US forces presence a new dispute In Kirkuk

KIRKUK / IraqiNews.com: Disputes continue among political blocs for Kirkuk ethnic groups, concentrating this time on the continued presence or departure of U.S. forces at the end of this year. Arab representatives in the province refuse any extension, while a Kurdish representative says that the continued presence of these forces is important at this stage. The Turkmen have not issued a clear-cut viewpoint. Member of Kirkuk Provincial Council (Arab component) Sheikh Abdulla Al-Asi said that the “Arabs completely reject the American forces in Iraq,” commenting on their stance on U.S. forces “Any meeting on this subject was not held. We have not met anyone, we have no agreement, I completely deny talks about our approving the continued presence of U.S. forces, because their presence is a great catastrophe and every Iraqi who loves his country rejects the occupation”, he elaborated. Kirkuk Acting Police Director General Torhan Abdul Rahman said in a press conference during the middle of this week that all political blocs in the province called for the continued presence of U.S. forces in Kirkuk until all crises facing the province are resolved.  The Arab Group in Kirkuk‘s Provincial Council confirmed the necessity of implementing the security agreement with the United States and their withdrawal by the end of this year. Deputy Governor Rakan Saeed confirmed this stance in press statements. The Kirkuk Arab stance is different from the Kurds, who see the necessity for U.S. forces to remain until all complicated dossiers are solved in the province, in combination with an enhancement in the security stability. A Kurdish Provincial member affirmed that the continued presence of U.S. forces is important at this time, because there are “a lot of problems which are not yet solved. In addition, there are external elements that want sectarian differences, thus the presence of these forces is necessary to guarantee stability”. Member of the Turkmen Front Tahseen K’ha’ya said “there is no clear cut opinion on the presence of the forces” and “no meeting was made to discuss this matter.” He confirmed that the presence of the forces depends on the security agreement signed with the United States.” “If there is a necessity for their continued presence, the agreement should be revised through the Iraqi Parliament”, he added. The Iraqi-U.S. agreement, signed late November 2008, stipulated the withdrawal all U.S. forces from Iraqi territory, sea and space in a date not more than 31 December 2011. The American combat forces abided by this agreement when they withdrew from towns, cities and villages by 30 June 2009. This difference in Kirkuk‘s components adds new differing viewpoints, in addition to differences related to administration, distribution of posts and implementation of Article 140 of the Iraqi constitution. All these to be added to daily security breaches and explosions. The oil rich province of Kirkuk lies 250 km north of the capital where Kurds, Arabs and Turkmen (Shiites and Sunnis) live side by side with the Christians. It remains one of the main disputed areas between Baghdad and Arbil. It is a long and acute difference among the Arabs, Turks and Turkmen on how to administer it, while the Kurds want it to join Kurdistan and the Arabs with Baghdad. The Turkmen want it to be an independent region. RM (TR)/SR 1153