ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani today met with the Iraqi President and leaders of the Kurdistan Region’s main political parties in a bid to form a united Kurdish stance, as Iraqi protests make constitutional amendment look increasingly likely.
On Tuesday, the three Kurdistan Region presidencies – President Nechirvan Barzani, Prime Minister Masrour Barzani and Kurdistan Parliament president Rewaz Fayeq – joined Iraqi President Barham Salih in an ongoing meeting with heads of Kurdish political parties.
In a press conference immediately after the meeting, Nechirvan Barzani said discussion covered "the current condition of Iraq and how the Kurdistan Region should deal with it."
"All the attendants agreed to support the legitimate demands of current Iraqi protesters such as providing services, transparency, and more service to all Iraq," Barzani said.
"We also said that Kurdistan Region must have a united position. By this, we mean supporting all other Iraqi [political] forces as we all have a responsibility in the issues Iraq is today suffering from," he added.
The main aim of the meeting was for rival Kurdish parties to establish consensus and unity amid national unrest and uncertainty.
"Iraq is faring through uncertain conditions … Naturally, any event taking place in Iraq will reflect on the Kurdistan Region. This meeting was deemed necessary for a realistic evaluation of the prevailing conditions in Iraq," Dilshad Shahab, adviser to Kurdistan Region's President Nechirvan Barzani, told Rudaw on Monday.
There are hopes the meeting will help establish a united stance, Shahab added, especially among Kurdish MPs in the Iraqi parliament. "Despite different political opinions and rivalry, which are normal in political life, national goals need to be put above all," he said.
Over 250 protesters have died since Iraqis began taking to the streets on October 1 to protest unemployment, rampant corruption, and other issues. Protesters have been met with the fire of live ammunition rounds and military-grade tear gas canisters.
Protests began to relent a week later, due mainly to observance of the Shiite religious pilgrimage of Arbaeen.
However, protests resumed with renewed vigor on October 25. Demands have evolved to include the overthrow of the government and constitutional change that could see Iraq shift from a parliamentary to presidential rule similar to that of the United States.
In a press conference after the meetings, Nechirvan Barzani called for the demands of protesters to be met but urged public patience in the implementation of measures.
"The current leadership has had one year in office, not sufficient time to hold them to account," he said.
Talk of change to the 2005 constitution has provoked worry among many Kurdish political figures, who believe it to be a milestone in the acquisition of greater rights for Iraq’s biggest ethnic minority after the brutal rule of Saddam Hussein.
The rights of all ethnicities and religious groups present in Kurdistan need to be "preserved," Shahab asserted.
Romeo Hakkari, Secretary General of the Assyrian Democratic Bet-Nahrain Party, also expressed fear of constitutional amendment in comments to Rudaw.
"We are fearful that the articles and sections dealing with our rights, demand, and future on the level of Iraq might be touched," said Hakkari.
An 18-member Iraqi parliamentary committee has been established to look into what amendments could be made, in line with the requirements put forward by the 2005 constitution.
The committee must present a report including recommendations for necessary amendments within four months. Recommended amendments will then be put to parliament for a vote and must be approved by an absolute majority.
Then it will be presented for a referendum to the people within a period that does not exceed two months from its approval date in the parliament.
“The referendum on the amended Articles shall be successful if approved by the majority of the voters, and if not rejected by two-thirds of the voters in three or more governorates,” according to the Constitution.
This constitutional mechanism, thought to be a guarantee by Kurds, will fail if any Kurdistan Region province approves the amendments.
Some Kurdish figures have insisted the constitution itself is not flawed, but its incomplete implementation.
“The current and previous problems in Iraq are a direct result of 15 years of failed governance which repeatedly neglected the Constitution. I call upon the government not to resort to violence as the legitimate concerns and demands of the protesters ought to be resolved,” Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) leader Masoud Barzani said in a November 2 tweet.
“Any constitutional amendments … cannot be at the cost of any concessions to the principles of democracy, nor can they undermine the rights of the Kurds and other components within Iraq,” added Barzani.
Speaking to Rudaw, members of Kurdistan’s public also urged Kurdish unity at today’s meetings.
“I hope the Kurdistani parties … look at their people with a pure heart so that this nation doesn’t lose what it has because of rivalry over positions,” said Erbil resident Tariq Rafeeq.
“The Kurdistan Region’s President should gather all parties to have them united in their stances and decisions for Kurdistan,” Sabah Yousif, a resident of Sulaimani, told Rudaw.
“It is important Kurds are united today in their stance and opinion because if we lose our rights in the constitution, we will have lost a lot,” said shopkeeper Niwar Yehya.
Updated at 3:44 pm
