KIRKUK ON THE AGENDA OF THE GRAND NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF TURKEY

November 4, 2011 at 10:03 am | Posted in Turkmens | Leave a comment
Tags: Attacks on Turkmens, Kirkuk, Tuğrul Türkeş

KIRKUK ON THE AGENDA OF THE GRAND NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF TURKEY

 

The recent attacks directed at the Turkmen was brought to the agenda of the Assembly by MHP ‎Deputy Chairman and Member of Parliament from Ankara Tuğrul Türkeş. ‎
In his speech from the Assembly rostrum Tuğrul Türkeş said the following: ‎

‎“ Today is the first of November 2011. Exactly 8 years and 7 months ago on the 20th of March 2003 ‎our neighbor Iraq was invaded by the U.S. to bring democracy. According to most recent ‎notifications the U.S. troops will be withdrawing from this country in 2 months. Have you thought what ‎will be happening right at our doorstep in Iraq, our neighboring country after the new year? “What is ‎the status of the various communities there and what lays in their future? “ I believe we must give ‎thought and assess this situation. ‎
The Turkmen community is the most unclaimed as well as being in the most difficult situation among ‎the communities in Iraq. The Turkmen population live mainly in Northern Iraq in Kirkuk, Arbil, ‎Sulaimaniya and have gone through great difficulties during the past 8 and even 9 years. ‎

The population of this community which was assessed as around 3 million during the Saddam regime ‎seems to have been reduced to almost half of that. Of course there are several reasons for this which ‎should be researched and assessed. ‎

In 2003 in the days following the U.S. invasion various groups in Kirkuk and Mosul systematically ‎targeted the land registry and population administration offices. The records kept at those offices ‎were pillaged, burned, destroyed. They endeavored to destroy the records in such a way that the ‎natural texture of the structure there could be systematically ignored. ‎
Later the attacks, intimidations and even murders continued with a certain systematic order.

‎
Since 30th of August nearly 20 incidents have taken place in Kirkuk. Most of these incidents were ‎directed at medical doctors. Previously such attacks targeted businessmen and local tradesmen. This ‎indicates that various activities were carried out in order to force the Turkmen living in Kirkuk to ‎leave…‎

Unfortunately I am sad to say that so far the perpetrators of these attacks have gotten away. Neither ‎the central government nor the Iraqi parliament has taken any serious measures against the terror ‎attacks and any future attacks directed at Iraqi Turkmen. This is not something we can ignore. ‎

First they kidnapped merchants with money leave which was followed by the kidnapping of medical ‎doctors; now teachers and scientists are being targeted. The perpetrators demand ransom following ‎such kidnappings. The total amount of ransom paid during the past year totals over 4 million dollars; ‎the perpetrators demand different sums such as 250 thousand, 150 thousand, 50 thousand dollars for ‎the persons they have kidnapped. This is going on while the U.S. presence is still there; at least the ‎U.S. tries to maintain minimum stability in the region. After they withdraw the incidents will increase ‎and grow bolder. I have come here to draw your attention to this matter. “‎

I take this opportunity to celebrate the Eid which will take place this weekend and extend my ‎respects. ‎

Speech of Minister of Labor and Social Security Faruk Çelik : ‎

Distinguished Chairman, esteemed members of parliament; I have taken the stand to reply to ‎the statement made by Bursa MP the distinguished Sena Kaleli regarding the problems of ‎seasonal agricultural laborer which were spoken off the agenda. I greet you all with respect. ‎

I start my speech by wishing God’s mercy on our Esteemed Brother the late Harun Çakır and ‎patience to his family. I take this opportunity to commemorate all our martyrs and ‎congratulate our members of parliament on the 88th anniversary of our nation’s republic. ‎

Before I begin my subject speech I want to underline that the subject regarding Iraq, the ‎problems in Iraq and the Turkmen which were the subject of the Esteemed Member of ‎Parliament who spoke a short while earlier is extremely important. Of course we are all aware ‎of the events in Iraq. I serious administration gap process has been experienced and Turkey is ‎making major efforts, significant attempts to overcome this administration gap. Our meetings ‎with Iraq on all levels are continuing and within this framework I want to come to the primary ‎subject and express the following: Turkey has continued to foster relations with all elements in ‎facilitating peace, serenity and brotherhood in Iraq and problems regarding Turkmen have been an ‎absolute item at every meeting. I express my hope that the administration gap does not emerge ‎during the future process.‎

SOURCE: MINUTES OF THE TURKISH GRAND NATIONAL ASSEMBLY ‎

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