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Turkish Commander: Iraqi Kurdistan could
become center of attraction for Turkey's Kurds
27.9.2007 |
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September
27, 2007
Ankara, -- Land Forces Commander Ilker Basbug
signaled Monday that the main worry of the Turkish
Armed Forces regarding Kurdistan region 'northern
Iraq' is the danger of the region becoming a center
of attraction for Turkey's Kurds.
The area which is run by the autonomous
administration of the Kurdistan Regional Government
seems to be regarded as a main threat to Turkish
unity.
"It is a fact that the developments in Kurdistan
region 'north of Iraq' has given political, legal,
military and psychological strength to the Kurds
living in the region as they have never had or
experienced before in the past. We must be careful
about the developments in north of Iraq as these may
give some of our citizens a feeling of belonging to
this region," the Land Forces chief said.
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Turkish Land Forces Commander Ilker Basbug |
In a keynote speech delivered at the beginning of
the 2007-2008 academic year at the Turkish Military
Academy, Gen. Basbug stressed that "another problem
is the support terrorist organization receives in
the north of Iraq and the inaction of the United
States Administration and Iraqi government vis-a-vis
the terrorist organization (PKK)."
Gen. Basbug stressed the United States must take
action against the PKK and understand that the
presence of the PKK rebels in northern Iraq is a
serious threat to Turkey.
The PKK is considered as terrorist organization by
the US, EU and Turkey.
More than 37,000 Turkish soldiers and Kurdish PKK
guerrillas have been killed since 1984 when the PKK
took up arms for self-rule in the country's mainly
Kurdish southeast of Turkey.
"The U.S. must understand that a solution reached
without Turkey's support in Iraq won't be a lasting
one" he added.
Basbug stressed that "Ataturk's understanding of a
nation-state is not based on religious or ethnic
identities. Ataturk's reforms just created a secular
nation-state."
General Basbug said the definition of secularism
(included in the current Turkish constitution)
cannot be made a topic of discussion.
Basbug warned that developments in Kurdistan region
'northern Iraq' have reached a level where they may
threaten the security and future of Turkey.
Kurdistani politician says, Turkey is using a
Kurdish separatist PKK rebel group as an excuse to
invade Kurdistan region 'Iraq' to prevent the
establishment of Kurdistan state in the Kurdish
autonomous region in 'northern Iraq'.
Ankara is anxious to prevent the emergence of a
Kurdish state in Kurdistan region 'northern Iraq',
fearing this could fan separatism among its own
large Kurdish population in southeast Turkey. Turkey
is home to over 25 million ethnic Kurds.
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.
Iraqi Kurds are the strongest allies the U.S. has in
the area.
Officially, Turkey does not recognise the regional
government of Kurdistan led by president Massoud
Barzani.
Source: thenewanatolian.com
**
Kurds are not recognized as an official minority in
Turkey and are denied rights granted to other
minority groups. Under EU pressure, Turkey recently
granted Kurds limited rights for broadcasts and
education in the Kurdish language, but critics say
the measures do not go far enough.
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" Southeast
Turkey.
Others estimate over 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.
Turkey is home to over 25 million ethnic Kurds, some
of whom openly sympathise with the Kurdish PKK for a
Kurdish homeland in the country's mainly Kurdish
southeast of Turkey.
Before August 2002, the Turkish government placed
severe restrictions on the use of Kurdish language,
prohibiting the language in education and broadcast
media.
The Kurdish alphabet is still not recognized
in Turkey, and use of the Kurdish letters X, W, Q
which do not exist in the Turkish
alphabet has led to judicial persecution in 2000 and
2003
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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