Opening session of Iraqi Parliament (AP)
"It is very important that every group in Iraq feel that they, too, are represented in the national government and that they have a say in their own future, free of foreign influences or the domination of any one ethnic group."Can you tell us about the work of the Rebaz Foundation?
The Rebaz Foundation is a non-governmental charitable organization operating in the Kurdish region of Iraq. It was established in 2007 by a group of Iraqi Kurdish attending university at the time in London. We wanted to develop a new, non-governmental group that could give voice to the younger generation, outside of the political process. The Rebaz Foundation promotes economic development and social and political reform throughout the Kurdish region. We initially focused on the health and education sectors and have funded various projects, including a university scholarship program for students who could not otherwise afford it. So far, the foundation has funded over 100 students, and we continue to expand that program. We have also renovated and built schools and athletic fields for younger students. In the health sector, the Rebaz Foundation has funded mobile health clinics that visit areas where health services are limited. We also are building a new charitable hospital in Erbil that will be a state of the art facility. In addition, the Rebaz Foundation is expanding its work to address social and government reform. We received funding from the United States Institute of Peace for training and reconciliation program among Arabs and Kurds and we seek to expand our work to promote greater government transparency, accountability and legitimacy among the people.
To what extent have the U.S. public or private sectors played a role in Rebaz’s work? What opportunities are there for increased cooperation in the future?
Rebaz has partnered with and received funding from numerous international organizations, including UNICEF, the U.S. Institute of Peace and Save the Children.
As you know, the Kurdish people of Iraq have always felt very close to the United States, and we are always looking for additional opportunities to partner with U.S. governmental and non-governmental groups on projects of mutual interest. For example, we hope to develop new programs to train regional and local government officials in the Kurdish area to make government services more responsive and accountable to the people. We would welcome the opportunity to receive support from the United States government and to partner with U.S. NGOs on these kinds of projects.
Can you describe the state of efforts to develop civil society in northern Kurdish areas and Iraq more generally? How do the ongoing ethnic tensions between groups in northern Iraq and Iraq overall affect the development of a strengthened civil society?
There are many efforts underway to help develop civil society in both the Kurdish region and throughout Iraq. Of course, various factors impact the pace of development in each area. The relative political stability and generally positive security situation—along with a growing economy—have all helped nurture the development of civil society in the Kurdish region. In this respect, the Kurdish experience can serve as a model for other groups and areas throughout Iraq. The project we recently concluded with the U.S. Institute of Peace is similar to other efforts to build understanding and tolerance between ethnic groups throughout Iraq. We have partnered with other Iraqi NGOs operating in the Shia and Sunni areas and they have conducted similar efforts. The programs are critical for maintaining stability as the United States continues to withdraw its military forces. But as far as ongoing ethnic tensions, there is no doubt things are difficult. We are hopeful that as civil society continues to develop, tensions will ease between the various ethnic groups that make up the fabric of Iraqi society.
What role does the United States play in easing tensions between these groups?
It is very important that the United States support the right of the Iraqi people to self-determination and self-government. As our experience in the Kurdish region has shown, when the people feel that they have a stake and a voice in their government, then peace and security can be achieved. It is very important that every group in Iraq feel that they, too, are represented in the national government and that they have a say in their own future, free of foreign influences or the domination of any one ethnic group. Reaching that balance is difficult, but we hope that the United States will continue to urge all ethnic groups to work together for the benefit of all Iraqis.
How will the drawdown of U.S. forces in Iraq affect the relations between these groups? Based on meetings you held in Washington recently, what is your sense of the extent that policymakers and analysts in Washington understand these effects?
Nobody knows what the full impact of the U.S. withdrawal will be. We are working hard to decrease ethnic tensions, create long-term political stability and of course, provide economic opportunities that reach every sector of Iraqi society. There are external events and actors who continue to exploit the withdrawal of U.S. forces for their own gain. This complicates our work tremendously. In my meetings in Washington, my sense is that there is an appreciation for the challenges we face and a desire to increase civilian aid and assistance to help bolster our efforts.
Kurdish relations with other ethnic groups are also a critical component of Iraqi politics. What role have Kurdish parties played in the ongoing efforts to form a coalition government?
I think that Kurdish leaders have tried to play a constructive role in the government formation. It’s obviously a very complicated process. We are hopeful that the process will conclude soon with a national government that provides security and stability; a government that is representative of the Iraqi people, and that respects the rights of the Iraqi people in every region to have a say in their own government.
Can you tell us about the current state of efforts to form a government, and how a new central government might potentially affect civil society groups?
The Iraqi people suffered a lot under the tyranny of the former regime. So it is critical that whichever group or groups form the new government, they must remember that they should serve the people and try to expand democracy, our first after 34 years of tyranny.
Iraq is a diverse country; if the Iraqi ‘street’ is going to support the new government, it must help create a platform of trust between the people and it should be comprised of all ethnic groups. This is the best way to guarantee a stable, secure, democratic Iraq.
The KRG has begun to forge new partnerships with the Turkish government at the same time that there has been increased violence between the PKK and Turkish military. What are the roots of these improved relations and how do you see them progressing? Were these relations discussed at all in your meetings in Washington?
The KRG has a good relationship with Turkey. I was a little surprised in my recent meetings in Washington that many U.S. officials are not aware of the good relations we currently enjoy with Turkey. Turkey is the leading investor in the Kurdish region, and Turkey is our region’s leading trading partner. These economic relationships are beneficial to both sides and contribute to a sense of stability and mutual interest between Turkey and the Kurdish region. We also have a mutual interest in the stability and security of the region and have worked closely on matters of border protection.
Iran has recently made incursions into the northern Kurdish region to fight PJAK. How has the KRG responded to these incursions and more broadly, what is the relationship between the KRG and the Iranian government?
As the news media and Human Rights Watch have reported at some length, recent Iranian shelling of the Kurdish area has displaced hundreds of families and killed a young Iraqi girl. According to Human Rights Watch, about 500 families have been forced to flee their homes in Iraqi villages along the border with Iran since June 3 and have had to be settled into crowded tent camps, joining about 250 families who fled Iranian shelling in previous months. Iraqi government and local officials are adamant that PJAK forces are not operating in the areas being shelled. Local officials along the border believe that Iran’s military action is really meant to force villagers on the border to leave their homes and farms, in order to create a population-free area along the border. The international human rights community has labeled the Iranian military’s action a violation of international law. The KRG and all Iraqi Kurds call on the Iranian government to stop targeting civilians, cease the bombardment and incursions into Iraqi sovereign territory, and to avert any further loss of innocent life.
