Assad: Syria opposes establishment of independent Kurdish state

Al Bawaba, the Middle East Gateway ^ | January 05 2004

[knighthawk]

Syria opposes any attempt to carve up its neighbour Iraq and in particular to the establishment of an independent Kurdish state, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said in a television interview aired on Monday.

"We are opposed not only to a Kurdish state but also to any action against the territorial integrity of Iraq," he told the Turkish-language station of CNN television on the eve of a historic visit to Turkey, the first by a Syrian leader for 58 years.

On Tuesday, al-Assad and his wife will start a three-day state visit to Turkey. Al-Assad is expected to hold talks with the Turkish President Ahmad Necdet Sezer and senior officials.

"Iraq's future is bound to the future of all of us," Assad said during the interview. "For that reason, the break-up of Iraq would be a red line, not only as far as Syria and Turkey are concerned, but for all the countries in the region."

[knighthawk]

Ping

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[highlander_UW]

Is that a picture of one of the audience members at the Dim debates yesterday?

[highlander_UW]

And Assad thinks his opinions count why...?

[Rays_Dad]

Afraid of the Kurdish state are we?

[RightWhale]

"We are opposed not only to a Kurdish state but also to any action against the territorial integrity of Iraq,"

This issue was resolved last year. Iraq will not be carved up. Doesn't Assad spend any time on FR at all? Sheesh.

[RonF]

Syria doesn't want a Kurdistan. Russia doesn't want a Kurdistan. Iraq doesn't want a Kurdistan. Iran doesn't want a Kurdistan.

Gee. Doesn't setting up Kurdistan sound like a good idea?

[LN2Campy]

Countries with Kurdish minorities are nervous, because an autonomous Iraqi "Kurdistan" encourages other Kurds to slice off a piece of (pick one or all) Turkey, Iran, Syria and form a larger and more viable Kurdistan.

Keeping an intact Iraq may not be the best idea--the country is another fictitious legacy of WWI, kind of like Yugoslavia, which, like Iraq, could only be held together by an autocrat. The main problem with allowing a dissolution is when the Shia in the south form an Islamic "republic"...

[wtc911]

You forgot turkey...the biggest losers if Kurdistan is created.

[Rays_Dad]

Like you said, I am worried about the numerous Islamic states that will form if these unstable countries start splintering. It seems as though there is atleast one sect in each country that would be more than willing to break away and more a completely relegious government.

[RonF]

Absolutely. I meant to type it in. Sure wish FR had a post-posting edit function.

[PISANO]

This would be NEWS......ONLY if Assad stated just the OPPOSITE for his opinion is in line with the stated objectives of this administration.