Iraqi Kurds won’t declare state ‘without telling Turkey’

Kurds will not surprise Turkey with the establishment of a possible independent state, according to Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Natural Resources Minister Ashti Hawrami.

“Our relationship is strategic, not opportunistic. Therefore, with any steps we take, whether confederation or some form of independence or something else … I don’t think our leadership will do anything without Ankara being fully aware. There shall not be any surprises for anybody. There will be very continuous, fraternal consultation,” Hawrami said.

“We are mindful of doing things properly. We have to consider if any decision we take might affect somebody else, so there will be at every step full consultation. I don’t think there will be any surprises either way,” he said.

Hawrami’s statement came as Iraqi Kurds have seized on recent chaos in Iraq to expand their autonomous northern territory to include Kirkuk. KRG President Masoud Barzani visited Kirkuk last week and said there was no going back on autonomous Kurdish rule in the oil city.  

“Looking at the map, you have to think ‘where is our future?’ Is our future with the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) or with Baghdad, who doesn’t even send our budget. Today Iraq needs Kurdistan more than ever,” Hawrami said.

Hawrami visited Ankara on June 26, accompanying KRG Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani. Asked what topics they would discuss with Turkish officials apart than energy, Hawrami said: “Our energy discussions have been ongoing for a couple of years now. We update each other and our cooperation is strategic. Anything we do here, they are aware of it. Anything we do in Ceyhan, we are doing with the cooperation of...