From Domestic Mandates to International Responsibilities

This paper elaborates on the disputed territories between the Iraqi federal government and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) by teasing out the historical, legal, and international dimensions of the conflict. The historical dimension of this study is initiated through an in-depth investigation into how Ba'athist policies affected ethnic and sectarian identities and subsequently created difficulties in resolving territorial disputes. It deals with the constitutional duties of the federal government in relation to Article 140 of the Iraqi Constitution and analyzes its effectiveness and criticism. The paper further outlines legal and international strategies for the resolution of these disputes, analyzing the relevant provisions of the UN Charter, Security Council Resolutions (SCRs), and international legal frameworks relating to the said subject. It looks into the role international arbitration can play as a plausible mechanism of conflict resolution between the federal government and the KRG, drawing on various cases and legal precedents. This research uses a qualitative approach that is based on academic papers, reports, legal digests, and UN resolutions in order to give an in-depth understanding of the UN involvement and the use of legal instruments within these disputed territories, especially the use of international arbitration. The paper ultimately aims to make a detailed analysis of the disputed territories issue, assess the strategies available, which are of international legal nature, and propose recommendations that may turn out relevant in the solution of such disputes.