MILLIYET- Columnist Sami Kohen comments on recent rumors and stories appearing in the Turkish and foreign press about the latest developments in northern Iraq. A summary of his column is as follows:
There are many confirmed and unconfirmed stories and rumors afoot about recent developments in northern Iraq. The communication techniques of our age provide the world’s media with the opportunity to manipulate public opinion on a particular subject in line with their own interests, a strategy which is technically known as ‘disinformation.’ Who knows how much correct information is able to slip through the cracks of the foreign media corporations?
Needless to say, Turkish journalists have to be very careful about this issue. However, they don’t really have the opportunity to collect firsthand information. Although many foreign journalists visit northern Iraq to investigate the region and speak to its people and leaders for themselves, Turkish journalists cannot travel there since Turkish politicians have barred them from doing so.
We can, of course, easily understand why Ankara is extremely sensitive on the issue. Turkey is trying to monitor and head off movements in the region which might threaten its territorial integrity.
However, the international news flow often has negative repercussions on our domestic press due to the circulation of some distorted or false stories. In order to put a stop to this disinformation, the Turkish government itself should tell the press about the actual developments in the region.
Two interesting stories recently appeared in the Turkish press about northern Iraq: First, according to the dailies, Bamerni Airport near Dhohuk, across the border from Sirnak, is now completely under the control of Turkish troops. This development has been evaluated as a sign of imminent US intervention against Saddam Hussein since Turkey has brought the flurry of activity in the region under stricter control. However, as yet we don’t have enough information about the actual story. Soon after Ankara’s official denial that Turkey had deployed troops at the airport, we received information about struggles in the region.
The second story concerns Massoud Barzani, the leader of the Iraqi Kurdistan Democratic Party (IKDP). According to information leaked, Barzani’s red passport was canceled and his nephew Nechirvan Barzani obtained official permission to pass through Turkish territory to travel to Washington, where Iraqi opposition leaders recently met to discuss ways of overthrowing Saddam Hussein. This story has also been denied by Turkish officials. However, rumors say that a rapprochement was recently reached between Ankara and Jalal Talabani, the leader of the Iraqi Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (IPUK). Turkish officials stated that Turkey still maintains its cautious relations with both leaders. However, it’s clear that Ankara is dissatisfied with Barzani’s recent statements advocating the establishment of a federal state in the region.
There is no doubt that these issues are extremely sensitive for Turkey. However, the best way to discuss them is to let Turkish journalists collect firsthand information at the very source of the developments.
SOURCE: OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER, DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF PRESS AND INFORMATION