Turkmens Worried About Consequences Of Operation Against Iraq

KONYA - Aydin Beyatlý, a member of the Northern Iraqi Turkmen Front (ITC) Executive Board said on Tuesday that they were worried about the possibility of a chaos among opposition groups in Northern Iraq following a U.S. operation against Iraq.
Beyatli said that they closely follow the developments in the international platform about a possible U.S. operation against Iraq.
Beyatli said that the tension is escalating in Northern Iraq and all opposition groups determine their interests according to a possible operation. Beyatli said that they speeded up working to protect their rights as Turkmens who constitute 12 percent of the Iraqi population.
Beyatli remarked that they want formation of a democratic parliamentary system in which all opposition groups can be represented in Baghdad according to their population after a possible operation, adding that they are also worried about eruption of a new chaotic atmosphere in the region.
Beyatli said that they were worried about eruption of chaos among opposition groups in Northern Iraq after a possible U.S. operation in Iraq, adding that ''we wish nine opposition groups to live in peace and within territorial integrity after the operation. Yet the designs on our territories have been revealed once again during the opposition groups meeting in London two days ago. KDP leader Barzani has an eye on Kerkuk and PUK leader Talabani has an eye on Erbil. Barzani wants to declare Kerkuk where 60 percent of the population is Turkmen, as the capital of the state he wants to set up. He is very interested in rich oil beds there.''
Beyatli said that they continuously tell in international platforms that Kerkuk and Erbil are Turkmen territory, adding that ''we are worried about the possibility of an operation in Iraq to bring onto again these demands and eruption of a chaotic atmosphere. Our non-governmental organizations and political flank explain our right cause.''
Beyatli commented that these groups in Northern Iraq wanted to isolate Turkmens from the administration to be formed in Iraq after the operation, adding ''Turkmens are ranked the first in respect of culture and education level among the peoples living in Iraq. We can't accept to be the minority of a minority in the administration to be formed in Iraq after the end of Saddam Hussein regime.''