Kurdistan

Abstract

"We must see Kurdistan in comparison with other similar societies. I will give three examples. First, we have regions which are far less fortunate than Kurdistan. Consider Kashmir which is shared by three nuclear powers – China, India and Pakistan. Two of these middle-range powers (India and Pakistan) have been engaged in years of skirmishes over the control of this region. For many years, Kashmiris have been struggling for independence, but their aspiration is far from being achieved. Second we have societies which have managed to gain their independence with mixed results. Good examples include Somaliland and Puntland who declared independence from Somalia, a weak state that collapsed in 1991. Unfortunately both Somaliland and Puntland are yet to secure international recognition. Somaliland submitted its application for international recognition to the UN since the early 1990s, but the body is yet to recognize it. Another example is Kosovo which recently declared independence, but is yet to achieve recognition from many actors in the international community. Many powerful states and organizations in the international community are not in a mood to grant recognition to seceding states because doing so will set dangerous precedent for others. It is perhaps because of the Kosovo precedent that Russia recently recognized the South Ossetia and Abkhazia which declared independence from Georgia – following recent civil war in late 2008. Finally, we have regions which are very fortunate to gain independence after years of struggle. A good example is Eritrea which is fully recognized by the international community."(pg 209)