PREFACE
In South Kurdistan, along with many other developments, the holding of elections in 1992 within six months, the formation of a parliament and government and the declaration of a federal state are historic steps for all Kurdsand the pride of the Kurdish nation. The mistakes and shortcomings that exist, the “suicidal war” that is causing great damage to these achievements and the cause of Kurds and Kurdistan, cannot diminish the importance of these achievements and institutions.
When I personally went to South Kurdistan and witnessed national achievements and experiences that are full of valuable lessons for Kurds in other parts of Kurdistan; I decided to conduct a study on the methods of conducting the work and institutions of the Federal State of Kurdistan (DFK). The current situation was very interesting. Although the DFK was officially a "federation", in practice it was like an independent state. Because it was a unilateral federation and was not accepted by the Saddam regime, the Kurds were forced to run all their affairs on their own. This fact, even if not officially stated, gave the DFK a special function.
After my sentence was confirmed in Turkey and I went to South Kurdistan in January 1994, this was a good opportunity for me to conduct this research. There were two aspects of the preparation: collecting documents and conducting interviews.
Other than Prime Minister Kosrat Rasul Ali, I met almost all the heads of the institutions and organizations that I had identified. I wanted to meet Kosrat Resul Ali after all the interviews, but when I wanted to meet him, the question of time arose. He set a time for the interview twice, but the news reached me late. After all, the “suicide” war broke out later. Due to the absence of the Minister of Culture and the lack of time of the Minister of Finance and Economy, I conducted interviews with their deputies.
I tried to create a general picture of the main questions and issues. DFK was a new experience, but I asked some questions to clarify the main positions. Sometimes heated discussions also occurred. Depending on the atmosphere of the interviews, I used the word "you" both in singular och in plural form.
At first, I did not think of publishing the interviews in their entirety. However, both the picture that emerged during the process of conducting the interviews and the need to include the views of representatives of the Kurdistan community, showing the situation before the “suicide war, were the reasons for publishing some of the interviews as a book.
In order to avoid repetition in the reading, I summarized some of the questions that were asked to many people and removed some of my own interpretations from some of the questions. I also removed the initial greetings and final wishes from the interviews.
Since the administrative division based on the "fifty-fifty" system between Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) was showing its effect in every field, I also named the book "Kurdistan with fifty-fifty", meaning Kurdistan governed by the "fifty-fifty" system.
I would like to express my gratitude to the staff of the KDP Press Relations Bureau, the PUK National Relations Bureau, and all the friends and acquaintances who helped in the preparation of the book for their valuable assistance.
Hoping that on the third anniversary of the declaration of the DFK on the basis of protecting national interests, there will be no more “suicidal” wars and the national liberation process that was interrupted in South Kurdistan on May 2, 1994, will be adorned with new achievements.
Osman Aytar
September 1995
Stockholm: Weşanên Jîna Nû/ Jîna Nû Books , 1995, 1. , p. 318