Kurds welcome call for independent state
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The West Australian Senator Ross Lightfoot has championed some unexpected causes before, but nothing quite like this.
Following a visit to northern Iraq in July this year, Senator Lightfoot is calling for an independent state of Kurdistan.
Monday, 22 November , 2004 18:33:04
Reporter: Alison Caldwell
MARK COLVIN: The Kurds of northern Iraq have welcomed the support of the Australian Senator, Ross Lightfoot, who has endorsed the idea of an independent state of Kurdistan.
It's an issue with big potential repercussions.
Neighbouring Turkey has consistently opposed an independent Kurdish state, and gone so far as to threaten war if one were to be established.
As it is, Kurdistan is an autonomous region in northern Iraq, with universities, schools and hospitals, and it's been relatively untouched by the post-war violence and instability in Iraq.
But Senator Lightfoot's personal support for Kurdistan could cause some difficulties for the Federal Government, which has endorsed the status quo.
Alison Caldwell reports.
ALISON CALDWELL: The West Australian Senator Ross Lightfoot has championed some unexpected causes before, but nothing quite like this.
Following a visit to northern Iraq in July this year, Senator Lightfoot is calling for an independent state of Kurdistan.
ROSS LIGHTFOOT: I'm in support of an independent state for Kurdistan, which operates significantly as an independent state now, subject to a failure after exhaustive efforts in establishing a federation of which Kurdistan would be part of that federation.
ALISON CALDWELL: Why do you feel so strongly about it?
ROSS LIGHTFOOT: Well, it's an odd thing, but as a student of history, I have marvelled at the survival of the Kurds, their tenacity, their difference, their ethnic difference, their moral difference, their religious tolerance.
I want to do something you know, towards the latter end of my career – I've been in politics spanning 18, 19 years now – that was worthwhile, and the Kurds, have always appealed to me as people that need assisting.
ALISON CALDWELL: It's a sensitive issue. Turkey has threatened to invade northern Iraq if an independent state of Kurdistan is established.
At the moment, Kurdistan is an autonomous state, but Turkey wants to minimise Kurdish power and autonomy on both sides of the border.
For the past 30 years, the Kurds have fought for civil rights on behalf of 20 million ethnic Kurds in Turkey. More than 30,000 people have died in the conflict which has left more than two million people homeless.
Senator Lightfoot believes the situation with Turkey can be negotiated.
(to Ross Lightfoot) Turkey has threatened to invade northern Iraq if there's an independent state of Kurdistan. How could you negotiate?
ROSS LIGHTFOOT: Well it would be subject to the concurrence of those border countries. We must remember of course, Syria is not a democracy. Turkey is, although has some question marks about the total commitment to democracy, but it is improving there.
I think it ought to be remembered too that Turkey want to enter the European Union, and part of that would be that it maintain a peaceful co-existence with its neighbours.
ALISON CALDWELL: The Turkish embassy wouldn't comment on the Senator's position.
Not surprisingly, the Kurdish Regional Government has welcomed Senator Lightfoot's support.
Simko Halmet is the KRG's representative in Australia.
SIMKO HALMET: We need this kind of encouragement from the Australian politicians.
ALISON CALDWELL: With the support that you've received from Senator Lightfoot, do you read that as Australian Federal Government support?
SIMKO HALMET: I believe so. I believe so. I believe that Senator Lightfoot is very influential into the Australian politics.
ALISON CALDWELL: The Federal Government will only say that it supports ongoing autonomy for the Kurdish people of northern Iraq as part of a sovereign Iraqi nation.
But the Opposition says Senator Lightfoot's announcement requires an explanation from the Federal Government.
Labor's Foreign Affairs Spokesman, Kevin Rudd.
KEVIN RUDD: Senator Lightfoot's new foreign policy initiative on behalf of the Howard Government I'm sure is attracting some interested reaction in Turkey, Syria, Iraq and Iran.
I assume Foreign Minister Downer has the clearance of all four governments in support of this brand new, Howard Government initiative in support of an independent Kurdistan.
The bottom line is this: you can't have government senators simply out there free-wheeling on questions of sensitive foreign policy. Either the Howard Government supports the upcoming democratic process, supervised by the United Nations in Iraq, for the future of that country or it doesn't.
ALISON CALDWELL: Senator Lightfoot says Woodside Energy paid for his trip.
Last week, Woodside Energy announced that it had signed a two-year agreement with the Iraqi Oil Ministry to identify oil and gas projects in Kurdistan.
Since the announcement less than a week ago, Woodside shares have jumped more than six per cent.
MARK COLVIN: Alison Caldwell.
It's an issue with big potential repercussions.
Neighbouring Turkey has consistently opposed an independent Kurdish state, and gone so far as to threaten war if one were to be established.
As it is, Kurdistan is an autonomous region in northern Iraq, with universities, schools and hospitals, and it's been relatively untouched by the post-war violence and instability in Iraq.
But Senator Lightfoot's personal support for Kurdistan could cause some difficulties for the Federal Government, which has endorsed the status quo.
Alison Caldwell reports.
ALISON CALDWELL: The West Australian Senator Ross Lightfoot has championed some unexpected causes before, but nothing quite like this.
Following a visit to northern Iraq in July this year, Senator Lightfoot is calling for an independent state of Kurdistan.
ROSS LIGHTFOOT: I'm in support of an independent state for Kurdistan, which operates significantly as an independent state now, subject to a failure after exhaustive efforts in establishing a federation of which Kurdistan would be part of that federation.
ALISON CALDWELL: Why do you feel so strongly about it?
ROSS LIGHTFOOT: Well, it's an odd thing, but as a student of history, I have marvelled at the survival of the Kurds, their tenacity, their difference, their ethnic difference, their moral difference, their religious tolerance.
I want to do something you know, towards the latter end of my career – I've been in politics spanning 18, 19 years now – that was worthwhile, and the Kurds, have always appealed to me as people that need assisting.
ALISON CALDWELL: It's a sensitive issue. Turkey has threatened to invade northern Iraq if an independent state of Kurdistan is established.
At the moment, Kurdistan is an autonomous state, but Turkey wants to minimise Kurdish power and autonomy on both sides of the border.
For the past 30 years, the Kurds have fought for civil rights on behalf of 20 million ethnic Kurds in Turkey. More than 30,000 people have died in the conflict which has left more than two million people homeless.
Senator Lightfoot believes the situation with Turkey can be negotiated.
(to Ross Lightfoot) Turkey has threatened to invade northern Iraq if there's an independent state of Kurdistan. How could you negotiate?
ROSS LIGHTFOOT: Well it would be subject to the concurrence of those border countries. We must remember of course, Syria is not a democracy. Turkey is, although has some question marks about the total commitment to democracy, but it is improving there.
I think it ought to be remembered too that Turkey want to enter the European Union, and part of that would be that it maintain a peaceful co-existence with its neighbours.
ALISON CALDWELL: The Turkish embassy wouldn't comment on the Senator's position.
Not surprisingly, the Kurdish Regional Government has welcomed Senator Lightfoot's support.
Simko Halmet is the KRG's representative in Australia.
SIMKO HALMET: We need this kind of encouragement from the Australian politicians.
ALISON CALDWELL: With the support that you've received from Senator Lightfoot, do you read that as Australian Federal Government support?
SIMKO HALMET: I believe so. I believe so. I believe that Senator Lightfoot is very influential into the Australian politics.
ALISON CALDWELL: The Federal Government will only say that it supports ongoing autonomy for the Kurdish people of northern Iraq as part of a sovereign Iraqi nation.
But the Opposition says Senator Lightfoot's announcement requires an explanation from the Federal Government.
Labor's Foreign Affairs Spokesman, Kevin Rudd.
KEVIN RUDD: Senator Lightfoot's new foreign policy initiative on behalf of the Howard Government I'm sure is attracting some interested reaction in Turkey, Syria, Iraq and Iran.
I assume Foreign Minister Downer has the clearance of all four governments in support of this brand new, Howard Government initiative in support of an independent Kurdistan.
The bottom line is this: you can't have government senators simply out there free-wheeling on questions of sensitive foreign policy. Either the Howard Government supports the upcoming democratic process, supervised by the United Nations in Iraq, for the future of that country or it doesn't.
ALISON CALDWELL: Senator Lightfoot says Woodside Energy paid for his trip.
Last week, Woodside Energy announced that it had signed a two-year agreement with the Iraqi Oil Ministry to identify oil and gas projects in Kurdistan.
Since the announcement less than a week ago, Woodside shares have jumped more than six per cent.
MARK COLVIN: Alison Caldwell.
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