FM GUL: “THE UN IS TAKING THE INITIATIVE ON THE KIRKUK ISSUE”

Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul yesterday attended a foreign ministers’ meeting in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia in preparation for the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) summit which officially starts today. Speaking to reporters, Gul said that UN-led efforts have been underway for clearing the names of non-residents from voter rolls in Kirkuk, Iraq. Asked about Iraqi Turkmens’ concerns regarding the situation in Kirkuk, Gul described the city as a “mini Iraq” and said that Turkey has been closely monitoring the situation there. The foreign minister also said that he recently sent a letter outlining Turkey’s concerns to UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, and added that everybody is against artificial changes to Kirkuk’s demographic makeup. Gul also said that the “OIC 10-Year Action Plan” covering problems facing the Islamic world, important events, and developments was the most important subject discussed at the meeting of foreign ministers. /Star/

Kerkuk's Status Depends on Iraqi Constitution, not on Barzani

By Zaman Published: Saturday, December 03, 2005 zaman.com

US State Department Deputy Coordinator for Iraq Robert Deutsch said the decision about the ultimate status of Kerkuk (Kirkuk) will be made according to the Iraqi constitution.
Assessing Massoud Barzani’s, the elected president by the regional administration in northern Iraq, statement that “in 2007, Kirkuk will be controlled by the Kurds,” Deutsch said, "I am sure this process to be completed by the end of 2007 will work in favor of all Iraqis."
Deutsch, the undersecretary at the US Embassy in Ankara until a few months ago, met Turkish Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Ambassador Ali Tuygan on Friday.
The American diplomat answering the press members' questions after the meeting said Kirkuk's status will be determined in accordance with the Iraqi constitution. Iraqis are waiting for the implementation of the constitution for the problems to be solved, he said, and the differences to be removed.
When reminded about the terrorist organization Kurdish Workers's Party (PKK) attempts to take part in the upcoming Iraqi elections on December 15, the US diplomat said the Iraqi independent electoral committee makes the decisions about the elections.
People or groups involved with those encouraging violence will not be allowed to join the elections, Deutsch said highlighting the committee's decision. "The electoral committee must practice its rules." Tens of thousands of Iraqis, trained by some US non-governmental organizations, will serve as observers in the December 15 elections.
Ankara

Turkey Contributes To Democratization Process In Iraq, Deutsch

ANKARA - U.S. Deputy Coordinator for Iraq Robert S. Deutsch said on Friday that Turkey contributed to the democratization process in Iraq.
Robert S. Deutsch met Turkish Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Ali Tuygan and exchanged views with him about the recent developments in Iraq prior to the Iraqi elections on Dec. 15th, 2005.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Deutsch said that 2006 would be an important year for Iraq which walked on the path of being a pluralist, federal and democratic country. Turkey contributes positively to this process, Deutsch said.
When asked about the recent statement of Massoud Barzani, leader of Iraqi Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) who had said that Kirkuk would belong to Kurds in 2007, Deutsch stressed that the Iraqi Constitution would be the determining factor regarding this issue. The Constitution prepared by Iraqis would also cover Kirkuk-related issues, he said and added that he hoped the consequence of that legal process would be to the interest of all Iraqis.
When reminded of the news on the initiative of the terrorist organization PKK to take part in Iraqi elections, Deutsch said that the rules of the Iraqi electoral commission didn't permit militants or groups that incited violence to take part in elections.
Deutsch said he believed the Iraqi elections would be fair, legitimate and comply with international standards, adding that Turkey and the international community supported Iraq.

Published: 12/4/2005

Outside View: What to do about Iraq

.......Those committing terrorism are Arab Sunni Muslims who want to regain their community's control over the country either by returning a Saddam-like regime or creating an Islamist-style one. The Kurds, Turcoman, and Shiite Muslim Arabs who comprise more than 80 percent of Iraqis are not going to join them.

Iran, Iraq, Turkey et al.

By Tulin Daloglu
November 29, 2005

Exit strategy

..... Kirkuk remains a powder keg convulsed by disputes between Arabs, Turkmen and Kurds.

Reconcile this

......The Turkomans, for their part, were pleased with the statement by Iraqi Turkoman Front chief, Saadeddin Arkig, to the effect that everyone should work for a united Iraq. Iraq needs help and guidance. Dozens are being killed every day, either by bombers or US "friendly" fire. The main Iraqi reconciliation conference -- the preparations for which was held in Cairo this week -- is expected to take place in Baghdad by the end of February 2006. The question occupying most Iraqis now is if this week's Cairo preparatory meeting could help in curbing the ongoing blood bath in their country.

Head of the Iraqi Turkmani Front: We did not Request Turkish Intervention for Protecting us

Al Zaman
28/11/2005
Mohsen Ameen, head of the Iraqi Turkmani front said that Iraqi Turkmen did not request any interference on behalf of Turkey for protecting them. He added, "We did not demand any state to interfere in Iraqi affairs as we are Iraqi, first of all. All we need is Iraqi army on Iraqi lands.

"I response to a question on whether the Turkmen are demanding for activating Turkey's role in Iraq in the light of the Iranian interference in this country, Ameen said, ""We are demanding the neighboring countries to assist Iraq in its ordeal. This is what the Arab League is doing."

Turkmen leader Ergec makes first official visit to Turkey

Iraqi Turkmen Front (ITF) Chairman Sadettin Ergec yesterday made his first foreign visit to Turkey at his new post to have several meetings. The visit drew much attention as it's taking place ahead of the Iraqi elections on Dec. 15, and following the meeting in Erbil between Iraqi Kurdistan region President Massoud Barzani and Emre Taner, the undersecretary of the Turkish National Intelligence Organization (MIT), before the Kurdish leader left for the U.S. Ergec was welcomed at Esenboga Airport in Ankara by representatives from the Turkish Foreign Ministry, the ITF, and the Turkmeneli Association for Cooperation and Culture. Delivering a speech at the welcoming ceremony, Ergec stated that the aim of his visit is to share with Turkish officials the latest developments in Iraq in accordance with the results of the Iraqi Reconciliation Conference that was held in Cairo, Egypt earlier this week.

Ankara Urges Turkmen Groups to Unite

By Suleyman Kurt

Published: Saturday, November 26, 2005
Before the Iraqi elections on December 15, Ankara called Turkmen groups in this country to "unite and go to the elections together" for a more powerful representation.
On Friday, Foreign Minister Abdulah Gul communicated this call to Iraqi Turkmen Front (ITC) Chairman Sadettin Ergec, who makes official visits to Ankara. Ergec attended a meeting for reconciliation among ethnic and sectarian groups in Egypt last week and now is having contacts in Ankara before returning to Iraq.
Ergec reportedly informed Ankara about the Turkmen stance before the critical election and Gul pointed out Turkmen’s must be powerful in the elections to correct the situation both Ankara and the Turkmen’s are uneasy of.
Gul asserted Turkey's support continues. "If the Turkmen are at peace in Iraq it means we are at peace, too. Go to the elections under one umbrella. Act in the consciousness of Iraqiness, contribute in the country's unity and integrity," he said to ITC chairman. Ergec in return communicated they will form an alliance only in Musul (Mosul) and they will struggle "under their own flag" in other provinces. Both parties shared also their worries about Kerkuk (Kirkuk) in the talk.

Most Iraqis Reject Annexing Kirkuk to Kurdistan

In a survey conducted by Al Madina Independent Center for Surveys in Iraq, two thirds of Iraqi opposed annexing the northern province of Kirkuk, which is rich in oil, to Kurdistan region. They stressed the necessity of the participation of all constituents of the people in the coming government. They expected that this government would succeed in achieving security.

Tentative deal struck at Cairo talks

Turkoman politician Abbas al-Bayyati said of the draft "It is included in the text that an immediate withdrawal is not required right now but that it should be done in a gradual way."

Iraq leaders demand pullout timetable

Iraqi leaders have put persistent differences to one side and agreed on their first joint statement, calling for a timetable for the withdrawal of foreign troops from the country.

Kurds accused of rigging Kirkuk vote

Turkmen and Arab political parties in the Iraqi city of Kirkuk have accused Kurds of fixing the result of provincial elections held on the 30 January.

Irresponsible on Iraq

Sunday, November 20, 2005; Page B06
A SERIOUS congressional debate about Iraq is essential at a time when public support for the mission is falling and the danger of failure seems great. Aggressive challenges to the Bush administration's military and political strategy -- even calls for an immediate withdrawal of troops, such as that made by

Hawkish Democrat Joins Call For Pullout

GOP Assails Murtha's Demand to Leave Iraq
By Charles BabingtonWashington Post Staff Writer
Friday, November 18, 2005; Page A01

The top House Democrat on military spending matters stunned colleagues yesterday by calling for the immediate withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq, while many congressional Democrats reacted defiantly to President Bush's latest attack on his critics.

THE POLITICAL SPEECH OF THE IRAQI TURKMEN FRONT

The Iraqi Turkmen Front `ITF` works to achieve the objectives ineluded in its political program. The ITF has set these objectives on its patriotie approach in defending IRAQ and its natioal unity, nation and land.

Iraqi Elections – Round Two

Voting Overseas

The Elections Board estimates that there are1.2 million expatriate Iraqis who are eligible to vote. Facilities will be available in 20 countries for those expatriates desirous of voting. These countries are likely to be: Australia, Canada, Germany, Iran, Jordan, The Netherlands, Syria, Turkey, the U.A.E., the U.S., Sweden, the U.K., Kuwait, Yemen, Denmark, Switzerland, Austria, Libya, Egypt, and Lebanon. Of these 20 countries, Libya, in which 45,000 expatriate Iraqis reside, may not authorize elections on its soil.
In the previous elections, a mere 265,000 expatriates voted, partly because of the requirement that the expatriate must first register and then vote a week later. For those who had to travel, this requirement was quite restrictive. In the coming elections, one visit to the ballot box will suffice. AL SABAH (IRAQ)

A 300-year-old Turkoman mosque

Anita Powell / S&S

A 300-year-old Turkoman mosque on Forward Operating Base Warrior is off limits to U.S. troops, but a chplain is trying to arrange for a local imam to lead prayers there for 16 Muslim soldiers in the 1st Brigade Combat Team of the 101st Airborne Division.

Bullets and ballots

Al-Ahram Weekly - Cairo,Egypt
....The Iraqi Turkoman Front has promised its supporters that Kirkuk would remain a Turkoman city. The Turkoman Front is running in Kirkuk on its own but has entered into alliance with the IRF in Mosul. Several Turkoman candidates are contesting the elections as part of non- Turkoman lists. ..(continiue)