Iraqi Turkmen Front: We have a positive project to resolve the problems of Kirkuk

14/06/2012



Arshad Salhi, chairman of the Turkmen Front says they have prepared a positive project to resolve the problems of Kirkuk, which they will hand to the Iraqi representatives in the Iraqi Parliament.



Arshad Salhi who is also an Iraqi MP said, "We have a special project consisting of 10 points which we will hand to the Iraqi Parliament after the weekend.”



He added, "Our project considers all the differences which have halted the elections in Kirkuk, and that's why we think it's a positive project to resolve the problems,” Salhi said.



The chairman of Turkmen Front believes the current projects prepared by Arabs and Kurds are ‘not realistic' and do not solve the problems. "The Kurdish project is oriented in a way where Kurds take the position of governor again, which has a political motive.”



Salhi also criticizes the project prepared by the Arabs, saying that "There are some contradictions in the project, for example they ask for provincial elections with the Kurdistan Region's elections which are unacceptable.”



Salhi says they do not have serious conditions on elections, "We should solve negativities, and fix post-2003 changes, and then we can agree on elections.”

Posted in Turkmen Aspect

Iraqis Not Feeling Well Psychologically

Gallup recently released the results of two public opinion polls it conducted that included Iraq. The two were on people’s feelings about their health, and were conducted at the end of 2011. “Middle East Leads World in Negative Emotions” discovered that Iraqis had the most stress out of 148 countries around the world. “Iraqis’ Views of Their Health Worst in MENA” found that people in the Middle East and North Africa had high levels of anger and sadness, with Iraq being at very bottom. Both showed that even though violence is down, Iraqis still have many things to worry about like their government, work, family, and basic living.





According to Gallup, Iraq had the lowest scores on how people felt about their health in the Middle East and North Africa. At the end of 2011, Gallup polled 17 countries, Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen for its Physical Wellbeing Index. 1,000 people aged 15 or older were asked five questions about whether they had any health problems, were well rested, had physical pain, worried, or were sad. Iraq got a score of 47, which placed it at the bottom of the region by far. It was eleven points lower than the next country Egypt, and also the worst that Iraq had done since Gallup started doing the survey in 2008. In 2009 for instance, it had a score of 60. Gallup’s poll was on how people felt, rather than how they actually were, which could be determined by statistics about life expectancy, infant mortality rates, etc. The company thought their results were important, because people who felt better about themselves had better views of their future. The figures for Iraq showed that its populace was deeply troubled about their situation, which could mean they were pessimistic about what was going to happen to them later on as well. Iraq’s security situation has greatly improved from the civil war years of 2005-2008. Its political system has become completely deadlocked since the 2010 parliamentary elections however, and the economy, while improving in the aggregate, still has major structural problems with unemployment and poverty. Those could be reasons why Iraqis felt so bad about their situation, compared to countries like the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, and Morocco that were well off, stable, and at the top of the Index.





Gallup Physical Wellbeing Index – Middle East and North Africa

1. United Arab Emirates 80

1. Kuwait 80

3. Morocco 78

4. Saudi Arabia 75

5. Qatar 73

5. Algeria 73

6. Yemen 72

7. Oman 71

8. Lebanon 70

9. Jordan 70

10. Turkey 68

11. Israel 67

12. Tunisia 66

13. Iran 65

14. Palestine 62

15. Bahrain 60

16. Egypt 58

17. Iraq 47





Breaking down some of the questions asked of people showed that most Iraqis had slipped back to how they felt when the survey first started in 2008 or even thought of themselves as being worse off. When questioned about whether they felt physical pain the day before the survey for example, in 2008 54% said yes, and 41% said no. That dropped down to the 40s for yes in 2009 to early 2011, before returning to 54% yes at the end of 2011, and 42% no. When it came to whether Iraqis had worried, things had declined. In 2008, 54% said yes, and 41% said no. By late 2011, 62% said yes, and 35% said no. That was the highest percentage of people saying no in four years. From the three questions that details were provided, it was apparent that Iraqis felt like things had changed for the better after 2008, but then they had gone back to just as they were before, or gotten worse by last year. 2008 was when the civil war ended, and 2009 was when provincial elections were held, and it seemed like more people were buying into the political system. That hopeful attitude changed with the 2010 parliamentary vote, and could be a driving force for the change in attitudes shown in the poll.





3 of 5 Questions From Gallup Physical Wellbeing Index – Middle East and North Africa





Did you experience physical pain yesterday?

2008 54% Yes, 41% No

Early 2009 61% Yes, 38% No

Mid 2009 48% Yes, 49% No

2010 42% Yes, 53% No

Early 2011 48% Yes, 47% No

End 2011 54% Yes, 42% No





Did you worry yesterday?

2008 54% Yes, 41% No

Early 2009 49% Yes, 50% No

Mid 2009 54% Yes, 42% No

2010 44% Yes, 51% No

Early 2011 56% Yes, 40% No

Late 2011 62% Yes, 35% No





Did you feel well rested yesterday?

2008 56% Yes, 40% No

Early 2009 60% Yes, 39% No

Mid 2009 50% Yes, 46% No

2010 52% Yes, 45% No

Early 2011 40% Yes, 54% No

Late-2011 40% Yes, 54% No





Gallup conducted another very similar poll at the end of 2011, its Negative Experience Index, which placed Iraq in last place. Gallup asked five questions of 1,000 people 15 years or older in 148 countries last year. The survey asked whether people felt anger, stress, worry, sadness, and physical pain. The higher the score a country received, the more negative feelings they had. Iraq came in dead last with 59. Palestine was second to the bottom at 43, followed by Bahrain at 41, the Philippines at 40, and Togo and Egypt both at 39. The countries with the best scores were Somaliland with 11, Uzbekistan at 12, and Thailand and Kyrgyzstan at 13 each. Overall, Gallup found that the nations included in the poll were feeling worse off in 2011 than 2010. All the countries in the Middle East and North Africa with the exception of Yemen had some of the worst rankings in the world. Gallup believed that the countries at the bottom like Iraq faced economic hardships, and political protests last year, causing people to feel worse about their situation.





Gallup Negative Experience Index – 10 Worse Countries

1. Iraq 59

2. Palestine 43

3. Bahrain 41

4. Philippines 40

5. Togo 39

5. Egypt 39

7. Turkey 38

7. Greece 38

9. Armenia 37

10. Pakistan 36

10. Serbia 36

10. Bolivia 36

10. Iran 36





Both polls by Gallup revealed that psychologically, Iraqis were not well off. The country ranked dead last in both surveys about how they felt. Not only that, but the Well Being Index showed that many people believed that their situation had been reversed in the last year or two. One would think that with violence down, and many going back to the regular routines would lead many to feel better. The two surveys showed the opposite has happened. That could mean that the political and economic situations were weighing down the public. Other recent opinion polls show a similar level of unhappiness as well. Rather than enjoying their new lives, Iraqis appear to be feeling rather pessimistic mentally.


SOURCES


Clifton, Jon, “Middle East Leads World in Negative Emotions,” Gallup, 6/6/12
Ott, Bryant, “Iraqis’ Views of Their Health Worst in MENA,” Gallup, 6/1/12

This article was published in: Musings on Iraq

Officials from the Iraqi Turkmen Front asked the United Nations to help ease tensions in Kirkuk.

article published by Al Monitor:



Arshad Salhi, head of the Turkmen Front in Iraq (established in 1995 as a movement which seeks to represent the Turkmen people in Iraq), demanded that the United Nations deploy neutral forces to Kirkuk and other disputed territories for the safety of the area’s residents. He warned of a potential bloody conflict between the Iraqi government and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), and that Kirkuk may end up as the battlefield.



In a statement to Al-Zaman, Salhi said, "The political crisis is still ongoing. The withdrawal of confidence [from Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki] cannot be done based on the MP's signatures. This matter must be solved in parliament where the MPs will vote by raising their hands. We, as a front for Turkmen, believe in the higher interest of our nation. Therefore, the issue of Kirkuk and other disputed territories cannot be resolved by agreements signed between the central government and the province. Withdrawing the confidence from the current government is not the answer as well ... The solution lies in the agreement between all the concerned parties in these regions."



He added, "Whoever is willing to play Kirkuk's card in the negotiations will certainly fail. Article 140 [of the Constitution, which states that before a referendum to consider Kirkuk part of Iraqi Kurdistan takes place, measures must be taken to reverse Sadam Hussein’s Arabization policy in the region] is not the answer. Amending the Constitution is the only way to find compromise solutions in the issue of Kirkuk and the disputed territories."

Talabani in discussion with PKK for cease-fire

Hürriyet:
BAGHDAD / ARBIL



Iraqi President Talabani holds negotiations with the outlawed PKK to urge the organization to declare a cease-fire, according to the president’s party spokesman. ‘The results of this effort will soon emerge,’ he says


Iraq’s Kurdish-origin president has been holding negotiations with the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) to urge them to declare a cease-fire, an official from the leader’s Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) said yesterday.



“[Jalal] Talabani is holding talks with PKK to convince them to declare a cease-fire,” Azad Jindyani, a PUK spokesman, was quoted as saying on the party’s website. “His initiative will continue until the clashes between Turkish army and the PKK have ceased. The results of this effort will soon [emerge],” he said. “The president believes peaceful means will bring the two sides closer,” he was quoted as saying by Anatolia news agency.



The spokesman said he thought clashes between Turkey and the PKK would have a negative influence on northern Iraq and Iraq as a whole if they were not dealt with soon. His comments followed statements by Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Beşir Atalay on June 8 in which he said, “There are ongoing talks which even include the laying down and handing over of arms by the PKK.” Atalay also said terror was an international problem, adding that the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) in northern Iraq was at a “crossroads” and must “do something” against the PKK based on its territory.



Efforts ‘just started’



Meanwhile, Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki’s opponents insisted their efforts had “just started” after they failed to collect enough votes to oust the premier. “Those who met today insisted that they will continue their efforts and the steps to achieve their goal,” a statement issued on the website of KRG president Masoud Barzani said of the gathering. The parties “will continue to call on parliamentary powers by legitimate means to face one-man rule ... and to condemn pressures exerted on members of Parliament.”



“It just started,” Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr said when asked by a follower if the issue of withdrawing confidence from al-Maliki was over.



Haidar al-Mullah, a leading Iraqiya MP, told Agence France-Presse that “we are working to end the dictatorship” and that the required votes could be secured “in half an hour” if needed. There “were clear Iranian pressures” on the president and some MPs, Mullah added.

June/12/2012

Explosions in two petroleum wells in Kirkuk

It was stated that explosions went off in two petroleum wells in Kirkuk.

Explosions, the reasons for which remain undetermined, took place in the petroleum pipeline in northern Iraq this morning. The regional administration made an explanatory statement on the subject.





An official from the Northern Iraq Regional Administration’s Petroleum Ministry made a statement saying, ”Explosions occurred in two petroleum wells near the Nehru Zaab region of Kirkuk yesterday morning. Sabotage is a possibility”.

Annual Report of UN Human Rights mentions the targeting of Turkmens in Iraq

The Annual Report of UN Human Rights to assist Iraq of the year 2011mentions the process of targeting Turkmens in Iraq



Due to the exceptional efforts made by the workers of human right office of Turkmen Front and the positive

contribution of the officials of the Front branches and offices in the governorates and all regions of Turkmen

Elli, through their follow up of the infringements files of Turkmens in all Turkmen areas. In addition to

participation of the active to defend Kirkuk and the continuous coordination with UN offices in Iraq, the

rights of Turkmen inside and outside, the UN delegate to assist Iraq listed the subject of targeting Turkmens in number of paragraphs of its annual report of the year 2011, issued on 20th of May 2012.



The process of listing Turkmen targeting in the annual report of UN delegate to assist Iraq for the first time in its work history is considered as an important achievement for Turkmens.



From another side, the active Turkmen and the head of Turkmen aspect edition, Ahmed Alhurmezi, send a letter to UN human rights and a copy UN Baghdad office requesting them to unite the name (Turkmen) in international reports that are written in English, especially in the last report of human rights in Iraq, three formulas were used in writing the name (Turkmen): Turkoman, Turkman and Turkmen) in the English copy.

He mentioned in his letter that the difference in writing the term Turkmen will lead to inaccuracies in the report and readers confusion who are interested in human rights cases, so he requested to write Turkmen in the formula used by Turkmens and that is 'Turkmen' for singular and 'Turkmens' for plural.



Published in Turkmen Aspect.

A NEW CEASEFIRE ? : Talabani mediates between Turkey and PKK

Jalal Talabani Iraqi president attempts to start a new ceasefire between Turkey and PKK. - PKK has stepped up the attacks inside Turkey as the country has launched its military operations in Qandil Mountains where the group’s hideouts and strongholds exist.

Jalal Talabani Iraqi president and Secretary General of Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) has expressed his concerns of the ongoing conflicts and that he intends to maximize his efforts to conciliate between the two sides involved in a deadly war, source inside PUK leaked to the press on Saturday.

He is attempting to persuade the two sides to hold “a new ceasefire”, the source added.

Iraq Kirkuk students complain of delays in allowances distribution

Iraqi Kirkuk students are still waiting for the execution of governmental promises to dedicate 100 thousand dinars from Petrodollar allocations to every university student in the province.

Kirkuk students welcomed, in the beginning of the year, Kirkuk local government resolution to dedicate 100 thousand dinars to every student, these same students wonder presently if this promise will ever be fulfilled.

“They registered our names, a year ago, to grant us these allowances that could help students with transportation expenses at least,” a student said adding that some are quitting universities because they cannot afford such expenses.

Kirkuk University presidency declared it is not responsible for delays while Kirkuk provincial council blamed operations routines.

“More than 10 thousand students registered their names for allowances and a special committee was formed for distribution purposes,” Abbas Hassan, assistant of Kirkuk University President, advanced.“Students have no reasons to be worried, we will be distributing retroactive allowances,” Head of Kirkuk provincial council Hassan Turan said.

This is the first initiative of its kind in Iraq which according to students might remain unexecuted referring to different unachieved promises so far.