PRESS RELEASE
IRAQI TURKMENS IN BELGIUM AND IN THE NETHERLANDS
WILL HOLD A DEMONSTRATION IN FRONT OF THE BRUSSELS PARLIAMENT IN BRUSSELS, BELGIUM ON 2nd JULY 2007
30th June 2007
Representatives of the Iraqi Turkmens in Belgium and in the Netherlands will hold a demonstration in front of the Brussels Capital Parliament, 69, rue Lombard, 1000 Brussels - where the Kurdish institute and Kurdish cultural centre in Belgium are holding a conference hosted by the Flemish socialist party sp.a-spirit - on Monday 2nd July 2007 from 10:30 am to 12:30 pm.
The subject of this conference is: “Article 140 of the Iraqi constitution: the referendum for the status of KERKUK and other contested territories in Iraq”. These so-called ‘contested territories’ are territories situated mainly in TURKMENELI (the Turkmen Region in the north of Iraq) they also include the city of KERKUK.
Since the invasion of Iraq by the Anglo-American forces in March 2003 the Kurdish parties and their militia have been authorised to penetrate, occupy and control most of the Turkmen towns and cities in the north of Iraq beginning with the city of Kerkuk which they have almost completely kurdified.
The aim of this demonstration is:
1- To denounce the hegemony of the Kurdish parties who are controlling the entire Turkmen Region and the city of KERKUK and who are marginalizing and discriminating against the Turkmens
2- To reject Article 140 that was written by the Kurds and was added to the new Iraqi constitution to allow them to annex KERKUK to the Kurdish Autonomous Region
3- To demand equal rights for the Turkmens in Iraq: equal to those of their Arab and Kurdish compatriots. The Turkmens are one of the three main communities in Iraq together with the Arabs and the Kurds; they are the second main community in the north of Iraq, notwithstanding this they continue to be marginalized and are considered as “a minority” and as “second class citizens”.
4- To demand a special status for KERKUK, similar to that of the capital BAGHDAD, as it was specified in Iraq’s provisional constitution which clearly stated that “KERKUK and BAGHDAD would have a special status and would not be part of any regional or federal state.
5- In the case of a “Federal Iraq”: to demand regional autonomy for the Turkmens and the creation of a “Federal State of Turkmeneli” as a Homeland and a Safe Haven for the Turkmens where they can administer themselves and protect their lives and preserve their identity and culture.
Committee for the Defence of the Iraqi Turkmen Rights - Belgium
Taniş – İrak Türkmen Derneği – The Netherlands
Euro-Turkmen Friendship Association
IRAQI TURKMENS IN BELGIUM AND IN THE NETHERLANDS
WILL HOLD A DEMONSTRATION IN FRONT OF THE BRUSSELS PARLIAMENT IN BRUSSELS, BELGIUM ON 2nd JULY 2007
30th June 2007
Representatives of the Iraqi Turkmens in Belgium and in the Netherlands will hold a demonstration in front of the Brussels Capital Parliament, 69, rue Lombard, 1000 Brussels - where the Kurdish institute and Kurdish cultural centre in Belgium are holding a conference hosted by the Flemish socialist party sp.a-spirit - on Monday 2nd July 2007 from 10:30 am to 12:30 pm.
The subject of this conference is: “Article 140 of the Iraqi constitution: the referendum for the status of KERKUK and other contested territories in Iraq”. These so-called ‘contested territories’ are territories situated mainly in TURKMENELI (the Turkmen Region in the north of Iraq) they also include the city of KERKUK.
Since the invasion of Iraq by the Anglo-American forces in March 2003 the Kurdish parties and their militia have been authorised to penetrate, occupy and control most of the Turkmen towns and cities in the north of Iraq beginning with the city of Kerkuk which they have almost completely kurdified.
The aim of this demonstration is:
1- To denounce the hegemony of the Kurdish parties who are controlling the entire Turkmen Region and the city of KERKUK and who are marginalizing and discriminating against the Turkmens
2- To reject Article 140 that was written by the Kurds and was added to the new Iraqi constitution to allow them to annex KERKUK to the Kurdish Autonomous Region
3- To demand equal rights for the Turkmens in Iraq: equal to those of their Arab and Kurdish compatriots. The Turkmens are one of the three main communities in Iraq together with the Arabs and the Kurds; they are the second main community in the north of Iraq, notwithstanding this they continue to be marginalized and are considered as “a minority” and as “second class citizens”.
4- To demand a special status for KERKUK, similar to that of the capital BAGHDAD, as it was specified in Iraq’s provisional constitution which clearly stated that “KERKUK and BAGHDAD would have a special status and would not be part of any regional or federal state.
5- In the case of a “Federal Iraq”: to demand regional autonomy for the Turkmens and the creation of a “Federal State of Turkmeneli” as a Homeland and a Safe Haven for the Turkmens where they can administer themselves and protect their lives and preserve their identity and culture.
Committee for the Defence of the Iraqi Turkmen Rights - Belgium
Taniş – İrak Türkmen Derneği – The Netherlands
Euro-Turkmen Friendship Association
