Why Should Turkey "Fear" An Independent Kurdish State In Iraq?

Asking out of ignorance. Thanks.

[Skunk]

Here's s9me background reading for you:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story...932911,00.html

Thank you, Skunk.

Under Turkey's constitution, Kurds are prohibited from speaking their language publicly, giving their children Kurdish names and practicing any customs that might betray their identity. Promised reforms by Ankara's Islamic oriented government - educational rights and two hours of Kurdish broadcasts every week - have failed to be implemented. And, say human rights activists, all the signs show that the war has given rise to renewed repression. Most Turks claim the towns of Kirkuk and Mosul as their own. It was, they say, only because of successive rebellions by the perfidious Kurds in their republic's early years, that the oil-rich region ended up being part of modern Iraq, under British administration. It is testimony to the level of emotion evoked by the Kurdish issue that while Turks are overwhelmingly against the war, they wholeheartedly endorse their army sending troops into northern Iraq in order to quash Kurdish nationalism.

No better than Saddam if you ask me.

I'm sorry I forgot to add the Thanks when I posted. [img]smile.gif[/img]

[ 04-10-2003, 10:18 AM: Message edited by: Lil Lil ]

[Skunk]

This is the main reason why Turkey keeps getting its application to join the EU turned down - it's policies towards the Kurds are at odds with the EU constitution and the European Charter for Human Rights.

This is also the reason why the European press was so angry at Washington for attempting to pressure the EU into accepting Turkey's application to join...

This is also the reason why the European press was so angry at Washington for attempting to pressure the EU into accepting Turkey's application to join...

I don't blame them!

Probably won't be seeing too much of that kind of pressure in the future Skunk [img]smile.gif[/img] seeing how well our Turkish Allies supported our war effort and all. The American Public isn't too keen on people who are supposed to be our friends and allies suddenly turning and "putting it to us" when our backs are turned. Not to mention the attempted bit of extortion they tried. While still an ally, Im not sure that they will be receiving any giftsin the near future.

Originally posted by MagiK: While still an ally, Im not sure that they will be receiving any giftsin the near future.

Apparently, the U.S. has given them they assurance the the Kurds will "be removed" from Kirkuk. I would assume that they would have to "remove" them from Mosul as well but that city wasn't mentioned (but Mosul being closer to the Turkish border makes me think that "Kirkuk" means the whole Northern region of Iraq).

wtf...where do they intend to "remove" these people to and why shouldn't they be given any rights as citizens of Iraq? As an independent state?

[ 04-10-2003, 11:46 AM: Message edited by: Lil Lil ]

Don't know Lil, havent read anything on this yet. BUT I am thinking if they don't get removed and resettled by the US they may get "exterminated" by the Turks.

[pritchke]

I actually hope that the Iraqi Kurds can work with the other people of Iraq to build a new Iraq and place their differences aside. Ethnic Differences should not be an object in building a nation but I know things are more complicated than that but I think it can be done.

If Iraq becomes a country open to all religion and ethnic groups many Kurds will possible leave Turkey to move back to Iraq. At least that would be an idea solution, well the real ideal solution would be for Turkey to give there own Kurds the same rights as every other citizen in their country.

[ 04-10-2003, 11:58 AM: Message edited by: pritchke ]

[Larry_OHF]

U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell reassured Turkey on Thursday that the coalition, not the Kurds, were in control of operations in Kirkuk, Turkish Foreign Ministry sources said. ************************************************** ****************************** Turkey is concerned that Kirkuk's oil wealth could give Iraqi Kurds the resources to form an independent nation, which could stir Turkey's Kurdish population. ************************************************** ****************************** Turkey is preparing to send military observers to Kirkuk, a Turkish Foreign Ministry official said. ************************************************** ****************************** In the north, CNN's Ben Wedeman reported that Kirkuk was "very much in control of the Kurds," who are backed by U.S. special forces. ************************************************** ****************************** The Kurdish Peshmerga have taken control of some 286 villages in northern Iraq, CNN's Brent Sadler reported, after coalition aircraft launched the heaviest wave of bombing along the northern front early Thursday.

I dunno, y'all. It looks to me from this CNN report that we are helping the Kurds; who seem to be using our help to claim the land that they want to call their own. I seriously think that will try to form their own country, which I have heard before referred to as Kurdistan.
In my understanding of the situation, Colin Powell seems to be lying to Turkey, and they know that or they would not be sending their own troops in to make sure it goes their way.

I do not know if this is bad or not. I don't really know what is going on between us and Turkey and the Kurds, besides what has been outlined above. Is that all there is to know of the situation?