KAZANCI EXPLAINED THE RECENT SITUATION IN IRAQ TO TRT TÜRK

KAZANCI EXPLAINED THE RECENT SITUATION IN IRAQ TO TRT TÜRK

Iraqi Turkmen Front Representative Dr. Hicran Kazancı participated in Detay Haber program which is broadcast on TRT Türk and explained how the situation in Iraq became what it is.

Kazancı indicated that after occupying Iraq, the United States was unable to resolve the problems particularly regarding Kirkuk and other controversial areas and said, “The army and security forces were established on ethnic sect separation”. Kazancı emphasized that the Iraqi Constitutional Law used vague phrases regarding Kirkuk and controversial areas, other important issues as well as those dealing with returning lands seized from Turkmen and Kurds in the previous era and said:

“The problems continued. The US deferred them, postponed them but did not resolve or could not resolve them. In 2006-2007 the ethnic sect conflict peaked. But at that time it did not make great waves because 180 US troops were there. They tried to prevent it and did so.”

THE POLITICIANS ARE FAR REMOVED FROM A CULTURE OF COMPROMISE

Kazancı reminded that after the US troops withdrew the problems started to emerge once again and that the problems in Iraq were political and could only be resolved by politicians who were familiar with a culture of compromise. Kazancı underlined that the Iraqi politicians were far from the culture of compromise, that instead of culture of compromise a culture of dissolution had emerged in Iraq, that immediately after the US withdrew first a warrant for arrest was issued for the Vice President who represented the Sunni after which he was given a death sentence and that mosques were attacked during the protests organized on Fridays.

Kazancı also indicated that failure to implement the Arbil agreement was one of the reasons which started the crisis and said, “The crisis blew up when this failure was followed by the budget and energy issue between the central Government and Arbil”.

POLITICS AND ADMINISTRATION SHOULD BE SHARED IN KIRKUK

Kazanci indicated that Kirkuk was not only significant in terms of economy but also possessed a very important strategic position and because it was not indicated in the constitutional law the status of Kirkuk is a matter for debate. Kazancı said that the Kirkuk issue was not an issue between Baghdad and Arbil, it was also an international issue and as such the resolution was also political and underlined that political and administrative sharing should be carried out.

OUR DEMANDS FOR AN ARMED FORCE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN REJECTED

Kazancı said that after 2003 all the political groups in Iraq acquired an armed forces and commented that, “However, our requests to establish such a security after 2003 have been continuously rejected. If you not possess special forces to protect you in a region where terror is rampant then you become the number one target of terror. That is the case in Turkmen regions”. Kazancı continued to say that: “Our lack of armed forces put us face to face with terror. Time after time we have requested from the Iraqi central government that we ensure our security. These requests were always rejected. For this reason the negligence of the central government has a significant contribution in the targeting of Turkmen.

WE REJECT A REVIVAL COUNCIL BASED ON SECT

Regarding the establishment of a 750 person unit for the Turkmen for security Kazancı commented that, “It is very offensive that political issues get involved with security issues in Iraq”. Kazancı continued by saying: “Any kind of armed formation based on sect is a disaster both for the region as well as for Turkmen. If a Turkmen force is established under the title Revival Council it must be established for all regions. It must be commanded by the Iraqi Turkmen Front. The establishment of an armed unit based on sect will endeavor to deepen the rift between sects even further. That is the intention of those behind this.”

Kazancı drew attention to the fact that so far there had been no ethnic-sect conflict between the Turkmen in Iraq, however as a result of the recent attacks there had been efforts to create discrimination. Kazancı said, “The establishment of such a security force will serve the targets of those trying to create discrimination”. 

THE COMMISSIONS DO NOTHING

Kazancı commented on commissions saying, “The same investigation commission was established after previously committed attacks. However, none of their investigations presented any results”. Kazancı indicated that the commission established after the Tuzhurmatu attack had done nothing and said, “We saw that the full picture displayed a commercial targeting the press”. Kazancı pointed out that those who had incurred damage from terror would be indemnified from the investment budget put aside for Turkmen regions and that the expectations of the Turkmen people were most definitely far from fulfilled.

THE SUPPORT OF TURKEY IS ALWAYS RIGHT BEHIND US

Kazancı indicated that as always the moral support of Turkey for the Turkmen continued and said, “Turkey did what had to be done up to now”. Kazancı said that it was the support of Turkey which enabled the Turkmen to have 3 ministers and 6 members of parliament represent them in the central government and continued to say, “If the  referendum in Kirkuk has been delayed from 2005 to date that is on account of Turkey.  For this reason whatever positive things have happened to the Iraqi Turkmen have incurred with the significant moral support of Turkey”.

Kazancı repeated what Minister of Foreign Affairs Ahmet Davutoğlu had said at the reception of martyr Ali Haşim Muhtaroğlu, “Turkey is always behind you. This is your second home. 76 million are behind you” and emphasized that this was a clear indication of the support Turkey gave to the Turkmen.