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Kurdistan is showing signs of real hope -
but the UK needs to amend its policy to maximise
local success
25.1.2010
By Gary Kent
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January
25, 2010
Iraq could work much better if
the steady success of its Kurdistan region spreads
throughout the country. “The Other Iraq” enjoyed a
head start over the rest of the country after its
1991 uprising ousted Saddam’s genocidal forces which
murdered 200,000 people.
Security is tight with about 120 terrorist killings
since 2003, and crime is tiny. There’s been a
development boom. Unions are social partners and
back full union rights in the rest of Iraq, where
they are restricted.
Oil and gas provide virtually all Iraq’s revenues
but external investment and internal diversification
are vital. Agriculture was born in Kurdistan but
liquidated by Saddam. Most food is imported,
although it could become self-sufficient with
foreign investment.
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Gary Kent, he is the Director of
Labour Friends of Iraq |
But
Kurdish leaders are mystified that there has been no
official UK ministerial trade mission whilst other
European countries are enthusiastic in trading with
the Region.
Kurdistan is, I suspect, wrongly overlooked in case
UK engagement upsets Arab Iraq. However, let’s be
plain about matters – Kurdistan is open to business
which is currently less feasible elsewhere.
Kurdistan could become the gateway to the whole
country and companies could expand as security
permits. UK Ministers need to re-examine policy on
this.
Kurdistan’s leaders are open to international best
practice. Their Speaker asked us to outline the
British political system and over half their 111 MPs
enthusiastically turned up. They were keen to
understand our Official Opposition system. They now
have one: Gorran (the Change). This breakaway from
the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) took 25% of
the seats in last year’s elections. The split is
very bitter and Gorran has yet to find its feet, but
the emergence of a secular opposition is an
important example for the Middle East.
Discussion in landlocked Kurdistan always turns to
the neighbours. The good news is that frosty
relations with Turkey have thawed massively in the
last year, partly driven by extensive trading.
However,www.ekurd.netTurkey
and Iran are manipulating water supplies and one
leading politician told us directly that Iran is not
a neighbour but controls Shia Iraq. The bad news is
that relations between Iraqi Kurds and some Arabs
have worsened considerably – improvement is
therefore a priority.
Iraqi Kurdistan has come far quickly but governance
and human rights also need improving. Its leaders
and people desire deeper and wider political and
commercial engagement by the UK and others. It is in
everyone’s interests that Kurdistan achieves its
full potential within and for Iraq.
Gary Kent’s sixth fact-finding visit to Iraq and
fourth to Kurdistan since 2006 (this time with Meg
Munn MP) was with the All-Party Parliamentary Group
on Kurdistan and as a guest of the Kurdistan
Parliament. They met the President,www.ekurd.netSpeaker,
Prime Minister, Interior Minister, other ministers,
unions, women activists, Gorran, Christian leaders
and British and Kurdish business leaders over five
days.
Gary Kent is Director of Labour Friends of Iraq.
He has visited the country five times in the last
three years and is an honorary member of the Iraqi
Trade Union Movement. Gary has been a member of the
Labour Party since 1976 and has worked in Parliament
since 1987.
Search KurdNet for more Articles & Analysis by
Gary Kent
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