Statement

No to the Military Option - No to the Dictatorship..

Yes to the Diplomatic Solution

30 November 1998

A joint statement issued on 13 November 1998 by the Politburo of the Iraqi Communist Party and the Politburo of the Kurdistan Communist Party - Iraq, dealt with the recent crisis created by the Iraqi regime with the United Nations. The following is the full text of this statement which was issued in Arbil - Iraq:

«Once again the dictatorial regime has escalated the policy of confrontation with the UN and has created a new crisis by refusing to work with inspection teams, in accordance with its decisions dated 5 August 1998 and 31 October 1998, thus backing down from its obligations regarding UN resolutions related to the elimination of weapons of mass destruction.

Once again the United States has escalated the confrontation and threatens to resort to the military option to force Saddam’s regime to comply with UN resolutions, exploiting its obstinacy to mass fleets and armed forces in anticipating of confrontation.

The situation today is fraught with grave consequences for the whole region as a result of the current crisis, which demonstrates once again the aggressive nature of the dictatorial regime and the policy of brinkmanship which it is pursuing to divert attention from its deepening internal crisis. It also demonstrates its disregard for the fate of the people and homeland as a result of its mounting desperation and frustration. The regime is thus involving our country in adventures with unforeseen consequences.

World public opinion has been surprised by the escalation instigated by the Baghdad rulers, as it came one day after the UN Security Council has approved the proposals of the UN Secretary General with respect to conducting an overall review of the sanctions.

All the facts point to the fact that the dictatorial regime is more frightened of the people who have grown tired of the repetition of such follies than fearful of a military strike. This is why it has been massing its forces and intelligence organs in the cities and streets, as it fears mounting resentment among the people.

Under these complex conditions, in which several commentators have been talking about scenarios of war and its possible consequences, the regime persists with its blatant anti-people policy, and continues its military build-up on the borders with the liberated areas in Iraqi Kurdistan. It is no coincidence that these developments have coincided with the new Turkish invasion. Turkish troops which number more than 25,000 soldiers have invaded our territories under the pretext of pursuing the Kurdistan Workers Party, whereas the Turkish government aims to use this aggression to further its covetous designs against our country.

The dictatorial regime bears principal responsibility for these grave developments, which aggravated our people’s tragedy under the economic blockade and dictatorship. The US and the UN meanwhile also bear responsibly for our people’s suffering as a result of the continued economic blockade.

Our Party believes that the diplomatic solution of the crisis will spare our people and homeland grave consequences. Accordingly, it calls for pressure to be applied to avert the USA of force and to compel the Iraqi regime to rescind its stand unconditionally, implement UN resolutions relating to the elimination of weapons of mass destruction, and to stop the policy of stalling and procrastination.

The tragic situation in our country also requires the intensification of efforts by the international community to lift the economic blockade from our people, so as to alleviate their immeasurable suffering and hardship.

These critical and difficult developments through which our country is going to require from our people’s active forces with all their tendencies, to rise to the challenge dictated by the ordeal, to unite the ranks and potential for the sake of achieving our people’s aspirations for lifting the economic blockade, overthrowing the dictatorship and establishing a unifies federal democratic Iraq. Only this can ensure that peace and stability return to our country and the region.

We call for urgent action by the international community to bring about a diplomatic solution of the crisis, because our country is facing the danger of destruction, and our people are threaten with annihilation. The catastrophe must be averted before it is too late.

Let the efforts and potential be united to avert the option of war and to adopt the diplomatic solution of the crisis!»

The politburo of the Iraqi Communist Party

The politburo of the Kurdistan Communist Party - Iraq.

Arbil - Iraq

13 November 1998