Northern Iraq And Turkmens Conference

ANKARA - Representative of Iraqi Turkmen Front Turkey Representative Mustafa Ziya said on Friday that every kind of basis of a new formation in Northern Iraq was ready, stressing that ''the only thing that remained was to declare it''. Ziya said neither Iraqi people nor Turkey would allow this formation.
Speaking at a conference entitled ''Northern Iraq and Turkmens'' held by Business World Platform, Ziya evaluated latest developments in Northern Iraq.
Pointing out that they never wanted war as the Turkmen Front, Ziya said their target was a policy based on human being. Ziya said, ''however, if there is no other remedy, and if the United States is determined on an operation, we think Turkey should not keep outside from the issue.''
Pointing out that more than three million Turkmens live in Iraq, Ziya said Turkmens lived in a region, not in many places. ''They don't live in hotels. I say this because some maps were drawn saying that Kerkuk and Musul were the capital city of this or that formation. We are the owners of those territories. We don't have an eye on the riches under the ground. Others have. Today there is a Kerkuk problem regarded with who would possess there. People living there will possess there.''
Ziya said as the Turkmen Front, regarding formation of a state in Northern Iraq and possible operation of the United States, they did not have an idea that ''the United States may launch the operation, take Saddam and set up a new government.'' Ziya said they expected help like ''soft transition period to democracy'' in the way of diplomatic, and political intervention, and by putting pressure on Baghdad regime. He said the U.N. umbrella was a condition for the change in Iraq.
Ziya defended that in case the United States is resolved for the operation, the change should take place in alliance of neighboring countries, mainly Turkey, and within the framework of the U.N.
Ziya said the formation in Northern Iraq had every kind of basis, stressing that only its announcement remained. Ziya said he did not think that neither the Iraqi people nor Turkey would allow this. ''Let us not be deceived by fait accompli, let us prevent them from the beginning. If such a formation accepts my territories as their capital city, then it sees me in the opposite. Motherland Turkey is our biggest support. And then, we will have the right to ask for this support.''
Pointing out that a new structuring would take place for Iraq in the coming period, Ziya said there would be approximately 150 billion U.S. dollars investment to Iraq in the coming period. He said Turkey's taking biggest share from this investment would be beneficial for Turkey, Iraq and Turkmens.
Calling on the business world, Ziya said, ''your businessmen and institutions should prepare projects from now on.''