Felah Salah, Political Observer from South Kurdistan, evaluated the Turkish state’s plans in the region for ANF.

Saleh said that the Turkish state wanted to create a new Sykes-Picot in order to protect its interests in the aftermath of the war, and that Turkey’s participation would harm Mosul operation. Salah noted that Mosul and Kirkuk are places where Arabs, Assyrians, Turkmens, Êzidîs, Shias and Sunnis live together, emphasized the importance of keeping war away from these areas in order to prevent a deeper war to take place in the future. He also underlined that the PKK could be included in Mosul operation, and emphasized the importance of Mosul for Kurdish people.

Salah said "Kurdish defense forces protect all people, not only Kurds” and emphasized that Kurdistan region would be safe if Mosul, Kirkuk and Diyala were safe.

“SUPPORT CAME WHEN KURDS RESISTED”

Felah Salah stated that Kurds began to receive support when they put up an effective resistance against ISIS gangs in Rojava, and that the support to Mosul operation was connected with this resistance. Regarding the Turkish state’s desire to participate in Mosul operation, Salah said “Mosul’s liberation will upset the plans of the Turkish state because Turkey believes that it can benefit as long as the wars in Syria and Iraq continue. Turkey wants to participate in Mosul Operation because it does not want the crisis and the war to end. Turkey knows well that it cannot have any influence after ISIS is defeated in the region.”

Salah emphasized that the KDP supports the insistence of the Turkish state, continuing as follows: "Iraq is currently going through a tough period. Turkey has occupied both Iraq and Syria, which has brought forth criticism against Erdoğan. I think Turkey’s threats are empty because Turkey will not be allowed to join the Mosul operation. Erdoğan wants to create a new Sykes-Picot. He has the old Ottoman mentality and sees himself as a sultan. Lets be careful that Sunni groups are trained by Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkey. But I think that Turkey will be harmed the most if it enters this war.

"KURDS MUST ESTABLISH A JOINT NATIONAL DEFENSE FORCE"

Salah pointed out that Mosul is an extremely important geography because it connects Rojava to South Kurdistan, and emphasized the Kurds’ need for establishing a joint national defense force in order to protect this region. He said "Places like Shengal and Zummar are under Kurds’ control and connect South Kurdistan to Rojava. I believe that with a national force made up of peshmergas and guerrillas, Kurds can take control of and defend this region."

Salah noted that there is no problem between peshmergas and guerrillas, and the problems today are between political powers and result from the economical relations the South Kurdistan government established with the Turkish state.

"SLAVERY, NOT STRATEGY!"

Lastly, Felah Salah highlighted that the relation between the governments of South Kurdistan and Turkey was not strategic and added “It is clearly being Turkey’s slave. South Kurdistan policies are determined by the Turkish state. South Kurdistan cannot make independent decisions about its own future. There is only one way out for the Kurds and that is deciding upon their future together by convening a national congress. Kurdish defense forces must unite under the same roof. If this happens, Kurds will no longer be in danger in places such as Shengal and Kobanê.”