Bulletin de liaison et d'information - Institut kurde de Paris

Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basm Özeti
Sabah
Post.Saddam Period
25 March 2002 by Sukru Elekdag
. .
Retired Amb~ssador Sukru Elekdag writes on Turkish-Iraqi relations and whéit may be do~e in case of .an operation
against Iraq. .
Even as Turkey's strategy towards Iraq should be focused on the post- Saddam period, we see that it is benig bogged
down in dealing with issues saving the. day. With thj.s near-sighted approach, it is impossible for Turkey to
defend its national interests in the post-Saddam p~ripd when the cards will be dealt anew. In fact, just like the other
states in the region, Turkey has also pointed out to the US the dangers of a military operation and asked Bush to
solve the feud between him and Saddam within the framework of the UN. However, if despite all warnings, the
.US insists on toppling Saddam, Turkey has three alternatives to choose from.
First, it may decline participate in any way in a military operation. Second, it may open up Incirlik and other bases
for the use of the US and help in supplying logistical support. Third, it may not limit its contributions to the operation
to bases and logistical support but actually participate in the military operation. Reportedly, both civilian
and military officials are both a taking realpolitik appproach in not dwelling on the first option, but ins~ead are in
favor of limiting Turkey's contribution in line with the second. I believe that such a line of action would create
serious threats for Turkey's national interests as a war against Saddam willlead to a natural alliance between the
Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) led by Barzani, the Kurdistan Patriotic Union (KPU) led by Talabani and the
United States. Thus, when new political restructuring and arrangements are taken up, Barzani and Talabani will
have a say on the matter, and opportunities will be created for the establishment of a Kurdish state.
That is why Turkey has to take its place in the operation against Iraq to protect its vital interests and not leave the
field in northern Iraq to Barzani, Talabani or other opposition leaders. However, if Turkey actively participates in
an operation against Iraq, it has to reach an accord with. the US on the following issues apart from the compensation
of the financiallosses it may suffer: In the post-Saddam period, Ankara must have a say in the new Iraqi political
restructuring on constitutional arrangements and all doors for the establishment of a Kurdish state should be
closed. Musul and Kirkuk, where Turkmens live, should be left in an autonomous Turkmen region and the rights
and security of Turkmens ~hould be constitutionally guaranteed on an'~qual basis with Arabs and Kurds. In addition,
the US must be able to end Israel'sstance regarding Palestine and gather the sides around a negotiation table.
Thus it will soften the opposition in the Arap world against a military operation and reduce the tension in the
region. In such a climate some Arab states may participate in the operation and the problems which cOtlld emerge
on Turkey's participation as the only Muslim state will be averted.
* * **
f.16s
Bomb Turk Kurd Rebels in Iraq • Kurd
Sources
Reuters March 23, 2002 By Ferit Demir
TUNCELI, Turkey - Warplanes have hammered Turkish Kurdish guerrilla encampments in northern Iraq, killing
about 25 rebels, but it was not immediately clear where the aircraft were from, Iraqi Kurdish sources said on
Saturday.
The Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), which administers northern Iraq, said it saw the aircraft bombing areas
on Kandil Mountain in the region late on Thursday. "Four F-16s flying from the direction of Turkey bombed four
separate points as PKK guerrillas celebrated Newroz," PUK sources in northern Iraq told Reuters in Tunceli, eastern
Turkey, by telephone. "Ahigh number of PKK were killed."
The PKK (Kurdistan Workers Party) has thousands of rebels based in the area. On Thursday, they celebrated the
traditional new year holiday Newroz.
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