Speaking to Mezopotamya Agency’s Ömer Akın on Saturday, Dr Kamuran Berwarî, Vice President of the Democracy and Politics Academy in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI), addressed Turkey’s growing activities in the Kurdistan Region and in Iraq itself as being detrimental to Kurdish achievements.
He criticised the alignment of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) with Turkey, emphasising the division it creates among Kurds, between those striving for Kurdistan’s freedom and those cooperating with regional powers.
Berwarî argued that the aim of Turkey’s engagements, including high-level meetings and military collaborations, is to undermine Kurdish autonomy. He warned of escalating tensions, urging Kurdish solidarity against external pressures. Berwarî also condemned Turkey’s hostility towards Kurdish figures advocating for their people’s rights, viewing it as an attempt to assert control over Kurdish territories.
There are ongoing discussions between the KDP and Turkey in the KRI that are considered by some to be at odds with Kurdish interests. In January, a Turkish delegation led by Ibrahim Kalın, head of Turkey’s National Intelligence Agency (MİT), engaged in a series of discussions in Iraq. This was followed by a meeting between Kalın and KDP Chair Masoud Barzani in Erbil (Hewlêr). After these initial visits, Turkey’s Defence Minister Hulusi Akar and his team also travelled to Iraq. Their discussions in Baghdad preceded meetings in the Kurdistan Region with prominent Kurdish leaders including Nechirvan and Masoud Barzani. These talks reportedly focused on security cooperation and the Sinjar Agreement, targeting the governance of Sinjar (Şengal). Furthermore, in February, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan met with the Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrur Barzani at the World Government Summit in Dubai.
During the increasing Turkey-KDP dialogue and before travelling to Europe, Nechirvan Barzani highlighted his concerns over the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), labelling it a significant problem.
Berwarî criticised the KDP’s rhetoric and Turkey’s recent threats towards Bafel Talabani, leader of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) for its alleged inaction against “terrorist factions like the PKK, YPG, and PYD”.
The academic argued that while free speech is vital, the narrative of the KDP, which perceives Kurdish liberation movements like the PKK as detrimental, is divisive. He stressed that the presence of the PKK in the KRI and Iraq signifies a commitment to Kurdish nationalism, contrasting with the approach of the KDP, which he sees as too accommodating to Turkish interests.
Berwarî expressed concern over the Turkish delegation’s visits to the KRI and Iraq, viewing them as counterproductive to Kurdish and Iraqi aspirations. He fears these actions aim to undermine Kurdish autonomy and could lead to increased conflict, emphasising the importance of Kurdish unity and international diplomacy in facing these challenges.
Additionally, Berwarî highlighted Turkey’s antagonistic stance towards Kurds globally, especially those advocating for Kurdish rights, using the example of Turkish threats towards Bafel Talabani to illustrate his point. He warned of Turkey’s intentions to extend its influence in the Kurdistan Region, drawing parallels with its involvement in Duhok and Erbil.
