Iraqi Turks Disappointed With Absence Of Their Political Front's Logo On Election Brochures

ISTANBUL (AA) - Iraqi Turks Cultural and Assistance Association Chairman Kemal Beyatli has criticized the lack of the logo of the Iraq Turkmen Front (ITC) on election brochures and stated that this situation is an unfortunate one.
     Within the framework organized by the International Organization for Migration's Independent Iraq Election Commission, Beyatli casted his vote today at an elementary school in Istanbul.
     ''The Iraqi Turkmen population will vote in the Iraqi elections. However, our heart is broken over the fact that the rights of the Turkmens have been violated. We are the third major power in Iraq. Yet we are not in a fair position within Iraq's government,'' said Beyatli.
     Beyatli added that the absence of ITC's logo on election brochures is a sad event. ''Certain forces want to prevent the Turkmens from having a say in the administration of Iraq,'' told Beyatli.
     According to Beyatli, ballot documents have been printed only in Arabic and Kurdish, despite the presence of a large Turkmen group in Iraq. ''The results of the elections will not satisfy us. The number of Turkmens living in Iraq has been shown below the actual number. We want to live in peace with all the groups in Iraq,'' remarked Beyatli.
     (ES-MS)
2005-01-28