(MENAFN- Alghad Newspaper)
Jordan is not one to openly state its stand on the Kurdish independence referendum in Iraq, out of the countries surrounding Iraq. On the geo-political level, the Kurds' independence from Iraq does not affect Jordan directly.
Compared to its reflections on Turkey, Iran, and Syria, where millions of Kurds there dream still of their own independent state and identity, Jordan's stakes in the matter are relatively insignificant.
However, when revisiting Jordan's political literatures on Iraq, the entirety of the political rhetoric, nothing indicates Jordan has supported separatists there by any means.
Quite contrarily, Jordan's position on Iraq has always maintained the priority of Iraqi unities, both people and land. Meanwhile, Jordan has always underscored the importance of equal rights to all components of the Iraqi society, and their rights to partake in decision making.
The same goes for the Jordanian people, who share their view on all Arab states undergoing disputes and division.
However, in the midst of a region which is aligned against the referendum, and an international stance opposing it, Jordan cannot —alone— take a different stand.
Despite the fact that Jordan is minimally affected by the Kurdish aspiration, the fact remains that the entire region is under threat of division.
The Kurdish dream coming true would influence and inspire other similar dreams across the Arab region.
Of course, the result is the states' disintegration into sectarian, ethnic, and religious entities, and naturally, this does not appease Jordan's interests.
The fear is that the Kurdish separation would kick start a domino effect of separatist agendas, all seeking the same goals.
If the Kurds in Iraq attain their independence, other Jordan-affiliated sub-groups of the Iraqi social fabric, as torn as it is, will look to us for support of their own separatist aspirations.
Jordan can't have that!
Early on, Jordan made up its mind against the referendum.
The Kingdom's official, political stance on Kurdistan was conveyed clearly to the world, that it will not condone any unilateral, separatist agendas.
In fact, Jordan has been closely involved in the efforts to advance Iraqi national reconciliation, and has engaged in countless negotiations with prominent Iraqi political figures.
In Syria, where the demography is far more complicated than it is in Iraq, as well as far more reflective on Jordan, any such aspiration affects gravely the Kingdom's interests. Not to mention the hard-earned ceasefire/
This is why Jordan was far more persistent on Syria's unity than it is now on Iraq's in the face of division and foreign dominion.
Even though Jordan remains greatly unaffected by the Kurdish aspirations in Iraq, the Kingdom's historical relationship with the nation just to the east of us has its weight.
More importantly, Jordan and Iraq have reconstruct stronger and closer bilateral ties in these last few years.
Jordan cannot just suddenly dispose of its friendship with the Iraqi central government and its political leadership!
In fact, the global and regional war against terrorism has brought many of the region's leadership closer, via security and military cooperation, in this war against ISIS.
The Kurds themselves, on many occasions, have praised Jordan's role and support in the war against terror, prefaced by growing economic ties between Jordan and the Kurdish-region.
Many Jordanian businessmen have invested money in Kurdish businesses.
Despite our good relationship with the Kurds in Iraq, Jordan cannot just abandon its friends in the central Iraqi government, stand alone in the face of a world opposing the referendum.
As the regional situation unfolds in ways unimaginable, Jordan has only to offer advice, to avoid the entire region a major war that could bring unfathomable woes to an already frail regional situation.
No matter how hard you try, the best you'll get from a Jordanian official on the Kurdish referendum is a caution statement, careful to cause damage to ties with either side.
This article is an edited translation of the Arabic version, published by AlGhad.
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