Iraqi–Kurdish Autonomy Agreement of 1970 (or the Iraqi–Kurdish peace talks or the 1970 Peace Accord) was an agreement, which the Iraqi government and the leader of the Kurdistan Democratic Party Mustafa Barzani reached on March 11, 1970[1] in the aftermath of the First Iraqi–Kurdish War. It stipulated the creation of an Autonomous Region, consisting of the three Kurdish governorates and other adjacent districts that have been determined by census to have a Kurdish majority. The plan also gave Kurds representation in government bodies, to be implemented in four years.[2] For its time it was the most serious attempt to resolve the long-running Iraqi–Kurdish conflict.
Despite this, the Iraqi government embarked on an Arabization program in the oil rich regions of Kirkuk and Khanaqin during the same period.[3] Eventually, the peace plan for the Kurdish autonomy failed; re-erupting into the Second Iraqi–Kurdish War in 1974, thus escalating the Kurdish–Iraqi conflict.
Tariq Aziz retrospectively stated "We were sincere when we announced the 11 March Manifesto. It wasn't propaganda." Mulla Mustafa Barzani saw it as too good to be true, but signed nevertheless due to pressure from the Kurdish communities.[5]
Within a month of signing, most articles were implemented, and by December Mulla Mustafa Barzani was optimistic about autonomy, but by the end of the year it became clear that the Ba'ath party was just playing for time, as there was an attempt on his son's life. The census for disputed areas was postponed twice, and by 1973 the Accord had collapsed.[6]
