Beyatli: Barzani Wants To Become The Only Dominant Power In Northern Iraq

KONYA - Iraqi Turkmen Front Executive Board member Aydin Beyatli said on Sunday, ''Iraqi Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) leader Massoud Barzani wants to become the only dominant power in Northern Iraq. The Turkmen should attend the meeting which is expected to be held in the United States between September 4 and 5.''
Responding questions of the A.A correspondent, Beyatli said that Barzani had become a serious threat for all Kurdish and Turkmen groups living in Northern Iraq.
''Barzani's arbitrary practices have recently concentrated on the Turkmen. Barzani wants to become the only dominant power in Northern Iraq by forcing Kurdish people who are not members of the KDP to leave the region. Barzani's forces tried to prevent meetings of Iraqi Turkmen Front Executive Board in Irbil and Kirkuk by using force. We expect all countries and international human rights organizations to help us prevent such distressing incidents,'' he said.
Recalling that they had held a positive meeting with the U.S. State Department officials following the meeting held in the United States on August 9 with participation of Iraqi groups, Beyatli said, ''we are in favor of territorial integrity of Iraq. If a group in the region is granted autonomy or different status, we will oppose it. The Turkmen cannot be ignored in the new order in Iraq. Views of nearly three million Turkmen are of vital importance for settlement of peace in the region.''