INSTITUT KURD E DE PARIS

Information and liaison bulletin n°322

january 2012 The publication of this Bulletin enjoys a subsidy from the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs (DGCID) aqnd the Fonds d’action et de soutien pour l’intégration et la lutte contre les discriminations (The Fund for action and support of integration and the struggle against discrimination)

This bulletin is issued in French and English Price per issue : France: 6 € — Abroad : 7,5 € Annual subscribtion (12 issues) France : 60 € — Elsewhere : 75 € Monthly review Directeur de la publication : Mohamad HASSAN Numéro de la Commission Paritaire : 659 15 A.S. ISBN 0761 1285

INSTITUT KURDE, 106, rue La Fayette - 75010 PARIS Tel. : 01-48 24 64 64 - Fax : 01-48 24 64 66 www.fikp.org E-mail: bulletin@fikp.org Information and liaison bulletin Kurdish Institute of Paris Bulletin N° 322 January 2012

CONTENTS

• IRAQI KURDISTAN: AN IMPENDING CHANGE IN THE CABINET IN FAVOUR OF THE KDP. • SYRIA: A KURDISH NATIONAL CONGRESS IS FORMED AND A CONFERENCE AT IRBIL. • IRAN: FIERCE POLICE PRESSURE ON THE MEDIA AND THE INDEPENDENT TRADE UNIONS. • HUMAN RIGHTS: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH PUBLISHES ITS 2011 REPORT. • CULTURE: A 75-YEAR-OLD KURD HAS BECOME A RECOGNISED PAINTER IN HOLLAND.

IRAQI KURDISTAN: AN IMPENDING CHANGE IN THE CABINET IN FAVOUR OF THE KDP s arranged during the of Parliament; Kosrat Rasul, Internal Security, is mainly an inter - formation of the joint Number 2 in the PUK, formerly nal PUK problem, political PUK-KDP list (Kurdistan Regional Vice President from 2005 observers and the press were wait - A Alliance), the current to 2009; Imad Ahmed, a former ing to see whether the new govern - Prime Minister of the Deputy prime Minister. ment would reach an agreement Iraqi Kurdistan Region, Barham with the three principal opposition Salih (PUK), will shortly be stepping Having returned from abroad on 15 parties: Goran, the Islamist League down in favour of someone from January, Neçirvan Barzani officially and the Islamic Union (the latter not the KDP, who is none other than his accepted, on 18 January, to again having very good relations with the predecessor, Neçirvan Barzani. head the new cabinet. The KDP PUK). spokesman, Jaffar Ibrahim, In accordance with this agreement, announced that a meeting of the Because of its electoral score, the that lays down a change of positions KDP and PUK leaders would take Kurdish Alliance does not need every two years, Mr. Barzani will place on the 19th to decide on the to do deals with the opposition have to have a PUK man as Deputy rotation of positions and to decide in order to rule. It is, however, in Prime Minister, and it is up to that the nomination of new ministers. Kurdistan as in Iraq, to try and party to chose its candidate. form coalition governments or While the negotiations between the even a “consensus”, either to Several names were rumoured for KDP and PUK should not give rise forestall potential political disor - this post prior to the official nomina - to any major problems apart from der, or to offset criticism from tion: Adnan Mufti, former Speaker the nomination of a Minister for opposing parties of any of the • 2 • Information and liaison bulletin n° 322 • January 2012

leaderships mistakes or to give events in Zakho, in which KIU Other voices in the Islamic the public the impression that premises were burnt in reprisal Union, however, such as the political hegemony of the for the attacks on Christian Salahaddin Babakir, another of two main parties does not pre - shops and villages have not its spokesmen, declared to the vent a certain plurality of opin - improved relations between the daily paper Rudaw that his ions. Hitherto, however, such KDP and the KIU, who accuse party intended remaining in the negotiations have always failed: one another of responsibility for opposition but that the door the opposition parties the disturbances. remained open for negotiations. announced, at first, that they would accept to take part in the Muhammad Ahmed, an Islamic government before withdraw - Union leader thus expressed his Thus, even before his official ing, calling for a “boycott” of reserves about joining the govern - nomination, Neçirvan Barzani ministries on the grounds that ment: “Before these incidents, the had begun a series of visits to the party in office had not car - KDP had asked us to join the gov - leaders of the various opposition ried out the reforms that had ernment, but the incidents have parties, the most important of been promised or had been changed everything”. He then which was Goran. Nevertheless, demanded. The main reason for added: “Unless we are certain that following his meeting on 24 this is more, perhaps, the bad the next government will carry out January, its leader, Nawshirwan relations between the KDP and reforms, it would be useless to Mustafa, announced that it the Islamist parties and recent participate in such a government”. would remain in the opposition.

SYRIA: A KURDISH NATIONAL CONGRESS IS FORMED AND A CONFERENCE AT IRBIL lthough long divided, Observateur Abdul Hakim nic groups and religions. Bashar the Kurds in Syria are Bashar explained that his al-Assad has tried to set us up beginning to get Council wished to be considered against one another, claiming A together and discuss “together with the other minori - that if he fell Islamic terrorists their political plans for ties on an equal footing with the would take over and many, the future of Syria. Arab opposition” and was seek - indeed, believed him. WE are ing support from foreign gov - calling for decentralisation After several months of ernments to this effect. On 15 because it alone can guarantee exchanges and discussions, the and 16 January last, the Kurdish the rights of all the communities bulk of the Kurdish political par - National Council of Syria offi - — decentralisation in a united ties have been able to form a cially presented this demand to Syria. Kurdish National Council that is the President of the Syrian intended to represent the Kurds National Council, Burhan The Alawiites close to al-Assad of Syria to defend their interests Ghalioun. fear they will have to face great and make their demands heard problems if he is deposed. on political and diplomatic level. Asked about the relative moder - However, with decentralisation, ation of the Kurds in the demon - their rights could also be pre - As soon as it was formed, the strations, the leader stated, on served and if the opposition fol - Coucil launched a diplomatic the contrary, that the Kurdish lowed this approach with us offensive in Europe and the regions had organised demon - they would be reassured. Near East. The President of the strations but that the Arab Kurdish National Council of media did not film them. We are also calling for a secular Syria, Abdul Hakim Bashar, vis - State whereas the Arab opposi - ited Paris at the end of January, The main lines of the Kurdish tion is calling for a civilian State. after being invited to London by National Council of Syria’s However, a civilian State does the British Foreign Minister. In demands are for a decentralised not guarantee secularism. France he was able to meet and secular Syria. As Abdul Islamist can also claim to senior officials of the French Hakim Bashar explained: demand a civilian State”. Ministry of Foreign Affairs. “We are calling for a policy of On the issue of specifically Replying to journalist from the decentralisation because Syria is Kurdish demands, the KNCS French weekly Nouvel made up of many different eth - demands: n° 322 • January 2012 Information and liaison bulletin • 3•

- recognition of the Kurdish activists, coming from all coun - Kurdish parties boycotted the people n the Syria Constitution tries, met in Irbil at the invitation meeting that founded the SNC, - abrogation of the racist and of the President of the Kurdistan held in Istanbul last September discriminatory decrees against Region of Iraq to discuss the sit - either from distrust or from hos - the Kurds uation in Syria and to agree on tility towards Turkey. Those - the right to self-determination, common objectives. Kurdish movements that were but within Syria unity. absent then formed their own Amongst the leaders of the Syria Kurdistan National Council but On the issue of the preservation Kurdish parties were indepen - the Kurdish parties as a whole of “Syrian unity”, it involved, as dent public figures and, of remain divided about whether with the Kurds of Iraq, of accept - course, leaders of the parties that to join the SNC. ing the real facts of the situation have joined the Syrian Kurdish imposed on the Kurds and so National Council. Abdul Bast Sayda himself active - forming an Arab-Kurdish associ - ly campaigns to rally as many ation within a decentralised The aims of this conference were Kurds as possible to the SNC State: announced by it chairman, Ali and wishes for “the unification “Why? When Syria was created, Shindin, on the AKnews web of the Syrian and Kurdish this unity was made by force. We site: “The Kurdish leaders will National Councils, envisaging a want to accept the present borders discuss the Kurdish question in future meeting in Irbil, which by free choice. We are the second Syria, how to negotiate with the would, moreover, enable the largest ethnic group in Syria —we Syrian opposition and how to Iraqi Kurds to exercise some make up between 10 and 15% of establish the rights of Kurds in influence on the Syrian question the population and we want to be Syria. The conclusions of this and on the opposition instead of real partner in the country. The conference will then be submit - allowing a free field to Turkey Arabs must stop saying: “this is ted to the opposition group of alone. good — it's bad for the Kurds”. It the Syrian National Council so is not up to them to decide on our that they can negotiate with the However, in his speech to this rights. Unfortunately, so far nego - Kurds in accordance with their conference, Massud Barzani stat - tiations with the Arab opposition presence and their weight both ed that the Kurdistan Region did have been unsuccessful. They say now and in the future”. not wish to “interfere in the that they will concede more after affairs of the Kurds of Syria” but the change of regime but this wor - Indeed, Burhan Ghalion, the that it was just offering help and ries us. We think that if they give head of the Syrian National support for their decisions. us nothing now they’ll give us Council, had visited Irbil at the However he added “on condi - even less tomorrow nor establish beginning of the month to meet tion that you remain united dur - more democracy. Massud Barzani and soothe ing this sensitive period and Kurdish concerns regarding the avoid internal conflicts. The situ - If the Alawiites, the Druses and presence of Arab religious ation is important for us since the Christians are not really movements in the opposition. (Syria) is a neighbouring coun - involved in the Syrian revolu - According to Rudaw, the Syrian try, we have a long with it and tion it is because the opposition had assured the Kurdish over 2 million Kurds live there. has been unable to convince President of his intensions to It is important for us to know them that a change of regime is guarantee the rights of his what its future will be”. The in their interest. Kurdish compatriots in Syria. Kurdish president continued by Abdul-Bast Sayda, a Kurdish saying that “the time of negating Two things will reassure them: member of the Syrian National (the existence of) the Kurds is decentralisation and a clear Council’s Executive, who accom - well past”. political vision that shows that panied Burhan Ghalioun to this the communities are partners. meeting stated that President While not present at the Irbil The Syrian opposition must not Barzani’s attitude to the Syrian conference, the leaders of the just dole out rights but all must National Council “appeared to Syrian National Council never - be involved. This idea that “We change” after this meeting. theless sent a statement in the are dominant and we grant you form of a mea-culpa that was some rights” must be discarded” In fact, the Kurds of Syria com - read out, acknowledging that plain that their demands are “all the political forces in Syria On 28 and 29 January, over 200 neglected or brushed aside by had denied the Kurds their Kurdish political leaders and the Arab opposition and ten rights and support for them had • 4 • Information and liaison bulletin n° 322 • January 2012

not been as much as t it should and by Turkey in support of the be made in the context of Syrian have been”. The SNC called for opposition. Thus UNO could use unity and on the principle of recognition of the Kurdish peo - Chapter VIII of the Charter that decentralisation”. ple as such for granting it its provides all kinds of measures, rights. including military intervention, Saadeddin Mullah, a member of in the event of threats to peace of the Syrian Patriotic Union of In its final declaration, the aggression against a country. Kurdistan, also supported the Syrian forces’ violence against idea of a referendum, in which demonstrators was attacked and Hamad Darwish, secretary of the the options would be “decentral - the importance of cooperation Syrian Kurdish Progressive isation, autonomy or federal - between the Kurds in and out - Party also supported calling on ism”. side Syrian stressed. UNO: “If the Arab League can - not impose its solutions the issue As for Jawad al-Mullah, a leader Despite this, those taking part should pass on to the Security of the Kurdish National remained divided on several Council, that cannot remain a Congress, he supported an points, starting with the issue of simple spectator of what it hap - autonomous government in foreign military intervention in pening in this country”. Syria, more along the lines of Syria. Thus Jawad Mella, the Iraqi Kurdistan: “However, as General Secretary of the Kurdish The Kurdistan Democratic Party, for the moment, the political National Congress called for the however, expressed its reserva - parties are not agreed amongst creation of an autonomous gov - tions on this question, as themselves, it would be better to ernment in Syria and said he expressed by its leader Abdul leave this issue to be dealt with was in favour of foreign inter - Hakim Bashar: “It is too early to after the regime has fallen. There vention to drive out Bashar al- talk about international inter - will then be a referendum to Assad. vention. I think that we should determine whether the Kurds seek a national solution before wish to remain in the Syrian “International intervention is the any international pressure in the framework or opt for their inde - only solution because we have political and economic fields or pendence”. already had the experience of those of media or diplomacy”. Saddam Hussein who would For his part, Hamid Darwish, never have fallen without exter - On the issue of self-determina - secretary of the Kurdish nal intervention”, he stated to tion for the Syrian Kurds, the Progressive Party of Syria, reject - AFP. “The Syrian Baath has a President of the Kurdish ed the model of a brad autono - similar character to the Iraqi National Council of Syria, Abdul my such as exists in Iraqi Baath and nothing can eliminate hakim Bashar, repeated what he Kurdistan: “We will not secure it but external intervention. It’s had said in Paris about decen - the same things as the Iraqi the only solution”. Saadeddin al- tralisation within a united Syria, Kurds, because the circum - Mulla, a leader of the and said he was in favour of a stances are different. We are Democratic Party, pointed out referendum on the subject: “It is demanding that our national that foreign intervention was up to the Kurdish people to rights be written into the already taking place in Syria — decide what it wants and its Constitution and that they be by Iran, in support of the regime right of self-determination will approved by our Arab brothers”.

IRAN: FIERCE POLICE PRESSURE ON THE MEDIA AND THE INDEPENDENT TRADE UNIONS n 2 January, the blog and kept in solitary confinement activists for peace, feminism or writer Rojin Mohemmedi in N°2 square of Evin Prison, human rights — and bloggers. was released from Evin which is controlled by the Army O Prison (Teheran). She of the Guards of the Islamic Ronak Saffarzadeh is a Kurdish had been in detention Revolution (IRGC). feminist activist, who recently since 23 November 2011, took part in the campaign of “A accused of propaganda against However, the pressures, intimi - million signatures for the abroga - the regime. A medical student in dations, arrests ad arbitrary sen - tion of laws that discriminate manila, she had been arrested at tencing are continuing in Iran, against women”. She is also a Teheran airport on her return aimed in particular against member of an association working n° 322 • January 2012 Information and liaison bulletin • 5•

on teaching Kurdish women to Republic”. His wife, interviewed not Zanyar and a few young men read their mother tongue, the by the daily Zamaneh, pointed who did this. All the people of Azar Mehr Kurdish Women’s out that in 54 months she had Marwan know that these recent Society. On 8 October 2008, she not received permission to visit murders are only due to the was arrested by the security him and that for 2 years all indi - regime and nothing to do with forces for distributing leaflets vidual visits to him were forbid - these young men”. calling for Kurdish language den. Muhammad Sediq education and denouncing the Kaboudvand is in a poor physi - Similarly Loghman Moradi’s practice of “honour crimes” on cal condition and needs some father, Osman Moradi, confirmed the occasion of International surgical operations both on the the tardy manner of these Children’s Day. The authorities heart and the prostate. charges: “For the first 9 months came to arrest her at her home, of his detention by the intelli - searching the house and confis - The Supreme Court, moreover, gence services there were no cating all he things. After a year confirmed the death sentences charges of murder on the charge and a half detention, she was passed on two Kurdish political sheet. Even later, for the 7 finally, sentenced to 6 years and prisoners, according to local months in which he was in 7 months imprisonment by the sources relayed by the prison, nothing was said about first Sanandaj Revolutionary International Campaign for this. Then they took him back to Court on 13 April 2009. She was, Human Rights in Iran. On 22 the Intelligence Ministry again however, found Not Guilty of December 2010, Zanyar Moradi and kept him there for 25 days. the principal charge of and Loghman Moradi, detained He was tortured and ill-treated to “moharabeh” or “enemy of in Mariwan’s Rajaee Shahr such an extent that he acknowl - God” which would have meant Prison was sentenced to death edged the murder. I mean that he a death sentence. Nevertheless by the 15th chamber of the admitted it to escaped that situa - she was found guilty of mem - Teheran Revolutionary Court, tion. They needed 17 months to bership of PJAK and of “propa - charged with “moharebeh” secure this confession”. ganda against the regime”. In (enmity to God) and for the mur - August 2009 the Court of Appeal der of the Marwan Iman. In general, any form or opposi - confirmed the whole of her sen - tion or protest, be it social or tence and sent her to the Having been allowed to speak political, incurs the regime’s Sanandaj Central Prison, briefly to his family by phone, anathema, which has not weak - amongst criminal prisoners Loghman Moradi confirmed this ened the hardness of its repres - instead of political prisoners, sentence, adding that since he sion. The Kurdish regions, like all which put her life in danger. had only been told this orally those that house large numbers of Ronak Saffarzadeh was attacked and not in writing, he still hoped ethnic minorities, are particularly and wounded several times that t was just an attempt to targeted. Thus on 31 January, there. intimidate him. The lawyer for Human Rights Watch attacked both prisoners also expressed his the arrest of several dozens of Another Human Rights activist, surprise on learning about these Trade Unionists in Teheran, in the Muhammad Sediq Kabudvand, sentences. Loghman Moradi and Province of Kurdistan and in the was transferred to the hospital of Zanyar Moradi had previously city of Tabriz. Evin prison, where he had been confirmed in letters they had detained for the previous 5 been able to send that all their “Independent Trade Unions have years. M. S. Kabudvand was confessions had been extorted played a major role in the protec - arrested in 2007 and sentenced under torture. tion of workers under Mahmud to 10 years imprisonment for Ahmadinjad’s presidency” “breaches of national security”, Speaking about the charge of mur - explained Joe Stork, responsible for having founded and run the dering the Mullah of Marwan’s for the Middle East at HRW. Kurdistan Human Rights son, Zanyar\s father listed the “These recent arrests are a contin - Defence Organisation. He was irregularities and very artificial uation of a long and revolting tra - also the chief editor of the week - aspects of the case: “My son was dition that targets these indepen - ly Payam-e Mardom, a Kurdish- arrested 20 months ago and it was dent trade unions to ensure total Persian bi-lingual weekly, which only 17 months later that he was State control of these groups”. dealt with political, social and only charged with murder and cultural issues. He got an extra terrorism. However, all the people Any opposition to this repres - sentence of one year for “propa - of Marwanand even the victim’s sion leads to other legal mea - ganda against the Islamic family know full well that it was sures. Thus an eminent trade • 6 • Information and liaison bulletin n° 322 • January 2012

union activist of Sine (Sanandaj, Free Workers of Iran. The latter Prosecutor’s office to enquire in Kurdistan) was arrested as was arrested after he had gone into the fate of two other trade well as a leader of the Union of to the Sanandaj’s Public unionists earlier in the month.

HUMAN RIGHTS: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH PUBLISHES ITS 2011 REPORT

he annual report of the Freedom of expression, associa - In Iran, the Kurds are paying a NGO, Human Rights tion and assembly are too often high price under the legal and watch, for the year flouted using accusations of “ter - penal repression, which is gener - T 2011 highlights, for rorism” to intimidate, legally al throughout the country but is Turkey, the contradic - harass, or jail journalists, publish - more particularly aimed at tions between Turkey’s foreign ers, NGOs and academics: minorities. In October 2011, policy that: “endeavours to pro - “Prosecutors frequently start pro - early 20 Kurds were in the mote Turkey’s regional interests ceedings against individuals for “death rows” awaiting execu - in response to the pro-democra - non-violent speeches or writings. tion. The majority of those found cy movements of the Arab Politicians sue their critics for guilty of offending opinions, be Spring” while “human rights “defamation”. The courts pass they political, feminist or human have suffered setbacks within its sentences without taking the pro - rights activists run the risk of own borders. Since 2005, reforms tection of freedom of expression being trial as “enemies of God”, in favour of human rights are no sufficiently into account. A com - which is punishable by death. longer the government’s priori - plete revision of all the laws ty. Freedom of expression and restricting freedom of expression Discrimination against minori - association are attacked by legal remains pending”. The report also ties also covers religious minori - proceedings and by the jailing of recalls the arrest of journalists like ties, which also affects the Kurds journalists, writers, and certain Ahmet Sik and Nedim Sener, aca - who are largely Sunni or varsan. Kurdish political activists”. demics like Busra Ersanh and the In general “the government publisher Ragip Zarakolu. restricts political or cultural Despite the political changes being activities throughout the coun - planned with a view to resolving The wave of imprisonment try, against the Azeris, the the Kurdish question, announced launched against the Union of Kurds, the Arabs and the with great flourish in 2009, the Kurdistan Communists Baluchs. These restrictions also issues of human rights and those of (KCK/TM) in April 2009 “was cover any organisation commit - minorities have regressed since intensified in 2011 and directed at ed to social issues”. 2005, the NGO added. There has the pro-Kurdish Peace and been a growth in armed violence Democracy Party (BDP) although Finally, HRW assessed the effect and a renewal of PKK attacks on the latter was a perfectly legal of Iranian and Turkish military the Army and the police on the one party. Hundreds of people are in operations that, in the course of hand and the renewal of Turkish preventive detention and thou - 2011 “have killed at least 10 peo - bombing of Iraqi Kurdistan against sands face trial for terrorism fol - ple, wounded a dozen others guerrilla bases, which have not lowing a whole series of arrests of and forced the displacement of taken place since 2008. members and officials of the BDP hundreds of civilians”. (which won 36 seats in the June Civilians have also suffered from 2011 general elections) — always The Human Rights situation is armed violence. Two bomb attacks on the grounds of links with the clearly better in Iraqi Kurdistan, in Ankara and in Siirt, respectively KCK”. even though some demonstra - claimed by the TAK group (an ille - tions took place in Suleimaniah gal armed movement disavowed HRW also noted that nearly 15,000 resulting in at least 10 deaths by the PKK) and by the PKK Internet sites are still blocked in and over 250 injured. caused 5 deaths. HRW notes, “The Turkey, “either for pornographic non-resolution of the Kurdish ques - content or for pro-Kurdish or On 20 April, the Regional tion remains the biggest obstacle to other political content, the deci - Government of Kurdistan “pub - progress in progress regarding sion for this being either by the lished a 19-page report that estab - human rights in Turkey”. Courts or by the Ministry of lished that the security forces and Telecommunications”. demonstrators were responsible n° 322 • January 2012 Information and liaison bulletin • 7•

for the violence and that the Another problem, specific to certain In Syria, armed violence is forces “had not been prepared for regions of Iraqi Kurdistan is that of spreading over most of the coun - controlling the situation”. the excision of young girls that can try. Hitherto the Kurdish areas affect 40% of them depending on have been the least affected. However the principal criticism localities. However, on 21 June the Citizenship has been granted to of the KRG made by the NGO Kurdistan Parliament passed a law the “stateless” Kurds of the was the treatment of the press by against domestic violence that Jezirah, but if the state of emer - the security forces. The journalists includes several measures making gency has been lifted, “the regularly complain of arbitrary this practice a criminal offence, bloody repression taking place arrests, blows, harassment and along with forced marriages or shows the determination of the threats to confiscate equipment, marriage of children, verbal, physi - government to crush dissidence particularly during demonstra - cal or psychological abuse of and to reject any reform that tions they were covering women and girls. could diminish its authority”.

CULTURE: A 75-YEAR-OLD KURD HAS BECOME A RECOGNISED PAINTER IN HOLLAND hanim Amen, nick - attracted, in her childhood, by several local artistic activities and named Haji Khanem handicrafts: weaving, pottery and then began to expose her work. by the Kurds, is also interior decoration. However, her K called “the lady of father having forbidden any for - Her first professional exhibition Colours" by Dutch mal training, she was married at took plave in 2005 and she has gallery owners n English. Born sixteen and only learned to read since exposed work in art gal - in Suleimaniah, in 1939, she has much later, at the age of forty, in leries and cultural centres. In become, at the age of 75, a recog - adult education classes, while November 2011, her pictures nised fainter in Holland, particu - working as a midwife and nurse, were exposed in a London art larly in Amsterdam, where she and weaving carpets that were gallery. A BBC programme was is now living. sold at festivals. devoted to her work last December and the programme Haji Khanem did not seem des - Arriving in Holland as a refugee has since been widely spread tined, at first, for an artistic after the First Gulf War, in 1991, over Internet both in the Anglo- career, even though she was she learnt Dutch and took part in American and Kurdish press. Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Ôzeti

Observateur 3 janvier 2012

La Turquie versera des réparations aux familles des 35 Kurdes tués

La Turquie paiera des réparations aux

familles de 35 contrebandiers Les corps des kurdes, confondus avec des rebelles et X personnes x tués mercredi lors d'un raid aérien près tuées le 29

de la frontière irakienne, a annoncé décembre

lundi 2 janvier le vice-Premier ministre V 2011 dans la rt turc Bulent Arinc. province turque de "Les réparations vont être versées 1A

d'ici deux jours", a déclaré Bulent Arinc Sirnak trans¬

à la télévision en rendant compte d'une portés à bord

réunion du gouvernement. Cependant, d'un camion

a-t-il précisé, le gouvernement ne pré¬ (AFP)

sentera pas "officiellement" ses excuses.

Bulent Arinc a assuré que cet inci¬

dent n'était pas dû à un acte intention¬ colère ont enterré les victimes du bom¬ tés et rassemblements terroristes sont

nel et qu'une enquête avait été ouverte bardement et ont conspué Recep Tayyip intenses", a déclaré Bulent Arinc.

sur une éventuelle négligence qui aurait Erdogan, le qualifiant de meurtrier. D'après les informations dont dispo¬

été commise par l'armée. Le gouvernement turc a reconnu saient l'armée, un groupe d'une cin¬

"Il est absolument hors de question une erreur militaire tandis que l'armée a quantaine de personnes voyageaient

que l'incident ait été intentionnel. déclaré avoir bombardé la zone sur la avec des mules susceptibles de trans¬

Cependant, bien qu'il n'ait pas été inten¬ base de renseignements selon lesquels porter des armes, a ajouté le vice-pre¬

tionnel, des investigations sont en cours des rebelles du Parti des travailleurs du mier ministre.

sur une éventuelle négligence", a-t-il dit. Kurdistan (PKK) allaient s'infiltrer en Le groupe ne s'est pas arrêté en

Cette bavure inédite a provoqué une Turquie. dépit des tirs d'artillerie. C'est alors que

vague de protestations des milieux pro¬ "Les citoyens tués sont des civils les avions ont bombardé la région, selon

kurdes qui ont crié au "massacre". mais il faut savoir que (l'armée) réalise Bulent Arinc.

Erdogan, "meurtrier" des opérations transfrontalières dans Le Nouvel Observateur avec AFP

Vendredi, des milliers de Kurdes en cette région. C'est une zone où les activi

3 janvier 2012

militairement. Le Premier ministre iran-israël Des frappes israélien Benyamin Nétanyahou ne veut pas laisser le sort d'Israël dépen¬ pour le printemps ? dre d'une action américaine", continue le journaliste.

Un édito du Washington Post et les déclarations des dirigeants "Le président Obama et Leon Panetta israéliens relancent les spéculations sur une prochaine intervention ont prévenu les Israéliens que les israélienne en Iran. Les Américains semblent déjà résignés. Etats-Unis s'opposaient à une attaque,

pensant que cela va à rencontre des Hamdam Mostafavi sanctions internationales de plus en

Courrier international plus efficaces et des autres efforts non-

militaires pour arrêter l'Iran. Mais la

Lia plus grande inquiétude du secré¬ Maison Blanche n'a pas encore décidé

taire d'Etat américain à la Défense, comment les Etats-Unis répondraient

Leon Panetta, réside dans la possibilité si les Israéliens attaquent. Le gou¬

croissante d'une attaque israélienne vernement américain semble vouloir contre l'Iran ces prochains mois", rester en dehors du conflit, sauf si

affirme l'éditorialiste David Ignatius l'Iran s'attaque directement à des dans le Washington Post, dans un arti¬ intérêts américains." cle paru le 2 février. "Panetta pense qu'il est hautement probable qu'Israël bombe nucléaire. Très bientôt, les Côté israélien, les dirigeants font à attaque l'Iran en avril, mai ou juin, Iraniens auront enfoui assez nouveau monter la pression. Le min¬ avant que les Iraniens entrent dans ce d'uranium enrichi dans des installa¬ istre de la Défense Ehoud Barak a que les Israéliens décrivent comme tions souterraines pour pouvoir réalis¬ déclaré jeudi 2 février que "tout ceux une 'zone d'immunité' où ils auront er une arme et alors, seuls les Etats- qui pensent 'plus tard' vont sans doute déjà commencé à construire une Unis, seront capables de les arrêter se rendre compte que 'plus tard', ce Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Ôzeti

sera 'trop tard'". Dans le Yediot sommes en plein milieu d'une rhé¬ vier, et reviendront du 20 au 21 févri¬ Arahonot, l'éditorialiste Alex Fishman torique guerrière, qui ne fait que mon¬ er] soit le premier signe de l'existence

considère que l'année 2012 sera ter. Pourtant, arrêter le programme d'un dialogue secret." "l'année de la décision", reprenant les nucléaire iranien ne passe pas néces¬ propos de Benny Gantz, chef d'Etat- sairement par le bombardement de Le blog iranien Mikhak, animé par un major de l'armée israélienne. Fishman dizaines de sites iraniens. Face à la collectif de journalistes anonymes, ne rappelle que selon Barak, "la fenêtre pression économique efficace, il fau¬ favorise ni la guerre ni les sanctions. Il

pour attaquer l'Iran se referme peu à dra ouvrir la possibilité d'une sorte de souligne que les sanctions pèsent en

peu". Selon le journaliste, "certains dialogue secret avec l'Iran. Il est très premier lieu sur la population. Celles affirment que cette fenêtre n'est que de probable que l'invitation des Iraniens qui avaient été appliquées contre

quelques mois, alors que des observa¬ envers les inspecteurs de l'Agence l'Irak pendant des années n'ont pas teurs plus prudents parlent de 18 internationale de l'énergie atomique affecté le dictateur Saddam Hussein,

mois. Quoi qu'il en soit, le compte à [qui ont visité les installations mais les Irakiens, rappelle-t-il.

rebours a déjà commencé. Nous nucléaires iraniennes du 29 au 31 jan

LE FIGARO Ankara et Téhéran mesurent jeudieudi S5 janvier]; 2012 leurs désaccords

Le ministre turc des Affaires étrangères est en Iran LAURE MARCHAND ISTANBUL pour évoquer les dossiers qui fâchent.

MOYEN-ORIENT L'Irak, la Syrie, le nu¬ (i cléaire... Les contentieux entre Ankara lï I -> et Téhéran, symptomatiques de leur ri¬ Mahmoud valité régionale, s'amoncellent et ils Ahmadineiad sont au programme de la visite de deux (à gauche) et Ahmet jours qu'Ahmet Davutoglu effectue en Davutoglii Iran. Arrivé hier dans la République is¬ ^ (à droite) lamique, le ministre des Affaires étran¬ lors d'une gères turc a prévu d'évoquer les dossiers rencontre - qui fâchent avec les autorités iranien¬ \ à Téhéran, nes, au moment où l'Occident fait à J en juillet nouveau pression sur le programme nu¬ dernier. cléaire iranien et où l'Iran menace de EPA/MAXPPP fermer le détroit d'Ormuz. Motivant ce -$ déplacement par son souci « d'empê¬ i cher une guerre froide au Moyen- Orient » , le chef de la diplomatie turque a déclare, avant de s'envoler pour Té¬ ' protège toujours, sont sources de fric¬ héran, que « des tensions interconfes- tion. Les Turcs grignotent également, sionnélles seraient un suicide pour la ré¬ lentement mais sûrement, l'influence gion». sur lequel il se trouve aux antipodes avec iranienne sur le Hamas : pour son pre¬ son voisin, est la crise en Irak. C'est le mier voyage à l'étranger depuis l'arrivée Frictions sur la Syrie nouveau terrain d'affrontement entre les au pouvoir à Gaza du mouvement isla¬

Dans un espace géographique en proie à deux puissances régionales, la sunnite et miste palestinien en 2007, Ismaël Ha- de profonds bouleversements, les Turcs la chiite. Depuis le retrait des soldats niyeh, le chef du gouvernement du Ha¬

cherchent à la fois à placer leurs pions américains, le 18 décembre,. l'Iran re¬ mas, se trouvait mardi à Ankara. Il a été dans la nouvelle donne moyen-orienta¬ prend la main et la politique de plus en accueilli par les applaudissements nour¬ le et à maintenir l'Iran dans le jeu diplo¬ plus autoritaire du premier . ministre ris du groupe parlementaire du Parti de . matique pour empêcher les risques de Nouri'al-Maliki, un chiite plus que ja¬ la justice et du développement (AKP) au

conflits qui peuvent suivre de nombreu- . mais sous influence de Téhéran, relance pouvoir et a posé main dans la main avec

ses lignes de fracture - entre les sunnites le spectre d'une guerre multiconfession- le premier ministre Erdogan devant les et les chiites, l'Iran et la Turquie, les al¬ nelle. Le vice-président Tareq al-Ha- objectifs. liés régionaux des États-Unis, les pays chémi, un sunnite soutenu par la Tur¬ Enfin, le système antimissile de quie, est accusé par al-Maliki d'avoir l'Otan, dont une partie a été installée sur orchestré des attentats. Visé par un le territoire turc et qui devrait être mise Depuis le retrait mandat d'arrêt, il s'est réfugié au Kur¬ en service incessamment, non loin de la des soldats américains, frontière iranienne, cristallise le mé¬ distan irakien et Ankara a proposé de contentement de la République islami¬ le 18 décembre, l'accueillir. Concernant le soulèvement que. À la fin de l'année dernière, des of¬ l'Iran reprend la main en Syrie, les divergences entre le gou¬ ficiels iraniens avaient déclaré que la ' - ¥ vernement islamo-conservateur turc, destruction du radar serait la priorité de qui appelle régulièrement Bachar el-As¬ arabes... L'exercice est complexe. l'armée si leur pays était menacé d'une sad à quitter le pouvoir, et l'Iran, qui le Pour Ankara, le dossier le plus urgent, « attaque extérieure » . Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Ôzeti

XelHonde

Mardi 3 janvier 2012

Crise nucléaire : l'Iran est menacé d'un embargo international sur ses ventes de pétrole

Le régime de Téhéran a tiré un missile de moyenne portée/et menace de bloquer le détroit d'Ormuz en représailles à des sanctions d'une ampleur inédite visant ses ressources en devises

Menacé de sanctions inter¬ mements aux pays sunnites du ment d'urgence, apportant des des sanctions de moindre ampleur nationales touchant au Golfe, comme l'illustre lafournitu¬ arguments à ceux qui jugent que apparaît épuisée. c de son économie, à re de 84 avions bombardier F-15 à le moment est venu de passer à un Pour éviter de grosses perturba¬ savoir ses exportations de pétrole, l'Arabie Saoudite. registre supérieur en matière de tions sur les prix mondiaux du . l'Iran cherche à désamorcerla pres¬ Pressés par Israël de resserrer sanctions. brut, les Occidentaux semblent sion à la fois en agitant la menace l'étau économique sur Téhéran Un embargo international sur espérer que l'Arabie Saoudite, avec . de ses capacités de représailles, et avant que les travaux nucléaires ira¬ les importations de pétrole iranien ses capacités d'exportations inuti¬ en brandissant de nouvelles offres niens franchissent certaines lignes est ainsi en préparation. Les res¬ lisées, pourra être mise à contribu¬ de dialogue avec les grandes puis¬ rouges, les Occidentaux ne peu¬ ponsables français; qui travaillent tion. On juge par ailleurs que l'Iran aura du mal atténuer le choc des sances. vent pas exclure que l'Etat juif-où activement à une telle campagne, Le régime de Téhéran a procédé, se poursuit un débat interne sur souhaitée par Israël, disent avoir nouvelles sanctions en se tour¬ dimanche f'janvier, à un tir de l'opportunité de frappes militaires bon espoir d'entraîner sur cette nant encore plus vers le marché missile sol-air de moyenne portée contre des sites iraniens -décide en voie l'ensemble des pays dé chinois. Pékin, qui achète 22 % des près du détroit d'Ormuz, un passa¬ 2012 de passer à l'action. Le minis- l'Union européenne (UE), dès la fin exportations iraniennes, voudra ge par lequel transite une partie janvier. La stratégie consiste à bâtir éviter d'apparaître trop dépen¬ majeure du trafic pétrolier mon¬ La Russie est braquée une coalition de pays volontaires, dant d'un seul fournisseur. dial, et que l'Iran menace d'étran¬ sans passerparle Conseil de sécuri¬ Toutefois, la Chine continuera gler si ses ventes d'hydrocarbures contre la stratégie té, où le double blocage russe et de représenter un grand « trou » sont entravées. De la. «gesticula¬ des Occidentaux, chinois semble incontournable. dans le dispositif des sanctions en tion verbalei>, minimise-t-on de L'effort diplomatique porte à ce préparation. De même que la Tur¬ source diplomatique occidentale. qu'elle accuse d'aller stade sur la création d'un « bloc » quie, dont 51 % du pétrole importé L'élément déclencheur de cette au-delà du traitement rassemblant l'UE, le Japon et la provient d'Iran. Les récentes ten¬ nouvelle montée des tensions Corée du Sud, dont les achats de sions diplomatiques entre Paris et dans le Golfe a été la signature, de la crise nucléaire brut iranien représentent ensem¬ Ankara n'ont rien fait pour samedi 31 décembre 2011, par ble environ 17% des revenus du convaincre le gouvernement turc Barack Obama, d'une loi permet¬ tre israélien de la défense, Ehoud gouvernement de Téhéran. En de se rallier à la politique souhai- [ tant auxEtats-Unis de bloquer l'ac¬ Barak, avait indiqué, en novembre, Europe, cepehdant, il faut encore tée par l'Elysée sur l'Iran. .

cès à leur système financier de tou¬ qu'une échéance de l'ordre de neuf lever certaines réticences. L'Italie La Russie apparaît pour sa part

te banque étrangère traitant avec mois devait être prise en compte, craint pour sa firme Etàl, qui a des très braquée contre la stratégie des la Banque centrale iranienne. au-delà de laquelle un point de non- intérêts en Iran. La Grèce se procu¬ Occidentaux, qu'elle accuse d'aller

La force de frappe de cette loi à retour pourrait être atteint. re du brut iranien à crédit. L'Alle¬ bien au-delà du traitement de la

caractère extraterritorial est mani¬ Le même mois, un rapport de magne est d'accord pour cesser les crise nucléaire, en visant à terme festement redoutée par le pouvoir l'Agence internationale de l'éner¬ achats de pétrole iranien, mais elle le changement de régime en Iran. iranien, qui se livre à une surenchè¬ gie atomique détaillant les recher¬ juge qu'une autre mesure prônée Moscou avait proposé à l'été 2011 re de manoeuvres militaires, dans chés iraniennes sur la fabrication par la France - le gel des avoirs de un compromis comportant un gel

un contexte où les Etats-Unis d'ùneogive nucléaire et des tests la Banque centrale iranienne - va- de l'accroissement des sanctions intensifient leurs livraisons d'ar d'explosifs, avait renforcé le senti- trop loin, en visant unattribut fon¬ contre un gel iranien de l'enrichis¬ damental de l'Etat. sement d'uranium à 20 %. De nouvelles mesures de restriction américaines L'arme pétrolière contre l'Iran Une solution qui semble avoir avait déjà été évoquée, il y a plu¬ intéressé dans un premier temps

Le président Barack Obama a à six mois, a précisé un haut res¬ sieurs années, mais sans être rete¬ l'équipe Obama, avant que celle-ci

signé, le 31 décembre 2011, un ponsable de l'administration nue par les Occidentaux, de peur ne' renonce, face aux messages sans ambiguïté envoyés par Israël. texte de loi sur le financement Obama. Les institutions pénali¬ qu'elle mène à une flambée des

du budget de la défense compre¬ sées seront «gelées » sur les cours dubrut surles marchés mon¬ La France aussi était vent debout

nant de nouvelles sanctions frap¬ marchés financiers américains. diaux, et que la République islami¬ contre l'offre russe, y voyant trop

pant les institutions financières Ce texte de loi vise, grâce aux que se livre à une série de repré¬ de concessions aux Iraniens:

engagées dans des transactions sanctions contre Téhéran, à sailles déstabilisatrices pour l'en¬ Israël a fait savoir qu'un des fac¬ teurs déclencheur d'une action avec la Banque centrale iranien¬ réduire les revenus pétroliers de semble du Moyen-Orient.

ne. Ces mesures punitives l'Iran tout en donnant au prési¬ Ces appréhensions n'ont pas dis¬ militaire pourrait être l'imminen¬

concernent aussi bien les établis¬ dent américain le pouvoir de paru. La différence, aujourd'hui, ce d'un transfert d'uranium enrichi

sements bancaires privés que lever les pénalités à la demande. tient au constat occidental que la ver le site nucléaire iranien de For- dow. Creusé dans une montagne ceux contrôlés par l'Etat, y com¬ Cette loi prévoit par ailleurs un fenêtre se réduit dangereusement

pris les banques centrales. Elles financement du département de pour la diplomatie, d'autant que près de Qom, celui-ci serait difficile

entreront en vigueur après une la défense à hauteur de 662 mil¬ les Etats-Unis sont entrés en cam¬ à détruire par voie aérienne.

période d'avertissement de deux liards de dollars. - (Reuters.) pagne électorale, et que la gamme Natalie Nougayrède Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Ozeti

2 JANUARY 2012 (Chicago (Tribune

Blocs pursue short-term

fixes for Iraq political crisis

Residents demand to put on r>i. -t Suadad al-Salhy trial Iraq's Vice-President

r-

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Looking to ' demonstration outside the m ^ step back from the brink, Iraq's headquarters ofDiyala local '-^*5> fractious political blocs are working government in central

on short-term solutions to cool a crisis Baquba, about 65 km (40 that threatened a slide back into secta¬ miles) northeast of Baghdad

rian strife, but fundamental diffe¬ (STRINGER1RAQ, rences may be left to smolder. à" REUTERS I December 20, Political leaders from Sunni 2011) Muslim, Shi'ite Muslim and Kurdish factions are looking to a national H conference this month and the courts "It is not expected that this confe¬ their bloc, seeking a majority govern¬

to defuse hostilities triggered when rence will offer anything new, but it ment. Shi'ite Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki offers an acceptable reason for Iraqiya "The majority government is one called for the arrest of Sunni Vice leaders to end their boycott and save of the options, not the only one, and President Tareq al-Hashemi after the face," the lawmaker said. not the current solution," said Kamal last U.S. troops left. For the moment, Iraqiya's boycott al-Sadi, a senior leader in Maliki's "People are talking about dialogue. of parliament stands and suggestions Dawa party. It does look like calm and wisdom are for early elections ~ not due until Maliki could also face opposition prevailing. 1 think we have stepped 2014 and other measures for long- within his own bloc, where some fac¬ back," said one Western diplomat. term change are not gaining traction. tions appeared to be using the crisis to The outcome of the crisis has Whether Iraqiya's boycott survives push for a new prime minister or to wider implications in a region where may become apparent on Tuesday negotiate for posts or other benefits. Syria's anti-government upheaval is when parliament is due back from a Maliki's move against Hashemi taking on a sectarian tone and Shi'ite recess and Maliki's cabinet convenes and his demand that parliament dump power Iran, Sunni Arab Gulf nations its regular weekly meeting. Deputy Prime Minister Saleh al- and Turkey to Iraq's north are all jost¬ Last week, two Iraqiya Sunni Mutlaq, another Sunni leader, sparked ling to extend their influence. ministers, including Finance Minister Iraq's worst political crisis in a year. At stake in Baghdad is the survival Rafie al-Esawi, boycotted the cabinet The Shi'ite leader has presented of an uneasy power-sharing govern¬ and four were absent with excuses, Iraqiya with a challenge to sideline ment among Maliki's Shi'ite alliance, but two others attended, highlighting Hashemi, one of its senior leaders, or Sunni-backed Iraqiya and the Kurdish the longstanding schism in the bloc. lose its sway in government. Iraqiya blocs that divides up ministries and A senior Shi'ite lawmaker said may ultimately have to decide whe¬ posts but has struggled to work, Sunday he was leaving the bloc over ther it stays together or splinters, and hamstrung by deep mistrust. dissatisfaction with its leaders' deci¬ cracks have already appeared. In two apparent gestures over the sion-making and handling of the Iraq's crisis could still go two past two days to calm the atmosphere, Hashemi crisis, joining 1 1 other ways: pulling back from the abyss Maliki appealed for political stability Iraqiya lawmakers who have departed once again or falling into deeper tur¬ and parliament speaker Osama al- in the last three months. moil that shatters the frail cross-secta¬ Nujaifi called on Iraqis to "build the "Iraqiya is really divided, broken," rian government and renews bloods¬ present and the future with one heart said a senior Sunni leader in the bloc. hed after the mid-December withdra¬ and one hand." "All (its leaders) want is to go back to wal of the last U.S. forces. The rival blocs appear to have their jobs. Maliki humiliated Iraqiya ISLAMIST INSURGENTS agreed to attend the conference later (leaders) and now they are ready to The rising tensions could unravel this month proposed by Nujaifi, a sacrifice Hashemi." Iraq's U.S.-backed democratic experi¬ Sunni, and President Jalal Talabani, a If some Iraqiya ministers quit, ment as the country's still-rebuilding Kurd, and to let the courts resolve others within the bloc may be ready security forces grapple with a weake¬ Maliki's allegations that Hashemi ran to claim their jobs, strengthening ned but still lethal al Qaeda-linked death squads. Maliki's hand. Sunni insurgency that carries out But a senior Shi'ite politician who Should Iraqiya walk out or splin¬ daily attacks. asked not to be named saw little hope ter, Maliki would likely turn to Political infighting could open the that national dialogue would produce Kurdish partners and Iraqiya dissi¬ door to foreign intervention and to results. dents who have already split from Shi'ite and Sunni armed groups to Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Ozeti

ramp up attacks, reviving sectarian Shi'ite bloc within Maliki's coalition. is deep, and Iraqiya has already accu¬ sed him of reneging on power-sharing conflict. Iraqiya will have to measure the Politics in Iraq, despite inflamma¬ potential loss of its government posts agreements. tory rhetoric, is a slow boil with hours against any possible gain made by Nearly nine years after the inva¬ of back-room negotiations leading to opting out of the government. It holds sion that overthrew Saddam Hussein, deals. The power-sharing arrangement parliament speaker, a vice presidency, sectarian friction still runs close to the itself took more than half a year of a deputy prime minister post and the surface in Iraq, where sustained vio¬ horse-trading and cajoling as blocs finance ministry. lence between Sunni and Shi'ite com¬

bargained over posts. The risk for Maliki is if Iraqiya munities killed thousands of people in 2006-07. U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, and the Kurdish blocs team up. But Maliki's Shi'ite partner anti-U.S. cleric the Kurds may see more advantage in Maliki's manoeuvres are fanning Moqtada al-Sadr and Kurdish using the crisis as leverage to nego¬ minority Sunni fears of political isola¬ President Masoud Barzani have been tiate with Maliki over their own tion. Since Saddam's fall, Iraq's Shi'ite odd bedfellows in trying to pull the issues, such as control of oil resources majority has risen and Sunnis say government back together. and territories disputed between they feel they have been pushed out Baghdad and Iraqi Kurdistan, rather of key decision-making. RISKY BACKLASH than backing Iraqiya. Already, Sunni-dominated pro¬ But the major question now is "Frankly, Kurds are not ready to vinces like Anbar and Salahuddin are Iraqiya's next move. sacrifice their strategic interests and pressing for more autonomy from the The party is in talks with other alliances because of Hashemi," one central government, resisting what blocs and lobbying for a parliamen¬ senior Kurdish leader said. "I don't they see as Maliki's interest in pus¬ tary vote of no confidence against think Iraqiya will succeed." hing a Shi'ite agenda at the expense of Maliki. Any stand against Maliki will But Sunni discontent with Maliki Sunnis.Q require backing from the Kurds and a

Aswatswat al-lraq fl January 5, 2012 i o 1 1 1 "Failure to implement Federation System shall lead to catastrophe in Iraq," Barzani says

ARBIL / Aswat al-lraq: The President of north Iraq's Kurdistan As regards to the fate of Vice-President Hashimy, Barzani said:

Region, Massoud Barzani, has said on Thursday that the "failure "this is something to be decided by the Legislative System and of implementing the Federal System in Iraq shall lead to a the courts, and the Kurds won't interfere in any measures taken catastrophe in Iraq," confirming that the "Kurds are determined by the Judicial System." not to get involved in the sectarian difference, caused by the Hashimy said that he was prepared to attend a trial in Kurdistan attempt of Prime Minister, Nouri al-Maliki, to arrest Vice- Region, insisting that he won't have a just trial in Baghdad. President, Tariq al-Hashimy."

The crisis have laid the Kurds in fears from dangers, but they "The Kurds are not part of the sectarian differences, now taking could lay them in the position of mediators, in case of reaching place.. to a political agreement, with al-Maliki and al-lraqiya Alliances

Yes, we are part of the political difference and the political would need the support of the Kurds in the Parliament, within conflict, but not part of the sectarian difference," Barzani said the confrontation between both alliances. in interview with Reuters News Agency. Barzani explained that "the Kurds have chosen a voluntary unity

Noteworthy is that the Kurdish Leaders have called for the hol¬ between the Arabs and the Kurds, provided that the ruling sys¬ ding of a national conference to settle the differences between tem in Iraq be a Federal System, which is a Constitutional right

Prime Minister, Nouri al-Maliki and al-lraqiya Alliance, now boy¬ for the Kurds and the whole people of Iraq," pointing out cotting the Parliament and the Cabinet's meetings, charging the that "the prevention of implementing certain constitutional government, led by the Shiites, with having concentrated the items, would push the country towards grave problems and authorities in its hands. catastrophe."

'The Kurds are looking forward towards an agreement among As regards to the oil contacts, signed in Kurdistan Region, which the political parties about the venue and the time of the confe¬ is a point of difference between Baghdad and Arbil, rence, Barzani said, expressing "readiness to host the confe¬ rence, but political sources said that Maliki opposes holding it Barzani said: "there is an agreement with Baghdad that each in the Kurdistan side continues the signing of such deals, till the issuance of the

Oil & Gas Law." Capital of Arbil, insisting to settle the case of Vice-President

Hashimy first." Kurdistan Region had signed contracts with the American Excon

Company new oil contracts that Baghdad officials say there had Barzani said that "if the political parties decide another venue been signed in the areas-in-conflict between Arbil and for the conference, that would be their decision, but the venue Baghdad, but Barzani said that "the Kurds considerthose areas does not represent a problem for the Kurds," though he expres¬ as part of Kurdistan Region. sed conviction that several related parties were not prepared to meet in Baghdad. Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Ôzeti

JANUARY 4, 2012 Tue National Assad: friend or foe of the Kurds?

The National / UAE. The military crackdown has Syrian Kurds also been less harsh in Kurdish Phil Sands TURKEY areas, in an effort to avoid

inflaming the tense situation Hasafcah DAMASCUS //As Syrian pro¬ 50km there, but those measures testers battle to overthrow Aleppo alone do not explain the cau¬ Raqqah President Bashar Al Assad, the tious involvement in the upris¬ Idlib country's large Kurdish minority ing. Latakia is struggling to decide if its SYRIA IRAQ Hama interests lie in the fall of the Dc-irD al-7or Among those in Syria with an Tar; us regime or in its survival. axe to grind against the Horns 400km regime, the country's Kurdish Politically divided and uncer¬ LEBANON minority would seem to rank tain about their future, Syria's near the top - a long history of TURKEY ' two million Kurds, 10 per cent state-imposed ethnic discrimi¬ of the population, have played Damascus* Rif Dimashq nation and economic neglect SYRIA a limited role in the uprising, Quneitra IRAQ put it in permanent semi-rebel¬ analysts, activists and Kurdish IRAN lion against Damascus. Deraa , . , groups say. Smveida

The north-east city of Qamlishli "Until now we are putting JORDAN ' Kurdish population = 27.8 million in Hasika province, the Kurds' about 10,000 people in the Source: damascusbureau.org, kurdishcentre.org stronghold, has long been one street for the largest demon¬ of its most impoverished areas. strations [in the Kurdish areas eigners, excluded from the win Kurdish autonomy. of north-east Syria]," said one basic services and subsidies Over the years many Kurds Kurdish activist. granted to Syrians. With a strong sense of commu¬ have moved to Aleppo and nal identity, the Kurds have Damascus in search of work and "When we really rise up there That often uneasy coexistence been the most politically active education, often settling in will be hundreds of thousands, with Arab neighbours has been and well-organised opposition illegally built neighbourhoods and there will be big Kurdish compounded by a broader bloc in Syria, and played a as a poverty-stricken urban protests in Damascus and Kurdish dispossession. leading role in the short-lived underclass that derived little Aleppo, but we are not at that Damascus Spring of 2005, mak¬ direct benefit from the state. stage yet." The world's 30 million Kurds are ing unprecedented calls for the largest ethnic community democracy and greater free¬ Baathist rule and its doctrinal Mr Al Assad has offered conces¬ without a homeland. doms. Arabism resulted in discrimina¬ sions to win Kurdish support - tion against the Kurds, with or at least entice them to stay Divided between neighbouring Still, mainstream Kurdish polit¬ some 300,000 left stateless. out of the revolt - granting cit¬ Turkey, Iran, Iraq and Syria, ical parties have trod carefully Until Mr Al Assad issued his izenship to stateless Kurds in they have long aspired to the since March when the uprising decree recognising them, they April. statehood promised them by began, trying to solve the were officially considered for- the victors in the First World equation of whether their

War, who oversaw the disman¬ interests would be better

tling of what was left of the served by a revolt that could

Ottoman Empire. yet succeed or fail, or by trying '4-:. v: L ' £> to reform the status quo. But Britain and France reneged

when they redrew the Middle "It's true that for seven months

East. or so some of the Kurdish polit¬

,f.u. ical parties were not engaged That territorial division created in the uprising. Really, it was

a source of political and ethnic just the Future movement and

tension that continues to exert Yeketi. The rest hadn't taken

a major influence on the the decision to go to the

region. street," said Foad Aleko, a sen¬ N ior Syrian Kurdish political fig¬

The four countries view with ure and Yeketi party official.

suspicion their Kurdish popula¬

tions and the separatist move¬ Of the dozen or so Kurdish par¬

ments that exist among them. ties in Syria, the Future move¬

Protesters in the Kurdish city of Qamishli in northern Syria carry ment is an anomaly.

a huge national flag during a pro-democracy demonstration in The Kurds feel themselves tar¬

May last year. The word written on the flag is Kurdish for "free- gets of harassment and discrim¬ Founded by Meshaal Tammo it

dom".AFP ination, and many do want to quickly and unequivocally Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Ozeti

joined the revolt, co-operating closely uprising. protesters in the streets in Horns, Hama, with Arab protesters nationwide. Deraa and Idleb despite all the dangers

In an effort to solve their lingering divi¬ they face, but in Kurdish areas the num¬

It was the only Kurdish group to join the sions, Syrian Kurdish political blocs, bers have been nothing like as big," he opposition Syrian National Council. including 10 major parties and represen¬ said, on the condition of anonymity.

tatives of non-affiliated groups - doc¬

Unlike other Kurdish leaders, Mr Tammo tors, engineers and other professionals - The Kurds have long been better organ¬ shunned identity politics. He flatly met in October to thrash out a unified ised than Arab groups, so this means a refused to have Kurdish flags flown at position. The PYD did not attend. political decision has been made to pull protest rallies, insisting instead the their punches, the analyst said.

Syrian national flag be raised In June it had helped found the National

Mr Tammo was murdered by gunmen on Coordination Committees (NCC), an 'The Kurds have a foot in both camps

October 7, the first national level oppo¬ opposition alliance that the other still, they are not sure if the regime will sition figure to be killed in the uprising. Kurdish groups refused to join because it survive or fall, and they want to be able

insisted Syria be defined as part of the to benefit whatever the outcome," he

While his funeral attracted about 50,000 Arab world. said. "They are waiting until they know mourners - five were shot during the the answer to that big question, then procession by security forces - and led to The October 26 meeting declared the they will commit themselves." speculation it would inflame the Kurdish Kurds were fully committed to the Syrian street, it did not. revolution and would not negotiate with Kurdish political leaders deny they have

the regime independently of other oppo¬ cut a deal with the regime. They say

Instead, allegations about who killed sition blocs. It demanded a new consti¬ they want to prevent the uprising being him only underlined divisions among tution recognising the Kurds and their seen as Kurdish, not Arab. them. right to self-determination within a unit¬

ed Syria. Despite such assurances, deep divisions

Some blamed the government. Some remain among the Kurds. accused Turkey, fighting its own Kurdish 'That meeting was a decisive point and a insurgency against the Kurdistan Workers decision was made by all to take to the 'To be honest, the Kurds have not decid¬

Party (PKK). streets and the protests have been get¬ ed who the real enemy is yet, the

ting bigger and bigger since," said Mr [Syrian] regime or the Turks," said anoth¬

Others pointed to different Kurdish fac¬ Aleko. er Kurdish activist. "Both are threats to tions, citing mafia-like entrenched our future but we have to decide which interests. 'The protests are big now, the regime is the biggest and we have to know what

blocks the streets, there is tear gas and will happen to us if Assad does fall."

These schisms, and in particular the hos¬ shooting so the accusation that we're not OOO tility between Turkey and the PKK's committed to the revolution isn't true." psands@thenational. ae political wing, the Democratic Union

Party (PYD), one of the largest and most But one analyst said the Kurds are still influential Kurdish parties in Syria, have hedging their bets. helped the Syrian authorities to prevent the Kurds from fully supporting the "We've seen hundreds of thousands of

Slje^eluJJotkShtttu January 9, 2012

Iraq: 16 Killed in Multiple Attacks

ByJACKHEALY

At least 16 people were killed across Iraq on Monday in car

bombings, assassinations, roadside bomb blasts and attacks

on security forces. The rash of seemingly unconnected

attacks stoked fears that disparate insurgent groups from

around Iraq are trying to sow sectarian violence by exploit¬

ing the uncertainty and instability of the country's political crisis. On Monday, two car bombs exploded in Shiite areas of

Baghdad one near a mosque, the other near a market

killing 12 people and wounding 50. Earlier in the day, a bank

manager was assassinated outside her home in a middle- class Baghdad neighborhood. In the oil-rich city of Kirkuk, Iraqi Shiite Muslim pilgrims walk to the holy city of two Kurdish security forces were killed in a checkpoint Kerbala to mark Arbain in Baghdad's Doura District attack. January 9, 2012. REUTERS/Thaier al-Sudani Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Ozeti

£tMmèt Mercredi 4 janvier 2012 L'Iran menace Ormuz pour éviter des sanctions

/*"*> 'estun goulet stratégique par lons la mer d'Oman et nous pou¬ res de l'Iran, ce qui ferait flamber dé des escortes pour les pétroliers. I lequel'transite près d'un cin- vons contrôler le transit. » les cours de l'or noir. 11 existe des alternatives terres¬ "*- quième de la consommation Alors queles Etats-Unis, puissan¬ Le 16 février 2005, intervenant tres à Ormuz, via le pipeline qui mondiale de pétrole. Le détroit ce militaire majeure du Golfe dont devant une commission du Sénat court, en Arabie Saoudite, de la pro¬ d'Ormuz constitue l'extrémité sud la V Flotte mouille à Bahrein, vien- des Etats-Unis, un haut responsa¬ vince orientale pétrolifère à la mer d'une ligne de front invisible qui ble américain, levice-amiral Lowell Rouge, ou celui qui relie, aux Emi¬ sépareles deux rives du Golfe, l'ara¬ Les pipelines, sur Jacoby, avait assuré que la Républi¬ rats arabes unis, Abou Dhabi à be et l'Iranienne. 11 constitue à ce que islamique avait la capacité de l'émirat de Foujeirah, sur la mer titre un excellent instrument de la péninsule Arabique, «fermer brièvement le détroit d'Or- d'Oman. Mais ces alternatives ne mesure de l'intensité de la guerre sont des alternatives muz » ou de perturber«périodique¬ concernent pas la production froide qui oppose Téhéran à un ment» le trafic des supertankers. pétrolière ou gazière (liquéfiée) du bloc arabe soutenu par l'Occident, terrestres à Ormuz En avril 1988, pendant la guerre Koweït et du Qatar. inquiet des ambitions régionales opposant l'Irak à l'Iran (au cours de L'armedu détroitest enfinà dou¬ d'un pays qui a toujours voulu fai¬ nent de conclure un contratmilitai¬ laquelle un missile américain ble tranchant. Elle toucherait aussi re par ailleurs de ce Golfe une mer re important avec l'Arabie Saoudi¬ avait abattu par méprise un Air¬ laproductioniranienne, dont Téhé¬ intérieure iranienne, bien avant te portant sur ia vente de 84F-15, bus iranien avec à son bord ran a cruellementbesoin, et pénali¬ l'instauration delà République isla¬ les menaces voilées de l'amiral 290 passagers), un navire améri¬ serait surtout les pays asiatiques, à mique, en 1979. Sayyari s'inscrivent dans un cain avait été endommagé par une commencer par la Chine, que l'Iran En a témoigné lundi 2 janvier le contexte de nouvelles tensions mine iranienne. C'est à la même ne cesse de courtiser. test de trois missiles iraniens, au entre l'Iran et les pays occidentaux époque que le Koweït avait deman Gilles Paris dernier jour de mansuvres nava¬ à propos du programme nucléaire les autour du détroit d'Ormuz. La controversé que développe la portée des missiles Nasr, Nour et République islamique.

Ghader utilisés lundi va de 35 à Le 6janvier 2008, le demierinci- ... PAR LEQUEL TRANSITE 35% DU TRAFIC 200km. Ils sont ((transportables, dent sérieux .répertorié entre Ira¬ MARITIME PÉTROLIER MONDIAL.- précis et d'une capacité de destruc¬ niens et Américains - lorsque cinq tion très élevée», a précisé l'amiral vedettes rapides s'étaient portées à Répartition de la production d'hydrocarbures

Habibollah Sayyari, le comman¬ lajiauteurd'unconvoidetrois navi¬ Gisements Bgaz S pétrole dant de la marine iranienne. res de guerre américains - était * in Terminal pétrolier Le 28 décembre 2011, alors que intervenu alors que l'hypothèse -^ Oléoduc Oléoduc fermé les mansuvres militaires iranien¬ d'une attaque préventive contre le nes venaient de débuter, ce haut programme nucléaire iranien était Exportations, en millions de tonnes, en 2010 responsable iranien avait assuré régulièrement évoquée. Asie Pacifique* [ .'.'_ ' 227,1 que «fermerle détroit est trèsfacile Le 27 décembre 2011, le vice-pré¬ Japon ' : 7':. " 1792 pourlesforces armées iraniennes». sident iranien, Mohammad Reza Inde ' 129,6

« C'est comme boire un verre d'eau, Rahimi, a affirmé qu'« aucune Chine ! n8,4 comme on dit en persan », avait-il goutte depétrole ne transiterapar Europe f " ' 116,7 ajouté, avant de préciser : «Aujour¬ lèdétroitd'Ormuz » si les pays occi¬ Etats-Unis ; ~ 86 d'hui, nous n'avons pas besoin de dentaux adoptaient des sanctions Singapour 45,4

[fermer] le détroit car nous contrô contre les exportations pétroliè * hors Singapour et Japon

... DONT LE CONTRÔLE, OBJET DE CONVOITISES,

ta EST ÉTROITEMENT SURVEILLÉ

îlé/kOtûim Par les pays limitrophes © Aéroport militaire 'A Iles occupées par l'Iran depuis 1971 et revendiquées par les Emirats arabes unis.

p-.[Jj GrarutéTomb , - / . v ', \ 77) Limite des eaux intérieures Lipetitèjomb ,. OMÀSuiS" Limite du plateau continental définie revendiquées par ' par un accord bilatéral l'émirat Ras Al-Khaïma t A ^ Couloir de circulation maritime international Presqu'île de \j;',',;î

Moussandam Limite d'équidistance des côtes Ras Al-Khaïma / Abou Moussa

"e'a'u- revendiquée par Par les pays occidentaux l'émirat de Charjah © Base américaine ( Flotte militaire Charjah Dubaï - OMAN 0 Base française O Base britannique

©QQ Foujeïrah.: Djebel Ali Degré d'hostilité aux positions iraniennes

Fort Moyen Faible

SOURCES : D. ORTOLLAND ET )-P. PIRAT. ATLAS GÉOPOLITIQUE DES ESPACES d'Oî MARITIMES. 2010, ÉDITION TECHNIP ; P. CADÈNE ET B. DUMORT1ER. Abou Dhabi rtî ATLAS DES PAYS DU GOLFE. PUPS. 201 1 ; LE GOLFE ET SES ÉMIRATS, Al-Dhafra REVUE HÉRODOTE. N' 133. LA DÉCOUVERTE, 2009 ; BP STATISTICAL REVIEW OF WORLD ENERGY. JUIN 2011;THEGULF/2000PRO|ECT:iEMONDF Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Ôzeti

7 au 13 janvier 2012 ff' à Bagdad, le 22 décembre dernier.

u: Irak 'ïV7 f Année zéro fcV

- *r ' ''

près huit années de présence

en Irak, les Etats-Unis n'ont

Ipu rétablir une distribution

d'électricité dépassant la demi-

douzaine d'heures par jour en ville, ni un service postal Au erme de huit années de' présence rfulitairë, convenable, ni les transports publics et pas même une compagnie qui leur ont coûté 800 milliards de dollars aérienne nationale, joli bilan. Plus grave, à peine les dernières troupes et 4 500 hommes, les Etats-Unis ont quitté américaines avaient-elles quitté l'Irak, le 18 décembre dernier, qu'une douzaine le pays. Sans aucun résultat : instabilité politico- de voitures piégées tuaient 60 personnes à Bagdad et en blessaient quelque 200. ethnique et attentats sont toujours de mise. Ces attentats étaient la réponse sunnite au coup de force du Premier ministre chiite Nouri al-Maliki. Celui-là venait de PAR GÉRARD CHALIAND* destituer le vice-Premier ministre Saleh Moutlak, un sunnite qui l'avait accusé d'être un dictateur. M. Maliki le dénon¬ l'Afghanistan, pour une population équiva¬ ministères de l'Intérieur, de la Défense

çait, à son tour, comme étant le com¬ lente, avant que les Etats-Unis ne finissent et de la Sécurité, ainsi qu'une importante

manditaire d'un groupe de tueurs qui a par s'apercevoir que l'Afghanistan était partie de l'armée et de la police.

assassiné des membres du gouvernement ! la victime collatérale de la guerre d'Irak, Nouri al-Maliki a consolidé graduelle¬ Dans la foulée, il lançait aussi un mandat situation à laquelle ils cherchent, depuis, '' ment son pouvoir avec l'appui des Amé¬

d'arrêt contre un autre sunnite de premier à remédier, sans grand succès. ricains au cours des années 2008-2009

plan, Tariq al-Hachemi, vice-président de Sans évoquer la somme d'erreurs com¬ pendant lesquelles il était déjà Premier la République, qui se réfugiait en région mises dans cette guerre délibérée, que ministre. Son parti, le Dawa, a remporté kurde où sa sécurité était garantie... symbolisent les photos des sévices infli¬ 89 sièges sur 325 au Parlement, aux der¬ gés à là prison d'Abou Ghraib, on ne peut nières élections de 2010. Maliki s'était que constater que les Etats-Unis, au terme d'abord distingué en mettant au pas les de huit années de présence militaire, chiites de la région de Bassora (Sud) et On pourrait difficilement trouver meilleur qui leur ont coûté 800 milliards de dol¬ en faisant plier la milice de Moqtada al- témoignage que la question du partage du lars et 4 500 hommes, n'ont pu préparer Sadr, un dirigeant chiite radical et forte¬ pouvoir entre les sunnites (20 % de la popu¬ les conditions de la stabilité politique. ment opposé à la présence américaine. lation), maîtres du pays depuis la création Comment s'étonner alors que surgissent Ce dernier se repliait alors en Iran et ses de l'Irak en 1920, et les chiites (60 %), qui les contradictions que les Américains n'ont milices armées adoptaient un profil bas dominent l'Etat depuis l'intervention amé¬ pu contribuer à régler, mais qui,jusqu'alors, en attendant le départ des troupes > ricaine (2003), n'était nullement réglée. étaient contenues par leur présence ? En octobre déjà, le Premier ministre L'Irak doit-il être un Etat centralisé, Maliki avait fait arrêter plus d'un demi- comme le veut Nouri al-MaliH, ou devenir millier de personnes, presque toutes sun¬ une fédération, ainsi que le souhaitent nites, accusées d'être d'anciens membres les Kurdes, qui représentent 20 % de la du Baas, le parti de Saddam Hussein. population du pays et sont autonomes Certes, l'occupation américaine a doté de facto dans trois de ses 18 provinces ? l'Irak d'une Constitution, d'un Parlement Hostiles jusqu'en 2005 à toute participa¬ (où siègent 25 % de femmes), d'une presse tion électorale, les sunnites ont décidé aux opinions variées et d'une quarantaine de voter en 2010 et certains d'entre eux, de chaînes de télévision relativement comme dans la province de Diyala (Est), libres. Les élections se déroulent dans des ont manifesté en faveur de l'autonomie. conditions globalement régulières. Tout Rien n'a été tranché durant l'occu¬ cela ne suffit pas à garantir l'Etat de droit pation et rien n'indique qu'une solu¬ mais contraste jusqu'à présent avec les f tion se dégagera autrement que par un méthodes du régime de Saddam Hussein. bras de fer pouvant se transformer en Enfin, les Etats-Unis ont formé acti¬ confrontation violente. La situation créée vement une armée irakienne, au risque aujourd'hui par M. Maliki a le mérite de de négliger le théâtre afghan, considéré la clarté : il cherche à concentrer tous comme secondaire. En 2008, cette armée les pouvoirs et contrôle directement, ou Départ des derniers soldats américains était trois fois plus nombreuse que celle de par l'intermédiaire d'hommes liges, les d'Irak, le 11 décembre 2011. Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Ozeti

Repartition ethrsic^-reiivieuse (chrétiens) qui seront physiquement de le population irakienne ; 'O'I-OH liquidés après l'indépendance en 1933. , Irhî! La Turquie kémaliste réclame, entre Chiite^ 1923 à 1925, le retour de la province

Sunnites de Mossoul, en majorité peuplée de Souleimarh-ch 1 Kurdes Kurdes (58 %). La Société des nations

Regions rhhlK (SDN) tranche le litige et, compte tenu

désertiques du rapport des forces internationales

du moment, la province est accordée

à l'Irak, dominé par la Grande-Bre¬ "Diyala tagne. On voit pourquoi, IRAK Bagdad K>^' '"-' aujourd'hui, la Turquie L'Irak doit-il réémergente s'intéresse de î r> 'SC'lt près aux provinces auto¬

être un Etat nomes kurdes. Les sun¬ Ssan centralisé, nites régnent en maîtres à 1 3 >Kf*x ' partir de l'indépendance, comme le veut accordée au début des années 30, et cet état de 'BàsSora- le Premier fait ne sera bouleversé, AhMutnanPù à partir de 2003, que par ministre chiite la guerre de choix menée par George W. Bush qui

Nouri al-Maliki, les marginalise au profit

des chiites - alliés objec¬

> américaines. M. Maliki, à la satisfac¬ Parmi les chiites, il repré¬ tifs de l'Iran et considérés tion de Washington, signait un accord sente la faction la plus une comme hérétiques par les de coopération et de sécurité avec les proche de l'Iran. sunnites - ainsi que des Etats-Unis malgré l'opposition exprimée L'imbroglio irakien ainsi que Kurdes qui, rappelons-le, des autorités iraniennes. n'est compréhensible ne sont pas des Arabes. Politiquement, la crise est ouverte. qu'à la lumière du passé : le souhaitent Rien n'est réglé non Les membres dirigeants du parti Irakya, l'Irak moderne est né en plus en ce qui concerne le

qui rassemble essentiellement des voix 1920, au lendemain de la les Kurdes? partage prévu des revenus

sunnites, ont fait appel auprès du princi¬ défaite de l'Empire otto¬ du pétrole entre les trois

pal responsable kurde, Massoud Barzani, man, sous l'impulsion de la Grande- groupes principaux. Contre la volonté de

afin que celui-là joue, comme naguère, Bretagne. Outre les provinces arabes de Bagdad, les Kurdes ont signé des contrats

un rôle de médiateur. En effet, pour Bagdad et de Bassora, la puissance man¬ aux conditions attrayantes avec 42 com¬

l'instant, M. Maliki a besoin de l'appui dataire adjoignait la province de Mos- pagnies de taille modeste. Ces accords

des Kurdes non seulement à l'égard des soul, dans le Nord, où elle savait qu'il ont été dénoncés par Bagdad et, par rétor¬

sunnites, mais encore dans le cadre des y avait d'importants gisements pétro- sion, ces compagnies étaient boycottées

querelles intestines chiites. lifères. Le pays était coiffé d'un souve¬ par le ministère du Pétrole ! Cet état de rain appartenant à l'illustre famille des fait a été rompu en décembre dernier La menace Moqtada al-Sadr Hachémites. Dès le début du mandat, lorsque Exxon Mobil a signé six contrats les Kurdes se révoltèrent et furent vain¬ d'exploration avec les Kurdes. Difficile

Parmi les diverses factions chiites, qu'il cus grâce à l'une des toutes premières pour Bagdad de songer à boycotter le

s'agisse du Conseil suprême islamique interventions de la Royal Air Force hors géant américain Exxon, d'autant que

d'Irak d'Al-Hakim, grand perdant des d'Europe. Les chiites étaient tout aussi le Premier ministre a besoin des Kurdes

élections de 2010, du parti Fadhila, rela¬ hostiles à l'occupation étrangère. Les Bri¬ sur le plan politique. Les sunnites, eux,

tivement bien implanté à Bassora, d'in¬ tanniques s'appuyèrent sur la minorité dont le territoire ne recèle pas d'hydro¬

dépendants comme M. Jaafari, le danger sunnite et sur des supplétifs assyriens carbures, ne reçoivent guère de subsides.

pour Nouri al-Maliki vient du perturba¬

teur majeur, Moqtada al-Sadr, qui s'est

toujours affiché comme résolument

antiaméricain et jouit d'une popularité

indiscutable auprès des couches popu¬

laires, notamment à Bagdad. Il est lar¬ elon l'organisation britannique seraient mortes en 2011, selon IBC,

gement représenté au Parlement et c'est » indépendante Iraq Body Count le ministère de l'Intérieur irakien n'en

lui qui a particulièrement insisté pour '(IBC), environ 162 000 personnes reconnaissant « que » 1 500. Selon

que les troupes américaines quittent en ont été tuées en Irak dans les une autre organisation indépendante,

totalité l'Irak fin 2011 sous peine d'avoir violences qui ont suivi l'attaque Icasualties, 4 484 militaires

à affronter une insurrection menée par américaine en 2003, dont 80 % de américains sont morts en Irak, ainsi

sa milice. Moqtada al-Sadr milite en civils. La situation est loin d'être que 318 militaires issus de pays alliés,

faveur d'une dissolution du Parlement apaisée puisque 4 000 personnes dont 179 Britanniques. J.-D.M. et pour la tenue de nouvelles élections.

10 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Ozeti

Rien non plus n'a été réglé sur un destin de Kirkouk ne peuvent être sous- firmes américaines, font de gros pro¬

troisième sujet majeur de discorde : estimés ? C'est possible, même s'il faut fits dans le pétrole et la reconstruction.

Kirkouk. Cette ville, considérée comme compter aussi sur le fait que les Etats- Deux millions de personnes ont quitté la capitale du Kurdistan d'Irak et dont Unis, la Chine ou la Corée du Sud sont l'Irak, dont une importante proportion

la région est riche en hydrocarbures, a également présents dans la région. de chrétiens (Assyriens, Chaldéens) et on

été l'objet d'importants déplacements Avec des réserves en pétrole qui se compte 1 million de déplacés à l'intérieur

de population dont les Kurdes ont fait classent tout de suite après celles de du pays, dont une partie non négligeable

les frais sous Saddam Hussein. En prin¬ l'Arabie Saoudite et de l'Iran, l'Irak est est réfugiée en région kurde.

cipe, un référendum doit se tenir après potentiellement un pays Avec près de 25 000 Amé¬

un recensement, la ville ayant été assez disposant de gros atouts, il ricains présents en Irak

largement réoccupée par les Kurdes au a cependant connu douze Avec des (dont 17 000 employés grand dam des Turkmènes (dont certains années d'embargo, précé¬ par l'ambassade et

soutenus par la Turquie) et des Arabes dées d'une dizaine d'an¬ réserves 6 000 hommes dans les (surtout chiites, dont une petite partie, nées de guerre et suivies en pétrole compagnies de sécurité), dédommagée, a consenti à retourner par huit années d'occupa¬ la capacité d'influence dans le Sud). La présence militaire amé¬ tion. L'agriculture et l'in¬ qui se classent des Etats-Unis se trouve ricaine au cours des années écoulées a dustrie n'ont nullement réduite mais compte tou¬ permis de contenir les débordements retrouvé le niveau d'il y tout de suite jours, confortée par les éventuels. Dès leur départ, les troupes a une trentaine d'années. 40 000 hommes cantonnés gouvernementales ont occupé l'aéroport Le chômage et le sous- après celles à proximité, dans le Golfe. militaire de Kirkouk et il a fallu l'inter¬ emploi touchent la moitié La perspective d'une dis¬

vention de l'ambassade américaine pour de la population active. de l'Arabie parition du régime alaouite

trouver un compromis provisoire. Les trois quarts du budget en Syrie, remplacé par un de l'Etat sont affectés au Saoudite pouvoir sunnite, à laquelle Chômage et corruption salaire des très nombreux et de l'Iran, s'emploient la Ligue arabe, fonctionnaires. Arabie Saoudite et Qatar Dans la région autonome kurde, où la Au c de la crise, l'Irak en tête, la Turquie et l'Oc¬ sécurité est grande, l'économie et les on trouve des banques cident, inquiète autant échanges sont florissants. Mais, à terme, d'Etat où s'étale la corrup¬ dispose Nouri al-Maliki que l'Iran des tensions sérieuses peuvent y appa¬ tion. Ainsi le ministre de qui est, lui aussi, dans la

raître tant l'enrichissement a creusé les l'Electricité, Ràad Challal de gros atouts. ligne de mire. La recompo¬

écarts sociaux. La présence turque est al-Ani, a dû démissionner sition de la région visant à

importante, tant pour l'achat que pour après avoir signé des contrats atteignant affaiblir les chiites, y compris au Liban

l'acheminement des hydrocarbures et 1,3 milliard de dollars avec une firme (Hezbollah), est en cours. Ce n'est pas un

dans le domaine du bâtiment, où les canadienne qui n'existe pas et une alle¬ gage de paix pour l'Irak. G.C.

entreprises turques sont largement majo¬ mande ayant fait banqueroute un mois * Géopolitologue, spécialiste des conflits armés.

ritaires. Va-t-on vers une vassalisation du avant de signer le contrat. Cependant, Auteur de D'une guerre d'Irak à l'autre

nord de l'Irak par la Turquie, dont le les investisseurs étrangers - dont les (Métailié, 2004) et l'Amérique en guerre :

poids économique et l'influence sur le États arabes du Golfe -, tout comme des Irak, Afghanistan (Le Rocher, 2007).

5 janvier 2012

! TURQUIE IRAN IRAN LES MENACES DE TÉHÉRAN - Oimuz DTéhéran

ledétroit,mêmes'ilrienapas Le bras de fer entre l'Iran et les Occiden¬ véritablement les moyens. AF HANISTAU taux se poursuit. Comme chaque année, IRAN BloquerOrmuz,c'estprendre f" riranaentreprisdesman le risque d'une réplique mili¬ v--_4;c!.\'Eir, près du.détroit d'Ormuz, cet étroit bras ARABIE '"" ^ f taire américaine immédiate. PAKISTAN de mer de 50 kilomètres de largeur par SAOUDITE '--. V-A, C'est donc près d'Ormuz lequeltransitent40%dupétrolemondial BAHREIN ^V -~-s-3j:. >\_ que,lesieiet2Janvier,lesIramensonttiré Detroit c'Ormuz en provenance du Golfe arabo-persique. N-ZM.-Ï 0I1AN " avec succès des missiles de moyenne et Une zone éminemment stratégique où C 3C-C l-ro courte portée. Parallèlement, Téhéran EAU. : Erni'cls c!Ebc-s unis. croise la flotte américaine, basée à Bah¬ annonçait avoir testé pour la première continuerait à travailler avec rein. L'Iran menace de fermer fois des barres de combustible nucléaire l'Iran. Washington prépare civil, fabriquées localement. Une provo- aussi un embargo internatio¬ cationpourWashington.Pourl'Iran,c'est nal contre le pétrole iranien et a livré, le la réponse à la signature par Obama, la 31 décembre, 84 avions bombardiers à veillcd'uneloibloquantl'accèsausystème l'Arabie Saoudite, l'ennemi des mollahs. financier américain de toute banque qui Il s'agitd'obtenirdeTéhéranl'abandon de son programme nucléaire. Affaiblis sur le planintérieur, les mollahsont demandé l£S IRANIENS ONT TIRÉ àrelancerles négociations avec Bruxelles, AVEC SUCCÈS DES mais entendent montrer, auparavant, MISSILES PRÉS qu'ils ont encore des moyens d'action D'ORMUZ. HIREIUE DUTEIL

11 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Ûzeti

. wreRVMTLWAL îtoalri*ibuttC THURSDAY, JANUARY 5, 2012

ago, just as the last U.S. troops were leaving. Mr. Maliki's government is¬ sued an arrest warrant for Vice Presi¬ dent Tariq al-Hashimi, the top Sunni politician, accusing him of running an ï5 V assassination squad. Mr. Hashimi fled north, to the semiautonomous Kurdish region, to escape arrest. Mr. Maliki, a n Shiite, warned the Kurds that there would be "problems" if they did not

turn over Mr. Hashimi. The Kurds, who have no intention of complying with Mr. Maliki's demand, were not happy about being dragged into the dispute between Sunnis and Shiites. "We are not part of the problem," in¬ sisted Massoud Barzani, president of the

Kurdish regional government. But with the future of postwar Iraq hanging in the balance, they cannot avoid being part of the solution. U.S. dip¬ A marketplace in Erbil, the capital of Kurdistan. The region, Which is relatively prosperous, has long lomats, whose influence is vastly dimin¬ ished here since the U.S. military with¬ been a bastion of tolerance and a haven for the aggrieved and oppressed of all stripes. drawal, have called on a Kurdish leader, Jalal Talabani, who is the president of Iraq, to convene a meeting of Iraq's lead¬

ership. But so far there is no agreement even Kurds wary of Iraqi on where the meeting should be held: The Kurds say it should be in the north, while Mr. Maliki is pushing for Baghdad. A unity government formed last year at the initiative of the Kurds, which in¬ factional strife cluded meaningful roles for all three of Iraq's main factions, is now teetering. Mr. Maliki has threatened to form a new government controlled by the Shiite Now, the consolidation of power by ERBIL, IRAQ majority that would effectively margin¬ Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki alize the Sunnis. To do so, he would need evokes painful memories of Kurdish suf¬ Baghdad power struggle fering at the hands of a powerful central the support of the Kurds in Parliament, evokes painful memories government in Baghdad. It also places an unlikely prospect. the Kurds in the delicate position of act¬ "This would be the most dangerous and threatens stability ing as peacemakers between warring step," Mr. Barzani said in an interview Shiite and Sunni Arab factions; a battle at his sprawling palace outside Erbil. in which their own future is at stake. "It has to be a partnership between the BYTIMARANGO Shias, the Sunnis and the Kurds. Any¬

For the Kurds here in this ancient city, thing contrary to that would be dis¬ the rewards of war are numerous and astrous." obvious. Construction cranes rise from Mr. Salih, the regional prime minister, the cityscape.. Highway medians are said a Shiite-Kurdish alliance that shut green with shrubbery. À glittering shop¬ out the Sunnis would mean "the end of ping mall with an indoor ice skating rink Iraq a*s we know it" stands as a totem of U.S.-style con¬ Depriving the Sunnis, who dominated sumerism. The only blast walls in sight under Mr. Hussein's government, of a are those that protect the regional Par¬ political voice would probably revitalize liament, decorated by sunflowers the Sunni insurgency, which is already painted in muted shades of yellow. showing new signs of life. Four days Among Iraqis, the Kurds benefited after the U.S. withdrawal, coordinated the most from the war, and now they bombings in Baghdad killed at least 63 may have the most to lose if the political people, the deadliest attack there in chaos that followed the departure of more than a year.

U.S. forces metastasizes into civil war. ANBAR ~ ' "?£; The Kurds have no great love for the "Are we worried? Yes, we are wor¬ Sunnis. Even though the Kurds are Si \ .Baghdad ried," said Barham A. Salih, the prime mostly Sunni Muslims themselves, it minister of the Kurdish regional gov¬ was the Sunni Arab government of Mr. ernment. "Our national interest as Hussein that was accused of commit¬ "Every Kurd yearns for an independ¬ Kurds lies in a democratic, federal, ting genocide against the Kurds. But ent homeland, no doubt," Mr. Salih said. peaceful Iraq. We still have a long way they would rather have the Sunni Arabs "But we have also accepted living as to go before we get there." part of a democratic, peaceful, federal safely ensconced in a power-sharing The end ofthe U.S. military role here is Iraq. If this hope vanishes, I don't think government rather thari risk renewed an anxious turning point for the Kurds, the Kurds will be willing to risk what we violence and instability. who were protected by the United States have." Kurdistan, long a bastion of tolerance for 20 years, beginning after the Gulf The current crisis, which politicians and a haven for the aggrieved and op¬ War of 1991, with a humanitarian opera¬ say has brought the country to the brink pressed of all stripes, has lately become tion and no-flight zone that halted Sad¬ of civil war, erupted almost two weeks a sanctuary for Sunnis. Mr, Hashimi re- dam Hussein's killing machine.

12 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Ôzeti

mains encamped at Mr. Talabani's Kurdish leaders believe in federalism Best hope in maintaining their autono¬ guesthouse in the hills outside Su- and support the efforts of other my within a united Iraq. laimaniya, where he said he alternated provinces, like Diyala and Anbar, both "If Iraq ends up being broken apart, wearing the two suits he had packed for with Sunni majorities, to gain autono¬ it's not because the Kurds wanted it," a trip he thought would last two days. my, a status Mr. Maliki opposes as a said Dr. Najmaldin Karim, a U.S. citizen Sunni leaders from Diyala Province, a threat to Shiite dominance. While most from Silver Spring, Maryland, who is mixed region that has sought greater Kurds ultimately wish for their own now the governor of Kirkuk, a city di¬ autonomy from the central government, state, a move toward independence car¬ vided by Kurds, Arabs and Turkmen. ries the risk of provoking a regional war "It's because the others couldn't get "Are we worried? with Iran, Syria and Turkey, countries along." Yes, we are worried." with their own substantial Kurdish minorities. These countries would prob¬ Omar al-Jawoshy contributed reporting. ably view an assertion of statehood by have also fled to Kurdistan after a crack¬ Iraqi Kurds as a provocation. down by state security forces. . For now at least, the Kurds see their

cnotunoxa. îtmUMèfeSrUrune January 6,2012 Iraqi leader courts insurgents

lines in Iraq's political crisis while po¬ Sunni and Shiite, have cut deals with the BAGHDAD tentially empowering Iran at a moment government to stop fighting, and few of¬ of rising military and economic tensions ficials see a meaningful peace in Iraq Prime minister welcomes between Tehran and Washington. that does not include reconciling with group with close ties to The militant group, Asaib al-Haq, armed groups. broke away from the fierce Shiite militia But some American and Iraqi officials Iran and a violent record commanded by the anti-American cleric are leery about whether Asaib al-Haq is Moktada al-Sadr. Led by a former truly ready to forswear violence, espe¬ spokesman for Mr. Sadr, Qais Khazali, it cially with thousands ofAmerican diplo¬ BYJACKHEALY was trained and financed by Iran's elite mats and security contractors still in the AND MICHAEL S. SCHMIDT Quds force and was built like a terrorist country. Mr. Maliki's recent attempts to It was one of the deadliest insurgent network, with small cells across the marginalize the country's Sunni minor¬

groups in Iraq,' an Iranian-backed mili¬ country. ity and consolidate power which have tia that bombed American military con¬ Since the U.S. military withdrawal, precipitated a political crisis have voys and bases, assassinated dozens of Iraq has been convulsed with sectarian only-amplified their fears. Iraqi officials and tried to kidnap Amer¬ violence like the attack Thursday that "To use an Iraqi phrase, they have icans even as the last soldiers withdrew. killed at least 68 people, including 44 blood on their hands, and it's not just Now, however, the Shiite-led govern¬ Shiite pilgrims in a single bombing in American blood," said a senior U.S. mil¬ ment of Prime Minister Nuri Kamal-al the southern deserts near Nasiriya. So itary official. "I am all for forgiveness

Maliki is welcoming the militant group the Iraqi government's overtures could and reconciliation but they are and I into Iraq's political system, a move that be seen as an earnest attempt to make think always will be beholden to their tilts Iraq's center of gravity closer to peace with a powerful armed foe while masters in Iran." Iran. The government's support for the nudging the country closer to a desper¬ In June, Asaib al-Haq and other Irani¬ militia, which only just swore off vio¬ ately needed national reconciliation. In¬ an-backed militias conducted rocket at- lence, has opened new sectarian fault deed, thousands of other militants, both

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Two brothers mourned the death of their father, who was killed Thursday in the Sadr City area of Baghdad amid a countrywide wave of bombings. The attacks killed at least 68 Iraqis, including 44 Shiité pilgrims in a single bombing in the southern deserts near Nasiriya.

13 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Ozeti

them in Iraq's next elections. An adviser tapks on American bases that resulted Baghdad's government in the wake of to Mr. Maliki said it was too early for in the deaths of 13 soldiers, marking the the American military withdrawal. Iran, highest number of combat-related such questions. deaths for U.S. forces in Iraq since 2008. "We welcome those who want to join "Asaib al-Haq having Military officials also said the group the political process and give up their a prominent role in the was to blame for the last American com¬ weapons no matter whether they are bat death in Iraq, a November roadside government is not in the Sunni or Shiite," said Hassan al-Suneid, bomb attack in Baghdad. interest of the United States." an Iraqi lawmaker from Mr. Maliki's During the weeks before the U.S. mil¬ State of Law coalition. itary's withdrawal, the group sought to U.S. officials made efforts to bring a disarmed Asaib al-Haq into Iraq's gov¬ kidnap American officials from inside wounded by punishing economic sanc¬ Baghdad's heavily guarded Green tions, recently threatened to close the ernment as early as 2009, even releas¬ Zone, according to Western officials. ing Mr. Khazali, and his brother, Laith, Strait of Hormuz, a crucial shipping

"It's not a good sign that Maliki is so channel for oil in the Gulf, including from prison. keen to work with a group that has been some 80 percent of Iraq's oil exports. "Khazali was telling us when he was responsible for the deaths of many With U.S. forces gone and new oppor¬ being interrogated that they were ready Americans," said Marisa Cochrane Sul- tunities emerging from Iraq's splinter¬ to lay down their arms," said a Western livan, deputy director at the Institute for ing political landscape, Iraqi officials diplomat, referring to the group's the Study of War and an expert on Asaib and political commentators say the founder. "We released those guys and al-Haq. "A.A.H.havingaprominentrole leaders of Asaib al-Haq have caught a they went back to Iran and didn't ex¬

in the government is not in the interest whiff of the patronage, money and influ¬ actly lay down their arms.' ' of the United States." ence that lie in Iraqi politics. At an officially sanctioned rally last Critics worry that Mr. Maliki, facing They appear eager to follow a similar week in central Baghdad, hundreds of fierce new challenges to his rule from path to power as the one blazed by Mr. the group's members and supporters Sunnis and even his fellow Shiites, may Sadr's political cohorts, who control 40 gathered in a public square that was now be making a cynical and short¬ seats in Parliament and seven govern¬ previously the stage for prordemocracy sighted play for Asaib's support. They ment ministries. demonstrations. For hours, they cele¬ say Mr. Maliki may use the group's cre¬ "Maliki has kept at this thing and un¬ brated the insurgents who fought Amer¬ dentials as Shiite resistance fighters to der the context of the withdrawal has ican troops in Iraq, waving banners and divide challengers in his own Shiite co¬ been able to draw them out of the armed screening triumphal videos of their alition and weaken Mr. Sadr's powerful conflict,' ' said a Western diplomat famil¬ deadly attacks on American Humvees, bloc, which draws its political lifeblood iar with the discussions between Mr. tanks and convoys. from the Shiite underclass. Maliki and the group. Standing in front ofAsaib's emblem By doing so, Iraq's government could It remains to be seen whether the a hand raising two fingers, flanked by embolden a militia with an almost group will be able to make any mark on silhouetted insurgents the group's nonexistent track record of peace while the political scene now that their main founder and leader, Mr. Khazali, praised handing Tehran greater influence in a antagonists have left Iraq. Sunni the Iraqis whohad spilled blood fighting country where the United States spent Muslims are wary of their history, and American forces, and said that the in¬ billions of dollars arid lost nearly 4,500 they are despised by Mr. Sadr and his surgents had forced the American with¬ soldiers in nine years of war. followers for what they consider to be drawal. "I think it is a dangerous step, this the group's treasonous public split with Later, in an interview with the group's move by the government, to join with Mr. Sadr. television station, Mr. Khazali struck a groups that do not believe inthe peaceful Western officials describe Asaib as a populist tone as he discussed the role political process," said Osama al-Nujaifi, well organized network under the thrall his group might one day play in Iraqi the speaker of Iraq's Parliament and a of Mr. Khazali's spiritual and strategic politics. . Sunni Arab. "They use the political with leadership that operates its own televi¬ "We want the people to concentrate one hand and military forces with the sion station and maintains close ties to on their power, to correct the errors of other hand. This is a violation of the Con¬ Iran. But that. does not necessarily the politicians," he said. "We know our stitution, a violation of peaceful political mean influence in Iraq's bruising polit¬ strength and how much influence we mechanism. There is a problem." ical culture. can have." Asaib al-Haq's public shift comes at a Mr. Maliki's government has em¬ delicate time for U.S. interests in the re¬ braced the group's vows to disarm while Yasir Ghazi and Omar al-Jawoshy con¬ gion. . A political, crisis is consuming avoiding any overt pledges to support tributed reporting.

plREUTEIR'

in an interview the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Iraq's Kurds see was in talks with other oil majors and expected further such deals to be agreed in the next few months.

Exxon deal on track, The KRG, he said, had submitted proposed amendments to the long-awaited draft national oil law and the bill was now due to no obstacles be presented before parliament in Baghdad.

ARBIL, Iraq, January 12 2012(Reuters) Oil production within Kurdish controlled northern Iraq was expected to be 175,000 barrels per day in 2012, and reach 1 mil¬

lion bpd in 2015, he said. IRAQ'S SEMI-AUTONOMOUS KURDISTAN government Meanwhile, Hawrami said a deal with Genel Energy to build a said on Thursday Exxon Mobil Corp's deal with the regional $400 million oil pipeline to link its Tak Tak oilfield with Iraq's government to develop six exploration blocks was on track export pipeline to Turkey's Mediterranean port of Ceyhan was and there were no obstacles to it proceeding. very close to being signed. Natural Resources Minister Ashti Hawrami also told Reuters

14 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Ôzeti

§ANP araratnews.net January 7, 2012

AKAKAl MTV'S*. PUBLISHING The Passion and Death of Rahman the Kurd

Carol Prunhuber's book "The Passion and Death of Rahman the Kurd: Dreaming Kurdistan" is an in-

depth biography of the Kurdish leader Abdul III MSSIII

Rahman Ghassemlou, killed by Iranian agents in tnitiiiiF Vienna in 1989. The book, published in four lan¬ RAHMAN

guages, received several international awards. THE KURD The Passion and Death of Rahman the Kurd

time, the writer introduces us to the Ghassemlou. The diary of Prunhuber cultivated leader of the Kurdish from that time recounts the difficult By Anahit Khatchikian Revolutionary movement in Iran, Abdul journey to the border, the modest www.araratnews.net Rahman Ghassemlou. He was an intel¬ room of the Kurdish leader and his lectual who spoke nine languages, friendly attitude to the Peshmergas. n 13 July 1989, Abdul Rahman could recite poems in Farsi and trans¬ The first seed for the book was plant¬ B Ghassemlou, leader of the late them instantly in French, loved lit¬ ed at that time, the Venezuelan jour¬ Kurdistan Democratic Party of erature and wine and surprised every¬ nalist recalls. Iran (KDPI) and respected Kurdish one with his knowledge on Western intellectual in the West, was assassi¬ culture and art. Later Prunhuber conducted interviews nated by Iranian agents in Vienna, with more than thirty individuals who Austria, while negotiating for a peace¬ Ghassemlou was the youngest of seven were related to the life of Ghassemlou. ful solution of the Kurdish question in brothers born in Urmia in Iranian Among these were: The Kurdish leader Iran. Kurdistan to the family of a rich Jalal Talabani, current President of Kurdish feudal lord and Assyrian Iraq; Abolhassan Bani Sadr, ex- Nineteen years later, Carol Prunhuber, mother (the third of his nine wives). He President of Iran; Ahmed Ben Bella, ex- the Venezuelan journalist and friend of spoke Kurdish at home, studied the President of Algeria, Bernard Ghassemlou, published his biography Quran and Arabic at school and Kouchner, former French Minister of " The Passion and Death of Rahman Assyrian language in the Christian Foreign and European Affairs, French the Kurd: Dreaming Kurdistan" in house of worship, where his mother journalist Chris Kutschera and many Spanish. Her book is not just a biogra¬ took him to learn religion unbe¬ others. phy; nor is it merely political analysis knownst to his father. Perhaps this rich of the Kurdish question in Iran. Carol and unusually mixed environment One of the strongest points in Prunhuber' s book is an intelligent shaped the sensibility of the cosmo¬ Prunhubner' s book is namely this example of deep investigative journal¬ politan visionary Ghassemlou would " polyphonic" approach. Many differ¬ ism, written with love and empathy, become. He was not religious himself, ent voices speak about Ghassemlou but at the same time conducted with but respected all people from different and the facts are retold from an array chirurgical precision. Every word, every ethnicities and beliefs. of perspectives to give a realistic por¬ fact, every testimony and shred of evi¬ trait of the reality in all its complexity. dence lies in its appropriate place and During his youth, Ghassemlou discov¬ This approach, as well as the use of speaks without its author' s subjective ered Marxism. He studied in Paris, documents, police reports and taped involvement. For this is a very engag¬ lived in communist Prague, taught records gives Prunhuber' s book the ing book. You can see an inspired and Economics in the University, married a necessary objectivity and impartiality passionate author amidst its lines - Czechoslovakian, Helene Krulich, and and prevents her book from the risk of who at the same time remains very witnessed the Soviet intervention in sounding propagandist. objective and impartial in analyzing Prague in 1968. No matter if he was in the dramatic circumstances surround¬ his homeland Kurdistan or away in The writer sympathises with the ing Ghassemlou' s untimely death. Europe, Ghassemlou continued to Kurdish cause, as have many other for¬ ponder and work for the rights of the eign intellectuals, writers and journal¬ Last but not least, it is a book written Kurdish people. Gradually he moved ists who support the struggle of this with a sense of accomplished moral closer to the social-democrat ideas, ancient people divided between four obligation. The author says that which also served as the basis of the states today. But Prunhuber always Ghassemlou asked her, " When I die, I KDPI ideology. The Kurdish leader keeps a high journalistic standard and would like you to write a book, telling believed in a multi-national, multi- lets the facts speak alone. the story of my life and the Kurdish religious democratic Iran with autono¬ cause." Sadly, at that time my for East Kurdistan. As a faithful biographer, Carol Ghassemlou didn' t know that Prunhuber follows the life of Prunhuber' s book would be signalled in 1985 Carol Prunhuber visited Ghassemlou through the years, ana¬ by his assassination. Ghassemlou in the daftar, the general lyzing his ideological and political evo¬ headquarters of KDPI established one lution. Today, four years its first publi¬ From the very first pages of this vol¬ year earlier along the Iraqi-Iranian cation, Carol Prunhuber continues to ume, the reader is immediately placed border, in a zone controlled by the follow pressing Kurdish issues and in the heart of the narration - it is the Kurdish Iraqi guerrillas of Jalal hopes that a person with the intellec¬ day of the assassination and for first Talabani, who cooperated closely with tual capacity of Ghassemlou will soon

15 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Ôzeti

emerge among the Kurdish leaders. Ghassemlou had a tolerance and The English version of the book has capacity for dialogue that allowed him received several awards among them: Carol Prunhuber shared her latest to gain respect from all. His stature Silver Medal Winner Foreword Review's observations on the Kurdish develop¬ went beyond his Kurdishness." 2009 Book of the Year Awards, ments: " There is one quality that Biography; Winner 2010 Next Ghassemlou had which 1 think is the Despite all the evidence of the Iranian Generation Indie Book Awards, most difficult for Kurds to attain - due regime' s responsibility in the assassi¬ Biography; Finalist in 2011 to the tribal tradition - and that is the nation of Abdul Rahman Ghassemlou, International Book Awards, Biography capacity to leave aside personal, to this day no one has been tried and General; Winner 2011 London Book party/family/triba! connections in the killers have never been punished. Festival, Biography/Autobiography. order to put the Kurdish cause as the " The Passion and Death of Rahman main goal. He was able to set aside his the Kurd: Dreaming Kurdistan" stands More information about Carol personal interests for the best of the as a faithful testimony which conserves Prunhuber' s book " The Passion Kurds. Ghassemlou knew that the the facts that continue to exist - and Death of Rahman the Kurd: strength of the Kurds lay in the unity beyond the dictatorship of the auto¬ Dreaming Kurdistan" among them. He was always trying to cratic regimes and the hypocrisy of the .http:/ / www.carol pru nhu ber.com /th end infighting amongst the Kurds - complicit European Western govern¬ ebook.html

the Achilles heel of the Kurdish move¬ ments. ment throughout its history.

YA January 04, 2012

Vo.ct c: A-iiL^'irc

energy reserves. And there is trade: Turkey to Broach Iraqi Kurd leaders say about 60 percent of foreign companies operating in the

region are Turkish. Kurdistan Issue in Tehran "Turkey has special interests in the

Kurdish region, and it has special rela¬

tions with them," says Bilhan. "We have Turkey's Foreign exchanged visits. They have come to Minister Ahmet Turkey for advice and to exchange Davutoglu, right, views for future cooperation, so I think and Iranian we have many things in common." counterpart Ali

V Akbar Salehi, But Kurdish separatists known as the

Ankara, Oct. 21, PKK operating in Turkey often enter

2011. the country from bases in Iraqi

Photo: Reuters Kurdistan. Turkish jets regularly bomb the area targeting the separatists, dra¬ wing angry responses from the Iraqi "KRG [the Kurdistan Regional Kurdish government. Dorian Jones | Istanbul Government] has asked for a national Soli Ozel, a columnist for the Turkish voanews.com meeting concerning all Iraqi parties to newspaper Haberturk and professor at discuss recent developments, and we Istanbul's Bilgi University, says econo¬ support that call," he says. "We have Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet mic interests ultimately outweigh good relations with the KRG of Iraq, Davutoglu is in Iran for talks that threats to regional stability from the and we continue to do so. We will be are expected to address the burgeo¬ PKK. continuing our economic relations and ning political crisis in neighboring Iraq, other political and social links." where Vice President Tariq al-Hashemi "The Kurds of Iraq said basically they cannot fight against the PKK, but we has fled to the semiautonomous Analysts say Ankara's strong support help you in any other way we can," he Kurdistan region to escape a warrant for the Kurdistan regional government says. "And Turkey will have to live with for his arrest. is also affecting Turkey's deteriorating Al-Hashemi has taken sanctuary in the that restriction, but our trade is in bil¬ relationship with Iran. There are gro¬ lions of dollars, and the logic of geopo¬ disputed northern territory in the wake wing suspicions in Ankara that Tehran litics -- the logic of history, maybe of of charges he led Sunni death squads is surreptitiously orchestrating some sociology - dictates that the Iraqi against Shi'ite opponents -- charges he of the political upheaval in Iraq so as to Kurds will have closer relations than denies. Iraq's Prime Minister Nouri al- strengthen Shi'ite power there. Maliki, a Shi'ite who ordered the arrest with Arab Iraq." warrant, has demanded the Iraqi Kurds Murât Bilhan, a former Turkish ambas¬ In his visit to Iran, the Turkish foreign hand over Hashemi. They have refused sador and professor of international minister is likely to bring up some of and are instead calling for talks to relations at Istanbul's Kultur University, the thorny issues concerning neighbo¬ says powerful economic forces are also resolve the crisis. ring Iraq, and he is likely to reaffirm driving the relationship between According to Turkish Foreign Ministry Turkey's ties with Iraqi Kurdistan. D Ankara and the Kurdistan government. spokesman Selcuk Unal, Ankara stron¬

gly backs that stance. The region is believed to have massive

16 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Ôzeti

-*rj||' | | 6 JANVIER 2012

À CHAUD 68 PERSONNES ONT ÉTÉ TUÉES DANS UNE SÉRIE D'ATTAQUES

Vagues d'attentats antichiites en Irak

Une série d'attentats visant des pèle¬ une bombe au milieu d'ungroupe de bombes ont explosé près de l'hôpital. rins chiites dans le sud de l'Irak et à pèlerins qui se rendaient à pied dans Selon le ministère de l'Intérieur, les Bagdad a fait au moins 68 morts hier. .lavillesaintedeKerbala. L'explosion attentats de Bagdad ont fait 23 morts

Le pays traverse une grave crise poli¬ a fait 45 morts et 68 blessés. A Bag¬ et 66 blessés. En unejournée, l'Irak tique qui ravive les tensions confes¬ dad, plusieurs attentats au véhicule connaît son plus lourdbilan humain,

sionnelles entre sunnites et chiites. piégé ont frappé deux quartiers em¬ depuis les événements meurtriers du Ces attentats interviennentmoins de blématiques: Kazimiya, où se trouve 15 août, lorsqu'une série d'attentats trois semaines après le retrait des le mausolée du 7e imam, et Sadr City, perpétrés simultanément dans plu¬

troupes américaines. A Nassiriya (sud le plus grand quartierchiite de la ca7 sieurs villes du pays avait causé plus

de l'Irak), un kainikaze a faitexploser pitale. Peu de temps après, deux de 74 morts.

«h 6 JANVIER 2012

sion» des observateurs.

Ces derniers ont été dénon- Syrie : l'incurie de . ces par l'opposition comme «manquant deprofessionna¬

lisme». <

écartés des chus: Es ont été où la Ligue arabe pointée le régime voulait qu'ils aillent», confirmait hier un

diplomate basé en. Syrie.

RÉPRESSION L'opposition syrienne, les Etats-Unis et D'où une certaine animosité la France appellent à une intervention de l'ONU. à leur encontre. «Nous et le peuple syrien sommes pour le

cinq civils qui ont encore été sang. D'où des critiques vi¬ transfert du dossier à l'ONU

Dixjours après le début tués par balles dans plusieurs rulentes de l'opposition à car les Arabes ne sont capa¬ de la mission des ob¬ villes, selon l'Observatoire leur encontre et le souhait de bles de prendre aucune àéci- servateurs-arabes en syrien des droits de plusieurs parties de voir sion réelle sur la Syrie», aren- Syrie, la controverse s'am¬ l'homme. De leur côté, les l'ONU intervenir pour met¬ chéri le colonel Riad Assad, plifie sur leur mission, qui comités locaux de coordina¬ tre fin à la répression/C'est le chefde l'Armée syrienne li¬ n'a nullement empêché la tion, qui organisent la mobi¬ cas de Washington, qui a es¬ bre, basé en Turquie. . poursuite de la répression. Le lisation, ont fait état de la timé hier que Damasn'avait Pour les manifestations protocole signé au Caire par mort de 390 personnes de¬ pas respecté ses engage¬ d'aujourd'hui, les militants Damas et la Ligue arabe ap¬ puis le début de la mission ments envers la Ligue arabe pro-démoçratie ont lancé sur pelait pourtant à un arrêt to¬ arabe, le 26 décembre. et qu'il était «largement la page Facebook «Syrian tal des violences et au retrait Même si le chiffre est exa¬ temps» pour les Nations Revolution 2011» des appels des chars des villes. Mais, à géré, force est de constater . unies d'agir. Paris a aussi à scander des slogans en fa¬ l'évidence, il n'est toujours que les observateurs n'ont jugé «utile», leur contribu¬ veur de «VinternationaBsation pas respecté. Hier, ce sont pas mis fin à l'effusion de tion pour «renforcer la mis- de la crise». ADamas, où les

défections sont rares, un

proche du régime a réussi à

quitter le pays. Mahmoud

SouleimanHajj Hamad, qui

était inspecteur, financier

auprès du chef du gouverne¬

ment et du ministère de la

Défense, a accusé sur Al-Je-

zira le régime de recevoir des

«aides financières d'Irak et

d'Iran», et d'avoir dépensé

40 millions de dollars (31 millions d'euros) pour

payer les miliciens chargés

de la répression.

JEAN-PIERRE PERRIN

Extrait d'une vidéo amateur, 1e 30 décembre à Duma (ouest de la Syrie). PHOTO AP

17 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Ôzeti

Observateur 5 janvier 2012 - n° 2451

ETUDIANTS, JOURNALISTES, MILITANTS ARRETES... lutte antiterroriste. Loin devant la Chine, laTurquie détient le palmarès

du nombre le plus élevé dans le La Turquie àpoigne monde de « terroristes »: sur 35 000 personnes condamnées pour terro¬

risme depuis dix ans, selon une étude d'Erdogan de l'agence Associated Press, un tiers d'entre elles sont turques. La progres¬

sion est exponentielle : en 2005, ily a L'espoir d'une adhésion à l'Europe avait favorisé eu 273 peines de prononcées, en

2009,6345. des avancées démocratiques. Mais, au nom de la lutte Le 20 février 2010 à Kagithane, un

contre le terrorisme, le gouvernement d'Ankara faubourg d'Istanbul, Cihan Kirrnizi- gul attend le bus pour se rendre à renoue avec les pratiques des années noires l'université de Galatasaray. Ce jeune

Kurde de 24 ans porte un keffieh. Mal

lui en a pris. Non loin de l'Abribus,

des manifestants, levisage dissimulé

DENOTRE CORRESPONDANT? par un keffieh, lancent des cocktails Manifestation Molotov contre les forces de l'ordre. devant Nesimi Yigit Eryilmaz peut Un témoin anonyme assure avoir '4* y *' sans doute dire merci à reconnu Cihan grâce à son foulard. î Cela suffitpour faire de luiun « terro¬ «Time Magazine » qui, en

décembre, a sacré le riste». Depuis, le témoin s'est

« manifestant » personnalité de l'an¬ rétracté. Mais ce brillant étudiant en

née 2011. Deuxjours après lapublica¬ «fc. ingénierie, qui lit désormais Michel

tion de l'hebdomadaire américain, Foucault dans sa cellule, encourt

cetétudiantturcs'apprêteàapostro- jusqu'à quarante-cinq ans de prison

pher le ministre de l'Energie, Taner pour appartenance au Parti des Tra¬

Yildiz, lors d'une conférence sur le vailleurs du Kurdistan (PKK), la gué¬

nucléaire. Il a à peine le temps de rilla kurde active depuis 1984. «L'acte

crier «Monsieur le ministre... » que d'accusation est vide, détaille Meh-

dix gros bras de la sécurité le pla¬ met Karli, enseignanten droit à Gala¬

quent au sol. Mais, grand prince, le tasaray et coordinateur d'une plate¬

membre du gouvernement l'invite à Paris-Ankara: forme de solidarité avec les étudiants exprimer ses doléances à la tribune. les dessous d'une crise arrêtés. Son cas est symbolique, il 500 étudiants derrière les barreaux, montre les priorités sécuritaires du

majoritairement accusés de terro¬ Les relations entre Paris et Ankara commençaient gouvernement. Onassisteaudévelop-

risme, n'ont pas bénéficié de cette à s'apaiser. Le vote, le 22 décembre, à l'Assemblée pement d'un système autoritaire qui

mansuétude. Comme FerhatTuzeret nationale, d'une proposition de loi punissant la ressemble à celui de laRussie. »

Berna Yilmaz qui viennent de passer négation des génocides d'une peine d'un an de prison A écouter la définition du terro¬

dix-neuf mois en détention provi¬ et de 45000 euros d'amende a relancé les hostilités. risme que vient de donnerle ministre

soire pour avoir brandi une bande¬ A moins de trois mois de l'élection présidentielle, de l'Intérieur, ily a de quoi se faire du

role réclamant la gratuité de l'ensei¬ ce texte, destiné à séduire les 500000 Français mouron. Selon Idris Nahim Sahin, le

gnement supérieur lors d'un meeting descendants de rescapés du génocide arménien de terrorisme peut prendre la forme

du Premier ministre Recep Tayyip 1915, était soutenu par l'UMP et le PS. Niant l'existence d'« un poème», se nicher dans «la

Erdogan. Accusés de faire partie d'un d'un génocide pendant la Première Guerre mondiale peinture» et «les pratiques scienti¬

obscur groupuscule d'extrême dans l'Empire ottoman, le Premier ministre Recep fiques». Il convient d'être d'autant

gauche, ils risquent quinze ans de Tayyip Erdogan a reproché à Nicolas Sarkozy d'attiser plus vigilant, assure ce proche d'Er¬

prison pour «appartenance à une « la haine du musulman et du Turc » dans un but dogan, que les membres du PKK et

organisation terroriste». électoraliste et a accusé la France d'avoir commis un du KCK - une structure urbaine et .

Les libertés publiques sont en génocide en Algérie. Le thème est porteur en Turquie. administrative de la rébellion kurde

berne enTurquie. Etudiants, journa¬ Sitôt la loi adoptée en première lecture, le - se livrent à «des comportements

listes, militants kurdes, activistes des gouvernement islamo-conservateur a annoncé une immoraux», comme «l'homosexua¬

droits de l'homme sont arrêtés par première salve de sanctions (essentiellement lité» ou «manger du porc». Ce -dis¬

centaines. Après des avancées démo¬ politiques et militaires) et a menacé de mesures cours moyenâgeux visait à justifier

cratiques considérables, encouragées supplémentaires si la loi était mise à l'ordre du jour du les rafles successives dans lèsJpilieux

par le démarrage des négociations Sénat. Son examen a été annoncé, mais non confirmé, kurdes. Près de 4000 personnes ont

d'adhésion à l'Union européenne en d'ici à fin février. La crise entre les deux pays risque ainsi été arrêtées depuis trois ans. Au

2004, l'époque est au tour devis sécu¬ d'avoir des conséquences durables sur la coopération nom de la lutte contre le PKK, la jus¬

ritaire. En cause, une dérive de la diplomatique, notamment dans le dossier syrien. L. M. tice ratisse large, de plus en plus.

18 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Ozeti

lah Gùlen ou lapoliceest impensable », détaille un journaliste.'

Il est àcraindre qu'Ahmet Sik, jour¬ 'Wteï?-- naliste d'investigation, ne soit une

desvictimes de ce nouvel ordre. Il est

actuellement jugé pour avoir «aidé

l'organisation terroristeErgenekon », ' une nébuleuse militaro-mafieuse

soupçonnée d'avoir cherché à faire

tomber le gouvernement islamo- \ conservateur. Son inculpation repose sur son dernier livre dans .4 lequel il: met en cause le puissant réseau Gulen pour son noyautage de

la policeJ «Son arrestation a envoyé un message très clair: un livre peut vous conduire en prison », assène

Yonca Sik, son épouse. Son cas est

ubuesque. Alors qu'il a mené des

enquêtes sur les crimes de l'armée

dans l'Est kurde, Ahmet Sik se

retrouve sur le même banc que 250

officiers arrêtés etjugés dans le cadre

du réseau Ergenekon - du nom d'une

vallée turque mythique - et d'autres

complots présumés contre le Parti de

la Justice et du Développement

Quarante ans après avoir été incar¬ quences de la modification législa¬ Le Premier (AKP) au pouvoir. Mais même ces céré pour «liens secrets» avec tive qui établit « une définition vague ministre procès, salués au départ comme une

Amnesty International, Ragip et trop large du terrorisme». Les Recep Tayyip purge salutaire au sein de l'armée,

Zarakolu, 63 ans et une trentaine magistrats l'appliquent au bazooka. Erdogan et s'attirent de plus en plus de critiques : d'arrestations dans savie de militant, Ainsi, une femme kurde analphabète des officiers de accusations montées à la va-vite, est de retour en prison. De tous les a été condamnée à sept ans de prison l'armée turque, délais de détention injustifiables, combats démocratiques, pour le à cause d'une pancarte en turc à la le 15 décembre « preuves » suspectes... Ce ne sont peuple kurde, les minorités, la recon¬ gloire d'Abdullah Ôcalan, le chef du pas les procès de Moscou mais d'Is¬

naissance du génocide arménien, le PKK, dans une manifestation ! tanbul, raillent certains : le gouverne¬

directeur de la Maison d'édition Dans cette ambiance délétère, les ment est accusé de s'en servir pour

Belge estemprisonné depuis octobre, journalistes sont enpremière ligne. Us saquer ses ennemis.

et soupçonné d'appartenir au KCK. sont désormais une centaine à être Dans la nouvelle Turquie, l'armée,

Un de ses fils, Deniz, doctorant en emprisonnés, souvent kurdes mais qui a quatre coups d'Etat à son actif,

sciences politiques, subit le même pas toujours. Le rapport annuel de la est rentrée dans le rang. Mais, se

sort. Dans une lettre rendue publique Commission européenne sur les désolent les démocrates qui se sont

via son avocat, Ragip Zarakolu négociationsd'adhésion de laTurquie battus pour qu'elle se retire de la vie

dénonce « une campagne qui vise à s'inquiète de «la restriction de la politique, elle a été remplacée par la

intimider tous les démocrates de la libertédes médias », alimentée par les police. Signe de sa montée en puis¬

Turquie». «La seule bonne nouvelle procès lancés par le gouvernement et sance, ses effectifs ont quasiment

estquel'administrationvientd'accep- qui ont «un effetparalysant» sur les doublé entre 2002 - date de l'arrivée

ter de mettre mon père et monfrère journalistes. Le Premier ministre L'éditeur militant au pouvoir de l'AKP - et2010, passant

dans la même cellule», raconte son Erdogan est très procédurier. Il a Ragip Zarakolu, de 122000 à 229965, selon les don¬

autre fils Sinan. Les premiers mois, même porté plainte contre un maga¬ emprisonné nées de la Direction de la Sécurité.

l'un était incarcéré dans une prison zine satirique qui l'avait caricaturé en depuis octobre «La police a gagné la confiance du

à la frontière bulgare, l'autre en Ana- chat empêtré dans une pelote de gouvernement en démantelant des

tolie, à quatre heures de route. «Les laine! L'autocensure est devenue un tentatives de coups d'Etat de l'armée,

avocats n'ontpas accèsauxactes d'ac¬ réflexe dans les médiasqui ne sontpas décrypte Ahmet Insel, professeur à

cusation, impossible de connaître ce àlabotte du gouvernement. Alors que Galatasaray. Mais le retrait de l'armée

qu'on leur reproche», explique-t-il. l'étau s'estdesserré autour de certains ne s'estpas traduitpar une modifica¬

C'est une des spécificités de la loi sujets, comme le génocide arménien, tion de la structure autoritaire, seuls antiterroriste, élargie en 2006 : l'acte par exemple, d'autres sont devenus les acteurs ont changé. La police est

d'accusation peut rester secret tabous. «Ecriresurl'enrichissementde totalement liée au pouvoir civil, c'est jusqu'au procès. L'ONG Human membresdugouvernement, la corrup¬ contreluiqu'ilfautdésormais lutter.»

Rights Watch s'alarme des consé tion, la confrérie religieuse de Fethul- LAU1MARCHAND

19 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Ôzeti

£05 Angeles Sftmes Januai7 5> 2012

Iraq bombings targeting Shiites kill 71, deepening sectarian crisis

The attacks in the south and in Baghdad bear the hallmark of Sunni Arab insurgents.

They are the second major wave of violence since U.S. troops left Iraq.

By Raheem Salman and

Alexandra Zavis Reportingfrom Baghdad and Beirut W ''It '

string of explosions targeting f^M Shiite Muslims that killed at least

71 people bore the hallmark of

Sunni Arab insurgents who have a his¬

tory of trying to capitalize on tensions

among Iraqi politicians to reignite the

communal violence that nearly tore the

country apart.

The bombings Thursday in the

south of Iraq and in mainly Shiite eve of a visit to Iraq's powerful neigh¬

neighborhoods of the capital, Baghdad, bor, predominantly Shiite Iran. In the deadliest attack, a suicide

were the second major wave of attacks In Iraq, fear of retaliation has bomber blew himself up among pil¬

since the last U.S. troops departed from already prompted some Sunnis to flee grims who were walking to the Shiite

Iraq less than three weeks ago. predominantly Shiite neighborhoods of holy city of Karbala before an important

Sectarian tension has escalated shar¬ Baghdad, a reminder of the worst days religious holiday, killing 44 people, said

ply as a political dispute threatens to of the sectarian strife that eased only Sajjad Asadi, head of the provincial

unravel U.S.-backed power-sharing after the U.S. military increased its security committee in Nasiriya.

arrangements among the country's troop strength and formed alliances The explosion happened at a rest

Shiites, Sunni Arabs and ethnic Kurds. with Sunni tribal leaders to fight Al stop set up at a checkpoint near

There was no immediate claim of Qaeda and its affiliates. Nasiriya, which is about 200 miles sou¬

responsibility. But Sunni insurgents lin¬ "Such incidents increase our fears theast of the capital, Baghdad. Jaafar

ked to Al Qaeda frequently targeted that the violence will mount," said Ali Hashim, a 42-year-old English teacher

Shiites with coordinated bombings Mohsen Chiyad, a 31-year-old Shiite from Nasiriya, was less than 100 yards

during the bloodshed that pushed the day laborer who saw a ball of fire and away.

country to the brink of civil war five smoke rising before him from a blast in "Pieces of flesh, clothes and shoes

years ago. Baghdad's Sadr City neighborhood. are scattered in the place," he said. "I

"Definitely ... there is a relationship 'These political problems and diffe¬ even saw strands of girls' hair."

between these explosions and the politi¬ rences among the politicians encourage Earlier Thursday, four bombs explo¬

cal crisis, but it doesn't mean necessa¬ the terrorists to work, in my opinion." ded in the Baghdad neighborhoods of

rily that one of the sides in the crisis is Despite concerns about Iraq's stabi¬ Sadr City and Kadhimiya, killing at

directly responsible," said Dhiya lity, the Obama administration could least 27 people, police and health offi¬

Shikerchi, an Iraqi political analyst. not reach agreement with Prime cials said.

Shikerchi raised the prospect that a Minister Nouri Maliki's government The explosions began about 7 a.m.,

separate entity was trying to exploit about a continuing U.S. military role in when a bomb attached to a motorcycle

political tensions to return the country Iraq. Under an agreement reached by detonated in an area of Sadr City where

to sectarian strife. the George W. Bush administration, the day laborers wait for work and vendors

So far, there is no sign that Shiite last U.S. troops left Iraq on Dec. 18. sell food, police and witnesses said. A

militias are taking the bait. Instead, the National Security Advisor Falah roadside bomb then exploded nearby.

political movement of radical Shiite cle¬ Fayadh sought to deflect criticism that At least 12 people were killed and 34

ric Muqtada Sadr, whose militia was Iraq's security forces weren't up to the injured in the two blasts, officials said.

blamed for near-daily kidnappings and task, telling the U.S.-funded Alhurra Security forces also found two unexplo-

killings at the height of the sectarian satellite television network that there ded devices in the area, they said.

fighting, called on government forces to were even bigger attacks when U.S. In Kadhirniya, which is home to a

improve their security plans. troops were present. revered Shiite shrine, two car bombs

The risks of sectarian conflict go "Such incidents are not connected exploded within minutes, killing at

well beyond Iraq. Turkey's Anatolian with the American presence or their least 15 people and injuring 37, officials

news agency quoted that country's withdrawal, but with a terrorist agenda said.

foreign minister, Ahmet Davutoglu, as which tries to disrupt the future of Iraq Thursday's attacks were the dead¬

warning that Sunni-Shiite tensions and Iraqis," he said. liest since Dec. 22, when a string of

could throw the Middle East into a Police and hospital officials said the bombings in mostly Shiite neighbo¬

"regional Cold War." Davutoglu's com¬ day's toll across the country was at least rhoods of Baghdad killed 71 people.

ments this week were published on the 71 dead and hundreds injured. The violence took place amid a poli-

20 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Ozeti

tical standoff between factions represen¬ Kurdish region, where he is beyond the members broke ranks to attend parlia¬

ting the Shiite majority, which domi¬ reach of the Baghdad security forces. ment Thursday, saying they respect

nates the government, and the Sunni Maliki, a Shiite, has also called for a their oath of office and their voters.

minority that ruled under the late vote of no confidence in his Sunni In a bid to defuse tensions, Maliki

Saddam Hussein. deputy, Saleh Mutlak, who had likened met Thursday evening with parliament

Last month, an arrest warrant was him to a dictator. Speaker Usama Nujaifi, a Sunni. Both

issued for the country's Sunni vice pre¬ Iraqiya, the political bloc to which leaders condemned the bombings. They

sident, Tariq Hashimi, on accusations Hashimi and Mutlak belong, has been described the meeting as positive and

that he ran a death squad that targeted boycotting parliament and Cabinet ses¬ said they had hopes of finding a politi¬

government officials. Hashimi says the sions to protest what it describes as cal solution.Q

charges are politically motivated. He Shiite attempts to consolidate power

has retreated to Iraq's semiautonomous and marginalize Sunnis. But seven

Todays Zaman 2 January 2012 Ankara urges US to pull the break on Maliki, prevent partition in Iraq

TODAY'S ZAMAN, ANKARA heavily on the Iraqi route for its econom¬

ic ties to the Middle East, given its meas¬

ures against Syria, blocking its only other Concerned with the increasing possi¬ alternative route for transportation. bility of a sectarian partition inside

fragile Iraq, Ankara has delivered a mes¬ * Vi Warning that Turkey's door in the south sage to Shiite PM Nouri al-Maliki to "live might close if Iraq ~ already a dangerous up to his promises" to equally represent area ~ becomes more hazardous after a all factions in Iraq, while sending another 7 possible partition, expert and academic to Washington to urge the US to "refrain Mensur Akgun voiced concern that from indulging" the Shiite leader. Turkey's ties with the semiautonomous

Kurdish administration in the north will In the face of escalating sectarian ten¬ Iraqi PM Nouri al-Maliki (Photo: AP) need fine tuning, the daily Taraf reported sion inside Iraq, Ankara has recently in an interview on Monday. issued multiple messages to Baghdad voice of all Iraqis when he became prime and Washington, sounding the alarm minister, comforting the masses that Iraq "If Iraq falls apart for a reason that lies about what might occur in Iraq in the would not fall into sectarian or ethnic outside the Kurdish bloc, Turkey will post-US period, the Turkish daily Sabah strife when the US left the country. A day have to recognize a Kurdish state in reported. The daily claimed that Ankara after US troops left in early December, Iraq's north," Akgun was quoted by Taraf got in touch with US officials, warning Maliki issued an arrest warrant for the as saying, as he justified the logic of them against "spoiling" Maliki, who took top Sunni official, Vice President Tariq al- such a move on Turkey's increased need charge of the Iraqi government after Hashemi, saying he had paid his body¬ for stronger connections with the Kurdish years, of trying to reconcile the Sunni, guards to assassinate rivals some years administration when Sunnis and Shiites Shiite and Kurdish blocs in the country. back, but Hashemi's defense suggested wage a sectarian war in the rest of the

that the charges are politically motivated country. Predicting that the Kurdish Turkey also warned the US of "the to defame him. administration would stay out of the sec¬ increasing possibility of Iraq being parti¬ tarian strife to maintain stability, Akgun tioned," which would seriously jeopard¬ When Maliki asked parliament to fire his suggested that an unlikely alliance has ize security in the region, Sabah noted. Sunni deputy, blaming him for "Saddam¬ arisen between the Kurdish administra¬

like aspirations" against the country's tion and Turkey, "sides the West did not In the wake of a Shiite bloc move against unity, the Shiite move to hoard power believe would concur." senior Sunni officials in what appears to turned into a campaign that Sunnis inter¬ be an attempt to strip them of their power preted as a threat against the members Turkey in the past had an icy relationship to increase Shiite dominance in the of the sect. Sunnis started leaving Shiite coalition government, Ankara reportedly with northern Iraq, from where outlawed or mixed population neighborhoods in Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) mem¬ contacted Maliki to urge him to keep the fear of becoming targets of attacks, the bers infiltrate onto Turkish soil and promises he made when he rose to Associated Press news agency reported launch attacks that have claimed tens of power and protect the multicultural struc¬ on Monday. Days after the arrest war¬ thousands of lives due to the terrorist ture of Iraq. Turkish officials further rant, multiple bombings rocked group's aspirations for an autonomous called on Maliki "not to meddle in Syrian Baghdad, killing dozens and injuring Kurdish zone inside Turkey. After the US politics," on the grounds that the sectari¬ even more, all the while giving the initial intervention, a politically organized an situation in Iraq is not connected to signal that Iraq could see more deaths Kurdish administration emerged in the the situation in Syria, which is experienc¬ as conflict between sects continues. north, warming up relations with Turkey ing a bloody uprising to force a change in the fields of economy and politics, of power in that country. The sectarian conflict in Iraq also dealt a while assisting the country's fight against significant blow to Turkey, which relies Maliki promised that he would be the PKK terrorism.*

21 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Ôzeti

£$REUTER

Kurds to stay clear of Iraq sectarian strife

ARBIL, Iraq- January 5, 2012 TM

By Jon Hemming(Reuters) >, 3 IRAQ'S KURDS are determined not to get dragged into a

sectarian conflict over Shi'ite Prime Minister Nuri al-

Maliki's attempted arrest of the Sunni vice-president, and decides."

the Kurds' leader said failure to implement a federal sys¬ Hashemi says he is willing to be tried inside the Kurdish tem would lead to disaster. zone, and insists a fair trial is not possible in Baghdad.

Nine years after the U.S.-led invasion, much of Iraq is still OIL DEAL, FEDERAL SYSTEM plagued by Sunni insurgents and Shi'ite militias, but Iraqi Kurdistan has enjoyed relative peace and prosperity after The crisis put the Kurds in a precarious, but potentially

successfully rising up against Saddam Hussein in 1991 and powerful position as brokers if any political deal can be rea¬

achieving federal autonomy under Iraq's 2005 constitution. ched, and, if not, both Maliki and the Iraqiya bloc would need Kurdish backing in parliament to overcome the other Unless their interests are directly affected, the Kurds have side. tried to remain largely aloof from the interminable political wrangling that has beset the central government in The Kurds may use this as leverage to win concessions on

Baghdad, attempting to act as a mediator to resolve potential their own strategic interests, such as control of oil resources

conflicts. and territories disputed between Baghdad and Iraqi Kurdistan. But Vice President Tareq al-Hashemi's flight to Kurdistan last month after an attempt to arrest him on accusations of While relatively secure in the mountains of northern Iraq, running death squads has thrust the Kurds centre stage in a the Kurds are upset by the Baghdad's failure to resolve the

political drama that could descend into sectarian violence. status of Kirkuk, the city at the centre of large oil reserves, which the Kurdish government claims as part of Kurdistan. "I don't.want to be dragged into this," Masoud Barzani, pre¬ sident of the Kurdish region, told Reuters in an interview on A referendum set in Article 140 of the constitution for 2007

Wednesday. has still not been held.

"We are not part of the sectarian struggle that is there. Of "We as Kurds we have opted for a voluntary union between course we are part of the political disagreement and political Arabs and Kurds and for the system of governance in Iraq to struggle, but not of the sectarian one." be federal. This is a constitutional right therefore for us and for the people of Iraq, we support a federal system in this The Kurds have called for a national conference to settle the country," said Barzani who led Kurdish peshmerga forces differences between Maliki and the cross-sectarian Iraqiya fighting Saddam from 1979 after the death of his father who bloc which is boycotting parliament and cabinet meetings, fought Baghdad-rule from the 1940s onwards. accusing Maliki's Shi'ite-led government of concentrating

power. "Preventing the implementation of constitutional articles, this will lead the country to face huge problems," he said. "We are all waiting for the concerned groups to reach an "This will bring about disasters." agreement on when and where to meet," Barzani said. With political wrangling in Baghdad also holding up a long- Barzani said he was ready to host the conference, but politi¬ awaited law on the future exploitation of oil riches, the cal sources said Maliki was against meeting in the Kurdish Kurdistan government has gone ahead and signed a series of capital Arbil and wanted the issue of Hashemi cleared up its own oil deals, most notably with Exxon Mobil, much to first. the annoyance of others in the central government.

"If they decide to have it somewhere else, then it is up to Barzani said there was an agreement with Baghdad that each them, but as far as we are concerned, the venue is not a pro¬ side could continue signing such contracts until the oil law blem," said Barzani, wearing traditional Kurdish costume of was passed. The Exxon deal also encompasses areas whose khaki baggy trousers, waistcoat and cummerbund. control is disputed by Arbil and Baghdad.

"I believe many of the concerned groups are not ready to go "As for places that are called disputed territories by others, to Baghdad," he said. for us they are part of the Kurdistan region," said Barzani. "If As for the fate of Hashemi, "this something that the judicial they have got any disagreement with this then let them come system and the courts have to decide," Barzani said. "We will and implement Article 140 as it says in the constitution." not interfere in whatever proceedings the judicial system

22 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Ôzeti

Iraq's Barzani sends $40,000 to Uludere victims' families 6 January 2012

Justice and Development Party Deputy Chairman Hùseyin Çelik announced on Wednesday that the fami¬

lies of the victims will be paid compensation for the deadly mistake.

worldbulletin.net clarified.

The main opposition Republican Massoud Barzani, leader of northern People's Party (CHP) has submitted a Iraq's autonomous Kurdish govern¬ proposal that requests that the state pay

ment, has sent $40,000 to the relatives of M TL 64,460 in compensation to the next of

the victims of the deadly airstrike that kin of each victim killed in the airstrike. took place in Sirnak's Uludere district on CHP Ardahan deputy Ensar Ôgût the 28th December 2011. submitted the proposal on Wednesday, Serbest Lezgin Sindori, a Kurdistan J which seeks to amend the current law Democratic Party (KDP) official, accom¬ that regulates the level of compensation panied the gift to Uludere on Thursday, announced on Wednesday that the fami¬ to be paid to victims of terrorism. The where he met the families of the victims lies of the victims will be paid compensa¬ proposal seeks to increase the amount and offered Barzani's condolences. tion for the deadly mistake. from TL 22,000 to TL 64,460. Sindori also delivered $40,000 to commu¬ Meanwhile, Customs and Trade nity leaders in Uludere and the nearby Çelik, who met with the Ankara repre¬ Minister Hayati Yazici stated on villages of Ortasu, Giilyazi and Yemisli, to sentatives of various press organizations Thursday that the government is conside¬ be distributed to the families of the vic¬ on Wednesday, said that "an apology ring of opening a duty-free border gate tims. Sindori passed on the message that would not bring the dead back," in res¬ near Gulyazi, Uludere district, that will Iraqi Kurds are sharing in the sorrow of ponse to questions over whether the discourage people in the region from the people of Uludere. government has any plans to apologize. "Compensation could be interpreted as crossing the borders illegally. Justice and Development Party (AK an apology from the state, but the govern¬ Party) Deputy Chairman Hùseyin Çelik ment will also apologize if needed," he

guardian 3 January 2012 Turkey to compen¬ sate air strike vic¬ >X

tims t v*^ Families of 35 civilians killed in strike meant for Kurdish rebels will receive payments within days,

says deputy prime minister 3*

Associated Press Turkey will compensate the families of 35 civilians mista¬ kenly killed in an air strike meant for Kurdish rebels, the

deputy prime minister has said, even as he insisted that mili¬ Family members cry over the coffins of victims killed in the

tary officials followed proper procedures, including firing war¬ raid by Turkish military jets. Photograph: AP

ning shots. The air strikes, guided by intelligence from drones and strike is under way. He added that artillery units fired warning fired by Turkish F-16 jets, hit a group of Kurdish smugglers in shots ahead ofthe air strikes but the civilians did not stop. The northern Iraq last week. The loss oflife was one of the highest area was illuminated, he said. civilian death tolls in one day in Turkey's conflict with the "The occurrence ofthe incident was in no way intentional," rebels. Arinc said. "All the findings here were determined as warran¬ The incident set off violent protests in mostly Kurdish ting an operation." cities and further undermined Turkey's attempts to address Kurdish rebels have routinely used the border region to the grievances ofthe Kurds, who make up about 20% of its 74 launch attacks on Turkish targets, slipping into Turkey on million people and some of whom want autonomy in the some of the same rugged paths used by fuel and cigarette south-east region where they dominate. smugglers. The deputy prime minister, Bulent Arinç, did not specify Since the smugglers' deaths, the rebel Kurdistan Workers' how much money will be paid to the families of the victims, party, labelled a terrorist group by Turkey and the west, threa¬ but said on Monday the payments would come within days. He tened retaliation and urged protesters to mobilise. The group also said the government was exploring ways to increase the has fought for autonomy in the country's largely Kurdish amount of the compensation. south-east since 1984. The fighting has killed tens of thou¬ Arinc noted that an investigation into the botched air sands of people so far.B

23 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Ôzeti

fentiSSfetkme January*

A troubled mission to Syria

asserting that the observer was refer¬ men that their refusal to comply with a BEIRUT ring to a hypothetical case. cease-fire would be dealt with harshly.

On Monday, the Arab League came to "He ordered the gunship pilots to put Top Arab League observer his defense. At a news conference in on a display of firepower in front of tri¬ has used tactics the group Cairo, the league's director, Nabil al-Ar- bal leaders 'to show what the heli¬ aby, called General Dabi a "capable mil¬ copters could do,' " the book said. seeks to curb, activists say itary man with a clean reputation," The Some activists from Darfur say that A.P. reported. Several attempts to reach General Dabi's four-month tenure in General Dabi on his cellphone or western Darfur was a precursor to the BY KAREEM FAHIM through the observer delegation's office government's counterinsurgency cam¬

The Arab League observer mission in Damascus were unsuccessful. paign in the region several years later.

charged with helping bring about an In interviews, several people who Mr. de Waal, who interviewed Gener¬ end to the violence in Syria has claimed have dealt with the general called him al Dabi for the book, said in ah e-mail: several accomplishments, noting that " personally likable and an efficient ad¬ "He took the line that the problems the government has withdrawn tanks ministrator, and some said it was con¬ needed a very firm hand, a show of force and artillery from cities and has re¬ ceivable that he could run the observer to demonstrate who was in charge. The leased nearly 3,500 prisoners. mission with fairness. Masalit see his months there as a time of But as the killings have continued, the Others, though, called him exactiy the repression. General Dabi insists he was mission has been mired in controversy, wrong kind of person to head such a evenhanded and effective." much of it focused on its leader: a Su¬ mission: a career enforcer for an au- . Several years ago, when the Su¬ danese general who, rights activists thoritarian government who had shown danese government needed someone to say, presided over the same kind of a harsh hand in dealing with opponents. defend its repeated violations of an deadly and heavy-handed tactics in Su¬ "I don't know if they looked into his arms embargo in Darfur to experts from dan that the Arab League mission is background," said Faisal Mohammed the United Nations, the president again seeking to curb in Syria. Salih, a columnist with Al Akhbar, a turned to General Dabi. The observer mission, which arrived newspaper in Sudan. "This is a human As members of a U.N. panel tried to in Syria on Dec. 26 to oversee Syria's rights mission. They should have pry information from Sudanese officials agreement to withdraw troops from its chosen someone who is sensitive to hu¬ about the violations in Darfur, including cities and stop killing political protest¬ man rights issues. Military men in the bombings, General Dabi repeatedly ob¬ ers, has been criticized by Syrian activ¬ Arab world should'be the last choice for structed their investigation, curbing ists as being weak, understaffed and such missions." their travel and making sure no one easily manipulated by the government. For decades, General Dabi played a spoke to them without his approval, two While the observers have traveled to forceful if quiet role in the government of members of the panel said. troubled cities, and listened to the pleas "Al-Dabi is not about the truth, or of distraught citizens and the explana¬ "Al-Dabi is not about the facts," said another member, Eiirico tions of Syrian officials, they have been Carisch, who was the panel's coordina¬ truth, or facts. He is about powerless to stop the bloodshed. tor in 2008. "He is about fitting the facts fitting the facts and the truth Syrian activists say more than 150 and the truth to the policies.' ' people have been killed since the moni¬ to the policies." The Arab League has not said publicly tors arrived. On Sunday, an Arab why it chose General Dabi to head the League advisory body, the 88-member mission to Syria, though Mr. Salih, the Arab Parliament, said the group should President Omar Hassan al-Bashir of Su¬ Sudanese columnist, and others have be withdrawn because the government dan. General Dabi was a member of Mr. speculated that because of Sudan's

was continuing to kill its opponents. Bashir's trusted inner circle when Mr. friendly relations with Syria he was more The Arab League has called for an Bashir rose to power in a coup in 1989. likely to be accepted by Damascus. emergency meeting Saturday in Cairo Mr. Bashire repeatedly picked General There is also speculation that he was to discuss whether the monitors should Dabi for important security posts. Qatar's favored choice. The general has -leave, The Associated Press reported. His first post in the Bashir govern¬ served as the Sudanese ambassador to The accusations and concerns about ment was as head of military intelli¬ Qatar, a League member that helped the mission have found a physical em¬ gence. Reports by Amnesty Internation¬ drive the action against Syria. bodiment in the group's leader, Lt. Gen. al from the early 1990s document the role General Dabi is not the only liability in Muhammad Ahmed al-Dabi of Sudan, military intelligence agents played in ex¬ a mission that analysts say suffers from

whose history and recent statements ecutions, torture and disappearances as deep flaws. While its members include have only deepened the criticism. the government fought insurgents in some respected human rights workers, Last week, the general spoke dis- southern Sudan. others are said to be functionaries sent missively about the damage in Horns, à After serving as the head of the ex¬ by Arab League governments with their rebellious city that was shelled by gov¬ ternal security agency and then deputy own woeful records of human rights. ernment tanks. "Some places looked a chief of staff in the armed forces, he was When they arrived in Syria last week, bit of a mess, but there was nothing assigned by Mr. Bashir to curb a bloody after a few hours of training, critics

frightening," he told Reuters. civil conflict in the Darfur region. quickly pointed out that the 60-member On Sunday, he publicly contradicted The general arrived in Darfur with team was hardly sufficient to monitor a an Arab League observer who told resi¬ "two helicopter gunships and a com¬ conflict spread across the country of 20 dents in the city of Dara'a that he had pany of 120 soldiers," according to "Dar¬ million people. seen government snipers and would tell fur: A Short History of a Long War," by Syrian officials to remove them. "But he Alex de Waal and Julie Flint, making Isma'il Kushkush contributed reporting didn't see," General Dabi told the BBC, clear to warring Masalit and Arab tribes from Khartoum, Sudan.

24 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Ôzeti

£tMmèz

Dimanche 8 - Lundi 9 Janvier 2012

Nouvelle offensive du gouvernement turc contre l'institution militaire

Accusé de tentative de putsch, Ilker Basbug, ancien chef d'état-major, a été placé en détention

l'homme du Conseil de l'Europe, Istanbul Thomas Hammarberg. Correspondance «les tribunaux d'exception ne

rendentpas la justice, mais entéri¬ a démarche raide dans un cos¬ nent les décisions prises par les fi tume sombre, Ilker Basbug J=J est ressorti, jeudi 5 janvier, autorités politiques», a précisé pour sa part le chefde l'opposition du bureau du procureur, tard dans et leader du parti kémaliste (CHP), la nuit, pour être conduit sous escorte policière, vers la prison de Kemal Kiliçdaroglu. A la tête de l'état-major des Silivri, près d'Istanbul. Après plus armées de 2008 à. 2010, Ilker Bas¬ de sept heures d'interrogatoire, bug, 68 ans, était .depuis des l'ancien chef de l'armée turque, à la retraite depuis 2010, a été placé annéesdans le collimateurdes pro¬ cureurs chargés de l'affaire Erge¬ en détention provisoire pour son- nekon. Avant d'accéder au som¬ implication présumée dans une campagne visant à discréditer le met de la hiérarchie militaire, il avait dirigé la première armée tur¬ parti AKP (Parti de la justice et du que, considérée par les observa¬ développement) du premier teurs comme unfoyer radical d'op¬ ministre, Recep Tayyip Erdogan. «Le 26e chefd 'état-majordesfor¬ position au gouvernement.

ces armées turques est accusé d'avoirfondé et dirigé une organi¬ «Les tribunaux sation terroriste. Je laisse le soin à la d'exception grande nation turque de jugerpar elle-même», a lancé l'ancien gêné- ' entérinent rai avant d'être incarcéré, parlant les décisions prises de « tragi-comédie » pour qualifier les chefs d'inculpation.' «Devoir par les autorités affronter une telle accusation est politiques » pour moi la pire des peines », a-t-il Kemal Kiliçdaroglu déclaré à la justice. Le général Bas¬ leader du parti kémaliste bug est également accusé de « ten¬ (opposition) tative de renversement du gouver¬

nementpar laforce ». Face aux arrestations qui déci¬ Pour la première fois dans l'his¬ maient ses troupes, le général Bas¬ toire de la République turque, bug avait tenté de faire front. Au jalonnée de quatre coups d'Etat cours d'une mise en scène devant militaires, un général est envoyé l'ancien général turc des forces années Ilker Basbug est soupçonné la presse, il avait dénoncé la fabri¬ derrière les barreaux par un tribu¬ de « tentative de renversement du gouvernement par la force ». reuters cation de preuves, après la décou- ' nal civil. Cette arrestation iharque verte d'une cache d'armes, et la fal- - une nouvelle étape dans l'affronte¬ qu'un, quel qu'il soit, fait quelque Plusieurs centaines de person¬ sification de documents - «des ment, par institutions judiciaires chose demal, il en assume les consé¬ nes, parmi lesquelles une centaine bouts de papier» - comme faisant interposées, que se livrent, en Tur¬ quences», a déclaré le vice-pre¬ d'officiers et de généraux, ont été partie «d'une campagne de déni¬ quie, léS 'militaires et 'le pouvoir mier ministre, Bë'sir Âtalay. traduites eh justice depuis rôtfvër- grementde l'institution militaire». civil, entre les mains de Recep Même sobriété chez Abdullah ture de l'affaire Ergenekon, en Dans ce dossier, le général Basbug Tayyip Erdogan, le premier minis¬ Gûl, le président de la République, 2007, du nom d'un réseau militaro- tre isla^ftfcMfëu* ' '' '' dont lacjèididàtûrè en §907 avait nâtiorialiste présumé, dont les se Voit accusé d'avoir Organisé un réseau de sites Internet de propa¬ Une telle nouvelle aurait pu été l'objet d'une vive -opposition membres sont soupçonnés de gande antigouvernement pour déclencher, il y a peu, une guerre de l'état-major. « Tous les citoyens complots. en vue de renverser le créer un climat d'instabilité. de tranchées en Turquie et condui¬ sont égaux devant les lois. Ilfaut gouvernement civil. En 2007 et en re à la démission de l'actuel chef garder la têtefroide», a-t-il soute¬ 2009, l'AKP a échappé de peu au Le général à la retraite a, sans d'état-majot, Necdet Ôzel. Mais ce nu. Considérablement affaiblie couperet des militaires. surprise, rejeté les accusations por¬ tées contre lui vendredi. «Sij'avais dernier est resté muet. Le gouver¬ par les réformes institutionnelles Une autre affaire de complot, eu de mauvaises intentions, en nement non plus ne s'est pas éten¬ successivement adoptées, depuis baptisée «Balyoz», a elle aussi tant que commandant ayant le du sur le sujet. «Je ne pense pas 2003, par le gouvernement turc conduit à une série d'arrestations. contrôle d'une armée forte de que cela affectera les relations pour se conformer aux normes Mais la machine judiciaire turque 700 000 hommes, j'aurais pu entre les civils et l'armée. Nous européennes en matière de gou¬ fait face à de sérieuses critiques. avoir' d'autres moyens d'agir», assistons en Turquie à un grand vernance, l'armée n'est plus en ' Elle sera l'objet d'un rapport que processus de normalisation, les mesure de tenir tête au pouvoir doit remettre, la semaine prochai¬ a-t-il fait valoir.» Guillaume Perkier choses changent, et quand quel- civil. ne, le commissaire aux droits de

25 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Ôzeti

LE FIGARO mardi 10 janvier 2012 La Turquie craint un atterrissage brutal en 2012 La livre a perdu 22% face au dollar en un an. L'inflation est en hausse à 10,45 %.

monnaie américaine. Cette baisse thodoxe », les taux d'intérêt pou¬ tin Gursel, directeur du Centre de. LAURE MARCHAND a favorisé l'inflation qui a atteint vant varier désormais au jour le recherches économiques et socia¬ ISTANBUL 10,45 % en décembre sur un an, jour. Les autorités turques expli¬ les de l'université de Bahçesehir. son pic le plus élevé depuis trois quent que ce choix leur permet de Dans ce cas, un taux de croissance Li_i;2iiD^*;l>l(jlî? Il ne reste que ans et qui représente près du réagir rapidement en cas de pro¬ négatif est envisageable. » En cas de récession en Europe, la méthode Coué au gouverneur double des objectifs gouverne¬ blème, notamment en provenan¬ la Turquie ne dispose- pas vrai¬ de la Banque centrale turque, mentaux. ce de la zone euro. ment de porte de sortie. Les ex¬ persifleront les mauvais -esprits. Ces deux indicateurs font Crise de liquidité portations en Afrique et au « 2012 sera l'année de la livre », a craindre un atterrissage brutal en Moyen-Orient ont.bondi ces cinq pronostiqué Erdem Basci. En at- 2012 pour l'économie turque, L'année 2012 s'annonce d'autant dernières années, augmentant de " tendant, la monnaie turque a en¬ après 7,5 % de croissance en 2011. plus délicate que la Turquie pour¬ 25 %. Mais les événements politi¬ tamé le mois de janvier en petite « En défendant la Uvre, les réserves rait avoir à fane face à un problè¬ ques dans lés pays arabes ont for^ forme en dépit des efforts de la de la banque centrale ont baissé me de financement d'un déficit banque centrale. Depuis le très vite, rappelle Emré Deliveli, courant considérable. L'an der¬ tement réduit les opportunités

30 décembre, elle a vendu massi¬ consultant indépendant et disci¬ nier, il a réprésenté 10% du pro¬ vers cette zone, au moins à court

vement des dollars pour la soute¬ ple turc de Nouriel Roubini. Si.les duit intérieur brut (PIB). Or l'éco¬ terme. En dépit de ces incertitudes, le nir et doublé les taux d'intérêt qui marchés jugent que là démarche nomie turque est toujours gouvernement maintenait, jus¬ sont passés de 5,7 % à 12,5 % de¬ n'est pas durable, la livre risque étroitement imbriquée avec celles puis octobre. Le résultat est miti¬ d'être attaquée. » des pays de l'Union européenne. qu'à la semaine dernière, des pré¬

gé : le 29 décembre, elle s'échan¬ La stratégie mise en place ces. Us absorbent 46 % de ses exporta¬ visions soutenues pour 2012, ju¬ geant que l'inflation pouvait être geait à J.,92 pour un dollar et, derniers mois par la banque cen¬ tions et 70 % du déficit extérieur contenue à 5 % et que la croissan¬ hier, elle ne s'était que légère¬ trale est perçue comme une sour¬ de la Turquie est financé par l'Eu¬ ce pourrait atteindre 4 %. Plus ment appréciée à 1,86 livre. Au ce d'instabilité. Depuis octobre, rope. « Si la situation en Europe pessimiste, le FMI, lui, table sur total, en 2011, elle a perdu 22 % l'institution monétaire a fait le dérape, le risque de crise de liquidi¬ de sa valeur par rapport à la choix d'une politique « non or té est très sérieux, déclare Seyfet- 2 % de croissance.

The rivalry intensified in July when \ the chief of the armed forces and the DraHNfflOXU. commanders of the navy, army,and air force resigned en masse to protest the ï arrests of dozens of generals in conspir- JANUARY 7-8, 2012 acy investigations they contend are po¬

litically motivated. Human rights activists say the gov¬ ernment is using the courts to intimi¬ Former head date opponents, and have expressed concern that suspects who could be BURHAJJOZBILlfcl/AP tried in freedom are routinely jailed. Gen. Ilker Basbug retired in 2010. s The detainees include 97 journalists, publishers and other members of the media, raising concerns that the arrests army held in claimed to have committed in active, are intended to silence critics. duty, then all is incomprehensible." The government's heavyhand in these The civilian court in Istanbul ruled . cases has tarnished Turkey's image as a alleged plot Thursday that the general should jailed model of democracy in the Muslim world pending his trial on charges of seeking and raised questions about its candidacy to overthrow, the government for membership in the European Union. ISTANBUL His arrest appears to be the latest skir¬ In the hearing on Thursday, the court mish in a power struggle between the Is¬ also questioned General Basbug's BYSEBNEMARSU lamic-inspired governing party, Justice motives for public statements he made and Development, and the secular estab¬ discrediting the findings of security op¬ In an unprecedented move, a former, lishment, which includes the army. erations against those suspected of be¬ head of the Turkish Army was arrested The government has jailed more than ing coup plotters, one of his lawyers said Friday on the orders of a civilian court, 300 people, including more than 200 ac¬ in a televised statement. charged with leadership, of an illegal tive or retired military officers, as part General Basbug reportedly replied network accused of seeking to over¬ of an investigation intowhat is said to be that none of his statements had any hid¬ throw the government. a plot in 2003 by the ultranationalist den agenda except to bolster the morale Gen. Ilker Basbug, who was the chief Ergenekon network to bomb mosques, of soldiers under his command. of the army's general staff from 2008 un¬ assassinate prominent figures or start The. general was arrested after a til his retirement in 2010, is the highest- wars to stir chaos and prepare the number ofother former military officers . ranking officer to be arrested in the grounds for a military coup. in a parallel court case claimed that an- case. He denied the charges, calling it a No one has yet been convicted. tigovernment Web sites that they had tragicomedy that the former command¬ The military, which has long seen it¬ set up had been primarily ordered by er of one of the world's strongest armies self as the defender of Turkey's secular General Basbug, claims that he denied. would be accused of belonging to a ter¬ Constitution, has carried out three suc¬ In Washington, the State Department rorist organization, according to NTV, a cessful coups. The governing party, said that it was monitoring the trial and private television station. which is rooted in a banned Islamist that Secretary of State Hillary Rodham "It is very sad, and hard to under¬ group, has insisted that the military is Clinton had urged the authorities during stand," he saidin a 12-hour interrogation, no longer beyond the law. The party has her visit to Istanbul last fall to address NTV said. "If authorities have failed to said that it is building a religiously toler¬ concerns about freedom of expression. discover any ofthis misconduct that I am ant democracy.

26 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Ôzeti

LE FIGARO 8 janvier 2012

La Ligue arabe ménage Bachar el-Assad

Le premier rapport des observateurs renvoie dos à dos le régime et les insurgés.

Par Pierre Prier L'avenir paraît sombre pour

les quelque 150 observateurs.

«La mission est un échec depuis Le premier résultat de la mis¬ M* le début, juge un diplomate sion de la Ligue arabe en > arabe. D'emblée, on a mis de Syrie ne devrait pas rassurer ceux i côté les trois quarts du plan de qui l'accusent de tiédeur. Après paix arabe, qui ne demande pas avoir lu le premier rapport des seulement l'arrêt des violences et observateurs, arrivés le 26 la libération de tous les prison¬ décembre en Syrie, le comité S\ niers, mais aussi, immédiate¬ ministériel chargé du dossier S* ment, un dialogue avec syrien, réuni dimanche au Caire, T\ l'opposition.» renvoie dos-à-dos les forces de _1 Pour ce diplomate, la faute sécurité du régime et l'embryon en revient aux États de la Ligue, d'«armée libre» formée de déser¬ Le secrétaire général de la Ligue arabe, Nabil al-Arabi (à «qui auraient dû insister sur ce teurs. La résolution «appelle le gauche), dimanche au Caire, lors de la remise du rapport sur la point. Or ils n'ont fourni aucun gouvernement syrien et tous les Syrie. Crédits photo : ASMAA WAGU1H/REUTERS accompagnement politique à la groupes armés à stopper immé¬ mission». diatement tous les actes de vio¬ proposé par les 22 États mem¬ mort des manifestants. Les Pendant ce temps, la vio¬ lence». La formule devrait réjouir bres. Damas n'a pas mis fin à la enquêteurs évoquent aussi lence continue. Samedi, 21 civils le président Bachar el-Assad, qui répression des manifestations, et l'encadrement sur le terrain par ont été tués par les forces de se dit victime de «gangs armés». l'armée ne s'est pas retirée des des représentants des services de sécurité, et 11 militaires de La Ligue arabe préconise la villes, assurent les enquêteurs. sécurité. l'armée régulière ont été abattus poursuite de la mission mais, En outre, la Syrie n'a que Les observateurs «harcelés» par des soldats déserteurs à Basr autre déception pour les oppo¬ partiellement libéré les prison¬ Mais là aussi, le rapport al-Harir, dans la province de sants, sans demander le renfort niers politiques, dont certains dénoncerait un «harcèlement» Deraa. Des combats se poursui¬ d'experts de l'ONU, comme le restent détenus dans des sites des deux côtés, du pouvoir vaient dimanche à Daël, dans la souhaitait aussi l'émir du Qatar. secrets. Les observateurs font comme de l'opposition, selon même province. Le texte final se contente de pourtant preuve d'une grande des fuites. On ne savait pas, Un autre événement a mar¬ réclamer «l'assistance tech¬ prudence dans leurs descriptions dimanche, si le rapport acceptait qué le week-end: une importante nique» des Nations unies. des manifestations. Faisant état sans réserve la version officielle flotte militaire russe a fait escale Descriptions prudentes de «cadavres dans les rues» ils sur les attentats terroristes de dans le port syrien de Tartous, Les observateurs condam¬ ne désignent pas le coupable et Damas le 23 décembre et le 6 puissant symbole du soutien de nent toutefois la Syrie pour se contentent de mentionner que janvier, attribués par le régime à Moscou à Bachar el-Assad.B n'avoir pas tenu ses engagements le régime et l'opposition al-Qaida ou à l'opposition' en d'appliquer le plan de paix arabe s'accusent mutuellement de la général.

Turquie: 33 personnes d'un Etat, d'un gouvernement là où la loi est piétinée", a-t-il dénoncé. Parmi les gens interpellés à Ankara figurent une ex-député du BDP, Fatma arrêtées dans une Kurtulan, et l'ex-dirigeant d'un parti pro-kurde, Tuncer Bakirhan.

nouvelle rafle anti-Kurdes Des fouilles ont également été effectuées dans des complexes appartenant au BDP à Diyarbakir, principale ville du sud-est anatolien, peuplé majoritai¬ rement de Kurdes. ANKARA, 13jan 2012 (AFP) L'opération policière s'inscrit dans le cadre d'une offensive judiciaire visant à sévir contre le KCK (Union des communautés kurdes). LA POLICE TURQUE a entrepris vendredi une nouvelle opération dans Le KCK, une organisation clandestine, est soupçonnée dêtre la branche le pays contre les milieux soupçonnés de collusion avec les rebelles politique du mouvement armé PKK (Parti des travailleurs du Kurdistan), en kurdes, arrêtant 33 personnes, a-t-on indiqué de source officielle. lutte depuis 1984 contre le pouvoir central. La police a effectué de descentes dans 123 adresses diférentes dans 17 Les autorités accusent le KCK de vouloir remplacer les institutions officielles provinces, arrêtant 33 personnes sur les 49 suspects recherchés, a dans l'est et le sud-est anatoliens et de favoriser une insurrection dans ces annoncé le parquet d'Istanbul qui a ordonné cette vaste opération policière. régions. Le parquet a d'autre part démenti que le bureau à Ankara de Leyla Zana, Depuis 2009, plus de 700 personnes, selon le gouvernement, et 3.500 dont une députée kurde figure emblématique de la cause kurde au Parlement des députés, des intellectuels, des journalistes et des maires, selon les turc, eut été investi par la police, comme l'avaient rapporté les chaînes de milieux kurdes, ont été incarcérées et certains actuellement jugés pour col¬ télévisions. lusion avec le KCK. Cette nouvelle rafle vise notamment la principale formation pro-kurde du La Turquie, opposée à toute visée indépendantiste des Kurdes, a mis en pays, le Parti pour la paix et la démocratie (BDP), représenté au Parlement, oeuvre ces dix dernières années des réformes démocratiques en faveur de selon l'agence Anatolie cette communauté, dont la population est estimée à 12 millions sur les 73 Le dirigeant de ce parti Selahattin Demirtas a accusé le gouvernement millions d'habitants.» islamo-conservateur d'avoir ordonné ces arrestations. "On ne peut parler

27 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Ôzeti

«^ THURSDAY. JANUARY 5. 20.2 From the Arab Spring,

Turkey rises

Dec. 28, in which the Turks killed 35 First it opposed the 2003 Iraq war; Both the Jàson Pack Kurdish smugglers whom they mistook next, after the 2010 Gaza flotilla result¬ ed in the death of nine Turks in interna¬ United Martin van Creveld for terrorists, provoked little outrage in Iraqi Kurdistan. On the streets of Erbil tional waters, it increasingly switched States and there are no signs of protests against to the Palestinian side of the conflict. Iran are Turkey. Instead, one notices Turkey's Only in Syria are Turkey and Iran During the last decade many right- ubiquitous presence in the form of con¬ being seemingly on opposite sides of a mili¬ wing American and Israeli analysts struction, investment, consumer goods outman- tary conflict. Whereas Iran and its client have described the geostrategic and tourists. Hezbollah back the Assad regime, the euvered in struggles unfolding in the Middle East Should more pipelines leading from Turks arm, train and provide safe haven as a new "Cold War" pitting the United Iraqi Kurdistan to the Mediterranean weakened to the Syrian rebels. However, this con¬ States against Shiite Iran. They have via Turkey be built, the result will be the Arab states flict may be more apparent than real. In warned of an Arab "Shiite Crescent" de facto creation of an Iraqi-Kurdish a fragmented post-Assad Syria, Turkey by an stretching from Lebanon to Iraq buffer state. Dependent on Turkey for will support the Sunnis, while Iran will connected to Iran via ties of religion, its survival, such a state would also form ascendant remain the patron of the Alawites. commerce and geostrategy. a barrier to Iranian (or American, or Turkey. Moreover, both will surely find a way to The new year has started with an at¬ P.K.K.) interference in Turkish affairs. protect their strategic and financial in¬ tempted Shiite power play by Prime In the southern part of Iraq, the situ¬ terests in whatever regime emerges. Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki to domi¬ ation is just the opposite. There, a Shiite Throughout 2011, the continued West¬ nate the Iraqi government, and an Ira¬ Arab buffer state, buttressed by Iran as ern obsession with the Iranian nuclear nian demonstration of missile and nu¬ a bulwark against Turkish, American or menace prevented policy makers from clear fuel-rod capacity coupled with Saudi encroachments, is being created. grasping the most salient dynamic at threats to close the Straits of Hormuz if The last two weeks' events have re¬ play in the new Middle East. Those Iranian oil exports are blocked. moved any doubt that Maliki is "Iran's who, like Mohammed Ayoob of These events can be interpreted as man" in Baghdad. Yet despite this de Michigan State University, have ample evidence of Iranian expansion¬ facto partitioning of Iraq over the last warned that "beyond the Arab demo¬ ism arid combined with fears that Iran month, Turkey and Iran are not challen¬ cratic wave" lies a "Turko-Persian fu¬ will obtain a nuclear weapon, rendering ging each other's spheres of influence. ture" have been mostly ignored. < its present regime and regional clients In post-Arab Spring North Africa, too, The Arab Spring has vastly weakened untouchable. Turkey and Iran have essentially parti¬ the Arab states, leaving them open to What this view of the Middle East tioned the resurgent Islamist move¬ fragmentation, increased federalism overlooks is the fact that both the ments between themselves. The Turks and outside penetration. With hindsight, United States and Iran are mired in in¬ support the victorious "moderate" Is¬ 2011 may come to represent as sharp a ternal political and economic diffi¬ lamists from Tunisia to Egypt. Iran rupture in the political landscape of the culties. Simultaneously, inside the re- backs the Salafist spoilers, even though Middle East as 1919 did. ' gion, both are being outmaneuvered by they are Sunni. In the Egyptian and Back then, following the defeat of the an ascendant Turkey. Tunisian elections, Ottoman Empire in World War I, the Moreover, Western observers have Western ob- and m Libva's inter' British and French divided the Arab missed the primary thread of events Westernob miiitia civil strife, Middle East among themselves, with namely, the ongoing asymmetric Turk¬ servers have both yfjngs o{ Islam. Britain as the senior partner. In today's ish-Iranian "soft" partition of the Arab missed the ist opinion have sup¬ soft partition of the region, the weaker, republics. Concomitantly, the American asymmetric ported each other less stable partner is Iran. The true vic¬ position as regional hegemon is vanish¬ Turkish- against Western- tor of the Arab Spring is surely a resur¬ ing. Today, only the Arab monarchies Iranian 'soft' backed secularists gent Turkey. and Israel continue to look to the andneo-liberals. partition United States as their primary patron. Since North Africa jàson pack researches Libyan history at of the Arab To investigate how these changing lacks indigenous Cambridge University and ispresident of republics. dynamics are seen by actors within the Shiite populations Libya-Analysis.com. martin van creveld, region, one of us (Jason Pack) spent his and the "moderate" an Israeli military historian, is the author,

Christmas holidays in Erbil, the capital Islamists have now emerged as the main most recently, of "The Age ofAirpower." of the Kurdistan Regional Government, players in the region, it is Sunni Turkey, GLOBAL VIEWPOINT/TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES or K.R.G., in Iraq. Following the U.S. along with Qatar, that appears to be the withdrawal from Iraq, K.R.G. officials rising political and commercial patron in bemoaned their need of a regional pat¬ North Africa. ron to protect them from dominance by Turkey's approach to the problem of Baghdad. Israel/Palestine has also been converg¬ Landlocked Iraqi Kurdistan also ing with that of Iran. From the 1950s un¬ needs a conduit to export its oil to the til 2002, secular military elites in Anka¬ West. The only country that can fulfill ra enjoyed a privileged political and both roles is Turkey. That is why K.R.G. economic relationship with the West. officials, instead of supporting their eth¬ They also developed intimate defense nic brethren inside Turkey, have often ties with Israel and NATO. sided with Ankara against the separat¬ Since then, however, Turkey has drif¬ ist Kurdistan Workers' Party, or P.K.K. ted out of the Western security orbit. All this explains why the bombing on

28 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Ôzeti

may, a senior fellow at the Brookings In¬ îUralbUESrilnuw January s, 2012 stitution. "But the whole region will suf¬ fer if Turkey is allowed to disregard the values of liberal democracy." Among the most glaring breaches of ocRçtiutn 11 press freedom, human rights advocates say, was the arrest of Mr. Sener, 45, a German-born reporter for the newspa-

"The whole region will suffer if Turkey is allowed to

r i disregard the values of ^fp liberal democracy."

per Posta. In 2010, he won the Interna¬ tional Press Institute's World Press Freedom Hero award for his reporting on the murder of Hrant Dink, a Turkish- Armenian journalist who was assassin¬ ated in Istanbul in January 2007 by a 17 year-old Turkish nationalist. DANIEL ETTER FOR THE NEW YORK 1IMES Mr. Sener says he believes that he is Demonstrators in Istanbul in December protesting the detention of at least 38 people, in jail because he dared to write a book many of them journalists, who Turkey's government said had links to Kurdish separatists. criticizing the Turkish state's negli¬ gence in failing to prevent Mr. Dink's murder. He also has shone an uncom¬ fortable light on the secretive Gulen Turkish media feel movement. His defense team says the prosecu¬ tion's case rests on spurious evidence, including a file bearing his name that an political pressure independent team of computer engi¬ neers from three leading universities concluded had been ^mysteriously in¬ stalled by-a virus on a pompufer belong¬ arrests and financial machinations, in¬ ISTANBUL ing to OdaTV, an anti:gove£nméht Web cluding the recent sale of a leading site. He was held for seven months with¬ newspaper to a company tied to the out charges. If convicted, he faces up to Crackdown on thé press prime minister's son-in-law. There are now 97. members of the 15 years in prison. is viewed as contradictory "Nedim Sener is being accused on the news media in jail in Turkey, including basis of rumors and fantasies," said his to democratic aspirations journalists, publishers and distributors, lawyer Yucel Dosemeci. "He is being according to the Journalists' Labor Un¬ targeted to create a culture of fear." ion, a number that rights groups say ex¬ BYDANBILEFSKY In late December, Turkey drew fresh ceeds China The government denies ANDSEBNEMARSU criticism after the police detained at that figure and insists that with the ex¬ least 38 people, many of them journa¬ One year ago.the journalist Nedim Sen- ception of eight cases, those arrested lists, in raids across Turkey. The govern¬ er was investigating a murky terrorist have all been charged for activities oth¬ ment justified the arrests on the ground network that prosecutors maintain had , er than journalistic reporting.. that those arrested had possible links to been plotting to overthrow Turkey's Turkey's justice minister, Sadullah a Kurdish separatist rebel group. But Muslim-inspired government. Ergin, last month blamed local civic critics say dozens have been arrested Today, Mr. Sener stands accused of be¬ groups for creating the false impression whose only crime was to have ex¬ ing part ofthat plot,jailed inwhathuman that there were too many journalists in pressed general support for the rights of rights groups call a political pogrom jail in Turkey. He said a new plan to en¬ Kurds, a long-oppressed minority here. against the governing party's critics. hance freedom of expression this year Over the past year, the government Mr. Sener, who has spent 20 years ex¬ would alter perceptions. has been arresting prominent critics like ,; In 2011, the European Human Rights Mr. Sener, as well as dozens of current posing government corruption, was ' Court received nearly 9;000 complaints and former military personnel, intellec¬ among 14 defendants who appeared last against Turkey for breaches of press tuals and politicians who have been month at the Palace of Justice here on freedom, compared with 6,500 in 2009. linked to a purported plot to overthrow charges of abetting a terrorist organiza¬ 'in March, Orhan Pamuk, the Turkish the government called Ergenekon. tion. The other defendants include the writer and Nobel Literature laureate, Four years into the investigation, editors of a staunchly secular Web site was fined the equivalent of about $3,670 none among the 530 suspects has yet critical of the government and Ahmet for his statement in a Swiss newspaper: been convicted after courts have heard Sik, ajournalist who has written that an "We have killed 30,000 Kurds and one more than 8,000 pages of indictments, Islamic movement associated with million Armenians." Six people had many of them based on transcripts of Fethullah Gulen, a powerful and reclus¬ sued him on the ground that his words surreptitiously recorded private tele- ive cleric living in Pennsylvania, has in¬ insulted their honor, dignity and race. filtrated Turkey's security forces. Human rights advocates say they phone conversations. While democracy advocates have At a time -when Washington and fear that with the Arab Spring giving praised the government for limiting the Europe are praising Turkey as a model new regional clout to Turkey, the United military's influence over the state, they for Muslim democracy in, the Arab States and Europe are turning a blind say that the arrests of journalists like world, Turkish analysts say the crack- eye to encroaching authoritarianism in dpwn is part of an ominous trend. Most Mr. Sener are undermining the trial's the country. worrying, they say, are fresh signs that "Turkey's democracy may be a good credibility. the government of Prime Minister Re: benchmark when compared with After Mr. Erdogan swept to power in 2002, human rights activists initially cep Tayyip Erdogan is repressing press Egypt, Libya.or Syria," said Hakan Alt- freedom through a mix of intimidation, lauded him for expanding free speech.

29 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Ôzeti

the governing party. Mr, Erdogan, who But after an unsuccessful attempt by While the Internet has become the main weapon against censorship, more has previously called on his supporters the secular opposition to ban Mr. Er- than 10,000 Web sites have been blocked to boycott Dogan, strongly denied any dogan's party in 2008, critics say he em¬ political motives behind the fine. barked on a systematic campaign to si¬ by the state Internet monitoring agency, according to engelliweb.com, a Critics say the government is also, us¬ lence his opponents. Web site that tracks restricted pages. ing its influence to install pro-govern¬ They say the of press Until September, YouTube was banned ment supporters at leading newspapers. freedom also reflects the fact that Tur¬ In 2008, the financially struggling but key no longer feels obligated to adhere on the ground that some videos on the influential newspaper Sabah and the to Western norms at a time when it is site were insulting to Mustafa Kemal playing the role of regional leader and Ataturk, the founder of modern Turkey. television station ATV were seized by a its talks on joining the European Union Beyond arresting journalists, press government agency after improper freedom advocates say that the govern¬ are in disarray. loans by its then owner were dis¬ Mr Sener and Mr. Sik were defiant in ment has moved to muté opposition by covered. Using punitive fines as well as seeking March as policé officers took them into In the public auction that followed, the custody at their homes before television to influence the ownership of leading media properties were bought by Calik cameras. "Whoever touches it gets media companies. Holding, whose chairman is Mr. Er- burned!" Mr. Sik shouted, referring to In 2009, Dbgan, a large media con¬ dogan's son-in-law Berat Albayrak. The the Gulen movement, whose members, glomerate, was fined $2.5 billion by the sale aroused controversyin Turkey since analysts say, have infiltrated the taxministry for unpaid taxes. Dogan of¬ the $1.2 billion deal was partly financed highest levels of the country's police ficials say privately that the real reason by $750 million of loans from two state was that its publications had given and judiciary. banks. Critics said the bid by Calik the In March, the unpublished manuscript prominent attention to a series of cor¬ sole bidder after a rival dropped out ruption scandals involving senior gov¬ of Mr. Sik's book, "The Army of the Im¬ amounted to a government takeover of a am," was confiscated by the police. But ernment officials: media group for political ends. the police proved unable to stop its pub¬ The European Union expressed con¬ lication on the Internet, where at least cerns about thechilling effect of the fine, 20,000 users downloaded it after his sup¬ which was negotiated down to $1.3 bil¬ porters posted it in protest. A public lion as part of a tax amnesty. Now, some prosecutor in Istahbulis now investigat¬ journalists who work for Dogan say . there isaii unwritten rule not tocriticize ing who leaked the document:'

3 JANUARY 2012 HudOJUI\ Abdullah confirmed Pira's comment, PUK Leaders Confirm KDP saying that Rasul 's poor health was the rea¬ son Barzani asked the PUK to put forth ano¬

ther candidate.

Taking Premiership According to Abdullah, despite his ini¬

tial interest in becoming vice-president, RUDAW Rasul has now suggested that someone else

is nominated for the post.

SULAIMANI, Iraqi Kurdistan - Senior However, in a recent interview with

Kurdish officials close to Prime Minister KNN, an opposition television station, Imad

Barham Salih say he will relinquish power to *|V Ahmed, a senior member of PUK politburo the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) while f said the KDP "has reservations over Rasul his Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) party becoming vice-president."

scrambles to fill the vice-president's post. Ahmed told the KNN that his party

Arez Abdullah, a PUK leader, Abdullah might soon nominate another candidate for

said the PUK will hand over the premiership the position. to the KDP soon and will try to fill the vice- Rasul was Barzani's vice-president for Senior PUK leader andformer speaker of president's post which has been vacant for nearly four years from 2005 to 2009. Parliament Adnan Mufti, left, and Kurdistan two years. Following the parliamentary elections, Region President Massoud Barzani. Latif Sheikh Omar, chief of staff for Rasul stepped down.

Salih, confirmed that Salih will step down Some observers suggest that Barzani ment, a PUK leader should also be appoin¬ and said the prime minister is planning to does not approve Rsaul for the post. Rasul is ted vice-president. But two years after the focus more on parly affairs after leaving the second most powerful man in the PUK, region's election, the PUK has not been able office. after Iraqi President Jalal Talabani, the to nominate a candidate to serve as A PUK-KDP agreement stipulates that party's leader. Kurdistan Region President Massoud each party gets to run the Kurdistan However, Ahmed dismissed speculation Barzani 's deputy. Regional Government (KRG) every two that the KDP has blocked PUK candidates According to Abdullah, former speaker - years. Salih, a PUK leader, has been prime for the vice-president's post. of Parliament Adnan Mufti is the PUK's minister for the past two years but some in "We as the PUK have not nominated strongest candidate for the vice-presidency. the PUK hoped that the embattled prime anyone yet because of our internal situa¬ In the July 2009 elections, Barzani was minister's term would be extended after the tion," Ahmed said of splits within the PUK. elected president of Kurdistan Region with KDP held onto the post for nearly four "But we might nominate someone soon." nearly 70 percent of the votes. Barzani is years. The PUK has witnessed major chal¬ also the head of the KDP, Kurdistan's most Former Kurdistan Regionai Government lenges after many of its veteran leaders hea¬ influential political party. Prime Minister and KDP deputy chief ded by party co-founder Nawshirwan Saadi Ahmed Pira, another PUK polit- Nechirvan Barzani is considered the front- Mustafa split from the PUK in 2009 and for¬ buro member, said PUK nominee and for¬ runner for the premiership, but has not offi¬ med the opposition Change Movement mer vice-president Kosrat Rasul has not cially been nominated. (Gorran).O been re-appointed because of health issues. According to the 2007 PUK-KDP agree-

30 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Ôzeti

annary 7th 2012 *

Turkey and the Kurds victims' families, nor has he apolo¬ gised for the deaths. He has, more¬

over, suggested that the group may Death upon death have been targeted on the assump¬ tion that there were rebels and guns

concealed in their midst. Smugglers usually travel in groups of three or The latest innocent casualties of Turkey's military escalation four, he said, not 40. In 2010 the against the Kurds army was pilloried when news

emerged that it had failed to prevent ANKARA AND ISTANBUL two deadly attacks on Turkish troops

in the same area, even though

images from unmanned drones had

clearly shown the presence of large ,/ *-- . ' ' ' ' ' ) à / numbers of PKK rebels along the bor¬ der. "[T]he prime minister is saying,

'It's OK to kill innocent civilians if ^ \ there are some bad guys in the f^4 mix,'" observes Sezgin Tanrikulu, a deputy from the opposition

Republican People's Party (CHP).

/ Such claims may be exaggerated, but

r Mr Erdogan has certainly become a lot tougher on the Kurds. Thousands .< yf.---^ of pro-Kurdish activists, including

serving BDP mayors, journalists and

lawyers, have been jailed in recent months as part of a campaign to crip¬

ple the PKK. The army has intensi¬ A TRAGIC blunder, a cynical mas¬ pro-Kurdish Peace and Democracy fied its operations inside Turkey and sacre or a deliberate attempt to (BDP) party, accused the government northern Iraq, killing hundreds of undermine Turkey's government? The of deliberately massacring innocent rebels, including senior command¬ question was raised on December civilians to intimidate his people. A ers. Last summer secret talks 28th, when Turkish F-16 war planes huge banner calling Recep Tayyip between the government and the dropped bombs on a group of Kurdish Erdogan, Turkey's prime minister, a PKK, including its imprisoned leader, civilians just south of the Turkish "murderer" was draped across a tent Abdullah Ocalan, broke down. Mr border in the mountains of Kurdish- in one of the smugglers' villages. Ocalan has been denied access to his controlled northern Iraq, killing 34 of lawyers, most of whom are now in them. Security officials in Sirnak, a Until recently some would have sus¬ jail, in violation of international con¬ Turkish town near the site, blamed a pected a different sort of conspiracy: ventions on the treatment of lack of co-ordination between the one carried out by coup-plotting detainees. The Council of Europe is civilian and military authorities. army officers bent on discrediting expected to issue an official com¬ "The governor [of Sirnak] had no the mildly Islamist Justice and plaint in the coming weeks. idea what had happened until hours Development (AK) government. after the bombing," said one. Hundreds of such alleged miscreants, Sources close to the PKK admit that including around 30 serving generals, the military campaign has left it The victims, aged between 13 and are in prison awaiting trial in connec¬ weakened. The rebels' traditional 28, were smugglers from villages in tion with the so-called Ergenekon backers, Iran and Syria, are bogged Turkey's south-east who routinely conspiracy to overthrow Mr Erdogan. down in their own troubles. Some bring in Iraqi fuel and cigarettes with This week a former chief of general think the PKK could even be forced the full knowledge of local authori¬ staff, Ilker Basbug, was called in for back to the negotiating table. This in ties. Nearly 80 mules carrying the interrogation over the affair. turn could pave the way for Mr contraband also perished. In an iron¬ Rumours abound that he too will be Erdogan to launch his long-promised ic twist the smugglers belonged to jailed. new democratic constitution, which the "village guards", a pro-state would properly embrace the Kurds militia that had taken up arms Yet Mr Erdogan has rushed to the for the first time in modern Turkish against rebels of the separatist defence of the current chief of gen¬ history. For now, however, apologis¬ Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), the eral staff, Necdet Ozel, thanking him ing for the Sirnak killings and punish¬ ostensible target of the raid. for his pledge to pay compensation ing those responsible would be a to the families of the Sirnak victims. good start. Thousands of Kurds across the coun¬ A flurry of investigative probes are

try took to the streets in protest. under way, but no heads have yet Selahattin Demirtas, leader of the rolled. Mr Erdogan has not visited the

31 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Ozeti

8 janvier 2012 laC Les alaouites redoutent la chute guerres. La France s'appuie alors sur les alaouites, qui trouvent dans l'armée une du régime d'Al Assad chance de promotion sociale. En 1946, la Syrie indépen¬ La mainmise de cette communauté sur l'appareil d'état est une dante hérite d'une armée com¬

revanche sur l'histoire. posée d'un nombre important

d'alaouites. JULIEN COUTURIER l'alcool, leurs femmes ne por¬ plus réaffirmée.

tent pas le voile et ils ont long¬ Quel est aujourd'hui leur Pourquoi ont-ils été considé¬ temps été considérés par les poids politique ? Qui sont les alaouites ? rés comme des citoyens de autres musulmans comme des seconde zone ? Omniprésents dans les ser¬ Une secte issue du chiisme, hérétiques. vices de renseignements et une minorité qui tient toute la Les origines modestes des Une fatwa rendue en 1936 par dans l'armée, leur mainmise Syrie en respect, le bras armé alaouites n'ont favorisé en le mufti de Jérusalem les sur l'appareil d'État est une de la répression qui s'abat rien leur intégration à la reconnaît formellement revanche sur l'histoire. aujourd'hui sur le pays : ce société syrienne. Ce n'est comme des musulmans. Il Cependant leur sort étant de sont autant d'images qui col¬ qu'au début du XXe siècle s'agissait alors de resserrer les plus en plus lié à celui de la lent aux alaouites. qu'ils commencèrent à des¬ rangs pour faire face au colo¬ famille au pouvoir, ils en sont cendre de leurs villages de Cette communauté représente nialisme franco-britannique aujourd'hui davantage les montagne dans la vallée de 10 % de la population au Moyen-Orient, les mission¬ otages que les premiers béné¬ l'Oronte, pour travailler syrienne, les Arabes sunnites naires français songeant à ficiaires. comme métayers au service 65 %, les Kurdes 15 %, les convertir les alaouites au des grands propriétaires ter¬ Nombre d'entre eux vivent chrétiens 5 %, les druzes, christianisme. Rien n'y fera : il riens de Homs et de Hama chichement et auraient tout à ismaéliens, chiites et autres faudra une seconde fatwa, (nord-ouest). gagner à la chute du régime, constituent les 5 % restants. commandée par Hafez Al s'ils ne craignaient pas d'être Assad (le père de l'actuel pré¬ Considérés en ville comme Rattacher les alaouites aux les premières victimes compte sident), en 1973 à l'imam liba¬ des parias, ils en étaient tout chiites ne va pas de soi. tenu du ressentiment nais Moussa Al Sadr, pour que simplement exclus. La situa¬ Connus pour leurs mdurs qu'éprouve la majorité sun¬ l'appartenance des alaouites tion s'inverse sous le mandat libérales, ils boivent de nite à leur égard. au chiisme soit une fois de français, durant l'entre-deux-

10 janvier 2012 JEl_ Turquie Le pouvoir politique renforce sa suprématie sur l'armée

Uker Basbug, ancien chef d'état-major, a été incarcéré le 5 janvier pour avoir fondé et dirigé une organisa¬ tion terroriste, ainsi que pour tentative de putsch. Une première dans l'histoire de la République turque.

Pierre Vanrie pour le Parti de la justice et du développe¬ ment [AKP, islamiste) en réaction au mes¬ sage anti-AKP posté alors par son prédé¬ REVU L'emprisonnement d'Ilker Basbug, chef cesseur sur le site Internet de l'état-major de l'armée turque de 2008 à 2010, enté¬ [et qui fut alors considéré par certains * DE rine la perte d'influence et la fin de comme les prémisses d'un coup d'Etat]. l'inviolabilité de l'armée, responsable de "Ainsi, dès sa première conférence de quatre coups d'Etat en cinq décennies. Une presse, rappelle Bugiin, il a nié la réalité terrible nouvelle pour l'aura des militaires. des tentatives de putsch élaborées au plus Certains éditorialistes s'en réjouissent, à haut niveau de l'état-major en 2003-2004 l'instar de Gûlay Gôkturk du quotidien être traduits devant une cour de justice. qui avaient été révélées par la presse. Il a Bugiïn : "Lorsqu'il est devenu chef d'état- L'armée s'attellera donc à sa fonction prin¬ donc clairement choisi son camp en niant major de l'armée turque, le général Ilker cipale et acceptera les critiques. Les chefs l'implication de l'armée - ainsi que la Basbug avait deux possibilités : soit il com¬ d'état-major admettront dès lors qu'ils sienne - dans la création de dizaines de prenait que la période où l'armée exerçait sont aux ordres d'un pouvoir politique civil sites dont l'objet consistait à diffamer le une tutelle sur la société était révolue et il élu. Plus personne ne pourra prétendre parti au pouvoir. Son attitude et son rôle lançait le chantier de rénovation de incarner le rôle de "véritable propriétaire et dans ces affaires ont achevé de le discrédi¬ l'institution qu'il avait en charge pour de gardien de la république". Cette évolu¬ ter auprès de l'opinion publique turque. l'adapter à la "Turquie nouvelle", soit il tion ne se fera certes pas sans heurts, Cette arrestation marque ainsi la fin tentait en vain de maintenir ce système conclut le quotidien, mais il s'agit bien là d'une ère dominée par la figure du général sclérosé d'assujettissement de la société. d'un processus irréversible. putschiste. Désormais, dans les académies Si l'on a initialement pu croire qu'il Cette vision n'est pas unanimement militaires, les élèves officiers ne se consi¬ allait opter pour la première solution, on partagée, comme l'exprime Ahmet Hakan, déreront plus comme "les dirigeants de s'est vite rendu compte qu'il n'avait pas dans Hùrriyet : "La première fois qu'un l'ombre" de la Turquie. Dorénavant, les tiré la leçon des élections législatives de général a été écroué, je me suis vraiment officiers supérieurs sauront que leurs 2007 où la population avait voté en masse réjoui en me disant que même les mili- étoiles n'empêcheront plus qu'ils puissent

32 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Ôzeti taires de haut rang ne bénéficiaient plus même arrêter des chefs d'état-major, donc dans notre pays, l'arrestation d'un chef d'une immunité totale. Maintenant que faites attention et surveillez vos mouve¬ d'état-major ne donnera pas l'impression c'est carrément un ancien chef d'état- ments !' En effet, tant que la liberté que l'on touche à des personnes qui major qui se retrouve en prison, je devrais d'expression sera limitée par des opéra¬ étaient jusque-là Intouchables." en principe faire des bonds de joie. Or ce tions de police et des arrestations, tant "Au contraire, conclut le commenta¬ n'est pas le cas, parce que je ne parviens que l'on privilégiera l'option sécuritaire teur, ce genre d'événement sera perçu pas à inscrire cet événement dans le cadre pour résoudre la question kurde, tant que comme le message suivant : "Réfléchissez d'une pratique démocratique exemplaire." celui qui veut s'opposer et défendre un bien avant de faire quoi que ce soit, parce Cette affaire, estime-t-il, "sonne plutôt point de vue alternatif pensera qu'il que comme vous le voyez nous pouvons comme un avertissement du style : risque d'avoir des problèmes, tant que nous en prendre à n'importe qui. Mieux 'Sachez que s'il le faut nous pouvons cette ambiance délétère se perpétuera vaut donc que vous vous soumettiez."

LUNDI 16 JANVIER 2012

Ankara, ou l'obsession répressive anti-kurde

Le régime}turc multiplie les arrestations arbitraires contre là communauté kurde et ses représentants légitimessoiis couvert de lutté contre le terrorisme. L'Europe ne dit mot.

La Turquie, qui souffle r~ sur les braises du conflit de son voisin :% syrien, n'est pas en reste chez elle. Les autorités ont renforcé leurs opérations '**& anti-kurdes sous couvert de r» . ' " lutte contre le terrorisme du ss Parti des travailleurs du Kur¬ .*1 distan (PKK). Le gouverne¬ ment du premier ministre, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, a ainsi déployé un arsenal ré¬ pressif et législatif contre les représentants légalement élus, _*M*-%*,*''r de la communauté kurde: vendredi, sur ordre du par¬ quet d'Istanbul, la police a mis aux arrêts, dans 17 pro¬ vinces du pays, 33 personnes, principalement des membres

où des proches de la forma¬ La police turque a procédé vendredi à une vaste opération contre des élus du Paru' pour la paix et la tion politique kurde, le Parti démocratie (sur notre photo, des policiers à la sortie du domicile de la députée kurde Leyla Zana). pour la paix et la démocratie (BDP), forte de ses 36 députés Le raid aérien a tué, PCE Les 10 et 12 janvier déjà, torco-irakiënne 34 civils, dont depuis les élections législatives 92 personnes-élus, parlemen¬ 19 jeunes, au motif de viser un fin décembre, de 2011. Un succès d'autant taires, intellectuels, étudiants - campement, participe de cette plus dur à avaler pour Erdo¬ à la frontière turco- ont été. incarcérées ainsi que stratégie de la terreur. « Les au¬ gan que ce dernier livre, depuis irakienne 34 civils. 12 journalistes, portant à 97 torités turques cherchent-elles 2009, une guerre sans merci le nombre de professionnels laguerre civile ?La question se dont 19 jeunes. contre les élus kurdes qui s'est arrêtés au motif « d'activités, pose », estime Pierre Laurent, traduite par l'arrestation de terroristes ou criminelles ». qui interpelle l'Europe et la 700 personnes de cette com¬ du mouvement armé PKK, en - Le plan de choc à l'duvre ^France, étrangement muettes munauté; selon le gouverne¬ rébellion contre Ankara depuis ne vise pas seulement à briser sur les exactions en cours: : « Se ment, contre 3 500 pouf les 1984. « Comment le chefdu les indépendantistes. Il cherche contenteront-elles, unefois en¬ organisations kurdes. D'après gouvernementde TurqwepeuL en premier lieu à saper l'expres¬ core, d'un silence complice et le régime, elles seraientrespon¬ ilprétendre qu 'illutteraitainsi sion démocratique de' cette coupable face à cette violence sables de « collusion » avec le contrele terrorisme, alorsqtfil communauté, qui revendique consternante et face au refus KCK (Union des commu¬ attise lui-même les tensions et une autonomie pleine etentière obstiné de laisser un peuple nautés kurdes), une organi¬ la violence dans son propre dans le cadre de la Turquie. vivre en libertéet enpaix dans sation clandestine présentée pays ? » s'est indigné Pierre Le raid aérien qui a tué, le ' le respect de.ses droits ? »

comme la branche politique Laurent, secrétaire national du 28 décembre, à la frontière Cathy Ceîbe

33 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Ôzeti

LE FIGARO mardi 10 janvier 2012

place Israël et les États-Unis devant un choix difficile. En effet, cette installa¬ tion est profondément enterrée sous la L'Iran défie montagne, donc difficilement atteigna- ble par des bombes même ultrapuissan¬ tes, qui devraient également faire face à \ N l'Amérique un système de défense aérien sophisti¬ qué autour du site. Selon Abbasi, cet

^ emplacement, récemment inspecté par les experts de l'AIEA, est équipé d'une w ï* nouvelle génération de centrifugeuses, permettant d'accélérer la vitesse d'en¬ richissement de l'uranium. - -. y Le Mossad actif au Kurdistan L'Iran aurait déjà produit suffisamment de combustible pour équiper quatre ogives. Mais encore faudrait-il que-.ce combustible transite par les nouvelles centrifugeuses de Fordow. Or nul ne $ sait si Téhéran a pris une telle décision, lourde de conséquences. En tout cas, -*ï~S pour les États-Unis, la priorité ne sem¬ ble plus de stopper une quelconque ca¬

pacité nucléaire, iranienne, mais plutôt S' ~ d'arrêter la fabrication d'une arme ato¬ mique. « Sont-Us en train de développer une arme nucléaire ? » s'est demandé Leon Panetta dans l'émission « Face à la nation » sur CBS. « JVon. Mais nous savons qu'ils essaient dedévelopper une capacité nucléaire. Cela nous préoccupe. Nucléaire, sanctions, espionnage : la guerre froide s'intensifie entre Washington (Mais) notre ligne rouge,c'est que l'Iran et Téhéran, d'où le guide suprême, Ali Khamenei (sur. cette photo non datée d'une\ ne développe pas l'arme nucléaire », a maniuvre navale), a assuré que la République islamique ne céderait pas aux tenu à souligner Panetta, qui s'expri¬ mait après le responsable nucléaire ira¬ pressions occidentales. nien. Toujours au cours du week-end, Téhéran a annoncé l'arrestation d'un nombre «indéterminé d'espions » qui peine capitale. Est-ce une réponse aux

GEORGES MALBRUNOT déclarations du secrétaire d'État à la travailleraient pour Washington. Vraie Défense, Leon Panetta, qui, au cours du ou fausse accusations ? Toujours est-il week-end, prévenait l'Iran qu'une que les États-Unis et Israël ont multi¬ MOYEN-ORIENT Nucléaire, sanctions, tentative de fermer le détroit d'Ormuz plié les actions de sabotage contre des espionnage : la guerre froide s'intensi¬ installations nucléaires sensibles,- tout fie entre Téhéran et Washington. Après - par où transite. un fiers du pétrole mondial - serait considérée comme en téléguidant des assassinats ciblés le brusque accès de tension de ces der¬ « une ligne rouge » à ne pas franchir. d'experts nucléaires iraniens. « Le nières semaines lié aux menaces ira¬ Alors que les États-Unis et l'Union Mossad utilise pour cela la région auto¬ niennes de fermer le détroit d'Ormuz si européenne s'activent pour sanction¬ nome du Kurdistan irakien, où ses agents l'Occident adoptait de nouvelles mesu¬ ner le pétrole iranien (70 % des recettes ont renforcé leurs infiltrations », affirme res contre' le pétrole vendu par Téhé¬ d'exportation), Téhéran multiplie les une source sécuritaire à Bagdad. « Les ran, la justice révolutionnaire de la Ké- Israéliens, ajoute-t-elle, utilisent les op¬ publique islamique a franchi un menaces de bloquer ce goulet stratégi¬ posants kurdes au régime iranien qui nouveau pas en condamnant à mort que pour l'écoulement de l'or noir, sont réfugiés dans les régions kurdes ' hier un Américano-Iranien. donc pour l'économie mondiale. Et. d'Irak. » m pour alimenter encore la tension, l'Iran L'Iran await déjà a choisi de replacer le dossier nucléaire au centre de son différend avec les Oc¬ produit suffisamment cidentaux. Hier, à Vienne, des sources de combustible pour diplomatiques proches de l'Agence in¬ ternationale à l'énergie atomique. équiper quatre ogives (AIEA) confirmaient que Téhéran avait bien commencé d'enrichir de l'ura¬ Ancien marine de 28 ans né aux nium sur un nouveau site souterrain, États-Unis d'une famille iranienne, très bien protégé contre d'éventuelles Amir ^lirzaï Hekmati a été « reconnu frappes aérieniies.' Dimanche, le patron coupable de collaboration avec un pays de l'agence iranienne àl'énergie atomi¬ hostûe et espionnage pour la CIA », se¬ que, Fereidoun Abbasi, cible d'un mys¬ lon l'agence iranienne Fars. La justice térieux attentat en 2010, avait laissé en¬ l'a également déclaré « moharab », tendre que son pays était sur le point c'est-à-dire « en guerre contre Dieu », d'activer le site de Fordow, près dé la ce qui le rend, là encore, passible de la ville sainte de Qom. Une annonce qui

34 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Ozeti «sas Téhéran sanctuarise l'enrichissement d'uranium L'ouverture du site de Fordow, à l'abri des bombes, accroît les tensions, sur fond de sanctions occidentales

Le "calendrier judiciaire, en SE Iran, s'adapte bien souvent aux impératifs diplomati¬ ques du moment. L'annonce, lun¬ 1 di 9 janvier, de la condamnation à / y®Téhéran } mort pour «espionnage» d'Amir r fi r7M"r,r-,v \ TU Mirza Hekmati, un citoyen irano- Arak V ' ' - - - \ i américain, donne la mesure de i M l'extrême tension qui règne entre la République islamique et les « X. Etats-Unis. r Ce verdict soudain rendu public ..^ ( - on ne sait quand il a été pronon¬ ' . ^Détroit cé- intervient dans un contexte où d'Ormuz i t% Téhéran continue de brandir la 500 km menace d'une fermeture du détroit d'Ormuz si les Occidentaux bao, est par ailleurs attendu en fin mettent à exécution leur menace de semaine en Arabie Saoudite, T pays' que les Occidentaux vou¬ d'un embargo sur le pétrole ira¬ -,1 v nien. Elle intervient aussi au draient voir compenser un éven¬ moment où l'Iran a fait entrer en tuel embargo du brut iranien sur m: service le site controversé d'enri¬ les marchés internationaux. chissement d'uranium de Fordow. Cetactivismediplomatique, cou¬ Le Guide suprême iranien, l'ayatollah Ali Khamenei, s'adresse Cette installation avait été long¬ plé avec l'imminence apparente à ses partisans, le 9 janvier, à Téhéran, reuters temps dissimulée parTéhéran, jus¬ d'un boycottage décidé au niveau qu'à ce que les Occidentaux la de l'Union européenne, rend ner¬ dénoncent, en septembre 2009. veux les dirigeants iraniens. Les des Etats-Unis, avant de préciser du Norden 2003, avant de poursui¬ Située près de Qpm, elleest, contrai¬ échanges verbaux acrimonieux que cela ne diminueraitpas les tenr vre sa course vers des tests nucléai¬ rement à l'usine de Natanz, profon¬ entreTéhéranet Washington.à pro¬ sions entre les deuxpays. Une agen¬ res. L'Iran dispose d'un stock d'ura¬ dément enfouie dans une monta¬ pos du risque de fermeture du ce de presse proche des Gardiens nium enrichi qui lui permettrait, gne et, en conséquence, difficile à détroit d'Ormuz, essentiel pour le de la révolution a par ailleurs enthéorie, d'équiperquatre engins détruire parvoie aérienne. commerce mondial du pétrole/ont dénoncé une opération de «propa¬ nucléaires. Mais il faudrait pour L'Agence internationale de accru la crainte d'un incident naval gande » américaine. celaquel'enrichissementsoit pous¬ l'énergie atomique (AIEA) a confir¬ dans le Golfe pouvant dégénérer S'agissant du dossier nucléaire, sé à des degrés militaires (à 90%), mé lundi le début, à Fordow, d'opé- . en escalade militaire. Téhéran a répondu aux pressions déclenchant une crise certaine. rations d'enrichissement d'ura¬ Dans ce contexte tendu,les Etats- par le défi et la bravade, «la déci¬ Avant d'être dévoilé, le site de For¬ nium à 20 %, unniveauqui s'appro¬ Unis ont cependant cherché à tirer sionferme du régime de la Républi- 1 dow était destiné à cette dernière che du domaine militaire. Ces tra- . profit, au plan médiatique et que islamique. e.st de.résisterface étape. vaux ont été aussitôt condamnés auprès de l'opinion iranienne, d'un auxpressions des grandes puissan¬ En augmentant son stock de parWashingtonetParis,quiont,de '. étonnant épisode enmer : le sauve¬ ces », a déclaré lundi soir le Guide . matière nucléaire, qui plus est ; concert, souligné la gravité de cette ', tage, le 6 janvier, par TUS Navy de. suprême, l'ayatollah Ah Khame¬ dans un site à l'abri de bombarde¬ «violation supplémentaire» des treize pêcheurs iraniens, qui nei. ments, l'Iran se donne les moyens- obligations internationales de étaient depuis des mois retenus en L'annonce de la condamnation d'une course vers l'arme atomique l'Iran, et mis en exergue le fait que otage par des pirates somaliens, en à mort par un tribunal révolution- , qui laisserait peu de temps de réac- ' l'activité menée à Fordow n'avait mer d'Arabie. Ironie de l'histoire, le naire d'Amir Mirza Hekmati, un tion aux Occidentaux. Mais ira-t-il « aucun-usage civilpossible ». Mais sauvetage a été conduit par le ex-maririe américano-iranien de jusqu'au bout? Leon Panetta, le les deux capitales ont aussi indi- même porté-avions américain 28 ans accusé parTéhéran d'être en secrétaire américain à la défense, a que que-Ja- «voie, du dialogue »' {lejohn C.Stennis) que l'Iran avait mission pour la CIA, fait partie de établi dimanche une distinction demeurait une possibilité, pour récemment menacé s'il revenait cette riposte iranienne. M. Hek¬ entrel'ambitioniranienne d'acqué¬ peu que l'Iran se conforme aux mati, dont la famille nie tout lien rir une «capacité nucléaire» et la résolutions de l'ONU. « La décisionferme du avec l'espionnage américain, a décision politique de fabriquer la Les Occidentaux semblent ainsi vingt jours pour faire appel. Son bombe. Cette décision, estime-t-il, s'emparer de cet épisode technolo¬ régime est de résister sort va faire l'objet d'un âpre mar¬ n'a pas été prise. Le commentaire gique non pas pour en faire un face aux pressions des chandage, mettant potentielle¬ montre que l'équipe Obama espè¬ casus belli contre l'Iran, mais pour ment Barack Obama sous pression re encore un règlement négocié, en conforter leur campagne diploma¬ grandes puissances » dans le cadre dela campagne électo¬ misant, semble-t-il, sur un rôle rus¬ tique en faveur d'un embargo sur rale. L'ayatollah Ali Khamenei se de médiation. Le président Med- les achats de brut iranien. Le secré¬ L'entrée en fonction du site de vedev a téléphoné, le 5 janvier, à le Guide suprême iranien taireaméricainauTrésor, Timothy Fordow s'inscrit dans une stratégie son homologue iranien. Geithner, a commencé une tour¬ où l'Iran continue de grignoter du Christophe Ayad dans les eaux du Golfe. Le ministè¬ née en Chineet au Japon, pays-clefs terrain technologique, sans aller itNatalieNougaymde re iranien des affaires étrangères a pourque l'embargo soit efficace. Le jusqu'à expulser les inspecteurs de salué un «pas positif» de la part premier ministre chinois, Wen Jia- l'AIEA comme l'avait fait la Corée

35 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Ôzeti

TIME JANUARY 9, 2012

police station, ATMs belonging to the local

Istanbul: Big Trouble in branch of Ziraat Bankasi, a state bank,

have been vandalized in protests that have Little Kurdistan united Kurds, radical leftists and anar¬ chists. The police station itself perched

atop a hill overlooking the neighborhood,

an enormous Turkish flag raised overhead Pro-Kurdish demon¬ looks like a fortress. Antigovemment strators chant slo¬ graffiti is everywhere. "Revolution or gans during a Death, the Only Solution for Kurdistan," protest in Istanbul reads one sign, spray-painted onto the side on Dec. 29, 2011, of a building. Mazlum Poyraz, a student, against a Turkish air says that municipal buses have been pelted strike that killed 35 with stones so often the transport authority Kurdish smugglers no longer routes its modem, air-conditio¬ in southeast Turkey ned vehicles through the area.

In this Istanbul neighborhood, as in the

By Piotr Zalewski / Istanbul at a local teahouse among men in plaid southeast, poverty and unemployment help

sweaters and leather jackets playing back¬ nourish the cycle of violence. So does

In Karayollari, a Kurdish-majority gammon, fingering Islamic prayer beads urban displacement. These days, Gazi is

neighborhood in Istanbul, the locals are and blowing vast rain clouds of smoke buzzing with rumors that a neighboring

seething. On Dec. 28, Turkish warplanes from contraband cigarettes. Roj TV, consi¬ shantytovvn, home to Turks and Kurds,

flying over Uludere, close to the Iraqi bor¬ dered a PKK mouthpiece, banned in may soon be leveled to make way for an

der, rained bombs on what pilots believed Turkey and broadcast via satellite from upscale housing development. In

to be a column of militants from the Denmark, blares in the background. Karayollari, this is already fact. Within a

Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), a Kurdish Conversation is sparse. If and when it short walk from the teahouse, a large slum

separatist group. It turned out to be civilians takes place, it is almost exclusively in area has been razed, its Kurdish and Roma

smuggling diesel. Thirty-five people lost Kurdish. (As late as two decades years residents evicted, to make way for Avrupa

their lives in the attack. Karayollari might ago, speaking that language in public was Konutlari, a gated community comprising

be over a thousand miles away from considered a crime.) The choice of pro¬ more than 30 high-rise buildings.

Uludere, but the impact of the tragedy on gramming, as well as the men's blissful To the Kurds of Karayollari, the adja¬

local Kurds is palpable. Since the beginning disregard of Turkey's two-year-old smo¬ cent high-rises, home to mostly middle-

of the year, protests have erupted there and king ban, is telling. Karayollari, an hour's class Turks, have become something of a

in surrounding neighborhoods on an almost bus ride from the city center, is something symbol. "Avrupa Konutlari, for us, is the

daily basis. of a world onto itself. "The cops don't ven¬ state," says Mustafa. On some occasions,

The recent surge in fighting between ture here," Mustafa says, "unless it's to the buildings themselves have come under

the Turkish military and the PKK punc¬ arrest activists or to crack down on pro¬ attack. When Turkish soldiers die in com¬

tuated by the Uludere massacre and the kil¬ tests." bat against the PKK, "many of the Turks

ling of 24 Turkish soldiers by the Kurdish In the past few months, dozens of living there hang national flags from their

rebels two months earlier has revived Karayollari locals have been detained in balconies," says Sercan, an abbreviated

fears of an imminent return to the bloody raids against the Union of Kurdistan version of his name tattooed in ink across

1990s, when civil war ravaged Turkey's Communities (KCK), which the authorities his knuckles. In response, he says, Kurdish

Kurdish-populated southeast. Today, not regard as the PKK's urban wing. (The PKK protesters from Karayollari "sometimes

only does the violence threaten to intensify, itself is considered a terrorist organization throw stones or Molotov cocktails at their

it also threatens to spread. With interethnic by Turkey, the U.S., and the European windows."

tensions and clashes on the rise across the Union.) This has not deterred other resi¬ "With these buildings, once again

country, there is increasing evidence that dents from staging protests. With stations they're uprooting the Kurds," says Mustafa.

Turkey's cities, home to millions of Kurds, like Rqj TV reporting nonstop from the "When the state does this, when it creates

may be becoming a new front in the Kurdish areas of Turkey, Mustafa says, these kinds of divisions, people from our

conflict. "people here are more aware of the part of the neighborhood, they get upset.

"Unless the government can manage Kurdish problem. Whenever we feel our So if you're in a protest and you have a

the situation, there is a risk of ethnic ten¬ people are being suppressed, we react." A stone in your hand, you'll throw it at one of

sion at the societal level," says Nihat Ali young man sitting at our table helpfully the skyscrapers."

Ozcan, a retired army officer. In Istanbul, points out that the streets around the tea¬ More unrest may soon be in store. On

the Turkish city with the largest population house make good getaway routes during Tuesday, a Danish court will rule on whe¬

of Kurds with an estimated 2 million to battles with the police. "If something goes ther to shut down Roj TV, the Kurds' big¬

4 million out of the city's total of 12 mil¬ down in the southeast today," Mustafa gest television station, on account of its

lion the risk of conflict appears more says, "something will go down in links with the PKK.

acute than anywhere else. Karayollari tomorrow." The conflict in the southeast, which

Mustafa, like many residents of On the other side of a highway over¬ began with a PKK insurgency in 1984, has

Karayollari, hails from Siirt, a city in the pass that separates Karayollari from Gazi so far claimed around 40,000 lives, victims

southeast. He arrived in Istanbul about 20 Mahallesi, an ethnically mixed neighbo¬ of armed battles, terrorist attacks by the

years ago, he says, part of an entire genera¬ rhood reputed to be one of Istanbul's poo¬ Kurdish rebels and often savage reprisals

tion of Kurds displaced by the Turkish rest and most dangerous, signs of tension by the Turkish army and security forces.

military's scorched-earth tactics. We meet are rife. On the road leading up to the local OOO

36 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Ôzeti

BCOPENHAGENp JANUARY10,2012

Kurdish station fined 2.6m kr for promoting terrorism

Roj TV hangs on to broadcasting license in spite of being

judged the voice of the PKK

-- - V ' documents that demonstrated a strong By Ray Weaver j -^ connection between the two organisa¬

tions, including an offer by the PKK to Copenhagen-based Kurdish TV station I V invest several million kroner into the Roj TV was found guilty today of broadcaster. charges that it promoted terrorism. Roj «Hv. TV, which transmits news cultural and During the trial it emerged that PKK guer¬ children's programming to an estimated rillas had appeared as journalists and

30 million Kurds worldwide, had been used the station to broadcast the names of charged with promoting the Kurdistan and threaten specific Turkish soldiers. The

Workers Party (PKK), which is listed as a station was also found guilty of accepting terrorist organisation by the US, Canada money from the PKK. Kurds gathered in front of and the EU. Copenhagen City House today to show The station had been sore spot in the rela¬ But while the court found the station vio¬ their support for the embattled Roj TV tionship between Turkey and Denmark. lates anti-terror law and will be fined 2.6 (Photo: Scanpix The Turkish government has long claimed million kroner, it said the license cannot that the station is a mouthpiece for the be revoked because of a technicality in PKK, and Turkish authorities had repea¬ how the charges were brought. charges that it promoted terrorism tedly made formal complaint about Roj through propaganda. The case marks the Prosecutors had demanded immediate TV to Radio- og Tv-naevnet. Turkey ban¬ first time a Danish media organisation closure of the station along with a fine of ned the station in 2005 and accused was prosecuted for terrorism. 20 million kroner for Roj TV and its parent Denmark of dragging its feet in the case. company, Mesopotamia Broadcasting. Roj TV began broadcasting in Denmark in Denmark's decision to prosecute the case 2004. Broadcast authorities began looking Roj TV's attorney Bjorn Elmquist had first was revealed as being a reward for into its possible ties to the PKK in 2005. requested an acquittal. He subsequently Turkey's support of the appointment of Two years later the national broadcasting argued that the station only be required to Anders Fogh Rasmussen as Nato secre¬ authority Radio- og Tv-neevnet, found pay the fine under today's judgment and tary general in 2009. be allowed to retain its license until the that the station had incited to hatred or A leaked US embassy cable from 2010 appeals process is over. violence. revealed that "Denmark had promised to Former Roj TV head Manouchehr The decision drew protests from Turkey's clarify its legal requirements prerequisite Zanoozi, who had originally admitted ambassador to Denmark, Ahmet Berki to acceding to Turkey's request for the clo¬ that Roj TV had connections to the PKK, Dibek, who was in Copenhagen City sure of Roj TV" in exchange for Turkey but was not controlled by it, came forward Court to witness the verdict. withdrawing its objection to Rasmussen. in 2009 with incriminating photos and Roj TV was indicted on August 15 on OOO

"RudaJU 10 JANUARY 2012

Kurdish Opposition Proposes Commission on Baghdad Politics

By NAWZAD MAHMOUD and Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and ween Iraqi Kurdistan and Baghdad.

KAWAABDULLA the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, (PUK) - "We must change Iraqi Kurdistan's

- which have set Iraqi Kurdistan's poli¬ current relationship with Baghdad, which

cies for decades and lead Kurdish repre¬ is being decided by Kurdistan's two ERBIL, Iraqi Kurdistan - The sentation in Baghdad. Iraqi Kurdistan's ruling parties, to a national level and for Kurdistan Region's opposition is pro¬ opposition has sparred with the ruling that we need an independent joint com¬ posing an independent commission to parties and has boycotted the region's mission similar to the independent elec¬ resolve the political turmoil between Erbil government since last summer. tions commission," Mustafa said. and Baghdad as well as Sunni and Shiite On Gorran's KNN satellite TV sta¬ Shaho Saeed, a high-ranking member leaders in Baghdad. tion, Nawshirwan Mustafa, the move¬ of the Change Movement (Gorran) said While the proposal has not raised ment's leader, said an independent com¬ his group is concerned about Iraq's politi¬ controversy, it challenges the power of mission should supervise relations bet cal crisis. the region's two ruling parties the

37 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Ôzeti

"In the proposal we do not differentiate

between the problems in Iraqi Kurdistan

and the problems of Iraq," Saeed said. "We

will later forward the project to KDP and

PUK and the other blocs in the Kurdish

Parliament in order to create a (united) » « stance on it." * Saeed added, "This idea belongs to the

Gorran Movement and we want that com¬

mission to be and belong to the Kurdish

Parliament and include members from all

the different parties."

Leaders of the Kurdistan Islamic

Union (KIU), the second biggest opposi¬

tion party, back Gorran's proposal.

Abu Bakir Ali, a KIU politburo mem¬ Leaders of Kurdistan Region's opposition parties in a meeting in Sulaimani. Photo ber, said, "The creation of this commission Rudaw (Archives) has become one of our proposals in the

efforts to solve issues in Iraq. All parties

should agree to it and the Kurds should The KDP "has issues with crisis mana¬ find a solution for the country's political have a united (Kurdish) position in dealing gement with Baghdad, not problems with crisis. with the issues in Iraq." the relationship," said party spokesperson Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki Najmadin Karim, a PUK politburo Ibrahim Jaafar. issued an arrest warrant for Vice-President member, believes the current administra¬ Jaafar added that the KDP is open to Tariq Al-Hashimi last month on terrorism- tive system between the French-speaking the idea of a commission. related charges. Québec province and the Canadian central "We as the KDP won't refuse this kind Hashimi, a Sunni, has been a fierce cri¬ government could be the best model for of commission being created and we'll tic of Maliki. He fled to the Kurdistan Iraqi Kurdistan. study this proposal," he said. Region where he is under the protection of "I suggest that this commission be Meanwhile, Kurdistan Region the Kurdish authorities.* created to regulate the security, economy, President Massoud Barzani and Iraqi political and military issues and its bylaws President Jalal Talabani are currently mee¬ and activities are regulated by the Kurdish ting with Iraqi parties and US officials to Parliament accordingly," Karim said.

Ife Atujeles ©tmes j JANUARY 17'2012 Turkey, State Department blast Rick Perry's 'Islamic terrorist' remarks

BYJAMES OLIPHANT the 1970s as a pilot in the United States Air

Force that was our ally, that worked with us,

Both the U.S. State Department and the but today we don't see that," he said.

government of Turkey have registered State Department spokesman Mark

their dismay with Rick Perry, who claimed at Toner was asked at his daily briefing about

Monday night's GOP presidential debate in whether the U.S. considered the Turkish

South Carolina that the Middle Eastern government to be populated by "Islamic ter¬

nation and longtime NATO ally was run by rorists."

"Islamic terrorists." "We absolutely and fundamentally disa¬

In responding to a question from Fox gree with that assertion. You know, Turkey,

News' Bret Baier, the Texas governor, who as I said, is a is a strong partner in the

has struggled with foreign policy while on for us to have a conversation about whether region. We've seen it make a very coura¬

the campaign trail, suggested that all U.S. or not they belong to be in NATO, but it's geous stand against what's going on in Syria,

foreign aid to Turkey should be cut off, that time for the United States, when we look at for example. It continues to play a very posi¬

the nation should be kicked out of the North their foreign aid, to go to zero with it," Perry tive and constructive role in the region. And

Atlantic Treaty Organization and, for good said. it is often cited an example of a so-called

measure, seemed to lump it with Iran and "And you go to zero with foreign aid for Islamic democracy in action," Toner said.

Syria as an existential threat to the United all of those countries. And it doesn't make "Turkey is one of the oldest members of

States. any difference who they are. You go to zero NATO and it's been a stalwart member of

"Well, obviously when you have a coun¬ with that foreign aid and then you have the NATO and a strong ally to the United States.

try that is being ruled by, what many would conversation about, do they have America's And, you know, we stand by our relations¬

perceive to be Islamic terrorists, when you best interest in mind? And when you have hip," Toner said.

start seeing that type of activity against their countries like Turkey that are moving far Turkey's ambassador to the United

own citizens, then yes. Not only is it time away from the country that 1 lived in back in States, Namik Tan, released a statement

38 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Ozeti

expressing his disappointment with Perry's Turkey and the U.S. will continue to coope¬ Some American conservatives have war¬

criticism, which he termed "misplaced" and rate day in, day out to establish peace, secu¬ ned about what they see as a rising tide of

"ill-advised." rity and prosperity around the world." Islamic fundamentalism in the secular nation

"Needless to say, the Turkey described And in a clear shot at Perry, Tan wrote because the ruling AKP government has

in the debate simply does not exist," Tan that Turkey's economy doesn't need aid more openly embraced the country's

said. "Turkey is a secular democracy that from the United States and in fact has helped Islamic-based culture.

has for decades been an essential and trusted create "thousands of jobs" in Perry's home Perry stood by his comments at a press

partner of the U.S. Our bilateral relations are state of Texas through trade. conference Tuesday, saying in response to

based on the common values of democracy Turkey joined NATO in 1952 and was the Turkish government's criticism, accor¬

and respect for human rights, rule of law, elected to a non-permanent seat on the ding to CBS News: "When you see the num¬

and free market economy. Whether in the United Nations Security Council in 2008. ber of actions against your citizens that we

fight against terrorism or violent extremism, The two countries have been partners in the would consider to be terrorist acts, 1 stand by

in Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria or against the war in Afghanistan. The nation, however, my statement." DOD

proliferation of [weapons of mass destruc¬ has yet to be admitted into the European

tion] we stand side by side to tackle the Union in part because of concerns over its

many common threats and challenges of our human-rights record, including the treatment

times. Through NATO and bilaterally, of women and the Kurdish minority.

(U ALjAZEERA 1 17 JANUARY 2012

Iraq car bomb targets Kurdish community

Attack inside camp for displaced members of Shabak community near northern city of Mosul kills at least 1 1 .

At least 1 1 people have been killed and six others injured in a car bomb explosion near Iraq's main northern city of Mosul, according to officials.

The bomb on Monday morning targeted an internally displaced persons camp for a small minority group in the town of Bartala, officials said.

A member of the provincial council has told Al Jazeera that police found a second car bomb at the scene and closed the area for several hours to defuse it. >^ The blast occurred inside the Al-Ghadir camp housing displaced Vf*1^ **~ members of the Shabak community, a sect of Kurdish origin, according to an army official and a medic at Mosul General

Hospital. The attack left seven policemen dead and 16 wounded, the latest in violence that has killed more than 200 people in less The medic said women and children were among the fatalities, than a month. but did not give further details. He said some of the injured had been transferred to a hospital in the nearby Kurdish regional POLITICAL TENSIONS capital Erbil. Political tensions in Iraq have been high since December, prime

The Shabak community numbers about 30,000 people living in minister Nouri al-Maliki's government ordered the arrest of a

35 villages in Nineveh, and many want to become part of the vice-president, touching off a crisis that many fear will bring a autonomous Kurdish region of northern Iraq. relapse into sectarian conflict.

They speak a distinct language and largely follow a faith that is On Saturday, a suicide bomber disguised as a policeman killed a blend of Shia Islam and local beliefs. at least 53 people and wounded scores in an attack on pilgrims at a checkpoint in the southern city of Basra SHABAK COMMUNITY Mosul, in northern Iraq, was once an al-Qaeda stronghold, and The Shabak community was persecuted under former Iraqi ruler witnessed some of the fiercest fighting during the war that fol¬ Saddam Hussein, and after the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq they lowed the 2003 US-led invasion. were targeted on a number of occasions. The eastern outskirts of Mosul form part of the disputed areas Levels of violence have declined dramatically in Mosul and between the central government and the semi-autonomous nearby towns and villages. Kurdistan Region Government in the north.

Monday's violence came a day after fighters mounted a wave of The disputed territories between Iraqi Arabs and Kurds are seen attacks in the western city of Ramadi before laying siege to a as a flashpoints for possible conflict after the last American police compound, raising doubts about security forces' capabi¬ troops left Iraq in December, nearly nine years after the inva¬ lities after US forces completed their withdrawal last month. sion that ousted Saddam Hussein.O

39 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Ôzeti

Jlfrjf.... 10 January 2012 uuu

Syrian Kurds Claim They're Sidelined in Opposition Again

RUDAW X Protesters carry¬ ,u- ing theflag of /~|AMISHLI, Syria - Kurdish lea- T[ >^ders say they are again being Kurdistan in a demonstration in sidelined in decision-making for the city of Syria's future, claiming two major Amude, Syria. Syrian opposition groups did not Photo consult them when drafting a pledge alquds.com to honor Kurdish rights. The resolution, which was tentati¬ t- vely agreed upon between the Syrian National Council and the National Coordination Body for Democratic

Change in Syria (NCB) in Cairo last among council members. Council is not the only one who

month, identifies the Kurds as an eth¬ "The agreement will be discussed represents the Kurds," he said.

nic minority in Syria and states that by the council's leadership and the "There is also a National Council,

their rights must be enshrined in draf¬ implementation committee," Saida which is created by PYD and some

ting a new constitution. said. "There are many controversial other Kurdish political parties outside

Kurdish parties say they have points in the agreement." of the Kurdish National Council."

been sidelined and weren't consulted Said believes the agreement won't The Democratic Union Party

by the national council, the leading be welcomed by the majority of the (PYD) is a Syrian Kurdish party that

opposition group that is creating an council. has stayed away from the mainstream

interim leadership for Syria if the Ghalioun and Haitham Manna, opposition only to drift closer to the

regime falls. One Kurdish leader, the head of the NCB, signed the new Syrian National Council in Cairo last

however, said Kurds decided to walk resolution in the presence of only month.

out of the conference. seven council members. Lathaqi maintained that the coun¬

Abdul-Hakim Bashar, the head of To ease the anger of some opposi¬ cil embraces all Syrians.

the Kurdish Democratic Party in tion figures, Ghaliioun said, "What "The Syrian opposition doesn't

Syria and chair of the Kurdish was being signed is only a proposal include only the Syrian National

National Council, told Rudaw, "This and later will be discussed by the Council and the National

was never our demand," Bashar said. council and the council will make the Coordination," he said. "It also

"They have not mentioned that the final decision." includes Kurdish blocs, tribal blocs,

Kurds live on their own land. We are He said the draft was not suppo¬ and many other independent figures

not guests in Syria. This issue must sed to be made public. as well."

be addressed - that Syria isn't just an The Kurdish National Council, Lathaqi rejected claims that

Arab country but is a country of both which is made up often Kurdish poli¬ Kurds are being isolated, saying,

Arabs and Kurds." tical groups and a number of political "Any attempts to isolate one of these

Bashar called on Kurdish parties and intellectual figures, blames the groups from the Syrian National

and political figures to withdraw their Syrian National Council for keeping Council will make us dictators and no

representatives from the Syrian the Kurds in the dark regarding deci¬ one will trust us in the future.

National Council. sions and plans for the future of Everyone should participate in the

Some other Syrian opposition lea¬ Syria. Syrian opposition's agreement."

ders are also concerned about the new Salih Muslim, a Kurd and deputy Saida, a member of the Syrian resolution. head of the NCB, said the Kurdish National Council, said the constitu¬

Muhyaddin Lathaqi, a member of National Council is responsible for tional right was established during a

the Syrian National Council, told not being involved in drafting from pledge for Kurdish rights at a confe¬

Rudaw, "Some of the issues are not the recent agreement. rence in Tunisia.

clear in the agreement." "The Kurdish National Council "Our opinion and the opinion of

But Burhan Ghalioun, the head of delegation decided to leave Cairo; the entire Syrian National Council the Syrian National Council, said in a that's why they were not present in was clear in the first convention in

statement, "What was signed in the signing the agreement." Muslim said. Tunisia which we acknowledged the

agreement is just a draft and we Muslim maintained that the constitutional rights of the Kurds on

haven't yet reached the final agree¬ Kurdish National Council will parti¬ their own land," he said.

ment." cipate in the Syrian opposition

According to Abdulbasit Saida, a convention and they will have mem¬

member of the council's implementa¬ bers in the preparation committee.

tion committee, there is disagreement "However, the Kurdish National

40 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Ôzeti

Vendredi 13 janvier 2012 Téhéran accuse les Etats-Unis et Israël de l'assassinat en Iran d'un chercheur spécialiste du nucléaire

Washington nie toute implication dans l'attentat, le quatrième endeux ans contre un scientifique

Mercredi matin 11 janvier, tion iranienne de l'énergie atomi¬ nécessaire à l'enrichissement de Elle a débuté avec le vrai-faux enlè¬

Mostafa Ahmadi-Ros- que. Le même jour, Majid Shariati, l'uranium. vement de Shahram Amiri par des

han est parti" travailler un autre spécialiste du nucléaire, Le site de Natanz compte agents américains : après un comme tous les jours. Son chauf¬ avait été tué dans une explosion 8 000 centrifugeuses. Mais le rôle séjour aux Etats-Unis, le physicien feur est passé le prendre à son criminelle qui avait blessé sa fem¬ exact de Mostafa Ahmadi-Roshan était rentré en Iran en juillet 2010. domicile pour se rendre à son me. Le premier assassinat de ce reste difficile à établir. Ce jeune Cette guerre de l'ombre inclut la bureau. A 8 h 30, alors que son type remonte au 12 janvier 2010 : il scientifique avait fait des études diffusion de virus informatiques véhicule empruntait la rue Golna- avait visé Massoud Ali Mohamma- d'ingénierie chimique à l'universi¬ comme Stuxnet, et de mystérieu¬ bi, dans le nord-est de Téhéran, di, un physicien internationale¬ té Sharif de Téhéran, l'un des ses explosions sur des bases mili¬

une moto avec deux passagers ment reconnu. meilleurs établissements scientifi¬ taires des pasdaran, les Gardiens s'est portée à sa hauteur. Arrivé ques du pays. Toujours selon de la révolution. près de la voiture, l'un des Le vice-président Mehr, les inspecteurs de l'Agence Le vice-président iranien, motards a collé une bombe internationale de l'énergie atomi¬ Mohammad Reza Rahimi, a attri¬ magnétique sur l'habitacle de la iranien, Mohammad que de Vienne l'auraient rencon¬ bué l'attentat de mercredi à « un 405 Peugeot. Puis la moto a accélé¬ RezaRahimi, tré très récemment. terrorisme d'Etat». Une allusion ré. Lorsqu'elle a pris 200 mètres L'Iran et la communauté inter¬ aux Etats-Unis qui ont nié toute d'avance, l'explosion s'est déclen¬ a attribué l'attentat nationale s'affrontent sur la ques¬ implication et condamné l'atten¬ chée. Suffisamment forte pour du 11 janvier tion du programme nucléaire de tat, et à Israël qui, comme à son tuer le passager et son chauffeur, la République islamique. Plus habitude, n'a pas réagi. mais sans détruire l'habitacle. - à «un terrorisme encore depuis l'annonce de Toutefois, M. Reza Rahimi a Cet assassinat, qui semble tout d'Etat» l'ouverture imminente de l'usine assuré que cet assassinat «ne stop¬ droit sorti d'un film d'espionnage, d'enrichissement de Fordow, pro¬ perait pas » le programme est le quatrième, en deux ans, d'un fondément enterrée dans une nucléaire iranien. Le chef d'état- scientifique spécialiste du nucléai¬ Mostafa Ahmadi-Roshan, montagne près de Qom. Les pays major. israélien venait juste de

re iranien. 32 ans, était vice-directeur du occidentaux soupçonnent Téhé¬ déclarer, mardi, devant dçs parle¬

Le 29 novembre 2010, Ferey- département commercial de l'usi¬ ran de vouloir se doter de l'arme mentaires à la Knesset: «2012 doun Abbassi-Davani avait échap¬ ne de Natanz, le principal site d'en¬ atomique, tandis que les diri¬ s'annonce une année critique en pé de peu à une tentative d'assassi¬ richissement d'uranium irakien, geants iraniens assurent poursui¬ Iran avec lapoursuite duprogram¬ nat similaire, qui l'avaitblessé ain¬ près d'Ispahan, selon l'agence de vre des objectifs civils. me nucléaire, des changements si que sa femme. Il avait sauté à presse iranienne Mehr. D'après Outre les sanctions adoptées au sommet du pouvoir, une pres¬ temps de son véhicule. Depuis, il a une autre agence de presse, Fars, par les Nations unies ou celles spé¬ sion continue, voire accrue, de la été nommé vice-président par le il s'occupait d'un projet de mem¬ cifiques aux Occidentaux (Etats- communauté internationale, et président Mahmoud Ahmadine- branes polymères utiles dans la Unis, Union européenne, Canada), des incidents inaccoutumés. » jad et promu à la tête de l'Organisa séparation de gaz, un processus une guerre secrète se joue en Iran. Christophe Ayad

Mîtnuk llllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll

Jeudi 12 janvier 2012 1 -* 1 ) «Il Iran, le scenario d une guerre possible L'escalade a atteint un point critique

flux énergétiques a toujours dent du Majlis, le Parlement) qui se l'arme nucléaire et à la dynamique constitué pour Washington un disputent le pouvoir dans la pers¬ des changements de pouvoir dans casus belli. L'escalade des sanc¬ pective des élections législatives et

Francois Géré tions glisse vers une guerre, évo¬ de la présidentielle de 2013. Les pas- le monde arabe qui favorise le sun- quée depuis six ans. Faisant la part darans (gardiens de la révolution) nisme. Se présenter comme le seul Etat qui ose défier la suprématie Directeur de l'Institutfrançais de l'amplincationmédiatique vou¬ jouent aussileurprestige etleur cré¬ américaine se révélera payant. d'analyse stratégique lue de part et d'autre, mesurons dibilité de maîtres de la haute tech¬ Aux Etats-Unis, le président quels gains peuvent espérer les nologie militaire. Barack Obama est sous la pression Depuis septem¬ acteurs et quels risques de pertes Ce serait l'occasion de renforcer des républicains mais aussi de nom¬ bre 2011, la tension leur feraient contrepoids. une unité nationale entamée en

entre Téhéran et En Iran, il paraît avantageux de plaçant au second plan le mécon¬ breux parlementaires démocrates

Washington s'ag¬ surenchérir dans la lutte entre les tentement général à l'égard d'une soucieux de la protection d'Israël. Il

grave. Le dernier factions et les clans tant religieux mauvaise gestionéconomique qui,' est temps pour l'administration

épisode en date est . que laïques (le Guide suprême, Ah aggravée parles sanctions, rend dif¬ américaine de faire preuve de fer¬ meté au-delà des mots, même si la menace iranienne du blocus du Khamenei, le président Mahmoud ficiles les conditions de vie. Enfin, l'option de Vendiguement a sa préfé¬ détroit d'Ormuz en cas de sanc¬ Ahmadinejad et son beau-frère, un affrontement direct permet¬ rence. tions sur ses exportations énergéti¬ Esfandiar Rahim Mashaïe, la puis¬ trait de rompre l'isolement diplo¬ ques. Or la libre circulation des sante famille d'Ali Larijani, prési matique régional dû à la crainte de Il lui faut aussi rassurer les alliés

41 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Ôzeti

Ce dernier scénario peut-il régionaux et donner plus de consis¬ quiétude des pays importateurs Téhéran un prétexte pour faire contribuer à résoudre la crise tance à cette stratégie d'endigue- (Japon, Inde, Chine) et celle des jouer la clause de retrait du traité nucléaire en favorisant une reprise ment, mise en 0uvre depuis deux Etats riverains exportateurs. Autre sur la non-prolifération des armes du dialogue, chacun ayant sauvé la ans, fondée sur le redéploiement risque, la radicalisation des gouver¬ nucléaires au nom de ses intérêts face ? Tel futle cas en 1987. L'Iran fai¬ des troupes d'Irak et d'Afghanistan nements arabes islamiques modé¬ suprêmes. sait alors face à l'Irak. Il n'existait vers la péninsule arabique, la défen¬ rés nouvellement élus. Faut-il envi¬ Le risque pour l'Iran serait de se pas de programme nucléaire ira¬ se antimissiles et, plus discrète¬ sager un embrasement régional? retrouver en situation d'Etat paria nien. Une escalade incontrôlée ment, la garantie nucléaire. Enfin, Ce terme souvent utilise par Téhé¬ comme la Corée du Nord, ce que conduirait à une campagne aérien¬ calmer les impatiences belliqueu¬ ran paraît excessif: ni au Liban Téhéran a pris garde d'éviter. En ne contre les sites nucléaires et les ses du gouvernement israélien. (Hezbollah), ni en Irak (armée du outre, le régime pourrait essuyer Mahdi de Moqtada Al-Sadr), ni à une défaite, eu égard à un rapport missiles. Le potentiel iranien en serait amoindri sans être éradiqué. Embrasement régional Gaza, et moins encore en Afghanis¬ dé forces conventicaHiefles favora¬ La situation incite donc à la pru¬ Au regard de ces incitations, tan, il n'y aurait d'engagement ble aux Etats-Unis. Cette humilia¬ dence. La France, non sans ambiguï¬ quels sont les risques ? Washington armé automatique en soutien de tion bouleverserait la donne politi¬ té, met en garde contre « les risques doit envisager une flambée des l'Iran. Par-delà les déclarations que intérieure. Deux options se d'une attaque préventive » porteu¬ prix énergétiques qui aggraverait enflammées, chacun pèsera son dégagent : s'en tenir à un affronte¬ se d'une crise dont « e//e ne veut à la crise économique, non sans intérêt local. ment verbal ; faire une démonstra¬ aucun prix». Après dix ans de vai¬ répercussions sur la croissance des Le risque terroriste, en revanche, tion militaire limitée et confuse nes négociations, l'épreuve de véri¬ Etats émergents. Il faudra surmon¬ augmentera.Enfin, une actionmili¬ permettant à chacun de s'attribuer té approche. Mais quelle vérité ? ter une forte opposition liée à l'in taire, fût-elle limitée, fournirait à le beau rôle.

I OfôèmjteLr 13 janvier 2012

Mahmoud Mohammad Bave Sabir, Les Kurdes de Syrie membre de la direction de l'Union démocratique kurde de Syrie, l'un des

plus vieux partis kurdes d'opposition.

à lfécart du soulèvement Les manifestations kurdes, dit-il,

n'ont pas été réprimées aussi violem¬ PAR JON HEMMING "Les Kurdes ne soutiennent pas le ment que les autres parce qu'Assad régime. Nous, Kurdes, sommes hostiles redoute la réaction des milliers de au régime depuis plus de vingt ans et ERBIL, IRAK (REUTERS) - Ni Bachar Kurdes installés à Damas et à Alep, les les Kurdes ont été parmi les premiers à al Assad ni l'opposition syrienne ne deux plus grandes agglomérations, qui descendre dans la rue", dit Sarbast trouvent grâce aux yeux de la commu¬ sont plus calmes que les villes voisines. Nabi, Kurde de Syrie et professeur de nauté kurde de Syrie, première minorité PUISSANCES RÉGIONALES sciences politiques à l'université Saladin ethnique du pays, qui s'est tenue large¬ Avant de trouver refuge au d'Erbil. ment à l'écart du soulèvement entamé il Des heurts ont opposé pendant des Kurdistan irakien, Madjed Youssef y a dix mois. jours les forces de l'ordre syriennes à Daoui, militant étudiant, a passé deux Ses membres voient en outre d'un des membres de la communauté kurde mois en prison. Il est aujourd'hui en mauvais oeil l'influence croissante de la en 2004, à Qamichli, après un incident contact quotidien avec les dissidents Turquie auprès des mouvements qui lors d'un match de football. kurdes de Syrie et fait pression pour cherchent à renverser le chef de l'Etat, une reconnaissance des droits de sa craignant que leur succès ne mette fin à ARABISATION communauté auprès du mouvement le leurs espoirs d'autonomie, du fait de "A ce moment-là, je me trouvais à plus représentatif de l'opposition, établi l'opposition d'Ankara à l'émancipation Damas", se souvient Sarbast Dabi. "Je ne à Istanbul. de sa propre minorité kurde. veux pas citer de noms, mais ceux qui L'appui de la Turquie à cette coali¬ "Les Kurdes et l'opposition arabe ne sont maintenant à la tête de l'opposition tion de partis issus de la mouvance reli¬ se font pas confiance, c'est pourquoi il étaient hostiles aux revendications gieuse clandestine, a placé les islamistes n'y pas de grandes manifestations dans concernant les droits des Kurdes (...) Ils à la pointe de la contestation, selon les les villes kurdes", explique Madjid sont toujours favorables à l'arabisation représentants kurdes de Syrie. Youssef Daoui, membre du Conseil et à l'islam politique." S'ils s'emparaient du pouvoir, national syrien mis sur pied par les Outre cette défiance à l'égard de disent-ils, ils resteraient sans doute adversaires d'Assad et Kurde lui-même. l'opposition, les Kurdes de Syrie sont fidèles au nationalisme arabe de Bachar "Nous n'avons aucun accord avec très divisés. Certains mouvements sont al Assad et s'opposeraient par consé¬ l'opposition arabe en ce qui concerne les liés aux Kurdes d'Irak, d'autres aux quent à l'autonomie des zones kurdes. droits des Kurdes. Nous n'avons pas rebelles du Parti des travailleurs du "Je pense que la révolution syrienne d'accord sur la marche à suivre pour Kurdistan (PKK), actifs en Turquie, n'est plus entre les mains du peuple changer de régime (...) Les déclarations disent les observateurs. syrien, mais qu'elle est devenue un des chefs de file de l'opposition ne nous Damas accorde à ces derniers un conflit entre puissances régionales. On donnent par ailleurs aucune raison de soutien de plus en plus marqué pour ne peut pas faire confiance à ces grands leur accorder notre confiance", ajoute-t- compenser celui d'Ankara à Etats parce que ce sont leurs intérêts qui il, interrogé par Reuters à Erbil, capitale l'opposition syrienne, ce qui explique priment", ajoute Madjed Youssef Daoui. du Kurdistan irakien. que les proches du PKK en Syrie n'aient "Nous craignons que la Turquie ne Après quelques rassemblements au pas rejoint les rangs de la contestation. joue un rôle en Syrie. Je suis sûr que la début du mouvement de contestation, Bachar al Assad exploite à la fois la Turquie fera face à une forte résistance les villes à majorité kurde du nord-est crainte que le séparatisme kurde inspire kurde en Syrie", prédit quant à lui de la Syrie ont retrouvé le calme alors aux arabes et celle que le nationalisme Sarbast Nabi. que des manifestations quotidiennes arabe inspire aux Kurdes, estime ont lieu dans les grands pôles sunnites.

42 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Ozeti

Vendredi 13 janvier 2012 Syrie : l'économie s'approche du point de rapt

-::

\

i I*

f

Confrontés aux pénuries, des Damascenes font la queue, dans une rue de la capitale, en décembre20ii, pour acheter de l'essence. REUTERS

L'hiver est rude en Syrie et pas gent et réagissent en hommes d'af¬ mie. Quelques mois plus tôt, il pour57 et pointe à 1 pour63 au mar¬ seulement dans les foyers faires : en sepositionnantdans l'op¬ avait décrété une hausse de 20 % à ché noir. d'opposants. Les moyens de tique d'une chute deBachar. » 30% du,traitement des fonction¬ L'autrevolet des sanctions euro¬ chauffage comme le fioul et le gaz Et après ? Le travail de sape des naires, dans le but évident d'ache¬ péennes, celui qui consiste à geler domestique commencent à man¬ ter la paix sociale. En début de-- les avoirs des hommes d'affaires capitales occidentales peut-ilmodi¬ quer. Les coupures d'électricité se semaine, c'est Mohamed Nidaàl jugés trop proches du pouvoir et fier la donne politique ? Le délabre¬ multiplient au point que, dans la ment de l'économie profite-t-il Al-Shaar, le' ministre de l'écono¬ désormais persona non grata en banlieue de Damas, elles attei¬ mie, qui a parlé d'un secteur «gra¬ Europe, commencerait également vraiment à ceux qui manifestent gnent 7 à 8 heures par jour. Les vement endommagé». Le taux de contre le régime, jour après jour, prix des produits de première chômage, officiellement de 11% «L'alliance entre dans les rues d'Homs ou d'Hama ? nécessitéflambent, avec une infla¬ avant le début du soulèvement en Et n'y a-t-il pas de risque de répéter tion de 37% en 2011 pour certaines mars, est désormais placé «entre le capital sunnite le fiasco de l'embargo contre l'Irak denrées. 22 % et 30%» par le ministère des et le pouvoir alaouite de Saddam Hussein, dans les Sous l'effet conjugué de la crise affaires sociales. années^iggo, qui avait davantage politique et des sanctions interna¬ C'est dans le secteur pétrolier - est entrain pénalisé l'homme de la rue que le tionales, l'économie, qui avait jus¬ 25 % du produit intérieur brut (PIB) de craquer» tyran de Bagdad et ses fidèles ? que-là bien résisté, donne désor¬ - que la crise est le plus sensible. La « On tient compte des leçons du mais des signesdedépression avan¬ Un analyste étranger Syrie, qui exportait la quasi-totali¬ passé, affirme un diplomate euro¬ cée. «Ce n'estpas le marasme géné¬ basé à Damas té de son brut vers l'Union euro¬ péen. On traque les hommes de ralisé, la population ne meurt pas péenne (UE), se heurte depuis la paille, commeMohamedHamsho, defaim, mais c'est vrai que l'écono¬ mi-novembre à l'embargo mis en à porter ses fruits. La Bourse a per¬ qui est le paravent de Maher mie est dans un mauvais état, dit place par les ministres des affaires du 50 % de sa valeur en dix mois et Al-Assad [le frère cadet du prési¬ Yazid Yizagi, rédacteur en chef du étrangères des Vingt-Sept. L'hypo¬ de nombreuses entreprises ont dû dent, commandant de la 4e divi- Syria Report, un site d'information thèse d'une réorientation des ven¬ mettre la clé sous la porte. «Le ris¬ . sion de l'armée et cerveau de la éconômiquebaséàDamas.Iadété- tes vers les pays d'Asie est jugée que "réputationnel" est terrible répression]. On fait du ciblé, du rioration s'est accélérée à lafin de peu crédible par les spécialistes, du pour ces gens qui payent certes sur-mesure. Lé reste, après, nous l'année, au moment où les sanc¬ fait du surcoût qu'entraînerait ce avecle régime mais sontavant tout échappe. » tions sont entrées en application. » choix, notamment à cause des frais dans la mondialisation », affirme D'autres sources sontplus mesu¬ Toujours enclin à minimiser de la traversée du canal de Suez. un diplomate européen très au fait rées. Elles estiment que le premier l'importance de la rébellion qui le Le secteur touristique'est, quant de la liste noire établie par l'UE, qui cercle du pouvoir demeure encore vise, le régime du président Bachar à lui, au point mort. En forte hausse comprend 74 noms. à l'abri des sanctions, qui frappent Al-Assad est en revanche beau¬ ces dernières années, ilne représen¬ «L'allianceentre leçapitalsunni¬ certes la bourgeoisie d'affaires, coupplus prolixe surla crise écono¬ tait que 10% du PIB mais assurait te et lepouvoir alaouite [une bran¬ mais aussi le petit peuple, «lacli- mique. Outre que les mesures pri¬ une grosse part des rentrées de che du chiisme dont est issu le clan , que de Bachar a mis Sesfonds au ses par la communauté internatio¬ devises du régime. Signe que la Assad] est en train de craquer, frais depuis longtemps, soutient nale dans ce domaine alimentent situation monétaire du pays se fra¬ -confirme un analyste étranger un diplomate en poste à Damas. sa thèse du «complot de l'étran¬ gilise, la livre syrienne commence basé à Damas. Tous les hommes Les jeux de capitaux deviennent ger», le maître de Damas se plaît à à décrocher face au dollar. Alors d'affaires souffrentet se retournent plus difficiles mais pas impossi¬ brandir la peur du chaos pour qu'elle s'échangeait à 1 dollar pour peu àpeu contrele régime. Certains bles. » mieux se mainteniren place. 50 livres il y a quelques mois, le d'entre eux donnent de l'argent ou L'annonce faite au mois de juin, En juin, il avait évoqué « un ris¬ taux est passé officiellement à 1 des médicaments auxfamilles des par Rami Makhlouf, le cousin hon¬ que d'effondrement» de l'écono victimes.llsperdentbeaucoupd'ar- ni du président syrien, qu'il renon-

43 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Ozeti

choses sérieuses n'ont pas encore Nations unies. çait à son empire industriel pour se commencé. Le régimejoue la mon¬ Pour les petits malins, quelques consacrer aux iuvres caritatives tre avec une grande habileté. Il a les bonnes affaires économiques sub¬ n'a pas convaincu les experts euro¬ « Le régime a les reins reins suffisamment solides pour sistent, notamment dans le domai¬ péens. Le propriétaire de Cham, suffisamment solides tenir encore quelques mois. » ne immobilier. Dans la banlieue une holding tentacUlaire qui sud de Damas, lès chantiers de contrôle notamment Syriâtel, le pour tenir encore Difficile de se faire une idée pré¬ cise de l'état de désagrégation du construction de nouveaux immeu¬ plus gros opérateur de téléphonie quelques mois» pays. A mesure que là Syrie som¬ bles se multiplient. Et pour cause : mobile syrien, figure toujours sur Un diplomate bre, l'opacité Structurelle du Systè¬ soucieux de soigner son image en la liste noire de Bruxelles, «lafor¬ en poste à Damas interne, le régime fermerait désor¬ mule envoguecesiemps-ei dans les me Assad se renforce et, avec elle, le désarroi qui règne dans les chancel¬ mais les yeux sur les constructions ruesdeDamas, c'estque "Maher[Al- leries occidentales/confrontées à illégales ! Assad] est toujours en pyjama", poursuit le diplomate basé en l'obstruction de la Russie et de la Benjamin Barthi Chine au Conseil de sécurité des Syrie. C'est unefaçon de dire que les

12 janvier 2012 En Syrie, le président BacharAl-Assad persisteà traiter les insurgés par le mépris

Dans un discours fleuve, le maître de Damas a attribué à un complot de l'étranger le mouvement de protestation qui demande sa démission

Des poches d'ignorance», a-t-il déclaré, plus sourd que ci, toute internationalisation de la «une poignée d'égarés», jamais aux revendications de la . crise. « Ilsemblequelepouvoirtien- « des terroristes ou des écer- rue, qui demande depuis dix ne à sa politique sécuritaire et velés»-. pour son premier dis¬ mois son départ du pouvoir. De la répressive face au soulèvement cours public depuis plus de six même manière, le chef d'Etat populaire», a déploré son chef, mois, le président syrien, Bachar syrien a répété que ses forces de . Hassan Abdel Azim. Al-Assad a fait montre, mardi l'ordre n'avaient jamais reçu l'or¬ A Paris comme à Washington, 10 janvier, à l'égard de ses oppo¬ dre d'ouvrirle feu contre les mani¬ les réactions officielles ont été sants du même mélange de festants, avant de promettre de similaires, pointant un «déni de dédain et de déni, déjà manifeste frapper «les terroristes» d'une réalité », selonles mots d'Alain Jup¬ dans l'entretien qu'il avait donné «main defer». pé, le chefde la diplomatie françai¬ en décembre 2011 à la chaîne de Parallèlement à cette démons¬ se. «C'est un discours aux antipo¬

télévision américaine ABC. tration de force à destination des des de ce que l'onpouvait attendre, Ces propos ont suscité l'indigna¬ puissances occidentales, qu'un a-t-il ajouté. Il incite à la violence et tion du Conseil national syrien diplomate européen a qualifié de à la'confrontation entre les deux (CNS), qui regroupe la majorité de «trompe-l'ceil sans surprise», le parties. » l'opposition. « Un tel discours est dirigeant syrien a tenté de donner Sur le terrain, l'Algérien Anouar une indication que nous allons vers le change en interne, en dévoilant Malek, l'un des observateurs man¬ un comportement encore plus cri¬ un calendrier de « réformes » : loi datés par la Ligue arabe, a annoncé minel et irresponsable du régime », sa démission, qualifiant de «far¬ a déclaré Bassma Kodmani, la por¬ Paris comme ce » la mission en place depuis le te-parole du CNS. 26 décembre, qui se heurte à la Dans son intervention d'une Washington pointent mauvaise volonté manifeste des heure quarante-cinq, le maître de du doigt autorités syriennes. Damas a une nouvelle fois brandi Sur la chaîne de télévision qata- l'épouvantail du complot de un « déni de réalité » rie Al-Jazira, il a affirmé que les pri¬ l'étranger, le leitmotiv de la propa¬ sonniers politiques censément gande syrienne. Conscient que la sur la libéralisation des médias, libérés ces derniers jours par le population commence à pâtir des mesures- anticorruption, nouvelle régime de Damas sont des person¬ sanctions mises en place par Constitution qui serait soumise à nes arrêtées quelques jours plus l'Union européenne et les Etats- un référendum au mois de mars, tôt et relâchées pour faire bonne Unis, il a stigmatisé « le rêve de la et trois mois plus tard, en juin, de mesure devant les caméras de télé¬ division [de la Syrie]», présent possibles élections législatives. vision. «Ils n'ont répondu à aucu¬ selonlui « dans les esprits de lapro¬ A l'intention des pays du Golfe ne de nos demandes, a déclaré géniture de Sykes-Picot», une réfé¬ et notamment du Qatar, en pointe Anouar Malek, ils essaient de nous

rence aux deux concepteurs du dans les efforts d'isolement de tromperetde nous écarterde ce qui

plan de partage du Proche-Orient Damas, M. Assad a eu ces mots sar- se passe réellement sur le terrain. » arrêté en mai 1916 par la France et castiques : «Le premier Parlement Lundi 9 décembre, deux obser¬

la Grande-Bretagne. en Syrie date de 1917. Où étaient-ils vateurs ont été légèrement bles¬ En réponse aux capitales occi¬ à cette époque ? » sés, près de Lattaquié, sur la côte. dentales, qui le pressent de s'effa¬ Cette esquisse d'ouverture n'a Selon l'ONU, 400 personnes ont cer, Bachar Al-Assad a écarté toute cependant pas convaincules oppo¬ été tuées en Syrie depuis le début

perspective de démission. «Je gou¬ sants, y compris le Comité natio¬ de la mission arabe, soit 40 morts verne avec la volonté du peuple et nal pour le changement démocra¬ en moyenne par jour, une estima¬

si je renonce au pouvoir, ce sera tique, la plate-forme rivale du CNS, tion plus élevée qu'auparavant.» aussi avec la volonté du peuple», qui refuse, contrairement à celle- Benjamin Barthe

44 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Ozeti

m REUTER

Iraq's Kurds unwilling to hand

Hashemi to Baghdad

January 11, 2012 - By Jon Hemming (Reuters) %j

ARBIL, Iraq - Iraq's semi-autonomous Kurdistan region is unwilling to hand over Iraqi Vice President Tareq al-Hashemi despite a formal demand from the central government that he be sent to Baghdad to face Iraq's Vice President Tareq al-Hashemi speaks at a news confer¬ charges of running death squads. ence in in Arbil, about 350 km (220 miles) north of Baghdad,

While not refusing outright to arrest the Sunni leader and send December 20, 2011. him to face trial, Iraqi Kurdish officials said the Baghdad government should accept Hashemi's demand to be tried out¬ "He does not disagree with attending court. All he asks ... is to side the capital. transfer the place of trial from Baghdad to Kirkuk and he is

Hashemi, who denies the charges, travelled to the Kurdish ready to go to court in Kirkuk. This is an Iraqi city which region after the central government sought his arrest. He says belongs to the central government." he is willing to face the charges but does not want his trial held Kurdistan judicial officials insist the central government does in Baghdad where he believes the judiciary is controlled by not have the right to send security forces to arrest Hashemi in Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki. Kurdistan, which has its own military and police. Iraq's Shi'ite-led government issued an arrest warrant for After rising up against Saddam Hussein during the 1991 Gulf Hashemi in mid-December, just as the last U.S. troops were lea¬ War, the Kurds won de-facto self-rule from Baghdad, a status ving the country. That triggered a political crisis that threatens formalized under the new Iraqi constitution drawn up after the Maliki's fragile governing coalition, which is led by Shi'ites but 2003 U.S.-led invasion. claims support of Kurdish and Sunni factions.

Largely insulated from the sectarian conflict in the rest of Iraq, Hashemi is a senior figure of the main Sunni-backed bloc. The Iraqi Kurdistan has transformed itself from the poorest region move against him, and the isolation of other Sunni leaders, of the country to its most prosperous. have raised fears of a return of the extreme sectarian violence between Shi'ites and Sunnis which killed tens of thousands of Fiercely jealous of their hard-won autonomy, Kurdish leaders

Iraqis in 2006-07. are reluctant to get sucked into the deadly squabbles between

Iraq's Shi'ite and Sunni Arabs, and have largely either stood A suing of bombings in mostly Shi'ite areas of Baghdad have aside, or attempted to mediate between the many factions. killed scores of people in the weeks since U.S. troops left.

The flight of Hashemi to their midst has thrust the Kurds reluc¬ 'The vice-president said he is ready to go to the court and if he tantly center stage in the unfolding political drama. is ready to go to the court, why must he be arrested?" said Dr.

Fuad Hussein, chief of staff to the president of the Kurdistan During the Saddam era, Iraq's Kurds had closer relations with region. the Shi'ite leaders now in power who shared their goal of top¬

pling the dictator, but Iraq's Sunni Arabs, clustered in the cen¬ 'They must prepare a secure and fair place for the trial and if ter of the country, are the Kurds' immediate neighbors. they do that, he will go there himself," he told Reuters.

Bearing in mind Hashemi's previous vocal hostility to Kurdish Hashemi has suggested he be tried either in the Kurdish zone, aspirations, Kurdistan authorities are unlikely to sacrifice their or in Kirkuk, a city outside the Kurdistan region but where own interests for the sake of the vice-president, analysts said, Kurdish and Sunni parties wield great power. but may try to use his presence on their soil as a bargaining chip

"Kirkuk is a shared area between myself and them. There are to further their strategic goals such as gaining full control of decent and just courts there. I am awaiting a reply from Kirkuk and its oil wealth. Baghdad on this issue," Hashemi told the Turkish privately Masoud Barzani, the president of the Iraqi Kurdish region, pro¬ owned Cihan news agency. posed a conference to resolve the political differences around

KURDS CAUGHT IN THE MIDDLE the issue of Hashemi, an idea later taken up by Maliki.

Hashemi is currently living at a guesthouse of Iraqi President "Of course the place, the agenda, who will be invited these are

Jalal Talabani, himself a Kurd, in the province of Sulaimaniya, all issues," said Hussein, Barzani's chief of staff. 'The govern¬

inside the Kurdish controlled north. ment in Baghdad is saying, the prime minister the president are

saying that they are going to invite people, but they didn't "Hashemi is not a fugitive," Talabani said. "He is still a vice pre¬ decide when and how."Q sident. Secondly, he is accused but not convicted and according to the law the accused is innocent until proven otherwise. He

has not been convicted."

45 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Ôzeti

HmliSarUmn* JANUARY11'2012 liament, he added that "victory is near." "There's no tolerance of terrorism or of those who use weapons to kill," he &&£». \ added.

In some ways, the speech was a rhe¬ Syrialeader - torical settling of accounts. Mr. Assad ridiculed the Arab League, -;,;*. which suspended Syria's membership taunts rebels in November, a humiliation for a coun¬ try that has long seen itself as a fulcrum of the Arab world. "Who lost with Syr¬ and assails ia's suspension from the Arab League? Syria?" Mr. Assad asked. "No. The Arab League did." He dismissed the wealthy oil-produ¬ Arab League President Bashar al-Assad speaking on cing Arab states of the Gulf as countries Tliesday at the University of Damascus. without culture. Qatar, in particular, has

BEIRUT led the region's attempts to further iso¬ late Mr. Assad's government. ' 'Countries can rent and import some Assad vows 'iron fist' history with their money, but money to crush 'conspiracy'; does not make nations and cultures," Mr. Assad said, in a veiled reference to monitors are attacked the Gulf emirates. He also mocked the Syrian protest¬

BY ANTHONY SHADID ers' characterization of themselves as revolutionaries. In his first public address in months, "This is not a revolution," Mr. Assad President Bashar al-Assad of Syria said to an audience that chanted his lashed out on Tuesday at the Arab name at the speech's end. "Is it possible Nabil el-Arabi, the Arab League's secretary League for isolating his country, that he is a revolutionary and a traitor at general, denounced attacks on observers. mocked Syrian rebels as traitors and the same time? This is impossible. If vowed to subdue what he said was a for¬ there were true revolutionaries, we eign-backed plot against his country. them out itself in a cynical effort to. sully would be walking together." "We will defeat this conspiracy," Mr. the protesters' image. Reactions to Mr. Assad's speech pre¬ In the latest turn, the Arab League on Assad said in a speech that lasted dictably broke along lines hardened by Tuesday denounced attacks on its ob¬ nearly two hours. the uprising and the crackdown. The address repeated what has be¬ servers in Syria, who arrived last month "No Syrian can be neutral any more," to monitor an agreement brokered by come a familiar refrain, as Mr. Assad said a 23-year-old student at the univer¬ faces his greatest challenge in more the league that was meant to end the vi¬ sity, who supported Mr. Assad and gave olence. The league's secretary general, than 11 years of authoritarian rule. He his name as Ali. pledged to crush what he has cast as ter¬ Nabil el-Arabi, said that both loyalists "I wasted about two hours of my time and government opponents had carried rorism and sabotage, while, offering listening to meaningless words," said a somewhat vague promises of reform. out attacks, but that in the end the Syri¬ 30-year-old anti-government activist in The tenor of his remarks, and his an government was to blame for failing Damascus who gave his name as Mazen. seeming show of confidence, under¬ to provide for the security of the mis¬ Mr. Assad's speech came at a time of sion. He said the government was scored the irreconcilable nature of Syr¬ feuding among his opponents in exile, ia's crisis, which pits a protest move¬ "totally responsible" for protecting its who are deeply divided over the pros¬ ment demanding that Mr. Assad leave 165 observers. pect of foreign intervention and the per¬ office against a government that rarely Arab League officials said that in the sistent gaps between opposition groups acknowledges their grievances. worst episode, 11 observers were injured within Syria and those abroad. Mr. Assad denied that his govern¬ Monday in the port city of Latàkia when "He's becoming stronger with our ment had ordered security forces to fire their vehicles were attacked in circum¬ weakness," Haytham Manna, a promi¬ on anyone, despite a death toll that the stances that remained unclear. The offi¬ nent Syrian dissident based in Cairo, said United Nations says has spiraled be¬ cial news agency of Kuwait, which said of Mr. Assad. "If the opposition doesn't yond 5,000 in a relentless crackdown. He two Kuwaitis were among the 11 injured, unify, the regime will gain strength." promised to hold a referendum on a new described the assailants as "unknown Omar Idlibi, a spokesman for the Lo¬ constitution in March, a step that protesters," and the foreign minister of cal Coordination Committees, an oppo¬ seemed pale before the enormity of the the United Arab Emirates blamed "non- sition group, called Mr. Assad's speech crisis, one of the bloodiest of the upris¬ opposition elements." another instance of the government's ings that began to Sweep the Arab world In his speech, given at the University obliviousness to the depth of the chal¬ more than a year ago. of Damascus and broadcast on Syrian lenge it faces from protests and discon¬ "When I rule, I rule because that it is television, Mr. Assad sought to cast the tent. the people's will, and when I leave of¬ violence in the country as solely a ques¬ ' 'For 10 months, the regime is living in fice, I leave because it is the people's tion of terrorism, andtoe drew parallels denial," Mr. Idlibi said in a telephone in¬ will," Mr. Assad said. between the bombings in Damascus terview. "They're denying reality. He Syria's uprising seems to have moved and an Islamist revolt in Syria in the late doesn't want to recognize the changes into a more complicated, confusing 1970s and early 1980s, which threatened that occurred until today.' ' phase in recent weeks. Protests have the hold on power of Mr. Assad's father, Even as Mr. Assad spoke, the death appeared to revive in some areas, and Hafez, who ruled for three decades. toll appeared to rise again. The Local armed elements of the opposition have "There can be no let-up for terrorism Coordination Committees said on Tues¬ seemed emboldened by defections from it must be hit with an iron fist," he day that 30 people were killed, including the security forces. said. "The battle with terrorism is a 16 in the eastern city of Deir al-Zour; Meanwhile, bombing attacks in Da¬ battle for everyone, a national battle, there was no way to independendy con¬ mascus, the capital, have killed scores not only the government's battle." firm the figures. Opposition groups say of people over the past month. The gov¬ Occasionally interrupted by applause hundreds of people have been killed in ernment has said that foreign-backed from a friendly audience of members of Syria since the Arab League observers terrorists were responsible; the opposi¬ the ruling Baath Party, university profes¬ began their work on Dec. 21. tion claims the government carried sors and members of Syria's feeble Par

46 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Ôzeti

MJERUSALEM POST January 11, 2012

* fc^isbe^-ec^naEr^.^tt^yardrTa^a^SEna^'-.Krr^tercels besec^m EtrTr^dn Smr1rttî^civ!iEniï-hE.Tb?.*n I

2012: Springtime for Kurdistan?

Can 2012 be the year that Kurdistan will finally regain its place on the geopolitical map?

to the Israeli-Palestinian con¬ ordered the arrest of Sunni and EU.

By Name Change flict, one would be forgiven for Vice-President Tariq al-Hashimi, supposing that the Palestinians for allegedly plotting an assassi¬ Although Turkey's mildly The Jerusalem post constitute the largest stateless nation attempt. Al-Hashimi has Islamist government of Prime

population of the Middle East. since fled to Iraqi Kurdistan, Minister Recep Erdogan an 2009, thousands of But while generous estimates begging and receiving refuge stormed to power in part via a Iranians took to the count 11 million Palestinians from President Barzani. If the promise to respect Kurdish cul¬ streets to protest a fraudu¬ worldwide, there are well over current impasse continues, ture and language, it has since lent presidential election that 20 million Kurds dwelling in the expect Iraq's Kurds to bolster backtracked on many of its restored Iranian President volatile region where Turkey, their de facto independence pledges and faces a renewed Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to Iran, Iraq and Syria meet. In all from Baghdad, flouting central PKK insurgency. Last week, power. Bereft of any real exter¬ four of these countries, there government laws and decrees Turkey killed 35 of its own nal support, the demonstrators are already signs that the Kurds and quietly inviting American Kurdish citizens in a botched were beaten and intimidated will play a starring role in the "advisers" to remain in the airstrike, sparking protests by into submission, although public key regional events of 2012. region. Kurds throughout Turkish signs of disapproval toward the Kurdistan and even in Istanbul, regime continue to re-emerge Alone amongst their dispersed Meanwhile, Syria's Kurds have home to many Kurdish periodically. brethren, the Kurds of Iraq have been swept up in the torrent of migrants.

their own autonomous region, revolution shaking the Assad For much of this year, the complete with a flag, a parlia¬ regime. Long denied citizenship While the current torpor will biggest news story of the Middle ment and official borders, and constantly harassed, Syria's probably subside in short order, East has been the so-called which,www.ekurd.net in classic Kurds dwell in the country's only Turkey has a serious long-term "Arab Spring" as massive waves Middle Eastern fashion, are dis¬ oil-producing region, underlin¬ problem with its Kurdish popula¬ of civil disobedience, general puted with the Iraqi central gov¬ ing their strategic importance. tion. Some analysts are predict¬ strikes and protest marches top¬ ernment. Since the fall of for¬ After the murder of a local ing that Erdogan's "economic pled dictators from Tunisia to mer Iraqi leader Saddam Kurdish strongman in October, miracle" will come to a crashing Yemen. Recent electoral results Hussein, Iraqi Kurdistan has his followers seized control of halt in 2012 as Europe, Turkey's in Tunisia and Egypt show signs quietly prospered and was Qamishli, the nerve centre of traditional export market, suf¬ of an Islamist revival, leading largely spared from the civil war Syrian Kurdistan. fers from increased austerity some commentators to warn of that ravaged the rest of Iraq. and financial turmoil. Economic an impending "Islamist Winter". Kurdish President Massoud Nevertheless, the Kurds have prosperity that benefited all

Barzani has overseen a boom in been oddly quiet since then, Turkish citizens would come to a 2012 may prove to be a turning oil production and a renaissance playing no prominent role in the sudden end, propelling disgrun¬ point for yet another of the Near of Kurdish culture, although wider Syrian Uprising. Local tled Kurds from the political East's great peoples: the Kurds. minorities such as Assyrians and Kurds are uneasy with Turkish sidelines directly into the arms

Arabs sometimes complain of backing for the Syrian rebels, as of the insurgents. But who exactly are the Kurds? discriminatory treatment. Turkey has long been a foe of Their language, Kurdish, Overall, the relative security and Kurdish aspirations. Indeed, Moreover, Turkey may soon face belongs to the broader lan¬ prosperity of Iraqi Kurdistan Kurdish representatives stormed its own version of Israel's guage family of Persian or Farsi. out of a Syrian opposition con¬ dreaded "demographic threat". Yet Kurdish history is shrouded serves as a hopeful model for an enlarged Kurdish state. ference in Turkey in May, The birthrate in Turkey's rural, in mystery, with some historians denouncing their erstwhile agricultural East, populated linking them to mountain tribes In recent weeks, Iraqi Kurdistan hosts. If Syria's budding civil mainly by Kurds, is rapidly out¬ mentioned by classical Greek has been unwillingly thrust into war drags on much longer, the stripping that of its more urban¬ authors. Kurdish nationalists the spotlight by Iraq's sectarian country's Kurds may opt for ized West. At some point, the themselves claim a more august political squabbles. As the last separatism, hoping to join their Turkish military may be past, asserting their descent US troops withdraw from the comrades in Iraq. stretched far past its limits, from the powerful Median country, Iraq's mercurial Prime attempting to hold down up to a Empire that dominated the Near Minister, Nouri al-Maliki, is tak¬ Turkey is home to the world's third of the country's citizenry. East in the sixth century BCE. ing steps to set his house in largest Kurdish population, and Promised a state by the victori¬ order and emerge from the also its most restive. Comprising Iran's Kurds have been the qui¬ ous Entente powers at the end American orbit. Although he and 20% of the population, they etest in the region, receiving lit¬ of the First World War, the Kurds his party profess Iraqi unity and have long been targets of tle media attention with all the have successfully resisted neutrality, al-Maliki is clearly repression and forced assimila¬ scrutiny applied to their coun¬ assimilation by the Persian, drifting into an alliance with tion. This has sparked a number try's potentially catastrophic Turkish and Arab conquerors, Iran, his natural Shi'a protector of revolts since Turkey's birth drive for nuclear arms. Briefly despite the powerful pull of and patron during his years of after the First World War, with granted sovereignty as a Soviet these storied civilizations. exile. the most recent coming under puppet state in 1946, Iranian the banner of the PKK, consid¬ Kurds chafed under the Shah's Given the obsessive attention To further this goal, he has ered a terrorist group by the US heavy-handed rule. Fervent paid by the international media

47 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Ôzeti

supporters of the 1979 Islamic strike to disable its nuclear pro¬ of Hizballah? As the Arabs, mere observers, in the high-

Revolution, many were soon gram, ethnic minorities such as Turks and Iranians totter on the stakes game of international

put off by the new regime's dis¬ Kurds, Azéris and Arabs may edge of political Armageddon, affairs.

crimination against Sunni renew their calls for cultural the hour has finally arrived for

Islam, of which most Kurds are autonomy and equal rights. a Kurdish resurgence. No one knows what changes or

adherents. surprises 2012 will yield. At this

Although the Kurds seem mar¬ Emil Fackenheim, one of the point in time, a viable, inde¬

In 2011, the mullahs crushed ginalized and far removed from greatest Jewish philosophers of pendent Kurdistan seems little

the PJAK, a local Kurdish militia the Middle East's halls of modern times, became a more than a pipe dream. But if

group, in a tit-for-tat guerrilla power, prolonged periods of staunch advocate of Zionism, they act wisely, boldly and

warfare campaign. chaos and crisis often bring especially after the the opportunistically, this coming

Nevertheless, 2012 may yet previously hidden forces to immense tragedy of the year might be remembered as

represent a year of opportunity prominence. After all, who had Holocaust. Through the State the year when the Kurds finally

for Iran's Kurdish population. If heard of Khomeini before the of Israel, he saw a Jewish returned to take their place in

the Islamic Republic falters, Islamic Revolution? Who spoke "return to history," a drive to the annals of history.Q

due to either crippling econom¬ of Lebanon's Shi'a before that reclaim the nation's fate and

ic sanctions or an American country's civil war and the rise become actors, rather than

HùdaW H JANUARY 2012

Experts Analyze US-Kurdish Relationship

By HAWAR ABDULRAZAQ ALI

rudaw.net

ERBIL, Iraqi Kurdistan - With a An official delegation new wave of political tension gripping from the Kurdistan Iraqi politics, the Kurds are trying to Region (left) meeting strengthen their position by creating an with US senators Joe

even tighter relationship with Washington. Lieberman and John But some Western experts interviewed McCain.

by Rudaw via email are skeptical about Photo from Falah

US-Kurdish ties, asserting that Mustafa/Facebook. Washington is not necessarily a reliable

partner.

William O. Beeman, a professor at the in removing Saddam Hussein's regime in its Peshmarga officers trained in US and University of Minnesota and a Middle 2003. That alliance however, was often EU armies and police services to build East expert, believes the Washington- considered verbal agreement and critici¬ long-term relationships." Erbil relationship has long been about US zed by some leaders and ordinary Kurds The withdrawal of US forces from interests. as fragile. Iraq and the new political tensions along "The United States sadly does not care Despite almost one century of hostili¬ sectarian lines has also raised questions very much about the Kurds. The Kurds ties between Kurds and Turks, their long- over whether Iraq will split apart. only have strategic value for the United term common interests have now come to Some experts believe that the US will Stales. As long as the strategic value of the forefront. With Syria in turmoil, Iran only support an independent Kurdish state Kurdistan and the Kurds remains aligned attempting to dominate Baghdad through if Baghdad becomes hostile toward US with American interests the relationship Prime Minister Nuri Al-Maliki and US interests in the region. will be positive," he told Rudaw. troops out of the country, some believe "Since the perception in Washington is Last week, chief of staff of Kurdistan that only Turkey can offer the Kurdistan that an independent Kurdistan would Region President Fuad Hussian told Region political protection, sufficient contribute to instability in the region, the Rudaw in an interview that Kurdish lea¬ technical expertise, and access to Western United States will probably continue to ders are trying to formalize their relations¬ markets for its hydrocarbons. oppose outright independence," said hip with the US through an agreement to Brendan O'Leary, a political science Stephen Zunes, chair of the Middle ensure Washington's support. professor at the University of Eastern Studies program at the University "We asked that the US explain on Pennsylvania and a former Kurdistan of San Francisco. "The only scenario I see paper its view regarding its relations with Regional Government (KRG) adviser, in which the United States would support Kurds, especially since they call it "spe¬ thinks that Kurdish-US relationship the Kurds would be if US relations with cial." We'll put our views on paper and should be "a constructive one, based on the Baghdad government seriously worse¬ then meet with them so as to formalize the mutual respect. The KRG must insist that ned and they hoped that support for the US-Kurdish relationship. Now, we Kurds the US respect the Kurdistan Region's full Kurds could be used as leverage against are drafting that document on our side," constitutional rights in Iraq and not them." Hussein said. cherry-pick them. The KRG should have Kurdish leaders became a key US ally

48 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Ôzeti

THE WALL STREET JOURNAL January 12, 2012

The Kurds1 Opportunity

Sectarian tension is already threatening to rend the post-American Iraq.

over to Mr. Maliki in return for vital when Exxon was confirmed to have

concessions, or they can play nice and acquired interests in Kurdistan, By RANJALAALDIN promote a process of reconciliation. despite already having a contract in Neither option is likely to resolve the the South and repeated threats from an the three weeks since the U.S. underlying issues entirely, but the Baghdad that the company's opera¬ withdrew from Iraq, the country opportunities presented by the crisis tions there would be suspended. has suffered terrorist attacks exposes what are likely to be impor¬ among the worst it has seen in recent tant dynamics in Iraq after the U.S. The Kurds needs Baghdad to fulfill times. One followed just days after military withdrawal. these commitments because the the U.S. withdrawal on Dec. 18; national government still controls the another in Baghdad on Monday killed Capitalizing on sectarian divisions in national pipeline necessary to export at least 11, in a suicide attack similar Baghdad is tempting for the Kurds, oil efficiently and effectively. It also to one just four days earlier that abandoned in many ways by has a military presence in the disput¬ killed 70. President Obama. Iraq is still domi¬ ed areas and controls a national nated by fiercely anti-Kurdish senti¬ budget, 17% of which is constitution¬ The deterioration in security follows ments and hostile neighbors keen on ally guaranteed to the Kurds. a political crisis that engulfed the limiting the Kurds' autonomy. country and inflamed existing sectar¬ Despite repeated requests for viable, But now the tables are turned. With ian tensions just hours after the last long-term protection, Washington the Hashimi affair, Kurds have a U.S. convoy left last month. The crisis has given them nothing. momentous opportunity and could revolves around an arrest warrant have everything for the taking. Mr. issued against Vice President Tariq The U.S. acquiescence has embold¬ Hashimi, who hails from the former al-Hashimi, an important representa¬ ened Baghdad to renege on a series of Baath regime, is hardly a Kurdish tive of Iraq's Sunni community. The commitments that were made to the ally, and has outspoken ultra-nation¬ warrant was issued by Prime Minister Kurds in exchange for backing Mr. alist views toward the country's Nouri al-Maliki on the basis of Mr. Maliki's return to power in November Kurdish and Shia population. The Hashimi's alleged complicity in ter¬ 2010. Among these is resolving a task of feeding Mr. Hashimi to Mr. rorism and death squads. long-simmering dispute over the con¬ Maliki is made even easier because

stitutional status of historically Mr. Hashimi, a member of the The vice president denies these Kurdish territories. Oil-rich Kirkuk Iraqiyah bloc that won last year's charges and accuses Mr. Maliki of and other territories in Diyala and elections but failed to foster a majori¬ concocting the allegations as part of Mosul provinces are yet to be inte¬ ty to govern, has little support from an attempt to increase the Shia hold grated within Kurdistan's bound¬ within his own bloc. on power. Mr. Maliki is head of the aries, largely because Baghdad is Shia Islamic Dawa Party and leads a intent on restricting Kurdish autono¬ The incident has created a host of Shia-dominated but vulnerable coali¬ my with the help of neighbors like opportunities across the political tion government. Unless a national Turkey. spectrum, but it also means that the conference proposed by Kurdistan window of opportunity for the Kurds President Masoud Barzani takes The Kurds were also promised inde¬ will close precisely when others com¬ place and reconciles the differences pendence to sign oil and gas contracts mit themselves to exploiting the between the warring factions in with foreign investors without those affair. Although the U.S. will oppose Baghdad, the coalition is likely to investors being penalized by any attempt to exploit these divi¬ schism or fall apart completely. Baghdad. Kurds argue that Baghdad's sions, the Kurds may feel that the preferred model of doing business time is nigh to do the pragmatic thing Hence the Kurds, an important U.S. with international oil companies is a to help guarantee their long-term ally in Iraq, have an opportunity to failed one because it fails to properly political and security interests. determine the country's fate now that compensate these companies for the Alaaldin is a senior associate at American troops have left it, and to risks they take in investing in the Certuslntelligence and a doctoral help the country avoid another country. candidate at the London School of Sunni-Shia sectarian war. As well as Economics.H being outsiders to the Arab conflict in Kurds point toward the divergence in Baghdad, the Kurds have also given electricity supplies across different sanctuary to Mr. Hashimi, who fled to parts of the country: Kurdistan the Kurdish north after the warrant enjoys 24-hour supply almost all the was issued against him. time, while Baghdad and the rest of

Arab Iraq spend much of each day cut The Kurds can exploit the divisions in off from power. The tide further shift¬ Baghdad by handing Mr. Hashimi ed in the Kurds' favor in November,

49 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Ozeti

mScMtZimcs I JANUARY 14, 2012

Bomb kills at least 53

pilgrims in south Iraq ' .* I-' A bomb tore through a procession of Shiite pilgrims head¬

ing toward a largely Sunni town in southern Iraq on

Saturday, killing at least 53 people in the latest sign of a / power struggle between rival Muslim sects that has escalat¬

ed since the American military withdrawal.

By ADAM SCHRECK and NABIL AL-JURANI I Associated Press

ZUBAIR, Iraq A bomb tore through Hussein's grave in the holy city of The latest violence comes at a particu¬

a procession of Shiite pilgrims hea¬ Karbala, south of Baghdad, often journey larly tense time.

ding toward a largely Sunni town in sou¬ to other sacred sites such as the shrine The last U.S. combat troops left Iraq

thern Iraq on Saturday, killing at least 53 near Zubair. on Dec. 18. Many Iraqis resented the

people in the latest sign of a power strug¬ "I saw several dead bodies and woun¬ foreign presence, but the Americans also

gle between rival Muslim sects that has ded people, including children on the guaranteed the status quo.

escalated since the American military ground asking for help. There were also Many of Iraq's minority Sunnis, who

withdrawal. some baby strollers left behind at the blast dominated the government under

Fears of more bloodshed have risen in site," said Majid Hussein, a government Saddam's dictatorship, now fear being

recent weeks, with the U.S. no longer employee, who was one of the pilgrims marginalized in the now Shiite-led coun¬

enjoying the leverage it once had to heading to the shrine. try following the U.S. departure. They

encourage the two sides to work together At least 53 people were killed and also resent what they see as Shiite heavy¬

to rein in extremists. Most of the latest more than 130 wounded in the blast, said weight Iran's meddling in the country's

attacks appear to be aimed at Iraq's majo¬ Dr. Riyadh Abdul-Amir, the head of Basra domestic affairs.

rity Shiites, suggesting Sunni insurgents Health Directorate "The whole situation is very tense.

seeking to undermine the Shiite-domina- The U.S. Embassy strongly condem¬ Sectarianism is coming back in force in

ted government are to blame. ned the attack, saying such acts of vio¬ this country," said Ayad Allawi, a secular

Saturday's blast happened on the last lence "tear at the fabric of Iraqi unity." Shiite who heads the Sunni-backed

of the 40 days ofArbaeen, when hundreds Many pilgrims were undeterred, and Iraqiya party, in an interview with CNN's

of thousands of Shiite pilgrims travel to continued on the bloodstained road des¬ "Fareed Zakaria GPS" set to air Sunday.

the Iraqi city of Karbala and other holy pite the explosion. Shoes and slippers, as "Iraq is passing through the most dange¬

sites. The end of Arbaeen is one of the well as the remains of abayas, the long rous phase through its history now," he

most sacred times for Shiites, and public black cloaks most women wear in public, added.

processions to commemorate it were ban¬ littered the side of the road. Just as the American troops were lea¬

ned under Saddam Hussein. The attack bore the hallmarks of Sunni ving, a political crisis erupted that has

The blast occurred near the town of extremists, who believe Shiites are not paralyzed Iraq's government, pitting the

Zubair as pilgrims marched from the true Muslims. It was the latest in a series country's mostly ethnic- and religious-

nearby port city of Basra toward the Imam of deadly strikes during this year's based political blocs against one another.

Ali shrine on the outskirts of the town, Arbaeen. The spat began when al-Maliki's

said Ayad ai-Emarah, a spokesman for the More than 145 people have been kil¬ government called for the arrest of the

governor of Basra province. led in attacks seen to be aimed at Shiites country's top Sunni politician, Vice

The shrine is an enclave within an since the start of the year. President Tariq al-Hashemi, accusing him

enclave - a Shiite site on the edge of a pre¬ The largest of the Arbaeen attacks - a of running a hit squad targeting govern¬

dominantly Sunni town in an otherwise wave of apparently coordinated bombings ment officials. Al-Hashemi denies the

mostly Shiite province in Baghdad and outside the southern city allegations.

There were conflicting reports of what of Nasiriyah - killed at least 78 people on Al-Hashemi's Iraqiya party, meanw¬

caused the blast, with some officials Jan. 5. It was the deadliest strike in Iraq in hile, is boycotting parliament and Cabinet

saying a roadside bomb was to blame. more than a year. meetings since last month to protest what

But witnesses at the scene described So far there has been little sign of the it sees as efforts by al-Maliki to consoli¬

the perpetrator as a suicide bomber disgui¬ revenge attacks by Shiite militias that date power, particularly over state security

sed as a volunteer handing out juice and brought the country to the edge of civil forces.

food to pilgrims. Ali Ghanim al-Maliki, war in 2006. The Shiite prime minister, On Friday, Deputy Prime Minister the head of the Basra provincial council, Nouri al-Maliki, has tried with some suc¬ Saleh al-Mutlaq of Iraqiya called on al-

corroborated that account in an interview cess to bring the militias' supporters into Maliki to step down or face a parliamen¬

with Iraqiya state television. the political process, but many of their tary vote of no-confidence. He accuses the

Arbaeen marks the end of 40 days of members retain their weapons and could prime minister of creating a new dictator¬

mourning following the anniversary of the again take up arms. ship.

death of Imam Hussein, a revered Shiite In the evening, a parked car bomb Iraq's Kurdish president, Jalal

figure who is the grandson of the Prophet exploded near a security checkpoint in Talabani, condemned the Zubair attack as

Muhammad. Saddam's hometown of Tikrit, killing one an effort by terrorists to undermine efforts

Pilgrims who cannot make it to Imam policeman and wounding four, police said. to "heal the rift" dividing the country's

50 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Ozeti

parties. American troops are gone. A statement released by al-Maliki's

American officials have been pushing Deputy Secretary of State William office about their meeting made no refe¬

Iraq's squabbling factions to resolve their Bums and other U.S. officials met with al- rence to the domestic political crisis, focu¬

differences in a way that will benefit all Maliki on Saturday. The State Dept. had sing instead on relations between the two

Iraqis. But Washington's influence has said Bums would encourage Iraqi politi¬ countries and Iraq's neighbors.*

been seriously diminished now that cians to resolve their differences.

JKMcgjgfflics Januarv 11» 20ia

SYRIA'S KURDS MISTRUST bying for greater recognition of Kurdish rights from

within the main opposition

GOVERNMENT AND OPPOSITION umbrella group based in the

Turkish city of Istanbul.

towns and cities in northeast Syrian opposition, the ana¬ The support for the oppo¬

By «Jon Hemming Syria, after initial protests, lysts said, and therefore the sition by Turkey's govern¬

(Reuters) have remained much more PKK's proxies inside Syria ment, which evolved from a

calm. had notjoined in the struggle series of banned Islamist

to overthrow Assad. parties, has led to Sunni ARBIL, Iraq - Syrian "The Kurds don't support Arab Islamist groups coming Kurds, the country's the regime. We Kurds have KURDS WARY OF to the fore of the protests, largest ethnic minority, do been against the Syrian TURKEY'S ROLE the Syrian Kurdish repre¬ not trust President Bashar regime for more than 20 Mahmoud Mohammad sentatives said. years and the Kurds were al-Assad, nor the opposi¬ Bave Sabir, a leading mem¬ the one of first who came out If those groups came to tion, so for now have lar¬ ber of the Democratic Union onto the streets," said Dr. power, the Syrian Kurds gely kept out of the upri¬ Kurdish Party of Syria, one Sarbast Nabi, a Syrian said, they would likely still sing against the govern¬ of the oldest Kurdish opposi¬ Kurdish politics professor at pursue the Arab nationalist ment, exiled Kurdish oppo¬ tion groups, said Assad was Salanaddin University in policies of the Assad govern¬ sition representatives said. playing on Arab fears of northern Iraq's autonomous ment and stand in the way of The Kurds are also wary Kurdish separatism and region of Kurdistan. Kurdish demands for self- of Turkey's growing Kurdish fears of Arab natio¬ influence on the Arab groups rule, similar to that of Iraq's Syrian Kurds clashed nalism. trying to overthrow Assad, Kurdish autonomous zone. with security forces for days, Any Kurdish protests, he fearing that if they succeed, leaving several dead, after "I think the revolution in said, had not been met with they will crush Kurdish an incident at a football sta¬ Syria has not remained in the same level of forces as hopes for autonomy in Syria, dium in the main Syrian the hands of the Syrian peo¬ elsewhere, where security due to Ankara's opposition to Kurdish city of Qamishli in ple, but has become a conflict forces have used live ammu¬ home-rule for its own Kurds. between the regional 2004. nition and killed hundreds of "There is no trust bet¬ powers," said student acti¬ "At that time I was in demonstrators. ween the Kurds and the Arab vist Dawi. "We should not Damascus," said Wabi. "I don't That, he said, was opposition that's why there trust those big countries want to mention any names, because Assad feared the are not huge protests in the because they are putting but those who are now the reaction of the many thou¬ Kurdish cities," said Majed their own interests first." heads of the opposition stood sands of Kurds hving in the Youssif Dawi, a Kurdish "We are afraid of any against the demands for capital Damascus, and the member of the Syrian Turkish role inside Syria," Kurdish rights ... They still commercial hub Aleppo, National Council main oppo¬ said Professor Nabi. "I am support the ideology Arab¬ which have until now remai¬ sition umbrella group. sure Turkey will face strong isation and political Islam." ned much quieter than out¬ Kurdish resistance in Syria." "We don't have any agree¬ As well as the lack of lying smaller towns and

ments with the Arab opposi¬ trust between the Kurds and cities. For now, he said, Syria's

tion in terms of Kurdish the main opposition groups, Kurds were keeping their But Kurdish activists rights," he told Reuters in the Syrian Kurds have deep powder dry, awaiting the out¬ inside Syria are still mobili¬ the Iraqi Kurdish capital divisions among themselves come of the uprising, but zing the youths who took to Arbil. "We don't have any were ready to fight to defend and are backed by different the streets regardless of the agreement on how to change regional players, some by the their rights when needed. Kurdish opposition parties, the system ... also the state¬ Iraqi Kurds, and another by said Dawi, a student activist "I don't believe they will ments of the heads of the the Turkish Kurd rebels, the imprisoned for two months remain neutral because they Arab opposition do not give Kurdistan Workers Party in Syria before feeling to are obliged to defend them¬ us any reason to trust them." (PKK), independent analysts Iraqi Kurdistan. selves, either against the While mainly Sunni Arab said. regime, or after it changes He is now in daily contact cities in Syria have seen 10 The Syrian government because then the struggle with fellow activists in the months of large, almost daily has increased its support for will become multi sided." Kurdish towns and cities demonstrations against the PKK as a counterweight inside Syria as well as lob Assad, the mainly Kurdish to Turkey's backing of the

51 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Ozeti

LE FIGARO 19 janvier 2012 L'Iran résolu à soutenir Bachar el-Assad

frappe militaire étrangère contre Da¬ mas », a affirmé hier à la chaîne al- jusqu'au bout Arabiya un dirigeant des gardiens de la révolution. Il répondait à l'émir du Qa¬ tar, Cheikh Hamad al-Thani, qui, sa¬ Des officiers de la garde républicaine medi dernier, a été le premier leader arabe à appeler à l'envoi de troupes syrienne sont en formation à Téhéran. arabes en Syrie. Comme si Iraniens chiites et Arabes sunnites marquaient que les États-Unis sont « persuadés » leurs positions sur le dossier syrien. GEORGES MALBRUNOT que l'Iran continue à fournir des armes Mais l'aide iranienne à Damas ne se pour aider la répression des manifes¬ limite pas aux armes. Via l'Irak, Téhé¬ MOYEN-ORIENT Sauver son allié sy¬ tants par le régime syrien. La visite à ran aurait promis à Damas d'écouler en rien en l'aidant, même aux prix de Damas, début janvier, du général Qas- sous-main le pétrole que l'Europe a dé¬ douloureuses réformes : après dix mois sem Soleimani, patron de l'unité al- cidé de ne plus lui acheter. Régulière¬ de révolte contre le régime de Bachar Qods, le bras armé des gardiens de la ment depuis six mois, des intermédiai¬ el-Assad, l'Iran reste plus que jamais révolution hors d'Iran, est, selon res iraniens approchent également des fidèle à son appui stratégique vis-à-vis Washington, le signe le plus concret opposants syriens en exil. C'est ce que de Damas, conscient que les Occiden¬ que cette aide comprend du matériel vient de révéler un dirigeant des Frères taux et les monarchies sunnites du Gol¬ militaire (des munitions, notamment). fe vont continuer à tout 'faire pour pri¬ musulmans, Mohammad Farouk Tay- L'aide militaire se poursuit four, au journal saoudien al-Hayat. ver Téhéran de son principal soutien « Us nous ont proposé (...) de diriger un dans le monde arabe: « Nous sommes'certains qu'il (Soleima¬

Depuis le mois dernier, les gardiens ni) a été reçu parles plus hautes instan¬ gouvernement à condition que nous re¬ ces du gouvernement syrien, y compris de la révolution (pasdarans) ont com¬ noncions à notre demande de remplacer mencé à entraîner en Iran une cin¬ par le président Assad », déclarait ré¬ Bachar el-Assad », a dit Tayfour. cemment un responsable américain. En quantaine d'officiers de la garde répu¬ À Paris,. un autre dirigeant syrien, juin, l'Union européenne avait sanc¬ blicaine syrienne, a-t-on appris de laïc celui-là, a été recontacté à deux-re¬ tionné Soleimani, ainsi que le patron bonne source. L'instruction doit durer prises ces derniers mois par des émis¬ des pasdarans, le général Mohammad neuf mois, au profit notamment de saires iraniens qui l'avaient déjà ren¬ l'unité 101 de cette structure d'élite, Ali Jafari, et Hossein Tayyeb, le coordi¬ contré l'été dernier. N'ayant pas reçu nateur du soutien logistique à Damas. À forte de 15 000 hommes, parmi les de réponse de Téhéran aux demandes deux reprises, quelques semaines mieux armés des centurions d'Assad. qu'il avait formulées, l'opposant a dé¬ Ils sont issus le plus souvent de la même auparavant, des armes iraniennes à cliné les sollicitations iraniennes. minorité, que lui, les alaouites. destination de la Syrie avaient été in¬ Alors que la IV« division est déployée terceptées par Israël, via l'aéroport turc à la périphérie sud de Damas," la garde de Diarbakyr et par mer. L'Iran est républicaine verrouille, elle, les accès également soupçonné d'avoir épaulé là nord d'une capitale dont le centre a été Syrie dans sa cyberguerre contre les in¬

épargné jusqu'ici par l'insurrection. . surgés. Cette coopération intervient alors «L'Iran aidera la Syrie en cas de

*!*

* S ,*- .

1

Desbtodés 1 de Farmée syrienne stationnent àHoms \ le T7 janvier, reuters

52 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Ozeti

£tMmèt Vendredi 20 janvier 2012 Paris redoute des frappes sur Flran pendant l'été

>y.^jB Placé sous la pression du Parti lors queles périls s'accumu¬ républicain, dont tous les candi¬ lent dans la région du Gol¬ dats ne cessent d'agiter le danger fe, où Etats-Unis et Iran iranien, Barack Obama aurait par semblent au bord de la confronta¬ tion, la France est engagée dans ailleurs du mal à reconnaître ce qui un effort diplomatique dont l'ob¬ est perçu, à Paris, comme «l'échec jectif se résume ainsi, selon l'en¬ de sa politique de la main tendue » tourage de Nicolas Sarkozy: à Téhéran. Une politique qui avait « contraindre l'Iran à faire un suscitédefortes réserves, côté fran¬ choix binaire: l'avenir du régime, çais, notamment à propos d'une r: ou la bombe nucléaire». offre d'échange d'uranium enrichi Cm estime, à Paris, qu'une cam¬ faite, en vain, fin 2009. pagne de sanctions internationa¬ Encore aujourd'hui, certains les paralysantes pour l'économie officiels français se méfient d'Une iranienne s'impose de manière propensiond'une partie de l'admi¬ urgente, car le risque est grand de nistration américaine à rechercher A' voir Israël procéder à des frappes un compromis «bancal» avec aériennes contre des sites nucléai¬ Téhéran. C'est pourquoi Paris insis¬ res iraniens « durantl'été2012 ». te, au sein du groupe des grandes

Les responsablesfrançais consi¬ puissances traitant cette crise, dèrent de longue date qu'ils sont . pour que l'exigence de la suspen¬ investis d'un rôle. particulier de sion de l'enrichissement d'ura¬ vigilance sur cette crise mettant nium, inscrite dans les résolutions le président Nicolas Sarkozy accueille, sur le perron de l'Elysée, en cause la paix au Proche-Orient de l'ONU depuis 2006, soit le premier ministre israélien, Benyamin Nétanyahou, en mai2on. ainsi que l'ordre nucléaire mon¬ constamment rappelée. dial. Chose frappante, la récente ; Alors que Washington hésitait à

dramatisation des enjeux donne ! frapper le secteurries exportations nucléaire iranienpour régler lepro- Des frappes aériennes auraient lieu à de nouvelles tensions feu¬ iraniennes de pétrole, l'Elysée avait bjème», commente un responsable - pour effets de « souderles Iraniens trées entre l'équipe de M. Sarkozy rendu publique, le 21 novembre français. Un tel délai correspond à derrière [le Guide] Khamenei, sou¬ et celle de Barack Obama. 2011; une lettre de M. Sarkozy aux celui évoqué par le ministre israé¬ Rien n'en paraît publiquement, autres dirigeants occidentaux, ; der tous les chiites derrière l'Iran, et lien de la défense, Ehoud Barak. et les deux dirigeants affichaient appelante des mesures plus décisi¬ elles neferaientque retarderlepro¬ Selon un diplomate français de unebonneententelorsdeleurpres- ves: interruption des achats de gramme nucléaire iranien, sans lui haut rang, «si les Israéliens veulent tation télévisée conjointe, début brut iranien et gel des avoirs de la porter un coup d'arrêt définitif», "taper"avant qu'un stade irréversi¬ novembre 2011, en marge du G20 Banque centrale. Ce sont ces mesu¬ dit un officiel, catégorique. Et c'est ble soit atteint, le meilleurmoment, de Cannes. Mais derrière cette faça¬ res-en particulierl'embargopétro¬ précisément pour «chercher une c'est avant l'élection présidentielle

de, les responsables français repro¬ lier - que la France estime avoir alternative à ce qui serait une gros¬ américaine ». Car, en pleine campa¬ chent à l'administration Obama réussi à imposer au niveau de se bêtise israélienne » que la France gne électorale, Barack Obama d'avoir été hésitante pour la mise l'Union européenne, qui devrait déploie tant d'efforts en faveur «seraitsoumisàunepressionpoliti- en de sanctions radicales annoncer des décisions en ce sens des sanctions. que irrésistible pour ne pas laisser contre l'Iran, alors que, selon eux, le 23 janvier. Celles-ci visent à convaincre Israëlseulface à la tentation defrap¬ un compte à rebours est engagé. La France, par son activisme en l'Iran qu'il vaudrait mieux arrêter- per militairement». « Si Israëlfrap¬ « Obama s'estfait imposerparle faveur de sanctions d'un registre avant qu'il ne soit trop tard - son pe, souligne cette source, ce sera Congrèsaméricainlesmesuresqu'il nouveau, veut s'inscrire.dans un programme nucléaire, plutôt que avant le 6 novembre.» En préci¬ a signées le 31 décembre », portant triangle diplomatique avec Wash¬ d'encourir des mesures suscepti¬ sant : « Le moment de tous les dan¬ sur un étouffement progressif des ington et Israël, dans l'espoir d'oc¬ bles de provoquer un effondre¬ gers, c'est l'été2012. »

transactions internationales avec cuper un rôle central. Les responsa¬ ment économique du pays, et Nicolas Sarkozy est « le prési¬ la Banquecentrale iranienne, relè- bles français ont ainsi relayé le mes¬ donc, de mettre en péril le régime. Il dent le plus engagé, dans le mon¬ ve-t:on à. Paris. .«//; l'a fait à son sage israélien au sein de l'Europe et y a urgence à faire aboutir cette stra¬ de» sur le dossier' iranien, souli- corps défendant», souligne un offi¬ auprès de l'équipe Obama, pour la tégie car l'année 2012 est «crucia- gne-t-on dans son entourage. La ciel, rappelant'que le Sénat améri¬ mise en place d'un embargo pétro¬ montée des tensions régionales cain avaitvotépar«too voixcontre lier. Non sans, d'ailleurs, s'appuyer Les responsables ainsi que l'avancée des travaux zéro » pour imposer une politique surdes contacts au sein du Congrès scientifiques iraniens, décrite dans plus stricte sur l'Iran, alors que la américain, manifestement perçu à français reprochent le dernier rapport des inspecteurs Maison blanche voulait diluer ou paris comme un allié, ainsi qu'il à l'équipe Obama internationaux, favorisent une retarder certaines mesures. l'est par le premier ministre israé¬ nouvelle mobilisation. Certains, à ses hésitations Un diplomate français de haut lien, Benyamin Nétanyahou. Paris, anticipent que le chef de rang souligne qu'il a été difficile Mais la France n'endosse pas sur le dossier l'Etat s'emparera de ce thème dans pour M. Obama d'envisager des pour autant la ligne des sa campagne électorale, pour valo¬

mesures contre le pétrole iranien « faucons » du Likoud, insiste-t-on du nucléaire iranien riser sa fermeté et sa constance car le président américain serait à Paris, car elle continue de faire face à une crise de prolifération qui prisonnier de considérations élec- l'analyse que le scénario militaire le». «Nous sommes convaincus comporte désormais de lourds dan¬

toralistes : une flambée des cours contre l'Iran serait une «catastro- qu'il reste à peu près un an avant la gers de dérapage militaire.» du brut rejaillirait négativement phe », comme l'avait dit M. Sarko¬ . bombe «iranienne et que «les Israé¬ Natalie Nougayrede

sur sa campagne de réélection. zy dès août 2007. liens n'attendront pas un essai

53 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Ôzeti

ffïîîlilïîiîf* Dimanche 22 -Lundi 23 janvier 2012 . L'Etat turc reste arc-bouté sur la négation du génocide arménien

Istanbul tique d'Etat de première importan¬ Comité de coordination de la lutte tùrk et chargée de nourrir la rhéto¬ Correspondance ce, continue-t-il. Ilfaut réaliser que contre les accusations infondées de rique historique officielle. l'on n'estpasface à un simple déni, génocide (Asimkk), rassemblant Pour cet organe, les Arméniens

Une «monstruosité». D'un mais à un régime négationniste. La des représentants des grands minis¬ de l'Empire ottoman en 1915 sont mot, le premier ministre négation va bien au-delà de la défen¬ tères régaliens (défense, justice, assimilés en bloc à des «traîtres»

turc, Recep Tayyip Erdo¬ se d'un ancien régime, dont les insti¬ intérieur, affaires étrangères, édu¬ ou à des «terroristes», alliés aux

gan, avait condamné le Monu¬ tutions et l'idéologie se sonttradui- cation, culture) et des militaires. troupes russes. C'est cette version

ment de l'humanité, une statue tespar un génocide. Le déni nourrit de l'histoire que l'on retrouve, jus¬ colossale inachevée symbolisant jusqu'à aujourd'hui une politique «La Turquie qu'à aujourd'hui, dans tous les la réconciliation entre la Turquie d'agression continue, à l'intérieur livres scolaires, et qui baigne cha¬

. et l'Arménie, à Kars, dans l'est du comme à l'extérieur de la Turquie, n'aime pas qu'on lui que écolier turc de la maternelle à pays, en janvier 2011. La sculpture contre tous ceux qui s'opposent à rafraîchisse l'université. «La Turquie apoursui¬ a été démembrée quelques mois cette idéologie négationniste. » vi une politique d'amnésie volon¬ plus tard. Les grues sont entrées en Il suffit de naviguer sur les sites la mémoire» taire et de tactique dilatoire. Elle a

action le 24 avril... jour anniversai¬ gouvernementaux turcs pour en poussé le sujet sous le tapis, préten¬ Taner Akçam re du déclenchement du génocide avoir un aperçu. Celui du ministère du qu'il n'existaitpas et espéré que historien et sociologue turc arménien de 1915. de la culture consacre la moitié de tout le monde aurait la mémoire A Igdir, plus au sud, le long de ses dossiers historiques à la néga¬ courte. C'estpour cela qu'ily a tant

cette frontière close entre la Tur¬ tion du génocide de 1915. Quant Ce comité, mis sur pied à l'épo¬ de colère contre la France. La Tur¬ quie et l'Arménie, une autre aux services de renseignements, le que du vote en France de la loi quie n'aimepas qu'on lui rafraîchis¬

« ceuvre » se dresse face à Erevan, MIT, ils revendiquent eux-mêmes reconnaissant le génocide armé¬ se la mémoire », estime M. Akçam.

sans être inquiétée par les bulldo¬ la filiation directe avec l'Organisa¬ nien, était plus ou moins en som¬ Mais le centenaire du génocide, zers : le Monument dû génocide tion spéciale (Teskilat-i-Mahsusa), meil depuis 2006, mais risque de en 2015, approche et laTurquie s'in¬

contre les Turcs, érigé à la mémoi¬ fondée en 1914 et dont le rôle fut reprendre du service. quiète de la campagne internatio¬ re des Turcs massacrés par des central dans les massacres. Autre exemple de ce négation- nale qui s'annonce. La proposition

Arméniens, caricature à l'extrême M. Akçam rappelle aussi la créa¬ nisme d'Etat, le département de de loi présentée en France, adop¬

lé déni officiel, toujours omnipré¬ tion, en 2001, par le Conseil natio¬ recherches arméniennes de l'Insti¬ tée par l'Assemblée nationale le

sent dans le paysage. nal de sécurité, la plus haute instan¬ tut d'histoire turque (TTK), une ins¬ 22 décembre 2011 et sur laquelle le Un boulevard du centre de la ce constitutionnelle turque, d'un titution fondée sous Kemal Ata- Sénat doit se prononcer lundi capitale, Ankara, et une école à 23 janvier, n'en est qu'une premiè¬ Istanbul portent ainsi le nom du re étape. D'autres pays pourraient

priricipal ordonnateur des crimes à leur tour reconnaître officielle¬ de 1915, Talaat Pacha, tué en 1921 à ment le génocide de 1915, notam¬

Berlin par un rescapé du génocide. ment les Etats-Unis, où la question Et sa dépouille, rendue par Adolf est régulièrement soulevée.

Hitler en 1943, repose dans un Pour contrer ces revendica¬ mausolée sur la colline de la Liber¬ tions dans les pays où vivent de té, à Istanbul, aux côtés d'autres fortes communautés arménien¬

héros du modernisme turc. nes, la Turquie ne lésine pas sur les Près d'un siècle après les faits, la moyens. «L'Etat déploie des res¬ Turquie refuse toujours de quali¬ sources incalculables pour que la fier de « génocide » la déportation Turquie ne soit pas accusée de et les massacres organisés de 1 à génocide », explique Samim 1,5 million d'Arméniens par le gou¬ Akgônùi, professeur à l'université vernement nationaliste Jeûnes- de Strasbourg. Turcs. Elle admet des «déplace¬ Aux Etats-Unis, la puissanteTur¬ ments depopulations » et des mas¬ kish Coalition of America dispose sacres réciproques, où 300 000 à de 3,5 millions de dollars par an 500 000 Arméniens périrent, (2,5 millions d'euros) pour finan¬ dans le contexte de la première cer des actions de lobbying auprès

guerre mondiale. d'élus, des chaires universitaires «Il n'y a aucun génocide dans ' ou des campagnes publicitaires. notre histoire », a proclamé récem¬ En France aussi des associations ment M. Erdogan, fidèle à la doctri¬ et des sites Internet sont créés pour ne instaurée par ses prédéces¬ propagerles thèses de l'histoire offi¬ seurs. La Turquie mobilise tou¬ cielle. Le Fonds gouvernemental de

jours d'importants moyens pour promotion de la Turquie édite bro¬ lutter contre ce qu'elle nomme chures et livres promotionnels. Et, «les allégations arméniennes d'un pour porter le message, un comité

prétendu génocide ». Talaat-Pacha a été créé en 2006 « La négation du génocide armé¬ autour de politiciens tels que l'an¬ nien est une industrie», lance l'uni¬ cien leader chypriote turc Rauf versitaire Taner Akçam, l'un des Denktas. Ce rassemblement natio¬ premiers intellectuels turcs à avoir naliste a organisé des défilés à Ber¬ dénoncélaversionofficielle del'his¬ A Istanbul, le mausolée de Talaat Pacha, ministre de l'intérieur à partir lin, à Lausanne et, en 2011, à Paris.

toire. « C'est une structure, unepoli de 1913 et organisateur du génocide arménien en 1915. mathias depardon Guillaume Perrier

54 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Ozeti

. OTHUWnONAL îteraibâÊ^Sribunc Privately, U.S. gives Iran JANUARY 14-15, 2012 a stern warning

bility, though Israel has not. Despite the not tolerate Iran's closing of the strait. WASHINGTON sanctions, Iran has continued to pursue For Iran, blocking the route for the its nuclear program, which it says is en¬ vast majority of its petroleum exports Using secret channel, tirely peaceful and is protected under the and for its food and consumer imports ayatollah told that closing Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty. The would amount to economic suicide. West suspects it is pursuing a bomb. "They would basically be taking a vow strait would elicit action Citing unidentified diplomatic of poverty with themselves," said Den¬ sources, Reuters also reported that a nis B. Ross, who until last month was high-level United Nations team from one of President Barack Obama's most BY ELISABETH BUMILLER, the International Atomic Energy influential advisers on Iran. "I don't ERIC SCHMITT AND THOM SHANKER Agency was expected to visit Tehran think they're in such a mood of self-sac¬ The Obama administration is relying on soon to discuss the agency's growing rifice."

a secret channel of communication to concerns. Its chief safeguards inspec¬ But Pentagon officials, who plan for warn the supreme leader of Iran, Ayatol¬ tor, Herman Nackaerts; its assistant di¬ every contingency, said that, however lah Ali Khamenei, that closing the Strait rector general, Rafael Grossi; and other unlikely, Iran does have the military ca¬ of Hormuz is a "red line" that would pro¬ senior officials will probably visit pability to close the strait. Although Ira¬ voke a response from Washington, ac¬ around Jan. 28, it was reported. nian naval forces are hardly a match for cording to U.S. government officials. The secret communication channel those of the United States, for two de¬ The officials declined to describe the between^Washington and Tehran was cades Iran has been investing in the unusual contact between the two gov¬ chosen to underscore privately to Iran weaponry of asymmetric warfare: ernments or say whether there had the depth of U.S. concern about rising mines, fleets of heavily armed speed¬ been an Iranian reply. Senior Obama ad¬ tensions over the strait, where U.S. nav¬ boats and anti-ship cruise missiles hid- ministration officials have said publicly al officials say their biggest fear is that that Iran would cross a "red line" if it an overzealous naval captain from the "The simple answer is yes, made good on recent threats to close the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps they can block it." strait, à 'strategically crucial waterway could do something provocative on his connecting key oil producers to the Gulf own, setting off a larger crisis. of Oman and beyond, where 16 million "If you ask me what keeps me awake den along Iran's 1,600 kilometers, or barrels of oil about a fifth of. the at night, it's the Strait of Hormuz and 1,000 miles, of Gulf coastline. ; world's trade flow through every day. the business going on" in the Gulf, Adm. "The simple answer is yes, they can Administration officials arid Iran ana¬ Jonathan W. Greenert, the chief of naval block it," General Dempsey said on CBS lysts said they continued to believe that operations, said in Washington this past last Sunday. threats from Iran to close the strait were week. Estimates by naval analysts of how bluster, coming as sanctions over its nu¬ Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, the chair¬ long it could take for U.S. forces to re¬ clear program take a deeper bite.out of man of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, said open the strait range from a day to sev¬ its economy and what appears to be a last weekend that the United States eral months, but the consensus is that covert war against it escalates! would "take action and reopen the while Iranian naval forces could inflict The latest victim of that presumed strait," which could be accomplished damage, they would ultimately be de¬ war, Mostafa Ahmadi Roshan, an Iranian only by military means, including mine¬ stroyed. nuclear scientist, was buried Friday as sweepers, warship escorts and, poten¬ "Their surface fleet would be at the hundreds of chanting mourners carried tially, airstrikes. Defense Secretary Le¬ bottom of the ocean, but they could his flag-draped coffin, Reuters reported. on E. Panetta told troops in Texas on score a lucky hit," said Michael Connell, The United States has denied responsi- Thursday that the United States would the director of the Iranian studies pro-

A narrow and vulnerable strait

The shipping lanes through the Strait of

Hormuz are only about ten kilometers, iR.ft.^ or six miles, wide and are vulnerable to p*.*-: ,i^

attack by missiles. The strait could also

be mined, and ships could easily be attacked by armed Iranian speedboats.

- ** . . .'.i

ii?AN

l_- l,q;:-s

. 0^-A;'a Sate'

\'-!*3v-a;

Sources: University of Texas; U.S. Office of Nava! 'Intelligence

55 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Ozeti

gram at the Center for Naval Analysis, a emy forces," an unclassified report by from fighter jets or missiles, but ana¬ research organization for the U.S. Navy the Office of Naval Intelligence, the U.S. lysts said it could take time to do so be¬ and Marine Corps. "An anti-ship cruise - Navy's intelligence arm, concluded in cause the launchers on shore were mo¬ missile could disable a carrier." 2009. "The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow bile and often camouflaged. Iran has two navies: one of big ships choke point that could be mined effec¬ The tight squeeze of the strait, which dating from the era of the shah, and the tively in a relatively short amount of is 54 kilometers wide at its narrowest other of fast-attack speedboats and time." point, offers little maneuvering room for guerrilla tactics under the politically Although the United States would re¬ warships. "It would be like a knife fight favored Revolutionary Guards. Senior spond with minesweepers, analysts in a phone booth," said a senior U.S. U.S. naval officers say that the Iranian said U.S. naval forces might encounter Navy officer. The strait's shipping lanes Navy is for the most part professional layers of simultaneous attacks. The Ira¬ are even narrower: The inbound and and predictable but that the Revolution- , nians could launch anti-ship missiles outbound lanes are each just over three ary Guards Corps, which has responsi¬ from their coastline, islands or oil plat¬ kilometers wide, with only a similarly bility for operations in the Gulf, is not. forms and at the same time surround wide stretch separating them. "You get cowboys who do their own any U.S. ship with missile-armed speed¬ U.S. officials indicated that the recent thing," Mr. Connell said. boats. "The immediate issue is to get and delicate messages expressing con¬ The Revolutionary Guards Corps has the mines," Mr. Connell said. "But cern about the Strait of Hormuz were been steadily building and buying faster they're going to have to deal with the conveyed through a channel other than missile boats and stockpiling what U.S. anti-ship cruise missiles, and you'll the Swiss government, which the experts' say are at least 2,000 naval have small boats swarming, and it's all United States has often used as a neu¬ mines. Many are relatively primitive going to be happening at the same tral party to relay diplomatic messages

and easy to slip into the water. time." to Tehran. "Iran's credible mining threat can be The United States could take out the an effective deterrent to potential en anti-ship missile launchers with strikes

International Heralb Sribunc KEEP PRESSING IRAN JANUARY 14-15, 2012 teed if Iran abandons its weapons ambitions. Instead, Iran is With tensions rising over Iran's nuclear program, the Obama still enriching uranium and mastering other technologies administration has warned Ayatollah Ali Khamenei that that would allow it to build a nuclear weapon. According to Iran's threat to close the Strait of Hormuz would provoke an the latest report from U.N. inspectors, Iran has created com¬ American response. Earlier this week, international monitors puter models of nuclear explosions, conducted experiments confirmed that Iran has begun enriching uranium at a new on nuclear triggers and completed advanced research on a underground plant. The United States and Europe are tight¬ warhead that could be delivered by a medium-range missile. ening sanctions to choke off Iranian oil revenues. On Wednes¬ Economic pressure could be more effective if the Security day, an Iranian nuclear scientist died in a bomb attack en Council ratcheted up its existing sanctions. A new round has route to work, and a government newspaper signaled that been delayed by opposition from Russia and China. the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps might retaliate. A new U.S. law that would penalize foreign companies that Many officials, experts and commentators increasingly ex¬ do business with Iran's central bank and an oil embargo that pect some kind of military confrontation. No one should want European Union foreign ministers plan to approve on Jan. 23 to see Iran acquire a nuclear weapon. But a military strike on could have an even bigger impact. The Obama administra¬ the nuclear facilities would be a disaster. tion and European officials seem likely to phase in these It is unclear whether any mix of sanctions and inducements sanctions in a way that limits the damage to the world econo¬ could persuade Tehran to abandon its nuclear ambitions. There my. Japan has pledged to buy less Iranian oil, China and is another option besides force : negotiations with the United South Korea are looking for alternative suppliers, and India's States and other major powers over curbing Iran's program in intent is unclear. Tehran is more likely to respond if all the exchange for ending sanctions and diplomatic isolation. major importers apply pressure together. The United Nations Security Council demanded that Iran The Americans and Europeans are working with Turkey to stop enriching uranium more than five years ago. Iran claims set up a new round of negotiations with Iran in Istanbul. The it only wants access to nuclear technology for electricity and Iranians need to know that the economic pressure will not let other peaceful purposes. But that excuse is hollow. The major up until they stop the nuclear program. powers have said that power generation would be guaran-

Intcrnational Hcralb tribune JANUARY 14-15, 2012 Arab League chief voices fear of civil war in Syria

Committees, another activist group, put anon, told An Nahar, a Beirut daily, that AMMAN the death toll at eight, including two in he had repeatedly urged Syria to halt

Horns and two in Hama. killings that have turned unrest against REUTERS Armed clashes now punctuate what Mr. Assad into one ofthe bloodiest of the

Protests against President Bashar al- began in March as a nonviolent protest Arab uprisings. Assad erupted in several Syrian cities movement. "The Syrian authorities must re¬ on Friday, activists said, and the Arab "Yes, I fear a civil war, and the events spond to the legitimate democratic aspi¬ League chief said he feared the unrest that we see and hear about now could rations of the Syrian people," he said, could degenerate into a civil war. lead to a civil war," Nabil al-Araby, head adding that the Security Council, so far Security forces killed a demonstrator of the Arab League, said in an interview divided over Syria, should find a way to in the northwestern town of Idlib and a with Al Hayat Television in Egypt. ' 'Any speak with one voice on the issue. 17-year-old youth in the central city of problems in Syria will have con¬ Protests flared after Friday Prayer in Hama, the London-based Syrian Obser¬ sequences for the neighboring states." some areas of Damascus. In Latakia, a vatory, for Human Rights said, adding Mr. Araby said the bloodshed had port city, one activist said that people that five people had been wounded abated somewhat since the observers near a mosque chanted, "The people when security forces fired on demon¬ arrived. want the fall of the regime," the phrase strators in the town of Kafr Shams, out¬ The United Nations secretary gener¬ popularized in the Arab Spring, begin¬ side Damascus. The Local Coordination al, Ban Ki-moon, starting a visit to Leb ning with the Tunisian revolution.

56 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Ôzeti

"Hùdr-UUU 17-*anuary2012

both parties are stepping towards reconci¬ Iranian Kurdish Opposition liation. "In the past, the personal interests of

some leaders from both sides had created Groups Push Unity this division," he said. "The issues must be resolved between both sides because if

this continues Iranian Kurds won't accept By NAWZAD MAHMOUD and us anymore." KAWA ABDULLA Qazi Muhammad, the founder of

KDPI, was hanged by the Iranian authori¬

SUALIMANI, Iraqi Kurdistan - For ties in 1946. Abdolrahman Ghassemlu led

years, more than 400 Kurdish families the party until he was assassinated in 1> affiliated with or members of the Vienna in 1989, allegedly by Iranian

Kurdistan Democratic Party of Iran agents. The party's third leader, Saddiq

(KDPI) have been living in a small refugee Sharafkandi, was also assassinated in a camp in Koya city in the Iraqi Kurdistan restaurant in Germany in 1992.

Region. At the 2006 convention, party mem¬ At a party convention in 2006, a fac¬ Leader of the Kurdistan Democratic Party bers elected Mustafa Hijri as their leader tion split from KDPI and formed the ofIran (KDPI) Mustafa Hijri. which forced the split, with the creation of Democratic Party of Kurdistan (DKP). DKP under Khalid Azizi's leadership.

The division is reflected in the camp of In a television interview, Hijri, the

some Kurdish cities. Since the split in 2006, the only com¬ head of KDPI, called on his former col¬

Now, however, mounting internatio¬ mon ground between KDPI and DPK leagues to meet for reconciliation talks

nal pressure on Iran has presented appears to be a picture of the founder of possibly at the party's next convention.

Kurdish dissident groups with an opportu¬ the party in 1945, Qazi Muhammad, who In response, Azizi, the head of DKP

nity to set aside their differences and declared a Kurdish Mahabad Republic in said, "Instead of us going to their conven¬

unite. western Iran in 1946 with the help of the tion and them coming to ours, let's have a

One member of the KDPI speaking on Soviets following the Second World War. joint convention. In order to do this we

condition of anonymity, said, "We are The dispute between the two groups will have to form a committee from both

supposed to be the hope of a nation, but reached a point where former colleagues sides."

look at what we are doing here. 1 am sure clashed inside the camp on several occa¬ According to Muhammad Nazifi, a

Iranian Kurds have lost hope in us." sions. leader at the KDPI, authorities of the

The KDPI member expressed disap¬ "The real solution is to become one Kurdistan Region of Iraq have urged the

pointment at the attitude of Iranian again," Mawludi maintained. "If we Iranian Kurds to solve their disputes.

Kurdish parties, saying, "Their domestic "Two years ago, we met with the

disagreements have halted their struggle "we struggle for a nation's Kurdistan Region president's office and

against the Iranian regime for the past six freedom but we cannot get they asked us to resolve the issues bet¬

years." along in a small camp." ween us." Nazifi said. Kurdistan Region

For his part, Shaho Faraj, a KDPI lea¬ President Massoud Barzani 's office "tried

der, said, "I have no hope for any ties bet- won't do so, then we should at least act hard to unite us, and there is currently a

like two responsible political parties and glimpse of hope in Hijri 's suggestion, but "I am sure Iranian Kurds work together." the other side isn't responding to it."

have lost hope in us." Mutasam Nurani, a member of KDPI,

fears that his party's image is tainted in But Qadir Wirya from the DPK dis¬

ween both sides. Even if we are untied the eyes of ordinary Kurds in Iran. missed the claims that his group is igno¬

now we will soon be divided again." "The Iranian Kurds are the most ring calls for unity.

Like many other Kurdish dissidents in disappointed in us," he said. "Without any "We have always suggested new ideas

Iran, Faraj agreed that the parties are doubt, that is very bad for our reputation. for ties between us," he said. "We suggest

paying the price for their split and that Imagine we struggle for a nation's free¬ the leaders of both parties meet and dis¬

now more than ever, unity is needed. dom but we cannot get along in a small cuss Hijri 's ideas." Faraj, who left Iranian Kurdistan 13 camp."

years ago to join the struggle against the Nurani, who was for years a senior "The situation is better now.

Islamic Republic, said, "Even if there are KDPI leader, said, "We are very tired of We exchange condolences and greet each other." attempts for ties between both sides, there this. There are no more excuses to conti¬

isn't a framework for it." nue this way. We have a bad reputation.

Mustafa Mawludi, deputy leader of The fighters of both sides have become Hijri has suggested that both groups

Democratic Party of Kurdistan (DPK), very pessimistic in this situation." start talks where they left off at the 2006

blamed his former colleagues at KDPI for Members and fighters on both sides convention, but Wirya disagrees.

the division. have started to talk to each other and the "Why do we have to return to the 13th

"The division cost the Democratic tensions seem to have eased. (2006) convention? They even them¬

Party many supporters," he said. Rambud Lutfpour, a former leader of selves held their 14th convention. The

Mawlud argued that unification DPK, said, "The situation is better now. only solution is to hold a joint convention

shouldn't be difficult if both sides are wil¬ We exchange condolences and greet each and resolve our issues."*

ling to work on it. other. The people of the camp have a bet¬

"But unfortunately, we keep growing ter understanding of the issues now."

further and further apart," he said. Lutfpour said that he is hopeful that

57 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Ôzeti

middle east online JANUARY 17, 2012 yjii IJsjo

Iraq's Turmoil: Likelihoods to Open

up Pandora's Box for Turkey

The polarization of Iraq's Arabs, which is a result of the current turmoil, would lead to

dangerous consequences for Turkey, warns Idrees Mohammed.

anger, Iraq's attitudes flew them inter-sectarian tension. Yet, they current turmoil in Iraq not only to

Middle East Online into fury. Most of the Gulf coun¬ cannot remain bystander to the hit Iraq's Sunni but to convey a

tries and Turkey have felt discom¬ ongoing efforts that are principally clear message to Saudi Arabia,

The rift rises between Iraq and fort against Syria's partnership aimed at marginalizing political Qatar and Turkey. Indeed, Turkey

Turkey as Iraq summons and Iraq's close relations with factions and disturbing the power scrambled to believe that Iran

Turkish ambassador to call on his Iran. distribution. The Kurds have played this role. Earlier, Iran has

government to consider the always pushed for decentraliza¬ several times expressed a deep

"necessity of avoiding anything The League's strong activism in tion in power, converse to Maliki's dismay to Turkey's policy towards

that might disturb" the ties. The conjunction with Turkey's support ambitions to centralize it. All in all, Syria and its alignment with the

move comes amid the already on Syria is partially considered the Kurds expect the worst sce¬ West.

chilly atmosphere between within this context. Together with nario in which Maliki's campaign

Ankara and Baghdad due to the Turkey, the influential Arab coun¬ extends to include them. In the meantime, Iran faces tough

former's attitude to the latter's tries are yet to yank Syria out of sanctions and is coming under

Shiite-led government's action to Iran's satellite of influence; Turkey is particularly concerned increasing pressure from the

arrest Iraq's Vice President. Baghdad travels closer to Iran, about Iraq's turmoil. Iran and West. To strengthen the position

Turkish Prime Minister warned his making them furious. Maliki have a genius for getting on in defending its interests, Iran

Iraqi counterpart over the action, Turks nerves. Iraq's territorial made regular threats against

warning that his action will hurt the In addition to that, Iraq's Prime integrity and the establishment of Turkey and the West. For Turkey,

country's democracy and urging Minister Nouri al-Maliki has a ten¬ a potent broad-based government Iranian manipulation greatly

him to reduce the tension. His dency to strengthen Shiite's grasp in Baghdad are considered endangers Turkish national inter¬

calls were harshly slammed by on power which is perhaps aimed Turkey's top priorities. ests and vice versa. Accordingly,

Iraqi Prime Minister who expres¬ at buttressing the "Shiite striking an agreement with Iran is

sed surprise of Turkey's "interfe¬ Crescent." Since the Obama The polarization of Iraq's Arabs, crucial to Turkey's policy towards

rence" in his country's internal administration decided the with¬ which is a result of the current tur¬ Iraq, thereby its stability. This was

affairs, declaring his determina¬ drawal of troops from Iraq, Maliki moil, would lead to dangerous a key reason of Davutoglu's late

tion not to "allow that absolutely." has reportedly increased the consequences for Turkey. Though visit to Iran.

already launched underlying cam¬ Turkey considers Sunnis a bul¬

Iraq passes through a dangerous paign, mainly targeting the Sunni. wark against Iran's influence and Iraq's turmoil can have critical

period as the "big mosaic rock" The broad campaign of arrests a balancing factor against the ramifications for the whole region.

between Shiite and Sunni ulti¬ and dismissal is excused by alle¬ Shiite, a Turkish-Sunni-Kurdish It would especially be dangerous,

mately exploded, causing an gations that the former Ba'ath axis would be good to practice not if al-Hashmi is convicted of

unprecedented political turmoil members plot to overthrow the pressure on the Shiite and Iran running death squads, but if cer¬

and uproar in "new Iraq." The government, or the continuation of but might not be effectively favor¬ tain regional countries are convict¬

Kurds found themselves automat¬ de-Ba'athification, or a deal able to Turkish policy on Iraq. ed of supporting such squads

ically involved in the game which agreed with Syrian government by through him. On the other hand,

as well attracted several countries which it provided information Turkey's exclusion or marginaliza- deepening the polarization of

including the United States, about Ba'ath members to Iraqi tion of Shiite would greatly affect Iraq's Arab society, the emer¬

Turkey and Iran primarily. Saudi government in return for political Turkish interests in Baghdad, gence of authoritarian rule and a

Arabia, Qatar and Syria are reck¬ and economic support. deepen the division of the region narrow-based government in

oned sides to the turmoil. Unless and Iraq's society on ethnic or reli¬ Baghdad would have unintended

a compromise is reached, the However, most of the observers gious bases and increase the like¬ consequences to Turkey. Unless

domestic, regional and even inter¬ are skeptical about these allega¬ lihood of Iraq's territorial disman¬ Turkey manages otherwise, its

national risks are high. tions. There is one logical reason tlement. In either case, its nation¬ prioritized interests are in jeop¬

that explains the reality behind the al interests are at stake. As far as ardy, including the opening up of a

Much of the turmoil is attributed to campaign: Maliki's ambitions to Turkey has to involve in Iraq's pol¬ Pandora's box of domestic situa¬

the Syrian epic and the emerging neutralize Iraq's Sunni figures and itics, it should seek to achieve a tion.

authoritarianism in Iraq. Iraq's their regional allies as well as his sort of balance in its attitudes

Shiite-led government sided with other political rivals. towards Iraq's different religious Idrees Mohammed

Iran and Syrian government on and ethnic segments and suc¬ Observer of Turkey's foreign policy.

several occasions including its That makes the Kurds extremely cessfully engage them in a power-

allegedly financial support to the worry: the arrest warrant against sharing process.

Syria regime and the objection to Vice President Tariq al-Hashimi is

the Arab League's decision in politically motivated. Should that In this regard, Iran's position is

order to maintain the regime in not be the case, the Kurds would quite important to Turkey. It would

power. Rather to contain the react differently while hoping to not be surprise to expect that Iran

regional Sunni powerhouse's prevent being involved in any had an upper hand behind the

58 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Ôzeti

THE WALL STRECT JOURNAL January 17, 2012

Iraq Lashes Out at Turkey as Sunni-Shiite Rift Grows

and Iran and it will be increasingly dif¬ "When Prime Minister Erdogan came

ficult to manage as it's being aggravat¬ to Washington in 2009, he sounded By JOE PARKINSON in Istanbul and ed by sectarian tensions. These prob¬ almost like the ambassador from Iran. SAM_DAGHER_in-Erbil,Jrarj lems are likely to be long-term; I don't Now he sounds quite different...After a

see an easy solution," said Sinan Ulgen, period of suspicion, Turkey and the Qraq summoned Turkey's ambassa¬ a visiting scholar at the Carnegie United States have come closer togeth¬ dor on Monday to protest what it Endowment for International Peace. er," said Stephen Kinzer, a visiting pro¬ called Ankara's meddling in Iraqi fessor of international relations at politics, the latest sign of a rising rift Baghdad's concerns also have been Boston University. between Sunni Turkey and its Shiite fueled lately by fears that Syria's upris¬ neighbors. ing is developing into a Sunni insur¬ Turkish officials insist relations with gency that Mr. Maliki has said could Tehran remain strong. Turkey buys Iraq's government was angered by spread "like a house on fire," into Iraq. around 30% of its oil from Iran and is recent warnings from Turkish leaders A fresh wave of violence has killed the second-largest consumer of Iranian that Sunni-Shiite tensions in Iraq could more than 200 Iraqis since the end of gas, after Russia. Official data shows engulf the entire Islamic world, as well the U.S. military mission on Dec. 18. that Turkey's bilateral trade volume as by Turkey's support for a Sunni rival with Iraq in 2011 jumped by nearly to Iraq's Shiite prime minister, Nouri Unlike Iraq, which is majority Shiite, 50% on the year to $11 billion, with al-Maliki. Syria is about 75% Sunni, but it is gov¬ much of the increase coming in the

erned mainly by a minority ofAlawites, Shiite-dominated areas around "Turkey interferes by backing certain a Shiite sect. Syria's President Bashar Baghdad and in the South. political figures and blocs" in Iraq, Mr. al-Assad's Tehran-backed regime has Maliki told The Wall Street Journal last expressed deep anger and distrust of In an interview inside Iraqi Kurdistan month. "I believe Turkey is unqualified Ankara due to its decision to provide this month, Mr. Hashemi said that to intervene in the region's flash haven to mainly Sunni Syrian rebels. while his political bloc had received points." In a weekend interview with advice from Turkey and others, it was Arabic language Al-Hurra TV station, Turkey says its actions are purely no tool for outside powers. "I am not Mr. Maliki went further. humanitarian, made in the face of part of the Turkish geopolitical proj¬ "Unfortunately, Turkey is playing a role Syria's brutal crackdown on protesters. ect," said Mr. Hashemi. He criticized that could lead to a catastrophe or civil It also denies any effort to meddle in Mr. Maliki's "conspiratorial" mind and war in the region," he said. Iraqi politics. said that his frequent visits to Turkey last year were mostly private. Iraqi officials were particularly angered Turkish analysts say Ankara is a reluc¬ by public Turkish comments on the tant hard-power player in the region, Still there is little disguising the build¬ case of Tariq al-Hashemi, Iraq's Sunni for all its neo-Ottoman pretensions, ing tensions between Ankara and its vice president. Mr. Hashemi took Only a year ago, Mr. Assad was Exhibit Shiite neighbors, including Tehran. refuge in Kurdish-ruled northern Iraq A in Turkey's "zero-problems-with- late last year, after the government neighbors" foreign policy. That In December, Ankara sought an expla¬ accused him of leading death squads approach boosted relations and trade nation from Tehran after Hussain against Shiites. with neighboring Muslim regimes, Ibrahimi, chief of the Iranian parlia¬ while downgrading ties with former ment's national-security committee, But analysts say the rapid deterioration ally Israel. The Arab Spring, however, told an Iranian newspaper that if Iran of relations between Ankara and upended that policy as allies such as were to be attacked, its first retaliatory Baghdad also reflects the wider con¬ former Libyan leader Moammar strike would be against the NATO mis¬ flicting interests of Sunni Turkey and Gadhafi were pushed aside and Shiite- sile defense radar in eastern Turkey. Shiite Iran in the wake of the U.S. Sunni tensions rose across the region. drawdown from Iraq and of the Arab In a major change, Turkey agreed last Earlier, in October, a key aide to Spring, now lapping at the borders of fall to host a North Atlantic Treaty Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali both Iraq and Turkey, in Syria. Organization missile-defense system, Khameini told Iran's Mehr news

which was designed by the U.S. to con¬ agency that Turkey should radically Turkey's Foreign Minister Ahmet tain Iran. rethink its policies on Syria, the NATO Davutoglu warned on the eve of a visit missile shield and promoting secular¬ to Tehran earlier this month against Turkish and U.S. diplomats say they ism in the Arab world. Otherwise, the risk of a "Cold War" developing now cannot remember a time when Ankara would face trouble from its own between Shiites and Sunnis across the cooperation between Ankara and people and neighbors, he said. Middle East. Washington was closer, after a period OOO of significant strain in 2009-2010. 'Tension is now rising between Turkey

59 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Ozeti

t rffERXATlOJiAL HmlG»ribime January 19, 2012 Israeli assessment that Iran had not started building nuclear weapons.

buy time just days before European for¬ "The Iranians have not ended the eign ministers are to meet next week to oversight exercised by the Internation¬ A decision discuss possible measures to curb al Atomic Energy Agency," he said. Iran's critical oil exports. "They have not done that because they Speaking at an annual news confer¬ know that that would constitute proof of to strike Iran ence in Moscow, Mr. Lavrov took issue the military nature of their nuclear pro¬ with Western policy on Iran, saying a gram and that would provoke stronger military strike would be a "disaster." He international sanctions or other types of is 'far off/ said sanctions now being proposed action against their country." against Tehran had been couched in The Islamic Republic News Agency, terms of nuclear nonproliferation but the official Iranian news outlet, con¬ Israeli says were "seriously intended to have a firmed on Tuesday that a team from the smothering effect on the Iranian econo¬ international Atomic- Energy Agency- my and the Iranian population, probably would visit Iran for three days starting JERUSALEM in the hopes of provoking discontent." on Jan. 29.

Mr. Barak was speaking in an inter¬ Israel has kept open the possibility of Apparent effort to soften view with Israeli Army Radio at a time military action against Iran, saying,that of high tension following the assassina¬ a credible threat is necessary to back up tough tone comes as tion on Jan. 11 of Mostafa Ahmadi the sanctions effort. In a veiled refer¬ Russia criticizes West Roshan, the deputy director of Natanz ence to what some experts view as a uranium enrichment site an act that kind of approaching deadline, Mr. Barak President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad at¬ said Iran ,was "focused on creating a BY ISABEL KERSHNER, tributed on Tuesday to "the evil hands reality in .-which its nuclear program ELLEN BARRY of arrogance and Zionist agents." On would be. immune from physical at¬ AND ALAN COWELL Tuesday, Mr. Ahmadinejad ordered tack." He was apparently referring to stricter*security to protect Iranian sci¬ Defense Minister Ehud Barak said Iran's plans to start production at a entists from what some experts have Wednesday that any Israeli decision on second major uranium enrichment site, portrayed as a covert war against Iran's attacking Iran because of its nuclear the Fordo plant, near the city of Qum. nuclear program. program was "very far off," apparently The new facility is buried deep under¬ After the assassination, Israel's lead¬ seeking to lower the tone of increasingly ground and is considered far more res¬ ers maintained a customary, cryptic si¬ nervous discourse as powers maneuver istant to airstrikes than the enrichment lence while the White House con¬ in advance of European moves to inten- site at Natanz. demned it and vigorously denied any ' sify sanctions against Tehran. For Israel, the prospect of a nuclear responsibility. At least five Iranian sci¬ At the same time, the Russian foreign armed Iran, which opposes Israel's entists with nuclear connections have minister, Sergey V. Làvrov, renewed his right to exist, is by far its greatest stra¬ been killed since 2007. country's aversion to sanctions and mil¬ tegic challenge. Tehran says its uranium enrichment itary threats against Tehran, while the Maj. Gen. Amir Eshei, chief of the Is¬ efforts are for peaceful civilian pur¬ Iranian foreign minister, Ali Akbar raeli military's planning directorate, poses, but that assertion jars increas¬ Salehi, said his country was ready to re¬ said Tuesday that apart from the obvi¬ ingly with Western insistence/suppor¬ sume negotiations with the outside ous risk to Israel, a nuclear Iran would ted by the International Atomic Energy powers Britain, China, France, Ger¬ Agency, an arm of the United Nations, create a nuclear arms race in the region many, Russia and the United States that Iranian scientists have been work¬ and set off a process that could lead to trying to broker a settlement. ing toward building nuclear weapons. "a global nuclear jungle." He also said Mr. Salehi said during a visit to Tur¬ Israel has been pressing for more ag¬ that extremist groups in Lebanon and key on Wednesday that negotiations gressive and immediate U.S.-led sanc¬ the Gaza Strip would become more ag¬ were under way about the venue and tions against Iran while the Iranians gressive and^aring once operating un¬ date, the Islamic Republic News Agency have threatened to shut the Strait of der an Iraniâà nuclear umbrella.and reported, and that the talks "will most Hormuz, the maritime conduit for a fifth that Israel would be more limited in its probably be held in Istanbul." of the world's oil. strategic options. The previous negotiations, also in Mr. Barak's remarks also came ahead OnTuesday, the European Union and Istanbul, broke off a year ago when Iran of a visit to Israel by the chairman of the United States took new steps to raise presented its own set of preconditions, U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Martin E. the pressure. Denmark, the rotating including a lifting of sanctions, that the Dempsey. Israeli news media commen¬ president of the European Union, pro¬ West considered unacceptable. posed that starting on July 1, all mem¬ Mr. Salehi made similar remarks tators nave suggested that General ber countries impose a full embargo of about a resumption ofthe talks during a Dempsey was coming in part to warn Is- Iranian oil, setting a timetable for that ' rael against going it alone in striking threatened step for the first time. Iran's nuclear facilities. In South Korea, a major importer of Mr. Barak denied that suggestion, Iranian oil, a senior U.S. diplomat, saying that military chiefs "are con¬ Robert J. Einhorn, urged buyers there to cerned with formulating different mili- «ft* reduce their dependence and "unwind . tary options and bringing their views to their financial dealings with the central the political leadership, and don't deal bank of Iran." with delivering diplomatic messages." A new law signed by President Still, efforts seem to be under way on Barack Obama, if fully enforced, would both sides to reduce regional anxieties. penalize any foreign entity that does Israel and the United States agreed business with the Iranian central bank} this week to postpone major joint mis¬ the primary conduit for purchases of Foreign Minister Sergey V. Lavrov re¬ sile-defense exercises that had been Iran's oil, the country's most important peated Russia's aversion to sanctions. scheduled for the spring. Israel's for¬ export. While the law allows some lee¬ eign minister, Avigdor Lieberman, cited way, it is widely seen as the most puni¬ "diplomatic and regional reasons, the tive step yet taken by the United States visit to Tehran two weeks ago by the tensions and instability," as factors in against Iran. Turkish foreign minister, Ahmet Davu¬ the delay. toglu, and some European officials have In the interview with Army Radio on interpreted his remarks as an effort to . Wednesday Mr. Barak reaffirmed the

60 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Ôzeti

Plusieurs dizaines de milliers niens qui comptent en France et qu'on nepeut de personnes ont défilé, samedi à Paris, pas. voter des textes de loi qui stigmatisent tout unpeuple.» Sur les pancartes, les mots sont contre le vote, aujourd'hui au Sénat, 23 JANVIER 2012 soigneusement pesés; «Mhainenivengeance, de la loi réprimant la négation juste la vérité» ou «Laissons l 'histoire aux his¬ du génocide arménien. toriens». Parfois un cri du ceur : «Mon arriè- m-grund-père n'étaitpas un assassin. » R s'agit d'éviter tout débordement nationaliste ou

négationniste qui pourrait avoir un effet

boomerang. Les Français Cette manifestation très bien encadrée est sans précédent en France comme en Europe.

Quelque 50000 personnes selon les orga¬

nisateurs et 15 000 selon la police. Au moins d'origine turque 25000 selon notre estimation, rien qu'en comptant les passagers des

550 cars arrivés de toute la France,

de Belgique et d'Allemagne. font bloc Les consulats turcs ont mouillé leur chemise. Les associations ont,

pour une fois, fait bloc, les isla¬

mistes comme leurs ennemis laïcs

kémalistes, les groupes ouvriers de gauche Iy « comme les ultranationalistes. Seuls les Kurdes 11 et l'extrême gauche ont refusé «la mamfesta- tion étatiste». Cette mobilisation ïnarque le

surgissement d'une diaspora de 550 000 per¬

sonnes, souvent peu visible, sinon en Alsace,

éparpillée sur le territoire. «Merci Sarkozy, qui

nous a unis commejamais», se réjouit Demir

J Onger, élu par la coordination des associa¬

tions, qui assure vouloir «la réconciliation de

deux peuples en laissant travailler les histo¬

riens». Dans le cortège, des jeunes filles avec

le foulard islamique côtoient celles enJean.

De vieux prolos moustachus défilent ayec.des Une manifestante ados en capuche. Des suppofteurs brandis¬ de la communauté sent des écharpes des clubs de foot de Gàlâta- turque, samedi saray ou Besiktas. après-midi à Paris.

«ACHARNEMENT». Pour tous, la nouvelle

Par MARC SEMO proposition de loi a eu l'effet d'un électro¬ choc. Il y avait déjà eu la loi de 2001 recon- .

hputcrin Ramzi, t'es où ?» hurle naissant le génocide. Puis, en 2006, un pre¬

REPERES unjeune en survêt sur son télé¬ mier projet de texte sanctionnant sa négation phone portable. Le petit groupe présenté par les socialistes, puis abandonné. "O s'affaire autour de la bande¬ «C 'est del 'acharnement», s'indigne Fatih, de LÀ PROPOSITION role :. «Faites gaffe les mecs à nepas la déchi¬ Romans (Drôme), qui s'est inscrit dès le rer.» Les drapeaux turcs sont partout ; des 22 décembre sur les listes électorales. «On DE LOI grands, dont ils s'enveloppent comme d'une n'étaitpas intégré comme les Arméniens. Main¬

Déposéespar la députée cape ; des petits, agités en même temps que tenant, on veutfaire entendre notre voix», ex¬ (UMP) Valérie Boyer et ceux aux couleurs de la France. Entre eux, ils plique ce jeune maçon. Partout, les associa¬ adoptée par l'Assemblée le parlent le plus souvent français. Ils sont nés tions et les imams ont mené campagne. Avec

22 décembre, la proposi¬ dans l'Hexagone ou y succès. Par milliers, ils se sont précipités en

tion de loi votée aujour¬ sont arrivés tout gos- REPORTAGE décembre dans les mairies. Il y aurait aujour¬ d'hui au Sénat punit d'un an ses. Les jeunes sont les d'hui 180 000 électeurs français d'origine de prison et d'une amende plus nombreux dans le cortège qui défile sa¬ turque. «Mais pour qui voter? Hollande, dans

de 45000 euros toute medi à Paris, deDenfert au Sénat, pour pro¬ cette affaire, est sur la même ligne que Safko», négation publique d'un tester contre la loi sanctionnant la «négation soupire un entrepreneur.

génocide reconnu par la loi. ou la minimisation outrancière» des génoci¬ Le plus important, dans l'immédiat, est de

La France reconnaît deux des, dont le génocide arménien, qui doit être montrer sa force. Une nouvelle manifestation

génocides, celui des Juifs votée aujourd'hui par la Chambre haute (lire a lieu aujourd'hui devant le Sénat. «Nous

et celui des Arméniens, également page 23) . sommes des citoyens de seconde zone», s'in¬

mais ne punit jusqu'ici que surge un représentant de la puissante associa¬

la négation du premier. Le BOOMERANG. «Je vote», clament les pan¬ tion islamiste Milligôrus. Les laïcs, eux, s'in¬

texte est soutenu par Fran¬ neaux avec une reproduction de la carte quiètent pour le modèle républicain français

çois Hollande et Nicolas d'électeur. «Ctoyeris/rançais mais avec le dra¬ qui avait inspiré Mustafa Kemal. Murât Er-

Sarkozy. Si le Sénat le vote peau turc dans le cnur, assure Yilmaz Betul- puyan, de l'association Ataturquie de Nancy,

conforme, il sera adopté. lah, artisan à Thiers (Puy-de-Dôme). JVous soupire : «Cette loi apour effet de pousser en-

voulons montrer qu'il n'y a pas que les Armé- coreunpeuplusaucommunautarisme.»-*-

61 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Ôzeti

Mardi 24 janvier 2012 L'embargo européen sur le pétrole iranien obtenu au prix de lourdes tractations

La Grèce, l'Italie et l'Espagne sesont inquiétées de l'impact des sanctions sur leur économie

Bruxelles les. Les diplomates avaient pour sionnement. L'Arabie Saoudite dre encore la réponse de Téhéran à Bureau européen mission de faire des propositions serait prête à augmenter sa produc¬ une lettre qu'elle leUr a envoyé le fermes mais qui ne déstabilise¬ tion. Les Européens comptent éga¬ 21 octobre. Une délégation iranien¬ Les ministres européens des raient pas l'ensemble du marché lement sur la Libye, qui en revientà ne, en visite en Chine, a affirmé, le affaires étrangères, réunis à mondial et tiendraient compte son niveau de production d'avant même jour, sa volonté de repren¬ Bruxelles, lundi 23 janvier, des difficultés de certains Etats l'intervention armée de 2011. dre ses discussions. «Rhétorique devaient décider du passage à une membres. Le gel des transactions avec la habituelle», commentait," lundi phase inédite des sanctions contre En 2011, l'Italie a couvert 13,3 % Banque centraleiraniennecompor¬ matin, un diplomate bruxellois. le régime iranien. Soucieux d'em¬ de sa consommation de pétrole par tera, lui aussi, des exceptions, afin Le passage à des sanctions pêcher ce qui est perçu comme des importations d'Iran. L'Iran de ne pas mettre en péril l'ensem¬ visant le ctur de l'économie ira¬ une course iranienne à l'arme ato¬ représente 9,6% des besoins en ble des relations commerciales nienne résulte pour partie d'un mique, les Vingt-Sept entendent, pétrole de l'Espagne. La Grèce a avec des entités iraniennes qui ne intense « lobbying » français cette fois, viser directement les res¬ assuré, la même année, 22,6 % de sa sont pas visées par les sanctions. -même si on eut préféré,. à Paris, sources financières de l'Iran. Les consommationgrâceàl'Iran...Plon- L'Iranest, aujourd'hui, un partenai¬ que les choses aillent plus vite, et ministres devaient décréter à la gée dansles difficultés financières re important de l'Union : en 2010, que l'embargo pétrolier entre en fois un arrêt des achats de pétrole que l'on sait, la Grèce acquiert ce ce pays- a importé des biens euro¬ oeuvre au bout de trois mois, au iranien, un gel des transactions pétrole à crédit et sans garantie, ce péens à hauteur de 11,3 milliards lieu de six. Cet effort diplomatique avec la Banque centrale iranienne, qu'aucun autre pays producteur d'euros et exporté vers les Vingt- s'inscrit dans un contexte lourd de l'interdiction des investissements n'accepterait sans doute. Sept pour 14,5 milliards d'euros. spéculations sur la possibilité, dès dans le secteur pétrochimique et Trois Etats - la France, le Royau¬ cet été, d'une attaque aérienne la vente d'or, de diamants et de Les sanctions me-Uni et l'Allemagne - avaient israélienne contre l'Iran. métaux précieux à l'Iran. proposé un plan de sanctions dès Selon Nicolas Sarkozy, qui s'ex¬ ne débuteraient Un doute subsistait, lundi février 2009, afin d'appuyer les primait trois jours avant la réu¬ matin, quant à la nécessité de geler qu'au 1e1 juillet pour Etats-Unis dans leur tentative de nion européenne, la «seule solu¬ les avoirs de la banque Tejarat, la règlement du dossiernucléaire ira¬ tion » pour « éviter une interven¬ principale banque commerciale permettre de trouver nien. Près de deux ans plus tard, tion militaire» qui «déchaînerait du pays, utilisée par certains d'autres sources l'unanimité des Européens a enfin la guerre et le chaos au Moyen- constructeurs automobiles euro¬ été obtenue. Au fil des différentes Orient», «c'est un régime de sanc¬ péens, très présents en Iran, et aus¬ d'approvisionnement décisions, 433 sociétés iraniennes tions beaucoup plus fort». «Ceux si des missions diplomatiques. et 133 personnes ont été visées par qui n'en veulent pas, a-t-il ajouté, La décisionla plus spectaculaire A l'issue de rudes discussions, des sanctions. porteront la responsabilité d'un ris¬ des Européens, à savoir l'embargo avecAthènes notamment, un com¬ Consciente que sonplande sanc¬ que de déchaînement militaire. » sur le pétrole, devait concernerles promis a été trouvé, il restait aux tions n'atteindra son objectif que Lundi, le ministre israélien char¬ achats et le transport de brut ira¬ ministres à définir, lundi, la date s'il est appuyé par d'autres grands gé du renseignement, Dan Meri- nien, le financement et les assuran¬ précise d'entrée en vigueur des clients de l'Iran, en premier lieu la dor, a salué le « durcissement» des

ces de contrats pétroliers, ainsi sanctions pétrolières. Dissers sour¬ Chine, l'Union européenne (UE) a sanctions européennes, y voyant que les achats de pétrole iranien ces évoquaient le 1* jufflétvà l'issue publié, vendredi 20 janvier, un un pas «important» et jugeant par des compagnies européennes d'un délai de transition permettant communiqué appelant à la reprise que de telles mesures avaient à des pays tiers. à la fois de mettre un terme aux du dialogue politique avec Téhé¬ « une chance de réussir», m Les discussions préparatoires à contrats de livraison en cours et de ran. La haute représentante de l'UE, Jean-Pierre Stroobants avec la réunion dé lundi ont été diffici trouver d'autres sources d'approvi Catherine Ashton, a indiqué atten Natalie Nougayrède (à Paris)

Eutelsat suspend la chaîne kurde Roj TV, condamnée pour son soutien au PKK

PARIS, 19jan 2012 (AFP) "Dans ces conditions, Eutelsat a décidé de suspendre la présence de Roj TV sur ses satellites pour ne pas être en situation de se rendre complice dune activité terroriste". L'OPÉRATEUR satellitaire européen Eutelsat Communications a décidé jeudi de suspendre la présence de la chaîne kurde de télévision Roj TV sur Eutelsat a également demandé "aux distributeurs qui diffusent Roj TV à travers ses satellites, après sa condamnation au Danemark pour "soutien à une des capacités louées sur ses satellites de suspendre la diffusion de cette organisation terroriste" pour ses liens avec le PKK. chaîne".

"Aux termes dun jugement rendu le 10 janvier 2012, le tribunal de Copenhague, Le Tribunal municipal de Copenhague a estimé que la chaîne de télévision Roj saisi par le Ministère public danois, a établi que la chaîne de télévision Roj TV TV avait "soutenu l'activité de l'organisation" de février 2008 à septembre 2010, est un organe du Parti des Travailleurs du Kurdistan (PKK), tant au regard de et l'a condamnée le 10 janvier pour "soutien à une organisation terroriste" pour leurs liens financiers que structurels et opérationnels", indique Eutelsat dans un ses liens avec le PKK. La chaîne kurde a fait appel du jugement.

communiqué.

62 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Ozeti

Mercredi 25 janvier 2012

te : 11 ont voté pour, mais 4 séna¬ vés contre ce qu'ils ont qualifié de

teurs CRC ont malgré tout voté «faute politique». Fait rare, deux

contre et 6 autres n'ont pas pris anciens présidents du Sénat, Chris¬ Génocides : untexte part au vote. Seuls le Rassemble¬ tian Poncelet et Gérard Larcher, se ment démocratique et social euro¬ sont exprimés pour dire qu'ils péen (RDSE, 16 membres) et le voteraient contre. Le vote final groupe écologiste (30 membres) n'en est pas le reflet.

de loi contesté mais ont en bloc voté contre. Patrick Roger

Climat de tension finalement adopté Le résultat du scrutin traduit le La Turquie prépare malaise qui s'est exprimé tout au des mesures de rétorsion long des débats. Devant le Palais du . Les sénateurs, malgré de fortes réserves, ont Luxembourg, un impressionnant «Un acte irresponsable» et une dispositif de sécurité maintenait à «atteinte à la liberté d'expres¬ définitivement approuvé la proposition UMP distance le rassemblement ôrganir sion». Le ministre turc des affai¬

se, d'un côté, par les associations res étrangères, Ahmet Davuto¬

franco-turques et, de l'autre, parles glu, a critiqué «avec véhémen¬ Le Parlement a définitive¬ lui opposer une motion d'irreceva¬ associations franco-arméniennes. ce» le vote du Sénat. De son côté, ment adopté, lundi 23 jan¬ bilité. Leur action a rencontré des « Non à lapénalisation, ùuià laliber¬ le premier ministre turc, Recep vier, la proposition de loi : résistances. Faute de pouvoir réu¬ té d'expression », proclamaient les Tayyip Erdogan, doit annoncer ce visant à réprimer la contestation nir une majorité, ils se sont alors premières; «le négationnisme mardi, devant les députés de son des génocides reconnus par la loi, efforcés de convaincre le plus n'est pas la liberté d'expression», groupe parlementaire, des mesu¬ dont, en premier lieu, le génocide grand nombre des récalcitrants de répondaient les secondes.Tribunes res de rétorsion. Lundi soir, il a arménien de 1915. Le Sénat a à son s'abstenir ou de ne pas prendre du public et des invités combles, convoqué quelques collabora¬ tour approuvé -par 126 voix part au vote. sous le regard de nombreux teurs au siège de l'AKP, le parti contre 86- le texte de la députée Tant à l'UMP qu'au PS, ces consi¬ médias turcs et arméniens, tous les au pouvoir, à Ankara, pour élabo¬ (UMP) des Bouches-du-Rhône gnes ont été jsuivies à reculons. ingrédients étaient réunis pour rer la riposte. La coopération mili¬ Valérie Boyer qui avait été adopté Seuls 57 membres de l'UMP (sur entretenir un climat de tension. taireet diplomatique est déjà sus¬ -à mains levées- le 22 décembre 132) ont voté pour la proposition Al'inverse del'Assemblée natio¬ pendue depuis le vote du texte 2011 à l'Assemblée nationale. Sans de loi, alors que 19 ont voté contre, nale, où étaient majoritairement par les députés français, en pour autant que celui-ci ait 10 se sont abstenus et 46 n'ont pas présents en séance les partisans de décembre 2011. L'ambassadeur recueilli unassentimentmajoritai¬ pris part auvote. Côté PS {130 mem¬ la proposition de loi, la discussion de Turquie à Paris pourrait être re de la part de sénateurs qui ont bres), 56 ont voté pour, 26 contre, 9 en séance au Sénat a fait entendre rappelé définitivement. Les pro¬ fortement marqué leurs réserves. ; se sont abstenus et 39 n'ont pas de multiples oppositions à ce tex¬ chaines mesures pourraient tou¬ La plupartdes groupesreprésen¬ i pris part au vote. L'Union centriste te. A l'instar du président (PS) de la cher l'économie : les échanges tés au Sénat se sont partagés au et républicaine (31 membres) s'est commission des lois, Jean-Pierre entre lès deux pays atteignaient moment duvote. Les présidents de partagée en 1 pour, 12 contre, 1 abs- Sueur, nombreux ont été ceux qui près de 12 milliards d'euros en groupe de l'UMP et du PS s'étaient : tention et 17 refus de vote. De ont émis des réserves sur sa consti- 2011. -(Corresp.) engagés en faveurde l'adoption du même que le groupe communiste tutionnalité. D'autres ont mis en texte, après la décision de la com¬ et républicain (CRC, 21 membres), garde contre «un risque de concur¬ mission des lois du Sénat, jeudi, de majoritairementfavorable au tex rencedes mémoires » ou se sont éle

FB'J'.'lRHil 25 JANVIER 2012

.;< "*- j A \

* \

«F

ANKARA (TURQUIE), HIER. Recep Tayyip Erdogan, le Premier ministre turc, a qualifié la loi pénalisant la négation du génocide arménien de « discriminatoire ettaciste ». Il attend que Nicolas Sarkozy renonce à la promulguer. (reuters.)

63 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Ôzeti

Hurriyet VOW January / 19 / 2012 DailyNews_> T *

Syrian Kurds form their own council in Arbil

ISTANBUL - Hurriyet Daily News national council established by opposi¬ tion forces after the establishment of the

Syrian opposition Kurdish parties are Syrian National Council.

preparing to announce the formation France-based Efrini said he would of their own "National Kurdish Council" also attend the meeting. "Right now, f " i * U IE in the northern Iraqi capital of Arbil, the there are five or six Kurdish parties joi¬

Hurriyet Daily News has learned. ning the National Kurdish Council. We Riot police stand guard as Syrian Kurds

'There will be a meeting of the Syrian want to broaden this council as much as protest in front of the UN office in Arbil to Kurdish groups on Jan. 21 in Arbil. The demand the departure of the Syrian possible." Kurdish parties participating in the mee¬ President Bashar al-Assad's regime. AFP A member of the Syrian National ting will make a call to all the other photo Council who wished to remain anony¬ Syrian Kurdish parties to join them/' bed itself as the largest Syrian opposition mous said most of the leaders of the Kendal Efrini, a Syrian Kurdish opposi¬ group - including Islamists, leftists, libe¬ Syrian Kurdish parties had been staying tion member and representative of the rals, Arabs, Christians and Kurds - when in Arbil under the protection of the Alliance of Syrian Liberals in Europe, it was established in Istanbul on Aug. 29, Kurdistan Regional Government for told the Hurriyet Daily News in an inter¬ 2011 under the leadership of Burhan some time. view on Wednesday. Ghalioun. "We don't know yet whether they will Dr. Abdul Hakim Bashar, secretary- There are around 15 different Kurdish achieve their goal of uniting the Kurdish general of the Kurdish Democratic Party parties in Syria, a few of which are repre¬ parties under one umbrella - we need in Syria, will lead the National Kurdish sented in the Syrian National Council.B time to see that," he said. Council, which will become the second The Syrian National Council descri-

Hurriyet ^&f January / 19 / 2012 DailyNews_>T *

nistrations and the fall of the one in Syria, for example, was What went wrong not as easy as the fall of Moammar Gadhafi in Libya.

The second one says two main factors changed the nature of relations with Syria and Iraq. With Syria, it was the Arab

with Iraq and Syria? Spring. Al-Assad was afraid of a similar fate with Gadhafi and

gave up his pseudo-democracy game to take things under

OPINION/ MURAT YETKIN control the way he knows. Erdogan, who had to make a choice in Libya affair in siding with the Western alliance NATO as a it A .rVrbil is my home as well," Turkish Economy member, stood against the line of al-Assad.

Minister Zafer ÇagTayan said in Kurdish yesterday in Arbil, With Iraq the game changer was the U.S. troop withdra¬

the capital of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) in wal. It was no secret that Iran would try to increase its

Iraq as he was welcomed by KRG President Massoud influence over the Shiite majority in Iraq following the U.S.

Barzani, showing the hard-to-believe improvement of rela¬ evacuation, especially when the future of Syria, its main ally

tions between Turks and Iraqi Kurds. in the region started to become uncertain.

A few hours later, news wires reported from Badghad that As quick as the last American soldier left Iraqi soil, al-

the Turkish Embassy was attacked with rockets. Though there Maliki started to intimidate his coalition partners; Sunni Arabs were no injuries, the building was damaged. Ankara took it as and Kurds. Tariq al-Hashemi, the Sunni Arab deputy of the

another act of animosity shown by Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Kurdish-origin President of Iraq Jalal Talabani, is in a fugitive

al-Maliki. position in the Kurdish region.

The KRG is also hosting the Syrian Kurdish opposition One high ranking official of the Turkish Foreign Ministry

against the Bashar al-Assad regime in Damascus, similar to explained Ankara's position yesterday as follows: 'Turkey has

Turkey's hosting of Syrian opposition activities. no problems with Iraq and Syria, but has problems with al-

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's relations Maliki and al-Assad's policies. Our relations with the rest of with both al-Maliki and al-Assad were brotherly not more the region and with many partners are in their best state for

than a year ago; now they are like arch enemies. years. With North Africa countries, with Lebanon, Jordan and the Gulf, with the U.S. and Britain, with Azerbaijan and Russia There can be two interpretations for the situation. (with the exception of the missile shield radar discrepancy) we The first one is the backfiring of Turkey's "zero problems have no serious problems. And with Iraq and Syria, as soon as with neighbors" policy after the Arab Spring. As Turkey deci¬ their state policies change, our strategic relations will resume ded to side with the rightful demands of the peoples in neigh¬ from where they were frozen." boring countries, it lost the friendship of the autocratic admi

64 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Ozeti

January 19, 2012

Jawad al Doski, summoned die Rockets hit Turkey1 s embassy Turkish ambassador to a mee¬ ting to convey Baghdad's

concern regarding "Turkish

in Iraq amid rising acrimony officials' statements."

In response, the Iraqi

ambassador in Turkey was sum¬ By SAHAR ISSA moned to the Turkish Foreign McClatchy Newspapers Ministry and informed that

Turkey had no choice but to be BAGHDAD ~ A rocket concerned by possibly destabili¬ attack on Turkey's embassy zing issues on the other side of in Baghdad this week has high¬ its border with Iraq. lighted the rapid deterioration in Turkey recently has taken a relations between Turkey and more aggressive foreign policy Iraq, a development tied to approach throughout the Arab Turkish criticism of the deten¬ world as Arab Spring revolts tion of opposition politicians by have toppled and shaken autho¬ the government of Iraqi Prime ritarian regimes. Last year, Minister Nouri al-Maliki. Erdogan was the first foreign No one has claimed respon¬ head of state to visit Libya after sibility for the Wednesday the government of Moammai attack, in which assailants fired Gadhafi was toppled. He also three rockets at the embassy. greeted by huge crowds in But the timing of the assault, Egyp^ where he called for an just days after an acrimonious Egyptian-Turkish partnership. exchange between al-Maliki and only a month ago saw the last believed to have funneled Such forays are controver¬ Turkish President Recep Tayyip U.S. troops leave after nearly money to Iraqiya, a secular poli¬ sial, however, in a region split Erdogan, raised suspicions that eight years of American occu¬ tical alliance that enjoys wides¬ by Sunni-Shiite suspicions - al-Maliki sympathizers were res¬ pation, have found themselves pread Sunni support, during the Turkey's leadership is Sunni - ponsible. on opposite sides of a growing most recent election campaign. and that once was ruled by the "The attack against the number of issues in recent Last week, Turkey's Ottoman Empire, whose col¬ Turkish Embassy in Baghdad months. Erdogan used a meeting with lapse after World War I gave reflects the government's fai¬ Turkey has demanded that the speaker of Iraq's parlia¬ rise to the modern Turkish lure to secure foreign embas¬ Iraq crack down on Kurdish ment, Osama al Nujaifi, to criti¬ state. sies," Maysoon al Damaluji, a rebels who Turkey claims use cize al-Maliki's charges against "Turkish officials' recent spokeswoman for Iraq's Iraqiya Iraqi territory to launch attacks Hashemi, who currently has statements are a blatant illogical movement, a secular political inside Turkey. Turkey also is taken refuge in Iraq's northern interference (in Iraqi internal bloc that is a frequent critic of supporting sanctions against Kurdish region, out of reach of affairs) that stem from dieir al-Maliki's policies, said in a sta¬ Iran, which has drawn increa¬ al-Maliki-controlled security policy in the region," said tement Thursday. She deman¬ singly close to Iraq's govern¬ forces. Haider al jorani, a member of ded that the government step ment, and has called for the "For us, Iraq is like Syria. al-Maliki's State of Law coali¬ up security to make sure similar ouster of Syria's president, Any sort of conflict to erupt tion. "It is an attempt to put attacks are prevented. Bashar al Assad, who still from there would affect the Iraq under its control and "We are concerned lest Iraq enjoys the backing of the al- entire region. We cannot remain revive the Ottoman province become an arena for regional Maliki government. indifferent to the develop¬ system." conflicts that would affect But the source of the most ments," Erdogan said. "Those

Iraq's stability and the safety of recent tension is al-Maliki's who seek out or do not obs¬

its people," she said. accusations that Iraqi Vice truct a sectarian war, will never (Issa is a McClatclry Turkish news accounts said President Tariq al Hashemi, be able to recover from such a Newspapers special correspondent.) three rockets were fired at die Iraq's most senior Sunni plague."

embassy and quoted the Muslim politician and a mem¬ The next day, al-Maliki

Turkish ambassador, Yunis ber of the Iraqiya bloc, orches¬ accused Turkey of interfering

Dimirar, as saying one struck an trated terrorist attacks by his in Iraqi affairs. "Turkey is

exterior wall but did little bodyguards. Al-Maliki is a playing a role diat may result in

damage. It was not known Shiite Muslim who has often catastrophe and civil war in the

where the other two rockets been accused of pressing secta¬ region, a war that will harm

fell. rian claims in his administra¬ Turkey itself," he said.

Turkey, a NATO ally of the tion. Hashemi is known to be On Monday, Iraq's deputy

United States, and Iraq, which close to Turkey, which is widely minister of foreign affairs,

65 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Ozeti

Hurriyet Vfl*- January / 19 / 2012 DailyNews^T ' « Ankara, Arbil likeminded Trade swells 'Trade and politics are separate mat¬

ters," Çaglayan said about last week's call on Iraq's future by some members of Iraqi Parliament to cut trade relations with Turkey.

"Syria has tried to cut ties with us; but

ARBIL -Gôkhan Kurtaran on the second day, they continued to

Hurriyet Daily News trade," Çaglayan said, adding that Turkey

is dedicated to increase bilateral trade ties

Turkey supports the unity and stabi¬ with its southern neighbor. "Until now we

lity of Iraq, according to Turkey's have received no sign or any notification

Economy Minister Zafer Çaglayan, who from the Iraqi government regarding such

expressed disappointment with Iraq's issues," he said.

prime minister's recent comments on "We will continue increasing our bila¬ Turkey's role in the region during a visit teral trade with Iraq," Çaglayan said,

to Kurdistan Regional Government adding that the total trade volume of both

(KRG) cities yesterday. countries hit nearly $12 billion by the end "Our visit here to Arbil and Iraqi Kurd leader Barzani (L) meets of last year. He also said nearly 70 percent Suleymanyah itself is a message," said Çaglayan who hails Arbil as his home. AA of trade is done with the northern admi¬ Çaglayan after his 45-minute meeting nistration of Iraq. photo with Masoud Barzani, the president of Turkey's total exports to Iraq rose to KRG, at his command center in Maliki said. $8.5 billion by the end of last year, ranking Selahaddin. Later in a forum in Arbil, "We want Iraq to become a united wel¬ Iraq as Turkey's second biggest export Çaglayan said, "Arbil mala mine ji," fare country," Çaglayan said. 'Turkey has destination, Çaglayan said, adding that which means "Arbil is my house" in never intervened in the internal affairs of Turkish businessmen have approximately Kurdish, while addressing local business¬ other countries and will never intervene. $16 billion of direct investment in the men there. A single united Iraq respecting all reli¬ country. "We are thinking in the same way gions and ethnic roots is our desire." $400 million deal about Iraq's future" with the northern Çaglayan also met with Nechervan The central government of Iraq still Iraqi administration, said Çaglayan at a Barzani, the leader of the Iraqi Kurdistan press meeting at Barzani's headquarters supports good relations with Turkey, Democratic Party, during a breakfast yes¬ nearly 20 km to the north of Arbil. Çaglayan said, adding that the central terday, prior to his meeting with Masoud government approved two important However, he also said Iraq Prime Barzani. business deals Jan. 17. Minister Nouri al-Maliki's strongly wor¬ "Both Nechervan Barzani and Masoud ded statement Jan. 13 in an interview with Iraq's Electricity Ministry approved Barzani are thinking the way we are," said the electricity distribution deal for $235 private broadcaster al-Hurra was "upset¬ Çaglayan, signaling that the Ankara-Arbil ting." 'Turkey is playing a big role that million to be run by Enka and a hospital ties were in a deeper spat. The Turkish might bring disaster and civil war to the project in Baghdad to be built for $125 minister's trip, however, did not include million by Dorçe, a Turkish construction region, and Turkey will suffer because it Baghdad. has different sects and ethnicities," al- company.*

^JERUSALEM POST JANUARY 22, 2012 * tc3»?i UuCtg EKfiiioSj b-J (Humid O-jiAntsïa

of economic ties with Iran, and unaccomplished the political and perhaps eco¬ nomic support that Iraq is pro¬ The question still remains whether Iraq will become viding Syria's Bashar Assad, an Iranian satellite state. Iran's ally.

ness, eroding their confidence country... if left unchecked,

By YOEL GUZANSKT AND in the US. they will eventually turn on the Iran is already the outside

GALLIA LINDENSTRAUSS government," Austin added. force with the greatest influ¬

"As we leave... you'll see vari¬ ence in Iraq. The possible fall

Pulling out of Iraq may have ous elements try to increase Austin's comments represent a of the Assad regime and the

been the lesser evil for the their freedom of movement clear acknowledgment by a US rise to power of a Sunni-domi-

US, but questions now loom and freedom of action," US top military commander that the nated regime is liable to evoke

regarding the ability of the commander in Iraq, Gen. Lloyd US mission in Iraq comes to an even greater Iranian attempts

Iraqi state to function, and the J. Austin in, told journalists on end at a time when Iranian to increase involvement in Iraq, this time in order to withdrawal does not resonate the eve of the planned depar¬ influence in Iraq is perhaps at

well among some of America's ture of the last American unprecedented heights, as "compensate" for the loss of

allies in the region. In their troops. "These are elements exemplified by Iraq's Shia an ally. In the short term, Iran

eyes, the withdrawal of US that are really focused on cre¬ leadership's expression of will try to weaken the central

forces from Iraq at this time is ating a Lebanese Hezbollah support for the Shi'ite protest government in Baghdad to

tantamount to unfinished busi kind of organization in this in Bahrain, the strengthening make it easier to exert its influ-

66 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Ôzeti

ence, and in the long term it that without the support of the region and use Iraq as a plat¬ might also prove a possible will attempt to thwart the US, the Iraqi army will not be form for greater regional influ¬ deterrent against Iran's ambi¬ development of a competing able to confront external secu¬ ence. If this is materialized, tions regarding Iraq. However, model: a moderate, secular rity threats before 2020. Iran might soon, as the despite growing alienation

Shi'ite state with some demo¬ Indeed, most of the 670,000- Jordanians and Saudis fear, between Iran and Turkey over cratic characteristics. strong force is responsible for knock on their door. A possible the Syrian issue and the NATO

interned security. In addition, counterweight to Iran in this radar system, the sides still

These are not mere specula¬ the loyalty of the security respect might be Turkey. While cooperate economically and in tions; Iran will probably por¬ forces is largely a function of strongly objecting to the for¬ dealing with Kurdish rebels. tray the American withdrawal their tribal and sectarian affili¬ mation of an independent as an Iranian success and has ation. Kurdish state, the ability of A combination of the use ofpri¬ already begun to feel more Turkey to forge good relations vate security companies, confident in increasing its mili¬ The State Department, in order with the Kurdish Regional strong US-Turkish and Turkish- tary activity within sovereign to protect US and Western Government has been one of Saudi cooperation and the

Iraqi territory. It also appears diplomats after the withdrawal, the surprising developments of deterrent power of US and per¬ more comfortable challenging has already signed contracts recent years. haps NATO presence in the the Fifth Fleet's ships in the with private security compa¬ Gulf can provide Iraq with

Gulf and in recent months nies, and the Iraqi government Turkey's influence in Northern some security. However, the those elements that General will most likely do so as well. Iraq will by no means dirninish question still remains whether

Austin mentioned that Iran sup¬ While the use of these compa¬ now that the US forces have this will prove enough to pre¬ ports, such as "Hezbollah nies might provide some secu¬ pulled out. On the contrary, as vent Iraq from becoming an

Brigades," have stepped up rity, there are many problems tensions in Iraq heighten, the Iranian satellite state.Q attacks on US forces and have associated with using them, Kurdish dependence on even fired Katyusha rockets such as their problematic repu¬ Turkey will increase. The The writers are associate toward Kuwait. tation and obscure legal status. strong level of cooperation at researchers at the Institute for

present between the US and National Security Studies (INSS)

Babakir Zibari, chief of staff of The goal of Iran is to limit Turkey, as well as growing at Tel Aviv University. the Iraqi army, has rightly said American influence in the Turkish-Saudi cooperation,

Hurriyet T'fllF January / 18 / 2012 DailyNews-.} T » BDP hints at federalism for Turkey

ANKARA "1 We will defend the freedom of a Kurdistan which is part of

the Turkish Republic,' Peace and Democracy Party co-leader

Selahhattin Demirtas says at his party's group meeting Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) Co-Chair Selahattin Demirtas vowed yesterday that his party would "defend the freedom of >v. Kurdistan," as he called on all democratic forces in Turkey to &. unite against "the fascism" of the ruling Justice and *

Development Party (AKP). "If there is no justice for the Kurds, the thing they should do

is resist. We will not give way to AKP fascism. We will, win," if * *4 - Demirtas said in a speech to his party's parliamentary group. Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) Co-Chair Selahattin Demirta§ "We want education in our mother tongue. We will not step speaks during the party's parliamentary group meeting. DAILY back. We will defend the freedom of a Kurdistan which is part of NEWS photo, Selahattin SÔNMEZ the Turkish Republic," he said.

Demirtas said the government had yet to explain last 'The prime minister, ministers, parliamentary members,

month's botched air raid at the Iraqi border, in which 34 civilians governors read the same notes, but if BDP read them they are

perished, and asked why the four-hour footage of the incident sent behind bars. This reveals the fascist mentality of the AKP,"

which Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan mentioned has not he said. yet been revealed. He appealed to the Turkish people to understand that

He condemned the arrest earlier in the day of Kurdish politi¬ Kurdish youths were joining the PKK because they were left

cians Tuncer Bakirhan and Fauna Kurtalan, who are now behind without other options. "There's no justice for us. Instead, there

bars as part of a sprawling investigation into alleged urban net¬ are bombs, massacres, arrests and prisons," he said. works of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). "We will be organized in every street and resist. All democra¬ Demirtas said court records indicated the only question the pro¬ tic forces should unite and stand up against this [AKP] fascism," secutor asked them was why they had received and read emails he said. 'This is an obligation for everybody who has honor and that contained notes from meetings between jailed PKK leader self-respect, no matter whether Turk or Kurd. Those who win are Abdullah Ôcalan and his lawyers. always those who resist the tyrants."*

67 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Ôzeti

M)* toûSWJigton JÎOSt January 19, 2012 .

Explosion kills 1, wounds 27 in i mostly Kurdish city in Turkey

By Associated Press in the past.

ANKARA, Turkey An explosion Gov. Muammer Turker told Turkey's

apparently targeting a police car killed state-run Anadolu Agency that the

one civilian and wounded 27 people, explosion occurred on a busy street in the

including seven police officers, in a southeastern city as the police vehicle

mostly Kurdish city of Turkey on was driving by.

Thursday, an official said. The blast wounded a total of 28 peo¬

The private Dogan news agency said ple, including seven policemen, and one shattered the surrounding buildings'

police had to use tear gas to disperse an of the civilians died at the hospital, windows. angry crowd that gathered at the scene of Turker said. Kurdish rebels, who belong to the

the blast in the city of Hakkari. TRT, Turkey's state-run television, Kurdistan Workers' Party, have been

No one immediately claimed respon¬ said the explosion was caused by a road¬ branded as terrorists by the U.S. and the

sibility for the explosion, but Kurdish side bomb targeting police. The pro- European Union. Tens of thousands of

rebels who are fighting for autonomy in Kurdish news agency, Firat, said the people have died during their battle for

the region have used roadside bombings explosion was caused by a bomb that for¬ independence since 1984.B against military and police vehicles there med a large crater on the ground and

GULFK'NEWS Ja""^ 20, 2012

Al Assad regime's survival depends on Iran's strength

If Tehran cracks under the pressure of economic sanctions and military threats, Damascus could fall

Damascus and Hezbollah.

By Patrick Seale, Special to As a skilful tactician, he has The crime of this trio is to Gulf News played for time. His agree¬ i have dared challenge ment to allow in Arab America's military hegemo¬

H resident Bashar Al League monitors has W ny in the Gulf and Israel's Assad of Syria does relieved him of some pres¬ military hegemony in the not seem to be in any sure for a month, and pos¬ Levant. The three allies immédiate danger of col¬ sibly two. In dealing with Iran, Syria and Hezbollah lapse or overthrow. In spite the protesters, he has used know that they stand or fall

of confronting a popular carrot as well as stick, such together. The battle is likely uprising at home and as his recent amnesty for to be fierce. Iran is facing a severe pressures from political prisoners, his offer systematic campaign aimed abroad, he has for the of an immediate dialogue at subverting its nuclear

moment at least weath¬ with the opposition, and his facilities by cyber attack, ered the storm. His difficul¬ renewed promise of a the murder of its scientists, Image Credit-.Ramachandra ties, however, are immense. revised Constitution, to be and the undermining of its Babu/©GulfNews In a speech on 10 January put to an early referendum, economy by a boycott of its he described the crisis he is followed by multi-party oil exports and Central facing as 'a battle unprece¬ elections in the early sum¬ which Israel sees as a chal¬ Bank. Israel and its dented in Syria's modern mer. Two new parties were lenge to its own nuclear American friends are also

history.' granted licences this week. weapons monopoly but sparing no effort to trigger to change the Tehran a US attack on Iran much

Several authoritative Al Assad's long-term sur¬ regime altogether. The as they pushed the US into sources, both inside and vival, however will depend, United States and Israel invading and destroying outside Syria, share the sources say, on whether supported by a number of Iraq. If Iran cracks under view that, having held his Syria's close ally, Iran man¬ European and Arab nations, the pressure of sanctions enemies at bay since last ages to stand firm. Already who have joined in for their and military threats, Syria March, Al Assad stands a under crippling western own commercial, sectarian could fall. Hezbollah in good chance of survival for sanctions, Iran faces what or strategic interests turn, stripped of its exter¬ several more months. His looks like an attempt, not have launched a determined nal patrons, could then face

longer-term prospects, how¬ just to halt its programme assault on the tripartite another Israeli attempt to

ever, remain uncertain. of uranium enrichment alliance of Tehran, destroy it, as in 2006.

68 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Ozeti

Atlantic JANUARY 20* 2012

Syrian Kurd Leader: Revolution Wonft Succeed Without Minorities

What Syria's largest minority means for the uprising, for the opposition leaders, and the country's future

r'-'i*

Abdulhakim Vr ;»

Bashar

J

Protesters wave Syrian and Kurdish flags in the Kurd-majority town of

BY MICHAEL WEISS Amouda J AP

t's hard to know just how many Kurds are in Syria. The last Do you want to see Syria adopt the Iraq model, a federalist

census was taken 50 years ago, though demographers today system based on power sharing, with broad autonomy

otend to predict that Kurds number between 3.5 million and granted to the predominantly Kurdish region? Kurds are

4.6 million, or about 15 to 20 percent of Syria's total population. more widely distributed throughout Syria than they are in

Anyone with a nodding acquaintance with the struggles and strate¬ Iraq, so that might be difficult to achieve. gies ofthis nationless people will know that they have been a decisive We demand the right to self-determination in a form that would be force in the federalist system of postwar Iraq and an ever-present decided in a national Kurdish referendum, but also within the inte¬ human rights challenge for Turkey's hopes for European Union grity and unity of the Syrian land. When Syria was formed, it was for¬ accession. If the revolution in Syria is to have any chance at success, med by the Sykes-Picot agreement, it wasn't our choice. But we want the Syrian Kurds will mostly likely play a major role. to keep the current borders. With a new social contract between our¬

Dr. Abdulhakim Bashar is the Secretary-General of the Kurdish selves and all the Syrian components.

Democratic Party of Syria the sister party to Massoud Barzani's Second, if we talk about federalism in the Kurdish areas, from the Iraqi counterpart as well as the Chairman of the Kurdish National northeastern part of Syria, up to the border with Iraq until Afrin, near Council (KNC), a newly formed umbrella organisation representing where Aleppo is the Kurds form about 75 percent of the population ten Syrian-Kurdish parties. Bashar was arrested in 2008 before a of that region. That land is the Kurdish land. Kurdish protest slated to take place outside the Syrian parliament in

Damascus. He lives in Syria but gave me an hour or so of his time on I've heard Yekiti and Azadi [Syrian Kurdish parties] have a weeklong visit to London, where I met him in my office. We talked pulled out now or are threatening to do.

about minority rights in Syria, Turkey's role in the Syrian opposition, All Syrian Kurdish groups decided in Irbil in October to freeze any and the prospect of Western intervention to hasten the end of the participation of Kurdish groups in the SNC. This applies to all Assad regime. Kurdish parties, from the Damascus Declaration on, and will conti¬

What's your relationship like with the Syrian National nue until and unless the SNC listen to our demands. My party, the

Council [the aspiring government-in-exile]? Kurdish Democratic Party, had an SNC member: we actually froze his

membership before the conference in Syria that formed the KNC. I've been in contact with [SNC Chairman Burhan] Ghalioun several

times, there has been engagement. However, their proposal is still Of course, we cannot stop individual Kurds from participating in the

very vague, and doesn't meet our full demands for participation. For SNC, although I suspect that as time goes on and nothing changes,

example, the SNC says it endorses lifting the "pressure" on the they too will freeze their membership or quit altogether.

Kurdish people. What does that mean? We said in the KNC that we So what are the Kurdish National Council's preconditions advocate lifting all the discriminatory policies that have been applied forjoining the SNC fully? to the Kurdish people such as the Arabization policies in Syria, the

Arabized name changes of existing towns and villages and demogra¬ We have four main demands, and they're not necessarily all going to

phic changes. These were all deliberate policies applied by the Ba'ath be fulfilled: First, political decentralization of the government. Syria

Party. is a multi-cultural, multi-lingual, and multi-ethnic country. If it keeps

to the same governing style as now one central government there The SNC also offers a "democratic" solution without any clear mea¬ is a possibility ofcivil war. Second, a secular state. Third, constitutio¬ ning. What does "democratic" mean? It might imply private schoo¬ nal recognition of the Kurdish issue, a constitutional assurance that ling to learn the Kurdish language or opening satellite stations for the the Kurdish people are on their historic land. And the lifting ofall dis¬ Kurds. criminatory policies that have been deliberately applied to the

Such as Turkey has implemented. Kurdish people. Fourth, the right of self-determination within Syria's

unity and integrity that's our condition to remain within Syria. Yes. However, we demand our cultural freedoms categorically.

69 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Ôzeti

If the SNC fully recognizes the Kurdish Bill of Rights, we will join the Committees have very little participation of Alawites and Druze; only

SNC fully. Because we are very concerned that the SNC is so much the elites of these communities are involved in them.

influenced by Turkey now, they may postpone guaranteeing our In my opinion, Syrian Alawites would not accept working in a central rights until after the regime falls. Therefore we ask for a recognition government with Sunnis because the regime has succeeded in sowing of these rights in order to become a draft for a new constitution. fear amongst [Alawites]

So you want a written guarantee from the SNC? This is why we ask for political de-centralization in Syria. The regime

We want a guarantee written and published internationally. The has succeeded in convincing minorities that any change would mean

important thing to realize is that if we get our full rights, Turkey will a new Islamic system coming to power and the rights of these mino¬

be obliged to grant full rights to Turkey's Kurdish population. If the rities would be lost completely. In order for the SNC to convince

Kurds were to get recognition in the Syrian constitution, Turkey will minorities to take part in the revolution and hasten the fall of the

give similar if not more rights to the Kurds in Turkey. Syria is the key regime, it must send a clear message to these minorities to partici¬

player. pate. Transitioning to democracy in such a country is very difficult; it

can't happen in one day. You have to give guarantees and assurances Change in Syria means change in Lebanon, Turkey, and Iran. Iran to each minority as these fit their rights and benefits. will be isolated because Iran's connection with Hezbollah would not

be so much facilitated as before [by the Assad regime]. The new You seem to be arguing that the Syrian opposition is doing

Syrian government would not be an ally of Iran. the regime's propaganda work for it, by not convincing

minorities of the multicultural nature of this revolution. Ghalioun said this in his interview with the Wall Street

Journal two months ago, though he's gone back and forth Yes, exactly. Let me give you an example. In Qamishli [a predomi¬

on partnering with Hezbollah recently. nantly Kurdish city in Syria], Assyrians have formed a pro-democracy

organization, however they can't gather even ten people to demons¬ Ghalioun wants to be diplomatic. In fact, I believe, the SNC would trate in the Kurdish region. Why? Because the Church is playing a completely cut ties with Hezbollah. major role in turning Syrian Christians into shabbiha [pro-regime

Recently, university students [in Syria] have said that Lebanese are death squad] thugs for the sake for regime preservation.

enrolled in Syrian universities who aren't of university age. This is The French ambassador to Syria has told me personally that he see from student sources. Students have said that these are Hezbollah loads of Christians every day telling him that their lives would be at members. risk if this regime changed. This is evidence that the SNC is still not

The SNC has not been recognized by world governments, able to be clear with other minorities to show their rights will be gua¬

apart from Libya's, as the sole legitimate representative of ranteed.

the Syrian people. If it were, would you be more willing to The SNC is mainly focusing on things on the ground the number of join? people killed, how to topple the regime but not a political program

If the international community recognized the SNC at this stage, that to address the issue of minorities.

would be a very quick decision. It still represents only one side of the By taking what concrete steps, apart from guaranteeing Syrian opposition, it doesn't include Kurds as Kurds. We are united Kurdish rights as you already discussed? and we have agreements. If we were to join the SNC fully, we'd do so

from a unified political standpoint on this issue. The SNC should, in my opinion, keep in contact with all the minori¬

ties and be positive about their demands within the unity and inte¬ Is the KNC all in for regime change or are you entertaining grity of Syria. For Christians, the [SNC should emphasize] freedom of a possible reconciliation with the Assad regime? religion. It should reassure Alawites, Ismailis and Druze that they are

We are part of this revolution, we are not neutral. One of the main equal in belonging to Islam, they are not outsiders to the faith. There

points in the KNC statement is that we don't want the present dicta¬ must be a very clear program for each and every ethnic group.

torship and we refuse to accept any future dictatorships. We don't The current path is the one that Islamists are taking in the SNC, not accept an Islamic government or a Muslim Brotherhood-led govern¬ the liberal representatives. ment. We will refuse that very firmly. Are there enough liberal representatives in the SNC to alter We have also decided not to have any dialog with the regime separa¬ its approach to the minorities question? tely from the Syrian opposition. For example, if the international

community decided all the opposition groups had to have a dialog The liberals are not enough to influence the SNC. That's also our res¬ with the regime, we'd support that, in case the current regime asks for ponsibility as Kurds. It's the international community's responsibility

negotiations for a transition of power, just like in Yemen. But that's to pressure the SNC, and the Muslim Brotherhood, to guarantee the

unlikely. rights of minorities. And also most important for the internatio¬ nal community to pressure Turkey not to take one side of the opposi¬ When I've asked SNC members about the poor representa¬ tion over all others. tion of Kurds as a bloc in the Council, they usually reply by

saying something like, "Well, we don't want to give the The Kurds are Syria's largest minority, larger even than the

Kurds their own bloc as we see the SNC as a non-sectarian Alawites. Would it be fair to say that there is no Syrian revo¬

political entity. Kurds are fairly represented in strictly poli¬ lution without their full and wholehearted participation?

tical groupings that reserved seats in the Council, such as We are more organized and recognized as a society within Syria and the Damascus Declaration bloc and the Local Coordination other Arab countries than other minorities. If we do participate more Committees bloc." Is that just an excuse for exclusion, in actively, other minorities will feel more assured and follow suit. The your opinion? regime has tried to convince the world that the conflict is between

Yes. It's not just about Kurds, however. Arabs, Druze, Ismailis, them and the Arab Sunnis. We want to prove that wrong. The revolu¬

Alawites, Christians have been ignored by the SNC, which is respon¬ tion is not sectarian but it is being threatened by sectarian interests.

sible for these minorities failure to participate as united communities in the revolution. Also, if the SNC says that Local Coordination

Committees are very active in the SNC, I'd like to add that the

70 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Ôzeti

iUliUl^lGC ~BË 21 January 2012

Kurds caught in middle as tensions stoked by regional jockeying

ongoing in Syria, has set a new

The Kurdish Globe benchmark in the Middle East and

By Bashdar Pusho Ismaeel along with it a lot of political, sec¬

tarian and strategic wavering.

With the political crisis in Iraq 3 £' already at a critical juncture, Add the U.S. withdrawal in Iraq,

PKK, a new round of sanctions to

Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al- punish Iran's growing nuclear yX*

Maliki formally suspended a num¬ clout, Iran's increasing faceoff with ber of ministers from the predomi¬ the Sunni Arab Gulf states and one nantly Sunni-basedal-Iraqiya list can see that the Middle East is a after weeks of boycotts. As internal deep, interconnected web of ties % parties continued frantic jockeying and proxy battles. to soothe friction and find a way ter Recep an Turkey has acknowledged and forward, fierce rhetoric from rival with his Iraqi counterpart al-Maliki during an official welcoming cere- factions only further highlighted highlighted the dangers of Iraqi were often looked at by Turkey as than decades prior. the prevalent fractured landscape fragmentation before any other side an instigator of a future breakup, and a strong sense of animosity. due to sensitivities with the preser¬ but Turkey has to soon come to Turkish warnings over the current vation of its own borders, but terms that an Iraqi split will not be state of regional meddling in Iraq Over the past weeks, with realiza¬ Turkey has become more vocifer¬ on the part of the Kurds and it must may speak true but are certainly tion of the great perils that the cur¬ ous in recent weeks amidst what it plan for the eventuality that sooner contradictory. The same regional rent sectarian stand-off threatens to deemsas a Shiite grasp of power or later it will need to embrace an influence that they fear that Iraqi unearth, regional neigh- aided by an increasingly isolated independent Kurdistan. blocs will fall under has been rag¬ bours,particularly Turkey, have Iranian regime. Tehran's relations ing for over eight years and Turkey been getting overly anxious. with Ankara have certainly cooled, Turkey is already relying heavily has been a key component of this. and Iran has used its immense on the Kurds to maintain equilibri¬ The reality of Iraq's diverse socio- leverage on Iraq and Syria to show um and leverage in Iraq. The shift Although many had hoped that al- ethnic mosaic and its fractured that it still has plenty of strings to toward sectarianism by Baghdad is Hashemi would be giving a fair foundations is hardly new; the pull. evident in the eyes of trial with a legal rather than a polit¬ threats and problems that exist Ankara,which perceives the dilu¬ ical underpinning and that the ten¬ today have not develope- Iraq'scontinuoussolidarity with tion of Sunni power in Parliament sions could be cooled by an all- dovernight. They have existed for Syria is a byproduct of Iranian and controversy around al- inclusive national conference, the decades andonly became more influence and a stark contrast to the Hashemi as testimony to this view. suspension of al-lraqiya MPs magnified after 2003. Turkish stance on Bashar al- placed further cloud on the Assad's waning regime. While Turkey has warned that cur¬ prospects of near-term compromise However, the ever-evolving rent political antics risk the and concord. Middle Eastern struggle for influ¬ Tensions between Baghdad and breakup of Iraq, ironically al- ence and supremacy has left the Ankara were deepened when the Maliki has in turn warned that Al-lraqiya leader Ayad Allawi likes of Turkey on the edge. Turkey Turkish Foreign Ministry sum¬ "Turkey is playing a role that might warned this week that Iraq needs a realizes that with the highly moned Iraq's ambassador to bring disaster and civil war to the new prime minister or new elec¬ volatile and sensitive Middle Turkey, Abdulemir Kamil Abi- region and will suffer because it tions to prevent the country from Eastern climate, it can either wait Tabikh, to its headquarters in has different sects and ethnicities." falling apart. Both these demands on the side and become consumed Ankara to expresstheir anger at al- may not come anytime soon. Al- by the end products that ensueor Maliki's growing hard-linestate- No doubt the growing prominence Maliki still enjoys a fair amount of actively try and influence the cur¬ ments and criticismtoward Turkey. of the Kurds in Iraq and ongoing support in Baghdad and crucially rent tides for its ultimate benefit. This was just a day after Baghdad disgruntled noises of millions of still has Kurdish backing. had done the same to show their Kurds in southeastern Turkey is Iraq has often been a playground displeasure at what they saw as keeping Turkey restless at night The key task for the Kurdistan for regional powers, and the current Turkish interference. not to mention that Turkey may end leadership is play their cards wise¬ predicament is only a byproduct of up a passive player in the shape of ly but also do what is in the inter¬ this. The current standoff that The attacks on the Turkish embassy proceedings in spite of all its efforts ests of Kurdistan and not simply began with the arrest warrant of in Baghdad are only likely to stoke as changes unravel around it. aid political jockeying in Baghdad. Sunni Vice President Tariq al- sentiments further. The Kurds could well pull the rug Hashemi and theresulting acrimo¬ As we have seen with the Arab out from under the feet of al- nious fallout has as much of a The Kurds are not a party to the Spring, it doesn't take much to cre¬ Maliki, and after this week's turn of regional footing as a local one. sectarian battle in Iraq but never¬ ate a political avalanche that can events, Ankara will be siding and theless become ubiquitously bring more change in mere weeks pressuring the Kurds closely to The Arab Spring, which is still sucked into the standoff. The Kurds

71 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Ôzeti

contain al-Maliki. asked of the Kurdish leadership. If The Sunnis will continue to feel can be achieved. Furthermore, new

Iraq continuouslydeploys policies marginalized unless they can win elections will only result in another

As the KDP resumes the premier¬ that are counter to the principles of some form of autonomy or real de-facto national census, with no

ship with the imminent return of voluntary union and national har¬ decision-making posts in Baghdad, clear winner due to the factional

Nechirvan Barzani to spearhead the mony, then the Kurds must formal¬ which, as witnessed under the State split and thus the same arduous

next Kurdistan government, ly declare their independence. of Law coalition, will not be easily process of coalition building.

Kurdistan Region finds itself at a ceded.

crucial but highlydelicate juncture. The situation in Iraq after eight The regional turmoil itself is only

What dice the Kurds roll and what years of fierce pushing, hand-hold¬ As part of the current coalition just brewing. If Iran carries out its

cards they play could echo for ing and direct support from underpinned by the Erbil threat to close the strategic Strait of

many more years. As Kurds real¬ Washington didn't bring much joy, Agreement, al-lraqiya was to be Hormuz, then it places regional

ized to their detriment for decades and it is unlikely that the current afforded executive decision-mak¬ governments into a tougher comer.

after the fall of the Ottoman situation in Iraq can be magically ing poststhat never materialized. Iraq itself could find itself in a pre¬

Empire, missing historical opportu¬ transformed. Al-lraqiya discontent was already carious position against its allies,

nities can set back a nation many at thetipping point long before the as the closing of the Gulf passage

more years. Deep-rooted problems need deep- al-Hashemi debacle. would cripple the Iraqi economy.

rooted solutions. The simple reality Meanwhile, Turkey is unlikely to

If their yearly ploys to glue Iraq is that as a majority and with sig¬ It is the political environment that heed al-Maliki's warnings not to

together bear only counterproduc¬ nificant backing of Tehran, the often makes a leader, and thus even interfere when they have so much

tive fruit for the Kurdish people, Shiites are not about to relinquish if al-Maliki was replaced, it is not at stake.©

then the serious question must be power in Baghdad anytime soon. certain that significant outcomes

Hurriyet T"£Nf DailyNewstT * January / 23 / 2012

governing.

Kurdish group to demand This change is crucial to ensure locals

could contribute to the decision-making autonomy in new charter process and the region's resources were used in line with local needs, said the

DTK. Independent deputy The emphasis on "Turkishness" Ahmet Tiirk (L) speaks should be completely removed from the as Peace and UEuEM0K**stPwnW% new constitution, further proposed the Democracy Party co- DTK, saying the charter must not focus leader Giiltan Ktsanak on any single race in order to embrace (2-L) looks on during a and protect all of the ethnic and cultural news conference in groups in Turkey. The definition of Ankara on Jan 13. Tiirk constitutional citizenship should not will today join a par- * create discrimination between Turks, liamnetary commis¬ Kurds or other ethnic identities, said the sion session on the DTK. new charter. As part of their demand for constitu¬

tional equality, the DTK further deman¬ ANKARA - Hurriyet Daily News Conciliation Commission today, confir¬ ded education and public services in Gôksel Bozkurt med Democratic Society Party (DTP) native languages as well as in scientific, Diyarbakir deputy Altan Tan to the religious and artistic activities. Hurriyet Daily News. Mardin independent deputy Ahmet When writing the new constitution, While the DTK had declared its pro¬ Turk is scheduled to meet with the universal norms should be embraced, posals of "democratic autonomy" in the Constitution Conciliation said the DTK, suggesting that in order to past, this marks the first time the demand give power to the public's will, the guar¬ Commission today to voice was brought to an official commission. dianship of the appointed figures in the demands of the Democratic Society Turk's verbal pitch to Parliament military, bureaucracy and judiciary over Congress, including calls for 'demo¬ today was sent in writing last week and the elected representatives of the public cratic autonomy' includes radical demands from the DTK, should end. compiled from meetings with citizens of The National Security Board (MGK) Kurdish origin, NGOs, opinion leaders, The Democratic Society Congress should be shut down, added the DTK in intellectuals, writers and artists. (DTK), an umbrella organization that its proposal. REGIONAL AUTONOMY brings together various Kurdish groups As a final note, the DTK emphasized The DTK suggested a regional auto¬ and politicians, has submitted its propo¬ the election threshold must be removed, nomy in executive, legislative and judi¬ sal to Parliament for the new constitution as well as changes to the Election Law cial areas, stating that the Turkish and is expected to renew its demand for and the Political Parties Law so that poli¬ government's overly centrist bureaucra¬ democratic autonomy. tical parties were not limited by ideologi¬ tic structure needed to be toned down DTK co-chairman and Mardin inde¬ cal or national reasons and a truly demo¬ and large governments in the world were pendent deputy Ahmet Turk is schedu¬ cratic society could be achieved. all embracing a more local approach to led to meet with the Constitution OOO

72 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Ôzeti

LE FIGARO Les Occidentaux redoutent mardi 24 janvier 2012 l'Iran qu'Israël passe à l'attaque

CORRESPONDANT À JÉRUSALEM

LA CRISE suscitée par le programme ato¬

mique iranien entre dans une période cri¬

tique. L'année 2012 est déjà perçue comme

celle de tous les dangers par les diplomates

et les analystes. Le premier niinistre israé¬

lien, Benyamin Nétanyahou, a salué hier

l'embargo européen comme « un premier

pas dans la bonne direction », mais il a pré¬ venu que « les sanctions seront évaluées à l'aune de leurs résultats » . Bonab . Sur fond d'une guerre secrète qui a vu ijp Ramsar . ' 1' l'assassinat d'au moins quatre scientifi¬ Mo-Allem û AA % Gor8an ques nucléaires iraniens, plusieurs explo¬ Kalayeh~ ^JjrJabrlbanHagan PRINCIPALES sions sur des sites militaires en Iran et des . ^4^ Qom (Fordow) INSTALLATIONS attaques d'étranges virus informatiques Khondab -Ramandeh 2 dirigées contre les installations d'enri¬ Arak É Enrichissement

chissement d'uranium, le programme Lashkar-Abad g Natanz Saghand _ et traitement d'uranium nucléaire de Téhéran s'est néanmoins » Ispahan ( X poursuivi. Selon la plupart des spécialis¬ Wu Narigan Extraction d'uranium IRAK Darkhouin tes, l'Iran serait aujourd'hui sur le point Zarigan d'obtenir la capacité de fabriquer à court Installation à eau lourde terme une arme nucléaire, « ligne rou¬ V . ',. Buchehr ge » dont le franchissement, risque de IRAN

précipiter les événements. Cy Réacteur à eau légère ARABIE "aii^' Les Occidentaux, les Américains en SAOUDITE particulier, craignent que les Israéliens ne Recherche

lancent une attaque surprise préventive 200 km Infographie LE FIGARO '«.HiV;*.. r_. contre les installations atomiques ira¬

niennes, déclenchant ainsi une crise ma¬ Les Israéliens voient le programme ' hou. Le premier ministre israélien aurait jeure au Moyen-Orient. Les Israéliens nucléaire iranien non pas comme un pro- refusé d'exclure une attaque contre

débattent ouvertement d'une telle ac¬ blême diplomatique, mais comme une l'Iran, ne- promettant que de prévenu-

tion, ne doutant plus de l'irrirninence de menace existentielle, de nature à justifier Washington douze heures avant, soit à la

la capacité nucléaire iranienne. tout type d'actions .visant à empêcher dernière minute d'un point de vue mili¬ « L'Iran dispose actuellement de tous les Téhéran de se doter de la bombe. « Le taire et diplomatique. L'annulation, ce composants nécessaires pour fabriquer . peuplejuif et le gouvernement israélien ont mois-ci, d'un important exercice militai¬ une bombe atomique. E n'y a pas si long¬ le droit, l'obligation et la capacité de pré¬ re conjoint entre les deux pays a été vue temps, l'obtention de cette capacité était venir une nouvelle destruction du peuple comme un autre signe de tensions. considérée comme un point de non-re¬ juif ou une attaque contre son État », a prévenu Benyamin Nétanyahou à l'ap¬ tour », a mis en garde ce week-end l'an¬ Message de modération cien chef du renseignement militaire is¬ proche, vendredi prochain, du 70e anni¬ Le chef d'état-major américain, le géné¬ raélien Amos Yadlin dans une interview versaire de la conférence de Wannsee, où ral Martin Dempsey, s'est rendu la se¬ au journal israélien Maariv. « Si les Ira¬ fut planifiée l'extermination des Juifs maine dernière en Israël pour discuter du niens décident ce soir de développer secrè¬ d'Europe. « La différence entre 1942 dossier iranien et faire passer un message tement la bombe, ils ont tous les moyens et et 2012 n'est pas l'absence d'ennemis ju¬ de modération aux Israéliens. Il a ren¬ ingrédients nécessairespour lefaire... Pour rés... La même volonté de détruire lepeuple contré pendant sa visite tous les respon¬ le moment, Us avancent doucement, pour juif et son État existe... Ce qui a changé, sables civils et militaires israéliens, du payer un prix minimum en sanctions et c'est notre capacité à nous défendre et no^ président Pérès et du premier, ministre d'un point de vue diplomatique, a prévenu tre détermination aiefaire. >> cet ancieri pilote de chasse. Ils procèdent Nétanyahou au ministre de la Défense, Un récent article du Wall Street lournal par étapes, aucune n'étant suffisamment - Ehoud Barak, et au chef d'état-major, indiquait que les Américains étaient plus provocantepour que l'onprenne des mesu¬ Benny Gantz. Tout en réaffirmant l'al¬ inquiets que jamais de l'éventualité d'une res dramatiques contre eux. Nous et les liance étroite entre les deux pays, le gé¬ attaque israélienne. Ils auraient déjà com¬ Américains comprenons de la mêmefaçon néral Dempsey a néanmoins insisté sur la mencé à prendre des mesures préventives leur stratégie. » nécessité de « concertations continues » pouf protéger leurs installations au sur le dossier iranien. Autant dire que ces Moyen-Orient contre une possible riposte Défendre le peuple juif concertations n'ont pas vraiment eu lieu iranienne. La sécurité de l'ambassade des jusqu'ici. Cette compréhension diverge en revan¬ États-Unis à Bagdad a été renforcée et che sur la question de l'urgence. « Israël Les précédentes actions israéliennes, l'armée américaine aurait déployé des définit sa ligne rouge en termes de contre -le réacteur nucléaire irakien avions et des munitions supplémentaires capacités à accélérer soudainement le d'Osirak en 1981 et contre une usine ato¬ dans le Golfe. programme (iranien), les Américains la mique syrienne en 2007 n'avaient été Selon- l'hebdomadaire britannique placent beaucoup plus loin... Ils sont une précédées d'aucune escalade verbale ou Sunday Times, les divergences entre les puissance mondiale et disposent de capa¬ mise en garde.» Américains et les Israéliens auraient cul¬ cités stratégiques que n'a pas Israël », a miné récemment lors d'une conversation ajouté Yadlin. téléphonique entre Obama et Nétanya

73 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Ôzeti

Jeudi 26 janvier 2012

L'Elysée tente de réparer les dégâts avec la Turquie

Après le vote de la loi française sur la négation des génocides, la diplomatie reprend le dessus

Après la politique intérieure, dre connaissance de la lettre adres¬ Autre élément frappant, le pré¬ indispensable sur les dossiers de la diplomatie. Au lende¬ sée par M. Sarkozy à M. Erdogan le sident français se livre à une enu¬ l'Iran et de la Syrie. Le ministre main du vote par le Sénat 18 janvier, quelques jours avant le meration des pages noires de l'his¬ français des affaires étrangères, français d'une loi pénalisant la vote de la loi litigieuse par le Sénat. toire de France : la traite négrière, Alain Juppé, qui n'a jamais caché négation des génocides - et donc Ce texte, qui avait déjà « fuite » le rôle de l'Etat dans la déportation qu'il considérait la loi inopportu¬

de celui perpétré par l'empire otto¬ dans les médias turcs, se lit com¬ des juifs et « les souffrances indici¬ ne, a pour cette raison appelé, dès man contre les Arméniens en me une confuse autojustification bles et la brutalité aveugle de la mardi matin, « nos amis turcs au 1915 -, l'Elysée était engagé, mardi mêlée d'une certaine contrition, le colonisation française en Algé¬ sang-froid», ajoutant: «Moi, je 24 janvier, dans un travail de répa¬ tout purgé de toutes les remon¬ rie». Au nom d'un rappel du tra¬ tends la main, j'espère qu'elle sera

ration des dégâts auprès du pou¬ trances que M. Sarkozy avait pu fai¬ vail de mémoire accompli côté saisie un jour. »

voir du premier ministre turc, re à la Turquie, en octobre 2011, français, M. Sarkozy semblait ainsi Les résultats de l'effort français

Recep Tayyip Erdogan. lorsqu'il avait sommé ce pays de donner prise aux critiques officiel¬ pour trouver un apaisement sem¬ Dans la matinée, le dirigeant «réviser son histoire», après avoir les turques, qui, depuis des semai¬ blent incertains. Ils sont suivis

turc, qui entretient des relations visité l'émouvant musée du géno¬ nes, renvoyaient la France à son avec une pointe de préoccupation, de cordiale detestation avec Nico¬ cide à Erevan, en Arménie. passé colonial. mêlée de lassitude, par certains las Sarkozy, persuadé que ce der¬ Nulle intention, donc, souli- alliés de la France. Le département nier ne cesse, depuis des années, Selon M. Sarkozy, la loi . gnait-on mardi à l'Elysée, de stig¬ d'Etat américain a commenté mar¬ de brandir la Turquie comme un matiserla Turquie ! Ce qui n'empê¬ di qu'il souhaitait « voir des bon¬ épouvantail musulman auprès de « ne vise nullement chait pas les conseillers du prési¬ nes relations entre [la France et la l'opinion à des fins électoralistes, un peuple ou un Etat dent d'assurer, parallèlement, que Turquie], qui sont des alliés des n'avait pas réagi au vote avec toute la loi française aurait un effet péda¬ Etats-Unis». La nouvelle péripétie l'agressivité que l'on redoutait à en particulier» gogique... en Turquie, puisque «le franco-turque s'ajoute à celle Paris. Tout en fustigeant un texte débat au Sénat a été retransmis en vécue au début de la guerre de « discriminatoire, raciste, etmassa- La loi «ne vise n ullement unpeu- directpar les médias turcs ». Libye, lorsque les tensions bilatéra¬ crant la liberté d'expression», pleou un Etatenparticulier», souli¬ L'Elysée assure par ailleurs les avaient failli paralyser l'OTAN.

M. Erdogan reportait, en effet, à gne cette missive. «Les auteurs du qu'un boycottage des entreprises La Turquie pourrait considéra¬ plus tard les mesures de repré¬ texte y ont veillé car ils savent les françaises en Turquie serait irréa¬ blement gêner, aujourd'hui, le sailles concrètes que prendrait la souffrances enduréespar le peuple liste. Même si le Medef, apparem¬ transport militaire français vers Turquie, en espérant que la France turc dans le contexte de la dispari¬ ment plus inquiet, a annoncé une l'Afghanistan, en fermant son saurait « corriger l'erreur». tion de l'empire ottoman, puis de la réunion sur le sujet. espace aérien à l'armée française. Agréablement surpris par ce première guerre mondiale. » Dans sa lettre au dirigeant turc, Il faudrait alors passer par la lon¬

semblant d'éclaircie dans l'orage La lettre 'de M. Sarkozy ne fait M. Sarkozytentait surtout de repla¬ gue route du Nord, via la Russie. de la relation bilatérale avec Anka¬ aucune mention explicite du géno¬ cer le curseur sur les urgences Un élément supplémentaire de ra, les conseillers de l'Elysée ont cide arménien, mais l'évoque par diplomatiques au Proche-Orient, complication, surtout au moment aussitôt cherché à capitaliser sur allusion, en parlant de «protéger rappelant « la valeurajoutéequ'ap¬ où M. Sarkozy doit se prononcer cette apparente hésitation turque. les mémoires blessées » et d'aider à porte la coordination de nos sur un éventuel retrait anticipé Un petit groupe de journalistes « refermer les plaies ouvertes il y actions dans la gestion des crises ». des troupes françaises.

était ainsi invité en urgence à pren aura bientôt cent ans». La Turquie est un partenaire Natalie Nougaybède

Découverte d'ossements de 23 personnes dans le sud-est de la Turquie

DIYARBAKIR (Turquie) 25 janvier 2012 (AFP) "Des crânes et d'autres ossements humains ont été trouvés ici... Selon ce qui a été constaté, ils ont été empilés dans un endroit exigu... Ils ont sem- LES AUTORITÉS TURQUES ont découvert les ossements de 23 per¬ ble-t-il été jetés à cet endroit, sans cérémonie religieuse", a déclaré cette sonnes dans une fosse commune située près d'un ancien bâtiment de semaine le ministre de l'Agriculture, Mehdi Eker, après une visite du site. la police militaire, à Diyarbakir, principale ville du sud-est de la La section de Diyarbakir de l'Association des droits de l'Homme (IHD) et 36 Turquie, à majorité kurde, a annoncé mercredi l'agence Anatolie. familles dont des parents ont disparu dans les années 1 990 ont porté plainte Les premiers restes humains ont été découverts plus tôt en janvier, lors de mercredi contre les autorités de l'époque et ont réclamé des tests ADN fouilles archéologiques à Ickale, dans le centre de Diyarbakir, près des d'identification. ruines d'un palais datant du 13e siècle. Plus de 45.000 personnes sont mortes depuis les années 1980 dans le Ce emplacement était celui du siège local de la police militaire jusqu'au conflit qui oppose les forces de sécurité turques aux rebelles du Parti des début des années 2000. travailleurs du Kurdistan (PKK), principalement dans le sud-est du pays.

Un musée et un centre culturel doivent être créés à cet endroit, après les Jusqu'à présent, les restes de 190 corps ont été trouvés dans 29 fosses fouilles et des travaux de restauration. communes de plus de 10 provinces du sud-est de la Turquie, selon l'IHD.

Selon les associations de défense des droits de l'Homme, ces ossements L'association estime qu'au total, plus de 3.000 personnes sont enterrées appartiennent à des civils kurdes tués par les forces de sécurité pendant les dans 224 fosses communes, sur toute la région. années 1990.

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HcraleSribune January 21-22, 2012

SYRIA'S RISING TOLL his contempt for the Arab League's efforts to broker peace. When they meet this weekend in Cairo, the ministers

The international community needs should agree to pull out their failed monitoring mission and impose the sanctions that they originally approved in No¬ to make clear to President Assad and vember and then suspended, including a freeze on Syrian his cronies that their time has run out. government assets in Arab countries and a ban on transac¬

tions with Syria's central bank. The league should also insist

The death toll from the brutal 10-month war by President that the Security Council do the same. Bashar al-Assad of Syria against his own people is now more The European Union's oil embargo and an American and

than 5,400, according to the United Nations and others. Yet European ban on business with Syria's main commercial

the international community still has not mustered the tough bank, in particular, have hit the economy hard. When the

pressure that might force Mr. Assad to stop the killing, or the European Union meets on Monday, it is expected to place as¬

Syrian Army and business elite to toss him out. set freezes and visa bans on 22 more individuals and eight

For months, Russia has been blocking the United Nations more companies connected to the government. There is little

Security Council from imposing any serious punishments. chance of changing Mr. Assad's mind. But, in time, such pres¬

Prime Minister Vladimir Putin is far more interested in sure could persuade army and business elites to abandon the

selling arms to Syria and thwarting democratic forces and Assad government. their Western backers. World leaders must keep speaking out against the

On Monday, Russia proposed a shamefully weak resolution slaughter as President Obama did on Tuesday when he met

that put equal blame on the protesters and the Syrian Army with King Abdullah II of Jordan at the White House. He de¬

for the violence and made no mention of sanctions. The cried the "terrible brutality" in Syria and pledged to re¬

United States and other members are trying to toughen it up, double efforts to force Mr. Assad out.

but we are not optimistic. There is no easy solution. But the international community

That means it is up to Arab League ministers who need to needs to exert whatever diplomatic and economic pressure it

recognize that the time for the Syrian dictator to go has long can to make clear to Mr. Assad and his cronies that their time

past. With his butchery, Mr. Assad has made clear that there has run out. is no compromise or deal to be had and he has made clear

ïtelbMMMnm* JANUARY 24, 2012

Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain and* the Syria signals that United Arab Emirates to pull out their monitors is a blow to an Arab League observer mission that has been mired by controversy, but which for many represented the only hope for an crackdown will go on Arab solution to the crisis in Syria, away from outside intervention.

Now, the Gulf Cooperation Council,

ists, meanwhile, reported more violence which had contributed 52 of the estimat¬ BEIRUT nationwide Tuesday, with more than 15 ed 160 observers, has called on the U.N. people killed and possibly many more. Security Council to take all "necessary Monitors from Gulf bloc Syria has claimed that armed gangs measures" to force Syria to implement acting out a foreign conspiracy are be¬ pull out as government the Arab League's peace plan. hind the revolt, not protesters seeking The Gulf council has long advocated change in one of the most authoritarian vows to battle 'chaos' referring Syria to the Security Council, states in the Middle East. putting it in conflict with other Arab "It is the duty of the Syrian govern¬ THE ASSOCIATED PRESS states. Security Council action could ment to take what it sees as necessary open the door for more economic sanc¬ measures to deal with. those armed The Syrian foreign minister said Tues¬ tions and possible military intervention, groups that spread chaos,' ' Mr. Moallem day that "half the universe" was con¬ although Russia, which has veto power, said during a televised news confer¬ spiring against his country, as the six na¬ is firmly opposed to punitive measures tions that form the Gulf Cooperation ence. against Syria, its longtime ally. Council withdrew from a monitoring mis¬ He also said it was clear that some "The decision was made after careful sion in Syria because the government Arab countries had joined the conspir¬ and thorough monitoring of events in had failed to stop 10 months of violence. acy against Syria a clear reference to Syria and the conviction by the G.C.C. International pressure is building on the Gulf countries' decision to withdraw that the bloodshed and the killing of in¬ Syria, not only from the West but in¬ their monitors and to Sunday's call by nocent people there is continuing," the creasingly from Arab countries as well. the Arab League for Syria to create a na¬ Gulf council statement said. The United Nations estimates that more tional unity government in two months. Mr. Moallem acknowledged that than 5,400 people have been killed since The Arab League plan provides for there was little hope for an Arab solu¬ the uprising began in March, sparked Mr. Assad to give his vice president full tion but tried to portray confidence, say¬ by the arrest of a group of teenagers powers to cooperate with the proposed ing that Syria had the strong support of who scrawled anti-government graffiti government to enable it to carry out its powerful allies in Iran as well as Rus¬ on a wall in the south of the country. duties during a transitional period. sia. Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem on The Syrian government has rejected The permanent representatives of the Tuesday signaled that the crackdown the plan as a violation of national sover¬ Arab League's 22 members were to hold would continue, saying in Damascus that eignty. an emergency meeting in Cairo on Tues¬ the government would take any steps The decision Tuesday by the six oil- day night to review the situation follow¬ necessary to defend against chaos. Activ rich Gulf nations Saudi Arabia, ing the Gulf council's decision.

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HàdaJLU 24 JANUARY 2012

Arab-Led Syrian Opposition Courts Erbil

RUDAW Syria's future.

The SNC was established in Istanbul

ERBIL, Iraqi Kurdistan - In an attempt September. Ten Kurdish parties and civil

to ease Kurdish concerns over Syria's organizations have boycotted the council

Islamist-led opposition, Burhan Ghalioun, and formed their own Kurdistan National

the head of the Syrian National Council Council.

(SNC), pledged to guarantee Kurdish However, Sayda, a Kurd, joined the

rights in post-Assad Syria during a mee¬ SNC and has tried to bring more Kurds

ting with Kurdistan Region President into the group.

Massoud Barzani in Erbil earlier this "We will respond to this attempt for

month, a senior opposition leader told unification between the Kurdish and

Syrian National Council soon," Sayda Rudaw. The head of the Syrian National Council said. "We have asked both of the councils Abdul-Bast Sayda, a member of the (SNC) Burhan Ghalioun. Photo AFP. executive committee of the SNC who to meet in Erbil in the near future."

accompanied Ghalioun to Erbil, said that Abdul-Hakim Bashar, the head of the Syria. Despite this, there is progresses following the visit to Erbil, "Barzani's Kurdish National Council in Syria, and between the two councils." attitude has changed toward Syrian confirmed to Rudaw that there is an According to Sayda, Ghalioun wanted National Council." Leaders in the attempt to bring both councils closer. to meet with Barzani, who demanded that Kurdistan Region of Iraq have aired Bashar, who is also the leader of Kurdish rights be respected in Syria if reservations about the Arab-dominated Kurdish Democratic Party of Syria, said, Assad's regime falls.* SNC and Kurdish claims that they have "We feel like the Syrian National Council

been sidelined in key decisions on doesn't treat us like we are all equal in

& REUTER

in Syria and to open a dialogue with the Arab opposition," he Syria Kurd groups told Reuters.

A date for the meeting has not been set, but it will be held this to try to unite month in Arbil, capital of the semi-autonomous Iraqi region of Kurdistan, the activists said. All the main Syrian Kurdish parties,

plus intellectuals and independent organizations, have been against Assad invited.

'The Arab opposition does not care about the Kurdish cause,"

ARBIL, Iraq - January 19, 2012 - (Reuters) - said Sarbast Nabi, a Syrian Kurdish politics professor at

Zhear Sarkawt and Jon Hemming Salahaddin University in Arbil. "All they have promised is to deal with us as Syrian citizens."

SYRIAN KURDISH groups opposed to Bashar al-Assad will Kurds say they have been sidelined from the opposition Syrian

try to imite this month to explain their autonomy demands to National Council, an exile group that was set up in Turkey to

Arab groups trying to topple the Syrian leader, activists said on coordinate a 10-month-old uprising against Assad.

Thursday. 'The Arab opposition is made up of Islamists and Arab nationa¬

While security forces have clashed daily with protesters and lists who do not accept Kurdish demands for a democratic, plu¬

insurgents demanding Assad's downfall in mainly Sunni Arab ralist, secular state where the rights of all minorities are recogni¬

towns, Syrian Kurdish areas have remained relatively calm, des¬ zed," Nabi said. pite many Kurds' long-standing opposition to the government. Syrian Kurdish groups are also wary of Turkey's influence on

Syrian Kurdish exile leaders say they do not trust the Arab oppo¬ Syrian Arab dissidents based in Istanbul, given Ankara's historic

sition to heed their demands for self-rule in the mainly Kurdish hostility to demands for autonomy for its own large Kurdish

northeast of the country. minority.

Kurdish groups representing Syria's largest ethnic minority are In 2004, Syrian Kurds fought deadly clashes with security forces

also divided among themselves, with some factions backed by for days after an incident at a football stadium in the main

Iraqi Kurds, and another by Turkish Kurd rebels of the Kurdistan Kurdish city of Qamishli. At the time, they said they received no

Workers Party (PKK), independent analysts said. support from Arabs now leading the opposition.

'There will be a national conference of all the Kurdish parties to But student activists say they are still mobilizing support inside

form one front," said Mahmoud Mohammad Bave Sabir, a lea¬ Syria in preparation for taking to the streets. ding member of the Democratic Union Kurdish Party of Syria, Many thousands of Kurds live in the capital Damascus, as well one of the oldest Kurdish opposition groups. as in the northeast, and if they swung their weight behind the

'The aim of the conference is to press the demands of the Kurds uprising, it would deal another powerful blow to Assad.O

76 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Ôzeti

. wrauwnoN/u. JANUARY 24, 2012

"To avoid any military solution, In addition, the assets of the Iranian which could have irreparable con¬ central bank within the European Union E.U. agrees sequences, we have decided to go fur¬ will be frozen, with limited exemptions ther down the path of sanctions," he to permit the continuation of legitimate trade, the statement said. said. "It is a good decision that sends a to embargo strong message and which I hope will One exemption was designed to allow persuade Iran that it must change its the execution of existing oil contracts up position, change its line and accept the until July, said one diplomat who was oil imports dialogue that we propose.' ' not authorized to speak publicly. One can be skeptical about the impact "Trade in gold, precious metals and of sanctions," Mr. Juppé added, but they diamonds with Iranian public bodies from Iran are better than a war. and the central bank will no more be The Israeli prime minister, Benjamin permitted, nor will the delivery of Irani¬ Netanyahu, who has voiced skepticism an-denominated bank notes and coin¬ age to the Iranian central bank," the BRUSSELS about Iran's being persuaded by non- military tactics, said the E.U. sanctions statement said. were a "step in the right direction.' ' However, the accord allows for a re¬ Action to be phased in "True, it is still impossible to know view, to be undertaken before May 1, of as part of strategy to what the result of these sanctions will the economic impact of the sanctions on be," his office said in a statement. "Very countries, including Greece, that rely avoid military action strong and quick pressure on Iran is heavily on Iranian oil. The Greeks have necessary. Sanctions will have to be sought more time to find the finance and to seek new sources of oil to soften the BY STEPHEN CASTLE evaluated on the basis of results." impact on its debt-crippled economy. AND ALAN COWELL In a joint statement, Britain's prime minister, David Cameron, the German For Italy and Greece, the search is The European Union escalated pressure chancellor, Angela Merkel and the now on for new suppliers. Mr. Juppé on Iran over its nuclear program on Mon¬ French president, Nicolas Sarkozy, de¬ said other oil exporters had indicated day by agreeing on a phased ban on oil scribed the measures as "an unprece¬ that they would fill the gap left by the imports that officials said was needed to dented package of sanctions on Iran." Iranian embargo, and Greece's foreign help force a shift in policy and reduce the "Iran has so far had no regard for its minister, Stavros Dimas, said he be¬ risk of military strikes against Tehran. international obligations and is already lieved that Saudi Arabian production While emphasizing their desire for exporting and threatening violence could increase. talks, .European foreign ministers, around its region," the statement said. Meanwhile, there is a risk that Asian meeting in Brussels, sought to intensify "Until Iran comes to the table, we will governments will continue to buy from an economic squeeze on Iran with mea¬ be united behind strong measures to un¬ Iran, filling the gap left by Europe. One sures to cut off the European market, dermine the regime's ability to fund its diplomat said efforts to persuade them which accounts for about one-fifth of not to do so would be increased. nuclear program." Iranian oil exports. According to the U.S. Energy Informa¬ "This has shown the resolve of the U.S. officials said they welcomed the tion Administration, Iran's top export European Union on this issue and of the decision in Brussels. destinations in 2010 included China, with international community, and it is abso¬ "The measures agreed to today bythe 20 percent of exports, Japan, with 17 per¬ lutely the right thing to do," said the Brit¬ E.U. Foreign Affairs Council are another cent, India with 16 percent and South Ko¬ ish foreign secretary, William Hague. strong step in the international effort to rea with 9 percent. Europe's biggest im¬ Still, the push for sanctions by Europe, dramatically increase the pressure on porter was Italy, at 10 percent. while significant for the numbers of Iran," said a statement released by Pressure from the United States could countries it encompasses, remains op¬ Treasury Secretary Timothy F. Geithner be more effective, according to an anal¬ posed by major powers like Russia, and and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham ysis by Paul Stevens, a senior research will do nothing to stop the continued flow fellow at the Energy, Environment and of oil to Asia, a far larger market for Iran. Clinton. "This new, concerted pressure Resource program at the Chatham Western politicians suspect that Iran will sharpen the choice for Iran's leaders House research organization in London. is building a nuclear weapons capability, and increase their cost of defiance of ba¬ ' 'Given the current situation in North Ko¬ but Tehran insists that its nuclear pro¬ sic international obligations." rea, both South Korea (imports from Iran gram is for civilian uses only. Amid the But the reaction from Moscow was 230,000 barrels a day) and Japan (520,000 heightened tension, Iran has threatened critical. "In essence, this is an attempt barrels a day) are extremely vulnerable to retaliate against the intensifying to strangle an entire sector of the Irani¬ to American pressure to join any em¬ sanctions by blocking the Strait of Hor¬ an economy," the Russian Foreign Min¬ bargo against Iranian crude," he wrote. muz, a strategic corridor for global en¬ istry said. "It is clear that this is pres¬ "Japan has recently been actively seek¬ ergy supplies. Two Iranian lawmakers sure, diktat, an attempt to punish Iran ing ways to reduce imports from Iran." repeated that threat on Monday. for intractable behavior. As we have told Catherine Ashton, foreign policy chief While the measures announced in our European partners before, this is a of the European Union, said it was com¬ Brussels do include exemptions for ex¬ mistaken policy. Under this kind of pres¬ mitted to a dual-track strategy and was isting contracts until July, and apian to sure, Iran will not agree to any kind of open to negotiations with Iran. review the economic impact of the ban concessions or change in its policies.'' "Sanctions are not an end in them¬ In a separate statement, Foreign Min¬ on certain ailing E.U. members, officials selves," she told reporters, "the purpose ister Sergey V. Lavrov said, "We have said such a review would do no more of sanctions is to keep pressure on Iran continued hope that negotiations will be than possibly delay sanctions in certain to come back to the negotiating table.' ' resumed soon." areas, not imperil the larger plan. Under the embargo deal, E.U. coun¬ And despite the economic con¬ Alan Cowell reportedfrom London. Mi¬ tries agreed not to sign new oil con¬ sequences for several E.U. nations, chael Schwirtz contributed reportingfrom tracts with Iran and to end existing ones European diplomats said they believed Moscow, Isabel Kershnerfrom Jerusalem by July 1, the ministers said in a state¬ that tougher sanctions were their best and Brian Knowltonfrom Washington. ment. The ban will cover imports of hope of reducing the risk of a military crude oil, petroleum products, and pet¬ strike against Iran, probably by Israel. rochemical products. It will also cover Iran is refusing to engage with any the export of key equipment and tech¬ sense of intellectual honesty, said Alain nology for the sector. Juppé, France's foreign minister.

77 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Ôzeti

. NIBL-WnONAI. Hcrdbjè&Sribtme Wednesday, January 25, 2012 Syria rejects

Turks scold "Our bilateral relations are at proposal a different level from now on." France over that Assad nations, as well as the closing of Turkish air, naval and land ports could be per¬ Armenian manent if the bill became law, NTV tele¬ step down vision reported at the time. The Turkish government also genocide bill threatened to withdraw support for DAMASCUS Euronews, a continuous international

news network based in France, the BY KAREEM FAHIM

PARIS Anatolia news agency reported on Mon¬ day. Turkey's national radio and televi¬ Denouncing a new Arab League peace proposal that calls for Syria's president BYSEBNEMARSU sion network holds a 15.5 percent stake in Euronews. to hand over power to his deputy, the A day after the French Senate approved Turkey's anger resonated in various government emphatically rejected the a bill criminalizing the denial of officially echelons of political circles on Tuesday plan on Monday, calling it a blatant in¬ recognized genocides, including the Ar¬ with President Abdullah Gul strongly fringement on Syrian sovereignty and menian genocide that began in 1915, Tur¬ denouncing the legislation. evidence of a "conspiratorial scheme." key heavily criticized the bill on Tuesday "Our bilateral relations are at a differ¬ The rejection, the Syrian Arab News but said it would hold off on sanctions ent level from now on," Mr. Gul said on Agency reported, came less than 24 against France until all legal avenues to NTV. hours after the Arab League unexpec¬ invalidate the bill were exhausted. The opposition Nationalist Movement tedly floated the proposal, under which Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Er¬ Party proposed annulment of the Turk¬ President Bashar al-Assad would relin¬ dogan said the legislation was "evident ish and French friendship parliamentary quish power to a deputy and start nego¬ discrimination, racism and massacre of committee as party officials lashed out at tiations with opponents within two free speech." The bill calls for up to one the legislation, calling it unacceptable. weeks. year in prison and a fine of up to Turkish officials have argued fiercely There had been little expectation of a or about $60,000, for those found guilty of that the French bill contradicted free positive response to the proposal from denying officially recognized genocides. speech, a founding principle of French Mr. Assad. The president has cast the "We are going to impose our sanctions society, emphasizing that reaching con¬ rebellion against his family's four de¬ step by step with certainty, without hes¬ clusions about historical events is the cades in power as a crime wave by ter¬ itations," Mr. Erdogan said in a speech in duty of historians, not politicians. rorists backed by hostile foreign Ankara "However, for now, we are still Many critics, however, contend that powers, including Qatar and the United in the phase of patience as we watch how Turkey's claims of violation of free States. this process would shape up.'' speech do not stand up because Tur¬ Mr. Assad's refusal to acknowledge Turkish officials say they expect the key's penal code criminalizes public af¬ his political opponents, combined with French constitutional court to hear likely firmation of the Armenian genocide on the failure of the Arab League's observ¬ appeals calling for annulment of the the premise that it is an insult to Turkish er mission here to end months of vio¬ measure so that there would no need for identity; they also note that there are lence and the growing prominence of permanent sanctions. Mr. Erdogan said, more than 95 journalists in Turkish jails armed militias, have reinforced fears "We believe that our French friends and on political charges. that Syria's political crisis is devolving the French people would be more sensi¬ In March, the Nobel literature laure¬ into a civil war. tive about increasing discrimination." ate Orhan Pamuk was fined the equiva¬ "Syria considers these decisions a vi¬ The office of President Nicolas lent of about $3,670 for his statement in a olation of its national sovereignty, a Sarkozy said Tuesday, "The president Swiss newspaper that "we have killed blatant interference in its internal af¬ of the republic will promulgate the law 30,000 Kurds and one million Armeni¬ fairs and a flagrant violation of the ob¬

within the usual timeframe, that is two ans." jections for which the Arab League was weeks," Reuters reported. Armenian lobby groups around the established," the Syrian Arab News The bill added to escalating tensions world seek countries' official recogni¬ Agency statement said about the Arab between France and Turkey since bilat¬ tion that Ottoman forces killed about 1.5 League proposal. eral relations took a downturn after Mr. million of their kin in a genocide from "Syria condemns this decision, which Sarkozy, along with Angela Merkel, the 1915 to 1923. Parliaments of 19 countries came in the framework of the conspirat¬ German chancellor, repeatedly ex¬ and the European Union have officially orial schemes hatched against Syria pressed opposition to Turkey's full recognized the killings as genocide, which have been exposed to our people membership to the European Union while Slovenia and Switzerland addi¬ and the Arab Homeland." since his election in 2007. tionally bring criminal charges against The Arab League proposal appeared

The Turkish government, in turn, ar¬ those who deny it. to have been modeled on the agreement gues that Mr. Sarkozy's stance against "If each Parliament reflects its own signed in November by President Ali its E.U. membership, as well as his sup¬ view of history in a legislation,'' the Turk¬ Abdullah Saleh of Yemen and was for¬ port for the bill, is aimed at appealing to ish foreign minister, Ahmet Davutoglu, mally presented Sunday at the league's the 500,000 ethnic Armenians in France said Monday, "it would be the revival of headquarters in Cairo. before presidential elections this spring. the era of Inquisition in Europe." Like the Yemen pact, the proposal for After the approval of the bill in late Turkey strongly rejects the genocide Syria called for a government of nation¬ December by the National Assembly, claims and has proposed opening all al unity to be formed within two months, France's lower house, Turkey recalled state archives for an international com¬ followed by presidential and parliamen¬ its ambassador to Paris and suspended mittee of prominent historians to inves¬ tary elections. political and military cooperation. tigate atrocities during World War I, Representatives of the Syrian Nation¬ Ankara warned that stronger sanc¬ when the Ottoman Empire was falling al Council, an opposition group, wel¬

tions including disqualification of apart. comed the proposal on Sunday. But the ; French companies from public con¬ group also signaled the likelihood of fail¬ tracts, cancellation of military, political ure because of its condition that there and cultural functions with French insti- would be no negotiations until Mr. As¬

sad stepped down.

78 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Ôzeti

middle east online Iran, Syria and Iraq: Turkey's JANUARY 26, 2012 Challenging Triangle?

The triangle's cooperation on questions of system does not target Iran, Iranians believe they are in fact its main objective and that its primary beneficiary is the security is crucial to Turkey. Iran, Iraq and "Zionist regime." In addition, Iran values Syria's survival as a Syria share the volatile Kurdish issue with matter of the utmost importance and is trying to do whate¬

Turkey and each can play a part in lighting ver is necessary to protect it.

and quenching its fires, reports Idrees Syria is Iran's greatest strategic regional ally, and Iran, toge¬

Mohammed. ther with segments of Iraq's Shiite, with whom it shares reli¬

gious connections, has made strenuous efforts to protect Syria's regime. Turkey, meanwhile, struggles to find a worka¬

ble alternative. Middle East Online

This spidery network with its alarming developments and

uneven ties to Turkey is dangerous as many Turkish interests urkey is facing a difficult period with respect to ties - primarily those concerned with security and economic with its triangle of neighbors: Iran, Syria and Iraq. concerns - are located within the triangle. Yet it holds key u Their current domestic situations and foreign policies mechanisms to Turkey's foreseeable future. are now endangering Turkey's own domestic stability and

foreign policy. A polarization now appears to exist in this The triangle's cooperation on questions of security is crucial regard and the triangle of Iran, Syria and Iraq's Shiite popu¬ to Turkey. Iran, Iraq and Syria share the volatile Kurdish

lation maintain somewhat similar attitudes vis-à-vis Turkey. issue with Turkey and each can play a part in lighting and

The major reasons behind this state of affairs are regional quenching its fires. In the past, both Syria and Iran were

power rivalries, conflicting attitudes towards the Arab Spring, reportedly accused of assisting Turkish Kurds in their struggle

and a mutually held stance in relation to the West. against the Turkish state. Indeed, Turkey could only capture

Developments currently unfolding within the triangle are now the PKK leader after Syria withdrew it backing for him. The seen by Turkey as a cause of grave concern that will be diffi¬ nature of relations between Turkey and these countries is

cult to overcome. very important to Turkey's security concerns.

Prior to the Arab Spring reaching Syria - at which point it While Iran is still a crucial energy partner for Turkey, both

then became Turkey's nightmare, an amalgam of Turkish Syria and Iraq are budding markets for Turkish goods and

political, economic and security interests in Syria were well are its gates to the Arab world. Until recently, Turkey and

protected thanks to the AKP's foreign policy. Furthermore, Syria enjoyed good trading relations, Syria being the transit

Turkey was increasingly engaging Syria in international poli¬ country for Turkish goods. However, as the rift between them

tics and positioning itself as the principle interlocutor bet¬ widens Turkey plans instead to use Iraq for the exportation

ween it and the West, thereby distancing Syria from Iran's of its products to regional markets.

sphere of influence while increasing its own importance to The current crisis in Syria and the turmoil in Iraq loom very western countries and the international community. large in Turkey. It is deeply concerned that its worsening

Ironically, Turkey's excellent relations with Syria also helped it relations with Syria will result in it losing Syrian cooperation

to develop ties with Iran and Iraq. Such developments and any crackdown will result in inter-sectarian tension trig¬

explain why Turkey initially strained every nerve to shield the gering a flood of refugees, including the Kurds, into the

Syrian regime. Currently, however, Syria's continuing refusal demographically mosaic Turkey. In conjunction with that, the

to accede to Turkish demands has made bilateral relations status of Syrian Kurds - should they obtain greater rights -

increasingly tense, to the point where Turkey has lost confi¬ would be improved, making Turkish Kurds more jealous and

dence in the Syrian regime. motivating them to increasingly demand rights.

Amid this complex environment Turkey has striven to consoli¬ With regard to Iraq, the political instability in Iraq endangers date its regional clout, approaching the United States and the power-sharing process, deepens mistrust among the poli¬

coordinating with western and Sunni powerhouses over tical factions and widens ethnic and religious division,

Syria. During a major tour, Turkish Prime Minister Recep prompts inter-sectarian violence and threatens Iraq's territo¬ Tayyip Erdogan tried to sell Turkish secularism to the chan¬ rial integrity. While Turkey has for years defended the territo¬

ging countries of the region, encouraging them to benefit rial integrity of Iraq, the current potential for its reality is

from the Turkish model, while at the same time making an frighteningly clear.

extremely controversial geo-strategic decision by agreeing to Iran wields influence over Iraq, Syria and the nationalist and host the early warning radar of NATO's anti-missile system. fundamentalist forces inside Turkey, where, reportedly, it is Turkey has also liaised closely with influential western and able to neutralize and mobilize them. In a series of threats Gulf countries, declaring its support for the anti-Syrian Iran has accused Turkey of adopting the Western stance regime protestors and expressing Turkish dismay at the rule towards it and Syria, and demanded that Turkey shift its of President Bashar al-Assad. policy towards favoring Syria or face difficulties from neigh¬

Such attitudes are in clear conflict with Iran's policy. Contrary boring and domestic forces. to Turkish efforts to spread the Turkish experience of secula¬ On the one hand Iraq's attitude towards Syria appears, to be rism, Iran had scrambled, trying to seize developments in the influenced by that of Iran, and Iranian support for Syria but¬ Arab world by likening them to Iran's Islamic Revolution. tresses the regime's confidence vis-à-vis Turkey. On the other While Turkey has officially declared that hosting the NATO hand, intelligence has warned that a Quds Force may plan to

79 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Ôzeti

attack the US embassy or consulate in Turkey. Iraq's turmoil to do whatever is necessary to resume talks on Iran's nuclear has become apparent and recently the Turkish embassy in program, the ties between Turkey and Iran remain uneven.

Iraq came under attack. Despite the fact that the intention is Nevertheless, Turkey needs to gain Iranian cooperation over

not to hold any side accountable for that, the late events took Iraq and Syria to protect its interests and because it cannot

place amid the increasingly chilly atmosphere between Turkey afford losing allies. On Iraq, the political factions should be

and the triangle. encouraged and pushed for keeping a broad-based govern¬ ment. Syria remains a special case. The developments in Iran, Syria and Iraq, the rise of tension

between them and Turkey and the process of fence mending Idrees Mohammed , Observer of Turkey's foreign policy.

are Turkey's major current challenges. Though Turkey is ready

"RII d'à II' 31 January 2012

The president's office has often Barzani To Nominate been criticized for limiting its staff to KDP and PUK officials and sidelining

the opposition. However, Fuad Kurdish Vice-President Hussein, chief of staff for the presi¬ dent, said, "There are people from all religions, sects and affiliations in the Kurdistan Kurdistan Region's president's Region office." President Abubakr Ali, a senior official in Massoud the opposition Kurdistan Islamic Barzani (left) Union (KIU), said, "The opposition with his former doesn't talk to the president's office > Vice President 'i with the same language it uses for the Kosrat Rasul government. It even sometimes makes Alt. Photo a distinction between the president Rudaw. r and the KDP when it is at odds with the KDP." \ Hussein said the president has

"Relationships with all opposition lea¬

ders and has dialogue and meetings

with them."

RUDAW nates Ali today, we will approve him Yusef Mohammed, an official

tomorrow." from Kurdistan's largest opposition While the Kurdistan Region ERBIL, Iraqi Kurdistan - party, Change, said the president has Government (KRG) is a parliamen¬ Kurdistan Region President been seen as taking the side of the two tary system, many have said with its Massoud Barzani is expected to nomi¬ ruling parties, the KDP and PUK. current power structure it is difficult nate Kosrat Rasoul Ali to serve as vice- He criticized the president for not to determine if the political system in president again. taking a "neutral role" during the pro¬ Kurdistan is presidential or parlia¬ Barzani is expected to send the nomi¬ tests that engulfed some cities across mentary. nation for parliamentary approval in the Kurdistan Region last year. Talib Rashid, head of legal affairs the near future. However, he admitted that the pre¬ of the Kurdistan Region's presidential In addition to having served as sident has taken on a more interme¬ office, said it is a parliamentary sys¬ Barzani's vice-president in the past, diary role in the recent tensions bet¬ tem "but has also a semi-presidential Ali a deputy to Patriotic Union of ween political parties, saying "This character too. The powers given to the Kurdistan (PUK) leader Jalal has to be enshrined in the constitution president have not turned the system Talabani. The PUK has a strategic of the Kurdistan Region that he should into a presidential one." power-sharing agreement with not favor any political group." Barzani wields enormous power as Barzani's Kurdistan Democratic Party Mohammed said the president president and often represents the (KDP). should not consider himself part of the region internationally. Barzani was Ali's nomination comes following government "Otherwise it will elected as Kurdistan Region President months of speculation and occasional become part of the problem." O in 2009 with nearly 70 percent of the tension between the KDP and PUK vote in the region. He also served as over who should fill the vice-presi¬ president from 2005 to 2009. dential post which has been vacant The vice-president is deputy com¬ since 2009. mander-in-chief but does not hold Fazil Mirani, a senior KDP offi¬ many of the powers of the president cial, told Rudaw, "If the PUK nomi- including deploying troops.

80 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Ôzeti

"Ràxlaw 25January2012

Kurdish Authorities Confident About Region's Oil Sector

By HEVIDAR AHMED Ashti

Hawrami, ERBIL, Iraqi Kurdistan - Over Kurdistan

the past several years, the right to Regional manage oil and gas deals has been a Government major dispute between Baghdad and (KRG)

the semi-autonomous Kurdistan Minister of Region which aspires to become a Natural major global energy source with its Resources. massive oil and gas fields. Photo X Because Iraqi officials and politi¬ investorsir- cal observers believe oil and gas aq.com development in Iraqi Kurdistan may

in the end prompt a demand for an Councils of Ministers," a senior offi¬ law and "the prospect of high levels independent state, Baghdad's reserva¬ cial at KRG Ministry of Natural of oil and gas production in Kurdistan tions about Kurdistan's oil industry Resources said, speaking on condition region." has political dimensions. This became of anonymity. "The case is now in the Currently key industry players clear when ExxonMobil, the world's hands of the Iraqi Parliament and the such as Marathon, HESS, Repsol and largest oil company, signed a contract central government," ExxonMobil are involved in with the Kurdistan Region. However, Farhad Atrushi, spokes¬ Kurdistan's oil sector. Kurdistan Region President man for the Kurdistani Alliance in the KRG's contract with ExxonMobil Masoud Barzani said during a recent Iraqi Parliament, believes that due to allows the oil giant to explore six oil visit to Duhok province, "I have not the current political turmoil in fields, the biggest deal of its kind so met with any oil companies before, Baghdad, the new oil and gas law may far in Kurdistan. except Exxon Mobil and that is not be passed any time soon. According to the Ministry of because I know the importance of its "The minister of oil cannot make Natural Resources, there are more investment in the Kurdistan Region. any moves without Shahristani, and than 45 billion barrels of reserve oil in Therefore I support them to come and Shahristani cannot make any deci¬ the Kurdistan Region. The KRG has invest in the fields of gas and oil in sions without Maliki," Atrushi said in signed 45 contracts with oil compa¬ Kurdistan Region." reference to Hussein Shahristani, the nies from 17 different countries. "The Kurdistan Region's contract deputy prime minister for energy The Kurdish Parliament passed its with Exxon Mobil is a sound contract affairs. "This matter has been turned own oil and gas law in 2007 which and doesn't have problems," said into a political issue and it is very dif¬ further deepened the disputes with Ashti Hawrami, Kurdistan Regional ficult to solve." Baghdad. Kurdish authorities argued Government (KRG) Minister of Shahristani, Iraq's most influential that the Iraqi constitution entitles Natural Resources. oil official, has consistently opposed them to unilaterally sign contracts Hawrami said that the Kurdistan Kurdistan's oil deals with foreign with foreign companies while there is Region has decided to sign more companies and described them as ille¬ no federal oil and gas law, a move that contracts with other international oil gal. However, international oil com¬ Baghdad maintains is illegal. and gas companies in the near future. panies continue to seek investment in In a recent interview, Barzani's In September 2011, an oil and gas the relatively stable Kurdistan Chief of Staff Fuad Hussein told conference was held in Kurdistan Region. Rudaw, "Some Iraqi officials and where Hawrami announced that "If these international companies some in the US as well tried to have "There is a mutual understanding bet¬ weren't 100 percent sure of the secu¬ the agreement revoked and pressured ween Baghdad and KRG to draft a rity and constitutional aspects of ExxonMobil for that reason. Our talks new oil and gas law." regions they invest in, they would not with the State Department and Hawrami said he will meet with have come in the first place," Atrushi ExxonMobil's officials convinced the Iraqi minister of oil to discuss the said. "The Kurdistan Region has its everyone that the deal was legal and new draft law. own oil and gas laws, and it is safe constitutional and that it would be in Kurdish officials backed an oil from the security aspect. The policies the interest of Iraq and the Kurdistan and gas law that was drafted in of the KRG and its diplomacy have Region."0 Baghdad 2007, but the Iraqi govern¬ encouraged many international com¬ ment is now planning to pass a new panies to come to Kurdistan Region law that has put Kurdistan authorities and sign contracts with the KRG at unease. Ministry of Natural Resources." "The KRG has sent its concerns The senior official from the minis¬ and comments regarding this draft to try of natural resources said oil com¬ the Iraqi Ministry of Oil, Prime panies are hoping to invest in Minister Nuri Maliki and the Iraqi Kurdistan because of its investment

81 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Ôzeti

INTERNATIONAL

discounted as unreal¬ JANUARY 26, 2012 A Europe-Iran war istic scare-monger- ing or dismissed on grounds that they would be self-defeat¬ hope sanctions (or even the credible ing, it might be worth recalling that Im¬ TheE.U.'s Mark A. Heller threat of sanctions) will bring about. perial Japan did not attack the United embargo But it is at least as likely that Iran, States because it was physically at¬ on Iranian feeling trapped, will lash out in a des¬ tacked by the United States but rather perate attempt to frighten the Euro¬ because it was being economically oil imports TEL AVIV This week, the European Un¬ peans into backing down or at least in¬ squeezed (as Iran may well be ion went to war against Iran. There was could very troduce so much hysteria into the oil squeezed now) to the point where it felt no formal declaration, of course, nor well result market that price spikes will allow it to that war was preferable to slow-motion even any undeclared use of military earn the same revenue from a reduced strangulation. And it made no differ¬ in military force. But the Ë.U. decision to place an volume of exports. ence that many Japanese military lead¬ hostilities. embargo on Iranian oil imports, ban One form this might take would be an ers, including Admiral Isoroku new contracts, and freeze Iranian Cen¬ attempt to close the Strait of Hormuz, Yamamoto, chief planner of the attack tral Bank assets is effectively an act of which Iran has already threatened to on Pearl Harbor, believed that Japan's war and may very well result in the mil¬ do. But that is probably beyond Iran's ultimate defeat was foreordained. itary hostilities that sanctions are capacity for very long and would in any It is difficult to imagine that the E.U. meant to forestall. case also shut down Iran's own ability members who adopted the decision on Oil exports account for over 50 per¬ to export to whatever markets it man¬ sanctions are unaware of this possible cent of Iranian government revenue ages to retain. dynamic. Indeed, the very fact that Brit¬ and about 80 percent of its hard cur¬ Far less complicated would be sabot¬ ish and French warships accompanied rency earnings. And the E.U, as a bloc, age or rocket attacks on refineries, the U.S. aircraft carrier Abraham Lin¬ is Iran's second-largest customer, tak¬ pipelines and other facilities in places coln on its passage through the Straits ing about a quarter of Iranian exports. like Abqaiq and Ras Tanura in Saudi Consequently, unless other customers and back into the Gulf in brazen defi¬ Arabia. These might be carried out as neutralize E.U. actions by stepping up ance of Iranian warnings imply the "false flag" operations by local Shiite their own purchases from Iran and opposite: that E.U. governments, espe¬ insurgents concentrated in Saudi Ara¬ indications from China, Japan and cially the two with the greatest force bia's Eastern Province, but nobody South Korea suggest that this is un¬ projection capabilities, are perfectly would be fooled and the risks of escala¬ likely to be the case the E.U. decision, cognizant of the possible consequences tion to large-scale conflict with Iran coupled with existing American mea¬ and are prepared to deal with them. would be significant. sures, will come close to imposing the And that suggests that the European In this scenario, the military confron¬ "crippling sanctions" that Secretary of Union, notwithstanding its economic tation that many Europeans have State Hillary Rodham Clinton travails, is experiencing its own sought to avoid will "spring" in foreign and defense policy threatened but could not deliver with¬ It appears become unavoidable, and that those who tended in the past to out European cooperation. even if Iranian de¬ dismiss it as a flaccid talking shop capa¬ If that turns out to be the case, then that the Euro¬ cision makers do not ble of httle more than vacuous postur¬ the Iranian regime, already coping with pean Union delude themselves ing now need to carry out a fundamen¬ high inflation and a rapidlydepreciating is experienc¬ into thinking that tal reassessment. currency, will feel constrained to react ing its own they would ulti¬ One possibility is that it will capitulate "spring" mately prevail. mark a. heller isprincipal research asso¬ and essentially dismantle its nuclear Before such in foreign ciate at the Institutefor National Securi¬ Weapons program. That is obviously the courses of action are and defense ty Studies, Tel Aviv University. outcome that Europeans and others policy.

X°A January 24, 2012 extremist groups loyal to the Islamic State of US designates al-Qaeda Kurdish Iraq, al Qaeda in Iraq's political front. The AQKB sees the leaders of the Kurdistan battalions as a terrorist organization Regional Government as traitors. The group has claimed responsibility for a number of

VOANews.com Entities List. Its assets within U.S. reach are attacks against Kurdish targets in Iraq. immediately frozen, and the entity is locked As a result of a May 2007 attack in Erbil, The al Qaeda Kurdish Battalions, or out of the global financial network. No U.S. Iraq, when a vehicle loaded with explosives AQKB, is a terrorist organization primarily citizen or company may conduct business struck the Kurdish Ministries of the Interior active in the northern Iran-Iraq border with a designated individual or group. In and Security, 19 people died. areas. this way, the United States disrupts financial In July 2007, AQKB killed seven border From time to time, the United States support networks for terrorists and terrorist guards and one Patriotic Union of Kurdistan identifies certain groups as terrorist organi¬ organizations. security force member in an ambush in zations. These are mostly active militant The al Qaeda Kurdish Battalions, or Penjwan, Iraq. And in September 2010, two groups that do not shrink from committing AQKB, is a terrorist organization primarily police officers were injured during an unsuc¬ violent acts against others, including civilian active in the northern Iran-Iraq border cessful AQKB suicide bomb attack targeting populations, or they are involved in provi¬ areas. According to the U.S. Department of security officers in Sulaymaniyah, Iraq. ding support for other terrorist organiza¬ State, it was formed in 2007 from the rem¬ The al Qaeda Kurdish Battalions extre¬ tions. In all cases, these are people or nants of other Kurdish terrorist organiza¬ mist group has demonstrated its commit¬ groups that have committed, or are deemed tions, and has publically pledged its alle¬ ment to violence. This designation is inten¬ to pose a significant risk of committing, acts giance to other terrorist groups, including al ded to disrupt its ability to carry out its of terrorism. Qaeda and al Qaeda in Iraq. deadly agendas or to support other terrorist When such a group is identified, the U.S. The AQKB is comprised of former ele¬ groups with which it collaborates. Government places that group's name on the ments of Ansar al Islam, and other Kurdish Specially Designated Global Terrorist

82 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Ôzeti

LE FIGARO Khaddam : « Assad planifie

'eudi 26 'anvier 2012 la partition de la Syrie »

L'ex-viee-président syrien affirme que le . « . ^ ,, , .... , La Syrie sous mandat regime transfère ses armes sur le littoral, français en 1926

pour créer un Etat alaouite au nord-ouest fô État des Alaouites (1920-1936)

PROPOS RECUEILLIS PAR

ISABELLE LASSERRE

L'ancien vice-président syrien, Abdel Halim Khaddam, 73 ans, vit à Paris de¬

puis qu'il a fait défection en 2005. En no¬ vembre, il a créé le Comité national de

soutien à la révolution syrienne Frontières (CNSRS), un mouvement qui voudrait % rassembler tous les courants de l'opposi¬ actuelles

tion. Il réclame depuis plusieurs mois de la Syrie

une intervention militaire occidentale - 1 Golan occupé too tan en Syrie, pays où il a conservé de nom¬ par Israël breux contacts. A

LE FIGARO. - Affirmez-vous que le régime de Bachar el-Assad est en train Quand la France

de transférer le matériel militaire

de l'armée à l'ouest du pays, au bord créait T« État Pensez-vous que Bachar el-Assadjoue de la Méditerranée, en zone alaouite ? alaouite » Abdel Halim KHADDAM. - Tout à fait. la carte de la partition de la Syrie ?

Bachar et son clan ont d'abord distribué Oui. Il a en vain utilisé la force contre le Ce n'est pas la première fols des fusils et des mitraillettes dans les villes peuple syrien. Il ne veut pas se rendre et qu'une partition de la Syrie est et les villages peuplés par leurs compa¬ subir le même sort que Kadhafi, même envisagée. triotes alaouites. Depuis un mois, ils ont si, aujourd'hui, son discours politique, En 1920, après la Première Guerre aussi commencé à transférer les arme¬ celui d'un homme aux abois, ressemble mondiale, débute le mandat ments lourds de l'armée, par la route, vers à 100 %> à celui de l'ancien président li¬ français sur la Syrie confié lé littoral, en les dissimulant sur les colli¬ byen. 11 ne veut ni fuir ni quitter le terri¬ par la Société des nations. Le pays nes et les hauteurs. 8 % de la population toire. Il a refusé toutes les opportunités est divisé entre quatre entités syrienne est alaouite, même si tous les qui lui ont été offertes par la Ligue arabe. politiques : l'État de Damas, Alaouites ne soutiennent pas Bachar el- La force ayant échoué, il ne lui reste l'État des Druzes, l'État d'Alep Assad. Les zones alaouites partent du sud- donc plus qu'à mettre en place son plan et le Territoire des Alaouites. ouest de Homs et remontent, via Hama, de déstabilisation et de partition de la Ce dernier a pour capitale jusqu'à la ville de Lattaquié, sur le littoral. Syrie, qui entraînerait la destruction du Lattaquié. Il est constitué par pays. De quel type d'armements s'agit-il ? le djebel alaouite et les plaines Les missiles et les armes stratégiquesont périphériques. L'État des Alaouites Pensez-vous que ce plan puisse réussir ? déjà intégralement été transférés. Les est rattaché à celui de Syrie Non, car la population syrienne va tanks et l'artillerie, en partie seulement, en 1936. car le régime a besoin d'en garder pour continuer à se battre pour défendre À l'indépendance, la fin du l'Unité et l'intégrité territoriale du pays. assurer la répression contre les manifes¬ confessionnallsme prive Je pense que ce projet finira par précipi¬ tants dans les villes. Bachar a également définitivement les Alaouites de ter sa fin. Mais il est néanmoins très dan¬ prévu d'envoyer ses avions de chasse sur tout statut d'autonomie. Mais en gereux pour la Syrie. Car pour faire l'aéroport de Lattaquié. 1963, des officiers alaouites

Quel est le but du régime ? échec à la partition, certains insurgés participent au coup d'État baàsiste Le président syrien a changé de tactique. n'hésiteront pas à faire appel à tous les de 1963 et l'un d'eux, Hafez el- Pendant longtemps, il a essayé d'envahir radicaux du monde islamique. Les terro¬ Assad, s'impose quelques années

les villes et de bloquer les insurgés. Mais ristes risquent donc d'entrer dans le jeu plus tard à la tête de la Syrie. cela n'a pas marché. Il applique donc syrien. Le monde arabe se caractérise La secte des Alaouites qui

aujourd'hui un autre plan, qui vise à par un pluralisme ethnique et religieux. représente environ 20 % de la créer une guerre de religion, une guerre L'instabilité risque donc de se propager à population est considérée comme interconfessionnelle. Je sais qu'il y a un toute la région. une branche du chiisme composée mois, il s'est confié à l'un de ses affidés à l'origine de montagnards

libanais et lui a dit son intention de créer Pourquoi l'armée syrienne libre n'a-t- attachés à leur foi. Sous l'Empire un État alaouite d'où il pourrait mener elle pas essayé de bloquer les transferts ottoman, les sultans ont tenté une guerre fratricide et confessionnelle. des convois militaires à destination des sans succès de les convertir au Il est désormais prêt à créer sa républi¬ zones alaouites ? sunnisme et le gouvernement turc

que personnelle. 11 -envisage de s'installer Parce que l'armée libre n'existe pas dans s'est toujours heurté à las à Lattaquié. Je suis sûr qu'il existe suffi¬ toutes les régions. Et parce que les routes résistance des grandes familles samment d'abris souterrains où lui et sont contrôlées par l'armée régulière, locales. son clan pourraient se replier. celle de Bachar.

83 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Ôzeti

"jjl REUTER Un attentat suicide fait 31 morts à Bagdad

BAGDAD - 27 janvier 2012 - (Reuters)

TRENTE ET UNE personnes ont été tuées et une soixantaine d'autres blessées dans un attentat suicide à la voiture piégée, I vendredi, près d'un marché d'un quartier chiite de Bagdad.

Cet attentat porte à plus de 400 le nombre de victimes depuis le

début, en décembre, de la crise politique opposant le Premier

ministre, le chiite Nouri al Maliki, au vice-président sunnite

Tàrek al Hachemi, qui s'est réfugié au Kurdistan irakien.

Le kamikaze a fait exploser son véhicule -un taxi- au passage

d'un cortège funèbre chiite dans le quartier de Zaafarania.

"Le kamikaze n'a pas réussi à atteindre le commissariat de Trente et une personnes au moins ont trouvé la mort et une soixantaine Zaafarinia, alors il s'est fait exploser près de magasins et du mar¬ d'autres ont été blessées dans un attentat suicide à la voiture piégée, ché", a dit un porte-parole des services de sécurité. vendredi près d'un marché du quartier chiite de Zaafarania, à Bagdad.

Le cortège funèbre portait en terre un agent immobilier chiite tué /Photo prise le 27 janvier 2012/REUTERS/Saad Shalash

la veille par des inconnus, a précisé la police.

gieuses mais découlent de poursuites judiciaires. Les sunnites Une série d'attaques ont visé la majorité chiite, marginalisée, s'inquiètent, eux, du poids grandissant des chiites dans les insti¬ voire persécutée par le régime de Saddam Hussein, depuis que tutions de l'Etat à leurs dépens. le gouvernement de Nouri al Maliki a délivré un mandat d'arrêt

visant Tarek al Hachemi et demandé aux députés de limoger un La crise, déclenchée au lendemain du départ, le 18 décembre, du

vice-Premier ministre également sunnite. dernier soldat américain, risque de faire voler en éclats le fragile

accord de partage du pouvoir conclu il y a un an entre chiites, Maliki affirme que ses décisions contre des dirigeants sunnites sunnites et Kurdes.O ne sont pas motivées par des considérations politiques ou reli-

bservatoire de la Vie Politique Turque (OVIPOT) 24 janvier 2012

LES DESSOUS DE LA RÉCONCILIATION

TURCO-IRANIENNE

PAR WALID BELBACHIR

Ce mois de janvier est celui de la réconciliation entre la Turquie

et l'Iran. Après une fin d'année difficile (votre notre édition du . t t ( : :t % 15 décembre), les relations se réchauffent entre les deux pays. En

visite à Téhéran début janvier 2012, Ahmet Davutoglu a affirmé

que les éléments du bouclier anti-missile récemment installés

sur le territoire turc sont purement défensifs et ne seront pas util¬ Un navire de la marine iranienne tire un missile Mehrab dans le isés contre un voisin de la Turquie. Le chef de la diplomatie détroit d'Ormuz, le 1er janvier 2012. AFP/Ebrahim Noroozi turque a aussi tenu à rassurer Téhéran en déclarant que le sol

turc ne pourra pas servir de base à une intervention militaire

contre l'Iran. Ankara a enfin offert sa médiation dans le dossier faisant état d'une possible militarisation du programme

du nucléaire iranien. Les prochaines négociations entre Téhéran nucléaire iranien avait marqué l'arrêt des négociations entre et le conseil de sécurité pourraient ainsi se tenir à Istanbul. La Téhéran et la communauté internationale, isolant davantage la

chef de la diplomatie européenne, Catherine Ashton, s'est mon¬ République islamique. La brouille entre Téhéran et Ankara

trée favorable à cette initiative. notamment au sujet du bouclier anti-missile - un responsable

iranien avait déclaré que ces installations militaires sur le terri¬

Pour Téhéran, quels sont les bénéfices tirés de la récon¬ toire turc seraient visées en cas d'attaques sur le sol iranien -

ciliation turco-iranienne ? pouvait faire perdre à l'Iran le soutien d'un acteur important

dans son bras de fer avec une partie de la communauté interna¬

Sur le plan diplomatique, l'Iran ne peut se passer de la médi¬ tionale. Sur le plan stratégique, la mise en de sanctions

ation turque. Le dernier rapport de l'AIEA (8 novembre 2011) contre les exportations d'hydrocarbures iraniens ne laissait rien

84 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Ôzeti

présager de bon pour Téhéran. D'autant que l'Arabie situation difficile ? Saoudite s'est engagée à augmenter ses exportations de pét¬ Pour la Turquie, les bénéfices de cette réconciliation avec role pour continuer à fournir les pays dépendants des l'Iran sont nombreux. La diplomatie turque se pose, ici ressources énergétiques iraniennes, comme la Grèce et encore, en acteur régional incontournable. La démarche l'Italie. L'Iran a répondu à ces pressions en brandissant la d'Ankara a permis à la Turquie de renouer de bonnes rela¬ menace d'une fermeture du détroit d'Ormuz, par lequel tran¬ tions avec le voisin iranien (son principal fournisseur énergé¬ site 30 à 40% du trafic maritime pétrole mondial. Un scénario qui n'aurait pour autre conséquence de provoquer un conflit tique), d'accroitre son influence auprès des pays occidentaux, et surtout d'éviter une déstabilisation générale due à ouvert qui n'est certainement pas dans l'intérêt de Téhéran. l'acculement de l'Iran. C'est là la principale raison de l'action Cette montée des tensions durant le mois de décembre 2011 diplomatique turque. Une pressurisation excessive du régime témoignait d'une perte de contrôle de la situation par l'Iran de Téhéran risquerait, comme les tensions dans le détroit qui s'engageait vers une voie de plus en plus incertaine et d'Ormuz le montrent, de provoquer un embrasement région¬ dangereuse, compromettant même sa propre sécurité. La al avec des conséquences certaines pour les intérêts turcs. Il Turquie est ainsi venue au secours du régime iranien en lui s'agit donc pour la Turquie d'éviter que l'Iran soit obligée de apportant un soutien diplomatique fort. L'affirmation de faire le choix de la confrontation et bouleverse ainsi une situ¬ l'amitié turco-iranienne et l'organisation de nouvelles négoci¬ ations à Istanbul entre Téhéran et le conseil de sécurité offrent ation régionale dans laquelle Ankara tente d'affirmer peu à peu son leadership. un répit essentiel à l'Iran. DDD

En concurrence avec Téhéran pour l'hégémonie régionale, pourquoi la Turquie a-t-elle soutenu son rival en

24 janvier 2012 turquie-france Au bord de la rupture totale

La tension dans les relations franco-turques est montée d'un cran le 23 janvier, après le vote du Sénat français entérinant la loi sur la négation des génocides. Ankara menace de représailles, et la presse turque reflète bien ce mécontentement.

cessus et nourrirait les discours de Pierre Vanrie \ haine. Alors qu'elle essaie de dépas¬ trp ser ce traumatisme hérité de son his¬ JL auvres Français !" C'est en ces toire, la société turque va, dans ce termes que Hasan Celai Gùzel, contexte, connaître une régression. chroniqueur conservateur, fustige la De ce point de vue, on peut dire que France dans le quotidien Sabah, la classe politique française a fait du proche du gouvernement, en réaction mal à la société turque et qu'en plus, à la décision du Sénat français vali¬ t en retardant le processus de rappro¬ dant la loi pénalisant la négation des chement entre Turcs et Arméniens, génocides, visant en particulier le elle a aussi fait du mal aux génocide arménien. "Je n'ai jamais été ©AFP/ Bulent Kilic Arméniens". un ennemi de l'Occident, mais je trou¬ "Satan Sarkozy", titre le quotidien pop¬ ve tout de même que les générations ulaire proche de l'opposition, Sôzcii, le 24 Dans cet editorial intitulé qui nous ont précédés ont accordé janvier. "Regardons-nous nous-mêmes", plus d'importance que nécessaire à Gônensin estime toutefois que la l'Occident et en particulier à la nombreux documents historiques. A société turque ne pourra se libérer du France", poursuit Gûzel. la lumière de ceux-ci, il apparaît de discours de haine "qu'en se regardant façon tout-à-fait évidente qu'à aucun en face" : "Que l'on qualifie ce qui "Les Français croient qu'ils sont moment de son histoire, notre nation s'est passé en 1915 'd'événements les inventeurs des Lumières. Que n'a commis le moindre génocide. malheureux liés à la déportation', de personne ne s'offusque, mais moi, Dans ces conditions, personne ne 'génocide' ou de 'grande catastrophe', l'Europe me fait de plus en plus pen¬ nous obligera à demander pardon". avant d'affronter la classe politique ser à une vieille prostituée pitoyable française et le monde entier - que dont le maquillage est en train de Dans Vatan, quotidien volontiers vous ne pourrez d'ailleurs plus faire couler. Peu nous importe que cette loi critique à l'égard du Parti de la justice changer d'avis sur cette question - ridicule et d'un autre âge soit adop¬ et du développement (AKP, au pou¬ regardons-nous en face et interro¬ tée. La nation turque, riche d'une his¬ voir), Okay Gônensin, éditorialiste geons-nous. Car si nous poursuivons toire et d'une civilisation plurimillé- libéral, dénonce lui aussi cette loi sur la même voie [négationniste], la naires, ne va pas commencer à se sou¬ mais pour d'autres raisons : "La classe société turque actuelle s'enfoncera cier de décisions bassement politi¬ politique française n'a pas compris encore plus dans un crime dont elle ciennes prises aujourd'hui par des qu'en adoptant ce texte, elle ne contri¬ n'est pas responsable et en sortir Français. Ce qui compte, c'est la buerait pas à éclairer l'histoire mais deviendra d'autant plus difficile".* vérité établie très clairement par de qu'elle retarderait au contraire ce pro

85 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Ôzeti

GULF ~*NËWS\ JANUARY 24, 2012

AU, lying on a bed in the emer¬ last month to arrest Sunni Car bombs kill 13, gency room at Imam Ah hospital Muslim Vice President Tareq Al in Sadr City. Hashemi on charges he ran a wound 75 in Iraq capital death squad and then sought to The second blast near a traffic sideline a Sunni deputy prime roundabout in Sadr City killed minister after he branded Maliki two people and wounded 26 oth¬ a dictator. ers, the sources said. , t-j»ji -#'n "' Hashemi denied the charges and r Near two schools sought refuge in Iraq's semi- i :-. autonomous Kurdish region, Two other car bombs exploded where he is unlikely to be arrest¬ in mainly Shi'ite northwestern ed. areas of Baghdad, killing three

people and wounding 25, The Sunni-backed Iraqiya politi¬ sources said. One car blew up cal bloc then announced a boy¬ near two schools in the Shula cott of parliament and several district, the other on a busy Iraqiya ministers have stayed commercial street in Hurriya. away from cabinet meetings in protest. Others have attended, Violence in Iraq has dropped underscoring splits in the

sharply from the height of sec¬ alliance.

Reuters tarian killing in 2006-07, but The bomb killed at least eight insurgents and militias still The turmoil has fuelled fears

Baghdad: Four car bombs people and wounded 24, police carry out daily attacks and that Maliki is trying to shore up

exploded in mainly Shi'ite and hospital sources said. assassinations in an attempt to Shi'ite power and sideline

Muslim areas of Baghdad on undermine the government. Iraqiya. The political blocs began

Tuesday, killing at least 13 peo¬ "We were all standing waiting to talks last week to try to organise ple and wounding 75, underli¬ earn our living and all of a sud¬ Iraq has been hit by a series of a national conference to resolve ning a political crisis that threa¬ den it was like a black storm and bombings targeting Shi'ites dur¬ their differences. tens to revive sectarian strife I felt myself thrown on the ing the worst political crisis in a in Iraq. ground," said Ahmad Ah, a 40- year, which threatens to break A series of bombings in Shi'ite year-old labourer whose face up a fragile coalition govern¬ areas of the capital on December The first blast hit a group of day and hair were burned by the ment and has raised fears of 22 killed at least 72 people and labourers gathering for jobs in explosion. renewed sectarian violence after wounded 200 others. Scores the poor northeastern Sadr City US troops left on December 18. more were killed in attacks tar¬ area of the capital, leaving a "I fainted for a while then I woke geting Shi'ite pilgrims this chaotic scene of scattered shoes up and hurried to one of the cars The government of Shi'ite Prime month. and food, and pools of blood. to take me to the hospital," said Minister Nuri Al Maliki moved

TODAYS ZAIUIAN I 23 January 2012

Eager for new alliances, Assad's opponents look to Iraqi Kurdistan

TODAY'S ZAMAN crisis. According to information I Ghalioun promised to discuss the condi¬

ABDULLA HAWEZ* acquired from sources close to Massoud tions with other members of the SNC.

Barzani's ruling Kurdistan Democratic

Party (KDP), in the group's meetings Yet some Kurds still haven't joined the Lately, Iraqi Kurdistan has seen a with the above people, Barzani has been demonstrations ~ which may suggest surge in political activity, from the visit discussing Syria they belong to pro-Kurdistan Workers' of Burhan Ghalioun, chairman of the Party (PKK) parties. According to some Syrian National Council (SNC), to Walid Ghalioun's meeting with Barzani, which Kurdish journalists who visited senior Jumblatt, a prominent Lebanese Druze took place two weeks ago, was mostly PKK leader Murat Karayilan last August, leader, to Samir Geagea, from the about guarantees from the SNC for the PKK doesn't want Bashar al-Assad Lebanese opposition bloc, to Turkey's Kurds in Syria, which was made in return to be toppled. The PKK has historical Deputy Foreign Minister Feridun for an agreement in which the Kurdish ties with the Syrian regime, and they Sinirlioglu. National Council, which represents most used to set up camp in Syrian territory

Kurdish parties in Syria, will join the prior to the imprisonment of PKK leader For some, the stream of political leaders SNC. and founder Abdullah Ocalan in 1999. to Kurdistan might be normal, but lately

all political leaders who have visited Syrian Kurds have some demands which Lebanese Druze leader Jumblatt, who Kurdistan are in one way or another they tie to membership in the SNC, claims to have a neutral stance regard¬ linked to Syria. Those who have visited including the right to study in Kurdish in ing Syria, met with Barzani in mid- Kurdistan are anti-Syria Lebanese lead¬ predominately Kurdish cities and the December. Jumblatt used to be a ers, from the Syrian opposition or from right to limited regional autonomy. diehard opponent of Assad. Jumblatt, Turkey, an important player in the Syrian

86 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Ôzeti

who is of Kurdish origin, discussed with (KIU), which has strong ties with Iran, ing to mediate between Syrian Kurds

Barzani the idea of withdrawing his party Turkey and the Syrian Muslim and the Brotherhood as well. The Syrian from the Lebanese government if need Brotherhood, is mediating between Iran Kurds are striving to get guarantees from be. and the Syrian Brotherhood, because the opposition regarding Kurds amid the

the Syrian Brotherhood knows if Iran growing opportunity of toppling Assad's

Prominent Lebanese politician Geagea's continues to support Assad, there will be regime. meeting with Barzani was also motivated little hope of toppling the regime without by the Syrian crisis. According to uncon¬ foreign intervention. Again, Turkey, Iraqi Kurdistan, with its strategic geo¬ firmed information, Barzani, who himself specifically Foreign Minister Ahmet political location between Syria, Turkey has strong ties with many Lebanese par¬ Davutoglu, personally asked Selahaddin and Iran, is becoming a vital place for ties, is trying to convince Jumblatt to Bahaddin, head of the KIU, to use the political activity between different actors negotiate with Geagea's opposition party group's own privileged position to open playing a role in the Syrian crisis. Kurds to topple Lebanon's current government, negotiations between Iran and the are trying to keep up good relations with which is dominated by Hezbollah. Turkey Syrian Brotherhood. For this, Bahaddin Middle Eastern giants Iran and Turkey. has had a harsh stance on the Syrian paid a visit to istanbul to see the leaders Barzani, who used to have good ties with regime since the start of the uprising and of the Syrian Brotherhood and then visit¬ Assad's regime, seemingly turned is believed to have asked Barzani, a ed Tehran. Moreover, later, Bahaddin toward the opposition with the growing strong ally of Turkey, to use his ties with flew to Sudan to see Iran's friends, opportunity of the uprising's success in

Lebanese parties to topple any pro- Sudanese president Omar Hassan al- Syria.

Assad government in Lebanon. Bashir and Hamas leader Khaled

Mashaal, who both have a good relation¬ 'Abdulla Hawez is a freelance journalist

Deputy Foreign Minister Sinirlioglu paid ship with Iran and an Islamist back¬ based in Iraqi Kurdistan. a visit to the Iraqi city of Arbil to discuss ground. What they discussed is not yet the development of closer ties with known. Furthermore, a week ago,

Barzani. Bahaddin met with a delegation from the

Kurdish National Council, according to a

In addition, the Kurdistan Islamic Union source close to the KIU; Bahaddin is try

JANUARY 28, 2012 m nosco

Iraq car bomber hits Shiite cortege, killing 33

attack in the predominantly Shiite neighborhood of Zafaraniyah in southwestern Baghdad. But the bombing

resembled previous attacks by al Qaeda in Iraq.

Minutes after the explosion, gunmen opened fire at a checkpoint in Zafaraniyah, killing two police officers, accor¬

3*ry ding to police officials. More than 200 people have been kil¬ m: led in bombings and shootings since the U.S. military with¬ drew from Iraq on Dec. 18. Many of the dead have been Shiite pilgrims and Iraqi police and soldiers.

Al Qaeda and other Sunni extremist groups are thought to be exploiting sectarian tensions in the wake of Shiite Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's efforts to marginalize the Sunni minority and cement his own grip on power. Al Maliki's security forces have launched a widespread

crackdown against Sunni politicians, detaining hundreds for alleged ties to the deposed Baath Party. Vice President Tariq

Barbara Surk, Associated Press al-Hashimi, a Sunni, fled to the safety of the Kurdish semiau¬ tonomous zone after he was charged with running death

Baghdad suicide car bomber struck a Shiite funeral squads during the height of the war.

procession Friday, killing 33 people as suspected al "The attacks are a reaction to political developments in

Qaeda militants stepped up apparent efforts to provoke a Iraq," said Mustafa Alani, a Geneva-based analyst and an

counterattack by Shiite militias on Sunnis that could pave Iraq expert with the Gulf Research Center. "The Sunnis feel

the way toward open sectarian warfare now that U.S. the Shiites are squeezing them out of the government, and

troops have left Iraq. militants see the sectarian tensions in politics as a golden The powerful blast - the second deadliest attack in Iraq opportunity to reactivate their terror campaign." this month - set nearby stores and cars ablaze alongside scat¬ "The U.S. soldiers are gone, Sunni politicians are being tered flesh and mutilated bodies. It shattered windows and marginalized and while most Sunnis will not support the

damaged walls in the local hospital, wounding a nurse and militants at the expense of being part of the political process, four patients; Within minutes, the hospital was scrambling to the attackers know that most Sunnis won't condemn violent

treat scores of others. acts either," Alani said. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the nan

87 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Ôzeti

llàjdmu 29January2012

Nechirvan Barzani I Barzani (right) in a Stresses * a ~ press confer¬ ence with

Gorran Separation of '* n^ ^ leader m w Nawshirwan Mustafa in

Politics and Sulaimani. T /r; Photo Government Rudaw.

Kurdistan Research Center said, tions we demand the separation of

By HEVIDAR AHMED "National dialogue faced disintegra¬ political parties from the works of the

tion last year and its impact is still pal¬ government."

SULAIMANI, Iraqi Kurdistan - pable." Shahab who attended some of the

Earlier this month Kurdistan Region's He added, "But 1 expect Barzani to meetings between Barzani and opposi¬

opposition groups decided to boycott reduce the impact of that disintegra¬ tion leaders said that Barzani and

the new cabinet of the Kurdistan tion. He should work to solve the Gorran leader Mustafa agreed that put¬

Regional Government (KRG). causes of that disintegration so that he ting the Kurdish house in order is

Opposition leaders argued that the does not face the problems the sixth imperative at this time.

KRG had failed to carry out any cabinet did last year." "I believe if the government imple¬

reforms, especially following the anti- During his meetings with the lea¬ ments some of the recommendations

government demonstrations that broke ders of the Gorran Movement Barzani of the opposition and there is a com¬

out for two months in Sulaimani city said, "Even if the opposition does not mon view between the government

last year. join the government, it can still play and the political parties, Kurdistan

However, after a visit by the new its role in the parliament and criticize will step forward." Shahab said.

Prime Minister, Nechirvan Barzani to the government." In his Facebook message Barzani

Sulaimani last week, some opposition Following two months of protests reiterated the importance of the oppo¬

and ruling party leaders believe in Sulaimani last year where a dozen sition in the Kurdistan Region.

Barzani can lead a successful govern¬ people were killed and many more "Everyone has to be sure that we

ment and the opposition's stance may injured as a result of security crack¬ are open to dialogue," he wrote. "It

change. down on protesters, the region's oppo¬ was that same freedom and democracy

Dilshad Shahab, member of the sition parties presented the KRG with that allowed for the opposition to

Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) a set of recommendations for reform. emerge and watch the government

political bureau accompanied Barzani "Because their recommendations with critical eyes. The opposition is a

on his visit to Sulaimani. are for reform, we have no reserva¬ normal and healthy phenomenon and

"In our meetings (with the opposi¬ tions whatsoever to meet with the it is evidence of the success of the

tion) we emphasized that the relations opposition and discuss a work plan for political process and democracy in

between the political parties should reform." Barzani said. Kurdistan."

not become a criteria for relations bet¬ Gorran spokesperson Shao Saeed Demonstrations in Sulaimani last

ween the government and the parties." said, "We told Barzani that it is impor¬ year and riots in Duhok province in

Shahab told Rudaw. tant to put the opposition's reform December where offices of the

Farid Asasard, a member of the recommendations in the agenda of the Kurdistan Islamic Union and massage

Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) government." parlors and liquor stores were torched

political bureau said that Barzani's Saeed declined to comment on the by angry mobs, drifted Kurdistan's

visit to Sulaimani was good, but "we details of the meeting between his political parties away from each other.

still have to see the results," groups and Barzani said, "At the Abdullah, Islamic League's politi¬

In Sulaimani Barzani met with moment we do not pass judgment on cal bureau member said, "Barzani's

Nawshriwan Mustafa, the leader of the the meeting neither positively nor in a visit to Sulaimani was a good thing

Change Movement (Gorran). Prior to negative way. We are waiting to see because taking stance against each

his visit Barzani wrote on his the work of the next cabinet and only other from afar isn't healthy. Both the

Facebook page, "The political process then will we announce our opinion." government and the opposition want

in Kurdistan needs more dialogue and Nazim Abdullah, a leader in the to serve the people and protect their

hand in hand we can reach the strate¬ Kurdistan Islamic League (Komal) interests; therefore Barzani's efforts

gic national goals. The situation echoed Shahab's statement that poli¬ will facilitate the way to implement

demands all parties and groups speak tics should be separated from the the demands of the opposition and the

in a civil language to debate the fateful government, saying, "Barzani speaks people." O

questions about the future of the of implementing the recommendations

Kurdistan Region." of the opposition and that is an impor¬

Asasard who is also the head of tant step because in our recommenda

88 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Ôzeti

Obs&Yateur 27 janvier 2012

SYRIE. Les violences de jeudi ont fait 62 morts, dont 43 civils

Soixante-deux personnes, dont 43 civils, ont été tuées jeudi

26 janvier dans les violences en Syrie, où le régime réprime

dans le sang depuis dix mois un mouvement de contestation

populaire, selon l'Observatoire syrien des droits de l'Homme Y .. (OSDH).

A Homs, foyer de la contestation où l'armée a lancé une

offensive jeudi, 33 civils dont neuf enfants ont été tués.

Dans la ville rebelle de Hama (centre), où l'armée syrienne

avait lancé mardi une vaste offensive, quatre civils sont morts

dont une femme de 58 ans, tuée par des tireurs embusqués, a

indiqué la même source, précisant qu'une nouvelle offensive Des tanks syriens prennent position à Homs. (photo amateur,

était en cours. transmise à l'AFP)

'Tirs nourris de mitrailleuse lourde" Dans la province de Deraa, un adolescent a été tué dans la "Le quartier de Hamidiyé fait l'objet depuis l'aube d'une ville de Nawa lorsque les forces de sécurité ont tiré sur une campagne militaire féroce, accompagnée de tirs nourris de manifestation étudiante, selon l'Observatoire. mitrailleuses lourdes", indique l'OSDH, ajoutant que de fortes Un civil a été tué dans la province d'Idleb (nord-ouest), et explosions y étaient également entendus. quatre autres dans la banlieue de Damas. Les Comités locaux de coordination, qui chapeautent la En outre, 7 soldats dissidents et 12 militaires et membres mobilisation sur le terrain, ont indiqué que dans cette ville des services de sécurité ont péri dans des violences dans avaient été découverts "23 corps sans vies, dont la plupart l'ensemble de la Syrie, selon la même source.(AFP)D étaient ligotés et portaient des marque de torture et de tirs

dans la tête".

Le Point 28 janvier 2012

les Kurdes irakiens appellent leurs

homologues syriens à f l'unité1 f

Le dirigeant kurde irakien Massoud Barzani a apporté, samedi, son soutien aux Kurdes de Syrie dans leur combat contre Bachar el-Assad.

élargie selon la Constitution irakienne

Le dirigeant kurde irakien Massoud adoptée en 2005. "Nous ne voulons pas

Barzani a apporté, samedi, son sou¬ interférer dans les affaires des Kurdes

tien aux Kurdes de Syrie, réunis en de Syrie, mais vous aider et soutenir

conférence à Erbil, tout en insistant sur vos décisions. Mais à la condition que

la nécessité qu'ils demeurent unis face à vous soyez unis pendant cette période

la crise que traverse leur pays depuis sensible et que vous évitiez des conflits «A

plus de dix mois. "La situation est entre vous", a-t-il déclaré aux délégués importante pour nous, car (la Syrie) est kurdes. '4&& î un pays voisin, nous avons une longue

frontière avec elle et plus de deux mil¬ La communauté kurde de Syrie compte

lions de Kurdes vivent là-bas", a une douzaine de partis politiques con¬

déclaré Massoud Barzani lors de cette currents, tous interdits par les autorités Nouri Brimo, Kurde syrien et l'un des

conférence de deux jours dédiée à la de Damas. Elle a participé aux nom¬ organisateurs de la rencontre, le but de

situation des Kurdes en Syrie. breuses manifestations contre le régime la conférence est de "décider de l'avenir

de Bachar el-Assad. "L'objectif de la de la Syrie", de "construire, avec une

Quelque 210 Kurdes syriens venus de conférence est d'étudier la situation de nouvelle Constitution, une démocratie

25 pays y participent samedi et cette région, de prendre des décisions syrienne basée sur la laïcité" et de

dimanche dans la capitale du logiques et d'être prêts à tous les "soutenir la révolution syrienne".(AFP) Kurdistan irakien. Le Kurdistan irakien changements qui peuvent arriver en

bénéficie d'un statut d'autonomie Syrie", a ajouté Massoud Barzani. Pour

89 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Ôzeti

Observateur 27 janvier 2012

Pour les Kurdes de Syrie, des Kurdes, - nous demandons le droit à

l'autodétermination mais dans l'unité "il est urgent que de la Syrie. Pourquoi ? Quand la Syrie a été créée, cette unité a été faite for¬ l'opposition sfunisse" cée. Nous voulons accepter les fron¬ tières actuelles par volonté. Nous

sommes le deuxième peuple en Syrie,

Le président du Conseil national nous composons entre 15 et 20% de la

des Kurdes de Syrie Abdul population et nous voulons être un I^J|! véritable associé dans le pays. Les Hakim Bachar est resté quelques arabes doivent arrêter de dire "ça c'est jours à Paris où il devait être reçu bon ça c'est mauvais pour les kurdes". au ministère des Affaires étran¬ Ce n'est pas à eux de décider de nos gères. Ce pédiatre de 52 ans, qui droits. Malheureusement, jusqu'à

vit à Qamichli dans le Kurdistan maintenant les négociations avec

syrien, souligne l'implication des l'opposition arabe n'ont pas abouti. Ils disent qu'ils donneront plus après le Kurdes dans la révolution en changement mais cela nous inquiète. marche et appelle l'opposition Nous pensons que si aujourd'hui ils ne Abdul Hakim Bachar, président du arabe à travailler avec eux. nous donnent rien, ils ne donneront conseil national kurde de Syrie, à Paris, nous rien demain non plus et le 24 janvier (Céline Lussato / NO) n'établiront pas non plus la démocra¬

Quel est le but de votre passage à tie. Paris ? mais en tant que Kurdes, isolément, nous ne faisons pas de négociation avec Si les Alaouites, les Druzes, les chrétiens - J'ai été invité à Londres par le minis¬ le pouvoir. Nous demandons une ne sont pas vraiment dans la révolution tre des Affaires étrangères britannique décentralisation politique car la Syrie syrienne c'est parce que l'opposition n'a en tant que président du Conseil natio¬ est composée de différentes ethnies et pas pu les convaincre, n'a pas su les rassu¬ nal des Kurdes de Syrie et je passe dés¬ religions. Bachar al-Assad a voulu rer sur le fait que le changement de régime ormais en France pour rencontrer un nous monter les uns contre les autres en est dans leur intérêt. conseiller du ministre des Affaires prétendant que s'il tombe, viendront Deux choses vont les rassurer : la décen¬ étrangères français. 11 est urgent que alors des terroristes islamistes à sa tralisation et une vision politique claire qui l'opposition syrienne s'unisse et la place et d'ailleurs beaucoup l'ont cru. montre que les communautés sont asso¬ France peut appuyer nos demandes Nous, nous demandons la décentralisa¬ ciées. Il ne faut pas que l'opposition d'être intégrés au Conseil national tion car elle seule peut garantir les syrienne distribue les droits mais il faut que syrien et considérés, avec les autres droits de toutes les communautés. Une tous soient associes, il faut que cette pen¬ minorités, à égalité avec l'opposition décentralisation dans une Syrie unie. sée de "nous sommes les dominants et arabe. J'ai vu le président du CNS nous vous distribuons des doits" soit déga¬ Burhan Ghalioun les 15 et 16 janvier Les Alaouites, proches d'Assad crai¬ gée. dernier au Kurdistan irakien. Je leur ai gnent d'avoir de gros problèmes s'il est destitué. Mais avec la décentralisation, fait cette proposition et j'attends une Quelle est la situation humanitaire leurs droits aussi pourraient être préser¬ réponse. J'espère que nous pourrons dans les régions kurdes syrienne ? ensuite vraiment discuter d'un projet vés et si l'opposition nous suivait dans - Les Kurdes sont très mal. L'électricité politique pour la Syrie. cette démarche, ils seraient rassurés. est coupée quatre heures par jour, le Nous demandons également un Etat Quelle est la situation des Kurdes en mazout devient rare, les voitures atten¬ laïc alors que l'opposition arabe Syrie? dent plusieurs heures dans les stations demande un Etat civil. Or, un Etat civil services et il est très difficile de faire - Sur le terrain, et bien, nous faisons ne garantit pas la laïcité. Des islamistes approvisionner sa maison pour le partie de la révolution syrienne. 11 y a peuvent se revendiquer d'un Etat civil. chauffage. Bien sur les prix ont des manifestations dans toutes les explosé. Le gaz est rare et les prix au régions kurdes. Les manifestants Enfin, nous travaillons pour changer marché noir ont doublé voire triplé demandent la chuté du régime. Et il est tout le système politique syrien. Nous dans certains endroits. Le chômage est tout à fait dommage que les médias ne voulons pas que seule la tête parte et très élevé et le taux de pauvreté atteint arabes ne montrent pas nos manifes¬ que le système reste. Il faut désintégrer 70 à 80% de la population. tants. C'est une grande erreur de leur le système policier. Nous voulons un pays de droits et des institutions: nous part. Cette situation va-t-elle selon vous voulons un état parlementaire et démo¬ pousser encore plus le peuple kurde Ils sont des dizaines de milliers à des¬ cratique. dans la révolution ou au contraire cendre dans les rues de nos villes. Pour les Kurdes, nous demandons : l'amener à revenir dans le rang ? Sur le plan politique, nous avons com¬ - Quand la pression est forte, on peut posé le Conseil national kurde de Syrie - la reconnaissance dans la constitu¬ imaginer que l'explosion est proche. qui regroupe dix partis, cent membres tion syrienne,

dont cinquante indépendants. Nous fai¬ - l'annulation des lois et décrets Que pensez-vous de la visite des sons partie de la révolution syrienne, racistes et discriminatoires à l'encontre observateurs de la Ligue arabe ?

90 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Ôzeti

Sont-ils venus dans la région kurde ? rester coûte que coûte. Seule la répres¬ résister longtemps.

sion compte pour eux. - Ils ne sont pas venus dans la région Demandez-vous le départ d'Assad ou

kurde. Cette visite est pour la forme. Comment sortir de cette situation qui bien, s'il vous promet la mise en place 150 observateurs, que vont-ils faire au dure depuis bientôt un an ? d'une confédération, accepteriez-

niveau de la Syrie? Même 500 observa¬ vous de négocier avec lui ? - Il y a beaucoup de scénarios possibles. teurs envoyés seulement à Homs L'un d'eux est un accord de l'opposition - Nous les Kurdes ne déciderons pas n'auraient pas suffi. Quand ils allaient avec la Ligue arabe et la communauté seuls mais avec l'opposition arabe. dans un quartier, c'était calme, dès qu'ils internationale. Mais je pense qu'avant Nous ne voulons pas jouer ce jeu-là. repartaient les chars revenaient. Et d'arriver à cela il va y avoir beaucoup notez que ce sont les services de sécu¬ de morts, car plus le régime est affaibli, rité du régime qui préparent les visites. plus il aura de victimes.

Je ne regrette pas vraiment le fait qu'ils Je crains que le système ne s'accroche ne soient pas venus dans notre région jusqu'au bout à Damas avant de fuir au car cela n'aurait rien changé. Le pouvoir dernier moment vers la côte, où il y a affirme sa détermination, dit qu'il va une majorité alaouite. Là, il risque de

E 30 JANVIER 2012

pas rester spectateur face à ce

Des Kurdes syriens partagés qui se passe dans le pays",

juge-t-il. sur une intervention internationale En revanche, le Parti

démocratique du Kurdistan en

du dictateur. Syrie (PDK) se montre plus cir¬

"Le (parti) Baas syrien est conspect. "C'est trop tôt pour

de la même nature que le Baas une intervention internatio¬

irakien et rien ne pourra nale et je crois qu'il faut cher¬

l'éliminer en dehors d'une telle cher une solution nationale

''un intervention. C'est la seule avec une pression internatio¬

solution", affirme-t-il. Les nale dans les domaines poli¬

deux pays voisins ont été diri¬ tique, économique, média¬

gés par deux branches antago¬ tique et diplomatique", a souli¬ v t gné son dirigeant, Abdel 7 nistes du parti Baas. Pour Saadeddine al-Mulla, Hakim Bachar.

un dirigeant du parti al-Likiti "Je crois que le premier

(Démocratie en langue kurde), pas, c'est de trouver une issue

ERBIL (Irak), (AFP) rité syriennes contre les mani¬ "il y a déjà des interventions nationale et en cas d'échec? il

festants et insiste sur extérieures notamment de faudra trouver une alternative

l'importance d'une collabora¬ l'Iran et de la Turquie et le arabe ou internationale", a-t-il Des représentants de la tion entre les Kurdes à Conseil de sécurité de l'ONU ajouté. communauté kurde de Syrie se l'intérieur de la Syrie et ceux doit donc prendre des déci¬ Les Kurdes de Syrie repré¬ montrent partagés sur de l'extérieur". sions en se basant sur le chapi¬ sentent environ 9% de la l'opportunité d'une interven¬ Très radical, Jawad al- tre VII de sa Charte". population du pays et sont ins¬ tion militaire internationale Mulla, dirigeant du Congrès Ce chapitre prévoit diffé¬ tallés essentiellement dans le pour provoquer la chute du national kurde, qui s'est pro¬ Nord-est et à Damas, où ils régime de Bachar al-Assad rentes mesures dont noncé au cours de la réunion l'intervention militaire en cas forment une importante mino¬ comme ce fut le cas en Libye pour "un gouvernement (auto¬ rité. contre Mouammar Kadhafi. de menace contre la paix ou nome) kurde en Syrie", est d'acte d'agression. Affirmant faire l'objet Quelque 210 Kurdes totalement en faveur d'une Aller vers l'ONU est égale¬ d'une politique discrimina¬ syriens venus de 25 pays ont opération militaire étrangère. ment ce que souhaite Hamad toire depuis plusieurs décen¬ participé samedi et dimanche "L'intervention internatio¬ Darwich, secrétaire du Parti nies, ils réclament la recon¬ à une conférence sur la situa¬ nale est la seule solution car progressiste kurde de Syrie, naissance de leur langue et de tion dans leur pays, à Erbil, au nous avons déjà l'expérience leur culture et veulent être Kurdistan irakien (nord), une considéré comme l'une des du régime de Saddam Hussein plus anciennes formations traités comme des citoyens à région bénéficiant d'un statut qui ne serait jamais tombé sans kurdes de Syrie. part entière. Ils disent aussi d'autonomie élargie selon la une intervention extérieure", "Si la Ligue arabe n'arrive revendiquer des droits poli¬ Constitution irakienne. a-t-il expliqué à l'AFP en allu¬ tiques et administratifs. Le communiqué final de pas à imposer ses solutions, le sion à l'invasion conduite par dossier doit être transmis au cette conférence dénonce "les les Etats-Unis en Irak en 2003 Conseil de sécurité qui ne peut violences des forces de sécu et qui avait abouti à la chute

91 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Ôzeti

HTCBUIlOmL

JANUARY 30, 2012 Arab League suspends its mission in Syria

* s et, ;

4 * RANKOUS, SYRIA

Situation too dangerous, ^i?".iSfStr-'.'"«>,i&v . . 'i .-Vf bloc says, accusing state " - -a:i. ' of escalating bloodshed

, -f il > BY KAREEM FAHIM !

ANDNADABAKRI ^ 'I v , " The Arab League has suspended its < monitoring mission in Syria, saying that M' a harsh new government crackdown v s r . made it too dangerous to proceed and *** was resulting in the deaths of innocents 1 At across the country. :- 4* The head of the Arab League, Nabil al- v y-H*-' Araby, said in a statement Saturday that

after discussions with foreign ministers, ! % --"TV the 22-member body had come to its de¬ . .. '»4'f^-- cision because of "a severe deterioration of the situation and the continued use of . violence." He blamed the Syrian govern¬ :'&.> ment for the bloodshed, saying it had de¬

cided "to escalate the military option." A Syrian opposition fighter near his position outside of Damascus, where frequent confrontations A final decision about the mission is between armed groups and security forces were reported Friday. due in the coming days. The suspension came after days of bloody civil conflict in cities across Syria,

leading to criticism of the observers' ef¬ mates could not be confirmed, said that "I guess they will take a firm fectiveness, as they traveled to the edge the security forces opened fire on a of neighborhoods racked by violence in demonstration in Aleppo, marking a hand now. There will be a recent days, only to beturned back. second day of violence in a city that had heavy crackdown."

Their hesitation outside Rankous on been relatively calm. Saturday, a town emptied of people after Arab League observers and Syrian of¬ five days of clashes and government ficials said at least 26 soldiers had been children. They said it was a ghost town, shelling, seemed to encapsulate the where all but about 60 families out of killed on Friday and Saturday, including shortcomings of a mission accused by 23,000 residents had fled. many fighting in the Damascus suburbs. government opponents of providing Men in atown square pointed to the The Syrian military began an offen¬ cover to President Bashar al-Assad's distance, where three tanks were mov¬ sive Sunday to regain control of suburbs crackdown. ing in a valley below. They said the army, on the eastern edge of the capital, fight¬ Warned by army officers that insur¬ which surrounded the town, had been ing battles with army defectors that gents could use explosives against shelling for days and all of Friday night. sent residents fleeing and killed at least them, a driver working with the observ¬ Some who stayed behind said they did three civilians, The Associated Press re¬ ers refused to drive their heavily ar¬ not have the money to move. ported from Beirut, citing the Syrian mored Mercedes into town. Now, the local bakery was open once a Observatory for Human Rights. Opposition activists in Rankous said week. Cooking gas was smuggled in Violence elsewhere in the country Sun¬ they would have welcomed the visit. De¬ from nearby towns. Vegetables had dis¬ day killed at least 17 more people, includ¬ spite the criticisms, the observers, with appeared from the stores. The streets ing six soldiers in a roadside bombing offices in several cities, were often the were empty except for a small group of south of the capital, The A.P. reported. only outside witnesses to fighting that army defectors, led by a soft-spoken 33- The beginnings of the Arab League the United Nations said has killed more year-old man who said they had come to monitoring mission, more than a month than 5,400. defend the protesters and residents. ago, emboldened protesters but ulti¬ Jaafar Kibeida, one of the Arab He used a nom de guerre, Abu Khaled, mately did little to stanch the violence. League observers, said he feared any and said he was a former army lieuten¬ Qn Saturday morning, on what may restraint the government had shown in ant. His previous posts had included a have been one of their final forays in their presence would now vanish. stint guarding a checkpoint outside the Syria, Arab League observers traveled "I guess they will take a firm hand Baba Amer neighborhood in Hoirts, a fo¬ to the edge of Rankous, a defiant city now," he said. "There will be a heavy cal point of resistance to the govern¬ near the Lebanese border that has with¬ crackdown." ment. stood repeated incursions by the army, The opposition Local Coordination There, he said, he saw soldiers level according to residents. Committees said at least 78 people were anti-aircraft guns at houses and heard On the approach to the city, after the killed across the country on Saturday, accounts of atrocities, including the observers had gone, four families were including more than 20 people in the on¬ killing of a woman and a child by an of¬ seen driving out of town on Saturday, in going bloodshed in the central Syrian ficer, "to teach the neighborhood a les¬ minivans packed with belongings and city of Homs. The group, whose esti- son," he said.

92 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Ôzeti

He and his men defected together, in December, taking their weapons to Rankous, Abu Khaled's hometown. They said they were there as part of the Free Syrian Army, the loosely organized confederation of militias that is oppos- . ing Mr. Assad's forces. "If all the civilians leave, we will / leave," Abu Khaled said. "We will go to other places where people are vulner¬ able." About an hour after reporters arrived, shelling and heavy machine gun fire could be heard. The defectors said tanks were ringing the town, and snipers were posted on surrounding hills. Bullets whistled by a.-house where they had taken up positions. The shelling got closer. One defector was shot in the leg. At a checkpoint outside Rankous, army soldiers talked about their owntri¬

als, saying they had been on duty, with¬ Demonstrators near Damascus carried a man Wiled Friday in fighting with the Syrian security forces. out a break, for seven months. Seven of Elsewhere, activists said at least 30 people in Homs had been killed since Thursday. their colleagues had.been killed by the defectors, they said. By nightfall, at a spot on the edge of tanks had moved onto a hill, tightening a "We're facing disobedience,'' Lt Raed the town where observers had visited in cordon around Rankous. Ammar said. "We can't stay silent" the morning and seen little, several

. DflnOSKIKHU. îicralb-fï^Sribunc

JANUARY 28-29, 2012 Sunnis in Iraq end their

BAGHDAD - boycott of Parliament

BYTIMARANGO ing turn of events for the Obama admin' meetings, which has paralyzed the gov¬ istration, which emphasized Iraq's In the first sign that Iraqi leaders may ernment, is still in place. democratic progress as it trumpeted the yet halt a sectarian political crisis that The concession came a day after Vice troop withdrawal. has raised fears of civil war, the coun¬ President Joseph R. Biden Jr. made an¬ Sunni militants have taken advantage try's Sunni leaders said Sundaythatthey other round of calls to Iraqiya leaders, of the political .'impasse to carry out a would end their boycott of Parliament. urging them to return to Parliament so campaign of sectarian attacks in recent The Iraqiya coalition, a largely Sunni- the leadership could hold a national con¬ weeks, killing hundreds of people, backed group of lawmakers that won ference, which the Iraqi president, Jalal mostly Shiites, in what appears to be an the most seats in the 2010 parliamentary Talabani, has been trying to arrange. effort to incite sectarian war. elections but was unable to build a gov¬ Mr. Biden, according to a White

erning coalition, will return to Parlia¬ House statement released Saturday, Iraqiya walked out of Parliament in ment, a spokeswoman said in a brief spoke to the Iraqiyaleader, Ayad Allawi, mid-December, accusing the Shute- statement. and the speaker of Parliament, Osairia dominated government, which is led by The decision does not signal the end Nujaifi. "The two Iraqi leaders de¬ Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki, of of Iraq's political crisis, which erupted scribed deliberations underway among arresting some of its members and har¬ days after the withdrawal of the U.S. all Iraqi political factions and parties in assing aides. Sunnis have viewed those military last month when Iraqiya an¬ the run-up to a proposed national con¬ arrests, as well as the round-up in Octo¬ nounced its boycott to protest what it ference led by President Jalal ber and . November of hundreds of saw as moves by the Shiite-dominated former members of Saddam Hussein's Talabani," the statement said. government to sideline Sunnis from Baath Party, as a power grab by Mr. Ma¬ Mr. Biden, according to the state¬ power. Those underlying issues have liki and an effort to marginalize the Sun¬ ment, "discussed with both leaders the not been resolved. nis. importance of resolving outstanding is¬ But the group's decision eases ten¬ The drama quickly intensified, as the suesthrough the political process." sions and paves the way for the political government aired confessions on state Ms. Damluji said ending the boycott leadership to hold a national meeting to television in which men who had been did not the end the standoff which es¬ discuss reconciliation among Iraq's bodyguards for the Sunni vice presi¬ calated when the government issued an dent, Tariq al-Hashimi, said they had or¬ three main ethnic factions Shiites, arrest warrant for a Sunni vice presi¬ chestrated bombings and assassina¬ Sunnis and Kurds. dent nor was it a signal that the bloc's tions at Mr. Hashimi's direction. "As a good-will gesture, Iraqiya an¬ demands for a meaningful role in the The government issued an arrest nounces its return to Parliament meet¬ government had been met. "We'll work warrant for Mr. Hashimi, who denied ings to create a healthy atmosphere to through the national conference to running a death squad and said the con¬ help the national conference, and to achieve the demands of the Iraqi fessions were coerced. He fled to the seek guarantees for the conference to people," she said in an interview. semi-autonomous Kurdish region in the succeed and defuse the political crisis," The crisis flared in December just as north, where he remains beyond the said the Iraqiya spokeswoman, Mayso- U.S. troops were leaving the country reach of the central government's secu¬ on al-Damluji, according to Reuters. Ir¬ after nearly nine years of war and occu¬ rity forces. aqiya said a separate boycott of cabinet pation, and represented an embarrass

93 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Ôzeti

"RàdtUU 31 January 2012

The first Conference conference of the ' i Aims To Unite Syrian Kurds in

Erbil. *v* Fractured \ > ' K ? Syrian Kurds w

RUDAW follow the path of Kurdishness until the Syrian Kurds face danger, the

the situation had calmed down." Kurds from other countries will come

ERBIL, Iraqi Kurdistan For two Kamaran Hajo, a member of the to their aid."

days last week, Kurdish political Kurdish National Council in Syria, Some Kurdish parties and youth

and opposition leaders held a confe¬ said the lack of unity was major issue groups did not attend the conference in

rence in Erbil to press for the right to among Kurds from the outset of upri¬ Erbil, and Hajo called it a serious

self-determination if the Syrian regime sing against Syrian leader Bashar al- shortcoming.

falls. Assad's regime. "The invitation to this Erbil confe¬

"This meeting is a message to the "We need to help ourselves first by rence was only sent to those close to

world that the Kurds of Syria are not creating unity among us," the Kurdish National Council," he

alone," one participant at the confe¬ "The Syrian Kurds have come clo¬ said. "This is a shortcoming, and the

rence told Rudaw. ser together after the Kurdish National organizers are responsible."

More than 250 Kurdish representa¬ Council was founded," he said. Hajo added, "The Syrian Kurds

tives and political observers, mostly "President Barzani is aware of the divi¬ demand self-determination within a

from Europe, attended the conference sions that have plagued Syria political united Syria, but they did not raise the

titled "The Right to Self- movements for years. Narrow parti¬ Syrian flag next to the Kurdish flag in

Determi nation and a Democratic sanship has created many obstacles for the conference hall."

Syria." Kurdish politics." Muhammad Ahmed Salo, a

Syrian Kurds have been divided Hajo believes that Barzani's mes¬ Kurdish student of law in Cairo, told

over whether to participate in anti- sage was directed at organizations and Rudaw that he hoped the Erbil confe¬

government protests in Syria and over groups that have not yet joined the rence would become a milestone for

what role they should play in the oppo¬ KNC. Syria's Kurds to unite.

sition, which is primarily based outside "We hope the groups that have not "I did not come to this conference

of the country. Syrian Kurdish leaders joined the KNC will join it soon," Hajo for the sake of the political parties, but

have also walked out of several oppo¬ said. "At the same time, all the KNC I came for the Kurds so that I can pres¬

sition conferences over concerns that members must change the logic of sure the Kurdish politicians to unite

Kurdish rights are not being recogni¬ their work because only in this way we their positions," he said. "I hope our

zed by the Arab- and Islamist-domina¬ can see success." politicians will read the message of

ted opposition. Kamaran Abdo, a leader at Kurdish President Barzani and unite by distan¬ Kurdistan Region President Democratic Union Party, believes that cing themselves from partisanship."O

Massoud Barzani and Kurdistan even if Iraqi Kurdish leaders lend their

Parliament Speaker Kamal Kirkuki support, it won't help unless there is attended the conference in an effort to unity among Syrian Kurds. support the Syrian Kurdish political "We need to help ourselves first by

parties and their struggle for Kurdish creating unity among us," Abdo said.

rights in Syria. Saadaddin Mulla, a KNC delegate Barzani pressed the leaders to unify from Cairo, said the Erbil conference

and pledged his support. showed that Kurds in other areas stand "Our support is tied to the unity of by Syrian Kurds.

your positions," he said in a speech at "It was a message to the Arab

the event. "It is important to stop the opposition in Syria, neighboring coun¬ narrow partisan interests for now and tries and the world that Syrian Kurds aren't without support," Mulla said. "If

94 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Ôzeti

£tJÎÎOIldt Mardi 31 Janvier 2012 En Syrie, les combats s'intensifient entre les forces du régime et la contestation

La guerre civile est en train de gagner les faubourgs de

Damas. L'armée syrienne a déployé, dimanche 29 janvier, quelque 2000 militaires, arrivés à l'aube à bord de convois d'auto¬ cars et de véhicules de transport de troupes, en plus d'au moins 50 chars dans la banlieue proche de la capitale. Le but de cette opéra¬ tion sans précédent est de repren¬ dre le contrôle de quartiers tom¬ bés aux mains des insurgés, à quel¬ ques kilomètres seulement du cen¬ tre de Damas. Le régime syrien semble avoir lancé, depuis la semaine dernière, une vaste offensive contre les pla¬ ces fortes de la contestation dans la province de Damas-campagne, mais aussi à Hama et à Homs, où Le Monde a pu rendre compte du massacre d'une famille, jeudi 26 janvier, dans le quartier de

Nasihine. Selon l'Observatoire syrien des droits de l'homme (OSDH), les violences ont causé

80 morts dimanche, dont la moi¬ pires de Damas, le 27 janvier, un déserteur brandit le drapeau de l'indépendance, ahmed jadallah/reuters

tié sont des civils.

Cette offensive sécuritaire vise ment et la démocratie (ÇNCD), la bre. Damas a « regretté » cette déci¬ lé à l'envoi de troupes arabes en

à endiguerla montée en puissance plateforme d'opposition rivale du sion visant à « augmenter les pres¬ Syrie pour protéger les civils, le

des milices rebelles, réunies sous Conseil national syrien'(CNS), cet- . sions en vue d'une intervention Conseil national syrien (CNS), prin¬

l'appellation d'« Armée syrienne tè militarisation mène à une étrangère», alors que des pays cipale coalition de l'opposition, a libre » (ASL). Composées de civils impasse. « On voit actuellement la européens et arabes ont l'inten¬ lui aussi tout misé surune interna¬ armés et de déserteurs de l'armée réponse militaire à Zabadani, dit- tion de présenterun projet de réso¬ tionalisation. Envain. Il faut proba¬

régulière, ces cellules manquent il. La présence d'hommes armés lution au Conseil de sécurité de blement chercher la raison de ce

d'à peu près tout, à commencer parmi les manifestants, au lieu de l'ONU cette semaine. Le texte maximalisme dans le défaut de par une chaîne de commande¬ les protéger, nefait qu'accroître le reprend le plan de la Ligue arabe, légitimité de l'opposition en exil, ment. Néanmoins, avec l'accéléra¬ nombre de victimes. Le régimepro¬ refusé par Damas, prévoyant un qui répercute les demandes des tion des défections et la multiplica¬ fite dufait que l'attention est tour- transfert du pouvoir du président manifestants plus qu'elle ne les tion des saisies d'armes, les insur¬ Assad au profit de son vice-prési¬ dirige. Le président du CNS, gés gagnent en efficacité. Il y a une La fréquence dent, Farouk Al-Chareh, la mise en Burhan Ghalioun, est parti à New dizaine de jours, dans la ville de place d'un gouvernement d'union York afin de tenter de convaincre Zabadani, à l'ouest de Damas, des des attaques nationale et l'organisation d'élec¬ Moscou de ne pas s'opposer au combattants ont tenu tête pen¬ contre les loyalistes tions libres. nouveau projet de résolution. dant cinq jours aux soldats venus Après des mois de blocage dus Les diplomates arabes et occi¬ ne cesse de croître, dentaux se perdent en conjectures les déloger. aux veto de la Russie surtout, etde La présence des observateurs de de même la Chine, fermement opposées à sur les intentions réelles de Mos¬ la Ligue arabe n'est peut-être pas toute intervention étrangère en cou. Le chefde la diplomatie russe, étrangère à la trêve consentie alors que leurs pertes Syrie, c'est une tentative de trou¬ Sergueï Lavrov, avait été le pre¬

par les autorités syriennes, qui a ver une solution négociée. miere évoquer un règlement de la permis.à l'ASL de se retirer en bon née surNew York [où une nouvelle «Demander le départ de Bachar crise syrienne «à la yéménite», ordre de Zabadani. Reste un fait résolution sur la Syrie est en cours Al-Assad comme préalable était c'est-à-dire par une mise sur la tou¬ indéniable : la fréquence des atta¬ de négociation à l'ONU] et que les une erreur, concède un diplomate che en douceur du président: C'est ques contre les loyalistes ne cesse observateurs sont réfugiés dans européen. Sa démission ne peut ce que proposé lé plan de la Ligue de croître, de même que leurs per¬ leur hôtel. Même s'ils ne peuvent qu 'être l'aboutissement du proces¬ arabe. Mais Moscou, qui a condam¬ tes. Dimanche 29 janvier, 16 militai¬ pasfaire grand

res ont été tués dans deux attaques qu'ils se redéploient. Quand ils cette stratégie offensive, qui n'a observateurs arabes, fait aujour¬ distinctes: 10 dans l'explosion étaient sur le terrain, ily avait des pas donné de résultats : Alain Jup¬ d'hui savoir qu'un appel à des d'une bombe au passage de leur tirs de snipers, des confrontations pé, qui avait évoqué en novembre «sanctions» et à un «changement convoi à Kansafra (nord-ouest); isolées, mais pas d'attaques aussi des corridors humanitaires, a de régime» étaient des lignes rou¬ 6 autres tués à Sahnaya, près de massives. » reconnu qu'il n'avait aucune idée ges. La Russie cherche-t-elle à Damas, dans une embuscade. La recrudescence de la violence sur les moyens de les mettre en gagner du temps'pour son dernier

Pour Haytham Al-Manna, un a, en effet, poussé la Ligue arabe à allié au Proche-Orient ? responsable du Comité national suspendre samedi sa mission d'ob¬ Encouragés parla France, laTur¬ Christophe Ayad de coordination pour le change- servation commencée le 26 décem quie et le Qatar, dont l'émir a appe et Benjamin Barthe

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