BY TAHA AKYOL
MILLIYET- Yesterday’s statements by Deputy Chief of General Staff Gen. Ilker Basbug show that Turkey is concerned about two issues in Iraq. The first is the PKK’s presence in northern Iraq. Although Turkey has uttered its concerns, no development has been made. It is clear that there are problems between Turkey and the US about this issue. The second concern is to activate the demographic structure of Kirkuk. Basbug said that 100,000 people including Turkmen and Assyrians were forced to leave the city between the years 1991-2000. The number of Kurds settled in the city has reached 350,000. Iraq could be dragged into a civil war. There is a disagreement between the EU and Turkey in this issue too.
Northern Iraq is not only a shelter for PKK militants, but also a place of ‘political activities.’ This is a serious threat for Turkey, but the US doesn’t act against this. Changing the demographic structure in Kirkuk shows the nationalistic ambitions of the Kurds. Words about targeting Diyarbakir slip out of Massoud Barzani and Jalal Talabani. Would they not use the PKK against Turkey? The US doesn’t take any action about Kirkuk. What are Turkey’s choices? Should it enter Iraq and take Mosul? Should it break up with the US and look for other allies? Basbug has clearly explained the choice of a military operation into the region by reminding of the period in 1923-26. Mustafa Kemal Ataturk refused to make military operations to Mosul, which was included in the national border of Turkey. We could enter Mosul, but we would find ourselves in a very difficult situation at that time. We agreed on today’s borders in 1926 and we are loyal to it. Today’s situation in the region is worse than it was in the 20’s.
The second choice is to search for other allies than the US. Basbug reminded that the situation in Iraq is not caused by any bad intentions of the US, but by US not being able to dominate the events in Iraq. ‘Our relations with the US is so broad and comprehensive that we can’t relate them with a single issue unless it is a vital one,’ said Basbug. We have to strengthen our relations with the US. A valid option for Turkey would be to use its diplomacy with the support of our political, economic and military potential.
We have to ask the questions of how our Kurdish citizens are influenced by Turkey’s stance in Iraq and how we can develop economic and social integration policies to strengthen our national unity? Turkey is entering a very difficult period.