Yaycili Reacts To Barzani: Barzani And His Gangs Have Turned Northern Iraq Into A Prison For Turkmen

IZMIR - Iraqi National Turkmen Party Honorary Chairman Mustafa Kemal Yaycili said on Saturday, ''the Turkmen living in Northern Iraq have been exposed to impositions and attacks by Iraqi Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) leader Massoud Barzani.''
Yaycili who came to western province of Izmir as the guest of the Culture and Solidarity Association of Iraqi Turks, held a press conference.
''Barzani has been continuing his policy of pressure and atrocity against the Turkmen since 1996. Students and teachers have been forced to close down the schools giving education in Turkish language. Turkmen organizations have been exposed to continuous attacks. 300 thousand Turkmen living in Irbil have been distressed under pressure of Barzani. Barzani aims at exiling the Turkmen from the region and eradicating them. Barzani and his gangs have turned Northern Iraq into a prison for the Turkmen. We want to benefit from the rights and freedoms granted to other ethnic groups in the region. We expect free countries and human rights activists to help us in saving 300 thousand Turmen in Irbil from pressure and atrocity,'' he emphasized.
He noted, ''tension can be escalated more in the region in coming period. We can face more difficulties. Therefore, we request protection from the Turkish Armed Forces. I do not think that any ethnic groups in the region would oppose to the Turkish Armed Forces. Everyone is aware of the fact that the Turkish Armed Forces would settle peace in the region.