Iran partly to blame for delay in Kurdish cabinet formation / CENGIZ CANDAR

IRANIAN INTERVENTION IN SOUTH KURDISTAN

09.03.2014 – Hemin Salih – BasNews, Erbil – Turkish journalist Cengiz Candar claims the reason behind the delay in the formation of the Kurdistan Region’s eighth cabinet is Iran and Tehran’s influence over Gorran and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK).  

In an article written for Al-Monitor, Candar explains that Iran’s interference, and especially commander-in-chief of the Quds Forces Qasem Soleimani, are partly to blame for this delay. “Soleimani often comes to Suliaymania and meets with PUK and Gorran, he has tremendous influence not only in Suliaymania but in all of Iraq,” said Candar.

”Some believe that Soleimani governs Iraq through Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki,” added Candar. Candar believes that one of the reasons behind Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu’s recent visit Sulaymaniyah was Turkey’s need to compete with Iran and strengthen its ties with Sulaymaniyah. Davutoğlu met with the Goran Movement leader, Nawshirwan Mustafa and as well as PUK members. In his meeting with Goran leader, he asked Mustafa to open offices in Turkey. The formation of the Kurdistan Region cabinet has partly been delayed because of division and differences between the three main parties: PUK, Gorran and the leading Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP).