Team Infidel
Forum Spin Doctor
Media: The Associated Press
Byline: By KIM GAMEL
Date: 19 September 2006
Body:
NEW YORK_Turkey's foreign minister warned that a federal system in Iraq that
could lead to autonomous Shiite, Sunni and Kurdish regions could break up
the country and threaten the stability of the region.
"The core of the problem is that if Iraq is divided, definitely there will
be civil war and definitely neighboring countries will be involved in this,"
Abdullah Gul said. "The Middle East can't shoulder this. It's too much."
Iraqi Shiite, Kurdish and Sunni Arab leaders met Monday to discuss a
federalism bill submitted to parliament earlier this month by the largest
Shiite bloc, the United Iraqi Alliance.
Sunni Arabs, who comprise a minority in Iraq but were dominant until Saddam
Hussein's regime was ousted, fear this will split Iraq apart and deprive
them of a share of Iraq's oil riches, which are concentrated in the
Shiite-dominated south and the largely Kurdish north.
"The sectarian violence that is now confronted in Iraq is not only dangerous
for the Iraqis themselves, but it is dangerous for the region and the whole
world," he said during a speech at a breakfast hosted by the American
Turkish Society. "This is why we have to stick with the principles of
territorial integrity and political unity of Iraq.
Gul, who was in New York for the U.N. General Assembly debate that begins
Tuesday, also said such divisions in Iraq would likely stoke anger against
the U.S.-led coalition, which would be blamed for allowing it to happen.
On another issue, the foreign minister defended Turkey's democratic and
economic reforms aimed at promoting its bid to join the European Union.
Turkish leaders have been accused of being reluctant to take steps on the
most contentious issues, notably on the divided island of Cyprus.
Gul pointed out that it was Greek Cypriots who rejected a U.N. peace plan in
a 2004 referendum while the island's Turkish-run region backed
reunification.
"This problem will unfortunately continue if there is no compromise," he
said.
Cyprus has been divided between Turkish and Greek Cypriots since Turkey sent
in troops to the island after a failed coup attempt by supporters of union
with Greece in 1974.
Gul also acknowledged that his country, which would be the only
predominantly Muslim nation in the 25-member bloc, had an image problem.
"We have no misconceptions about the difficulties that lie ahead. It is not
only the task of adjusting our economy and society to European standards,"
he said. "A more worrying obstacle is the larger task of changing the
negative opinions that prevail in certain segments of public opinion in
Europe."
Turkey's progress will be discussed at an EU assembly meeting in a week
ahead of a highly anticipated progress report to be released in October.
Byline: By KIM GAMEL
Date: 19 September 2006
Body:
NEW YORK_Turkey's foreign minister warned that a federal system in Iraq that
could lead to autonomous Shiite, Sunni and Kurdish regions could break up
the country and threaten the stability of the region.
"The core of the problem is that if Iraq is divided, definitely there will
be civil war and definitely neighboring countries will be involved in this,"
Abdullah Gul said. "The Middle East can't shoulder this. It's too much."
Iraqi Shiite, Kurdish and Sunni Arab leaders met Monday to discuss a
federalism bill submitted to parliament earlier this month by the largest
Shiite bloc, the United Iraqi Alliance.
Sunni Arabs, who comprise a minority in Iraq but were dominant until Saddam
Hussein's regime was ousted, fear this will split Iraq apart and deprive
them of a share of Iraq's oil riches, which are concentrated in the
Shiite-dominated south and the largely Kurdish north.
"The sectarian violence that is now confronted in Iraq is not only dangerous
for the Iraqis themselves, but it is dangerous for the region and the whole
world," he said during a speech at a breakfast hosted by the American
Turkish Society. "This is why we have to stick with the principles of
territorial integrity and political unity of Iraq.
Gul, who was in New York for the U.N. General Assembly debate that begins
Tuesday, also said such divisions in Iraq would likely stoke anger against
the U.S.-led coalition, which would be blamed for allowing it to happen.
On another issue, the foreign minister defended Turkey's democratic and
economic reforms aimed at promoting its bid to join the European Union.
Turkish leaders have been accused of being reluctant to take steps on the
most contentious issues, notably on the divided island of Cyprus.
Gul pointed out that it was Greek Cypriots who rejected a U.N. peace plan in
a 2004 referendum while the island's Turkish-run region backed
reunification.
"This problem will unfortunately continue if there is no compromise," he
said.
Cyprus has been divided between Turkish and Greek Cypriots since Turkey sent
in troops to the island after a failed coup attempt by supporters of union
with Greece in 1974.
Gul also acknowledged that his country, which would be the only
predominantly Muslim nation in the 25-member bloc, had an image problem.
"We have no misconceptions about the difficulties that lie ahead. It is not
only the task of adjusting our economy and society to European standards,"
he said. "A more worrying obstacle is the larger task of changing the
negative opinions that prevail in certain segments of public opinion in
Europe."
Turkey's progress will be discussed at an EU assembly meeting in a week
ahead of a highly anticipated progress report to be released in October.