CONTEMPORARY EURASIA VOLUME VII (1, 2) Contemporary-Eurasia-3new | Page 112

CONTEMPORARY EURASIA
problems in the region could off er some common ground towards cooper-
ation between the Kurds and the majority of the GCC states. 44
A balanced policy towards Iraq and Iraqi Kurdistan will allow Sau-
di Arabia to deepen relations with Erbil and dispel concerns of Baghdad.
The confrontation between Iran and Saudi Arabia puts Iraq and other
countries of the region under pressure from both sides. Iraqi Kurdistan
will face the same problems, if it becomes an independent state. Iraqi
Kurdistan will have to conduct a policy of combining the interests of
Iran, Turkey and Saudi Arabia, as well as maintain internal stability and
consensus between KDP and PUK and other political parties. There is a
widely accepted opinion that Kurdish authorities made a mistake by ne-
glecting negotiated solution with Baghdad and focused on international
support in their bid of independence. If Kurdish offi cials agree with this
opinion, they will avoid attempts of gaining more autonomy without tak-
ing into consideration the interests of the whole country.
Conclusion
The rapprochement of GCC states and Iraq is the logical refl ection of
ongoing processes in the Middle East. Wars, instability, rivalry, non-state
actors are shaking many countries of the region. No one feels secure. The
states have to exert maximum eff orts to keep the threat away from its bor-
ders. Iraq avoids taking sides in regional confl icts and advocates for pre-
serving status-quo in order to keep good relations with the neighbors and
prevent sectarian tensions inside the country. In 2017 Iraq showed its neu-
trality in the confl ict between Qatar and Saudi Arabia and some other states.
The Kurdish issue is the most complicated problem in Iraq and pos-
es threat to its integrity. Any country building relationship with Iraq also
will have to deal with the ethnic and sectarian problems in Iraq, involving
the Kurdish issue.
Iran’s and Turkey’s policy towards Iraqi Kurdistan is the part of wider
Kurdish policy and strategy. Having their own Kurdish issues, Iran and
Turkey are reluctant to see a recognized Kurdish state in their neighbor-
hood as it can inspire the Kurds living within their borders. Both keep
vigilant eye on the developments in Iraqi Kurdistan and do not restrain
themselves from interfering. In contrary to Iran and Turkey, Saudi Arabia
or other GCC countries do not have their own Kurdish problem and are
relieved of this problem.
44
Marianna Charountaki, “The GCC in Kurdish Politics,” Journal of Arabian Studies 6, no. 2,
(2016): 203.
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