HURRIYET- Columnist Ferai Tinc writes on recent developments in northern Iraq. A summary of her column is as follows:
Kurds constitute a significant portion of Iraq’s population and a powerful group within its opposition. Yet, it’s clear that they are far from being capable of igniting a movement to overthrow the existing regime in Iraq unless they reach a compromise with Iraq’s Arabs, Turkmens and Assyrians, either those in the country or the expatriates, and their affiliated political institutions. Since the Arabs and Turkmens have been excluded from previous preliminary meetings of Iraqi opposition groups, attempts to convene a general opposition congress have come to naught.
According to recent reports I’ve received from several opposition circles in Iraq, the Kurds have begun to lose sway among the overall groups opposed to Saddam Hussein. At a meeting held in London some 10 days ago, the Shiites announced that they didn’t want a federation in Iraq. They stressed that Baghdad was the capital of the country and that Kirkuk replacing it was nothing but a pipe dream. At an opposition meeting held in Canada last week with the participation of Turkmens, Kurds, Assyrians and Communists, Iraqi National Congress Chairman Ahmet Celebi said that a federation based on ethnic grounds in Iraq was unacceptable. When reminded of Massoud Barzani’s designs on oil-rich Kirkuk, Celebi said: ‘Kirkuk belongs to all the Iraqi people. Barzani’s views are his own and cannot be represented as those of the new Iraq to be formed.’
Moreover, a novel approach has newly being emerging among opposition groups. Accordingly, they say: ‘At the moment we aren’t fully authorized to discuss every detail of the new system in a future Iraq, since we don’t represent the political will of the Iraqi people in its fullest sense. The most appropriate platform to discuss these issues would be a constitutive assembly gathered once Saddam’s regime is overthrown.’ To this view, liberal and nationalist Arabs are giving the most support.
One thing Celebi said deserves the utmost attention: ‘The new Iraq to be established should try to sustain good relations with its neighbors, especially Turkey and Iran.’
Turkey is leery of getting into contact with opposition groups besides the Turkmens and Kurds, so as not to damage its relations with Saddam’s regime. Isn’t it the time for Turkey to abandon this attitude? Having good relations with neighboring countries is important, but is Iraq taking into consideration Turkey’s efforts to avoid war?