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Iraq Kurds vow to fight if Kurdistan
region attacked by Turkey 19.10.2007 |
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Iraqi
Kurds says will be completely ready to defend our
democratic experiment and the dignity of our people
and the sanctity of our homeland.
October
19, 2007
Erbil-Hewler, Kurdistan region 'Iraq', --
Iraq's autonomous Kurdistan vowed on Friday to fight
off any attack on their region, as Turkey mulled a
military incursion to crack down on Turkey's Kurdish
PKK rebels.
Iraqi Kurds were not to blame for the trouble
between Turkey and the rebels from the Kurdistan
Workers' Party (PKK), said a statement issued from
the office of Kurdistan regional president Massoud
Barzani.
"We frankly say to all parties: if they attack the
region or Kurdistan experiment under whatever
pretext, we will be completely ready to defend our
democratic experiment and the dignity of our people
and the sanctity of our homeland," it said.
www.ekurd.net
The Turkish parliament gave permission to the
military on Wednesday to launch an incursion into
northern Iraq to pursue the rebels although Prime
Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoyan has indicated that no
such action is imminent.
Turkey says the PKK enjoys free movement in
Kurdistan 'northern Iraq' and is tolerated or even
actively supported by Iraqi Kurdish leaders,
something the Kurdistan government strongly reject
the claim.
Officially, Turkey does not recognise the regional
government of Kurdistan led by president Massoud
Barzani. The Kurdistan regional government is
recognised by US, Iraq and in the new Iraqi
Constitution, it is referred to as Kurdistan region.
The use of the term "Kurdistan" is vigorously
rejected due to its alleged political implications
by the Republic of Turkey.
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Massoud Barzani, the President of the autonomous Regional
Government of Kurdistan 'Iraq'
Kurds will be completely ready to defend their
democratic experiment and their homeland of Kurdistan |
"We are astonished by this tension during the past
few days and the Turkish stance in crossing
Kurdistan's borders under the pretext of striking at
the PKK.
"Kurdistan is not responsible for the war between
Turkey and the PKK, after all, and we have not
supported the war or the violence and bloodletting
or been dragged into this war," said the statement
from Barzani.
"The Kurdish region strongly rejects the charges of
helping the PKK," it added.
Barzani's office again stressed that the regional
government stood ready to hold direct talks with
Ankara over its concerns and urged the United
States, the European Union and the United Nations to
help promote dialogue instead of war.
The autonomous Kurdistan regional government said it
"welcomes direct dialogue with Ankara on all issues
of common interest or concern, including the PKK."
Rhousands of Iraqi Kurds took to the streets to
protest against
the Turkish threat.
Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki vowed to Ankara
that he would bring an end to the presence of the
PKK in 'northern Iraq', who he has labelled
"terrorists" several times in recent days.
But the situation on the ground means his options
are limited. The Iraqi army is not deployed on the
Turkish border or anywhere else in Kurdistan
autonomous region, where security is under the
control of Iraqi Kurdish peshmerga militiamen
(Kurdistan national guard).
AFP
** Since 1991, the Kurds of Iraq achieved self-rule
in part of the country. Today's teenagers are the
first generation to grow up under Kurdish rule. In
the new Iraqi Constitution, it is referred to as
Kurdistan region. Kurdistan region has all the
trappings of an independent state -- its own
constitution, its own parliament, its own flag, its
own army, its own border, its own border patrol, its
own national anthem, its own education system, its
own International airports, even its own stamp inked
into the passports of visitors.
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