PDKI Leadership Meeting Reviewed Current Developments
The leadership of PDKI held its eleventh meeting, following the party’s 15th congress, to review current geopolitical developments in the Middle East, as well as prevailing conditions in the different parts of Kurdistan and Iran. According to the assessment of PDKI, Russia’s intervention in the Syrian civil war will tip the balance of power in favor of the Assad regime, but could in the long run create problems between Russia and Iran due to the incompatible strategic objectives of these two actors. Meanwhile, PDKI’s leadership is concerned about the lack of unity among Kurdish political actors in western (Syrian) and southern (Iraqi) Kurdistan in these challenging times. PDKI’s assessment in the past that the nuclear deal between Iran and world powers cannot bring about any positive change inside Iran was reaffirmed, as was the party’s commitment to strengthening the presence of the Peshmerga Forces in the border region between South and East (Iranian) Kurdistan.
Regarding the civil war in Syria, the leadership of PDKI believes that Russia’s intervention in the Syrian civil war will tip the balance of power in favor of the Assad regime, but could in the long run create ruptures in the alliance of convenience between Russia and Iran due to the incompatible strategic objectives of these two actors. While highlighting the brave efforts of Kurdish forces in the fight against Islamic State (ISIL) in Syria, PDKI is concerned about discord between Kurdish forces in West Kurdistan and calls for clearer Kurdish national demands on the part of the ruling Democratic Union Party (PYD). In spite of American cooperation with PYD and its relations with Russia, these powers have thus far not taken any clear stance on Kurdish national interests and demands in Syria. This is also a matter that the PDKI is concerned about.
As far as southern Kurdistan is concerned, PDKI’s leadership expresses its concern over the various crises in this part of Kurdistan. The bravery and sacrifices of the Peshmerga Forces of southern Kurdistan are reassuring in the face of the threat from ISIL. However, PDKI is worried about the discord between the main political forces in South Kurdistan in these difficult times.
Regarding the nuclear deal between Iran and world powers, PDKI’s assessment, now as well as before the signing of the deal, is that it cannot bring about any positive change inside Iran. Nor has it thus far led to any improvements in the human rights situation or in the country’s economic conditions. On the contrary, the number of executions, as highlighted in a recent report by UN’s Special Rapporteur, has increased dramatically. Systematic human rights violations reflect the true ideological nature of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Furthermore,the economic problems of Iran are structural. The primary causes of these problems are the economic policies of the regime in combination with widespread corruption and mismanagement. PDKI’s assessment is that in the absence of regime change in Iran and the existence of a democratic government, human rights violations and structural economic problems will persist in the country.
Furthermore, the nuclear deal has not changed Iran’s behavior in the Middle East. Rather, Iran’s destabilizing role in Syria, Iraq, Yemen and elsewhere has become more pronounced, as has its use of terrorism in achieving its goals. Most recently Iranian terrorist proxies in Iraq attacked unarmed women and men belonging to the Iranian opposition group MEK in Camp Liberty outside of Baghdad.
The strategically most important decision of PDKI earlier this year was to deploy its Peshmerga Forces to the border region between South and East Kurdistan. The strategic importance of this decision was reaffirmed. Several platoons of PDKI’s Peshmerga Forces have also been deployed inside East Kurdistan. The leadership of PDKI expressed its gratitude to the brave Peshmergas and the vast network of patriots in Kurdistan for their support to realize this objective.
The final item on the agenda of the PDKI’s leadership meeting was issues pertaining to the 16th Congress of the Party, which will be held in 2016.
