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Turkey's problems lie in its actions
20.12.2007
By Martin Zehr
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December
20, 2007
In an article in the Wall Street Journal entitled “Turkey's
Terror Problem Is Ours”
mistakenly attempts to remove the context of the
struggle of the PKK in Turkey from the resolution of
the denial of the national and political rights of
Kurdish people in the region. In so doing he is
promoting an aggressive military campaign by the
Turkish government and ignores longstanding Turkish
historical claims to parts of northern Iraq. The
issue of PKK attacks on civilians is not the focus
or the basis for the Turkish military buildup on the
border of the Kurdistan Autonomous Region.
Mr. Rubin suggests: “U.S. officials should threaten
isolation and a cessation of all financial
assistance until Mr. Barzani ceases his safe haven.”
Mr. Rubin might pay more attention to the U.S.
military aid to Turkey, as a source of the problem.
“As a member of NATO and Washington’s ally in the
war on terrorism, Turkey is the third largest
recipient of U.S. military aid, behind Israel and
Egypt. Between 1994 and 2004, it received well over
$1.3 billion in FMF and another $21.4 million in
IMET.[224] Congress granted another $33 million in
FMF and $4 million in IMET in 2005. The President’s
request for 2006 is more modest-- $25 million in FMF
and $3 million in IMET.”
Suggesting as he does that there is an implicit
alliance between President Barzani and the PKK in
Iraq Mr. Rubin establishes a weak case. He states:
“During its Oct. 21 attack on Turkish troops, PKK
tactics mirrored those taught by U.S. Special Forces
to Mr. Barzani's peshmerga fighters, suggesting its
complicity in training terrorists.” Taken on its
face, it presents little documentation in making in
its case. But considering the ramifications of such
statements, it presents Turkey with a virtual blank
check in regards to attacks on the government of the
KRG and the territory of the Kurdish Autonomous
Region.
Mr. Rubin uses the history of the PKK’s attacks in
Turkey, Iran and Syria in the 90s as a basis for his
own proposal for US policy. Unfortunately, he
considers the current status of the PKK to be
sufficient in justifying or obscuring the
motivations of the Turkish military. Mr. Rubin
appears to disregard the sovereignty of the Kurdish
Autonomous Region, even while Turkey internally
moves to outlaw the Democratic Society Party,
arrests its leader, and arrests a teenage internet
user.www.ekurd.net
This appears to be a
disingenuous sleight of hand in addressing issues
within Turkey that have been going on for decades.
The issue IS what Turkey has done to deny Kurdish
peoples their rights within Turkey and in
neighboring states.
Mr. Rubin is adamant in proposing that President
Barzani is an agent in alliance with the PKK. “So as
Mr. Barzani denies complicity in terrorism, he
nevertheless seeks to leverage it into diplomatic
gain.” Ignored are President Barzani’s efforts to
improve relations with Turkey. Explaining that
economic ties are a key diplomatic tool, Mr Bakir
said, “It is instructive that Turkey did not close
its border with the Kurdistan Region during the
recent crisis. This was a victory for Prime Minister
Barzani’s policy of encouraging economic ties with
Turkey. We need to deepen our economic relations
with Turkey, to act as further buffer against
bilateral tension in our relationship in the
future.” After a recent meeting with US
Vice-President Cheney the Deputy Prime Minister
projected the position of the KRG in regards to
attacks on Turkey from the Kurdish Autonomous
Region: “Deputy Prime Minister Fattah outlined the
KRG’s steps to tackle the PKK problem. “We are
against the use of our Region for attacks against
Turkey,” he said. “We intend to strengthen our
relationship with Turkey and ensure that the
Kurdistan Region remains Iraq’s most stable and
prosperous area.”
There lie beneath Turkey’s domestic policies and
military maneuvers issues that are rooted in its own
efforts to deny fundamental reforms needed to
address injustices that have kept it from membership
in the European Union. Turkey’s history in its
internal conflict with the PKK has seen emergency
rule enforced in Kurdish areas of Turkey, forced
relocations of Kurdish villages, arrests of elected
Kurdish officials and journalists in Turkey, and the
denial of civil rights and political rights of the
Kurdish peoples.www.ekurd.net
This stands alongside of
efforts of Turkey to prevent the Kirkuk referendum,
the recent bombings of civilians in the Kurdish
Autonomous Region and the massive troop buildup on
the border. Mr. Rubin appears to be centering his
case on the person and the office of President
Barzani and seeking action against him as a
terrorist. He should be cognizant of the
implications of this and recognize that Turkey’s
actions stem from a continued aggressive policy
against the Kurdish nation by the Turkish military.
These actions whether within Turkey, Iran or the
Kurdish Autonomous Region represent a sustained
effort by the Turkish military that violate the
sovereignty of other nations and the human rights of
the Kurdish peoples.
theconservativevoice com
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