IRAQ FEDERATION?

They are planning a dual federation based on the Kurds and the Arabs. The ethnic Turkmen and others would not be taken into consideration. Bremer’s approach shows that the US is leaning in the same direction…

Even if not loudly, Turkey, Iran and Syria seem to be reacting against this prospect. This was shown in Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s visit to Ankara last week and Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul’s current visit to Tehran. It’s not clear how much these reactions will sway the US or shape developments in northern Iraq. It’s known that the US has supported Kurdish groups right from the beginning. Bremer made statements indicating that this support began in the 1991 Gulf War and continues now. Clearly the US protection is the key factor bringing Kurdish groups came to this point. Furthermore, there was also indirect support when Turkey assisted the US Operation Poised Hammer out of necessity. During Turkey’s decade-long fight against the terrorist group PKK, Ankara held its tongue on US protection for northern Iraq, and therefore helped Kurdish groups efforts to form a state.

However, whereas Turkey stood completely aside just after the US invasion of Iraq, now it’s trying to gauge others’ reactions by contacting its neighbors in the region. But affecting developments in northern Iraq at this stage seems to be more difficult than before.

No one talks about the presence of the Turkmen, and not even Ankara is making serious efforts to bring the Turkmen to the agenda. Ankara is trying to protect its national interests indirectly, and this shows how weak its effectiveness is. Ankara has entrusted its interests in northern Iraq to the United States, including its struggle against the PKK. Turkey has no avenue besides ‘requesting’ that the US include the Turkmen in the reconstruction of Iraq.

Ankara continues to accept the US requests, but the US hasn’t changed its policies in northern Iraq or Cyprus. Turkey is still watching.”