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Yilmaz:
international community Won't recognize Kurdish State
Anadolu
Agency
Oct
19, 200
Mesut Yilmaz said
that if Kirkuk was included in a probable Kurdish federal state contrary to
all historical indicators and if some claims regarding Kirkuk came onto the
agenda, of course Turkey would show the necessary reaction to those
developments.
Yilmaz responded
to questions of reporters in a program broadcast at private Show Tv channel.
Upon a question,
''land units of Turkish Armed Forces have started a cross-border operation.
Are you informed about it? Is this an operation against the region,'' Yilmaz
said, ''there were some measures that we took there previously. I do not think
there is a new situation.''
Asked what their
attitude would be if a Kurdish state was founded in Northern Iraq, Yilmaz
said, ''the Constitution foresees the conditions during which Turkish Armed
Forces will stage cross-border operation. Under our Constitution, we have to
get a permit from the parliament. The government has to apply to the
parliament for a permission. The military measures that Turkey has to take
here do not only aim to prevent some threats, and developments against
national interests as it is thought. We faced some negative developments
during the operation in 1991 like an inflow of immigration to Turkey.''
Yilmaz noted,
''there is a serious Turkmen existence to which Turkey attributes utmost
importance. Protection of security of Turkmen existence in such a political
gap and ensuring them have a right to speak in a probable political solution
are Turkey's priorities. Of course, Turkey can use its military power as well
as its political power to achieve its priorities.''
Upon another
question, Yilmaz stated that if Iraq's territorial integrity was damaged and
if a new ethnic-based independent state was formed in the region, Turkey would
not permit it.
Yilmaz pointed out
that this was not a new thing that Turkey was saying and it was a national
policy of Turkey for years.
''There is a
region where Turkmens are intensively living. If Kirkuk is included in a
probable Kurdish federal state contrary to the historical indicators and if
some claims regarding Kirkuk come onto the agenda, of course Turkey will show
the necessary reaction to these developments,'' Yilmaz said.
When he was
reminded that Barzani clearly said that their final target was an independent
state, Yilmaz said, ''Talabani also made a statement today. He said that 'if a
third country intervenes in Iraq, the United States will prevent it. It
assured us about this issue.' It is not an easy thing to become an indepentent
state.''
Yilmaz added,
''becoming an independent state is not a target to be achieved by only having
the independence will. You may even say that you have founded an independent
state, but if international community does not recognize your independence and
accept your sovereignty, then your independence is worth nothing. Turkey has
stated that it will not recognize a new independent state there. It is not
possible for an independent state which Turkey does not recognize to stand on
its feet there.'' |
