ANTI-TURKISH FORCES WANT A KIRKUK WITHOUT TURKEY
The recent administrative crisis in Kirkuk, the downing of a Turkish UAV and the subsequent developments have the potential for a conflict that could go beyond the borders of Kirkuk, Baghdad and even Iraq.
The Demographic Structure in the Region is Being Rapidly Changed
The most important problem for Kurdish groups, who have started a major activity in the last 20 years with the support of the US in order to change the population in their favor, is the current Turkish and Arab population in the region. After 2003, more than 600 thousand Kurds were migrated to Kirkuk.
The population of Kirkuk, which was over 800 thousand before the US occupation, has exceeded 1.5 million today. Subcontractor groups in the region are trying to remove Turkmens from almost all of the Kirkuk authorities with the support of the US and Iran.
They Are Trying to Bring Kirkuk to a Fait Accompli
The Kirkuk Provincial Council elections, which were last held in 2005, were held for the first time in 18 years on December 18, 2023.
Despite all the pressure from the US, Iran and the terrorist organization PKK, no party won an overwhelming majority in these elections.
The fact that some of the members of this Provincial Council determined the new governor of the city in a meeting they held in a hotel in the capital Baghdad on August 10 created a great debate in the country.
Rebwar Taha from the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) led by Bafel Talabani was elected as the governor in the vote.
The Iraqi Turkmen Front (ITF) led by Hasan Turan, the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) led by Massoud Barzani and some Arab members reacted to the meeting and announced that they did not find this election legitimate. Without a doubt, this administration will deepen Kirkuk’s political and social problems rather than solve them.
The ITC applied to the Iraqi Supreme Federal Court to have the election annulled on the grounds that it was illegal.
A protest demonstration was held in Kirkuk upon the call of the ITC. Speaking here, ITC President Hasan Turan said that peace and stability could not be achieved in Kirkuk without the Turkmens.
Major Sabotage via Turkish UAV
After these developments, the dark hands did not remain idle and put other plans into action. They shot down a Turkish UAV that was conducting reconnaissance in the region where PKK and ISIS terrorists were located. On the same days, pro-Iran Hashd al-Shaabi militants were deployed in some oil wells in Kirkuk.
Turkey’s historical steps against the PKK in the region and the relations it has developed with the Baghdad administration disturb Iran the most, along with America. The Kirkuk governorship election and the UAV attack are a major sabotage attempt aimed at undermining the security and development projects of the Turkish State in the region. Undoubtedly, Iran and the USA are behind this sabotage. The sole aim of these dark hands is to keep Turkey away from the region.
Iran’s Anti-Turkish Policies
Iran continues to support the PKK terrorist organization without interruption. In an attitude that does not befit neighborly relations, it supports the terrorist organization at every opportunity and opens up space for the organization. For example, terrorist leader Murat Karayılan flees to Iran whenever he is in trouble. The terrorist organization is quite active in Sulaymaniyah with the support of Iran’s extensions. Recently, Iran has been trying to implement a series of provocations to undermine the rapprochement between Iraq and Turkey. Indeed, the connections of the Iraqi general Abdusselam Samudi, who shot down the Turkish UAV, to Iran have also been revealed.
The Iranian lobby in Iraq tries to create all kinds of difficulties for the Turkish state and businessmen wherever the name Turkey is mentioned. The Turkish state, which is aware of all this, is definitely taking the necessary measures. Indeed, Samudi was arrested thanks to Turkey’s initiatives. We recommend Iran, which describes itself as an ancient state and a great game maker, to evaluate the Turks once again and set up the game accordingly. Otherwise, the plays he puts on stage seem to cause him great trouble.
Kirkuk is an Important Part of Turkish History
Kirkuk has an indispensable importance for the Turkish State with its historical heritage, the Turkmen population it sustains and its oil reserves with a capacity of 8.7 billion barrels.
The region first came under Turkish rule in 884 with Ahmed B. Tulun, the founder of the Tulunoğulları Principality, and after the Tulunoğulları, the region was dominated by the Great Seljuks, the Iraqi Seljuks, the Zengids, the Erbil Atabeylik, the Karakoyunlus, the Akkoyunlus and the Ottomans. In short, the region is an important part of Turkish political history and culture.
The Turkish State must be careful and persistent in ensuring the security of the Turkmens and ensuring stability in the regions where the Turkmen population lives.
Kirkuk is too important a city to be left to the initiative of either the polygamous regional government, the subcontractor groups in the region, or Baghdad, which is experiencing ups and downs between Iran and the US. It must definitely have a special status and be under the close supervision of Turkey. Kirkuk is Turkey’s heritage and prestige.
Atatürk University History Department, Faculty Member Assoc. Prof. Dr. Savaş Eğilmez
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