Negotiator Powell: Even can talk with IS

Jonathan Powell is a negotiator format. As a diplomat, he participated in the negotiations on the return of Hong Kong to China, the German unification. The crowning glory is the Good Friday Agreement which brought peace in Northern Ireland. Powell was the architect, negotiated with the Irish Republican Army.

Affiliate IS
But even after his departure from 10 Downing Street, where he served as chief of staff Tony Blair, he is a negotiator. ,, Prime Minister David Cameron has appointed me special envoy to Libya. '' A torn country with a 'branch' of Islamic State.

,, I am not against war, '' said the son of a vice air marshal. ,, Sometimes it is necessary to wage war, but with only military action will get terrorists are not covered. You'll also need to negotiate. '' The author of last year's Talking with Terrorists hereby excludes Islamic State not matter.

Why?
,, Because you can possibly destroy the Caliphate with bombs but making it IS not dead, '' warns Powell. Then fan the movement on all depths of the world and is waiting for a new Parisian, on attacks on civilian targets.

,, You can really do something shocking inequality, famine, epidemics, mass rape and child suffering instance if there is an end to armed conflict. This is why I would spend the rest of my life for it, '' he says passionately. For that life's purpose, he founded Inter / Mediate, an independent organization for conflict mediation.

In Powell's eyes, the handshake is the beginning of a real solution. Even if the other has blood on his hands.

You rowing against the current. The atrocities of IS wins the statement "Once a terrorist, always a terrorist 'strength. And the belief that you have to destroy them.

,, That assertion is not correct. The IRA, for example, laid down their arms and not picked up. And take Nelson Mandela, once branded as terrorist when his ANC apartheid fought. Mandela, you can hardly say that he has died as a terrorist. Moreover, there are almost always in secret contacts with movements that are officially hotly contested. I was in 2008 by the Foreign Office (Foreign Affairs, ed.) Rebuffed when I offered to start talks with the Taliban and al-Qaeda. But now, for example, people contacts between the Taliban and the US ''

There are secret contacts with IS where the world does not know about.

,, I have no view on that. I make no longer part of government. But, I do not close it out. ''

Islamic State calls us infidels who are not worthy to live. Why talk to someone who wishes you dead?

,,Never say never. Muslim separatist MILF in the Philippines also fought for many years against unbelievers. But despite everything, does the MILF last year a peace agreement with the government in Manila. Where there's a will there's a way. ''

Islamic State has only one goal - the caliphate governed earth - which fighters like to give their lives. If you have nothing to lose, you do not need to talk.

,, IS uses no ordinary terrorist but not even with them to talk about it. In many areas. IS losing ground in the declared caliphate. Warriors have family members who may be at risk. There are economic linkages: to finance their war, they depend on the sale of oil. The motion mentions the total disregard and discrimination against Sunnis, a vindication of his struggle. Also that anger can generate conversation. ''

,, Remember Islamic State is not a homogeneous whole. It counts extremists of all sorts: fanatics, disgruntled tribesmen, officers and generals of the former regime of Saddam Hussein abhor a Shiite domination. This has also IS a more moderate wing, which can be the source of first contact. It is in our interest to make this group stronger then talking. ''

We are now working feverishly to peace talks on Syria, including the Assad regime and the opposition. The only parties that are missing are IS and al-Nusra, which is linked to al-Qaeda. Such consultations or excited?

,, Of course, these negotiations are of great value. The military and political pressure on IS will increase it. The situation will be even greater threat than the movement that has been and that will bring some doubt. ''

Time for a leap in time. You sit next week to tea, with Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. To the caliph and IS manager to conduct a first interview. How will that go?

For the first time Jonathan Powell did not immediately word ready. He laughs. ,, Well, that will first of all have to happen in a safe place. But without further conditions. It should be an exploration, no exchange of rhetoric, no war talk. ''

,, It involves an exchange of motivation. About what al-Baghdadi and his IS floats, because it is about arguments and its exchange. Then it can come to a conversation that grows in negotiations. History has taught us that it's possible. ''

By: Hans van Zon / AD.nl/ © AFP / Alex MacNaughton.