This blog post was published on January 17 2012. §
A threat of a Sunni-Kurdish confederation or a test balloon?
Another Turkish-Iraqi ties hectic day as Iraq summoned the Turkish ambassador to express unease over Turkey’s policies towards Iraq, while Ankara and Irbil become closer as Turkey’s most senior diplomat held unannounced meeting with Masoud Barzani, leader of the Kurdistan Regional Government.
And the reason behind the new accusations exchange is the new circulating rumors:
Sunni Arab leaders to discuss with the Kurdish alliance leaders the possibility to change the political geographic reality in Iraq and reduce the power monopoly power of the Shiite parties to counter Iran’s growing influence in Iraq.
According to sources, the Sunni figures put forward new ideas to form a Sunni — Kurdish confederation. The ideas put forward include that the new confederation to be headed by President of Kurdistan region Masoud Barzani, while the government will be formed by a Sunni figure.
Everything right now depends on the new National Conference which is expected to fail to achieve any results, and that will generate a “Turkish — Kurdish — US” confederation scheme with the support of Saudi Arabia and Qatar.
But, these rumors are psychological test balloon against Maliki’s Govt in order to offer more concessions to the Kurds and the Sunnis.