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Turkey's foreign minister warns on Iraq
federalism
19.9.2006 |
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NEW YORK -
Turkey's foreign minister warned Monday that a
federal system in Iraq that could lead to autonomous
Shiite, Sunni and Kurdish regions could break up the
country and threaten the stability of the region.
"The core of the problem is that if Iraq is divided,
definitely there will be civil war and definitely
neighboring countries will be involved in this,"
Abdullah Gul said. "The Middle East can't shoulder
this. It's too much."
Iraqi Shiite, Kurdish and Sunni Arab leaders met
Monday to discuss a federalism bill submitted to
parliament earlier this month by the largest Shiite
bloc, the United Iraqi Alliance.
Sunni Arabs, who comprise a minority in Iraq but
were dominant until Saddam Hussein's regime was
ousted, fear this will split Iraq apart and deprive
them of a share of Iraq's oil riches, which are
concentrated in the Shiite-dominated south and the
largely Kurdish north. |
Abdullah Gul, Turkey's foreign minister |
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"The sectarian violence that is now confronted in
Iraq is not only dangerous for the Iraqis
themselves, but it is dangerous for the region and
the whole world," Gul said during a speech at a
breakfast hosted by the American Turkish Society.
"This is why we have to stick with the principles of
territorial integrity and political unity of Iraq.
Gul, who was in New York for the U.N. General
Assembly debate that begins Tuesday, also said such
divisions in Iraq would likely stoke anger against
the U.S.-led coalition, which would be blamed for
allowing it to happen.
AP
The use of the term "Kurdistan" is vigorously
rejected due to its alleged political implications
by the Republic of Turkey, which does not recognize
the existence of a "Turkish Kurdistan".
Others estimate as many as 40 million Kurds live in
Big Kurdistan (Iraq, Turkey, Syria, Iran, Armenia),
which covers an area as big as France, about half of
all Kurds which estimate to 20 million live in
Turkey
The Kurdish flag flown officially in Iraqi Kurdistan but
unofficially flown by Kurds in Armenia. The flag is
banned in Iran, Syria, and Turkey where flying it is
a criminal offence"
Southeastern Turkey:
North Kurdistan (
Kurdistan-Turkey) wikipedia
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