Aims Should Be Explained

MILLIYET- Columnist Sami Kohen comments on the stance Turkey should have concerning the Iraq crisis. A summary of his column is as follows:
Everybody is aware of the presence of the Turkish soldiers in northern Iraq for a few years. Nobody has said anything up to now concerning this issue. However, the situation is different now. Kurdish leaders and the leading Iraqi opposition members say that they don’t want to see the Turkish soldiers in the region. The latest speeches made by these people show that their stance is as follows: A great number of Turkish soldiers will come to the region and occupy here, hinder the local people’s requests and intervene in its domestic affairs. Of course it isn’t true but there is such an impression and concern. In addition, it can’t be said that Ankara is doing what is necessary to change this wrong opinion.
Since the day news concerning a possible operation against Iraq started to be published, it had been said or written that Turkey would send a great number of soldiers to northern Iraq. In other words, the current military existence in northern Iraq was stated to have being extended due to certain aims. The different statements about these aims confused the people. First the soldiers were stated to have being dispatched in order to limit a possible migration in northern Iraq. Actually this argument didn’t seem to be persuasive. What’s more, local authorities in northern Iraq stated that they would overcome this problem but that they would request Turkey’s help if necessary. Different people had different arguments. For some people, the Turkish soldiers would protect Turkmens against the possible attacks and for some, it would prevent the actions of PKK-KADEK. Meanwhile, the real aim was stated to have been preventing the “undesired formations” in northern. The meaning of it was comprehended in different ways. Ankara meant the declaration of an independent Kurdish state by it. However, the inclusion of a federal structure into the “undesired formations” caused suspicion and concern. As a matter of fact, the statements made by the Kurdish and Iraqi opposition leaders show that this is the actual reason of their fear and lack of confidence. The leaders of these groups emphasize that they favor a democratic and federal Iraq within Iraq’s territorial integrity and that the establishment of an independent Kurdish state won’t be point at issue.
Now Ankara has to determine the things it will give permission in the process of Iraq’s restructure in the post-Saddam period and give a message clearly. Everybody knows that Turkey is against Iraq’s disintegration and the declaration of an independent Kurdish state. Certainly Ankara will consider it a reason for an operation. Actually the Turkish policy on the federal system is unclear. Certain circles consider a united Iraqi state’s having a federal structure and Iraqi people’s making a decision on such a constitutional order a threat against Turkey. Actually Ankara should discuss this issue realistically and determine its policy. It would be beneficial for Ankara to be in dialogue with the Kurdish and other Iraqi groups and establish a basis to give an end to the misunderstandings and lack of confidence, which caused the latest tensions.

SOURCE: OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER, DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF PRESS AND INFORMATION