CONTEMPORARY EURASIA VOLUME VII (1, 2) Contemporary-Eurasia-3new | Page 100

MUSHEGH GHAHRIYAN
THE KURDISH FACTOR
IN IRAQ-GULF ARAB STATES RELATIONS
Abstract
The paper aims to study the process of slow-going normalization of the re-
lations of Iraq and the Arab countries of the Persian Gulf and the Kurdish
factor in that context. The Kurdish issue is the most complicated problem in
Iraq and poses threat to its integrity. Any country that has political and eco-
nomic interests in Iraq and develops relationship with it also will have to deal
with the ethnic and sectarian problems in the country, involving the Kurdish
issue. The paper also examines the economic, political interests of the Gulf
countries in Iraq and the Kurdish Region. It argues that the current political
situation in the Middle East creates opportunities for rapprochement of the
sides, however needs special, careful and balanced attitude from Saudi Arabia
and other Gulf Arab countries.
Keywords: Kurds, Gulf states, Iraq, rapprochement.
The Kurdish factor in Iraq
More than 35 million 1 people live in the Republic of Iraq, 15-20% of
which are the Kurds. 2 The Kurdish Regional Government was established
in 1992. Now Iraqi Kurdistan has a status of federal region with broad
autonomy based on the constitution adopted in 2005.The geopolitical bor-
ders of Iraqi Kurdish factor stretch far beyond the geographical territory
of Iraq and impacts on the political situation of the other countries in the
region.
Large Kurdish communities settle not only in Iraq, but also in Tur-
key, Syria and Iran, who claim the right of self-determination, confl icting
with the national policies of the states. On their way to self-determination
Iraqi Kurds have achieved greater progress than their counterparts living
in neighboring countries. The Iraqi Kurdish political elite succeeded in
establishing government institutions. Iraqi Kurdistan has regular armed
1
2
Iraq, The World Bank Data, http://data.worldbank.org/country/iraq (accessed March 27,
2018).
Iraq, CIA, The World Factbook, https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-fact-
book/geos/iz.html (accessed March 27,.2016).
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