“TURKEY WILL QUIT COOPERATING WITH THE US”, GUL WARNS
Tal Afar Incidents Are the Reason
Azg/am
16 Sept 04
The siege of Tal Afar, Iraq, begun on September 4, is still in
process. The American aviation keeps on bombing the town. According to
the latest news, 200 Turkmen are dead and more than 300 wounded. Tens
of thousands of Turkmen families had to leave their homes. The
American forces forbid the Turkmen to return to their homes, the
Kurds strive for inhabiting Tal Afar with the Syrian Kurds and the
Kurdish peshmerga guerrillas are fighting against the Turkmen side
by side with the Americans.
USAâ^À^Ùs cooperation with the Kurds in the issue of the Turkmen
is pregnant with a future change of the Northern Iraqâ^À^Ùs
map. America may have even farther-reaching plans for Iraq, for
instance, making a federation out of the country with Kurdish and
Arabian units. The Arabian part in its turn should be divided between
the Sunnis and the Shiites and the Turkmen will appear at the back
seat, with no status.
Turkey, perhaps would have agreed with Iraqâ^À^Ùs division if the
US had intended a piece of land for Turkmen either. If the Turkmen
factor was the main reason for Turkeyâ^À^Ùs participation in the
Iraq war, then in case this factor is ruled out, especially by means
of the Kurds, nothing will keep Turkey in Iraq. The fact that Turkey
is gradually being evicted from the processes in Iraq also makes
Turkey worry.
The Anatolu Turkish news agency cites the statement of Abdullah Gul,
foreign minister of Turkey, made on September 13. “I have talked with
the US State Secretary Collin Powel and told him that Turkey will cease
cooperating with the US in the Iraqi issue unless the latter changes
its policy (towards the Turkmen). I think the population of Tal Afar
should be spared the violence. I told him about this and will keep
on telling. But our words may soon turn into action”, Mr. Gul said.
By Hakob Chakrian