Kurds optimistic about peaceful resolution of crisis

Arbil: Kurds have lived the past 40 days under great strain because of Turkish threats to conduct a military invasion. Thousands of Iraqi Kurdish villages close to the Iraqi-Turkish borders have been threatened under the pretext of stopping the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) elements.

Gulf News interviewed citizens in Arbil after the end of Istanbul's Iraq neighbouring countries conference.

Farhad Samara, a Kurdish merchant, told Gulf News: "Ninety per cent of my goods are Turkish and this is the case with other merchants in the market, that means any war on the Iraqi-Turkish border or in the region, will destroy hundreds of merchants' lives. I feel the crisis will be resolved peacefully and there are political sources in Arbil and Baghdad that confirm that."

Military threat

Kurdistan Airline sources told Gulf News flights from Arbil to Istanbul had resumed after ceasing for a week. This indicates the crisis of the PKK and military threats close to the borders is diminishing.

"I'm not a politician but I have followed the Iraqi-Turkish crisis from the beginning because any escalation means halting the construction movement... If war takes place it will be a catastrophe for all, but after the Istanbul forum perhaps there are signs of relief and this brings joy," Zacros Mullah Sherman, an engineer at a construction company, told Gulf News.

In Arbil, there are dozens of Turkish companies who specialise in paving roads and building bridges and tunnels. The province hopes Turkish companies and other foreign companies will contribute to turn Arbil into a contemporary city.

"The situation seems better and the release of the eight kidnapped Turkish soldiers by the PKK with the help of Iraq's Kurdistan President Massoud Al Barazani confirms the crisis is on its way to a solution.

"I think all parties realise they will be losers if war takes place in the region and the US considers any Turkish military invasion as a threat to its strategy to stabilise Iraq," Qamar Azadi, a political science student at Saladdin University said.

Some civil organisations in Arbil intend to organise events to celebrate the end of this crisis.

"We will chant and dance when we are sure the PKK crisis is over because we are people of peace," Mariam Sakron, an activist in the Kurdish Women's Development Association told Gulf News.