Turkish fears over the demographic structure change of Karkouk
Iraq-Turkey, Politics, 1/28/2005

The Turkish prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan considered that the elections due to be held in Iraq by the end of this month will not be fully democratic.

In a statement on the sideline of Davos Forum, he expected that these elections will not put an end to violence, noting that the boycott of the Arab Sunni population to these elections indicates the negative atmosphere which will prevail in Iraq in the future.

The Turkish foreign minister Abdullah Gul warned earlier of what he considered a worrying inclination by the side of Iraqi Kurds, noting that the elections might be transformed into a referendum for the separation of northern Iraq.

In a message he had sent to the UN secretary general Kofi Annan Gul indicated what he described the attempts to change the demographic structure of Karkouk area through what he said are illegal transportation of Kurds to this area.

On the other hand, the Iraqi foreign minister Hoshiar Zebari rejected what Gul had announced over northern Iraq. He said that the elections are an internal matter and he will not permit foreign intervention.

Previous Stories:
  Turkish demonstrations against war in Iraq   (12/6/2004)
  Turkish army warns against a civil war in Karkouk   (11/3/2004)
  Gul warns against Israel's infiltration in Iraq   (9/30/2004)

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