Hemin Hawrami says the US and West have no red-lines against declaring statehood for Kurdistan

ERBIL — Though the US and west have not turned on the green light for Kurdistan Region's authorities to declare statehood, they have not opposed it either, said Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP)'s chief of foreign relations, adding that the time for announcing Kurdistan's independence is near.

In an interview with the Egyptian Sawt ul Umma [Voice of Nation] magazine, Hemin Hawrami said "declaring statehood for Kurdistan has come closer and it should finally get announced but ….after negotiation with Baghdad government."

Hawarmi thinks with the establishment and legalization of the Shi'ite militias of Popular Mobilization Forces (Hashd al-Sha'bi in Arabic) and the Council of Tribes, as well as the deteriorating rifts between the Iraqi Sunnis and Shi'ites, Baghdad's future is vague.

"Kurdistan Region will become a state, as Kurds do not wish to share this unclear situation of Baghdad and be part to an unclear future," said Hawarmi.

Asked whether the internal conditions in Kurdistan Region are appropriate for declaring independence, KDP chief for foreign relations said that prior to declaring any statehood across the world, "ideal conditions" have never existed.

He insists Kurds' becoming a major player in the war against terrorism and their reputation as protector of all ethnicities and minorities and their human sense of responsibility for sheltering IDPs and refugees has led the US and west "deem Kurdistan as a partner whom they can count on in a volatile area as Mideast," and this will pave the way for declaring statehood.