Turkmen call for fair representation

KONYA (AA) – Iraqi Turkmen Front (ITC) Executive Council member Aydin Beyatli said on Wednesday only one ministry was given to Turkmen in the new cabinet, stating that this was contrary to principle of fair representation as Turkmens represented 13 percent of the Iraqi population.

Beyatli told A.A correspondent that a healthy census had not taken place since Saddam Hussein administration, stating that efforts were underway to show population of Iraqi Turkmens less than the original figures.

Beyatli said Turkmen population, which they estimated to be around 3,5 million, was not less than the Kurds. He said allocation of one ministry to Turkmens, who represented 13 percent of Iraq’s population, contradicted with principle of fair representation. He said Kurds, who had the same population, took five ministries.

Calling on the United Nations to hold a census which would reflect the truth, Beyatli said, "nobody can ignore this injustice made to Turkmens. We were treated unjustly in Iraq so far. We tried to look for our rights through democratic ways. However injustice continues. We will call for our rights in a higher tune in the future."