ANKARA, Nov 22 (AFP) - A Sunni Arab boycott of general elections in Iraq would upset political balances and create even more trouble in the war-torn country, Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said in an interview published Monday.
"The most strategic issue for Turkey in the medium term is (ensuring) full participation of the (Iraqi) Sunni community in the political process and its full representation in the future parliament, which will prepare the new constitution," Gul told the mass-circulation daily Hurriyet.
"Big difficulties may arise if the Sunni Arab community does not participate fully in the elections," Gul said. "This will be also very dangerous for (Iraq's) Sunni Arab community in the future."
If Sunnis are under-represented in the election scheduled for January 30, political balances will be upset in favor of the Shiites and "a problematic situation" will emerge, the minister said.
So far 47 radical Sunni parties have made it known that they would not participate in the elections, but according to a source in the electoral commission, some 20 parties affiliated to Iraq's Sunni minority have already registered to run in the January polls.
Gul urged Sunni Arabs "to leave aside their anger" and give up boycott plans. "They will harm Iraq's future as long as they stay out" of the electoral process, he said.
Sunni leaders last week renewed appeals for a boycott of the vote in protest against the devastating US-led assault on the western city of Fallujah.
Gul said Sunni Arabs, by actively participating in the political process, should ensure that Iraq's new constitution is "balanced and protects Iraq's integrity and political unity."
Turkey fears that ethnic trouble in Iraq may lead to the break-up of its southern neighbor.
It suspects Iraq's Kurds of wanting to carve up an independent state in their northern enclave, which could constitute a destablizing example for their restive kinsmen in adjoining southeastern Turkey.
Gul left Monday for the Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheikh to represent Turkey at a two-day international conference at which world leaders will discuss Iraq's future.
11/22/2004 10:57 GMT - AFP