Lawmakers urge President Obama to stick to Iraq Withdrawal Deadline

93 Lawmakers Urge President Obama To Stick To Iraq Withdrawal Deadline






http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/07/28/obama-iraq-withdrawal-deadline_n_911850.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

Iraqis continue to pay compensation to Kuwait

This is unacceptable !!!
This while millions of Iraqi widows, orphans and displaced Iraqis are starving.

UN pays $1 billion to Kuwaiti invasion 'victims'  from Iraqi oil fund


­A UN panel has approved more than $1 billion in compensation payments for victims of Iraq's 1990 invasion of Kuwait, a spokesman for the UN Compensation Commission reported Thursday. The commission says the money will go to five companies and four government or international bodies. The identities of the claimants have not been disclosed, but are said to be from Kuwait.

IRAQ 1914 - NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC

http://musingsoniraq.blogspot.com/2011/07/video-iraq-in-1914-national-geographic.html

Iraq Inquiry Will Slam Blair,Straw, Campbell - Channel 4

Iraq Inquiry Will Slam Blair,Straw, Campbell - Channel 4


published by Tony  in 'Wolves in the City'



Confirmation from a Whitehall source of something the Independent on Sunday mentioned last weekend. “Salmon letters” from the Iraq Inquiry are about to wing their way to witnesses including Tony Blair.

These are letters that inform individuals who may be criticised in the final report of the terms of the criticism so they get a chance to argue for changes. They’re named after Lord Salmon who held an inquiry into public ethics in the 1970s.

It means that the Inquiry will publish its final report some time after 10 October, when Parliament returns after the party conferences. Quite when after 10 October is an unknown – even to the Inquiry, I understand.

Individuals who are criticised may demand sight of the confidental material that hasn’t yet been put on the Iraq Inquiry website.

The Inquiry has not finished all its battles for disclosure of government documents. There are many battles still to be fought. But the report is being written.







Posted by TONY on 25.7.11

NO TO KUWAIT NUCLEAR PROJECT !!!

In addition to the dispute between Iraq and Kuwait regarding the new Mubarak port in Kuwait, the two countries are also reported to be in conflict about the planned siting of nuclear reactors.

Press TV reports that the head of the Kuwaiti national committee for nuclear power, Ahmad Bisharah, has said that Kuwait is planning to build 4 nuclear reactors near the Iraqi border by 2022.


Kuwait says that it needs to go ahead with this project to generate enough electricity to meet the ever-increasing increasing demand.

The plan has outraged Iraqi politicians. They have urged Kuwait to stop its plan accusing the country officials of being a tool in the hands of the US to weaken Iraq economically and politically.


Meanwhile, members of Basra’s provisional council have also urged Kuwait to stop its project planned to be launched in Warbh [Warbah] Island less than 4 km away from the Iraqi coast south of Basra .

They say that Iraqi government must take a serious stance towards the project.

The Iraqi government spokesman, Ali Al Dabagh, has said that Iraq ‘s foreign ministry will do its best through diplomatic channels to stop Kuwait from going on with the nuclear reactor project.


(Source: PressTV)

ITF EU Representative Dr Hassan Aydinli met Member of the European Parliament Mr. Metin Kazak

Merry Fitzgerald and Dr. Hassan Aydinli with MEP Metin Kazak

MEP Metin Kazak's assistants at the EU Parliament

BRUSSELS, June 22nd 2011

ITF EU Representative Dr. Hassan AYDINLI met Mr. Metin KAZAK, MEP (Bulgaria) Vice-Chair Sub-Committee on Human Rights at the European Parliament.

During the meeting ITF EU Representative updated MEP Metin Kazak about the situation in Kerkuk and the Turkmen region and he stressed the importance of holding a hearing dedicated exclusively to the Turkmens at the EU Parliament.

Mr.Metin Kazak was supportive of the idea and said that he would first discuss this with his political group at the EU Parliament (the Alliance of Liberal and Democrats for Europe) and that he subsequently would propose to his colleagues at the Commission to hold such a Hearing at the beginning of October 2011.

Mr. Metin Kazak, MEP announces Hearing "Iraq's Forgotten people?- The Turkmen of Kirkuk" at the EU Parliament

Metin Kazak MEP Announces Iraqi Turkmen Hearing at the EU Parliament

Metin Kazak MEP Announces Iraqi Turkmen Hearing at the EU Parliament
In a recent meeting of the European Parliament’s Subcommittee on Human Rights, Metin Kazak spoke about the increasing violence in Kirkuk and appealed to the European External Action Service to take steps toward protecting Iraqi Turkmen rights in the region.

The city of Kirkuk has experienced a significant increase in violence, targeted at ethnic groups, in the months leading up to the U.S.withdrawal from Iraq. While the reconstruction effort in the country has yielded a marked decline in violence in a majority of regions, Kirkuk’s barriers to peace stem from an enduring struggle amongst several ethnic communities over the governance model for the city and wider region.


The Iraqi Turkmen, who have long suffered varying degrees of persecution in Iraq, have called for the restoration of peace, representation and culture in the region. These requests have been met with “bombings, assassinations and intimidations,” according to Metin Kazak, a member of the European Parliament representing Bulgaria.

On 12 July 2011, Kazak implored the European External Action Service to “support a peaceful and equitable solution to the question of Kirkuk and…initiatives intended to promote deep and meaningful dialogue between political parties, including all Iraqi Turkmen parties, associated with the disputed territory.”

In a prepared statement, a spokesman from the External Action Service responded that “in terms of the question of dialogue, the EU fully supports the United Nations, which has been in the lead on this issue and is playing a prominent role in facilitating dialogue on the disputed territories.”
The spokesman emphasized that a UN task force exists to confront the Kirkuk question and that this force has been consistent in its attempts to aid the Iraqi government in solving internal border disagreements.

The UNPO anticipates that these issues will be comprehensively discussed in the upcoming hearing organised by the Subcommittee on Human Rights, Iraq’s Forgotten People? – The Turkmen of Kirkuk chaired by Mr Kazak. The hearing, set to take place on Monday, 3 October 2011, will highlight the Iraqi Turkmen’s unique history which is so closely associated with Kirkuk, the consequences of US withdrawal on the community, and the future of Iraqi Turkmen in the region.

Author: Andrew Swan
http://www.unpo.org/article/12894

full transcript of the exchange:
Subcommittee on Human Rights: Parliamentary Question
Brussels,Belgium
14 July 2011
Subject: Announcement of Iraqi Turkmen Hearing
______________________________________________________________
Below is the full transcript of Metin Kazak’s Parliamentary Question:

Chairman (translated): And now I’d like to go over to the third question which was asked by
The question relate to the minorities in Kirkuk in Iraq. Over to you.

Mr Metin Kazak: Thank you very much chairman. As the United States prepares to withdraw its forces fromIraqand the European Union is working to expand its cooperation with Baghdad, the city of Kirkuk and its vulnerable population of Iraqi Turkmen remains as much as ever a flashpoint for violence that may prove the biggest threat to the stability and security of Iraq as a whole.

While violence throughout Iraq has been declining, Kirkuk is experiencing a rise in bombings, assassinations and intimidations that target Iraqi Turkmen and others in a potent demonstration of ineffective local government and security structure, a loss of faith in the central government and deepening mistrust in a process that seems to be working against the city’s historic Turkmen community. So, um, there have been voices urging the United States to retain a presence in Kirkuk to protect the Iraqi Turkmen community, for greater representation of Iraqi Turkmen in the federal administration, expansion of the power associated with the Kirkuk governate and government council and for a reassessment of Iraqi Turkmen social and political situation in Kirkuk.

So my question, what with this perspective to the European External Action Service, is how they see this cost and what steps is the EAS taking to support a peaceful and equitable solution to the question of Kirkuk and the second and additional question is what action is the European External Action Service taking to support initiatives intended to promote deep and meaningful dialogue between political parties, including all Iraqi Turkmen parties associated with the disputed territory of Kirkuk.
Thank you.

Chairman (translated): Thank you very much. Now I would like to give the floor to
representative of the EAS to answer to this question.

Commission: Thank you very much Mr Chair. I have an answer that has been provided to me by the Iraq desk of the EAS, which, more than the specific situation in Kirkuk emphasizes that a very substantial proportion of EU support has been given to the most vulnerable Iraqis, many of whom are internally displaced, living in areas with dense minority group populations.

EU assistance has ranged from humanitarian assistance to support for the protection and promotion of human rights to the rehabilitation of schools and it has been systematically based on principles of non-discrimination and impartiality. The EU has also provided support to Iraq in its efforts to re-establish rule-of- law and effective governance including through the U-JUST LEX mission. In general terms the Foreign Affairs Council addressed the issue of violence against minorities at its meeting of November 2010 and adopted conclusions stressing that the new government inIraq would need to rededicate itself to the pursuit of national reconciliation, representing the intere sts and needs and protecting the human rights of all Iraqis regardless of ethnicity or creed. In terms of the question on dialogue, the EU fully supports the United Nations which has been in the lead on this issue and is playing a prominent role in facilitating physical dialogue on the disputed territories between Iraq’s minorities. The United Nation’s assistance mission for Iraq has continued to work with the new Iraqi government and the Kurdistan region government to ensure follow-up to the high level task force for advancing the issues of disputed internal boundaries and the status of Kirkuk. Thank you.

Chairman (translated): Thank you very much. Would Mr Kazak want to ask a follow-up question?


Kazak (translated): Thank you president. I would like to thank the representative of the European External Action Service for this answer. I believe the answer clearly that the complicated situation I’ve brought up in my question is not fully realized. This is a region that needs special attention; it’s a region in a very delicate and very worrying situation. The Iraqi Turkmen community needs special attention and I expect the European External Action Service to really pay attention to this question because we are talking here about breeches of basic human rights. These people are godforsaken and this is the third community in Iraq in terms of size that has been victimized by the great powers and the way they govern the situations so we are going to organize a hearing on the matter.

Chairman (translated): Would the commission like to answer the question?

Commission: Thank you Mr Chairman. I will simply relay the information to the relevant colleagues. And we look forward to receiving information about the hearing and to ensure proper representation there. Thank you.

------

Below is the link to the video of METIN KAZAK MEP addressing the Commission on July 12, 2011


Note: to go directly to Mr. Metin Kazak’s question please slide the cursor to 9:31:
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/wps-europarl-internet/frd/vod/player?eventCode=20110712-0900-COMMITTEE-DROI&language=en&byLeftMenu=researchcommittee&category=COMMITTEE&format=wmv#

HRW: Solid evidence show that Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld, Tenet ordered Waterboarding

US Should Investigate Bush for Torture

Solid Evidence Shows That Bush, Other Officials, Ordered Waterboarding

Human Rights Watch

The evidence is overwhelming that former US President George W. Bush and senior members of his administration ordered torture, a war crime, during the armed conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq. President Barack Obama’s failure to investigate these allegations undermines US credibility in pressing other countries to address human rights abuses and to bring alleged international war criminals to justice.

There are solid grounds for investigating Bush, former Vice President Dick Cheney, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, and CIA Director George Tenet, a new Human Rights Watch report says. They ordered practices such as “waterboarding,” the use of secret CIA prisons, and the transfer of detainees to countries where they were tortured.

Although the Obama administration would like to shut the book on this topic, it’s important to keep it in the spotlight. This week, we did just that, in media interviews from South African radio to Colombia-based TV and an opinion piece in the Washington Post.

The United States is right to call for justice for serious crimes that violate international law in places like Syria and Darfur. But the United States would be a stronger advocate for justice if it prosecuted someone other than low-ranking soldiers for crimes such as torture.

TURKMENS COMMEMORATE THE 14th JULY 1959 MASSACRE WHICH TOOK PLACE IN KERKUK

Iraqi Turkmens remember their martyrs

Below is an extract from Mahir NAKIP’s book: “The Historical and Cultural Identity of Kirkuk”:

14 July 1959 was the first anniversary of the revolution. The whole of Kirkuk was in celebratory mood. Houses and shops were decorated with flags. The Turkmen had raised funds among themselves in order to pay for the decoration of the city. The only unusual event was the Kurdish militia coming on trucks from neighbouring villages with ropes and clubs in their hands.  Kurdish officers of the People’s Army were also roaming around the city in their white uniforms imprinted with pictures of doves. They were shouting provocative slogans, praising Qasim and the Communist Party.

The official ceremonies commemorating the revolution started in the evening, at 18:00, due to the severe heat. The first parade, performed by the lawyers, doctors and civil servants had just finished. The Mayor, communist administrators, communist organization members such as the revolutionist teachers and students organizations and People’s Resistance Organization members were ready at the first rows of the second parade.  Some Kurdish militia members were shouting slogans against the Turks whom they accused of being nationalists, reactionists and racists.

The first spark flashed when the parade passed in front of the coffee house where Turkmen used to gather. Someone fired some shots and the uproar started.  Women and children ran to escape. Uthman Khidir was the first one to be murdered with one single bullet. Uthman Khidir was stripped to the skin and was tied behind a jeep.  He was thus dragged through the streets until his body became unrecognizable and tossed away.

The communists, who roamed the streets on the cars of the Second Division and the People’s Army, announced by loudspeaker the imposition of a curfew.  But it later became clear that this order was addressed to and followed by Turkmen only.  The communists and Kurdish militias started to raid and damage the houses, shops and cars of the Turkmens under the pretext of carrying out searches. The young Colonel Abdullah Abdurrahman, who realized the significance of the situation, went immediately to Baghdad and advised Qasim about the events, but Qasim’s units did not arrive in Kirkuk until three days after the events.

The next target of the communist Kurds was Retired Major Ata Hayrullah, the former Chief of military intelligence for the Second Division and his brother Dr. Ehsan Hayrullah.  Both were Nadim Tabakchali’s colleagues. First Ata Hayrullah was called to the division headquarters where he was tortured and murdered.  His body was hung on a tree and cut into pieces.  His brother was placed under house arrest, where he awaited his own murder.  Their relative, Gani Naqib, who struggled unsuccessfully to prevent Dr. Ehsan Hayrullah’s murder, ended up being cut into pieces with axes along with him.  Their bodies were also taken to Second Division headquarters and hung up in a tree.  These trees, cursed in the eyes of the local population, were later cut down by the mayor of Kirkuk.

Haji Nejim was later slaughtered in front of his family after his eyes were hollowed out.  Two young brothers named Jihad and Nihad were slayed and their 14 year old sister Emel was raped and slaughtered.

Many of the victims, who were Turks of every age, were dragged through the streets behind cars until they died; their dead bodies often tied between two vehicles and stretched until they broke in two.  Some of the relatives of the victims of these killings, witnessing such atrocities succumbed to bouts of madness.  In short, 28 Turkmen were slayed in such dreadful ways as have been here briefly described.

A final evaluation of the Events

There is no doubt that all victims of the 14 July events were Turkmen.  They  were the leaders and the brothers of the Turkmen of Kirkuk. It was the Turkmen houses and property that were plundered and set on fire.  Therefore it would not be fair to judge these events as an action against the people of Kirkuk as a whole;  the aim was to wipe out the Turkmen community in Kirkuk.

.....

The 14 July Massacre seriously damaged relations between the Turkmen and Kurds who had lived together on the same lands for many centuries.  Until today, no Turkmen has intentionally killed a Kurd, simply because they were Kurdish.  So if one would normalize the relations between these two nations, the highest authority of the KDP ought to apologize for the 14 July 1959 events.  Such a step would go a long way in assisting the two nations to live in peace once again.

Note:

Edited by Mustafa Nakeeb

Kerkük Vakfı

Bakan zibari’den, ITC başkanı Salihi’ye mektüp

Bakan zibari’den, ITC başkanı Salihi’ye mektüp

Irak Cumhuriyeti

Dışişleri Bakanlığı

Bakan Ofisi

Irak Türkmen Cephesi Başkanı Sayın Erşad Salihi,

Sizi saygı ile selamlarım.

Bakanlığımın internet sayfasında, kasıtlı olmadan, Irak’ın etnik grupları arasında Türkmenlere yer verilmemesinden ötürü ITC olarak duyduğunuz ve dile getirdiğiniz rahatsızlıktan bilgim oldu. Biz de sizinle aynı rahatsızlığı paylaşıyoruz. Sadece siz talep ediyorsunuz diye değil, Irak gerçeklerini doğru bir şekilde yansıtmak ve köken, mezhep ve inançlarıyla, Irak toplumunun bütün parçalarına duyduğumuz saygıyı dile getirmek adına, mezkur hatayı düzelteceğiz.

Konunun, nasıl meydana geldiğini ortaya çıkarmadan ve ileride tekerrür etmemesi için gerekli önlemleri almadan, peşini bırakmayacağız.

Siz de benimle aynı fikirdesinizdir ki bu gibi hatalar Irak halkının üçüncü asli unsuru olan Türkmenlerin var olduğu gerçeğini yok sayamaz. Bu gerçek, Irak’ı ve Irak halkının bütün unsurlarını seven herkes tarafından kabul edilmektedir.

Irak ve Irak halkına hizmet yolunda Size ve Irak Türkmen Cephesi’ne daha fazla ilerleme ve esenlik dilerim.

En içten saygılarımla,

[İmza]

Hoşyar Zebari

Irak Dışişleri Bakanı

Vultures on a Carcass...by Layla Anwar

Vultures on a Carcass...

Layla Anwar

 

An Arab Woman Blues, July 9, 2011 The carcass is Iraq, the vultures are you. I will NEVER swallow what you have done to Iraq. NEVER. And it has nothing to do with patriotism, nationalism or any of the concepts you keep regurgitating like idiotic parrots. What has happened to Iraq, through your contributions; your efforts, your silence, your apathy, your indifference, your political correctness, your...your...your filth...this can never be swallowed. NEVER. For I know...I know and I have seen, I have witnessed...what was before and what is now. You can't take that away from me. You can't take that truth away from me. And I shall post it, plaster it on every wall...because I will not let go. I will not let go of you and your crimes. I will pursue you, by whatever means available...and I will keep hammering it, as long as it takes... I will never ever forget that first premonitory dream I had about Iraq and what was going to happen to us, to our children. It was a message from God. A message showing me in full colors what and who you are. I will go back in time, back to 2003. I dreamt of two American soldiers lifting up a young Iraqi boy to be crucified on a cross, in the middle of the desert. The sun was setting, there was dust everywhere, everything looked blur, covered with sand, they left that crucified Iraqi boy in the middle of that desert and walked away... You crucified our children and covered up the truth with dust... There will be no escape for you. None whatsoever. As Bob Marley said it ' you can run but you can't hide. I am here to make sure that nothing remains hidden...I make it my mission, my vocation, my calling...I am not in a hurry, I have all the time in the world...but demised you shall be...no one crucifies a child and gets away with it...no one. My ink shall be like drops of water, drops of blood, eating away at the rock lodged between your breasts... No matter - the insults, the threats, the mockery...no matter. I will not let go. I was one of the first to write about the rape, trafficking of Iraqi Children. I was one of the first to say - Iraqi children are being sold, I wrote about the trading of organs, I wrote about the sex slavery of Iraqi children, I wrote about pedophile rings, I wrote about marrying off 5 years old girls, by exporting them first into brothels for "training". I wrote about the daily abduction and kidnappings of Iraqi children, I gave you numbers, figures...precise ones. I said there are over 5 Million Orphans in Iraq, 500'000 totally orphaned with no father and mother living in the streets of Baghdad. I said this is something WE HAD NEVER SEEN BEFORE your liberation. I said and I repeat and I repeat and I repeat.... Today a courageous woman, Ashwak Al-Jaf from Iraq, says it publicly...HERE. I was mocked, insulted, threatened, with numerous attempts at silencing me...none worked. The message is out, the truth is out. The truth...I have told you nothing but the tip of the iceberg of the truth...I have all the time in the world...but you don't.

Italians discover Ahmet Davutoğlu, Hasan Kanbolat

04 July 2011 HASAN KANBOLAT h.kanbolat@todayszaman.com Italians discover Ahmet Davutoğlu I was in a rocky Italian village, Montagnaga, where Dr. Ermanno Visintainer, a renowned Turkologist, resides. He is not only an  academic but also a truly passionate Turkologist. His wife, Gerlma Borcigin, is of Mongolian origin. Her sister completed a master's degree at Boğaziçi University. He met his wife in İstanbul and their little son, Timuçin, speaks both Mongolian and Italian. Visintainer is the founding president of a think tank named Vox  Populi (Voice of the People). I was at a workshop, “Mediterranean: Liquid Continent,” held by Vox Populi in Trento-Montagnaga, on July 1-3.  Italian parliamentarians Riccardo Migliori and Giacomo  Santini served as Organization for Security  and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) election observers in Turkey  during the June 12 general elections. At the workshop, they praised Turkish democracy, recent changes in the political, economic and democratic  spheres as well as Ahmet Davutoğlu's foreign policy  style, particularly on Mediterranean issues. At Vox Populi they published an edited volume on Davutoğlu's  seminal book in Turkish, “Strategic Depth:  Turkey's International Position.” Its Italian title is “La Profondita Strategica Turca nel  Pensiero di Ahmet Davutoğlu” (Turkish Strategic Depth in Ahmet Davutoğlu's Views). The Italian press in particular used to publish  false reports on Davutoğlu's book. This is why they considered translating the book into Italian. However, because it was so  voluminous, the book's  translation from Turkish to Italian seemed impossible. They gave up on a direct translation and decided to  instead write a book of analyses of Davutoğlu's book.  The Italian  book contains three preface pieces by Professor İskender Pala, Italia's envoy to Ankara,  Gianpaolo Scarante, and Turkey's envoy to Rome,  Hakkı Akil. An article by Davutoğlu was also  translated for the book. Each author commented on a part of the book. Visintainer  analyzed  the philosophical priority of Davutoğlu's book,  while renowned Italian writer Andrea Marcigliano  focused on NATO, Italian Turkologist Fabrizio Beltrami  on Turkey's foreign policy in Arab countries, Leonid Savin on relations between Turkey and the Russian  Federation, Andrea Forti on neo-Ottomanism, Daniele  Lazzeri on Turkey's economic policies, Augusto Grandi on trade relations between Italy and Turkey, Andrea Liorsi  on policies pursued by the Turkish Naval Forces, Giancarlo  Lagana on northern Cyprus, and Angelo Mecca on the links between Byzantium and Turkey. The authors contend that Davutoğlu's work is a remarkable geopolitical book considering both the Western perspective and the Turkish approach. This is why they believe Davutoğlu to be a leader of a new line of thinking. They are preparing to hold conferences on the book in both Venice and İstanbul. According to Visintainer, Turkey, as underlined by Davutoğlu,  is at the center of three continents (Europe, Asia and Africa) and Italy is a bridge between Europe and Africa. Trento, a city in the center of Trentino province, is located in the Adige Valley in the north of Italy. According to research by Visintainer, the people in the town of Moena in the province  of  Trentino believe that they are descendents of two janissaries who came to the area after the Siege of Vienna. They display Turkish flags during a festival in August and wear Turkish  national outfits. The historical fountain in the town has Turkish  imagery. Belluna, a neighboring town, has a village bearing a Turkish name, Karaköy. The village, now deserted, has a similar past. The Dolomite Mountains in the north of Italy have been home to a people called the Ret, who were related  to Turks. The legends of Turks and Italians have many s imilarities and resemblances. They share a common history and past starting from Siberia through Asia and Europe.

MURDOCH EMPIRE

Shell Signs $12Bn Gas Deal In Iraq

Royal Dutch Shell and Iraq have settled most pending legal issues that have delayed a $12bn gas deal for more than two years and an initial pact could be signed mid next week, a senior Iraqi oil official said yesterday.

Since the signing of an initial agreement in 2008 to begin negotiations on the project, the Iraqi oil ministry has been working to finalise a joint venture between its South Gas Co, Shell and Japan’s Mitsubishi Corp to capture and exploit the huge volumes of gas flared from three giant southern oil fields.

The main dispute was over pricing of produced gas that the joint venture would sell to the Iraqi government to fuel much-needed power generation in Iraq.

Under the current system, the oil ministry sells the gas to the electricity ministry and other government entities at subsidised rates but Shell and Mitsubishi wanted the gas to be sold at prices that match international standard. That issue has been resolved but the official didn’t say how.

Once initialled the deal still needs the approval of the Iraq government.
http://neoclassics.blogspot.com/

" FOTOĞRAFLARLA SURİYE'DE UNUTULAN TÜRKLER" Suriyeli Türkler

(Türkmen Mahallesi Hülluk'ta üç kuşak bir arada yaşayan Küçük ailesi)



" FOTOĞRAFLARLA SURİYE'DE UNUTULAN TÜRKLER"

Suriyeli Türkler



Osmanlı döneminde hac yolunu korumak üzere Suriye’ye yerleştirilen Türkler, bugün ana dillerini unutmak üzere. Şam, Humus, Lazkiye ve Halep’te kenar mahallelere yerleşen Türkmenler hem ekonomik hem de kültürel bakımdan zayıflar. Bilek gücüyle çalışıyor ve önemli mevkilere gelemiyorlar. En büyük üzüntüleri Türkiye’nin onları unutması. “Türkiye neden kültür merkezleri açmıyor?” diyen de var, “Bizden vize istemeyin.” diyen de…


Adı Türkiye. Suriye’de yaşayan 1,5 milyon Türkmen’den biri. Ülkenin kuzeyindeki Humus’un merkez köylerinden Kızhıl’da yaşıyor. Ona “Türkiye” adını veren babası oğluna da “Türkî” demiş. Şimdi 70’li yaşlarını süren ve tek kelime Türkçe bilmeyen bu kadın, Kızhıl’ın geniş avlularından birinde akşam serinliğiyle büyüyen halkaya dâhil oluyor. Komşular, akrabalar, arkadaşlar, üç-beş kelime Türkçe konuşanlar ya da Türkiye Türkçesi neye benziyor bilmek isteyenler; İstanbul’dan gelmiş konuklara dikkat kesiliyor. Sohbet yarı Arapça yarı Türkçe, devrik cümlelerle kırık dökük ilerliyor. Arada kapı açılıyor, “biraz Türkçe bilen” biri daha kendini sınamak üzere meclise katılıyor. Hiç konuşamayanlar, gülüşmeler eşliğinde bir odaya kapatılıyor. Evin oğlu Abdülaziz, yüzünde muzip bir gülümseme, elinde anahtarla çıkageliyor: “Türkçe öğrenene kadar odada kalacak.” Bu köy evinde toplanan kalabalık, hayat biçimleri, ilgileri, merakları, sorunları ve ‘iki adım’ uzaklıktaki Türkiye’ye ilişkin görüşleriyle yüzlerce yıldır Suriye’de yaşayan Türklerin bir numunesi aslında… Ancak, şehirden şehire hatta köyden köye, Türkiye sınırından uzaklığa, Hatay, Adana, Antep’teki akrabaları ziyaret sıklığına, Araplarla içli dışlı olmaya ve eğitime bağlı ufak değişiklikler yok değil.

Continued,  see: http://www.turkmensitesi.com/suriye_turkmenleri.html

IRAK TÜRKLERİ DE MİLLİ GELİRDEN PAY ALMALIDIR!!!!

IRAK TÜRKLERİ DE MİLLİ GELİRDEN PAY ALMALIDIR!!!!



ALİ KERKÜKLÜ ( Irak’a Özgürlük Operasyonu ve Kerkük Kitabının Yazarı)


Sayıları 3 milyon olan Irak Türkleri, Irak rejimleri tarafından çoğu zaman yok sayılan ve asimile edilmek istenen, uluslararası topluluk tarafından da garip bir şekilde göz ardı edilmiştir. Yüz yıllardır Irak'ta yaşayan Türkmenler köklü bir geçmişe sahiptir. 1918’e kadar yönetimde oldukça etkili olan Türkmenler, Irak halkının eğitimli ve aydın bir bölümünü oluşturmaktadır. Asırlardır Irak'ta önemli bir Türkmen varlığı bulunduğunu göstermekte ve bölgenin Türk idaresine girmesinden sonra ise Türkmen nüfusu ve etkinliği daha da artmıştır. Çok sayıda Oğuz Türkü de Irak'a girmiş ve yerleşmiştir.



Türkmenlerin bölgedeki toplumlarla ilişkileri de hemen her zaman dostane ve barışçıl olmuştur. Bu toplumlar asırlar boyunca barış ve huzur içinde yaşamıştır. Bölgede huzursuzluklar, çatışmalar ve baskılar ise, İngilizlerin 1914’te Irak’a girmesiyle ve Bağdat’ı Mart 1917’de, Kerkük ve Musul’u ise 1918’de işgali ile başlamıştır.



1932'de Irak devletinin İngiliz mandasından çıkarak bağımsızlığını kazandığı günlerde Irak'ın Milletler Cemiyeti'ne verdiği beyannamede; Irak Türkmenlerinin haklarının korunacağı, varlıklarının tanınacağı, kendi dillerinde eğitim yapmalarına izin verileceği, Türk dilinin Türk bölgelerinde resmi dil olmasının ötesinde, bu bölgelerde görev yapacak memurların mümkün olduğunca Türk kökenli olacağı konularında güvenceler verilmiştir. Çeşitli değişiklikler geçiren bu anayasa, krallık rejiminin yıkılması ve cumhuriyetin kurulması ile yerini 1958 Anayasası'na bırakmıştır. Yeni anayasa Irak'ı bir yandan Arap anavatanının bir parçası, diğer yandan ise Arapların ve Kürtlerin vatanı olarak gösterirken anayasada Türkmenlerden söz edilmemiştir.



Saddam Hüseyin'in kanlı rejimi boyunca Türkmenler büyük baskılara maruz kalmıştır. Liderleri tutuklanıp idam edilmiş ya da suni yargılarla hapiste yatmışlardır. Irak hükümetleri devamlı olarak Türkmen nüfusunu azaltmaya çalışmıştır. 1957'de yapılan nüfus sayımında Irak'ın nüfusu 6.340.000, sonuçları 1958 devriminden sonra, Türkmen nüfusu 567 bin olarak verilmiştir. 1958 yılında Bağdat'ta yayımlanan "The Iraqi Revolution 14th July Celebrations Committee" adlı rapora göre de, 1957 sayımında Türkmen nüfusunun 600 bin olduğu ifade edilmiştir. 1965'te Irak Planlama Başkanlığının Sayımlar İdaresince de Türkmen nüfusu 780 bin olarak tahmin edilmiştir.



ABD’de yayımlanan ve saygın kuruluşlardan olan The Washington Institute for Near East Policy (yakın doğu politikası Washington Enistütüsü’nün) 27 Mart 2003 tarihli, 735 numaralı tespit raporuna göre; Belge: ”1957 sayımında ki Türkmenlerin kendi varlıklarıyla kayıt yaptırabildikleri son sayımdır, 567 bin Türkmen (6,300,000 olan ülke nüfusunun %9’u) sayımı yapılmıştır. Aynı sayımda Kürtlerin nüfusu 819 bin, yani ülke nüfusunun %13’ü oranında çıkmıştır. ”



Irak'ta bugüne kadar yapılan bütün sayımlar, yıllık büyüme oranı ve buradaki etnik nüfus dağılımını da göz önüne alırsak tahmini nüfus etnik yapıya göre şöyledir; Arap 22.400.000, Türk 3.000.000, Kürt 4.000.000, Hıristiyan (Asuri ve Keldaniler) ve diğerleri 600.000.



Musul, Kerkük ve Erbil illeri, Diyala ve Selahattin'in bazı ilçe ve köyleri ile Bağdat'ta yaşayan 300.000'den fazla Türk nüfusunun toplamı bize Irak’taki Türk varlığının en düşük rakamla iki buçuk milyonun üzerine olduğunu ispatlamaktadır.



Irak Türk­le­ri, Irak dev­le­ti ku­rul­du­ğun­dan be­ri dev­le­ti­ne, toprağına ve bay­ra­ğı­na sa­dık bir top­lum ola­rak şe­ref­li bir geç­mi­şe sa­hip­tir. Türkmenler, devletine silah çekmemiş ve Irak askerini öldürmemiştir, savaşlarda vatanını şereflice savunmuş ve ülkesi uğruna binlerce şehit vermiştir, İşgalcilere öncülük etmemiş ve dış güçlerle işbirliği yapmamıştır yani Türkmenler ekmeğini yedikleri ve suyunu içtikleri ülkelerine hiçbir zaman ihanet etmemişlerdir. Irak ta­ri­hi de bu­na şa­hit­tir. Irak Türkmenleri, Irak rejimleri tarafından baskı, zulüm, işkence, etnik temizlik, katliamlar ve göçe zorlamaya tabi tutulmalarına rağmen, ülkelerine karşı sadakat gömleklerini hiçbir zaman çıkarmadılar.



Bugün 4 milyon nüfuslu Iraklı Kürtler Irak milli gelirinden % 17 pay almakta, ayrıca Türkiye ve İran’a açılan gümrük kapılarından ve kaçak petrolden elde edilen gelir de cabası. Ya 3 milyon nüfuslu Irak Türkleri! Onlara milli gelirden hiçbir şey yok. İnsanın aklına o eski atasöz geliyor “Biri yer biri bakar ondan kıyamet kopar”. Kürtlere verilen % 17 pay anayasal haksa, 3 milyon Türkmen de bu haktan yararlanmalıdır. Irak'ta üçüncü asli unsur isek, ki öyleyiz gözümüzün önüne milli gelirden pay alma hedefini koymalıyız ve bunun için de millet olarak birlikte hareket etmeliyiz. Malumunuz hak verilmez alınır.



Son derece önemli olan bu konu, Türkmenlerin ekonomik bağımsızlığını ve geleceğini güvence altına alacaktır. Milli gelirden pay almak konusunu gündeme getirip halkımıza anlatmak ve kamuoyu oluşturmak; Türkmeneli TV ve yerel yayın yapan Türkmen Radyo ve Televizyonu (TERT), gazeteci, yazar, aydın, Türkmen Milletvekilleri, Türkmen Meclisi ve üyeleri, Kerkük İl Meclis başkanı ve Kerkük Türkmen İl Meclis üyeleri, Türkmen partileri, Türkmen Aşiretler ve Ayan Meclisi, Türkmeneli Öğrenci ve Gençler Birliği, Irak içinde ve yurt dışında tüm Türkmen sivil kurum ve kuruşlarına büyük görev düşüyor, daha doğrusu herkese görev düşüyor. Bu hakkı ve diğer hakları da elde etmek için miting, yürüyüş, direniş, boykot ve gösteri gibi eylemler düzenlenmelidir. Irak’ta Türkmenlerin varlığını ve gasp edilen haklarını dünyaya duyurmak için bu demokratik eylemleri yapmak çok önemli ve etkin bir yoldur. Dolayısıyla Dünya Irak Türklerinin varlığını, yaşadıkları haksızlıkları, mağduriyeti ve Türkmenlere yapılan insan hakları ihlallerinden haberdar olur. Mücadele etmeden hak alınmaz. Irak Türkleri, bugünden tezi yok derhal mücadeleye başlamalı ve yola koyulmalıdır! Irak Türklerinin hakkı olan milli gelirden pay, eşitlik, adalet ve hakkaniyet adına alınmalıdır. Herkesi göreve çağırıyoruz.


Ali Kerküklü