On February 23, the Middle East Institute and the Atlantic Council’s Dinu Patriciu Eurasia Center hosted a discussion on Kurdish issues in the region with special guests Henri Barkey and Qubad Talabani.

Dinu Patriciu Eurasia Center director Ross Wilson moderated the discussion.

The Arab Spring has driven a wedge between Turkey and its once-close allies, Iran and Syria. Ankara’s ties with Baghdad are strained as well. Panelists addressed the impact of external upheaval on Turkey’s internal Kurdish issue and examined the situation in the context of Turkey’s changing relationship with the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) of Iraq. Given the realities of the new regional dynamics, what are the prospects for Turkey’s “Kurdish Opening?” What impact will increased bilateral Turkey-KRG cooperation have on the security situation?

A discussion with

Henri Barkey
Bernard L. and Bertha F. Cohen Professor
Lehigh University

Qubad Talabani
Representative to the United States
Kurdistan Regional Government of Iraq

Moderated by

Ross Wilson
Director, Dinu Patriciu Eurasia Center
Atlantic Council

VIDEO

Related Experts: Ross Wilson