Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Turkey Warns US It Plans To Invade Northern Iraq Shortly After Elections
Geostrategy-Direct.com (Subscription Site) ^ | 11 Nov 04 | Geostrategy-Direct.com

Posted on 11/11/2004 3:43:19 PM PST by datura

FOCUS ON TURKEY

Turkey warns U.S. it plans to invade northern Iraq shortly after elections


ANKARA — Turkey's military has begun preparing for what officials warned could result in a major invasion of neighboring Iraq.

Officials said the Turkish General Staff has drafted plans for an invasion by at least 20,000 troops into northern Iraq in early 2005. They said the General Staff has urged approval from the government of Prime Minister Recep Erdogan and discussed the proposed invasion with the United States.

"The current phase is to show the United States that we're serious," a Turkish government source said. "After the Iraqi elections in January, the Turkish military will be ready to move."

The military has called for a massive operation in northern Iraq to prevent Kurdish militias from controlling the area. The General Staff has been particularly alarmed by the reported Kurdish effort to drive out ethnic Turks from Kirkuk, the oil capital of northern Iraq and long claimed by Ankara.

Under the Turkish plan, the military would deploy at least 20,000 Turkish troops in an enclave south of the Iraqi-Turkish border. The force would focus on eliminating the Kurdish Workers Party and ensure the return of Turkmens to Kirkuk.

About 3,000 PKK fighters are said to be based in northern Iraq and have been sending insurgents and weaponry for attacks inside neighboring Turkey.

The United States has refused numerous Turkish appeals to eliminate the PKK strongholds.

On Oct. 14 Erdogan and his cabinet reviewed the General Staff's plan. That meeting, attended by Chief of Staff Gen. Hilmi Ozkok and Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul, discussed the rapid deployment of up to 40,000 troops in northern Iraq.

A scaled-down version of the military plan was discussed in the national security council on Oct. 27. The officials said that over the last week some units have already been deployed along the Iraqi-Turkish border.

Officials said the General Staff has sought to prepare two army divisions to cross the Iraqi border within 18 hours of any approval of the operation.

The first goal of the ground operation, supported by fighter-jets and attack helicopters, would be to destroy PKK strongholds in the Kandil mountains in northern Iraq.

The General Staff has warned the cabinet that Ankara could no longer ignore the Kurdish threat. Officials said the military has determined that Kurds from Iran and Syria have bolstered support for the PKK.

Iranian and Syrian Kurds, they said, have participated in PKK attacks against police and military targets in southeastern Turkey over the last week.

Officials said the General Staff has sought to obtain U.S. approval for the operation in northern Iraq. But Washington has not provided implicit approval.

The Erdogan government has sought to delay any Turkish military operation until after the European Union summit on Dec. 17. The government intends to spare the EU any pretext to delay a date for accession.

Officials said the Peshmerga are digging tunnels and establishing outposts outside Dahouk, near the Turkish border.


TOPICS: Extended News; Foreign Affairs; Front Page News; Government; News/Current Events; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: blackhelicopters; geopolitics; hoax; iraq; kurds; southwestasia; tinfoil; turkey
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 321-340341-360361-380381 next last
To: TexKat

would not be the first time.

Norther cyprus has copper mines which the turkish government "liberated".


361 posted on 11/11/2004 10:09:40 PM PST by longtermmemmory (VOTE!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 353 | View Replies]

To: datura; All
RE: The action Turkey intends to take will bring Turkish forces into direct military contact with US forces in the area, with their target being the Peshmerga - our allies in Northern Iraq.

No way.

Here is something from Kurd Net -- yes, Kurd Net not Turkey Net.

http://www.ekurd.net/mismas/articles/misc/cooperatingwithus.htm

As for the original posted article it was very skimpy. People actually pay for that little bit of MISLEADING info? The replies throughout this thread about going to war with Turkey are NUTS!

Here is an excerpt from Kurd Net.

"Early this month Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned that Turkey's patience was running out over US reluctance to take military action against Turkish Kurd rebels hiding in northern Iraq.

"About 5,000 militants from the PKK, now also known as KONGRA-GEL, are believed to have found refuge in the mountains of northern Iraq since 1999 when the group declared a unilateral ceasefire with Ankara.

"About 1,500 rebels have reportedly infiltrated Turkey recently to engage in renewed violence after the group called off the truce on June 1.

"Turkey has expressed frustration over US reluctance to employ military means against the rebels, which both Ankara and Washington regard as terrorists, since last October when the two sides agreed on an action plan against the PKK.

"US officials have argued that their troops are already swamped with unremitting violence in other parts of Iraq.

"Turkey keeps several thousand soldiers in northern Iraq. They were deployed in the region prior to the US-led occupation of Iraq to counter the PKK, which has waged a 15-year campaign for self-rule in the Turkish southeast that has claimed some 37,000 lives." [End excerpt]

There is also another serious matter that is affecting our friendly relations discussed in the article. But war with our long-time friend and ally?! NO WAY.

362 posted on 11/11/2004 10:17:39 PM PST by WilliamofCarmichael (The left's so-called moral values v. our moral values is America's thirty years war.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: TexKat

Thank you for the information and links.


363 posted on 11/11/2004 10:29:50 PM PST by WilliamofCarmichael (The left's so-called moral values v. our moral values is America's thirty years war.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 353 | View Replies]

To: VOA

This is a Turkish lie. They dont want to invade Kurdistan to get to the PKK. They want to make sure the Kurds are under total domination and enslaved by the Arabs who gassed the Kurds. The U.S needs to arm the Kurds with F15s, F16s and tanks. The Kurds are the most pro American people.


364 posted on 11/11/2004 10:54:29 PM PST by Lori675
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: Grzegorz 246
HA.....and Greece will start a second front and take back Constantinople
365 posted on 11/11/2004 11:46:25 PM PST by spokeshave (Strategery + Schardenfreude = Stratenschardenfreudery)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 49 | View Replies]

To: ChefKeith
The Islamic world is unitied in uncivilized idiocy against us.
366 posted on 11/11/2004 11:48:09 PM PST by broadsword (Weren't there a couple of giant Buddhist statues in Afghanistan? What happened to them?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Joseph_CutlerUSA

No problem, my only point was that if push came to shove, Turkey could deal with our small force in the midle east, should UE deny us supply lines.


367 posted on 11/12/2004 12:06:18 AM PST by jpsb (MAN)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 292 | View Replies]

To: datura

Turkey lost all say in Iraq when then turned down our money and became a lap dog of the Germans in the hope of support for EU membership in the future.

They already were caught playing games in Iraq when they attempted to assassinate a mayor in the Kurdish areas with their Special Forces and our Special Forces caught them. Their guys were our "guests" for a while until we returned them. The Kurds are no minor issue for Turkey.

If they do anything in Northern Iraq then it's with our permission, just as we have from the Russians to be in the Rep. of Georgia, Uzbekistan and elsewhere. But I can't forsee that we will let them. If there are issues, we will take care of them since the Kurds are with us and we do not want to allienate them by allowing the Turks in. So if there are bad apples we must take care of them.

The Turks screwed themselves BAAAAAAD and they will eventually figure this out. No say in Northern Iraq. Lost billions of guaranteed money for a "if, possible maybe" from the EU which Germany will back even without popular support of the population (Schroeder made a deal but the people don't support it) and some other countries will block and resist Turkey from joining (Example France). Turkey will be scrutinized by others and after a lot of friction and problems/costs they probably won’t get accepted anyway. On the other hand, had they taken our money and played along there position would not have been that much different, since Schroeder will be gone, the CDU/CSU does not look at Turkish EU membership favorably either and in the end not much would be different even had Turkey supported this war. They lost big when they decided to play for Germany (To get support for future EU membership) and go against us.

Red6


368 posted on 11/12/2004 12:31:49 AM PST by Red6
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Severa; TapTheSource; datura

We did consider every possibility in october, including a kerry led US.


369 posted on 11/12/2004 4:08:17 AM PST by a_Turk (Temperance, Fortitude, Prudence, Justice, Comitas, Firmitas, Gravitas, Humanitas, Industria..)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 39 | View Replies]

To: ARCADIA

>> How about arming the kurds within Turkey, to give Turkey's military something to do?

Why do you think you don't have the 4th ID logistics support units (to have numbered 40000) in Turkey proper right now?

Prick!


370 posted on 11/12/2004 4:45:06 AM PST by a_Turk (Temperance, Fortitude, Prudence, Justice, Comitas, Firmitas, Gravitas, Humanitas, Industria..)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 73 | View Replies]

To: spokeshave

I wonder if turkey would break up into several smaller nations?


371 posted on 11/12/2004 6:27:08 AM PST by longtermmemmory (VOTE!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 365 | View Replies]

To: Radix
" By the way, open immigration into the EU is included with that membership."

- I'm convinced that the real reason that France has consistently opposed and vetoed Turkey's admission into the EU is the fear that Turkey will be the Islamic wedge into Christian/secularist Europe. Along with the feared flood of Turkish emigrants, that country's admission into the EU could also be trouble down the line if Turkey were to become a leader (rivaling France's influence) of other middle eastern countries clamoring for admission.
372 posted on 11/12/2004 7:03:41 AM PST by finnigan2
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 207 | View Replies]

To: All
It must feeeeeeeeeeeeeel good but the emotional outbursts that litter this thread add about as much as litter adds to scenic highways. The pathetic posted article purporting to be "intelligence" was in fact the Littering Permitted sign for those ignornant and unwilling to take the time to learn. The "intelligence" was as good as any Cold War disinformation concocted by the Soviets against Turkey. Just enough truth to be believable but omitting the rest of the story.

The "intelligence" report reads like defending against the PKK is an attack on "Kurdistan." BS. The PKK is a Marxist revolutionary group that is opposed by the Kurdish government, the U.S., and Baghdad. Its war against Turkey has claimed thousands of lives since the 1980s.

Yes, many Turks oppose "Kurdistan." But so do Syria, Iran and a couple of other countries that "occupy" portions of Kurdistan.

The Islamist Ottoman Empire expired almost one hundred years ago. Since 1923 Turkey has been a vigorously enforced secular country; Turkey today is a constitutional republic and has been a friend and ally for decades.

It was disappointing that we could not use Turkey's territory but public opinion was overwhelming against it (by more than 80 percent, I believe) and the recently ousted party objected to it also preferring instead to cater to France and the EU. There were other reasons dating back to the Gulf War.

Rather than trust some half-asseed "intelligence" report look at recent history as provided by some of us above or other sources. Anyone who feeeeeeeeels that the Turkish military has become a tool of radical Islam challenges the accepted definition of stupid.

Here is also a more reliable account of the aims of the Turkish military. That is, to counter Islamic extremists, radical leftists and Kurdish separatists (PKK) - it matters not that the Islamic extremists emerge as part of the elected government. To wit, "Turkey has seen three military coups since 1960. Its first Islamist-led government was forced to resign in 1997 under pressure from the military, which has traditionally acted as guardian of the secular state."

http://www.setimes.com/cocoon/setimes/xhtml/en_GB/features/setimes/features/2004/08/31/feature-02

"Turkish Military Chief: Army Ready to Counter Terrorism"

31/08/2004 "Turkey's military says it is prepared to counter any separatist or Islamic extremist activities threatening the country's secular order and unity."

(Turkish Daily News - 31/08/04; Reuters, AP, Turkish Press - 30/08/04)

"'The armed forces are forced to be much more vigilant ... and stronger than in the past because of the threats we face during the dynamic process we are now undergoing,' maintains Turkish Chief of General Staff General Hilmi Ozkok. [AFP]

"Turkey's military said Monday (30 August) that it is prepared to counter any surge in separatist or Islamic extremist activities deemed to be posing a threat to the country's secular order and unity.

"'The armed forces are forced to be much more vigilant ... and stronger than in the past because of the threats we face during the dynamic process we are now undergoing,' Turkish Chief of General Staff General Hilmi Ozkok wrote in a memorial book at the mausoleum of Kemal Ataturk on Monday, as the country celebrated the 82nd anniversary of its national Victory Day holiday.

"The victory over invading French, British, Italian and Greek forces in 1922 eventually led to the establishment of the Turkish republic, with Ataturk becoming its first president.

"'There are obvious circles that are frequently questioning our national values, that want to try the nation's and the armed forces' patience and determination, who are threatening our national unity with terrorist activities,' Ozkok said.

"Turkey has seen a number of bomb attacks in recent months, including four suicide bombings in Istanbul in November 2003 that killed more than 60 people. Authorities have blamed the attacks on Islamic extremists, radical leftists and Kurdish separatists. A Turkish cell of Osama bin Laden's al-Qaida terrorist network claimed responsibility for the Istanbul bombings.

"On Monday, Turkish police said they defused bombs placed in a suspicious package in the southeastern province of Diyarbakir, preventing the possible assassination of senior military commanders and other officials during the Victory Day celebrations.

"The military has responded cautiously to government measures aimed at increasing the cultural rights of the country's sizeable Kurdish minority, with some warning that the reforms -- part of efforts to meet requirements for EU membership -- could fuel separatist aspirations.

"According to analysts, Turkey's military remains skeptical about the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), which came to power after winning the November 2002 parliamentary elections. The party was founded on the ashes of an Islamic movement outlawed in the late 1990s, but has rejected allegations that it aims to 'Islamicise' the Turkish state.

"Turkey has seen three military coups since 1960. Its first Islamist-led government was forced to resign in 1997 under pressure from the military, which has traditionally acted as guardian of the secular state." [End of article]

373 posted on 11/12/2004 10:50:55 AM PST by WilliamofCarmichael (The left's so-called moral values v. our moral values is America's thirty years war.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 363 | View Replies]

Comment #374 Removed by Moderator

To: Joseph_CutlerUSA; All
Do you have any sources other than the sketchy "intelligence" report that we could be "walking into war with Turkey?"

Anyone have any other sources?

375 posted on 11/12/2004 4:30:39 PM PST by WilliamofCarmichael (The left's so-called moral values v. our moral values is America's thirty years war.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 374 | View Replies]

Comment #376 Removed by Moderator

Comment #377 Removed by Moderator

To: Joseph_CutlerUSA
RE: If

Yes, If. But even If is nuts.

Turkey has its own national interests of course. It seems to me however that Turkey's goal for Iraq is the same as ours, a unified peaceful democratic constitutional republic. I know how proud they are of theirs.

Violating copyrights across three continents here are four articles (google news has many more) that present a much more realistic picture of the situation. For anyone interested in knowing (much of) the rest of the story. See above for more links -- only those of us trying to correct the misconception provided links. The rest is mostly emotional outbursts.

http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=10&categ_id=5&article_id=10066

Which way is west for Turkey?

By Soli Ozel, Special to The Daily Star, Thursday, November 11, 2004

When Turkey's Parliament voted in March 2003 against allowing American troops to open a northern front against Iraq, Turkey's traditional strategic partnership with the United States ended. The two countries still recognize many mutual interests, but now they manage these interests on a far different basis.

The vote shocked "old Europe" and the Arab world as much as the Bush administration. Europeans who considered Turkey a potential Trojan horse for America within the European Union were forced to reconsider. For many Arabs, the vote showed that Turkey was not an American lackey and would not cooperate with American imperial designs, despite close Turkish-Israeli relations.

Long-simmering disagreements between Turkey and the U.S. came to a boil with the emergence of the Kurds of northern Iraq as the Pentagon's main allies in the Iraq war. The American administration made it clear that military intervention by Turkey in Northern Iraq would not be tolerated.

That message was confirmed on July 4, 2003, when American forces arrested several Turkish Special Forces in the town of Sulaimaniya, humiliating them by putting sacks over their heads as they took them into custody. Only intervention by U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney two-and-a-half days later secured the release of the soldiers, who were alleged to have been planning clandestine operations within the Kurdish zone.

Despite ongoing tensions, the Turkish government has been eager to mend relations with America, as it is anxious to have some influence over developments in Iraq. So the authorities responded quickly to the Bush administration's request for Turkish troops to join the coalition, although the idea was stillborn - rejected by both the Kurds and the American-appointed Governing Council in Iraq.

America has its own reasons to patch up the relationship. Turkey's secular, capitalistic, democratic order has become especially valuable to the Bush administration as it seeks to integrate the wider Middle East into the world system by liberalizing its economy and democratizing its polity. Thus, America trumpeted its continuing support for Turkish membership in the EU, notably in President Bush's speech in June at Istanbul's Galatasaray University - at a bridge that joins Asia and Europe.

But serious bilateral problems remain. The government is irritated by U.S. occupation forces' neglect of the northern Iraqi bases of the PKK, the Kurdish separatist insurgents who have fought a 15-year-war against Turkey. More broadly, the government regards the U.S. as too complacent vis-a-vis Kurdish political developments and unmoved by Turkey's concerns about Kurdish independence. The U.S., for its part, is unhappy with the government's objections to unrestricted American use of the Incirlik airbase in southeastern Turkey, as well as by recent tensions with Israel.

In the meantime, Turkey is moving closer to the EU, with the government overcoming nationalistic objections in the Parliament to push through comprehensive reforms. Turkey also showed its good will over Cyprus, removing a nagging political obstacle to EU membership. These steps led to the European Commission's recent recommendation to begin accession negotiations with Turkey.

The EU accession process has also underpinned a shift in Turkish policy on Iraq. Previously, Turkey viewed Iraq solely in the context of its domestic Kurdish problem. But widespread European opposition to the war removed the possibility of Turkish military intervention, forcing the government to develop another vision of Turkey's interests.

At the same time, the Iraqi Kurds also appear to appreciate how much they need a friendly Turkey. The northern border with Turkey is their lifeline to the outside world. As a result, Turkey no longer considers a federalized Iraq a threat to its security, as long as each federal unit maintains a measure of ethnic diversity.

Of course, Turkey remains opposed to an independent Kurdistan. But now its concern is more closely tied to regional politics than to the Kurdish issue. Turkey has no desire to serve as a strategic counterweight to Iran and believes that only a territorially intact Iraq can continue to play that role. Furthermore, Turkey is concerned about the possibility of civil war in Kurdistan between the two largest Kurdish factions.

But, unlike either Iran or Syria, Turkey genuinely wishes to see a strong and representative government in Baghdad. Thanks to EU pressures, Turkey's domestic Kurdish problem is well on the way to being resolved democratically, with most Kurdish leaders in Turkey expressing their commitment to Turkish unity.

For Turkey to consider military intervention in Kurdistan, EU member states would first have to renege on their commitment to negotiate Turkish accession. Equally dramatic would be any attempt by the Kurds to forcibly change the demographic balance of the multiethnic city of Kirkuk.

Turkey would prefer that Kirkuk, with its large Turkmen population, be given special status in the forthcoming draft Iraqi constitution. The U.S. also shows signs of understanding the importance of maintaining a multiethnic Kirkuk and is putting pressure on its Kurdish allies.

Turkish diplomacy has thus become a well-calibrated balancing act, moving closer to European positions in the Middle East, but eager to maintain close relations with the U.S. If this approach succeeds, Europe's bridge to Asia may also become its bridge to America.

Soli Ozel teaches in Bilgi University's Department of International Relations and is a columnist for the Turkish daily newspaper Sabah. This article is published in THE DAILY STAR in cooperation with Project Syndicate. [End article]

http://www.turks.us/article.php?story=20041103163527898

Wednesday, November 03 2004 @ 04:35 PM Central Standard Time

Will there be a war?

OpinionsBy Ismet Berkan

“According to recent reports in Turkish dailies Ordadogu and Milliyet, if Iraqi Kurds were to shift the population balance in Kirkuk to the detriment of the city’s Turkmen, Turkey would send nearly 20,000 soldiers into Iraq to take control of Kirkuk. In addition, the US has also reportedly given the go-ahead for such an operation.

When I read this news, I immediately thought that it was a typical manipulation campaign meant to weaken the government. Probably some groups wanted the public saying, ‘Look, the military is making necessary preparations, it’s even making an agreement with the US, but the government is neglecting Turkey’s interests.’ Maybe the same groups thought that during these critical days for Turkey’s European Union membership bid, reports indicating that we have expansionist aims would make the EU think twice.

Actually they were addressing the government. However, the government kept silent on the issue for almost a week. It neither denied these reports, nor started an investigation into their sources. The government did nothing, and so took tacit part and contributed to this campaign of sowing confusion by failing to issue a concrete denial. As a result, maybe some people gave credence to the reports. Then, fortunately, a blanket denial came from Deputy Chief of General Staff Gen. Ilker Basbug, and so those who were concerned about a war starting could breathe a sigh of relief. Such reports and their ripple effects should be a lesson for us, that is, we journalists. Just a couple of newspapers report that Turkey might start a war and nobody is influenced by this news, and none of the other papers report on this, nor the TV channels. Don’t you find this thought provoking?” [End article]

http://www.kurdmedia.com/news.asp?id=5680

Political Maneouvring in Kirkuk, 28/10/2004 IWPR - By Suran al-Dawoudi

Diversity of parties and factions begin forging electoral alliances ahead of January vote.

By Suran al-Dawoudi in Kirkuk (ICR No. 86, 27-Oct-04)

With Iraq’s national elections just over three months away, political groups in the northern city of Kirkuk are already jostling for power – and eying each other up as potential coalition partners.

Kirkuk is as close to a microcosm of the Iraqi political scene as you can get, with its multiplicity of communities, and a range of political parties – ethnic, religious and secular – to match.

It’s also important in its own right, given its position at the centre of an oil-producing area and the claims and counter claims of Kurds, Turkoman and other groups that the city should belong to them.

Last week, the Higher Election Commission, HEC, announced the opening of an electoral centre which will organise and run the election through a network of 23 local offices across Kirkuk governorate.

The Kirkuk centre is one of the electoral management bodies which the HEC is setting up across Iraq to pave the way for the January 31 ballot, intended to elect a national assembly that will draft a constitution to replace the current transitional law.

Subject to a national referendum scheduled for October next year, the country will move forward to a full parliamentary election, in which up to 450 political groups could take part in the first multi-party race for seats in half a century.

In the Kurdish areas of northern Iraq, the January election is being seen as a litmus test for their eventual status – in other words, the extent to which the area known as Iraqi Kurdistan will win some kind of autonomy.

Kirkuk lies just outside the Kurdish provinces that won de facto independence in 1991. While Kurds there hope the city and surrounding governorate would be incorporated into any future autonomous entity, local Arabs and Turkoman are against any change in status.

But as the political party scene unfolds, the battle lines are not quite as clear as this suggests.

The two main Kurdish parties, the Kurdish Democratic Party, KDP, led by Massoud Barzani and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, PUK, are likely to form an election bloc in Iraq, according to an announcement made by PUK leader Jalal Talabani.

Some analysts are predicting that the PUK-KDP alliance will be expanded to embrace the Iraqi Communist Party as well as various parties representing the Assyrian Christian minority in Kirkuk.

Both the Assyrians and members of the related Chaldean faith would have an interest in joining such an election block as a way of winning representation in the national assembly. There is a precedent for this, since they are already involved in the ruling coalition in the Kurdish governorates of Arbil, Sulaimaniyah and Dahuk.

Countrywide, the Shia – thought to account 60 per cent of Iraq’s population –constitute a powerful electorate. In Kirkuk province the percentage is lower, and consists largely of parts of the Arab and Turkoman communities. The Shia Turkoman are represented by two groups, the Islamic Union of Iraqi Turkomans and al-Wafaa al-Turkomani, both of which have declared they will join the broad alliance of Shia groups that is likely to contest the election across Iraq.

A coalition centring on the Iraqi Islamic Party and the Muslim Clerics’ Board is emerging as the main vehicle for Iraq’s Sunni Arab constituency. There are signs that this coalition will expand to include non-religious political forces of Sunni background. In Kirkuk, for example, the Arab National Bloc and the Arab National Front – which have wide support among Arabs west of Kirkuk – have decided to join the alliance.

Sources within the Sunni coalition say negotiations are now under way with the Turkoman Front, a group whose nationalist views have created tensions in its relationship with Kurdish forces.

Khudeir Ghalib Kahya, who represents the Turkoman Front on the broader Turkoman Council, says the latter, an umbrella group of parties and individuals, is also considering joining the Sunni alliance. Kahya ruled out any Turkoman coalition with the Kurds.

Turkoman politicians appear conscious of the weight they carry in Kirkuk, given the number of votes they can bring to the table. A few weeks ago, the leader of the Turkmen Eli party, Riyadh Sari Kahya, voiced concern at the lack of clarity on the electoral process, and hinted that his group might mount a boycott if this was not resolved. Those with a more global view of the election take a more positive view, talking about its value in terms of establishing democratic change and getting political rivals to collaborate rather than fight.

Tahseen Kahya, the chairman of Kirkuk governorate’s assembly, and an ethnic Turkoman, said that whatever the result of the vote, it will set a historical precedent for Iraq and open the way to democratic practices.

Fareed Asseserd, director of the Kurdistan Centre for Strategic Studies in Kirkuk, agreed, saying, “Consensus between competing groups will be the most effective principle in the end.

“All the parties realise that the election is the ideal means for solving Iraq’s complicated problems, and that if the election fails it will be everyone’s loss.” [End article]

Suran al-Dawoudi is an IWPR contributor in Kirkuk.

http://www.turkishpress.com/news.asp?id=30723

A clear message to Barzani, Turkish Daily News: 10/14/2004

By Yusuf Kanli

TDN- Ankara spoke in clear terms during talks with KDP leader Barzani: Iraq's Kurds and Turkmens are our neighbors; we can't remain silent in the face of the suffering of either. Turkey is sensitive about the preservation of Iraq's territorial integrity and won't object to any form of administrative system provided it receives the backing of the Iraqi people and maintains Iraqi unity

Two days of talks between Ankara and Kurdish Democratic Party (KDP) leader Massoud Barzani appear to have helped both sides form a clearer opinion about the intentions of the other as well as helping eradicate some misconceptions emanating from the bad habit of communicating through the press.

The first important outcome of the talks, perhaps, was that Ankara now has a better idea as regards what Barzani and other prominent northern Iraqi leaders mean when they talk about a "federal Iraq." Afraid that federation would just be the initial step of Iraq's eventual disintegration, Ankara was sounding alarms whenever Iraqi Kurdish leaders spoke about a federal Iraq. Now, Ankara says it will not object a federal Iraq provided that an elected Parliament decides on a system of federation when writing a new constitution and that the constitution receives the support of the Iraqi people in a "free referendum." All Ankara wants to see is that a federal Iraq maintains its territorial integrity.

So this understanding between Turkey and Barzani is indeed a revolutionary move, as it will help eradicate the deep distrust between northern Iraqi leaders and Ankara.

It's no secret that Iraqi Kurdish leaders' remarks about the "Kurdish identity" of Kirkuk were leading to raw nerves in Ankara.

Barzani's trip has helped Turkish officials explain to the KDP leader why such remarks were antagonizing Turkey. Barzani was told in clear terms that the Kurds and Turkmens of northern Iraq -- irrespective of their religious background -- are relatives of the people of Turkey. Turkey cannot ignore the sufferings of either. If the demography of Kirkuk is changed and if the city is subjected to forced impositions, it could explode. If Kirkuk explodes, then Iraq will explode. Turkey should not be expected to remain silent in the face of such a development. Secondly, if scores of Turkmens start flocking to the Turkish border, Ankara cannot be expected to ignore their plight. Just as it helped the Kurds when needed, it will help the Turkmen people as well.

Another important message regarded the future situation of the country. The Americans will leave sooner or later, but Turkey and Iraq and their peoples will remain in this geography. When needed, Turkey rushed to the help of the Kurds; however, the current policies of the Iraqi Kurdish leaders are not conducive to such help from Turkey. Ankara expects the Iraqi Kurds to develop policies that will enable the Turkish government to extend its hand of brotherhood if and when needed.

Barzani's approach and his remarks both upon arrival and departure did not much please the Turks, but after the talks there was a marked increase in Turkish confidence in the Iraqi Kurdish leader.

The two days of talks Barzani had in Ankara with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul and the top Foreign Ministry people have helped to clear up some confusion as well as eradicate some trouble spots, demonstrating once again that there is always hope if we manage to keep talking to each other. [End article]

378 posted on 11/12/2004 7:11:22 PM PST by WilliamofCarmichael (The left's so-called moral values v. our moral values is America's thirty years war.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 377 | View Replies]

To: datura
Geostrategy-Direct.com (Subscription Site)...

Subscription Site???

Whatever you're paying, it's way too much. We get DEBKA for free around here.

379 posted on 11/12/2004 7:15:03 PM PST by wireman
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Joe Hadenuf

Sending a message perhaps ?


380 posted on 11/13/2004 7:51:32 AM PST by muslims=borg (Democrats are the new Khymer Rouge)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 279 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 321-340341-360361-380381 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson