BAGHDAD - Faruk Abdullah, the Iraqi Turkmen Front's (ITC) Baghdad Branch Head said on Monday that ''if Turkish army comes to Iraq, this will be factor of balance for Iraq's security.''
Speaking to A.A correspondent, Abdullah said that he considered the deployment of Turkish soldiers in Iraq not as an occupier force, but as an army which would ensure security and order.
Abdullah stated that nobody could accept an occupier in his/her country whether they were Muslim, Christian or Jewish. ''When the Turkish army enters Iraq as a friendly army to help the Iraqi society and the existence of Iraq, I suppose both Turkmens and also other communities will accept them,'' said Abdullah.
Abdullah pointed out that he was sure that Turkey, as a civilized country, would contribute to the existence and stability of Iraq by considering the pressure made on Turkmens from a humanitarian point of view, adding that ''in that respect, the existence of Turkish army as a neighbouring and Muslim country in Iraq is a factor of balance for security.''
Complaining about the insufficient representation of Turkmens in the Iraqi Interim Governing Council and in the cabinet that were formed, Abdullah said that ''if this continues like that, a big vacuum will be created and the rights of Turkmens will be violated.''
Abdullah said that many groups launched efforts to isolate Turkmens, adding that they tried to protect their rights by thinking that no group in Iraq should put pressure on any other group after the Saddam regime was overthrown in Iraq.
Abdullah said that they asked the top U.S. civilian official in Iraq Paul Bremer to increase the number of their representatives and they launched initiatives to have more than one ministries in the cabinet, adding that none of their demands was fulfilled.
Abdullah pointed out that they would continue to launch initiatives both at the level of interim council and other concerned officials for protection of Turkmens' rights.
Noting that they fought against the pressures very well during Saddam regime, but now new groups were imposing same pressures to weaken Turkmens, Abdullah Said that it was obvious that incidents, which had occurred before Kirkuk massacre 43 years ago, were revived.
Abdullah said that everybody knew that Turkmens were against the separation of the nation and it was necessary for everybody to know that Turkmens would never break off Iraq.
Abdullah said, ''we fought well during Saddam regime, but now, new groups are imposing the same pressures in Kirkuk, Tuz Kharmato and other places and aim to weaken Turkmens.''
(Öª-GC-AÖ) 01.09.2003