-Caveat Lector- 10.04.2003 - 17:44 CET http://www.euobserver.com/index.phtml?sid=9&aid=10897
Kirkuk falls to Kurds, Turkey mobilised The fall of Saddam Hussein has left a power vacuum in the oil-rich city of Kirkuk (Photo: Jan Oberg) EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - Following the fall of the northern Iraqi city of Kirkuk into Kurdish hands, Turkey has announced it will send military observers into the city, and has restated that they will send in troops if necessary. Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gül said, after talks with his US counterpart Colin Powell on Thursday, that Turkey had reminded the US of their promise that Kurdish forces would not control oil-rich Kirkuk after the fall of Saddam Hussein. Mr Gül also announced that Turkey would send military observers into the city to ensure that Kurdish Peshmerga (allied to the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan) withdraw from the city. The Peshmerga entered the city early on Thursday "with some US special forces" a spokesperson for the PUK said. Reports indicate that only a handful of US forces are actually in the city, wrong-footed by the Kurdish forces who entered the city sooner than expected and not in synchronisation with coalition forces, as had been planned. However one US official told the EUobserver that Turkey has been reassured that "US forces are in control." In a sign of how potentially explosive the situation is, Washington is backing limited Turkish involvement but are anxious to play-down military overtones. "We would be happy to have liaison officers accompany some of our units in the interest of transparency" said one US diplomat. It is not clear yet how many observers will be involved or what their role will be. Both the US and Turkey now find themselves in an extremely difficult situation. Ankara fears a Kurdish controlled Kirkuk would fuel Kurdish aspirations to statehood and could potentially envelope the whole of South East Turkey, also a Kurdish area. Turkey's aspirations to enter the European Union hinge on fulfilling a number of political criteria one of which is having good relations with neighbouring countries. A number of EU member states, most notably Belgium, have warned that Turkish accession to the Union would be "unthinkable" if Turkish forces were to enter northern Iraq. The European Union has repeatedly emphasised the need for all countries in the region to respect Iraq's territorial integrity. The US also has to play its hand carefully stopping Turkey acting unilaterally which could lead to clashes between Kurds and Turks, creating a war within a war. But Washington also needs to keep the Kurdish groups on board as they will be a helpful ally in future battles in the north of Iraq and in helping set up an interim administration. Kurds make up approximately 20% of Iraq's population. Press Articles Boston Globe Washington Post Le Monde El Mundo Gazeta Wyborcza RTP Ha'aretz BBC Written by Andrew Beatty Edited by Honor Mahony Forwarded for your information. The text and intent of the article have to stand on their own merits. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. section 107, this material is distributed without charge or profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving this type of information for non-profit research and educational purposes only. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Do not believe in anything simply because you have heard it. Do not believe simply because it has been handed down for many genera- tions. Do not believe in anything simply because it is spoken and rumoured by many. Do not believe in anything simply because it is written in Holy Scriptures. Do not believe in anything merely on the authority of teachers, elders or wise men. Believe only after careful observation and analysis, when you find that it agrees with reason and is conducive to the good and benefit of one and all. Then accept it and live up to it." The Buddha on Belief, from the Kalama Sutra <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/";>www.ctrl.org</A> DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic screeds are unwelcomed. Substance—not soap-boxing—please! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory'—with its many half-truths, mis- directions and outright frauds—is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRLgives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html <A HREF="http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html";>Archives of [EMAIL PROTECTED]</A> http://archive.jab.org/[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ <A HREF="http://archive.jab.org/[EMAIL PROTECTED]/">ctrl</A> ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
