CARNEGIE ENDOWMENT FOR INTERNATIONAL PEACE: PREVENTING CONFLICT OVER KURDISTAN

Henri Barkey, in his publication for the Carnegie Endowment, calls for conflict prevention in areas of Kurdish settlement.  Among his policy recommendation for the United States, Barkey suggests:

1. Break the deadlock between the Iraqi government and the Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) over oil and gas revenue sharing and refugee resettlement. This will go a long way toward rebuilding trust and preventing Kirkuk from becoming a flashpoint—the first priority for the United States. 

2. Solidify the dialogue between Turkey and the KRG through U.S. involvement. Warming relations between Turkey and the KRG would stabilize the region and aid in a smooth U.S. troop withdrawal.

Question to the Blogosphere:  In your opinion, would these recommendations help the Kurdish people search for common ground with their neighbors?  What are some issues over which the search for common ground could be terminated?  What common interests do Turkish and Kurdish people have?  What are some trust-building exercises that could be employed by negotiators in Kirkuk to bring peace to the oil-rich region in Iraq?  Is the United States the right actor to be fulfilling these recommendations?