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Iraqi Kurdistan ask Ankara to reconsider
incursion risks
2.11.2007
By Michael Jansen in Kurdistan-Erbil |
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Ankara is being strongly urged to stay its hand by
Iraqi Kurdistan's leadership.
November 2, 2007
Erbil-Hewler, Kurdistan region 'Iraq', --
Iraq's Kurdistan regional government hopes Ankara
will think twice and consider its real interests
before sending its troops across the border to
attack Turkish Kurdish PKK guerrillas based in the
rugged Qandil mountains.
Turkey has already reduced the flow of goods into
Iraqi Kurdistan and threatens to cut electricity to
put pressure on the government to take action
against the guerrillas.
But Falah Mustafa Bakir, head of foreign relations
for the regional government (KRG), says that "Turkey
is part of Nato, Turkey wants to join the EU, Turkey
thinks about the economy and the safety of its own
people. Therefore, considering all these factors,
there could be a big problem for Turkey if it
decides to carry out an incursion.
"We believe there is a chance for Turkey to
reconsider its position and to work for a peaceful
solution."
He said the KRG considers the guerrillas "an
internal Turkish problem" that has resisted a
military solution for 23 years.
"Our message to Turkey is that if you want to take a
peaceful approach we want to help you as much as we
can . . . We are not part of this problem. We do not
support [ guerrilla] violence, we do not support
military action. We do not think there is any excuse
for the Turkish military to violate Iraq's
sovereignty.
"We want to have good relations with Turkey and the
KRG has a firm policy of non-interference in the
affairs of neighbouring countries. We don't want our
areas to be used for aggression against our
neighbours.
"Turkish military action threatens the stability of
Iraq and puts at risk" gains made over the past four
years.
"We are busy building a federal democratic Iraq,
that's our mission. We are focusing on stabilising
the other regions of the country. The Kurdistan
region is the only safe and secure part of the
country right now and [ if Turkey takes military
action] Kurdistan will not remain safe and secure."
The tension between the KRG and Ankara has political
as well as security causes. A key bone of contention
is a referendum due to be held during 2007.
It will decide whether or not the oil-rich city of
Kirkuk and other areas in northern Iraq will be
annexed by the Kurdistan region. Ankara fears a
referendum will lead to attempts to create a
"Greater Kurdistan" extending into southeastern
Turkey. A majority of Arab Iraqis also oppose the
referendum which they see as the first step in the
division of Iraq into three ethno-sectarian states.
Although Turkey and some Arab factions are prepared
to use force to prevent the expansion of the Kurdish
region, the KRG is not ready to back down over the
referendum, Mr Bakir asserted.
"The Kurdish leadership has shown utmost flexibility
in order to find a peaceful, lasting solution for
the disputed areas. We have been patient."
He dismissed criticism of the oil law unilaterally
adopted by the KRG.
He said, "we are committed to the constitution and
its provisions for revenue sharing amongst the
regions. We have worked hard in order to agree on a
petroleum law for Iraq at the federal level."
Turkey strongly opposes Kurdish control of the
region's oil resources because revenues from oil
could give the semi-autonomous region greater
independence.
He also brushed aside opposition to federalism by
Turkey and Iraqis who want a strong central
government. "We want a powersharing arrangement for
the Kurds and Arabs and other national minorities to
be part of the set-up in Baghdad and to make sure
that the federal system is implemented throughout
the country . . . we have asked for a federal Iraq
so all the regions can run their own affairs.
"We rejected dictatorship from Saddam Hussein. It
means that there is no chance that we will accept
dictatorship any more."
ireland com
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