THE NAME OF NORTHERN IRAQ
AND BARZANI’S TITLE
ERDAL SAFAK (SABAH)
Prime
Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, currently in
Kuwait for an official visit, yesterday met with
his Kuwaiti counterpart Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmed
Al-Jaber Al Sabah to discuss a number of issues
such as bilateral relations, Iraq’s territorial
integrity and stability, and regional issues.
Erdogan and Al Sabah stressed the importance of
the territorial integrity and stability of Iraq.
During their meeting, the two premiers agreed
that the volume of trade between Turkey and
Kuwait should be increased. Erdogan further
invited Al Sabah to visit Turkey. Later, Erdogan
and Al Sabah attended a Turkish-Kuwaiti business
forum. Addressing the gathering, Erdogan said
that Turkey had become a country of stability
and confidence, one attracting foreign capital.
“We’ve achieved confidence both in the economy
and politics,” he said. Erdogan lamented the low
trade volume between the two countries, saying
that it should be raised to $1 billion. For his
part, Al Sabah said that relations between
Kuwait and Turkey should be strengthened and
added that new cooperation strategies should be
developed. In related news, Kuwait’s finance
minister is expected to visit Ankara next month
to meet with his Turkish counterpart Kemal
Unakitan. /Star/
Speaking to reporters en route to Kuwait
about recent developments, Prime Minister Recep
Tayyip Erdogan yesterday characterized the visit
to Van of Board of Higher Education (YOK) head
Erdogan Tezic and university rectors as “ugly
behavior.” Erdogan noted that the issue of the
arrest of a Van rector wasn’t debated at
Monday’s National Security Council (NSC)
meeting, and added, “The government is trying to
stay out of the issue.” Erdogan also said that a
restructuring of YOK wouldn’t be done without
help from the main opposition Republican
People’s Party (CHP), and added, “People want
this reform done. If we do this by working with
the CHP, there won’t be trouble in Parliament.”
Asked about the presidency and possible early
elections, the premier said, “The elections will
be held as scheduled [in 2007]. And this
Parliament will choose the president.” /Turkiye/
Speaking
at his party’s group meeting yesterday, Foreign
Minister Abdullah Gul commented on a number of
issues, including Turkey’s European Union
membership bid, Cyprus, the economy, and the
recent arrest of Yuzuncu Yil University Rector
Yucel Askin on charges of corruption. Gul stated
that Turkey’s EU membership process would from
now on be technical in nature. “A country needs
to be fully democratic in order to begin its
accession talks with the Union, and Turkey began
its talks since it has achieved full democracy,”
said Gul. Touching on recent economic
developments, Gul hailed the government’s
privatization slate, adding that these
privatizations were transparent. “Foreign
capital is also very interested in our tenders,”
said Gul. Also touching on Askin’s arrest, Gul
said that everyone was equal before the law and
can be questioned. “Prime ministers, military
commanders, deputies, and state ministers have
responsibility and are obliged to give account”
in court, added Gul. “It is out of the question
that academics and rectors would not have to do
so.” /Star/
Addressing
his party’s group meeting yesterday, opposition
Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Deniz
Baykal criticized the government, saying that
2006 would be an election year since Turkey was
preparing for a new era. Baykal stated that the
nation would not benefit from trying to wait
until 2007 for elections. “The defeat of the
Justice and Development Party (AKP) government
in elections will be Turkey’s greatest
democratic step,” said Baykal. Touching on the
recent arrest of Yuzuncu Yil University Rector
Yucel Askin, Baykal stated that Turkey first
needed legal reform to establish an independent
judiciary. “The factor harming the judiciary is
intervention from outside,” he said. “We need to
make regulations which will make the judiciary
independent and protect it from interference.”
/Cumhuriyet/
A consensus has been reached on the National
Security Policy Document, also known as the “red
book,” which had caused disagreement between the
government and the military. In the document,
separatism and fundamentalism were retained as
primary domestic threats, but ultra-rightists
movements were removed. The primary role of the
Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) in domestic security
issues remains the same as in previous
documents, and the extension of Greece’s
territorial waters to 12 miles was characterized
as “unacceptable.” The new 25-page document has
subheadings on domestic threats, foreign
threats, and defense policy. /Sabah/
Speaking in a television interview with the
Euronews channel, Armenian President Robert
Kocharian said that he has mixed feelings about
the start of the Turkey-European Union
membership talks, adding that even if the
negotiations bring reforms to Turkey, it still
has an embargo on his nation. Kocharian also
repeated the “genocide” allegations and said he
was pleased with the European Parliament’s vote
to make acceptance of the “genocide” a
precondition for Turkey’s membership. /Star/
Turkish
Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President
Mehmet Ali Talat is expected to visit Washington
today as the official guest of US Secretary of
State Condoleezza Rice. He will stress the
necessity of new reunification efforts for
Cyprus, urging the world to pressure the Greek
Cypriots to return to the negotiating table and
end the TRNC’s isolation. Before leaving Ankara
yesterday, Talat met with Foreign Minister
Abdullah Gul and reviewed the messages that he
is expected to give to the UN and Washington.
Speaking at a joint press conference, Gul said,
“It’s time to take new steps for a comprehensive
settlement.” Talat added, “The UN has a duty to
resume negotiations for a settlement of the
Cyprus problem.” /Star/
An
agreement was reached yesterday on the draft
letter of intent (LOI) on the first and second
review of Turkey’s economic program as result of
negotiations with a visiting International
Monetary Fund delegation. “We expect the IMF to
release $1.6 billion” in loans, said Economy
Minister Ali Babacan. “Year-end inflation
targets will be easily met. The ratio of the
current accounts deficit to gross national
product (GNP) is expected to be about 6%, but
there is no need for concern. The structural
reform program has been reviewed and a new
timetable prepared.” The IMF also accepted
social security reforms becoming law in the
beginning of next year. /Milliyet/
Columnist Erdal Safak comments on the Iraqi
constitution and the situation in northern Iraq.
A summary of his columns is as follows:
“The timing was fortuitous. The Iraqi
constitution was assumed to be approved by the
Iraqis, although 55% of the people in Nineveh
voted against it. Just a few hours after that
announcement, Massoud Barzani was welcomed into
the White House with the title of the official
prime minister of the Federate of Kurdistan.
Constitutions can function as a social
agreement only when they are supported and the
framework suggested in them is adopted by all
groups in society.
In this regard, can Iraq’s new Constitution
be called approved?
Either yes, or no.
Yes, because during the Oct. 15 referendum,
in which 63% of the eligible voters cast
ballots, 78.59% of the voters approved the
constitution, while only 21.41 % rejected it.
No, because, three of four Sunni provinces
said no: Selahaddin, Saddam’s home, by 81%, Al
Anbar by 96.9%, and Nineveh by 55%. That means
the Sunnis rejected the Constitution.
In sum, Iraq has legally fulfilled a
constitutional order, but not in actual fact.
Well, what has changed with the constitution?
A number of things...
First, we should get used to saying: our
neighbor’s name is no longer the Republic of
Iraq, but the Federal Republic of Iraq.
Moreover, the situation in northern Iraq has
received an official or constitutional basis.
It’s now called the Kurdistan Federate State,
which has a separate flag, parliament,
government, security forces, judicial system,
and even a separate economy.
Furthermore, its constitution supercedes
Iraq’s constitution. Laws adopted in the Kurdish
Parliament will be over and above Iraq’s
constitution. In other words, the Iraqi
government lacks authority and legality in that
region (Article 53 in the new constitution).
That is to say, Kurdistan is not an Arab
territory any more.
And also: when the constitution cannot
function or is violated, the federate has the
right to part and declare its freedom.
All this means that the 1916 Sykes-Picot
treaty between Britain and France meant to
parcel the Ottomans’ inheritance has begun to be
breached. The order and countries established in
the Middle East in line with this agreement has
begun to crack.
Observers with common sense or realistic
views believe that Iraq will be swept up in a
civil war like Lebanon, and then will be divided
like Yugoslavia. We should get used to that
possibility.
In that case, can Ankara’s insistence on not
recognizing a country like Kurdistan find any
supporters other than Syria and Iran?
It is clear that if Turkey maintains that
policy, then Federate Kurdistan Prime Minister
Massoud Barzani cannot be invited to Ankara.
Let him be welcomed and hosted at the White
House by George W. Bush, and then in London by
British Premier Tony Blair next week...
Could Ankara’s “surreal” stance push northern
Iraq or Federate Kurdistan into Israel’s arms?”
