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In
connection to Turkey's comments on Masoud Barzani's
election as the president of Kurdistan in Iraq,
published by AFP on 15 June, the Kurdistan Regional
Government Mission to the European Union issues the
following statement.
Kurdistan Regional Government EU Mission replies to
statement of Turkey's Foreign Ministry spokesman
The statement issued by Namik Tan, Turkey's Foreign
Affiairs Ministry spokeman, on 15 June is
short-sighted, outdated and politically and
diplomatically inappropriate.
Mr Tan said that the election of Masoud Barzani on
Sunday 14 June, 2005 as the president of Kurdistan
Region "does not carry much meaning".
This is indeed surprising since the inauguration of
President Barzani was attended by the president of
Iraq and other dignitaries from the federal
government, representatives of the US and UK -- both
allies of Turkey --. Mr Tan's statement merely
underlines how out-of-step Turkey is with world
opionion and the policies and strategies of its key
allies in the US and Europe.
Mr Tan stressed that Iraq's current laws foresee a
federal system, but one "defined according to
geographical and administrative criteria and not on
sectarian and ethnic bases".
Such declarations by Mr Tan are merely provocations
that display the Turkish government's fear that a
peaceful solution is being found for Kurdistan issue
in Iraq.
The election of President Barzani demonstrates that
Kurdistan in Iraq amid a process of democratisation
and peaceful co-existence that will not stop because
of negative statements from our neighbouring
countries. The election of President Barzani is a
significant step towards more stability and peace in
the region. This is illustrated in many ways.
First, during the inauguration ceremony, President
Barzani said: "We respect all neighboring countries
and extend a hand of friendship to them. We will
also work to establish best relations based on
mutual respect and friendship. This is a good
opportunity to request them to co-operate with Iraq
and the Kurdistan region. We do not interfere in
their internal affairs, and likewise we hope they
will not interfere in our internal affairs".
Second, President Barzani recognised the importance
of the role played by the neighbouring countries in
difficult times when the Kurds in Iraq suffered.
In his speech, he explicitly thanked "those
countries that hosted our people during times of
tragedy and hardship".
Third, President Barzani clearly expressed that the
Kurdistan Government will not play a destabilising
role in the region. On the contrary, he invited the
Kurds of the neighbouring countries to use dialogue
instead of the gun and to find a peaceful solution.
"Regarding the Kurdish nation divided among
neighboring countries, we assure our brothers that
our hearts and minds are with them and we feel their
suffering. Since there is no place for violence in
the world today, we hope they resort to civilised
and modern methods for advocating their rights
because violence brings only death and destruction
to the Kurds. Similarly, we hope these countries
listen to the demands of our brothers and use
dialogue with them".
The KRG Mission to the EU would like to invite the
Turkish authorities not to turn their back on
democracy, pluralism and recognition of the people
of Kurdistan. It is not only a question of
principle, but also a pre-condition for acceding to
the European Union, as formally established in the
Copenhagen European Council of 1993.
Turkey is about to open the membership's negotiation
with the European Union in November 2005 but seems
to forget that one of the main issues of the
Copenhagen criteria is the stability of the
institutions guaranteeing democracy, the rule of
law, human rights and respect for and protection of
minorities.
The statement of Mr Tan is not in line with the
process that Turkey wants to undergo and will
certainly damage Turkey's international reputation.
We hope that Turkey will not interfere with the
internal affairs of another sovereign state and will
accept the new reality in Iraq and the Kurdistan
Region.
www.krg.org
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