US 'may plot assassination of Al Maliki'
http://archive.gulfnews.com/articles/08/09/12/10244335.html
09/12/2008 06:28 PM By Basil Adas, Correspondent
Baghdad: Americans, increasingly resenting recent moves by Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki, could seek to topple or even assassinate him, says a secret report by a Kurdish political party, which is part of the national government.
The report, which Gulf News has seen, says Al Maliki does not want to see any US soldier in Iraq after 2011 and he preferred strong political, economic and military relations with the Americans but not the presence and influence of the US military in his country.
The latest US resentment stem from Al Maliki's strong stance in the current talks to reach a strategic security agreement between the two countries, the report said.
"Al Maliki has started to undermine the influence of those in the Iraqi military and security commanders who are classified as proteges of the Americans. This has raised concerns in the US military command in Baghdad. The freezing of the powers of the Iraqi Army's chief of staff, Babakir Zebari, is the first indication of this trend," the report said.
According to the report, the US suspects Al Maliki of getting closer to Iran in order to launch a broad military operation in Basra, Al Sadr City in Baghdad and Maysan province, in preparation for a complete withdrawal of US forces from Iraq.
The report said the statement of Shiite leader Moqtada Al Sadr about converting most of the Mahdi Army into a social and cultural organisation, named Al Mumahidun, is part of the Iranian game.
According to the report, the US is weighing three options.
The first is to topple Al Maliki in parliament and bring vice-president and leader of the Islamic Supreme Council, Adel Abdul Mahdi, into power. Mahdi, according to the US, is more pragmatic than Al Maliki. He enjoys the support of Shiite leader Abdul Aziz Al Hakim. But this option may not hold as Al Hakim and Mahdi are both considered close to Iran as well.
The second option is to pressure Al Maliki to resign. But this is difficult as he heads an elected government.
The third option is an assassination attempt against Al Maliki with the help of terrorist groups, and to put in place a puppet administration favourable to the Americans.
samedi 13 septembre 2008
vendredi 12 septembre 2008
SELIMIYE Mosque in Edirne, Sinan's masterpiece
Selimiye Mosque in Edirne, Photo by Hakan Güldal
Sultan Selim Mosque (Selimiye) Photo by Akin CobanRESPECT TO SINAN
for more photos of Sinan's works please see:
http://www.sinanasaygi.com/en/eserler_resimler.asp?action=eserDetay&ID=172
http://www.sinanasaygi.com/en/eserler.asp?action=eserDetay&ID=172
for more photos of Sinan's works please see:
http://www.sinanasaygi.com/en/eserler_resimler.asp?action=eserDetay&ID=172
http://www.sinanasaygi.com/en/eserler.asp?action=eserDetay&ID=172
jeudi 11 septembre 2008
Turkish Cypriot leader optimistic about reunification
"All the elements of the Cyprus problem are known, so it is possible to solve [it] by the end of this year," says Mr Talat (Photo: European Commission)ELITSA VUCHEVA
10.09.2008 @ 17:27 CET
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS – Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat on Wednesday (10 September) expressed optimism about the in-depth talks on the reunification of Cyprus formally due to start tomorrow, saying he hoped that a solution for the divided island can be found at the latest by June next year.
"My vision was to finish the negotiations by the end of this year and I believe it is possible," Mr Talat said at a conference organised by the Brussels-based European Policy Centre think-tank.
"All the elements of the Cyprus problem are known, so it is possible to solve [it]" by the end of 2008, or at the latest, "before the election of the European Parliament, meaning June 2009."
"Hopefully, we will do it," he added.
See: http://euobserver.com/9/26722
mercredi 10 septembre 2008
Azerbaijanis, Arabs and Turkmens at the EU Parliament
Ethnicity and Human Rights in Iran
Azerbaijanis, Arabs, Turkmen and other ethnic minorities
A Hearing on human rights abuses in Iran
Azerbaijanis, Arabs, Turkmen and other ethnic minorities
A Hearing on human rights abuses in Iran
After two world wars and millions of lives sacrificed during the first half of 20th century, European nations have formed the largest and greatest union to promote coexistence and peace based on mutual respect, human rights, freedom and democracy. Supremacy has been replaced by equality and wars to kill and conquer have been replaced by peace and cooperation. While Europe is enjoying the greatest respect for human values, the Middle East in general, and Iran in particular, is speeding towards one great disaster.
Contrary to general belief, Iran is not a homogeneous nation. It is in fact a multi ethnic country composed of Azerbaijanis, Persians, Arabs, Kurds, Baluchis, Turkmens, Bakhtiaries-Lurs and many religious minorities. Based on the largest independent linguistic/ethnic academic research group, ethnologue,[1] and the UN Special Rapporteure/ Representative on Islamic Republic of Iran reporting to UN General Assembly[2],[3] Azerbaijanis are the largest ethnic group in Iran followed by Persians, Arabs and other national groups. The Iranian government has taken exceedingly hostile steps against all non-Persian ethnic groups in the country. The Iranian government has pursued systematic assimilation by repressing the use of language and expressions of culture other than Persian.
The Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities [4] protects ethnic and linguistic rights. It demands “states shall protect the existence and national or ethnic, cultural, religious and linguistic identity of minorities within their respective territories..." and "... states shall adopt appropriate legislative and other measures to achieve those ends".
Azerbaijanis, the largest group in the country estimated at about 25-30 million, are spread throughout Iran but mainly live in the North West of Iran. Arabs live in the historic Arab lands in South West Iran and Turkmen live in their historic lands of Turkmanistan (bordering republic of Turkmanistan). Iran is bordering three members of Council of Europe, Republic of Azerbaijan, Armenia and Turkey and horrific fear that the Iranian government‘s forced assimilation policy towards all its non-Persian ethnic groups creates conditions which well may result in disaster is magnified by each days passed. Europe could be affected by waves of violence, political instability, chaos and lingering lack of security, all at its doorsteps.
This hearing will concentrate on a proactive approach for a possible roadmap to promote peaceful coexistence, freedom and democracy for all.
September 10, 16:00, Room ASP 3H1, European Parliament, Brussels
Moderated by Paulo Casaca, MEP and Ahmad Obali, World Azerbaijanis Congress, Committee on International relations
Representatives of South Azerbaijani, Arab and Turkmen organizations will present the latest situation related to their respective ethnic groups in Iran
samedi 6 septembre 2008
CEM ÖZDEMIR, Turk MEP on the way to lead Germany's Green Party
Saturday, September 6, 2008
BERLIN - Agence France - Presse
A European Parliament deputy looks set to become the first politician of Turkish origin to head a major German political party.
Cem Özdemir, 42, is poised to become one of the opposition Green party co-leaders after his rival for the post, Volker Ratzmann, withdrew his candidacy because his wife is expecting a child, the party said in a statement Thursday.
Özdemir is the charismatic son of Turkish immigrants who went to Germany as part of a "guest worker" programme in the 1970s. The country is now home to about 2.5 million people of Turkish origin.
He belongs to the reformist wing of the Greens grouping pragmatic, pro-business members and, if chosen, will replace current party co-leader Reinhard Bütikofer, who is no longer standing for the job.
The new leadership is to be voted in at a party congress November 14.
Özdemir became the first politician of Turkish origin to be elected to the country's parliament in 1994, after becoming a German citizen two years earlier. He was elected a member of the European Parliament in 2004.
© 2005 Dogan Daily News Inc. www.turkishdailynews.com.tr
BERLIN - Agence France - Presse
A European Parliament deputy looks set to become the first politician of Turkish origin to head a major German political party.
Cem Özdemir, 42, is poised to become one of the opposition Green party co-leaders after his rival for the post, Volker Ratzmann, withdrew his candidacy because his wife is expecting a child, the party said in a statement Thursday.
Özdemir is the charismatic son of Turkish immigrants who went to Germany as part of a "guest worker" programme in the 1970s. The country is now home to about 2.5 million people of Turkish origin.
He belongs to the reformist wing of the Greens grouping pragmatic, pro-business members and, if chosen, will replace current party co-leader Reinhard Bütikofer, who is no longer standing for the job.
The new leadership is to be voted in at a party congress November 14.
Özdemir became the first politician of Turkish origin to be elected to the country's parliament in 1994, after becoming a German citizen two years earlier. He was elected a member of the European Parliament in 2004.
© 2005 Dogan Daily News Inc. www.turkishdailynews.com.tr
Who controls KHANAQIN? (Videos)
http://english.aljazeera.net/programmes/insideiraq/
A new flashpoint is brewing between Baghdad and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), over the city of Khanaqin, in northern Iraq's Diyala province.
Tension has been simmering since the Iraqi defence ministry ordered Kurdish Peshmerga forces, who have been providing security in Khanaqin, to be replaced by Iraqi troops.
The majority of Kurds who control Khanaqin want the city to be integrated into the KRG in northern Iraq.
But in a recent move to curb growing Kurdish expansion, Nuri Al-Maliki, the Iraqi prime minister, ordered the Iraqi army to force Kurdish parties to vacate public buildings in the city.
Massoud Barzani, the KRG president, accused Baghdad of trying to derail the democratic process in the country as the Kurds consider Khanaqin to be part of Kurdistan.
Al-Maliki shot back by threatening to prosecute any Peshmerga forces operating outside KRG controlled areas.
Inside Iraq this week scrutinises the implications of the rising political tension between Baghdad and the KRG as the Kurds are increasingly claiming a stake on disputed territories in the north of the country.
Our guests this week are Dindar Zebari, KRG Coordinator to the UN, Brian Katulis from the Centre of American Progress and Saad N Jawad, author and political analyst from London.
Who controls KHANAQIN ?
Part one
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=fRGYIg4H5as
Part two
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=0hPZkbxZHXo
This episode of Inside Iraq aired from Friday, September 5, 2008
A new flashpoint is brewing between Baghdad and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), over the city of Khanaqin, in northern Iraq's Diyala province.
Tension has been simmering since the Iraqi defence ministry ordered Kurdish Peshmerga forces, who have been providing security in Khanaqin, to be replaced by Iraqi troops.
The majority of Kurds who control Khanaqin want the city to be integrated into the KRG in northern Iraq.
But in a recent move to curb growing Kurdish expansion, Nuri Al-Maliki, the Iraqi prime minister, ordered the Iraqi army to force Kurdish parties to vacate public buildings in the city.
Massoud Barzani, the KRG president, accused Baghdad of trying to derail the democratic process in the country as the Kurds consider Khanaqin to be part of Kurdistan.
Al-Maliki shot back by threatening to prosecute any Peshmerga forces operating outside KRG controlled areas.
Inside Iraq this week scrutinises the implications of the rising political tension between Baghdad and the KRG as the Kurds are increasingly claiming a stake on disputed territories in the north of the country.
Our guests this week are Dindar Zebari, KRG Coordinator to the UN, Brian Katulis from the Centre of American Progress and Saad N Jawad, author and political analyst from London.
Who controls KHANAQIN ?
Part one
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=fRGYIg4H5as
Part two
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=0hPZkbxZHXo
This episode of Inside Iraq aired from Friday, September 5, 2008
vendredi 5 septembre 2008
US-IRAQI AGREEMENT: LEAKED
Below are two interesting posts by Raed Jarrar:
Wednesday, September 03, 2008
Al-Mashhadani is against US-Iraqi agreement
In a rare and important interview, conducted by Al-Arabiya, with Dr. Mahmoud Al-Mashhadani, the head of the Iraqi parliament, he explained how the Iraqi parliament is against signing an agreement with the US.Dr. Al-Mashhadani discussed both the political and procedural aspects of signing the treaty.Technically, the Iraqi parliament is not ready to ratify any international treaties because the "law to ratify international treaties and agreements" has not been approved by the parliament yet. This law is required by the constitution (article 61 paragraph 4), and it requires a 2/3 majority of parliament to approve it.
This alone will take months to debate and pass. After that, and according to how the "law to ratify international treaties and agreements" looks like, the Iraqi parliament can start discussing the agreement with the US, and it will most likely need another 2/3 majority approval to pass it. Politically, the majority of Iraq's MPs are against singing any agreements with the US as long as the US is occupying Iraq. It's impossible for the Maliki government to get the approval of a simple majority of MPs, let alone 2/3 majority.
I think the US government should consider a different type of agreements with Iraq: an agreement for a complete withdrawal that leaves no troops, no mercenaries, and no permanent bases (and no 5,000 employees embassy either)here is a pretty rough translation of some of Dr. Al-Mashhadani's answers:
Dr. Mahmoud Al-Mashhadani: the Iraqi constitution determines that the House of Representatives must first enact a law to ratify the Law of Treaties and Agreements, and must vote or pass this law through parliament by two-thirds majority. So before discussing the treaty we must enact this law by two thirds, and then submitted to the Presidency ratified it, and then it will go into effect. As before this law nothing can be done because the parliament not ready yet, according to the constitution, to ratify this agreement. It can only do so after the enactment of this law.
This law will take long time to pass due to the two-thirds requirement, so it will not be enacted before the end of this year.
Dr. Mahmoud Al-Mashhadani: We are constitutionally barred from ratifying any agreements without the enactment of this law and the law has not been enacted so far. After enactment of this law we may introduce the agreement and then it must be ratified by whatever majority decided by the law: it might be absolute majority or it might be two-third majority for important international agreements and an absolute majority of economic accords. The intention now that important international agreements will require two-thirds majority, and economic agreements by absolute majority, and perhaps other charters and accords are by simple majority. So, whatever is included in the law and approved by the parliament.
Dr. Mahmoud Al-Mashhadani: the negotiating team is not authorizes to take any decision until they go back to Mr. Prime Minister, if he approved it he will send it to the Political Council for National Security, if approved by the Political Council for National Security with two thirds majority, then they can send it to the parliament. The parliament must wait until it enacts the law to ratify international treaties and agreements, then we can submit the US-Iraqi agreement to the parliament after the approval of this law.
Posted By Raed Jarrar at 12:08 PM
Monday, September 01, 2008
US-Iraqi agreement: leaked
I read about a leaked copy of the US-Iraqi agreement a few days ago when a radio station in Iraq mentioned some of its details, then it was mentioned in some Arab newspapers like Al-Qabas and Al-Sharq Al-Awsat. A couple of days ago, one Iraqi website (linked to an Iraqi armed resistance group) published the leaked draft on their web page for less than a couple of days before their website went offline. (Thankfully, I downloaded the 21 pages agreement and saved them before their server went down)I spent this weekend translating it, and just finished now.
you can read the 27 articles August 6th draft by clicking here or here or here.
The title of this draft is "Agreement regarding the activities and presence of U.S. forces, and its withdrawal from Iraq", but this is the same agreement that is referred to as a "status of forces agreement" or "SOFA" or framework or whatever. It's the result of months of negotiations after Bush and Al-Maliki signed the "Declaration of Principles for a Long-Term Relationship of Cooperation and Friendship Between the Republic of Iraq and the United States of America" by the end of last year.This leaked draft is a treasure of information.
It's the first time any document related to this topic is made public. It shows how weak the Iraqi negotiations team is (it is really pathetic to read their "suggestions" on how to fix the disaster of an agreement).
There are many outrageous articles in the agreement that violates Iraq's sovereignty and independence, and gives the U.S. occupation authorities unprecedented rights and privileges, but what has draw my attention the most (so far) are three major points:
1- the agreement does not discuss anything about a complete US withdrawal from Iraq. Instead, it talks about withdrawing "combat troops" without defining what is the difference between combat troops and other troops. It is very clear that the US is planning to stay indefinitely in permanent bases in Iraq (or as the agreement calls them: "installations and areas agreed upon") where the U.S. will continue training and supporting Iraqis armed forces for the foreseeable future.
2- the agreement goes into effect when the two executive branches exchange "memos", instead of waiting for Iraqi parliament's ratification. This is really dangerous, and it is shocking because both the Iraqi and U.S. executive branches have been assuring the Iraqi parliament that no agreement will go into effect without being ratified by Iraq's MPs.
3- this agreement is the blueprint for keeping other occupation armies (aka Multi-national forces) in Iraq on the long run. This explains the silence regarding what will happed to other occupiers (like the U.K. forces) after the expiration of the UN mandate at the end of this year.
It is really disturbing to read how the U.S. government is still going down the same path of intervention and domination in Iraq.
This agreement will not be accepted by the Iraqi people and their elected representatives in the Iraqi parliament, and if the U.S. and Iraqi executive branches try to consider it valid anyway it will lead to more violence in Iraq.
Posted By Raed Jarrar at 10:33 PM
http://raedinthemiddle.blogspot.com/
Wednesday, September 03, 2008
Al-Mashhadani is against US-Iraqi agreement
In a rare and important interview, conducted by Al-Arabiya, with Dr. Mahmoud Al-Mashhadani, the head of the Iraqi parliament, he explained how the Iraqi parliament is against signing an agreement with the US.Dr. Al-Mashhadani discussed both the political and procedural aspects of signing the treaty.Technically, the Iraqi parliament is not ready to ratify any international treaties because the "law to ratify international treaties and agreements" has not been approved by the parliament yet. This law is required by the constitution (article 61 paragraph 4), and it requires a 2/3 majority of parliament to approve it.
This alone will take months to debate and pass. After that, and according to how the "law to ratify international treaties and agreements" looks like, the Iraqi parliament can start discussing the agreement with the US, and it will most likely need another 2/3 majority approval to pass it. Politically, the majority of Iraq's MPs are against singing any agreements with the US as long as the US is occupying Iraq. It's impossible for the Maliki government to get the approval of a simple majority of MPs, let alone 2/3 majority.
I think the US government should consider a different type of agreements with Iraq: an agreement for a complete withdrawal that leaves no troops, no mercenaries, and no permanent bases (and no 5,000 employees embassy either)here is a pretty rough translation of some of Dr. Al-Mashhadani's answers:
Dr. Mahmoud Al-Mashhadani: the Iraqi constitution determines that the House of Representatives must first enact a law to ratify the Law of Treaties and Agreements, and must vote or pass this law through parliament by two-thirds majority. So before discussing the treaty we must enact this law by two thirds, and then submitted to the Presidency ratified it, and then it will go into effect. As before this law nothing can be done because the parliament not ready yet, according to the constitution, to ratify this agreement. It can only do so after the enactment of this law.
This law will take long time to pass due to the two-thirds requirement, so it will not be enacted before the end of this year.
Dr. Mahmoud Al-Mashhadani: We are constitutionally barred from ratifying any agreements without the enactment of this law and the law has not been enacted so far. After enactment of this law we may introduce the agreement and then it must be ratified by whatever majority decided by the law: it might be absolute majority or it might be two-third majority for important international agreements and an absolute majority of economic accords. The intention now that important international agreements will require two-thirds majority, and economic agreements by absolute majority, and perhaps other charters and accords are by simple majority. So, whatever is included in the law and approved by the parliament.
Dr. Mahmoud Al-Mashhadani: the negotiating team is not authorizes to take any decision until they go back to Mr. Prime Minister, if he approved it he will send it to the Political Council for National Security, if approved by the Political Council for National Security with two thirds majority, then they can send it to the parliament. The parliament must wait until it enacts the law to ratify international treaties and agreements, then we can submit the US-Iraqi agreement to the parliament after the approval of this law.
Posted By Raed Jarrar at 12:08 PM
Monday, September 01, 2008
US-Iraqi agreement: leaked
I read about a leaked copy of the US-Iraqi agreement a few days ago when a radio station in Iraq mentioned some of its details, then it was mentioned in some Arab newspapers like Al-Qabas and Al-Sharq Al-Awsat. A couple of days ago, one Iraqi website (linked to an Iraqi armed resistance group) published the leaked draft on their web page for less than a couple of days before their website went offline. (Thankfully, I downloaded the 21 pages agreement and saved them before their server went down)I spent this weekend translating it, and just finished now.
you can read the 27 articles August 6th draft by clicking here or here or here.
The title of this draft is "Agreement regarding the activities and presence of U.S. forces, and its withdrawal from Iraq", but this is the same agreement that is referred to as a "status of forces agreement" or "SOFA" or framework or whatever. It's the result of months of negotiations after Bush and Al-Maliki signed the "Declaration of Principles for a Long-Term Relationship of Cooperation and Friendship Between the Republic of Iraq and the United States of America" by the end of last year.This leaked draft is a treasure of information.
It's the first time any document related to this topic is made public. It shows how weak the Iraqi negotiations team is (it is really pathetic to read their "suggestions" on how to fix the disaster of an agreement).
There are many outrageous articles in the agreement that violates Iraq's sovereignty and independence, and gives the U.S. occupation authorities unprecedented rights and privileges, but what has draw my attention the most (so far) are three major points:
1- the agreement does not discuss anything about a complete US withdrawal from Iraq. Instead, it talks about withdrawing "combat troops" without defining what is the difference between combat troops and other troops. It is very clear that the US is planning to stay indefinitely in permanent bases in Iraq (or as the agreement calls them: "installations and areas agreed upon") where the U.S. will continue training and supporting Iraqis armed forces for the foreseeable future.
2- the agreement goes into effect when the two executive branches exchange "memos", instead of waiting for Iraqi parliament's ratification. This is really dangerous, and it is shocking because both the Iraqi and U.S. executive branches have been assuring the Iraqi parliament that no agreement will go into effect without being ratified by Iraq's MPs.
3- this agreement is the blueprint for keeping other occupation armies (aka Multi-national forces) in Iraq on the long run. This explains the silence regarding what will happed to other occupiers (like the U.K. forces) after the expiration of the UN mandate at the end of this year.
It is really disturbing to read how the U.S. government is still going down the same path of intervention and domination in Iraq.
This agreement will not be accepted by the Iraqi people and their elected representatives in the Iraqi parliament, and if the U.S. and Iraqi executive branches try to consider it valid anyway it will lead to more violence in Iraq.
Posted By Raed Jarrar at 10:33 PM
http://raedinthemiddle.blogspot.com/
mercredi 3 septembre 2008
Iraklı Türkmenlerin sesi Ketene hayatını kaybetti
Irak Türkmenlerinin önde gelen savunucularından ve Musul Federasyonu projesinin fikir babası olan Prof. Dr. Mehmet Sait Ketene, dün hayatını kaybetti. Ketene’nin naaşı yarın Karşıyaka Cami’inde kılınacak ikindi namazı sonrasında defnedilecek.Kuzey Irak, Duhok kentinde 1926 yılında doğan Prof. Dr. Mehmet Sait Ketene, 1951 yılında Ankara Üniversitesi Ziraat Fakültesi’nden mezun oldu.
Yüksek lisans çalışmasını ABD'de North Carolina Üniversitesi’nde tamamlayan Ketene, 1962 yılında İstanbul Üniversitesi’nde doktorasını tamamladı. Musul Üniversitesi’nde Ziraat Orman Fakültesi’nin kurucuları ve dekanları arasında yer alan Ketene, Irak Bilimsel Araştırmalar Kurumu'nda da Genel Sekreterlik görevini yerine getirdi. 1977 yılında Irak’tan ayrılan, önce Libya'da, daha sonra Türkiye'de konusuyla ilgili danışmanlık görevlerinde bulunan Ketene, Irak Türkmenlerinin tüm sorunlarını gündeme taşıması ile tanınıyordu.
1960’lı yıllardan beri Türkmenlerin yöneticiliğini yapan Ketene, 1980’li ve 1990’lı yıllarda Saddam'a karşı oluşturulan Irak muhalefetinin önemli figürlerinden biri olarak gösteriliyordu Ketene, aynı zamanda Kuzeydeki diğer milliyetlerle Türkmenlere eşit haklar sağlayan Musul Federasyonu projesinin de fikir babasıydı. Evli ve dört çocuk babası olan Prof. Dr. Ketene’nin naaşı yarın Karşıyaka Cami’inde kılınacak ikindi namazı sonrasında defnedilecek.
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