MEP Metin Kazak: The EU should pay special attention to the deteriorating human rights situation of the Turkmens in Iraq

Un grand merci à Monsieur Metin Kazak, le député qui a le plus oeuvré au sein du 

parlement européen pour faire connaître la cause des Turkmènes irakiens.

La Représentation du Front Turkmène irakien auprès de l'Union européenne

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For the the original version in BULGARIAN, please see: 

http://www.metinkazak.eu/bg/2013-08-14-11-31-29/661-2014-02-27

MEP Metin Kazak mentioned the bloody incidents and explosions which took place in the cities of Kirkuk and Tuz Khurmatu, which killed a total of 20 and injured over 163 Turkmens.

Translated by Bing: 

Metin Kazak, ALDE Coordinator and Vice-Chairman of the Subcommittee on Human Rights made a statement on the situation in Iraq during the plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg (24 to 27 February, 2014). Bulgarian MEP noted that past 2013 will be remembered as "the bloodiest year" after the war on Iraq and the Iraqi people. He stressed that European liberals are extremely concerned about the deterioration of the security situation of the population, especially the Iraqi Turkmen.

The MEP stressed that the EP adoption on March 14, 2013 of "Resolution on Iraq: the plight of minority groups, including Iraqi Turkmen" is seen as a positive step forward, but not a sufficient measure taken by the EU, given the current situation. He argued that cultural, religious and economic damage on the Turkmen population are highly visible and can not be ignored by the Union.

This illustrates the existing open deep tensions between ethnic groups in Iraq, which increases the risk of civil war that will involve the Iraqi people in bloody clashes," 

According to MEP Metin Kazak, the EU should pay special attention to the deteriorating human rights situation of the Turkmen community in Iraq. He said that with the signing of the Agreement on Partnership and Cooperation between the EU and Iraq in May 2012 for the first time establish contractual relations between the two countries and create a legal framework for relations covering political dialogue, trade relations, legal cooperation , human rights, development aid and others. Mr. Kazak pointed out that the purpose of the agreement is to significantly expand cooperation with Iraq on key foreign policy issues such as human rights, the rule of law, non-proliferation of weapons, the International Criminal Court, migration and others. Because the situation in the country is directly linked to overall stability in the Middle East region.

Finally Mr Metin Kazak called on the European Commission and the European External Action Service to exert additional pressure on the Iraqi government to achieve a peaceful resolution on the situation of Turkmen in Iraq to avoid irreversible consequences in the region.