Foundation facilitates a multi-party dialogue on the conflict over Kirkuk/Iraq

A sample of Iraq's ethnic diversity

Twenty-three leading politicians and civil society officials from Kirkuk representing the major communities and political parties, including members of the Provincial Council, accepted the Foundation’s invitation to attend a workshop in Amman, Jordan on 10 – 14 May, 2008.
The workshop was sponsored by the German Institute for Foreign Cultural Relations and supported by the Foreign Office of Germany.

Discussion on mechanisms of power sharing on the municipal level

This event aimed at helping to establish an understanding of the various conflicts concerning Kirkuk, including the region’s status, the processes by which to determine it, questions of governance and service delivery, and language, and facilitating discussions on possible solutions.
The Foundation’s inclusive approach to bring together the main political and social movements has been the first attempt ever by the international community to provide a platform which takes all legitimate interests by all players into consideration.

Managing linguistic diversity

Kirkuk is a mixed city and governorate of Kurds, Arabs, Turkomans and smaller minorities (especially Chaldeans and Assyrians, both Christian groups). It also happens to sit on one of Iraq’s largest oil fields, which accounts for 13% of Iraq’s proven reserves.
Given its economic importance not only for the region of Kurdistan but also to the central government in Iraq and the historic claims to the city by all ethnic groups living in the city and governorate, Kirkuk is a potential powder keg for the stability of Iraq.
Expressing his satisfaction about the successful endeavour of this workshop, Joost Hiltermann, Deputy Programme Director for the Middle East & North Africa of the International Crisis Group and an advisor to the Foundation for the workshop, said: “Due to the enduring volatile situation in Iraq, including Kirkuk, and the presence of powerful internal and external spoilers, international actors will need to show major resolve to prevent the Kirkuk crisis from escalating and instead bring it to a peaceful conclusion.”

“We hope we were able to provide the basis for an inclusive Iraqi political process on Kirkuk and we encourage the international community to follow our path in providing opportunities for negotiated solutions”, said Annemie De Winter, Resident Representative of the Foundation in Jordan.

As of 2005 the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Liberty has been supporting the political reconstruction process in Iraq with a series of workshops and study tours on constitutional developments and conflict resolution.

Philipp Hansen
Project Coordinator
Amman, Jordan