Maliki’s new opportunity

TEHRAN,May 5(MNA)--Amid the political unrest in Iraq, Kurdish MPs and ministers recently decided to end their walkout and return to their posts in the central government, despite repeated calls by some Arab governments for them to continue their protest. The move was also endorsed by some major Sunni figures in Iraq, who categorically condemned the recent terrorist attacks by al-Qaeda in al-Anbar province. This shows that the anti-Iraq front, comprised of reactionary Arab rulers and their Western supporters, has failed to realize their objectives in the country. Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki’s successful resistance against internal pressure has improved his image inside and outside Iraq. Maliki’s decisive response to the intensification of violence in Kirkuk, which was mainly organized by Kurdish peshmerga guerrillas, clearly showed that the central government in Baghdad still has effective control over the security situation in Iraq. Tribal leaders in al-Anbar province have been worried about the recent provocations by al-Qaeda extremists, who are reportedly associated with the notorious al-Qaeda leader Abu Abdullah al-Baghdadi. In fact, they feared that the group could take advantage of the street protests and gradually begin to dominate the region. This prompted the leader of the al-Anbar Awakening Councils, Ahmed Abu Risha, to call on the people to cooperate with the Iraqi army in the campaign against the terrorists. The recent agreement between Maliki and the Kurdistan Regional Government was also a major achievement for Maliki. The two sides have agreed to establish four committees to resolve their disputes. Moreover, Maliki and KRG Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani’s decision to activate their political offices in Kurdistan and Baghdad shows that they are determined to reach a consensus. These developments have prepared the ground for all political parties and groups in Iraq to once again sit down at the negotiating table and set aside their differences. This provides a great opportunity for Maliki to devise a mechanism to settle the disputes and avoid any intensification of the conflict. Saadollah Zarei is a senior columnist and expert on the Middle East based in Tehran. (By Saadollah Zarei)