Formerly, Ali Yunessi was appointed to the special assistant of the president for tribes and religious minorities’ affairs. He answered some questions about Iranian tribes by Iranian university students’ news agency that called ISNA.

Yunessi stated the affairs relating to Iranian tribes and religious minorities have to include just the same as place as the constitution has anticipated. The constitution and other legal sources have anticipated the same place for all Iranian citizens as Iranian tribes and religious minorities. He did not stand this saying gone by tribal minorities personages addressing being multi-nations of Iran and believed Iran has one nation. In his view, not a tribe is superior to others. Each citizen takes his own share as limited. He went on saying: in Iran history, unlike in many other countries, fortunately we had no record in tribal evanescent and conflicts, combats, and tribal massacre. By all means there has been sensitivities limited to locals, even though Iranian nation like Baluch, Kurd, Turk, Lor, . . . live together and have no any problem and there is also extreme compounding and mixing.

 As continuing this talk, Yunessi considered the security attitude to each part of Iran dangerous and noted the security attitude means a part of Iran is regarded menace and strange, and the attitude as such causes us to define  a security modus operandy and they lay in a defense position and tend to separate. Actually the security attitude causes in that region and part not a cultural, sociological and economic development occur, as far as I know there has been no security attitude in states and governments.

 He went on saying that presently there are 15000 Sunnite mosques in Iran that is more than Shiite’s mosques. He even said Sunnite judges adjudge according to their religious jurisprudence, and their prayer leaders are Sunnite and insured and supported by central government. Yunessi added that the leadership (Ayatollah Khamenei) has designated institutions of religious affairs for solving religious problems of religious minorities to be managed, although there are not any programs yet to remove defections and to increase the relationship of the Excellency and Sunnite religious personages with central government.  At last Yunessi believed there are some are about to divide but the judicature does not collide them. In his view, it is the weakness of the branch.

Tehran- last week Ali Yunessi, the president assistant of tribes and minorities affaires on visit to the managing director the members of the board of directors ( Kurd society inhabited in the center)) announced the establishment of The Home of Tribes.

Mentioning the feeling of discrimination among tribes, religions and the owners of sect and religions especially among Kurd in Iran is quite epidemic, Yunessi declared this feeling would be removed by granting an abundance of responsibilities to Kurds. Jamal Taha, a member of the board of directors of Kurd society inhabited in the center in talk with Kurdpress said about the issues discussed in this meeting: the special president assistant of tribes and religious minorities as expressing his pleasure for such organization indicated that strengthening Non-Governmental Organization (NGOs) in the field of religions and sects is of main superiors and in this direction major and important steps will be taken. One of these steps is to establish a centre so called The Home of The Tribes in Tehran in cooperation with municipal will be done, and can be a referent of representative for all Iranians tribes in the capital. Even Kurd organizations in Tehran can be followed by other tribal tribes and we will carry on necessary cooperation for establishing conferences and meetings and will participate in.

Yunessi believes the government cannot manage all country affairs by itself, and thus in this way it needs help of non-government groups such as NGOs and outstanding tribal personages.

In a part of his speech, the president assistant noted that nowadays there are two major concerns in the field of tribes and religions; one is roots in religion and another root is in nationality. The former originates from some invidious reports particularly about disturbing religious arrangements of people in some cities that play a role to encourage religious feelings especially in theological school and to clergies. In our view attempt to change others’ religion is considered anti-security and nobody has to offend the privacy of other religion and everybody has got to be free. . . . Similarly about the nationality concern the government is considered to be accused of appointing a special assistant of tribes and religions who tries to interrupt the unity of nation and say after all these years varieties of tribes despite of language differences in this land have managed to reach a unified picture of nationalities and you weaken this feeling. In his Yunessi’s view none of these concerns are not deep-rooted and can be solved by talk.

Yunessi mentioned nowadays the majority of political authorities of Iran like supreme leadership and the president agree to appoint tribal personages to managing positions, however; the religious obstacle is more than tribal. He said: I informed all province governors I visited that for those towns in which the majorities are Sunnite a Sunnite governor should be appointed accompanied at least by two Sunnite assistants we also coordinated with foreign ministry to approve to Sunnite Ambassadors. We even follow to form a Sunnite assistance presidency. In addition he indicated deprivation-sweeping is on the agenda of the president.          

In this talk Dr. Muhammad Seddigh along with Dr. Jafar Haqpanah, the university instructor and researcher of tribes affaires, discussed some aspects of domestic policy of Kurdistan Region of Iraq especially after recent parliament elections and regional policy in the frame of relationship.

Dr. Ahmad stated although Kurdistan region has a Kurdish nature, varieties can be seen inside. For instance Soleymanieh area known as Kurdistan Cultural Capital has been the center of poets, writers and intellectuals and of course geographical proximity to Iran. The area of Erbil also has a religion nature more, so it is generally known by its mosques. In Dr. Ahamd’s view, Kurdistan democrat party in his initial forming had acted as a liberator party and reacted against Ba’s regime. One outstanding example was the 1975 uprising of blessed Mustafa Barzani leadership. This act, of course, following Aljeria 1975 contract failed. Indeed the task of the aspects of this contract was to play with Kurds fate.

Dr. Ahmad believes that Saddam signed this contract in a weak position and tended to save the time to come up with a solution for Kurds. For this reason, after signing the Algeria contract made an inhuman attempt on genocide. He burned 4000 villages and buried many alive. As result of the pressure lots of Kurds sought refuge Iran. Through this condition some other Kurdish parties and organizations emerged. Even though with Algeria contract Kurds travelling came to halt, it revived as Islamic Revolution became victorious. This time a series of Islamist party stepped onto the political arena and this caused Kurdish society to be multi-voices.

In Dr. Ahmad’s view, democracy in Iraq Kurdistan Region results from political relationship of the Kurdistan Democratic Party and Patriotic Union of Kurdistan and current political groups so people can seek their demands. About formation of new parties in Kurdistan, he said that the emergence of these tribes depend on the structure of two current parties somewhat. For example Gooran Movement was one part of the Patriotic Union Kurdistan. As you know Patriotic Union is composed of several movements like Kumeleh and several other groups. Even after the congress held these gatherings remained in the form unions and was not structured as a party. As among members there is agreement about main lines, there are some intra-party and intra-union grounds of competing, especially the time when this completion appeared more after parliament elections. In Dr. Ahmad’s view, two parties (Kurdistan Democrat Party and Patriotic Union) have managed to create and control reasonably political conditions according to democracy in the Region. For criticism of current political structure of the region based on elections outcome is not considered a fair work. In his view, clearly the government may make mistake at any case or may act illogically.

We suppose that we have been able prepare a proper freedom so all critics can participate and act. Also some Islamite parties affected by deep-rooted Islamic tendencies like Moslem Brotherhood Movement in Middle East have stepped slowly toward power and have managed to obtain 17 seats of the parliament which is less than the former parliament.

All together Dr. Ahmad agrees with Dr. Haghpanah about this idea that people tend more to moderate movements than radical; that is why extremist parties like Gooran Movement have not managed to win the elections. He, about this party’s criticism, said I think the critics did not believe in such criticism the made.

About the relationships of the Region and Arabian governments, he added that these relationships are being sought in the frame of the law. Of course it has economical nature more. In his view, Arabian governments have realized that the identity of Iraq is not simply Arabian and should cooperate with non-Arabian part as well, Particularly the Kurdistan Regional Government that has an important place in interior part of Iraq especially in creating a balance and political stability.

Dr. Ahmad considers the duration of Kurds and Iraqi Shiites cooperation reasonable. He believes that the long record of cruelty and deprivation imposed on them by Ba’s party and geopolitics reasons put both sides in a position that their interests not only do not clash but also overlap. He regards Iran’s role as an intermediary in creating stability and synchronization for both sides.

Dr. Ahmad believes although the political relationship between Iran government and the Region is in good level, but the economic relationship has not managed to keep pace with it. The Region is in the step of economic constructing and in these circumstances many players participate in this work. One the most active ones are Turkish companies. Of course he stated that the wide relationship with Turkey is not harmless to Iran.

He, in other part, stated as you said Iran and Kurdistan are in the same civilization area. It can be said the interior cultural conditions and features of both sides have created a unique and proper grounds in order to extend relationship in all aspects; but strategic deliberation about improving these relations and its extension to varieties of levels, such as holding scientific meetings and like stuff, needs a political decision from both sides.

At the end Dr. Ahmad about a question of the Region relationship with Israel said such thing is not true. He continued they who charged us on this had already been already asked for presenting some evidence but nothing was presented. He declared generally since we move in the frame of our responsibility and commitments in order to defend Kurd people interests, and with regard to many ties between neighbors countries and us and understanding about them and common interests, we won’t, essentially and ethically,  act against our brotherhood and friendly believes and commitments.