Fallujah in Fire Circle Embraces a Turkish Firm

Emtamitas has almost completed the work it was awarded for the construction of energy transmission lines in the city. When Turkey decided to deploy troops in Iraq, the people of Fallaujah made statements such as, "Turkish soldiers will return home in coffins."

Emtamitas officials arrived in Fallujah two months ago. Representatives of the fir reported they would go to Fallujah despite warnings by the U.S. received before the bidding about security problems in the city. 650 Turkish employees are on duty at the construction site, including one woman. Area manager, Yavuz Demirdelen says people in the city welcome Turkish workers despite their opposition to Turkish troop deployment. Demirdelen continued: "No one except us is able to go out without guards. We always have dialogue with the locals. We explained to them that we are Turkish and Muslim and that we are there to serve them. Since energy is the biggest problem in the city, people sometimes help out with our work."

Emtamitas’ Marketing and Sales Manager, Aziz Kara, says the firm wants to have more shares in the restructuring of Iraq. He elaborated that after completion of a 44MW-energy transmission line between the Kut and Amara regions, they requested that American officials assign the firm the toughest and most dangerous regions and said they would go there voluntarily. Kara says that the company went to Fallujah knowing the dangers in the city and said that they have not faced any danger.