federal rights. This is also mentioned in the Iraqi constitution”.
He also said the existence of Turkish military forces is harming national unity among Kurds.
‘Turkey wanted to kill the prisoners’
“We have to take action to attain national unity”, said Berwari. “The will of the Kurdish people is powerful”.
Regarding the killings of the detainees by the Turkish army, Berwari said, “The prisoners were protected by the Kurdistan Workers’ Party. The Turkish state wanted to kill them. When two MİT officers were detained by the PKK, the Turkish state heavily bombed the region. They wanted to kill them. However, they failed that time. The killing of prisoners is a crime against humanity. They knew well that this method could not save the prisoners. They could send a delegation. Someone from the KNK (Kurdistan National Congress) or the Red Cross could have been called”.
