Saadi Pira is a member of the PUK politburo. Macron met with Iraqi and Kurdish leaders in a brief visit to Baghdad on Wednesday. Lahur Talabany, co-president of the PUK, traveled to Baghdad to meet with Macron and Iraqi leaders.
As the leader of a powerful nation that has a long history with the Kurdistan Region, Macron could advocate at the European Union and the UN security council to end Turkish and Iranian influence in Iraq, Pira said.
The following is an edited version of Pira’s interview with Rudaw’s Sangar Abdulrahman.
Rudaw: One of the main objectives of President Emmanuel Macron's visit to Baghdad was to reiterate France's support for Iraqi sovereignty. Iran-backed groups in Iraq believe there is no danger to the sovereignty of Iraq. Do you think Iraq's sovereignty is at risk?
In fact, I really do not understand why there should be… groups and parties and even parliamentarians who are this much against their own sovereignty. Mr. President Macron's visit and his attentions to Iraq, following the massive Iraqi delegation that went to the US and the kind of respect and prestigious reception they received, are of importance.
Macron came to say that he is boosting our economy, helping to establish energy independence, as well as support Iraq's independent decision making. He said he was in Baghdad to help prevent those who harm your skies, damage your sovereignty. All that he said in Baghdad was in favor of our sovereignty. It is our neighbors who violate and harm our borders.
France is a huge country. France had 100 to 200 military personnel who trained our forces in the fight against Daesh [Islamic State, ISIS] who have the blood of thousands of Iraqi youth on their hands.
It is us who pull the hands of the foreigners into our country and let them meddle in our affairs, thanks to our internal rivalries. Again, the visit of Macron, as the president of a powerful and huge country like France, which is one of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, is important. Throughout history, they have shown how supportive they are on the questions of democracy and a free Iraq. France also played an instrumental role in the collapse of the regime of Saddam Hussein.
All the diplomatic activities that we as Kurds had in Baghdad yesterday have rarely been seen in the past. Such immense activities happened occasionally only during the tenure of Mam Jalal [Talabani]. The three presidencies of Iraq were respectfully and responsibly dealt with. And their meetings with Macron were about how to protect the sovereignty of Iraq, how to secure the future of Iraq, how to adjust the economy of Iraq.
How can France help Iraq have a stable economy and preserve its territorial sovereignty?
France definitely cannot do as much as the US. But, undoubtedly, after the US, they can assist Iraq very well and lend loans to Iraq. In terms of oil and marketing its products, it can support Iraq in a very good way. It can create pressure through the EU and security council on countries like Turkey and Iran and other countries who want to meddle in Iraq's domestic affairs. France can support Iraq in the matter of arms control by the state's institutions, those who are allowed to be armed according to the Iraqi constitution.
Kurdish-French relations are deep-rooted. How can the Kurdistan Region make use of such strong relations? What kind of political and economic presence does France want, given it has committed more than $1 billion to Iraq?
Macron in meetings, and in his meeting with the Kurdistan Region delegation, he said he will next time visit the Kurdistan Region if he returns to Iraq. They have military personnel who train our Peshmerga forces. They work to rebuild Mosul University to help make it again an important scientific center. France is able to provide limited financial support to help Iraq's economy get back on its feet.
The fact that Macron did not make a stop in Erbil has been described by many as a diplomatic and political setback for the Kurdistan Region.
No, no, this is not true. It was not a state visit, but more of a working visit. It lasted just a few hours. Because of this short, limited duration, he was not able to visit Erbil. Therefore, the Kurdistan Region leaders went and met him there. I would there say, these kinds of rumors were made to downplay the visit and the good neighborly relations.
