KURDINSTITUT E DE PARIS

Information and liaison bulletin N°273

DECEMBER 2007 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

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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: [email protected] Contents :

• THE PRESIDENT OF , MASSUD BARZANI, REFUSES TO MEET CONDOLEEZA RICE IN IRAQ AS A PROTEST AGAINST THE TURKISH ARMY’S OPERATIONS IN IRAQI KURDISTAN

• KIRKUK: THE KURDISTAN PARLIAMENT ACCEPTS UNO’S PROPOSAL TO POSTPONE THE REFERENDUM ON THE CITY’S STATUS FOR SIX MONTHS

• BERLIN: THE GERMAN AUTHORITIES FREE, AHEAD OF TIME, THE ASSASSINS OF SADEGH SHARAFKANDI AND THREE OF HIS COMPANIONS OF THE KURDISTAN DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF IRAN

• ANKARA: THE CONSTITUTIONAL COURT REJECTS THE PROVISIONAL MEASURES TO SUSPEND ALL PUBLIC ACTIVITY DEMANDED BY THE PROSECUTION AGAINST THE PRO-KURDISH DTP WHICH IS THREATENED WITH BANNING

• THE LOWEST DEATH ROLL IN IRAQ SINCE FEBRUARY 2006: 568 IRAQIS KILLED IN DECEMBER

• DAMASCUS: THE SYRIAN LEAGUE FOR THE DEFENCE OF HUMAN RIGHTS CONDEMNS THE TRIALS AND SENTENCES OF BY THE HIGH COURT OF STATE SECURITY, A SPECIAL EMERGENCY COURT

• -E.U.: PARIS SUCCEEDS IN HAVING THE WORD “ACCESSION” REMOVED FROM A EUROPEAN COMMUNIQUÉ ON THE NEGOTIATIONS WITH TURKEY

• THE IRANIAN NUCLEAR CRISIS: RUSSIA STARTS DELIVERING FUEL WHILE THE US INTELLIGENCE REVEALS, FOR THE FIRST TIME, THAT IRAN HAD SECRET PLANS EVEN BEFORE 2003

• AS WELL AS …

THE PRESIDENT OF KURDISTAN, MASSUD BARZANI, launched a new operation in REFUSES TO MEET CONDOLEEZA RICE IN IRAQ AS A . Ground PROTEST AGAINST THE TURKISH ARMY’S OPERATIONS units, Cobra helicopter gun- IN IRAQI KURDISTAN ships and Sikorsky helicopter transports were involved in N 26 December, the Staff declared that it had this operation, carried out in “struck objectives relating to the mountainous ranges of O confirmed that they had that group during a targeted Kupeli and Gabar, in Sirnak carried out a new air operation carried out efficiently Province. On 25 December raid against PKK positions in in the morning of 26 Decem- the Turkish General Staff Iraqi Kurdistan. In a commu- ber”, without giving any announced that its troops had niqué published on its Inter- details about possible vic- killed 11 Kurdish PKK fight- net site, the Turkish General tims. The Turkish Army also ers and captured two others • 2 • Information and liaison bulletin n° 273 • December 2007

in 48 hours in the Sirnak lies had fled their homes to tion had not experienced any mountains. This is the third seek refuge in nearby villages damage”. “It has been shown air strike against the PKK that or caves, according to these that, in addition to heavy losses the Turkish Army has con- officials. For its part, the PKK inflicted on the terrorist organi- firmed since 16 December, in reported seven deaths — two sation, its supply and communi- addition to a “small scale” civilians and five fighters. cations systems had, to a large land operation. According to According to the private extent, been destroyed”, stated the Turkish press, the air Turkish TV channel NTV, this body in a communiqué operation was followed, on about fifty planes had taken published on its Internet site. 18 December by a land incur- part in these raids, while In his monthly television sion of limited scale — 500 to CNN-Turk, on 16 December, message to the nation, the 700 commandos. On 25 spoke of about twenty planes. Turkish Prime Minister December the Turkish Army On 1 December last, the Turk- declared, on 30 December, announced that 150 to 175 ish Army had carried out that Ankara would continue Kurdish fighters had been similar operations South-East to “use with determination the killed during the 16 Decem- of the border locality of political, military, social and ber strikes, which mainly tar- Cukurca. These raids and economic means” to fight the geted the Qandil massif, a shellings had not, however, PKK. mountainous region of Iraqi been immediately confirmed Kurdistan where several hun- by the Iraqi, Kurdish and Following the Turkish dreds of PKK fighters are American authorities. The Army’s operations, the White located. According to the 5November last, Turkish House expressed its anxiety Turkish General Staff, some Prime Minister Recep Tayyip at the danger of an escalation. 200 targets were destroyed in Erdogan had met US Presi- Scott Stanzel, a White House the course of this raid, includ- dent George W. Bush at the spokesman, indicated that the ing 16 command, training White House. The two lead- US authorities have “clearly and logistic bases, 82 caches, ers had committed them- indicated to the Turkish govern- ten anti-aircraft batteries as selves to exchanging more ment that anything that could well as 14 PKK munition information on the PKK, fol- lead to an escalation or to civil- dumps. In a previous com- lowing the adoption by the ian losses was worrying”. How- muniqué, on 16 December, Turkish Parliament of a reso- ever, the US, that controls the Turkish Army had indi- lution in favour of cross-bor- Iraqi air space, supplied cated that some air raids last- der interventions. At the end Turkey with help for these air ing three hours and, followed of a five-hour meeting on 28 raids into Iraqi Kurdistan. by artillery fire, had targeted December, the National Secu- The head of the Turkish Qandil PKK bases. rity Council (MGK), which Armed Forces General Staff, includes the country’s highest General Yasar Buyukanit, Various sources from the civilian and military officials, declared on the Kanal D TV Kurdish authorities indicated welcomed the results of the channel that the US forces that bridges, houses and even 16 December operations had supplied certain informa- a school had been destroyed against the PKK in Kurdish tion but “what is important is in about a dozen villages of territory in Iraq and stressed that, last night, the United Iraqi Kurdistan. Some fami- that “the areas of civilian habita- States opened the air space of n° 273 • December 2007 Information and liaison bulletin • 3 •

Northern Iraq (Kurdistan). (…) Rice’s visit to Iraq. She went Baghdad to demand the end- In doing this, the United Sates first of all to Kirkuk, then to ing of these Turkish Army approved the operation”. On 19 Baghdad, where she met the operations in Iraqi Kurdistan, December, the Pentagon’s Prime Minister Nuri al-Mali- stating that these operations spokesman, Geoff Morrell, ki. The US Secretary of State could affect the “friendly rela- pointed out that Turkey had who was making a one-day tions” between the two coun- warned the US that it was visit to Iraq on 19 December, tries. On 17 December, the going to launch an air raid on refused any direct comment Iraqi Parliament indicated, in PKK positions in Iraqi Kur- on the Turkish incursion dur- a declaration that “Turkish distan 16 December, describ- ing a press conference with planes have bombed Iraqi vil- ing this “coordination” as “ade- her Iraqi opposite number, lages in Kurdistan, near the quate”. “We received notifica- Hoshyar Zebari, organised Turkish border, causing many tion before the bombardment”, after a meeting with Presi- innocent civilian victims (…) he declared during a press dent Jalal Talabani in Bagh- We firmly condemn this viola- conference, confirming, for dad. However, she stressed tion of Iraq’s sovereignty and of the first time, that the Penta- that the United States, Turkey the principle of neighbourly rela- gon had been informed of the and Iraq had “a common inter- tions”. The Iraqi Prime Minis- Turkish plans. “This was com- est in stopping the activities of ter, Nuri al-Maliki, for his municated to us via the Ankara the PKK, who threaten the sta- part, ordered that a commit- coordination centre, which was bility of the North”. “This is a tee be created to come to the opened a few months ago, and in Turkish decision. We have clear- help of the Kurdish families which Turkish and American ly expressed our government’s that had been obliged to flee military personnel work together anxieties to the Turkish govern- their villages after the recent to share information”, speci- ment regarding an action that Turkish strikes. “Mr. Maliki fied, refusing to say whether could lead to civilian victims or has ordered the creation of a the United States had sup- destabilise the North”, declared committee that is due to visit the plied information in the tar- Mrs. Rice. Mr. Zebari judged displaced families (in Kurdis- gets aimed at by Ankara. On the Turkish operations “unac- tan). They will each receive 1 2 December, the Turkish jour- ceptable”. To mark his disap- million dinars”, this is about nalist, Rusen Cakir, an expert proval of American support 830 dollars, stated a commu- on the PKK, had considered of Turkey, the Kurdish Presi- niqué on 30 December from on the NTV channel that “the dent, Massud Barzani, can- the Prime Minister’s press Americans and the Iraqis under- celled a planned meeting service. The UN High Com- stand that Turkey is going to act with Mrs. Rice in Baghdad. mission for Refugees (HCR) in one way or another. So they stated on 18 December that have done what is needed to The Iraqi government and over 300 families (about 1,800 limit the damage”. Parliament condemned the persons) had fled their homes strikes as an attack on the after some intensive Turkish The incursion into Iraqi Kur- country’s sovereignty and shelling of Iraqi Kurdistan. distan, the only province were moved by the civilian Some villages had to flee, spared the violence current in victims thus caused. On 16 sometimes barefooted in the Iraq, was announced at the December, Iraq summoned snow, from their homes in the moment of Mrs. Condoleezza the Turkish Ambassador in Qandil Mountains. “We were • 4 • Information and liaison bulletin n° 273 • December 2007

sleeping when the Turkish Tora Bora”, the former Taliban in Today’s Zaman, Dogu Ergil, planes bombed our village (…) hideout in Afghanistan, adds a subtle connoisseur of Turk- We had to leave the house as we the report. “The Kurds are ish politics pointed out: “Mr. were suffocated by the dust I…) enjoying a political renais- Erdogan seems to have under- Before it was Saddam who sance”, Chatham House fur- stood that unless the Kurdish destroyed our homes, now it’s ther stressed. conflict is resolved, neither the the Turks (…) We have to leave political stability of the country without knowing what we had Conscious that armed strug- nor the future of his party can be done wrong”, declared a 75- gle will not be enough, the ensured”. year-old farmer from Qalatu- Turkish government has ga village. Another villager announced that it is working Turkish Kurdistan is the said he did not understand on already existing amnesty poorest zone in Turkey, a why the tar- law for “repentant rebels” to country that is applying to geted his school, “razed to the widen its scope. Projects for join the European Union. Mil- ground” by the strikes. The raising the standard of living lions of Kurds have been dri- building of this school, begun of the Kurdish population, ven from their villages or in 2004, was nearly finished mainly by encouragements to have had to flee the fighting and was due to be officially invest and by subsidies, are to emigrate towards the big opened shortly. also being studied. The Head cities. Ten years ago, of the General Staff, General Diyarbekir, the politico-cul- In a report published 19 Yasar Buyukanit, had tural capital, had 350,000 December, the British think stressed last May the fighting inhabitants. Today it has tank, Chatham House, esti- the Kurdish fighters was not almost one and a half million, mated that any military oper- just limited to his forces. “The amongst which a very large ation aimed at dislodging the struggle against terrorism does number of families live below PKK was “probably in vain” not only cover military measures the poverty line. Turkey, and Ankara would “probably but economic, cultural and social which has the second largest never” defeat the PKK. The measures”, he had declared in Army in NATO after that of PKK is “a very motivated force an attempt to mobilise the the United States (515,000 that enjoys a local support and government, accused of men) has been massing the protection offered it by the “lethargy” on the military and 100,000 men on the 380 Km- inaccessible terrain of the border political fronts. In his column long-border since April 2007. regions”, pointed out this Lon- don based centre. Chatham KIRKUK: THE KURDISTAN PARLIAMENT ACCEPTS UNO’S House also imputes the Iraqi PROPOSAL TO POSTPONE THE REFERENDUM ON government’s “reluctance” to THE CITY’S STATUS FOR SIX MONTHS fight the PKK to the “military risks this would involve”. “Even N 26 December, the Par- planned for the end of the if it succeeded in chasing them liament of Iraqi Kurdis- year. “The Parliament of Kur- out of the mountains, this could O tan accepted the UN distan has accepted by a majori- leave the door open to radical proposal to postpone ty, the proposal of the UN repre- Islamists to transform the region for six months a referendum sentative in Iraq, Staffan de Mis- into a stronghold in the style of on the Kirkuk issue, initially tura, to postpone the referendum n° 273 • December 2007 Information and liaison bulletin • 5 •

on Kirkuk for six months”, been delayed for technical rea- Moreover, the Kurdish and announced the Speaker of the sons(…) The problem is not to Arab parties of the Kirkuk Kurdish Parliament, Adnan postpone this application but to region reached an agreement Mufti. The six months delay extend the period for applying on 3 December on a power should be used to set up, in this article (…) The region’s sharing formula. The Presi- Kirkuk and elsewhere in the government is in favour of this dent of the Kirkuk regional country, machinery for reset- extension”, he had affirmed Council, Rizgar Ali, of the tling populations displaced in following a meeting at Najaf Patriotic Union of Kurdistan the context of manipulating with the most influential reli- (PUK) welcomed this agree- provincial borders by the for- gious leader of the Iraqi Shi- ment before the press “as a mer regime. Saddam Hus- ites, Ayatollah Ali Sistani. positive stage towards the devel- sein’s policy of forced Arabi- The Parliament of Kurdistan opment of Kirkuk and towards sation forced tens of thou- had, on the same day, heard cooperation in decision-making sands of Kurds into exile and Staffan de Mistura defend his and partnership”. According to settled in their place popula- plan. “Your reaction should be an Arab member of the tions brought from other dictated by reason and not by provincial council, Rakan regions of Iraq. Article 140 of passion (…) Otherwise everyone Said al-Juburi, the agreement the Iraqi Constitution stipu- will suffer the consequences”, announced gives his commu- lates that a referendum must Mr. de Mistura had main- nity a better representation in take place before 31 Decem- tained. A communiqué pub- the bodies that will be set up ber 2007 to decide whether lished on 17 December by the following fresh local elec- Kirkuk is to pass under the UN aid mission for Iraq tions. “For the first time, the authority of the Kurdistan (UNAMI) pointed out the duties of assistant governor and regional government. The necessity of a “technical delay” of Chief assistant of the judiciary Kurds have made the holding and welcomed “the general will be attributed to us”, he of this referendum a clear agreement” received from the welcomed. “Responsibilities condition of their support for Iraqi and Kurdish authorities. will be distributed equally with the Shiite-dominated Bagh- The UN communiqué points up to 32% each to the Kurds, dad government, in office out that it has been “indicated Arabs and Turcomen. The since the passing of the Con- at UNO that the most appropri- remaining 4% will be attributed stitution in 2005. ate next stage is to start in Janu- to the minorities, like the Assyri- ary 2008, and for six months, a ans, Chaldeans and Armenians”, The Kurdistan regional gov- process of easing the application he added. The 41-member ernment had agreed to the of Article 140”. To support the regional council is dominated UN proposal on one of the UN envoy in Iraq, the US Sec- by the two Kurdish parties thorniest issues in Iraq. On 17 retary of State, Condoleezza (Massud Barzani’s KDP and December, the Prime Minister Rice, visited Kirkuk on 18 Jalal Talabani’s PUK) with 26 of Kurdistan, Nechirvan December where the Ameri- seats. The Arab parties have Barzani, announced that his can Foreign Minister met rep- six seats and the Turcomen government had accepted the resentatives of the Kurdish, nine. The Arab organisations postponement proposed by Sunni and Shiite Arab, Christ- have been boycotting the the United Nations. “The ian and Turcoman communi- regional organisation for sev- application of Article 140 has ties. eral months. • 6 • Information and liaison bulletin n° 273 • December 2007

BERLIN: THE GERMAN AUTHORITIES FREE, AHEAD process, in Germany, that OF TIME, THE ASSASSINS OF SADEGH SHARAFKANDI allows the release, after at AND THREE OF HIS COMPANIONS OF THE KURDISTAN least 15 years detention, of DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF IRAN prisoners sentenced for life. However, a little earlier in the AZEN Darabi, sen- fired the fatal shots. Two year the legal authorities had tenced to life imprison- other Lebanese who had also excluded the likelihood of K ment for the murder of been found guilt, Mohammed Kazem Darabi being rapidly several Iranian Kurdish Atris, who served a five years freed. They had argued the leaders in Berlin in 1992, and and three months in jail and “particularly heavy” load of considered by the Germans as Yussef Amin, who was the crime committed. The an Iranian secret agent, was expelled to the Lebanon in prisoner was considered by freed ahead of time on 10 1999 after serving more than Israel a precious bargaining December and expelled to half his 11-year sentences. In counter for gaining informa- Iran from Frankfort Airport. the verdict, Iran was directly tion about the fate the Israeli He has spent fifteen years in implicated “at the highest pilot Ron Arad, whose plane prison. The Mykonos trial, level of the State”, that is had been shot down over from the name of the Berlin openly accused of terrorism, South Lebanon in 1986. That restaurant where the killings a world first. The sentence, State had, indeed, tried to put took place, had damaged following on three years of pressure on Chancellor German-Iranian relations for hearings, highlighted by evi- Angela Merkel this autumn, a long time — and, more dence by the former Iranian to prevent the announced widely, the E.U.’s relations President in exile, Abdolhas- release of the two prisoners. with Teheran. san Banisadr, who had The name of Darabi was also accused Iran of being a terror- raised as a bargaining counter Kazam Darabi, today 48 ears ist state. There followed a when Germany was seeking of age, and his Lebanese diplomatic crisis of a year. to secure the release of a Ger- accomplice, Abbas Rhayel, 39 Iran recalled its ambassadors man tourist, Donald Klein, years, had been sentenced for to Europe, the E.U. recalled imprisoned in Iran and sen- life in April 1997 for the mur- theirs from Teheran. tenced for illegal entry into ders, in a Berlin restaurant on Iranian territorial waters. The 17 September 1992, of the In October, the German German was finally released chief of the Kurdistan Democ- authorities had announced, in March, after 15 months ratic Party of Iran (KDPI), unexpectedly, their intention detention. Sadegh Sharafkandi and of shortening the sentences of three of his companions. these two men and expelling Thus Germany has closed a They had come to Berlin spe- them, while Iran had been painful chapter in Irano- cially to take part in a meet- trying for several years past, Germn relations. A spokes- ing of the Socialist Interna- to secure Kazem Darabi’s man for the Berlin regional tional. Kazam Darabi was the release. At the time Germany Ministry of the Interior head of the commando and had denied any political bar- announced his expulsion Abbas Rhayel the one who gaining, arguing the classical when Kazem Darabi had n° 273 • December 2007 Information and liaison bulletin • 7 •

already left German airspace Kazem Darabi and Abbas Constitutional Court in early in the evening. His Rhayel) an other cases”. The November by the Prosecutor Lebanese accomplice, Abbas former lawyer of the private of the Court of Appeals. The Rhayad, Lebanese Hezbollah parties associated with the prosecutor recommended activist, was expelled as far prosecution judged these banning the DTP on the back as 6 December to an early releases “incomprehensi- grounds that it could be “a unspecified destination. The ble”. Considering them more source of activities prejudicial to German Federal Prosecutor’s the consequence of “political the independence of the State Office, the competent authori- pressures” and will be “inter- and its indivisible unity”. The ty for terrorist cases, repeated preted by Iran not as a sign of proceedings started against “there is no connection generosity but as a sign of the the DTP come at a time when (between the expulsion of West’s weakness”. Turkey has been waging mili- tary operations, since 16 December, against Kurdish ANKARA: THE CONSTITUTIONAL COURT REJECTS THE fighters entrenched in Iraqi PROVISIONAL MEASURES TO SUSPEND ALL PUBLIC ACTIVITY Kurdistan. DEMANDED BY THE PROSECUTION AGAINST THE PRO-KURDISH DTP WHICH IS THREATENED WITH BANNING Furthermore, on 17 Decem- ber, in Ankara, the Turkish N 27 December, the root of the case”, stated the police took in for questioning Constitutional Court DTP Member of parliament the President of the DTP, O rejected demands by Selahattin Demirtas. “The accusing him of having “used the Public Prosecutor demands of the Public Prosecu- false documents to avoid mili- for restricting the activity of tor were illegal and the Court tary service”. Nurettin Demir- the Party for a Democratic applied the law”. tas, elected in November to Society (DTP – pro-Kurdish), the Presidency of the DTP, which is being prosecuted The Public Prosecutor had was arrested at about 7.30 and threatened with banning called for the banning of the p.m. (5.30 p.m. GMT) at because of alleged links with DTP, that holds 20 of the 550 Ankara’s Esenboga Airport, the Kurdistan Workers’ Party seats in the Parliament, from on his return from a visit to (PKK). The Court considered putting forward candidates at Germany. He was led to a that the conditions required elections, of taking part in forensic medicine Institute, a for taking such measures polls on the lists of other par- procedure prior to being against the DTP for the dura- ties or as independent candi- placed in detention. Accord- tion of its trial did not exist. dates. He had also demanded ing the CNN-Turk television The DTP welcomed this deci- the freezing of any financial channel, Mr. Demirtas, 35 sion but stressed by the aids the party might enjoys years of age, is being sued Court, but stressed that it was well as on the recruiting of with 183 other people for still being threatened with new members. These having avoided military ser- being closed down, “This is a demands for these measures vice by making “use of false positive decision even if it does of distraint were included in report of unfitness” and faces not constitute any sign about the the charge sheet sent to the two to five years' jail. • 8 • Information and liaison bulletin n° 273 • December 2007

THE LOWEST DEATH ROLL IN IRAQ SINCE the creation of “concerned local FEBRUARY 2006: 568 IRAQIS KILLED IN DECEMBER citizens” (CLC). On 3 Decem- ber, the Iraqi government ordered the Ministry of the T least 568 Iraqis were recorded by the three Min- Interior to undertake the killed in December in istries. In November 2007, 606 command of 12,000 “con- A attacks and assassina- Iraqis were killed, compared cerned local citizens” in the tions — the lowest fig- with 887 in October and 840 Baghdad region and to begin ure since February 2006, in September. Alongside this paying them. The US Army according to figures by the drop, the number of US has revealed the fact that it Ministries of Defence, the troops killed in Iraq has also was forming, arming and Interior and Health. Accord- been diminishing regularly paying some 60,000 “con- ing to this assessment, 480 since last May. cerned” Iraqi citizens through- civilians, 24 soldiers and 64 out the country, mainly Sunni police were killed in Decem- Iraq has been experiencing a Arabs, to control the violence ber, making a total of 568 relative improvement in secu- at local level. Credited with people. In all, 937 people rity since the end f the sum- having contributed to reduc- were injured in December, mer. This is particularly ing the level of violence, the according to the figures of the notable in Baghdad, where some 200 CLC groups Iraqi Ministries: 730 civilians, the bomb attacks, kidnap- already formed are derived 51 troops and 156 police. On pings, executions and clashes from tribal militia that the other hand, 251 “terror- between armed groups have appeared last year in the ists” were killed and 1,146 sharply diminished. Accord- Western region of Anbar. To were arrested according to ing to a recent report by the struggle against al-Qaida’s the same assessment. The US Administration, attacks blind massacres, the Sunni Sunni Arab militia mobilised have dropped by 62% tribal Sheikhs of the province by the US Army against al- throughout the country since had undertaken to set up Qaida, some dozens of whom June. The US and Iraqi groups of young militia, have been killed in attacks in authorities see here proof of made responsible for policing the last few weeks, are count- the success of a vast offensive the areas of their tribal influ- ed amongst the civilians. At launched in February 2007 in ence. least 637 people were killed the capital and the rest of the in February 2006, a month country. This improvement is Since mid-November, three marked by the bomb attack also the result of the mobilisa- large-scale bomb attacks have on the Shiite Mausoleum of tion of Sunni Arab militia take place in the capital, caus- Samarra (125 Km North of against al-Qaida, and the ing at least 36 deaths. The rest Baghdad), which had truce decreed by Moqtada of the country has not been unleashed a wave of sectarian Sadr’s powerful Shiite militia, spared. On 8 December a sui- violence in Iraq, essentially the Mahdi’s Army. cide bomber blew up his car between the Shiite and Sunni bomb against a police build- communities. The peak of this Anxious to curb the violence, ing in Baiji (Northern Iraq), violence was reached in Janu- the US General Staff has pro- killing at least six policemen ary 2007, with 1,992 deaths vided its active support for and wounding sixteen others. n° 273 • December 2007 Information and liaison bulletin • 9 •

The day before, at Moq- million. The Red Crescent also vival are constantly deterio- dadiyah (North) a woman estimate that slightly over rating. had set off the explosive belt 25,000 Iraqis refugees have she was wearing in the build- returned from Syria since 15 On the other hand, on 10 ing used b a militia fighting September. According to December, Iraq asked the UN against al-Qaida in Iraq, caus- reports coming from the prin- Security Council to extend for ing 16 deaths and 27 injured. cipal countries offering them a further year, the mandate of On 12 December, three car asylum, namely Syria and the US-led coalition, specify- bomb attacks committed a few Lebanon, the situation there is ing that this was the last minutes apart caused 40 becoming daily more and extension and that it could, deaths and dozens of injured more precarious for the indeed be shortened. US in Amara, which is mainly refugees. According to the troops will remain on Iraqi Shiite in population. This Human Rights Defence group, soil after 2008, but Baghdad triple attack is the bloodiest in Human Rights Watch (HRW), wants to amend the terms of Iraq for several months and the Lebanese authorities have their mission. Since the begin- occurred in a region where begum to put pressure on the ning of the year attacks have struggles for influence 50,000 Iraqi refugees living dropped by 55%, following between factions have intensi- there. According to Bill Fre- the deployment of 30,000 fied since the gradual with- lick, of HRW, those refugees additional troops since mid- drawal of British forces. The who do not have valid visas June. The increasing recourse bombs exploded in one of the are too often just thrown into to “concerned local citizens” main thoroughfares of Amara, jail until they agree to leave backed by US troops, mostly the capital of Maissan the Lebanon. Syria is becom- organised by Sunni tribal Province, located some 365 ing less and less hospitable Chiefs, is said to have born Km South of Baghdad, mainly and the conditions for sur- fruit, despite initial criticisms. inhabited by Marshland Arabs. Most of the victims were killed or injured by the DAMASCUS: THE SYRIAN LEAGUE FOR THE DEFENCE OF second and third bombs that HUMAN RIGHTS CONDEMNS THE TRIALS AND SENTENCES exploded as a crowd of OF KURDS BY THE HIGH COURT OF STATE SECURITY, onlookers had gathered in A SPECIAL EMERGENCY COURT front of a parking area, where the explosion had taken place. N 16 December, the Syr- of the authorities to put five ian police dispersed a Kurds on trial before this court”, According to figures pub- O demonstration of sever- pointed out the Syrian lished on 5 December by the al dozens of Kurds League for the Defence of Iraqi Red Crescent, almost before ht High Court of State Human Rights (LSDDH). 110,000 displaced persons Security, a special emergency Some demonstrators were were able to return to their court. The demonstrators, knocked about and beaten homes in Iraq in October. In coming out I response to a with sticks by the police then all, the number of people dis- call from three Kurdish par- forced into trucks that took placed inside Iraqi territory ties (banned in Syria) wished them out of Damascus, where has dropped from 2.3 to 2.19 “to protest against the decision they were released. • 10 • Information and liaison bulletin n° 273 • December 2007

Furthermore, the same court teed by the Syrian Constitution he says, cannot imagine the sentenced four Kurdish and Human Rights treaties”. It future of Europe in the next detainees to imprisonment. called for “the immediate free- 20 years without also think- Abed Salhab, Mohammad ing of all political detainees”. ing about the place it would Anas Saleh, and Radwan On 15 December, US Presi- leave for Turkey. However, Sheikh Mohammad, all three dent George W. Bush called the group’s mandate makes accused of “being members of for the immediate freeing of no direct reference to the an organisation aiming at alter- dozens of the regime’s oppo- reply needed regarding ing the economic and social sta- nents arrested in recent days. Turkey’s candidacy, nor to tus of the State”, were respec- “The Syrian regime continues to Europe’s borders — but the tively sentenced to ten, five detain hundreds of prisoners of “wise men” will have to and four years imprisonment, opinion and has arrested over begin by assuring the stability the LSDDH indicated. Rami thirty members of the National of “the European region in a Sayed was sentenced to four Council in recent days”, broad sense”. years detention for “having declared Mr. Bush, referring spread false information aimed to the Council recently set up For his part, on 12 December at weakening the nation”. round the “Damascus declara- the Turkish Prime Minister, The LSDDH expressed its tion”, a call for democratic Recep Tayyip Erdogan, con- “profound anxiety” at the sen- change in Syria. “All these sidered that France could not tences passed and denounced detainees must be freed immedi- block Turkey’s candidacy to the special courts, that “violate ately”, Mr. Bush stressed in the European Union, even if the essential freedoms guaran- his communiqué. Paris succeeded in having the word “accession” removed TURKEY-E.U.: PARIS SUCCEEDS IN HAVING THE WORD from the European commu- “ACCESSION” REMOVED FROM A EUROPEAN niqué on the Turkey-E.U. COMMUNIQUÉ ON THE NEGOTIATIONS WITH TURKEY negotiations, On France’s insistence, the E.U. Foreign Ministers avoided using the words membership or acces- N 14 December, the for- does not specifically mention sion in their communiqué mer Spanish Prime Turkey. Nicolas Sarkozy had about Turkey of 10 Decem- Minister, Felipe Gonza- announced during the elec- O ber. Thus the document lez, a former opponent tion campaign that he would evokes the holding, before of Turkey’s joining the Euro- stop the negotiations with the end of the month, of pean Union was chosen to Turkey if elected. He has “ inter-governmental preside the “think tank” since moderated his stand by conferences” and not of “con- desired by Nicolas Sarkozy to accepting to open talks on ferences on membership” to consider the future of Europe. those chapters that do not open two chapters of negotia- The mandate of the group, directly lead to membership. tions. “If France believes it can which is due to make its He has, however, conditioned prevent Turkey’s accession with report in 2010, is to imagine the pursuit of these negotia- the support of some countries, it the face of Europe in the per- tions to the setting up of a is mistaken”, declared Mr. spective of 2020-2030, and group of “wise men” who, so Erdogan during a reception n° 273 • December 2007 Information and liaison bulletin • 11 •

by an Ankara businessman in endum before the admission people having “insulted Turk- Ankara, attended by Ambas- of any new countries, such as ish identity” and, in particular, sadors of European Union Macedonia or Serbia — a punishes any statements countries. “Because Turkey risky procedure introduced about the Armenian genocide remains and will continue to by Mr. Chirac to defuse the of 1915. “There is a political remain decided to advance on the Turkish issue. will to changer article 301, road to the E.U.”, added the which has been decided, but the Prime Minister. In these Furthermore Turkey has been methods and time table depend uncharacteristically sharp under strong pressure from on certain on certain measures terms, Mr Erdogan accuses the E.U. to amend or sup- by the E.U.”, declared a high- Mr. Sarkozy of sending mes- press Article 301 of its Penal ranking official, off the sages in different tones Code, which allows judges to record. The E.U. is also call- depending on whether he try people for “insulting Turk- ing for the rights of religious addresses them to Turkey or ish identity” and, in particular, minorities in Turkey, such as elsewhere. In his view, the to punish statements about making more flexible the E.U. cannot change the rules the Armenian genocide of restrictions on the property of of the game at half time, — an 1915. Some Turkish officials, non-Moslems, like the Greek allusion to efforts by Sarkozy quoted off the record by Orthodox community. The to persuade Turkey to opt for Reuters on 7 December, state European summit of Decem- a “privileged partnership” with that Turkey will amend this ber 2006 froze eight of the 35 the E.U. and to renounce real controversial article of its chapters of negotiation (the membership. Penal Code for freedom of most important ones) so long expression — when the E.U. as Turkey refused to open its The French President has unblocks negotiations for ports and airports to ships accepted that discussions membership with Turkey. and planes coming from continue, but not on chapters Article 301 allows the trial of Cyprus. of the negotiations that auto- matically imply membership, THE IRANIAN NUCLEAR CRISIS: RUSSIA STARTS DELIVERING such as entry into the euro FUEL WHILE THE US INTELLIGENCE REVEALS, FOR THE FIRST zone, a position that is, TIME, THAT IRAN HAD SECRET PLANS EVEN BEFORE 2003 indeed, close to that dis- played by Angela Merkel’s entourage. Paris will, there- N 30 December the Iran- delivering nuclear fuel by the fore, approve the opening of ian Foreign Minister summer, which would allow two new chapters at the end O announced that the first starting the power station. of December — on consumer Iranian nuclear power “The Bushehr power station will protection and trans-Euro- station would start producing start up at 50% capacity next pean networks — which will electricity in the summer of summer”, declared Mottaki, be added to the five already 2008. Manushehr Mottaki according to the IRNA press opened. The French govern- declared that the Russians, agency. The total capacity of the ment is ready to amend the who had helped built the site is 1,000 MW”. French Constitution to sup- Bushehr (South) light water press the obligation of a refer- reactor, would have finished After several months delay, • 12 • Information and liaison bulletin n° 273 • December 2007

Russia began its deliveries of son had explained, adding: “I any nuclear weapons at pre- fuel mid-December and a sec- cannot say how long the testing sent. On the other hand, 16 ond delivery arrived on 28 of the fuel will last”. Mr. Motta- other intelligence services December. In all, 82 tonnes ki, however, indicated “deliv- indicated that Iran apparently are du to be delivered accord- ery will be complete with the intends to maintain the ing to the Iranian authorities. sending of eight shipments”. nuclear arms option and Moscow had officially After the first delivery of fuel, might be able to produce explained the delay on the Moscow called on Iran to enough highly enriched ura- procedure by delays in pay- “stop its uranium enrichment nium to make an atom bomb ment but many observers work” pointing out that the between 2010 and 2015. This have suggested that Russia supply of fuel to Bushehr agency reveals for the first was annoyed that the Irani- “was ensured for the rest of its time that Iran did indeed ans were not assuring the working life”. Iran replied by have secret plans before 2003 international community in a stating that it was continuing and also stresses that Iran clearer manner that their its uranium enrichment, continues to have activities in nuclear programme was, against the wishes of the other possible nuclear activi- indeed, purely civilian. The international community, so ties such as enrichment. The use fuel is due to be sent back as to supply its future power Democrat opposition to Bush to Russia, which helped reas- station at Darkhoyan (South). has based itself on this report sure the international com- The Iranian Minister of Fuel to demand a “new policy munity that it would not be and Power, Parviz Fattah, towards Iran”, in the terms of retreated to extract plutoni- stated on 30 December that the Speaker of the House of um for military use. The Iran had begun building the Representatives, Nancy spokesperson of the Russian Darkhoyen power station in Pelosi, while the head of the company Atomstroiexport, Darkhoyen, in the province of Democratic majority in the Irina Essipova, had pointed Khuzistan (South-West Iran). Senate, Harry Reid, called for out on 20 December that the In a report published on 3 a “diplomatic surge of energy”. Bushehr power station December, the US Intelligence Some weeks after President “would not be started up service stated that Iran had, Bush had brandished the before the end of 2008”. Rus- in fact, stopped its nuclear spectre of a “nuclear sia, which took over the arms plans in 2003 and holocaust” or a Third World building of the plant from the admitted that it did not know War if Iran had the bomb, the German Siemens company, its current plans, at the risk of Bush Administration is being made two deliveries of fuel to against discrediting George pushed onto the defensive by Bishehr in the last two weeks. W. Bush’s discourse on the unfavourable comparisons These deliveries are due to threat of weapons of mass with the Iraqi precedent, end next February. “Six after destruction. “We judge, with a when he had invoked the the end of fuel delivery we will high degree of confidence, that danger of Saddam Hussein’s begin testing with this fuel. Teheran stopped its nuclear weapons mass destruction. When the tests have been suc- arms programme in the autumn Uranium enrichment, that cessfully completed we will be of 2003”, according to the Iran refuses to suspend able to start up the plant”, the Intelligence services, who despite two series of interna- Russian builder’s spokesper- think that Iran does not have tional sanctions and the dan- n° 273 • December 2007 Information and liaison bulletin • 13 •

ger of a third, is intended to nuclear plans (France, Ger- gas were killed and five were produce fuel for its future many, Russia China the Unit- wounded when terrorists civilian power stations, the ed Kingdom and the United attacked their control post” in a Islamic regime insists. How- States) are discussing a third shoot out that lasted over two ever, enriched to over 10%, resolution strengthening hours, and that three “terror- uranium can provide materi- sanctions against Iran to get it ists” were killed. Some pesh- al for a bomb. The note has to suspend its suspected merga units have been sent to appeared at a time when the nuclear activities — especial- the Karatappa region, where six powers taking part in the ly the enrichment of urani- some communities of Shiite negotiations over Iranian um. Kurds are settled, while Diyala Province is the scene of an American offensive AS WELL AS … against the Iraqi emulators of al-Qaida.

• IRAN: TWO KURDISH FEMINISTS, HAVING • THE KURDISH DEPUTY troops in Iraq on the expiry of LAUNCHED A CAMPAIGN PRIME MINISTER HOPES the UN mandate at the end of AGAINST DISCRIMINATO- FOR A STRATEGIC 2008. “We are satisfied with this RY LAWS AGAINST ALLIANCE BETWEEN THE agreement between Washington WOMEN, ARE ARRESTED UNITED STATES AND and Baghdad (…) the Kurdish BY THE IRANIAN KURDISTAN. On 11 leadership has tried to have the AUTHORITIES. An Iranian December, the Deputy Prime same thing several times” the judge has accused two femi- Minister, Omar Fatah, indi- Deputy Prime Minister con- nist activists of having con- cated that the government of tinued. “We are not in favour of ducted “terrorist activities” in Kurdistan hoped to sign a a rapid withdrawal of American Sanandaj, provincial capital separate agreement with the troops. We want these troops to of Kurdistan Province, United States organising a remain until the establishment of according to a report dated 16 long-term American military a democratic and federal Iraq”, December by the official presence on its territory. “A Mr. Fatah insisted. news agency IRNA. Ronak strategic agreement between Safarzadeh and Hana Abdi Kurdistan and the United Eight members of the Kur- “have been arrested for action States would satisfy us”, he dish security forces, the pesh- contrary to national security by insisted in a statement to the mergas, were killed on 16 taking part in recent bomb press at Irbil. December in an attack on a attacks in Sanandj and for being control post near the town of members of the PEJAK Group”, Returning from a visit to the Karatappa, in the neighbour- declared the judge responsi- United States, he was com- ing province of Diyala. Jabar ble for the case. According to menting on the signing of an Yawar, Commander of the him “the counter-revolutionary agreement between Washing- Peshmergas who ensure secu- groups use civic organisations to ton and the Baghdad central rity in Iraqi Kurdistan made carry out their terrorist actions”. government to maintain US the point that “eight peshmer- The two young women were • 14 • Information and liaison bulletin n° 273 • December 2007

among the feminist groups TREATY OF ALGIERS THAT clearly its line. There are oil that, several months ago, DEFINES THE IRAQ-IRAN fields on the border and we hope launched a campaign to col- BORDER. On 29 December, that the benefits be shared”, he lect a million signatures to the Iraqi Deputy Foreign declared. “This does not pre- alter laws that discriminated Minister, Labid Abbawi, sent a problem for Iraq. They against women. The legal announced that an Iraqi dele- have agreed to negotiations and official added “people have gation would be going to Iran there is no problem”, he added. been arrested in Teheran for hav- in the coming days to negoti- The treaty of Algiers has been ing carried out actions in favour ate slight modifications to the controversial since it was of Pejak under cover of the cam- agreement, which has defined signed by Saddam Hussein, paign for a million women’s sig- the border between the two at that time Iraqi Vice-Presi- natures”. Some international countries since 1975. This ini- dent and the Shah of Iran, In organisations for the defence tiative, seems to confirm a the 1980s, disagreements over of human rights have protest- diplomatic solution to a dis- the border plunged Iran and ed against the arrest of these agreement linked to the Iraq into a war that lasted feminist activists, particularly Treaty of Algiers, signed eight years and caused over a Ronak Safarzadeh and Hana nearly 33 years ago, and million deaths. At the heart of Abdi. which Iraqi President the claims id the Shatt al- described on 25 December as Arab estuary, which allows PEJAK, an acronym for the “null and void”. The Iraqi access to the Arabo-Persian Party for a free life in Kurdis- President later indicated that Gulf and contains oilfields. tan, is linked to the Kurdistan the treaty was still valid but According to Labid Abbawi, Workers’ Party (PKK). It that Iraq wished to negotiate portions of Iraqi territory are wages an armed struggle certain changes. The Iranian now flooded because of ero- against the Iranian regime. Foreign Minister, Manushehr sion and geographic changes The Province of Kurdistan Mottaki, quoted by the IRNA in the region. Iraq also hopes and the neighbouring press agency on 29 December, to negotiate with Iran the province of Western Azerbai- as saying “We approve Tala- neutralisation of thousands of jan are the scene of sporadic bani’s latest declaration that the mines that still strew the clashes attributed by the 1975 Treaty between Iran and Shatt el-Arab authorities to “Kurdish sepa- Iraq was valid”. “This point of ratist groups”. The forces of the view can constitute a solid base • FORMER IRANIAN Foreign Ministry of Informa- for relations between Iran and PRESIDENT, MOHAM- tion announced, on 25 Iraq”, he added. MAD KHATAMI, WILL November, that it had arrest- LEAD A COALITION OF 21 ed 11 members of Pejak, Labid Abbawi indicated that PARTIES IN THE NEXT accused, amongst other things the Iranians had accepted to PARLIAMENTARY ELEC- of having “attacked and set on discuss changes to the Treaty, TIONS. The former Presi- fire a police station in Sanandaj without, however, giving any dent of Iran, Mohammad and set off several bombs”. date for the discussions. “Part Khatami, is returning to the of the discussions will concern forefront in preparation for • BAGHDAD WANTS TO the Algiers treaty, we will dis- the Parliamentary elections RENEGOTIATE THE 1975 cuss the border and try to define due 14 March next. He will n° 273 • December 2007 Information and liaison bulletin • 15 •

lead a coalition of reformers the hands of the Supreme strengthen relations hitherto and moderate conservatives Guide of the Revolution — a marked by mutual distrust. whose objective is to regain factor which paved the way These relations have long control of the Majlis (the Iran- for the return to power of the been marked by a tragedy in ian parliament), at present ultra-conservatives in 2004. Mecca in 1987, when 402 pil- dominated by President Mah- Meanwhile, the Iranian Presi- grims, including 275 Iranians, mud Ahmedinjad’s dent, Mahmud Ahmedinjad, were killed, according to the Abadgaran Party. The coali- will be going on the annual official assessment, by the tion led by Mr. Khatami pilgrimage to Mecca, in Saudi Saudi police. The latter were brings together 21 parties, Arabia — a first ever for a repressing a traditional including allies and others Head of State of the Islamic demonstration by Iranian in loyal to Ali Akbar Hashemi Republic. “On the official invi- Mecca against the United Rafsanjani, another former tation of (the Saudi) King States and Israel. Iran, at the Iranian president and a very Abdullah, President Ahmedin- time, was in the middle of its influential figure in the politi- jad will take part this year in the war with Iraq, which was cal caste. The reforming pilgrimage to Mecca”, declared supported by the Gulf alliance aims to campaign by Mojtaba Samareh Hashemi, monarchies, including Saudi criticising the country’s eco- principal adviser to the Head Arabia. nomic situation, including a of State on 13 December, as galloping inflation and the quoted by the Mehr press • GREAT BRITAIN HANDS extremism of the positions agency. “This is the first time, OVER RESPONSIBILITY adopted by President in the history of relations FOR BASRA TO THE IRAQI Ahmedinjad, particularly on between Iran and Saudi Arabia, FORCES. On 16 December, the nuclear issue. For some that the Saudi King has invited Great Britain officially hand- weeks now criticisms direct- a President of the Islamic ed over responsibility for the ed at President Ahmedinjad Republic to come to Mecca on security of Basra Province to have been increasingly fre- pilgrimage”, declared for his the Iraqi forces, at the end of quent and have even been part Ali Akbar Javanfekr, the nearly five years of British expressed in media consid- President’s media adviser. control of Southern Iraq. Dur- ered close to the Supreme On 11 December, the Iranian ing an official ceremony to Guide, Ayatollah Khamenei. President had stated that mark the event in the last Mohammad Khatami, who king Abdullah had invited British military base in the was President of the Islamic him verbally, during the region, the province’s Gover- Republic from 1997 to 2007, recent summit of the Gulf nor, Mohammed Mosbah al- embodies the hopes of a Cooperation Council, to go Waeli, linked to the Fadila whole of Iranian society, par- on the pilgrimage to Mecca. party, declared: “This is a his- ticularly the students, that This will be 'r. Ahmedinjad’s toric moment, a special day, one hopes for a certain moderni- third visit to Saudi Arabia of the greatest days in the histo- sation of society. These hopes since his taking office in 2005. ry of modern Basra”. Thou- have been disappointed, part- Iran, which is mainly Shiite sands of Iraqi soldiers and ly because of the political sys- and the mainly Sunni Saudi police took part in the march tem, the principal levers of Arabia have been trying, over past along the riverbanks of which remain concentrated in the last few years, to the capital of the Great South, • 16 • Information and liaison bulletin n° 273 • December 2007

with a cloud of helicopters fickers of various sorts. The to hand over control of the flying above them. Motor- factions have agreed to a province to the Iraqis last boats also crossed the Shatt truce, for this month, and vio- year. On 3 September they el-Arab, the river at the con- lence has diminished, but an had given control of the city fluence of the Tigris and outbreak of violence remains of Basra’s security to the Iraqi Euphrates, which leads down possible in the regions evacu- authorities. to the Gulf. The Commander ated b the British forces. It is of the British forces, General for this reason that a reduced The Province of Basra, trough Graham Binns, who led the British contingent will remain whose port transits 80% of troops who captured the city in Southern Iraq, confined to Iraqi oil, exports 1.5 million in 2003, paid homage to the its base round Basra Airport barrels of oil per day, which Iraqi security forces, insisting and that a few army instruc- supplies virtually the totality that the were equal to the task tors as well as a rapid reac- of the Iraqi government’s that was being confided to tion force will remain ready resources. The wealth in oil of them. in case of need. Great Britain this province produces, now has some 4,500 men in together with the neighbour- This province, of 2.6 million Iraq, less than a tenth of the ing province of Missan, some predominately Shiite inhabi- force sent to overthrow Sad- 70% of Iraq’s crude. Part of tants, is clearly the most dam Hussein. There have this oil is also sold abroad densely inhabited and richest been 174 British troops killed outside official channels, a of the 18 Iraqi provinces in Iraq since the beginning of source of illicit revenue for whose control has been hand- the war in March 2003. The smugglers and other traffick- ed over to the Iraqis. It is the United States have openly ers, many of which are sus- principal centre for the supported the decision of pected of having links with exporting of Iraqi oil, and their British allies to gradual- local militia. Political rivalries Basra is the country’s second ly disengage from Iraq. After have divided the city largest city. The Iraqi forces the fall of Saddam Hussein, between three main factions. insist that the 30,000 soldiers Great Britain controlled four The supporters of imam Moq- and police present in the provinces in the South, tada al-Sadr, fiercely anti- region are in a position to backed by contingents of Ital- American, have considerable keep the peace. The province ian, Australian, Japanese and street influence. His rival, the has, to a large extent, been others — most of whom have Supreme Council of the spared the sectarian conflicts long been gone. Of the four Islamic Revolution in Iraq that have caused tens of thou- provinces of which Britain (SCIRI) enjoys considerable sands of deaths in the centre had charge, three have influence with the security of Iraq. But the city of Basra already been handed over to forces while the Fadila party, has been the scene of bloody the Iraqi authorities: the smallest, is influential in clashes between rival Shiite Muthanna, Zi Qar, and Mis- the civil administration. factions, criminals and traf- san. The British forces began Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Ôzeti

LE FIGARO 4 décembre 2007 rait-eJle le problème kurde en Tur¬ forces américaines pour ouvrir un quie ? Ce serait, en revanche, sur le front nord contre Saddam Hus¬ plan politique, une catastrophe sein. La condition posée par la L'Irak, le Kurdistan régionale. Les Kurdes d'Irak, en Turquie pour accéder à cette obligeant le PKK à rendre les huit requête était que ses propres trou¬ soldats turcs prisonniers, ont pes participeraient à l'intervention et le débat turc montré leur volonté de ne pas en¬ en Irak du Nord, où les Kurdes dis¬ venimer les relations avec la Tur¬ posaient déjà d'une région auto¬ quie, tout en déclarant qu'en cas nome. Les États-Unis tiennent à d'incursion ils se défendraient. L'intérêt du gouvernement ce que les cent mille sol¬ Par turc est de conserver des relations dats turcs massés à la Gérard Chaliand* La menace d'intervention n'est cordiales avec le grand allié améri¬ frontière des trois provin¬ pas levée et le référendum, qui cain dans le cadre de l'Otan et de ces autonomes du Kurdistan ira¬ devait avoir lieu en décembre continuer à chercher à faire partie kien n'interviennent pas. Point -avec l'accord du gouvernement de l'Union européenne, ce qui, n'est besoin d'un front supplé¬ de Bagdad- et qui pourrait être outre les avantages économiques mentaire dans une situation déjà reporté à 2008, sur la dévolution de et financiers que cela peut lui pro¬ complexe où le général David la ville de Kirkouk, constitue peut- curer, équivaut à marginaliser Petraeus tente, avec un certain être la raison essentielle de la pres¬ l'armée. La partie qui se joue à la succès, de reprendre rinitiative. sion turque. Cette ville, majoritai¬ frontière turco-irakienne est aussi Le Parti des travailleurs du rement kurde, a été à l'origine de la une affaire turco-turque. En tant Kurdistan (PKK) a cherché, par ses que dirigeant politique ayant des « La partie discorde entre Saddam Hussein et opérations militaires, à refaire sur-, le mouvement kurde pendant plus objectifs à long terme, le premier face afin de conforter un prestige qui se joue de trente-cinq ans. Pour les Kurdes ministre turc, Recep Tayyip Erdo- déclinant. Cette stratégie aberran¬ à la frontière d'Irak qui la considèrent comme gan, sait qu'il faut éviter l'aventure te a redonné l'occasion à l'armée leur capitale régionale, son appar¬ d'une telle intervention, mais les turque de marquer des points dans turco-irakienne tenance au Kurdistan d'Irak serait passions sont difficiles à contrôler la confrontation politique qui se est aussi à la fois synonyme de réparation et les provocations toujours possi¬ joue entre le gouvernement élu une affaire bles. H faut aussi retenir l'hypothè¬ avec une belle majorité eti'institu- historique et de surcroît de puis¬ se selon laquelle la dévolution de tion militaire qui a longtemps été turco-turque» sance économique. Cette perspec¬ Kirkouk aux Kurdes peut paraître la colonne vertébrale de l'État. tive serait inacceptable pour cer¬ inacceptable à l'État turc. Durant les années récentes où tains des hauts responsables le PKK avait décrété une trêve, les tion forcée. Le PKK ne constitue militaires turcs confortés par une * Géostratège, spécialiste militaires se sont opposés à toute plus une menace militaire comme opinion publique de plus en plus des conflits, auteur de L'Amérique solution politique que semblait durant les années 1990. Une parue antikurde, ce qui est inquiétant en guerre, Irak-Afghanistan, souhaiter le gouvernement. Il fau¬ de ses militants se trouve en Tur¬ pour l'avenir de la Turquie elle- aux Éditions du Rocher, 2007. dra bien pourtant reconnaître un quie et parvient toujours à échap¬ même. jour qu'il n'est pas possible de per aux ratissages des forces refuser indéfiniment d'accorder de années, une petite partie -vrai¬ Si l'intervention devait avoir larges droits culturels à une mino¬ semblablement de 2 000 à 3 000 - lieu, elle viserait à frapper le rité constituant quelque 20 % de la se tient le long de la frontière Kurdistan d'Irak, non le PKK. population ! irako-iranienne. Une incursion C'était déjà le sens de la crise de Trop longtemps, la Turquie a terrestre -il y en a déjà eu dans le 2003, entre la Turquie et les États- nié l'identité kurde en n'offrant passé- n'aurait que peu de sens Unis, concernant le refus que le pour perspective que l'assimila- sur le plan militaire. En quoi régie- territoire turc soit utilisé par les

TURQUIE-IRAK OPÉRATION COMMÂNPO

nes et la Maison Blanche se sont mon¬ ££££ Incursion de l'armée turque trées prudentes. Washington a refusé de commenter ce nouvel épisode, disant en territoire irakien contre le PKK tout faire avec l'Irak et la Turquie pour contrer la « menace terroriste du PKK». ISTANBUL dre le porte-parole du gouvernement, Mais l'opération intervient deux jours CORRESPONDANCE Cemil Ciçek. L'objectif de cette attaque après la visite du vice-secrétaire d'Etat Une centaine de bérets violets, les comman¬ est surtout médiatique. C'est la première américain, John Negroponte, au Kurdis¬ dos turcs, auraient mené une brève opéra¬ opération depuis que le Parlement turc a tan autonome. tion en territoire irakien, samedi 1er décem¬ donné son accord à une intervention Sous la pression diplomatique, des bre, contre les rebelles kurdes du Parti des transfrontalière, en octobre. Et le mesures avaient été prises, depuis quel¬ travailleurs du Kurdistan (PKK). Un com¬ 28 novembre, le premier ministre turc, ques semaines, par les autorités irakien¬ muniqué publié par l'état-major de l'ar¬ Recep Tayyip Erdogan, avait autorisé les nes pour limiter la liberté de circulation mée turque assure qu'un camp de « cin¬ forces du général Yasar Bùyiikanit à des rebelles du PKK - 2 000 combattants quante à soixante terroristes», dans les entrer en action. Un pas supplémentaire qui seraient toujours réfugiés en Irak, montagnes du nord de l'Irak, a été détruit dans la dissuasion. Mais ce ne sont pas selon les renseignements turcs. D'autres et que la «puissante attaque » a causé de encore les « opérations d'envergure » ont déjà migré vers l'Iran. Ou vers le sud- lourdes pertes chez l'ennemi. Plusieurs qu'Ankara menace de lancer depuis le est de la Turquie, à majorité kurde, où hélicoptères de combat sont également mois d'avril. l'armée turque dirige également des atta¬ intervenus à l'intérieur des frontières ira¬ Les responsables du PKK ont admis, ques. Quatre rebelles ont été tués, same¬ kiennes, depuis la base turque deCukurca. dimanche, avoir été bombardés, mais di, dans les provinces de Sirnak et de Une incursion éclair qui devrait en démentent avoir subi des pertes humai¬ Siirt. m appeler d'autres, comme l'a laissé enten nes dans l'assaut. Les autorités irakien Guillaume Perrier Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Ozeti Turquie/Irak jfj Incursion militaire contre le PKK 02 décembre 2007 Vendredi, le gouvernement turc avait donné son feu vert pour une opéra¬ tion armée contre des bases des kurdes séparatistes dans le nord de l'Irak. Une centaine de membres des forces spéciales ont ainsi franchi la frontière pour attaquer un camp tenu par les rebelles du Parti des travailleurs du Kurdistan, le PKK. L'attaque faisant une vingtaine de morts parmi les soixantaine de rebelles présents. Selon le communiqué de l'état-major turc, ce genre d'opération coup de poing va se reproduire. Il y a quelques se¬ maines, la Turquie avait menacé de lancer une grande offensive contre les bases des séparatistes kurdes dans le nord de l'Irak après une attaque kurde contre des soldats turcs.

Avec notre correspondant à Istanbul, les Kurdes irakiens, ni même par Jérôme Bastion les forces armées américaines en Irak. II y aurait en Irak près d'un millier de L'état-major turc a confirmé dans la camps du PKK comme celui soirée mené « la première de avoir Une vingtaine de tués ci, toujours intégrés dans le paysage. Seul ses opérations visant à mettre hors Ce sont une centaine de com¬ le visage du leader du parti Abdullah Ôca¬ d'état de nuire le PKK en Irak du nord ». mandos, les « bérets violets » lan peint à même la montagne trahit leur Le communiqué précise que ces opéra¬ comme on les appelle ici, qui ont présence. (Photo : Paulina Zidi) tions ne visent pas les populations loca¬ été déposés sur ce camp de la les tant qu'elles n'ont pas une attitude rébellion, d'abord bombardé de- hostile des militaires turcs. tre qui disait en avoir laissé la respon¬ vis-à-vis puis les airs, avant d'être pris d'assaut. sabilité, mercredi, à l'armée. Une opération ponctuelle, héliportée, L'attaque a fait une vingtaine de tués contre un campement provisoire du PKK parmi la soixantaine de rebelles pré¬ Si l'on en croit le communiqué de l'état- situé à une vingtaine de kilomètres à sents. major, ce genre d'opération coup de poing va se reproduire. l'intérieur du territoire irakien. Une intervention prévisible, réclamée Cette incursion n'est pas confirmée par depuis des mois et en quelque sorte la rébellion elle-même, ni non plus par annoncée vendredi par le Premier minis-

Incursion turque au Kurdistan: "pas de victime" selon le PKK ERBIL (Irak), 2 déc 2007 (AFP) - Le PKK exige que la Turquie "admette les droits du peuple kurde dans sa Constitution", "reconnaisse la langue kurde comme la seconde langue Un haut responsable du Parti des travailleurs du Kurdistan a reconnu officielle du pays" et libère les membres du PKK, dont ses leaders, ac¬ dimanche que des hélicoptères turcs avaient bombardé des combat¬ tuellement détenus en Turquie. tants du PKK la veille au Kurdistan irakien, mais nié que le raid ait fait des victimes comme l'affirme Ankara. L'organisation séparatiste exige également le "retrait de l'armée turque du sud-est de la Turquie", la création d'un comité conjoint entre la Tur¬ Le groupe, qui avait dans un premier temps démenti l'incursion turque quie et le PKK pour préparer son intégration au sein du processus politi¬ dans le nord de l'Irak, a réitéré une précédente offre de cessez-le-feu que, et l'annonce par le Premier ministre Recep Tayyip Erdogan d'une faite à Ankara. amnistie générale de tous les combattants du PKK. "Il y a eu une frappe aérienne menée par des hélicoptères le long de la Le communiqué ne fait aucune mention du bombardement mené samedi frontière", a déclaré au correspondant de l'AFP à Erbil, capitale du Kur¬ par l'armée turque. distan irakien, un responsable du PKK qui a requis l'anonymat. Fin octobre, le PKK avait affirmé être disposé à respecter un cessez-le- "Aucun de nos combattants n'a été tué", a-t-il affirmé, interrogé au télé¬ feu si l'armée turque renonçait à ses projets d'incursion et si l'Etat turc phone depuis un lieu qu'il n'a pas précisé. respectait les droits politiques et culturels de la minorité kurde en Tur¬ La veille, le même responsable avait démenti toute incursion, terrestre quie. ou aérienne, de l'armée turque au Kurdistan irakien. Ce cessez-le-feu conditionnel avait été rejeté dès le lendemain par Anka¬ L'armée turque a annoncé être intervenue samedi dans le nord de l'Irak ra. contre un groupe d'une cinquantaine de rebelles du PKK, leur infligeant "Il n'y a pas eu d'incursion. Juste un bombardement le long de la fron¬ selon elle de "lourdes pertes". tière", a affirmé Fouad Hussein, le chef de la présidence kurde et princi¬ Selon Ankara, l'artillerie et des éléments aériens ont attaqué "à l'intérieur pal collaborateur du président du Kurdistan autonome Massoud Barzani. des frontières de l'Irak" un groupe de 50 à 60 combattants du PKK. Le gouvernement central de Bagdad n'a jusqu'à présent fait aucun com¬ C'est la première fois que l'armée turque passait aux actes depuis le feu mentaire officiel sur le bombardement turc. vert des députés, en octobre, à des opérations militaires en territoire En visite en Irak, le secrétaire d'Etat adjoint américain, John Negroponte, irakien. Ces raids ont pour but de répondre à des attaques menées par le a déclaré à Bagdad: "nous sommes tous d'accord pour dire que le PKK PKK en Turquie depuis ses bases arrière en Irak. est une organisation très négative, un groupe terroriste qui ne doit pas Le PKK "veut résoudre la crise avec Ankara", a assuré le même respon¬ être autorisé à opérer depuis le territoire irakien contre la Turquie". sable kurde, renvoyant à un communiqué officiel de l'organisation sépa¬ "Nous avons l'objectif commun de mettre fin à leurs activités", a-t-il ratiste transmis dimanche à l'AFP. déclar Le mouvement rebelle y dit qu'il "déposera les armes si les autorités turques répondent positivement à un certain nombre de conditions". Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Ozeti

(EuroNews 2 décembre 2007 Guerre des mots entre Ankara et les rebelles du PKK Cette dernière a mené une action ciblée avec des hélicoptères et des tirs d'artillerie contre un groupe d'une cinquantaine de rebelles. L'état-major turc affirme avoir infligé de lourdes pertes au PKK, ce que dément le groupe armé Abdullah GUI a rappelé que les députés turcs avaient donné leur feu vert en octobre à ce type d'opérations. Le président turc a également réaffirmé qu'elles se poursuivront si nécessaire.

Il semble être soutenu par une large partie de son opinion publique à l'image de ce stambouliote : "Je pense que ces opéra¬ tions doivent continuer. Nous en avons assez et cette zone doit être sécurisée car nous avons perdu beaucoup de vies et nous sommes toujours en deuil".

Cette opération turque est démentie par le gouvernement nord-irakien et dénoncée par ce kurde : "Nous condamnons fermement cette incursion turque au Kurdistan irakien. Nous peuple kurde, nous n'acceptons pas cette ingérence et nous allons demander au Conseil de sécurité des Nations Unies de condamner la Turquie pour cet acte". Ankara affirme avoir utilisé des renseignements fournis en temps réel par Washington.

El Watan 3 décembre 2007 La guerre en Irak et l'intervention militaire turque Une équation rendue complexe Finalement, l'armée turque n'a tenu compte d'aucune mise en garde, et les différentes milices kurdes, qui entendaient l'en dissuader, ne se sont pas opposées samedi à son attaque visant des combattants du PKK (parti des travailleurs du Kurdistan) qui, selon Ankara, disposent de bases dans le nord irakien. Y a-t-il là un quelconque élément responsable qui a requis l'anonymat. comme d'une base arrière pour leurs nées dans les jours prochains avec, nouveau à une situation déjà «Aucun de nos combattants n'a été actions dans le sud-est de la Turquie. si nécessaire, une implication complexe, avec une internationalisa¬ tué », a-t-il affirmé. d'unités d'élite malgré les difficiles La Turquie, qui dispose de la tion de fait, et surtout une perte de conditions hivernales dans cette zone L'armée américaine à Baghdad a deuxième plus grande armée de responsabilité de l'autorité centrale montagneuse. indiqué de son côté ne disposer l'Otan en effectifs (515 000 hommes) irakienne sur des régions entières, « d'absolument aucune information » après les Etats-Unis, a massé 100 Entre-temps en Turquie, dans les pour ne pas dire le pays entier? sur une incursion. L'armée turque a 000 hommes à la frontière irakienne, zones escarpées situées à proximité Assurément non, puisque depuis des annoncé être intervenue contre un longue de 380 km. Le 21 octobre, des de la frontière irakienne, dans la années, rappellent nombre groupe d'une cinquantaine de rebelles rebelles venant du Kurdistan irakien province de Sirnak, les troupes tur¬ d'analystes, l'armée intervenait en kurdes du PKK, leur infligeant selon avaient tué 12 soldats lors d'une ques ont intensifié leurs opérations profondeur en territoire irakien, sauf elle de « lourdes pertes ». Selon attaque près de la frontière irakienne, contre les rebelles kurdes. Des que cette fois, il y a eu implication de Ankara, l'artillerie et des éléments accroissant les menaces d'une inter¬ hélicoptères de combat ont pilonné toute la classe politique turque et que aériens ont attaqué «à l'intérieur des vention militaire turque contre le PKK certains secteurs afin d'empêcher le dans le même temps, l'opinion inter¬ frontières de l'Irak » un groupe de 50 en Irak. retour des rebelles dans leurs caches nationale était prise à témoin. Il reste à 60 combattants du PKK. Après donc irakiennes. Au-delà de l'ampleur de que l'intervention de samedi a suscité Le Premier ministre Recep Tayyip des semaines de tractations diploma¬ cet engagement, c'est sa médiatisa¬ des réactions pour le moins bizarres. Erdogan avait autorisé mercredi tiques, la Turquie a recouru à l'option tion qui est relevée cette fois, puisque Et c'est seulement hier qu'un respon¬ l'armée à réaliser une opération militaire. L'opération s'est produite au les combats sur cette bande fronta¬ sable du PKK a reconnu que des transfrontalière contre les rebelles sud-est de la localité turque de lière n'ont pas cessé depuis fort hélicoptères turcs avaient procédé à kurdes en Irak. « Il s'agit d'une opéra¬ Cukurca, dans la province de Hakka- longtemps. des bombardements la veille au tion contre une cible bien précise et ri, juste à la frontière, a indiqué l'état- Kurdistan irakien, dans le nord de ce n'est pas une surprise, car la Ainsi que les accusations ou à tout le major sur son site internet. «Si l'Irak, affirmant cependant que le raid Turquie a dit et répété qu'elle allait moins un fort sentiment de suspicion nécessaire, a-t-il ajouté, d'autres n'avait fait « aucune victime ». La sévir contre les terroristes dans le qui marque les relations entre voisins éléments de l'armée interviendront veille, ce même responsable avait nord de l'Irak», a commenté et bien au-delà. C'est le cas depuis au dans la région », en l'occurrence des démenti toute incursion, terrestre ou l'analyste militaire Armagan Kuloglu moins 2002 quand les Turcs suspec¬ unités terrestres. Accusant les Kur¬ aérienne, de l'armée turque au Kur¬ sur la chaîne d'information NTV. Ce taient un complot depuis cette fron¬ des d'Irak alliés des Américains, de distan irakien. « Il y a eu une frappe général à la retraite a estimé qu'une tière, les amenant à avoir l' sur soutenir le PKK, la Turquie a menacé aérienne menée par des hélicoptères vaste offensive de l'armée n'est pas tout ce qui se passait dans cette de lancer une opération militaire dans le long de la frontière », a déclaré à d'actualité mais que d'autres opéra¬ région. le nord de l'Irak pour en déloger les Erbil, capitale du Kurdistan irakien, le tions similaires pourraient être me rebelles qui se servent de cette région T. Hocine

HH.Iffl 3 décembre 2007 IRAK : Les Turcs bombardent L'armée passe aux actes pour répondre à des attaques menées par le PKK depuis ses bases arrière en Irak. Le PKK réitère son offre de cessez-le-feu.

Un haut responsable du Parti des travailleurs du actes depuis le feu vert des députés, en octobre, à Constitution", "reconnaisse la langue kurde comme Kurdistan (PKK) a reconnu dimanche que des des opérations militaires en territoire irakien. Ces la seconde langue officielle du pays" et libère les hélicoptères turcs avaient bombardé des com¬ raids ont pour but de répondre à des attaques me¬ membres du PKK, dont ses leaders, actuellement battants la veille au Kurdistan irakien. "// v a eu une nées par le PKK en Turquie depuis ses bases arrière détenus en Turquie. frappe aérienne menée par des hélicoptères le long en Irak. Tout cela avait été rejeté par Ankara. Kn visite en de la frontière", a déclaré un responsable du PKK Le PKK "veut résoudre la crise avec Ankara", a Irak, le secrétaire d'Ktat adjoint américain, John qui a requis l'anonymat. "Aucun de nos combattants assuré le même responsable kurde, renvoyant à un Negroponte, a déclaré que le PKK était "une organi¬ n'a été tué", a-t-il affirmé. communiqué officiel de l'organisation séparatiste. Le sation très négative, un groupe terroriste qui ne doit L'armée turque, elle, a annoncé être intervenue mouvement rebelle y dit qu'il "déposera les armes si pas être autorisé à opérer depuis le territoire irakien contre un groupe d'une cinquantaine de rebelles du les autorités turques répondent positivement à un contre lu Turquie". "Nous avons l'objectif commun de PKK, leur infligeant selon elle de "lourdes pertes". certain nombre de conditions". Le PKK exige que la mettre Jin à leurs activités." ("est la première fois que l'armée turque passait aux Turquie "admette les droits du peuple kurde dans sa Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Ôzeti Kurdes et Arabes prêts à s'entendre sur Kirkouk, les Turcomans réticents KIRKOUK (Irak). 3 déc 2007 (AFP) - Selon un membre arabe du conseil provincial, Rakan Said al-Joubouri, l'ac¬ cord annoncé ce lundi donne à sa communauté une meilleure représentation la d'ac¬ Les partis kurdes et arabes de région de Kirkouk (nord) sont tombés dans les instances qui devraient être mises en place après de nouvelles élec¬ cord sur une formule de division du pouvoir dans cette zone riche en pétrole tions locales. qui pourrait ouvrir la voie à un référendum sur le rattachement de la province au Kurdistan irakien. "Pour la première fois, la charge de gouverneur-adjoint et celle de chef adjoint du conseil judiciaire nous seront attribuées", s'est-il félicité. La troisième composante ethnique de cette région, les Turcomans, ont annon¬ cé ne pas avoir approuvé cet accord. "Les fonctions seront distribuées également à hauteur de 32% entre les Kur¬ des, les Arabes et les Turcomans. Les autres 4% restants seront attribués au Le président du conseil régional de Kirkouk, Razgar Ali, responsable de minorités, comme les Chaldéens et les Arméniens. l'Union patriotique kurde (UPK) du président irakien Jalal Talabani a salué dimanche devant la presse cet accord "comme une étape positive vers le "Nous espérons que les Turcomans participeront", a ajouté M. Al-Joubouri développement de Kirkouk et vers une coopération dans la prise de décision et Pour le moment, le conseil régional qui compte 41 membres est dominé avec le partenariat". 26 sièges par les deux partis kurdes: l'UPK et le Parti démocratique du Kur¬ La province de Kirkouk, et sa capitale du même nom, qui compte un million distan (PDK) de Massoud Barzani, président de la région du Kurdistan. d'habitants, sont peuplées par des Kurdes, des Arabes, des Turcomans et des Les partis arabes ont six sièges et les Turcomans neuf. chrétiens. L'accord prévoit également la fin des détentions illégales, "une exigence im¬ La constitution irakienne y prévoit un recensement et la tenue d'un référendum portante pour les Arabes qui ont été victimes des pires abus", selon M. Jou- avant la fin de l'année pour déterminer le statut de cette zone, revendiquée par bouri. les autorités de la région autonome du Kurdistan irakien. Les formations arabes ont boycotté depuis des mois les instances régionales, Le recensement, qui doit également établir la répartition ethnique de la popula¬ et les programmes de départ volontaire des populations arabes financés par la tion comme base de répartition du pouvoir, n'a pas commencé. région ont eu peu de succès. Il est rendu très difficile par des mouvements de populations susceptibles de "Le problème de Kirkouk ne peut pas être résolu par le retour d'une seul partie, changer la composition de l'électorat. alors qu'une autre est ignorée", a réagi pour sa part Ali Mahdy, le secrétaire- Des Arabes installés à Kirkouk à l'époque du régime de Saddam Hussein ont adjoint du parti turcoman Eli. notamment été incités au départ par des offres d'argent ou par des menaces. "Nous demandons la fin des arrestations, et la fin de notre marginalisation. Et Des Kurdes chassés à la même époque sont, en revanche, revenus, grâce à nous soulignons la nécessité d'adopter la langue turcomane comme langue des aides publiques, réclamer les terrains et les maisons qu'ils considèrent officielle à Kirkouk", a-t-il ajouté. comme les leurs. La question est d'autant plus sensible que le grand voisin du nord, la Turquie, Les populations non-kurdes craignent qu'une forte domination des Kurdes, qui craint que le rattachement au Kurdistan de la région de Kirkouk, d'où sont assurent représenter la majorité, ne conduise à leur marginalisation. extraits presque 30% du pétrole irakien, ne vienne renforcer le statut de mini- Etat indépendant de la province autonome. De leur côté, les Kurdes accusent les autres groupes ethniques d'user de méthodes dilatoires pour retarder le référendum.

IMte 4 décembre 2007 IRAN : Le renseignement américain minimise la menace Un des leaders du Parlement iranien a jugé mardi que le rapport du renseignement américain sur le programme nu¬ cléaire iranien confirmait son caractère "pacifique" défendu par Téhéran. Le renseignement américain a affirmé lundi que que l'Iran, "au minimum, garde ouverte (cette) l'Iran aurait arrêté ses plans d'armes nucléaires option". C'est précisément cette "option" que les en 2003 et a avoué ne pas connaître ses intentions Occidentaux veulent retirer à l'Iran. actuelles, au risque de discréditer à nouveau le L'enrichissement d'uranium, que l'Iran refuse de discours de George W. Bush sur la menace des suspendre malgré deux trains de sanctions interna¬ armes de destruction massive. En contre -partie, le tionales et le danger d'un troisième, doit produire le rapport présenté par les 16 agences du renseigne¬ combustible pour ses futures centrales civiles, assure ment dit que l'Iran entend apparemment se réserver le régime islamique. Mais enrichi à plus 90%, l'ura¬ l'option de l'arme nucléaire, et pourrait être capable nium peut servir de matériau pour la bombe. Le entre 2010 et 2015 de produire assez d'uranium renseignement juge "avec un degré de confiance hautement enrichi pour la bombe atomique. modéré" que l'Iran devrait être en mesure techni¬ Le gouvernement américain a argué avec force quement entre 2010 et 2015 de produire suffisam¬ d'une telle possibilité pour affirmer le péril et la ment d'uranium hautement enrichi pour une arme nécessité d'augmenter la pression internationale sur nucléaire. l'Iran. Mais l'opposition démocrate au président Bush Mais il note que si l'Iran a coupé court à son pro¬ s'est appuyée sur ce rapport pour réclamer une tionales contre l'Iran. Le conseiller de M. Bush pour gramme nucléaire militaire en 2003. c'est d'abord à "nouvelle politique envers l'Iran", selon les termes de la sécurité nationale. Steve Hadley, a "espérer" cause de la pression internationale, à laquelle l'Iran la présidente de la Chambre des représentants dit que la Chine ou la Russie ne seraient pas confortées serait donc peut-être plus sensible que le gouverne¬ Nancy Pelosi, tandis que le chef de la majorité dans leurs réticences à de nouvelles sanctions. Les ment américain ne le pensait. Confronté aux ques¬ démocrate du Sénat Harry Reid, en appelait à un tions sur la possibilité que le président américain ait "sursaut diplomatique". Etats-Unis croient "que ce serait une erreur", a-t-il dit. "Nous jugeons avec un haut degré de confiance exagéré la menace iranienne, le conseiller de M. Quelques semaines après que le président Bush eut qu'à l'automne 2003, Téhéran a arrêté son pro¬ Bush pour la sécurité nationale a affirmé la réalité brandi le spectre d'un "holocauste nucléaire" ou gramme d'armes nucléaires", dit le renseignement, du péril iranien. d'une Troisième Guerre mondiale si l'Iran avait la qui pense que l'Iran n'a pas actuellement d'arme Le renseignement révèle pour la première fois que bombe, l'administration était poussée à la défensive nucléaire. l'Iran avait bel et bien des plans secrets avant 2003, par les comparaisons défavorables avec le précé¬ La décision prise en 2003 suggère que l'Iran "est et dit aussi que l'Iran continue à avoir des activités dent irakien, quand elle avait invoqué à tort le moins déterminé" à avoir l'arme nucléaire que ne le aux possibles applications nucléaires, comme l'enri¬ danger des armes de destruction massive de Saddam chissement, a-t-il fait valoir. Aussi la communauté Hussein. croyait le renseignement depuis 2005. estimant alors "avec un haut degré de confiance" que l'Iran était internationale doit-elle "augmenter la pression", en Kt elle était contrainte d'admettre que le rapport résolu à cela. "Nous ne savons pas si (l'Iran) a isolant diplomatiquement et en sanctionnant l'Iran, risquait de desservir les Etats-Unis au moment où ils actuellement l'intention de développer des armes tout en offrant la perspective d'un dialogue, a-t-il dit. cherchent à obtenir de nouvelles sanctions interna nucléaires", dit-il aujourd'hui. Mais il juge probable Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Ôzeti

Irak La Turquie a lancé samedi une opération militaire contre les hommes et les femmes du PKK Les amazones du Kurdistan irakien Dans les montagnes de Qandil, quelque 3 000 femmes de 16 à 40 ans vivent parmi les rebelles kurdes du PKK. Elles y mènent des réflexions politiques teintées de féminisme et combattent, armées de kalachnikovs, à égalité avec les hommes. Toute relation amoureuse avec l'un d'eux leur est néanmoins défendue.

Zone de peuplement kurde -'V Kurdistan | Ankara irakien

TURQUIE

Au nord de l'Irak, dans les YJA star. Et pas question de montagnes de Qandil, elles se¬ tomber amoureuses. Dans raient3 000àporterles armes. ce mouvement à la discipline Kurdes, de Turquie, de éprouvée, toute relation est Syrie, d'Iran, d'Irak, mais prohibée et seule est tolérée aussi revenues d'Europe, la passion pour le leader ces femmes âgées de 16 à Abdullah Ôcalan, détenu en 40 ans sont des amazones Turquie sur l'île-prison modernes. Leur organisa¬ d'Imrali depuis 2000. tion - PAJK, le mouvement Comme leurs « havales » des femmes du Kurdistan - (camarades) hommes, les est affiliée au KGK, le amazones kurdes luttent congrès du peuple kurde, aujourd'hui autant contre autrement dit le PKK. Ce l'armée turque omnipré¬ parti créé à la fin des années sente au sud-est de la 1970 et aujourd'hui inscrit Turquie, la théocratie chiite sur la liste des organisations iranienne et l'autocratie terroristes par Ankara, arabe syrienne que pour li¬ Washington et l'Union bérer leur genre du joug européenne est à l'origine masculin propre à la société de la guerre civile qui a em¬ rurale et montagnarde de ce brasé l'Anatolie (est de la peuple sans état. Egarées Turquie) au milieu des an¬ dans leurs montagnes, kala¬ nées 1980. Leur combat : la chnikov en bandoulière, une reconnaissance de l'identité fleur dans les cheveux, elles culturelle des 25 millions de rêvent de l'âge d'or décrit Kurdes de Turquie. En 1995, par leur chef Abdullah fait unique dans le monde Ôcalan dans son livre pro¬ des guérillas, naît le PAJK, gramme, au retour de la so¬ la branche féminine du politique. La rééducation reste du mouvement. En re¬ ciété matriarcale de l'ère PKK. des hommes, le rôle de la vanche, au sein de l'HPG, mésopotamienne. Pour A la. frontière de l'Iran et de femme dans la lutte armée, l'armée du peuple, les fem¬ elles, la femme est le passé l'Irak, à deux pas de bottes l'organisation de la société mes s'entraînent et se bat¬ de l'homme. Elle sera forcé¬ de la frontière turque, les civile, tous ces thèmes sont tent à armes égales avec les ment son avenir. femmes du PAJK ont ins¬ discutés par les femmes et hommes. Mais elles ont leur Au Kurdistan irakien, tallé leur centre de réflexion communiqués ensuite au propre commandement, Olivier Touron (textes et photos) Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Ozeti

December 2, 2007 Clic Boston tPlobc Turkey reaffirms army's right to act in Iraq By Selcuk Gokoluk goal is met with one operation, then one operation will be done. If 10 operations are ANKARA (Reuters) - Turkish President Abdul¬ needed, then 10 operations will be done," he lah Gul reaffirmed on Sunday Turkey's readiness said in an interview with broadcaster Kanal and right to intervene in northern Iraq one day after 24. the Turkish army said it carried out an operation there against Kurdish rebels. A Turkish military official said about 100 special forces troops had crossed into Iraq Kurdish officials in Iraq insisted on Sunday that on Saturday and that long-range artillery and there had been no Turkish military incursion, up to six helicopters had bombed a PKK describing as baseless Ankara's claims that camp after spotting a group of 50-60 rebels significant losses had been inflicted on Kurdish 20 km inside the border. rebels. KURDISH DENIAL "(The army) was granted a mandate. This man¬ date is being used when (the army) deems it But Jabbar Yawar, a spokesman for Kurdis¬ necessary," Gul told reporters before flying to tan's Peshmerga security forces in Iraq, said Pakistan for an official visit. there had been no incursion or shelling by Turkish forces into northern Iraq. He also Turkey said it carried out an "intense intervention" said there were no casualties in the area. against Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) rebels in forces to conduct a cross-border operation. northern Iraq on Saturday, sending in special A PKK official, who asked not to be named, told forces after the cabinet authorised the army to Reuters in Sulaimaniya in northern Iraq that the Ankara has made many threats of military action carry out cross-border operations. Turkish military's claims were "lies and false but, under heavy U.S. pressure, has so far shown allegations". restraint. The army said on Sunday that two PKK rebels had been killed in separate clashes in southeastern Ankara has massed up to 100,000 troops near the A senior military official based in southeastern Turkey on Saturday. mountainous border with northern Iraq, backed by Turkey told Reuters that weather conditions in the border were not suitable for a large land offensive. Deputy Prime Minister Cemil Cicek made clear tanks, artillery and warplanes ahead of a long- awaited strike against Kurdish rebels who use that operations in northern Iraq would continue as "Winter conditions do not allow for a broad land the army saw fit. bases in northern Iraq to launch attacks in Turkey. offensive. Future operations will probably be limited to air-strikes and artillery bombardment," "The Chief of General Staff decides and will decide On Friday, Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Er- dogan said the cabinet had authorised the armed the official said. the necessity and timing of (the operations). If the

December 2. 2007 (Hhicaqo OTiiburtc| Kurdish region rethinking independence Turks' recent threat to invade tells many they need Iraq By Bay Fang The regional government passed its afforded us by a democratic Iraq, spoke on condition of anonymity own investment and oil laws last offers the Kurdish people tangible because of the sensitivity of the IRBIL, Iraq In the barren year and recently announced more advantages. issue. "If the Kurds weren't part of than 20 oil and gas agreements with the central government in Baghdad, brown hills outside the Kurdish "Since the Kurdish enclave became foreign companies. These are all it would simply be a [Shiite ) majority capital of Irbil, across the highway semiautonomous after the 1991 gulf signs of the Kurdistan region's spee¬ dominating a Sunni minority, and the from what used to be the American war, under the protection of a UN- dy path to what some might call de chances of a secure, stable and outpost in northern Iraq, a little established no-fly zone, it has been facto independence. prosperous Iraq would be severely piece of the U.S. is being built. surrounded by neighbors with siz¬ diminished. "But some Kurds feel Despite their long-held aspirations able Kurdish ethnic populations and Skeletons of villas dot the hillside, conflicted, believing the region does toward independence, many Kurds therefore wary of the Kurdish neat two-story structures with ga¬ more for the central government may now be at a crossroads in their experiment in self-rule. At various rages that look out of place among than it gets in return. Under the thinking.The recent threat of an times, Syria, Turkey and Iran have the spare cypress trees. A sign on constitution's revenue-sharing for¬ incursion by Turkey in pursuit of all launched attacks inside the terri¬ the side of the highway is embla¬ mula, the northern Kurdish enclave Kurdish guerrillas has caused many tory.In the most recent crisis, many zoned with the same sun that is on receives 17 percent of all Iraqi oil here to recognize how much they watchers of the Kurdistan region the Kurdish flag, behind the words: revenue. But many Kurds think their need Iraq. Concerns about that believe that if it had not been part of American Village. "It's a little Co¬ economy deserves more. lumbia, Md., here in Iraq," said Jim threat rose again Saturday when the a sovereign Iraq, the Turkish mili¬ Covert, the Kurdistan country direc¬ Turkish military announced it had tary would not have hesitated to Falah Mustafa Bakir, the Kurdish tor for Virginia-based Sigma Inter¬ attacked 50 to 60 Kurdish rebels launch a much more significant government's head of foreign rela¬ national Construction, developer of inside Iraqi territory, inflicting attack across the border. While tions, argues that the Kurdistan the $80 million project. "They love "significant losses," although the concerns about that possibility have region should not be held back by anything American here, so we're threat of a large-scale invasion has diminished, Turkish Prime Minister the central government's inepti¬ building this as a typical American diminished. Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Friday tude. "It should not just be us doing that his Cabinet had authorized the things. Iraq has a big budget, but it subdivision. While some of the region's leaders army to mount "a cross-border can't implement it," he said. But he have pushed for a more active role "The project, which will include 400 operation. articulates the dilemma faced by the for the Kurdish regional government villas and a mall, originally waa region. "Today we live in Iraq. We in negotiating a solution to the crisis, "The Washington factorThe Kurdis¬ intended for Baghdad. When that want to help our people, and we they also were forced to confront tan region's relationship with the city descended into chaos, the com¬ want to help build Iraq. But at the the reality that they could not go it U.S.. commonly seen as its protec¬ pany decided to transplant the con¬ same time, we want to move ahead, alone. "Many of us have come to tor, also depends largely on its role cept 200 miles north, far from the and provide a better quality of life. recognize that nationalism is both in the greater Iraq. Washington car bombs and sectarian violence The question is, can we do it alone? that plagued the rest of limiting and limited," said Barham considers Kurdish participation in Iraq.American Village is one of a Saleh, a Kurd and deputy Iraqi the Baghdad government as a key to "For many in Iraqi Kurdistan, the gaggle of complexes popping up prime minister. "While I as a Kurd protecting American interests in answer was always "of course." In around town with such names as always dream of a Kurdish state, Iraq. an informal referendum conducted and consider it a fundamental right alongside Iraq's 2005 election, 95 English Village and Italian Village "The Kurds' role in Baghdad is of the Kurdish people, I have come percent of voters said they would to house thousands of international fundamental to checking the rise of to see that being part of the larger prefer an independent Kurdis¬ businesspeople and middle-class | Shiite | fundamentalism," said one market the protections tan. Back at the Iraqis pouring into the area. of Iraq, with senior administration official, who American Village Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Ozeti office, Awat al-Barzanji pores over cards are played right, if policies around the city. Kurdish militiamen have what are called embassy the plans for his 9,000-square-foot have that as an aim, if they draw a who staff the checkpoints quiz those offices or commercial sections in villa, known as the "Palace" line between Kurdistan and the rest entering the city and are especially the Kurdish north, Iran and Russia model.AI-Barzanji, who was the of Iraq, and keep all the problems tough on Arab newcomers.Despite are the only ones with full consu¬ spokesman for the United Nations in down there. popular distrust, the Kurdistan gov¬ lates. "They are acting like a state as ernment is trying to reach out both to much as they can," said Luigi Orsini, Irbil from 1997 to 1999, returned in 'Thousands of refugees from other 2004 to his family's con¬ neighboring countries and to other whose card reads Consular Corre¬ work for parts of Iraq have arrived over the struction company. Iraqis. spondent of the Embassy of Italy in past few years, but tough registra¬ Baghdad but who is referred to as 'Always that if "This place could turn tion laws limit the number who stay. The government also has reached the Italian ambassador. "They have into a miniature [United Arab Emir¬ A security trench around Irbil is 3 out diplomatically to Iran, which their own channels to receive dip¬ ates] in five years' time," he said. yards wide and 3 yards deep, and opened a new consulate in Novem¬ lomats." "But there's always that if if their there are only seven points of entry ber. Although several countries

December 3, 2007 RFE/RL Newsline RadtoUberty TENSIONS INCREASE IN IRAQ OVER KIRKUK REFERENDUM DELAY By Sumedha Senanavake migration forms would be delayed by up to 15 by moving an estimated 600,000 Kurds into the November 15 was supposed to be an important days. region since 2003. date in Iraqi history. It was the initial date plan¬ These forms are needed for Arabs who want to Iraq's neighbors have also entered the fray, with ned for a referendum to decide whether the oil- voluntary leave Kirkuk and return to their origi¬ Turkey repeatedly voicing its opposition to the rich region of Kirkuk will be incorporated into nal districts in exchange for a compensation referendum, expressing the fear that if Iraqi the semi-autonomous Kurdish region. package of approximately $15,000 and a plot of Kurds control Kirkuk and its oil resources, this Although that date was scrapped and replaced land. The delay has created a backlog in the could fuel Kurdish separatism in Iraq and then with the directive that the referendum be held normalization process, complicating any at¬ in Turkey. Iranian Foreign Minister Manuchehr before the end of 2007, the passing of that date tempt to carry out a census, and by extension a Mottaki voiced similar concerns in a statement without any sign of a vote was indicative of how referendum. on November 3 calling for a two-year post¬ ponement of the referendum. this process, outlined in Article 140 of the Iraqi In response to the accusations, the Baghdad Constitution, is proceeding. government immediately ordered an investiga¬ What Iraqi Kurds fear is that the delay in holding Article 140 calls for a three-step process of tion into why the referendum has been delayed. the referendum may become an open-ended "normalization," which seeks to reverse the The swift response was clearly meant to pla¬ postponement without any concrete resolution. Arabization policies of the former regime, when cate simmering Kurdish anger and frustration That potential scenario could lead the Kurds to thousands of Kurds and non-Arabs were forci¬ on an issue many Kurds describe as "the red take a more aggressive route to acquire Kirkuk. line." bly evicted from Kirkuk and replaced with In a veiled threat after the November 17 parlia¬ Arabs from central and southern Iraq. This is to This frustration was summed up by Kurdish mentary session, Kurdish lawmaker Fu'ad be followed by a census and then a referendum. lawmaker Mahmud Uthman: "Four years have Massum warned that the Kurds may resort to The original deadline for the census was to be passed, and the referendum should have been other measures if Article 140 is not fully im¬ the end of July, but Kurdish officials acknowl¬ held by now, but successive governments have plemented. "If the concerned parties [non- edged that due to "technical problems," the done nothing. Yet, we do understand that there Kurdish parties in government] act irresponsi¬ normalization process was still far from com¬ were obstacles, such as security challenges bly, the Kurdish parties will then have their own plete, thereby pushing back the census, and it and bureaucracy." way." seems the referendum as well. There has also been near-universal opposition Going even further, the Kurdish daily "Rozhna- While the Kurds have steadfastly held to the among Iraq's non-Kurdish leaders to holding the ma" reported on November 21 that the Kirkuk belief that the referendum will go forward, as referendum, with many warning of widespread Governorate Council approved a proposal constitutionally mandated, by the end of 2007, it violence if it is held. The governorate has siz¬ stating that if Article 140 is not implemented on is extremely unlikely that this will happen. In able Arab and Turkoman populations, and both time, then it will advocate unilaterally merging fact, Qadir Aziz, the spokesman for Kurdistan groups have voiced concern that if the Kurds Kirkuk with the Kurdistan region. end up controlling Kirkuk, they may be forced regional President Mas'ud Barzani, told the Such a move would undoubtedly result in vio¬ out. Kurdish newspaper "Awena" on November 13 lence among the disparate factions within the that the deadline for conducting the referendum The Turkomans have said that they prefer being governorate and quite possibly lead Turkey to needed to be extended because the normaliza¬ under the authority of the Baghdad government, intervene on behalf of the ethnic-Turkish Tur¬ tion and census were not carried out in time. but warned that they would seek regional auton¬ komans. Hadi al-Amiri, a member of the Shi'ite However, some Kurdish officials have accused omy if Kirkuk were incorporated into the Kurd¬ Supreme Islamic Iraqi Council, told AFP on the government in Baghdad of deliberately istan region. Abas al-Bayati, an Islamic Turko¬ November 17 that any attempt by the Kurds to trying to delay the referendum. man Union leader, told "Al-Hayat" on Novem¬ incorporate Kirkuk by force would "open the ber 18 that Kirkuk should be declared an inde¬ gates of hell" and quite possibly lead to civil On November 17, the leader of the Kirkuk city pendent region, run jointly by Arabs, Kurds and war. council accused the Baghdad government of Turkomans a proposal that the Kurds have intentionally stalling the implementation of However, leaving the fate of Kirkuk unresolved rejected. Article 140, AFP reported. There have also also creates a dangerous predicament for the been complaints from Kurdish officials that foot- Muhammad al-Dayini, a deputy for the Sunni- governorate and the rest of Iraq. There has been dragging by Baghdad has been mostly respon¬ led Iraqi Front for National Dialogue, told the a marked increase in violence in the region, sible for delaying the normalization process. "Al-Ahram Weekly" on November 22 that his though it is unclear whether the tensions over group wants to see Kirkuk run by a strong Kirkuk were the cause. Regardless, without a Indeed, Babakir Sdiq, the director of the Kirkuk central government. "The issue of Kirkuk is comprehensive political solution, the situation in office for the High Committee for Implementing very major. We cannot allow one political group Kirkuk could quickly spiral into the kind of Article 140, told pukmedia.com on November to integrate Kirkuk into its region," al-Dayini violence that has gripped the rest of Iraq. 20 that he was informed by the Iraqi Interior said. He also accused the Kurds of actively Ministry that the delivery of important internal changing the demographics of the governorate Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Ozeti

^U%^L °4 December 2007 US General: Non-Military Efforts Voice of America Important in Fighting Kurds Bv Al Pessin Washington The new U.S. military counterinsurgency direction." doctrine calls for a multi-faceted ap¬ The commander of U.S. forces in Eu¬ The general did not say what could be proach, including military forces, but rope says Turkey needs to deal with done to apply counterinsurgency princi¬ focusing on winning the hearts and minds with Kurdish violence using counterinsur¬ ples to PKK guerrillas who operate in the of the people involved by providing gov¬ gency principles that go beyond military mountains of northern Iraq, and strike at ernment services and economic develop¬ force and focus on eliminating the rea¬ Turkish targets across the border. He ment. U.S. forces began implementing sons for the popular discontent that fuels called the impact of the PKK attacks "sig¬ the doctrine in Iraq and Afghanistan ear¬ nificant." insurgencies. General Bantz Craddock lier this year, and have had some suc¬ spoke to reporters in Washington, as cess. General Craddock says Turkey is In October, after a particularly deadly VOA's Al Pessin reports. also doing some non-military counterin¬ cross-border strike, Turkey's defense General Craddock declined to provide surgency work in Kurdish areas near the minister called on its NATO ally the details of meetings he has had with Turk¬ Iraqi border. United States to take "tangible action" to help end the attacks. Since then, Turkey ish officials, but he described the Kurdis¬ "In an insurgency, there are very few has stepped up military operations tan Workers Party or PKK as a terrorist he a military solutions," added. "It's against the PKK, and the United States organization that is acting like an insur¬ comprehensive approach. It's counterin¬ gency. He said "obviously" counterinsur¬ has reportedly provided some help surgency doctrine, separating leadership through intelligence, political pressure on gency theories are important in fighting from followers, providing followers [with] it. the Kurdish regional government in alternatives. I think if one looks at northern Iraq and other forms of coop¬ what's happening, particularly in south¬ "There are counterinsurgency indications, eration. But U.S. military forces in Iraq see and obviously counterinsurgency meas¬ east Turkey, you'd some counterin¬ have not become involved in the fighting ures that can be taken. And we are talk¬ surgency operations conducted by the ing to them about our experiences and Turkish government, beyond the military, our doctrine," he said. which is helpful and I think in the right

Middle East Onune December 5, 2007 Iraq Shiites turn on Kurdish allies over oil spat Shiite parties join oil minister in declaring Kurdish government's oil contracts with foreign firms void. By Mohammed Ameer- BAGHDAD Iraq's Shiites have turned on their Kurdish allies over the stormy issue of oil contracts with foreign companies, joining a furious Oil Minister Hussein Shahristani in declaring them invalid. "These contracts will be suspended until the oil and gas law is passed," said Abbas al-Bayati, member of parliament for the Supreme Islamic Iraqi Council (SIIC), one of Iraq's most powerful Shiite factions."When companies or countries sign these contracts, they have to behave according to the law of the country," Bayati added. The autonomous Kurdish regional government in northern Iraq has signed 15 exploration and export contracts with 20 international companies since it passed its own oil law in August, infuriating the Baghdad government.

Shahristani has angrily denounced the Kurdish authorities for signing the "We believe the central government should be in charge of such agreements," contracts before the national parliament approves a new oil and gas law, said Liwa Sumaysim, head of the political bureau of the Sadr movement, also declaring them "illegal" and "null and void." based in Najaf. The Kurdish authorities have hit back sharply, telling the minister he is ex¬ "We reject the autocratic way in which these contracts were signed and we ceeding his authority and that he should mind his own business."His state¬ ask the government to continue to stand against it too," Sumaysim added. ments will not affect our contracts with foreign companies," regional prime Another Shiite party, Al-Fadhila, was less strident. minister Nechirvan Barzani said last week. "The (regional) government will "It would be better if the riches were in the hands of the central government as continue with the contracts and they will be implemented." the only party that can guarantee national unity," said Nadim al-Jabiri, Al- The heated row comes despite Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki's wooing of Fadhila's political advisor. Kurdish parties in an attempt to salvage his embattled government, which has Kurdish MP Mahmoud Othman said the dispute is complex and should be put been hit by walkouts by Sunnis and radical Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr's to the country's constitutional court. political bloc. "It's a complex issue. The Kurdistan Regional Government says that the In August, Maliki brokered a new political alliance between his Dawa party contracts they signed are valid, while the central government says they are and Vice President Adel Abdel Mahdi's SIIC, President Jalal Talabani's not," said Othman. Patriotic Union of Kurdistan and Kurdish regional president Massud Barzani's Kurdistan Democratic Party in a bid to shore up his government. Despite "I think it is best that these contracts are submitted to the constitutional tribu¬ generally good relations within the new coalition, SIIC politicians this week nal which will decide if they are valid or not," he said were quick to round on the Kurdish authorities. Iraq's oil and gas bill is stalled in the national parliament amid bitter differ¬ "These contracts are illegal, and must pass through the central government to ences between rival factions. be approved in accordance with the Iraqi constitution," said Zuhair al-Hakim, When approved, the new law will open up Iraq's long state-dominated oil and a SIIC official in the Shiite holy city of Najaf. gas sector to foreign investment and will stipulate that receipts be shared "The origin of this dispute is that the Kurdistan Regional Government ap¬ equally between Iraq's 18 provinces. proved its own oil and gas law before the national law has been passed.'The Sadr movement too came out against the Kurdish deals.

8 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Ôzeti Power-Sharing Ends Northern Iraq ,/lp Associated Press Dispute December 5. 2007 By LAUREN FRAYER Kurdish region. KIRKUK, Iraq (AP) Sunni Arabs ended a yearlong political Kurds are generally thought to have a slight majority in the boycott Tuesday in Kirkuk the hub of Iraq's northern oil fields province, with Sunni Arabs close behind. But a census has not under a cooperation pact that marked a bold attempt at unity been conducted in 50 years. before a planned referendum on control of the strategic region. Returning Sunni lawmakers said they hoped an Arab deputy The Sunni-Kurdish deal urged by U.S. diplomats could also governor would prevent their bloc from being steamrolled by the move ahead other reconciliation bids demanded by Washington Kurds. but stalled by disputes that include sharing oil wealth and com¬ "Last year, we felt that decisions were forced on us. That wasn't promising with Sunnis who backed Saddam Hussein's Baath power-sharing we had no key representation even though we party. were sitting there," said Ramla Hamid, one of the Sunni Arab Sunnis have struggled to find political footing since Saddam's lawmakers who retook her council seat Tuesday. fall, as majority Shiites cemented control of the government and The Arabs' return to politics culminates a year of behind-the- security forces and Kurds enjoyed an economic boom in their scenes prodding by other Iraqi leaders and American diplomats. semiautonomous enclave. "It's important, but it's really just the first small step in a long A planned referendum on Kirkuk, possible next year, could give reconciliation," said Howard Keegan, head of the State Depart¬ the Kurds another windfall. It will ask whether the province ment team aiding reconstruction in the Kirkuk province. and its important oil fields should fall under the Kurdish bor¬ ders or continue to be governed by Baghdad. The Kurdish majority "doesn't need the Arabs to govern, but that they want a unity government anyway is significant," Keegan Apart from the petrodollars at stake, Kurds have a strong cul¬ said, adding that cooperation from all parties is needed to "make tural and emotional attachment to Kirkuk, which they call "the it to the referendum and avoid violence." Kurdish Jerusalem." But Kirkuk's Arabs who include many Shiites resettled by Saddam largely favor continued rule by Tuesday's move also represents the Arab lawmakers' tacit ap¬ Iraq's central government. proval of the Iraqi constitution, Keegan said, including Article 140 which calls for a census and referendum on Kirkuk's sta¬ Turkey and other countries in the region with Kurdish minorities tus by the end of this year. have long feared that Kurdish rule of Kirkuk would encourage Kurds to break away from Iraq. Officials have said they will not make the 2007 deadline, but hope the vote will happen sometime next year. It is also unclear Tensions spiked when Sunni Arab lawmakers walked out of the when new elections for the Kirkuk provincial posts could be held. provincial council in November 2005, claiming discrimination by the Kurds. The boycott ended Tuesday after Kurdish lawmakers During Saddam's rule, tens of thousands of Shiite Arabs were agreed to allot one-third of government jobs, such as police and moved to Kirkuk under an "Arabization" program. other officials, to Arabs and appoint an Arab as deputy governor. At the same time, many Kurds fled the area after Saddam ac¬ Adding a deputy governor is a roundabout way for Sunni Arabs cused them of siding with Iran during the 1980-88 war. Since to gain more power, despite currently holding only six of the Saddam's ouster, thousands of Kurds have returned to Kirkuk provincial council's 41 seats. The Kurdish bloc dominates with 25 only to find, in some cases, Arabs living in their homes. seats, largely because Sunni Arabs across Iraq sat out the last Article 140 calls for a period of "normalization" in Kirkuk pro¬ provincial elections, in 2005. viding housing for Kurdish returnees and compensation to Arabs Turkomen the smallest of the area's main ethnic groups who volunteer to return to their ancestral homes in Baghdad or hold nine seats. They also prefer rule by Baghdad, but have southern Iraq. But the process is slow, and there are cries of lobbied for their own sovereignty if Kirkuk is swallowed by the fraud from both sides.

MIDDLE EAST TIMES December 05, 2007 Will Turkey invade northern Iraq? Will Turkey invade northern Iraq? Not according to the results of a role playing game undertaken by my students at George Mason University on Nov. 5. That's the good news. There is, however, some bad news: it took extraordinary concessions from several parties to prevent this - concessions that are unlikely to be made in real life. Role playing games, as I have written The game began with the present situa¬ about before, do not necessarily yield tion: Turkey threatening to intervene in accurate predictions about what will hap¬ northern Iraq unless something is done pen in a given situation, but can help to halt the PKK from attacking Turkey elucidate the opportunities and dangers from there. The PKK team actually wel¬ that different actors may see in a crisis. comed this thre at since it anticipated that Turkish intervention in northern Iraq In the role playing game I ran, different would damage, even de¬ teams of students played Turkey, the PKK seriously or (the group claiming to represent Turkish stroy, Turkey's relations with the United Kurds which has bases in northern Iraq), States and other Western states. Russia, the U.S. -backed Kurdish Regional Author¬ Iran, Armenia, and Syria also welcomed ity, the Iraqi government, and other Iraqi this. Arab parties, Iran, Russia, various EU By contrast, the EU governments imme¬ governments, and of course, the United diately recognized that Turkish interven¬ States. One-person teams played actors tion in Iraq would have extremely nega¬ governments (including - after some such as Israel, Syria, and Armenia. tive consequences. And so to prevent cajoling - Greece) offered to admit Tur- Turkey from doing this, the European Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Ôzeti

key into the EU right away if it would able to shut down the PKK. strengthened - not weakened - European agree not to intervene. Finally, the U.S. team - after much inter¬ opposition to admitting Turkey into the The Turkish team was very happy to nal debate and despite active lobbying EU. It is doubtful that the Kurdish Re¬ gional Authority would be willing or able accept the offer of EU membership, but from the Armenian team - offered to send to expel the PKK from its strongholds still insisted that Turkey might intervene - its own forces in to shut down PKK opera¬ along the Turkish border. Finally, Wash¬ especially since the PKK team kept laun¬ tions in northern Iraq in return for a ching attacks into Turkey. Turkish pledge not to intervene there. It ington would be extremely reluctant to move against the PKK since the PKK is was this offer that the Turkish team fi¬ Also not wanting Turkish intervention, the one Iraqi group not currently attacking nally accepted - along with EU member¬ Kurdish Regional Authority team at¬ For ship and the EU conceding to Turkey on the United States. the United States tempted to reign in the PKK. The PKK northern Cyprus. The game then ended to do so could also complicate its good team, though, refused to be reigned in. relations with the Kurdish Regional Despite some misgivings, the Kurdish with war (or, more accurately, expanded war) happily averted. Authority. Regional Authority team then offered to as seems EU, Kurdish Re¬ shut down the PKK in northern Iraq if What the game suggested is that it will If, likely, the Turkey would agree not to intervene. take major concessions by other parties gional Authority, and the United States do not make the kinds of concessions to (Some of the Iraqi Arab actors also of¬ to prevent Turkey from intervening in Turkey that my students playing them fered to do this, but the Kurdish Regional northern Iraq. But while my "peace- were willing to make, will Turkey refrain Authority team made it clear that their loving" students who played the EU, the from intervening in northern Iraq? I fear presence in northern Iraq was unaccept¬ Kurdish Regional Authority, and the Uni¬ able.) ted States were willing to make such that there might not be a happy ending to this story. The Turkish team, though, turned down concessions, it is extremely doubtful that the real actors would do so. The threat of this offer. It did not think the Kurdish Regional Authority was truly willing or Turkish intervention in northern Iraq has

Dec. 05, 2007 £6e!S>fote Turkish soldiers kill 8 Kurdish rebels

By SUZAN FRASER The Associated Press diers, sparked anger in Turkey and widespread calls for the military to cross the border to hit bases of the Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK, in northern urkish soldiers killed eight Kurdish rebels, increasing the rebel death toll to Iraq. T14 in a two-day clash near the border with Iraq, the military said Wednes- day. Turkey has massed thousands of troops along its border with Iraq. On Satur¬ day, the military said it fired on a group of about 50-60 PKK guerrillas inside The clash began Tuesday on Mount Gabar, in Sirnak province, the military Iraqi territory, inflicting "significant losses." It did not say whether Turkish said in a statement posted on its Web site. Six rebels were killed on Tuesday troops had crossed into Iraq for the operation. and the military said eight others were killed later. One Turkish officer was killed Tuesday. Turkish Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul, in Paris to address a meeting of Euro¬ pean lawmakers, said the military operation on Saturday against PKK rebels The military said the rebels were among a group of guerrillas that killed 13 involved only airstrikes - not land forces. soldiers in an Oct. 7 ambush in Sirnak. At the time, the military retaliated by shelling areas near the border to prevent rebels from reaching bases in north¬ The United States and Iraq have urged Turkey to avoid a large-scale attack on ern Iraq. rebel bases inside Iraq, fearing such an operation would destabilize what has been the calmest region in the country. That attack, and another similar ambush a few weeks later that killed 12 sol

SijeSeattleSlmCS December 5. 2007 Es? Sunni-Kurdish deal a try for Iraq unity By Lauren Fraver The Associated Press KIRKUK, Iraq Sunni Arabs ended a yearlong which they call "the Kurdish Jerusalem." But if Kirkuk is swallowed by the Kurdish region. political boycott Tuesday in Kirkuk the hub Kirkuk's Arabs who include many Shiites reset¬ Kurds are generally thought to have a slight major¬ of Iraq's northern oil fields under a cooperation tled by Saddam largely favor continued rule by ity in the province, with Sunni Arabs close behind. pact that marked a bold attempt at unity before a Iraq's central government. planned referendum on control of the strategic The Arabs' return to politics culminates a year of Turkey and other countries in the region with Kurd¬ region. behind-the-scenes prodding by other Iraqi leaders ish minorities have long feared that Kurdish rule of and American diplomats. The Sunni-Kurdish deal urged by U.S. diplomats Kirkuk would encourage Kurds to break away from could also move ahead other reconciliation bids Iraq. Tuesday's move also represents the Arab lawmak¬ demanded by Washington but stalled by disputes ers' tacit approval of the Iraqi constitution, said Tensions spiked when Sunni Arab lawmakers that include sharing oil wealth and compromising Howard Keegan, head of the State Department walked out of the provincial council in November with Sunnis who backed Saddam Hussein's Baath team aiding reconstruction in the Kirkuk province, 2006, claiming discrimination by the Kurds. The party. including Article 140 which calls for a census boycott ended Tuesday after Kurdish lawmakers and referendum on Kirkuk's status by the end of this Sunnis have struggled to find political footing since agreed to allot one-third of government jobs, such year. Saddam's fall, as majority Shiites cemented control as police and other officials, to Arabs and appoint an of the government and security forces and Kurds Arab as deputy governor. Officials have said they will not make the 2007 enjoyed an economic boom in their semiautono- deadline, but hope the vote will happen sometime Adding a deputy governor is a roundabout way for mous enclave. next year. Sunni Arabs to gain more power, despite holding A planned referendum on Kirkuk, possible next only six of the provincial council's 41 seats. The Article 140 calls for a period of "normalization" in year, could give the Kurds another windfall. It will Kurdish bloc dominates with 26 seats, largely Kirkuk providing housing for Kurdish returnees ask whether the province and its important oil because Sunni Arabs across Iraq sat out the last and compensation to Arabs who volunteer to return fields should fall under the Kurdish borders or provincial elections, in 2005. to their ancestral homes in Baghdad or southern continue to be governed by Baghdad. Iraq. But the process is slow, and there are cries of Turkomen the smallest of the area's main ethnic fraud from both sides. Apart from the petrodollars at stake, Kurds have a groups hold nine seats. They also prefer rule by strong cultural and emotional attachment to Kirkuk, Baghdad, but have lobbied for their own sovereignty

10 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Ôzeti erjc^c\ui]ork£imc5 December 6. 2007 Pushed Out of Baghdad, Insurgents Move North By MICHAEL R. GORDON Odierno, the second-ranking American in Iraq, to see if reinforcements might MOSUL, Iraq, Dec. 5 Sunni insurgents be provided to "address our problem pushed out of Baghdad and Anbar Provinces areas." have migrated to this northern Iraqi city and have been trying to turn it into a major hub for Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates, who their operations, according to American visited Mosul on Wednesday before commanders. flying to Baghdad, said that American commanders had suggested to him that A growing number of insurgents have relocated they could use more combat power in here and other places in northern Iraq as the the north and would welcome the return additional forces sent by President Bush have of the Iraqi battalions, but that they had mounted operations in the Iraqi capital and not asked him for additional American American commanders have made common troops. cause with Sunni tribes in the western part of The assaults destroyed a bridge, killed 10 Iraqi the country. "They did indicate to me that they are having a soldiers and policemen and wounded two Ame¬ continuing challenge up there," he said. The insurgents who have ventured north in¬ rican helicopter pilots, who were hit by small- clude Abu Ayyub-al Masri, the leader of Al Mosul, a city of 1.7 million, has often been arms fire. But the insurgents failed to blast open Qaeda in Mesopotamia, a predominantly Iraqi buffeted by the fighting in other parts of Iraq. a major prison in the city, and unlike the situa¬ group that American intelligence says has for¬ When American forces prepared to reclaim tion in 2004, this time the Iraqi police stood eign leadership. American officials say the Falluja in 2004, many insurgents streamed their ground. insurgent leader has twice slipped in and out of north. In late 2004, the local police in Mosul To counter the insurgents, American com¬ Mosul in Nineveh Province to try to rally fellow fled their posts in the face of an insurgent as¬ manders had sought to establish tighter control militants and put end to infighting. sault, leaving much of the city under the mili¬ over the shipments from the Baiji refinery tants' control until Kurdish pesh merga fighters oil "We have seen some migration of Al Qaeda," helped restore order. The province is 65 percent and to detain officials and financiers in the said Col. Stephen Twitty, the commander of the illicit transactions. American and Iraqi forces Sunni and also home to a diverse array of ethnic Fourth Brigade Combat Team, First Cavalry groups, including Kurds, who dominate the have also conducted a series of raids against the Division, which is returning to the United States Nineveh provincial government. insurgent leadership, killing or detaining six after 13 months here. "What has driven that are local emirs. the operations down south." Unlike Baghdad, Mosul was never scheduled to receive American reinforcements under Mr. As a result of such efforts, the militants' have The Americans and Iraqis have responded to Bush's plan. The mission of the American not been able to carry out large-scale coordi¬ the influx of militants with operations to cut off troops here has been to prevent the city from nated attacks, American officials say. Instead, the insurgents' financing and by pursuing in¬ falling again into the insurgents' hands and to they have been going after easier targets, like surgent leaders, including Al Qaeda in Mesopo¬ partner with Iraqi forces, while the main effort Iraqi police checkpoints, that are less well tamia's emir for the eastern side of the city who was focused on stabilizing Baghdad. armed and protected than the Iraqi Army or the was killed in a raid late last month. Americans. The result is that Mosul is secured by about American and Iraqi units have been able to hold mass 6,500 Iraqi soldiers and policemen and a much "In the past, the enemy was able to their off the insurgents and disrupt their planning. smaller American contingent of about 1,000, forces on particular targets at a particular time," But they have not been able to decrease the rate said Capt. Scott Linker, an intelligence officer. Colonel Twitty said. The relatively small con¬ of attacks in Mosul, which has held stubbornly are seeing any¬ centration of American forces in Nineveh has "We not those types of attacks steady over the past year even as attacks have attracted insurgents, who have long sought to more." fallen in Baghdad and Anbar Province, accord¬ exploit ethnic tensions in the region by portray¬ ing to an analysis by American officers. Still, the overall number of attacks, including ing themselves as the defenders of Sunni inter¬ the number of "effective" attacks that destroy That has prompted American and Iraqi com¬ ests against Kurdish expansionism. Mosul is property or cause casualties, has been generally manders to propose the return of two Iraqi also close to Syria, which has often been a con¬ steady in past months. An American company battalions that were sent from western Mosul duit for foreign fighters. commander and his driver were killed on Oct. 7 earlier this year to bolster Iraqi forces in Bagh¬ Insurgents from Baghdad, Diyala and Ramadi when a bomb flipped over the Bradley fighting dad. Such a move would increase the Iraqi troop vehicle they were in. first appeared in the western part of Nineveh six strength here by 1,400 troops or more, accord¬ ing to estimates by American officers, and months ago and later in Mosul, Colonel Twitty Last week, American officers said, the number said. attacks Nineveh soared to 103, the 80 enable the Iraqis to establish more outposts in of in from or so per week that occurred in recent weeks. some of the more violent areas of the city. To finance their activities here, the insurgents have been diverting oil shipments the Baiji The officers said that one reason for the in¬ "We are in the process of seeing what might from refinery in northern Iraq, and skimming funds crease was the transfer of control to the Third come out of the situation in Baghdad as they Armored Cavalry Regiment, which temporarily from a host of other enterprises, including a consolidate down there," said Col. Tony Tho¬ resulted in an increase in the number of Ameri¬ local cement plant and car dealerships, accord¬ mas, the deputy commander of the First Ar¬ ing to Lt. Col. Eric Welsh, the commander of the cans on patrol. mored Division, which has responsibility for Second Battalion, Seventh Cavalry Regiment, a violence northern Iraq. "Our biggest push, to be honest, Achieving long-term reduction of in which recently completed its tour of duty here. as we looked at Mosul security is to ask for an Nineveh, Colonel Twitty said, requires political emphasis on getting those Iraqi battalions back He said they had also, with the complicity of measures, especially provincial elections, that here." local government officials, been involved in the would allow Sunnis to attain better representa¬ illegal sale of homes abandoned by Sunni Iraqi tion in a government that is dominated by a There are no plans to send additional American Army officers when the United States pushed Kurdish minority. But American and Iraqi units to Nineveh Province, though the replace¬ for an aggressive policy of removing from power commanders also say that more Iraqi forces are ment of Colonel Twitty's unit by the somewhat all members of Saddam Hussein's Baath Party ultimately needed to deal with a resilient, if larger Third Armored Cavalry Regiment has led soon after the 2003 invasion. somewhat uncoordinated, insurgent threat. to a small troop increase. But Colonel Thomas "We can Colonel said. noted that other regions north of Baghdad, like "Mosul continues to be a center of gravity for hold Mosul," Twitty "If cleansed Samarra and Baiji in Salahuddin Province, and the insurgency," Colonel Welsh said. "It is a you want it completely of insurgents Muqdadiya in Diyala Province, had been under financial hub." then I say that you have to put more forces in to pressure from insurgents. cleanse it." One of the insurgents' most complex attacks in Thorn He added that his division's leadership had Nineveh came on May 16, when they mounted a Shanker contributed reporting from been "in dialogue" with Lt. Gen. Raymond T. synchronized assault using eight car bombs. Baghdad

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

ftcralSi^rilmtic.INTERNATIONAL^ U.S. says Iranians halted December 4,2007 atom arms work in '03 mate as containing positive news rather By Mark Mazzetti club of nations with the bomb, the esti¬ mate states that Iran's "decisions are than reflecting intelligence mistakes. WASHINGTON: A new assessment guided by a cost-benefit approach "It confirms that we were right to be about seeking develop by American intelligence agencies rather than a rush to a weapon irre¬ worried Iran to made public Monday concludes that spective of the political, economic and Iran halted its nuclear weapons pro¬ military costs. gram in 2003 and that the program re¬ The administration called new atten¬ 'The international mains on hold, contradicting an assess¬ tion to the threat posed by Iran earlier ment two years ago that Tehran was this year when President George W. community has to turn up working inexorably toward building a Bush suggested in October that a nucle¬ bomb. ar-armed Iran could lead to "World the pressure on Iran.' The report seems likely to weaken War III" and Vice President Dick international support for tougher sanc¬ Cheney promised "serious con¬ tions against Iran and raise new ques¬ sequences" if the government in Tehran nuclear weapons," Hadley said. "It tells tions about the credibility of the belea¬ did not abandon its nuclear program. us that we have made progress in trying guered American intelligence Yet at the same time officials were to ensure that this does not happen. But agencies, while reshaping the final airing these dire warnings, analysts at the intelligence also tells us that the risk year of the Bush administration, which the Central Intelligence Agency were of Iran acquiring a nuclear weapon re¬ has made halting Iran's nuclear pro¬ secretly concluding that Iran's nuclear mains a very serious problem." gram a cornerstone of its foreign weapons work halted years ago and "The estimate offers grounds for hope the can be solved policy. that international pressure on the Is¬ that problem The assessment, a National Intelli¬ lamic regime in Tehran was working. diplomatically without the use of force, as has gence Estimate that represents the con¬ The conclusions, arriving with stun¬ the administration been trying to sensus view of all 16 American spy ning suddenness, are most likely to be a do," Hadley said. agencies, states that Tehran is most major factor in the tense international The new report concludes that if Iran likely keeping its options open with re¬ negotiations aimed at getting Iran to were to end the freeze on its weapons spect to building a weapon, but that in¬ halt its nuclear energy program, and program, it would still be at least two telligence agencies "do not know they come in the middle of a U.S. pres¬ years before Tehran would have enough whether it currently intends to develop idential campaign during which a pos¬ highly enriched uranium to produce a nuclear weapons." nuclear bomb. But it says it is still "very sible military strike against Iran's nu¬ Iran is continuing to produce en¬ could produce enough clear program has been discussed. unlikely" Iran of riched uranium, the report says, a pro¬ the material by then. Senator Harry Reid of Nevada, the gram that the Tehran government has Instead, the intelligence estimate majority leader, portrayed the assess¬ said is designed for civilian purposes. concludes it is more likely Iran could ment as "directly challenging some The new estimate says that the enrich¬ of this administration's alarming rhetoric have a bomb by the early part to the ment program could still provide Iran about the threat posed by Iran." middle of the next decade. The report with enough raw material to produce a He called for "a diplomatic surge states that the State Department's Bu¬ reau Research nuclear weapon sometime by the middle necessary to effectively address the of Intelligence and of next decade, a timetable essentially challenges posed by Iran." judgement that Iran is unlikely to achieve this goal before 2013, "because unchanged from previous estimates. Rand Beers, president of the liberal- But the new estimate declares with leaning National Security Network and of foreseeable technical and program¬ matic problems." "high confidence" that a military-run a former adviser to Senator John Kerry, The new estimate upends a judgment Iranian program intended to transform said: "The new NIE throws cold water on made about Iran's nuclear capabilities that raw material into a nuclear weapon the efforts of those urging military con¬ has been shut down since 2003, and frontation with Iran." He said the intelli¬ in 2005. At the time, intelligence agen¬ cies assessed also says with high confidence that the gence estimate showed that "the latest with "high confidence" dust-up is unnecessarily alarmist." that Iran was determined to have nucle¬ ar weapons and concluded that Iran had The new report has come out just a secret nuclear weapons program. over five years after a deeply flawed in¬ The report contradicts Since then, said they had ob¬ telligence estimate concluded that Iraq officials tained new information leading them to a possessed chemical and biological prior assessment and conclude that international pressure, weapons programs and was determined including tough economic sanctions, seems likely to weaken to restart its nuclear program. The re¬ port led to congressional authorization had been successful in bringing about a halt to Iran's secret program. support for sanctions. for a military invasion of Iraq, although most of that estimate's conclusions The report comes even as the United States has been turned out to be wrong. pushing for tighter sanctions against Iran, which have been halt "was directed primarily in re¬ "Some combination of threats of in¬ sponse to increasing international tensified international scrutiny and supported by Britain, France and Ger¬ scrutiny and pressure." pressures, along with opportunities for many, the three countries leading nego¬ The estimate does not say when Iran to achieve its security, prestige, tiations with Iran. Critics said it would American intelligence agencies learned blunt the sense of urgency over Iranian that the weapons program had been and goals for regional influence in oth¬ er ways might if perceived by Iran's nuclear progress and intentions. halted, but a statement issued by Donald But tie administration emphasized Kerr, the principal director of national leaders as credible prompt Tehran to extend the current halt to its, nuclear that it also underscored the apparent ef¬ intelligence, said the document was be¬ fectiveness sanctions. The intelli¬ weapons program," the estimate states. of ing made public "since our understand¬ gence "suggests The U.S. national security adviser, report that the president ing of Iran's capabilities has changed." has the strategy: inter¬ Stephen Hadley, quickly issued a state¬ right intensified Rather than painting Iran as a rogue, national pressure along with a willing¬ determined the ment describing the intelligence esti irrational nation to join ness to negotiate a solution that serves

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

Iranian interests while ensuring that the has to decide if it wants to negotiate a weapons. But his report said that world will never have to face a nuclear- solution." agency inspectors in Iran had been un¬ armed Iran," the Hadley statement said. Mohamed ElBaradei, director gener¬ able to determine whether the Iranian "For that strategy to succeed, the in¬ al of the International Atomic Energy program sought only to generate elec¬ ternational community has to turn up Agency, reported last month that Iran tricity or also to build weapons. the pressure on Iran with diplomatic was now operating 3,000 uranium-en¬ isolation, United Nations sanctions, and riching centrifuges, capable of produ¬ Brian Knowlton contributed report¬ with other financial pressure, and Iran cing fissile material for nuclear ing.

INTERNATIONAL Hcralb^geSribunc. December 6, 2007

teer groups into the security forces, where they would have access to more- Relative calm masks powerful weapons and to vulnerable Shiite communities. Already, a walk through neighbor¬ hoods where the volunteer groups are 'holding pattern' in Iraq active is an unsettling experience. Small groups of young armed men stand guard at street corners, while oth¬ By Alissa J. Rubin Sadr was able to pull his militias back ers ride in open trucks. In many areas in large part because his community of they wear camouflage uniforms that re¬ BAGHDAD: The reduced violence in poor Shiites was no longer under attack semble those worn by members of the Iraq in recent months stems from three by Sunni militants. But if the broader security forces. significant developments, but the clock Sunni population is not integrated into Leaders of local Sunni groups, known is running on all of them, Iraqi officials the new Shiite-dominated power struc¬ as "awakening councils" or "concerned and analysts warn. ture, it is likely that the old divisions local citizens" or just "volunteers," are "It's more a cease-fire than a peace," will rapidly resurface as the United circumspect when asked what they will said Deputy Prime Minister Barham Sa- States reduces its troop levels. If that do if they are not given government jobs. lih, a Kurd, in words that were repeated happens, extremist Sunnis will renew "These groups must have some sup¬ by Qassim Daoud, a Shiite member of their assaults on Shiites and Sadr's port," said Abu Abed, the leader of the Parliament, who is an independent. Mahdi militia will respond in kind. Awakening Council in Amiriya, a Officials attribute the relative calm to has a The government limited : southwest Baghdad neighborhood that a huge increase in the number of Sunni amount of time to integrate these six months ago was so dangerous that Arab rebels who have turned their guns formerly renegade Sunnis, said Tariq U.S. military commanders were reluc¬ on Sunni jihadists instead of American al-Hashimi, a Sunni and one of Iraq's tant to conduct foot patrols there. Now troops; a six-month halt to military ac¬ two vice presidents, who is in regular they wander the streets as if they lived tion by the militia of a top Shiite leader, touch with the new Sunni forces. The there. Moktada al-Sadr; and the increased men want jobs, respect and above all a "We need support from the govern¬ number of American troops on the guarantee that they will not be prose¬ ment and not just financial support," he streets here. cuted for their past activities with the said. "We have made our applications to They stress that all of these changes insurgency, he said, a concession that the police and to the army. It has been can be reversed, and on relatively short the Shiite majority government'has giv¬ six months since the government said notice. The Americans have already en little indication it will make. they would accept us. Maybe it will hap¬ started to draw down troop levels, and But Hashimi asserts that the Sunni pen this month." Sadr, who has only three months to go groups' fight against Al Qaeda in Meso¬ Most members of these groups are on his pledge, has issued increasingly potamia, the mostly homegrown insur¬ paid $10 a day by the American military, bellicose pronouncements recently. gent group that U.S. intelligence agen¬ with the expectation that the Iraqi gov¬ The Sunni insurgents who turned cies believe is foreign-led, has brought a ernment will eventually accept them against the jihadists are now expecting new level of stability that the govern¬ into the security forces and other gov¬ to be rewarded with permanent govern¬ ment could never have achieved with¬ ernment jobs, taking over responsibili¬ ment jobs. Yet, so far, barely 5 percent of out them, and it is making a dangerous ty for their salaries. But that looks un¬ the 77,000 Sunni volunteers have been miscalculation to withhold credit. likely to happen anytime sooa given jobs in the Iraqi security forces, "There was four years of fighting Al The situation with Sadr has a differ¬ and the bureaucratic wheels have moved Qaeda with traditional troops, Iraqi and ent dynamic. He has long had two roles excruciatingly slowly despite govern¬ American, and they failed to control on the Iraqi street. He has fought Sunnis ment pledges to bring more Sunnis in. these hot areas," Hashimi said. "Now who he believed were attacking his "We are in a holding pattern," said these areas are under control. But this community, and in the process has Joost Hiltermann, an Iraq analyst at the unique experience, somebody is trying fueled the cycle of sectarian brutality. International Crisis Group, a Brussels- to abort," he said, referring to the govern¬ But he and his militia have also fought based research organization. "The mili¬ ment's reluctance to give the men jobs. the rival Shiite political force in Iraq, tary solution has gained enough peace With the memory of the Sunni insur¬ the Supreme Islamic Iraqi Council, to last through the U.S. election, but we gents' ferocious assaults on the Shiites many ofwhose members are in the gov¬ have a situation that is extremely fragile. still fresh, the Shiite-led government ernment forces. The silence of Sadr's None of the violent actors have either has resisted bringing the Sunni volun- militia has quieted both struggles, but been defeated or prevailed, and the ended neither of them. political roots of the conflict have not "The Sadrists have not been in an ag¬ been addressed, much less resolved." 'The political roots gressive posture since early this year," U.S. military leaders have said simil¬ said Hiltermann, the analyst. "They arly that their military gains can only of the conflict have have taken the position, 'We will only go so far without a political solution. fight if we are attacked.' But that doesn't The primary issues remain how to not been addressed, mean they are gone." keep Sunnis fromturning again to the in¬ surgency, and how to stop a resurgence much less resolved.' in violence from the Shiite militias.

13 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Bastn Ôzeti

icHîonde Nucléaire : intentions et Jeudi 6 décembre 2007 possibilités de l'Iran Nous publions les principaux extraits de la synthèse produite par les seize agences de renseignement américains sur l'état actuel et les perspectives à dix ans de l'activité nucléaire iranienne, rendue publique lundi 3 décembre

nes sur le plan du développement des de certitude que l'annonce par Téhéran armes nucléaires ? de sa décision de suspendre son program¬ - Quels facteurs intérieurs sont-ils sus¬ me déclaré d'enrichissement de l'ura¬ ceptibles d'influer sur la décision iranien¬ nium et de signer le protocole addition¬ ne de développer ou non des armes nel à l'accord sur les garanties du traité nucléaires ? de non-prolifération auquel il a souscrit a - Quels facteurs extérieurs sont-ils sus¬ été avant tout la conséquence de la sur¬ ceptibles d'influer sur la décision iranien¬ veillance et des pressions internationales ne de développer ou non des armes croissantes découlant de la mise au jour nucléaires ? des activités nucléaires que l'Iran n'avait - Quel est l'éventail des actions offer¬ jusque-là pas déclarées. tes à l'Iran concernant le développement - Nous pensons avec certitude quejus¬ d'armes nucléaires et quels sont les fac¬ qu'à l'automne 2003, des entités militai¬ teurs décisifs qui pourraient conduire res iraniennes travaillaient sous contrôle l'Iran à choisir telle voie plutôt qu'une gouvernemental au développement d'ar¬ autre? mes nucléaires. - Quelle est la capacité actuelle et futu¬ - Nous estimons avec un haut niveau re de l'Iran de développer des armes de certitude que l'interruption desdits tra¬ nucléaires ? Quelles sont nos hypothèses vaux a duré au moins plusieurs années. essentielles, et quelles sont les principa¬ (Suite à un manque de renseignements les faiblesses et vulnérabilités iranien¬ discuté par ailleurs dans ce document, le nes ? département de l'Energie et le Conseil Cette estimation ne part pas du princi¬ national du renseignement [NIC, Natio¬ pe que l'Iran a l'intention d'acquérir des nal Intelligence Council] nejugent toute¬ armes nucléaires. Elle s'attache à exami¬ fois qu'avec un degré de certitude modé¬ ner les renseignements disponibles pour rée que l'arrêt de ces activités traduit un évaluer la capacité et l'intention (ou le arrêt total du programme d'armements manque d'intention) de l'Iran d'acquérir nucléaires de l'Iran.) des armes nucléaires - en prenant en - Nous estimons avec un niveau modé¬ compte la dualité [civil ou militaire] du ré de certitude qu'à la mi-2007, Téhéran cycle de combustion nucléaire -, ainsi n'avait pas relancé son programme d'ar¬ que ses activités nucléaires qui par natu¬ mement nucléaire, mais nous ignorons re sont au moins partiellement civiles. s'il a actuellement l'intention de dévelop¬ Exposé des motifs Cette estimation part du principe que per des armes nucléaires. La présente « Estimation du Rensei¬ les objectifs stratégiques et la structure - Nous continuons à estimer avec un gnement national » (NIE, National Intel¬ fondamentale de la direction et du gou¬ degré moyen à haut de certitude qu'à ligence Estimate) fait le point sur l'état vernement iraniens resteront les mêmes l'heure actuelle, l'Iran ne possède pas du programme nucléaire iranien et les' que ceux qui ont perduré depuis la mort d'arme nucléaire. perspectives de ce programme dans les de l'ayatollah Khomeiny en 1989. Nous - La décision de Téhéran de stopper dix prochaines années. Ce laps de temps sommes bien conscients qu'il est tou¬ son programme d'armement nucléaire est approprié pour évaluer des capacités, jours possible que ceux-ci changent au indique qu'il est moins déterminé à déve¬ un peu moins pour évaluer des inten¬ cours du laps de temps auquel s'attache lopper des armes nucléaires que nous tions et des réactions étrangères, lesquel¬ cette estimation, mais nous ne sommes l'avons estimé depuis 2005. Notre estima¬ les sont plus difficiles à projeter sur une pas en mesure de prédire avec certitude tion selon laquelle ledit programme a pro¬ décennie. de tels changements, ni de prévoir leurs bablement été interrompu en premier En présentant cette évaluation de la implications. Cette situation n'examine lieu en raison de la pression internationa¬ communauté du renseignement sur les pas la façon dont les Iraniens pourraient le indique que l'Iran pourrait être plus intentions et capacités nucléaires iranien¬ conduire de futures négociations avec facilement influencé sur cette question nes, le document examine de manière l'Occident sur la question nucléaire. que nous ne l'avions jugé jusqu'ici. approfondie l'ensemble des renseigne¬ Cette estimation se fonde sur les ren¬ ments disponibles sur ces questions, énu- seignements disponibles à la date du B. - Nous continuons à estimer avec mère les différents scénarios raisonnable¬ 31 octobre 2007. un bas degré de certitude que l'Iran a ment envisageables en fonction de ces importé au minimum des matériaux fissi¬ renseignements et décrit les éléments Principales conclusions les utilisables à des fins militaires, mais essentiels dont nous estimons qu'ils sont A. - Nous estimons avec un haut estimons également avec un degré susceptibles d'accélérer ou de mettre un degré de certitude que Téhéran a inter¬ moyen à haut de certitude qu'il n'en a pas terme aux progrès nucléaires de l'Iran. rompu son programme d'armement obtenu en quantité suffisante pour une Ce document constitue un réexamen nucléaire à l'automne 2003 ; nous esti¬ arme nucléaire. Nous ne pouvons écarter complet des questions abordées par l'esti¬ mons également, avec un degré de certi¬ la possibilité que l'Iran a acquis à l'étran¬ mation de mai 2005. tude moyen à haut, que Téhéran conti¬ ger - du acquerra dans l'avenir - une Cette estimation examine les ques¬ nue à laisser au moins ouverte l'option arme nucléaire ou une quantité de maté¬ tions essentielles suivantes : visant à développer des armes nucléai¬ riau fissile suffisante pour une arme - Quelles sont les intentions iranien res. Nous estimons avec un haut niveau nucléaire. Sans ces acquisitions, si Téhé-

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

ran veut se doter d'armes nucléaires, il quels qu'en soient les coûts politique, éco¬ duire à terme des armes nucléaires - et serait contraint de produire par lui- nomique etmilitaire. Ce qui, en retour, sug¬ une telle décision serait, par nature, réver¬ même les matériaux fissiles nécessaires - gère qu'une combinaison de menaces sible. ce que nous estimons avec un haut degré d'une surveillance et de pressions interna¬ de certitude qu'il n'a pas encore fait. tionales accrues, alliées à des opportunités F. - Nous estimons avec un degré modé¬ offertes à l'Iran d'assurer sa sécurité et son ré de certitude que l'Iran utiliserait proba¬ C. - Nous estimons que si l'Iran déci¬ prestige, et d'atteindre ses objectifs d'in¬ blement des installations secrètes - et non dait de produire suffisamment de maté¬ fluence régionale par d'autres moyens, ses sites nucléaires déclarés - pour produi¬ riau fissile pour une arme nucléaire, il le pourrait - à condition que les responsa¬ re de l'uranium hautement enrichi à des ferait probablement grâce à l'enrichisse¬ bles iraniens la perçoivent comme crédible fins militaires. Un nombre croissant de ren¬ ment par centrifugeuses. Malgré l'arrêt - inciter Téhéran à prolonger l'interrup¬ seignements indique que l'Iran s'était de son programme d'armes nucléaires, tion actuelle de son programme d'armes effectivement engagé dans des activités l'Iran a relancé ses activités déclarées nucléaires. Il est difficile de préciser ce que secrètes de conversion et d'enrichissement d'enrichissement par centrifugeuses en pourrait être une telle combinaison. de l'uranium, mais nous pensons que ces janvier 2006, L'Iran a fait des progrès - Nous estimons avec un degré modéré initiatives ont probablement été interrom¬ significatifs en 2007 en installant des cen¬ de certitude qu'il sera difficile de convain¬ pues lors de l'arrêt du programme à trifugeuses à Natanz, mais nous esti¬ cre les dirigeants iraniens à renoncer à un l'automne 2003, et qu'à la mi-2007, elles mons avec un degré moyen de certitude éventuel développement d'armes nucléai¬ n'avaient toujours pas été relancées. qu'il rencontre encore des problèmes res étant donné le lien que beaucoup, au techniques significatifs pour les faire sein de la direction iranienne, voient pro¬ G. - Nous estimons avec un haut degré fonctionner. bablement entre le développement d'ar¬ de certitude que l'Iran ne sera pas techni¬ - Nous estimons avec un degré moyen mes nucléaires et les objectifs essentiels quement en mesure de produire et de de certitude que la fin de l'année 2009 est de l'Iran en matière de sécurité nationale retraiter suffisamment de plutonium pour la date la plus rapprochée à laquelle l'Iran et de politique étrangère, et vu les efforts fabriquer une arme nucléaire avant 2015 serait techniquement capable de'produire considérables consentis par l'Iran pour environ. suffisamment d'uranium hautement développer de telles armes depuis au enrichi pour pouvoir développer une arme moins la fin des années 1980 jusqu'à H. - Nous estimons avec un haut degré nucléaire, mais que cette éventualité est 2003. Selon notre jugement, seule une de certitude que l'Iran possède la capacité très improbable. décision politique iranienne de renoncer à scientifique, technique et industrielle pour - Nous estimons avec un degré moyen la possession d'armes nucléaires pourrait produire à terme des armes nucléaires de certitude que l'Iran pourrait être techni¬ de façon plausible empêcher l'Iran de pro dans l'éventualité où il le déciderait. quement capable de produire de l'ura¬ nium hautement enrichi en quantité suffi¬ sante pourune arme au cours delapériode 2010-2015. (LTNR juge improbable que Les différences essentielles entre 2005 et 2007 l'Iran parvienne à ce résultat avant 2013 en raison des problèmes techniques et pro¬ DANS CE RÉSUMÉ figurent : en gras, iraniennes jusque-là non déclarées. grammatiques prévisibles.) L'ensemble les estimations de la communauté du Nous estimons avec un degré de certitu¬ des agences admet la possibilité que cette renseignement en 2005 ; en maigre, les de moyen à élevé que Téhéran laisse à capacité puisse n'être atteinte qu'au-delà estimations du Conseil national du ren¬ tout le moins ouverte l'option de dévelop¬ de 2015. seignement en 2007. Les intertitres sont per des armes nucléaires. de la rédaction du Monde. D. - Des entités iraniennes continuent Les délais de développer une série de capacités tech¬ Les intentions de l'Iran 2005 : Nous ne pouvons indiquer niques qui, si la décision en était prise, 2005 : Il est estimé avec un haut avec certitude la date à laquelle l'Iran pourraient être appliquées à la production degré de certitude que l'Iran est actuelle¬ sera capable de produire une arme d'armes nucléaires. Le programme civil ment déterminé à développer des armes nucléaire ; nous estimons peu probable iranien d'enrichissement de l'uranium, nucléaires malgré ses obligations inter¬ qu'il y parvienne avant le début ou le par exemple, se poursuit. Nous estimons nationales et la pression internationale, milieu de la prochaine décennie. également avec un haut degré de certitude mais il n'est pas impossible que la posi¬ 2007 : Nous estimons avec un degré que depuis l'automne 2003, l'Iran mène tion de l'Iran puisse évoluer. moyen de certitude que la fin de l'année des projets de recherche et développement 2007 : Nous jugeons avec un haut 2009 est la date la plus rapprochée à ayant des applications commerciales et degré de certitude qu'à l'automne 2003, laquelle l'Iran serait techniquement militaires conventionnelles - dont certai¬ Téhéran a stoppé son programme d'ar¬ capable de produire suffisamment d'ura¬ nes pourraient également être partielle¬ mes nucléaires. Nous jugeons avec un nium hautement enrichi pour dévelop¬ ment utilisées pour la mise au point d'ar¬ haut degré de certitude que cette inter¬ per une arme nucléaire, mais que cette mes nucléaires. ruption a duré au moins plusieurs éventualité est très improbable. années. (Le département de l'énergie et E. - Nous ne disposons pas de rensei¬ le Conseil national du renseignement gnements suffisants pourjuger avec certi¬ Les capacités techniques n'estiment toutefois qu'avec un degré de : L'Iran produire suffi¬ tude si Téhéran est disposé à maintenir 2005 pourrait certitude modérée que l'arrêt de ces acti¬ indéfiniment l'arrêt de son programme samment de matériau fissile pour une vités traduit un arrêt total du program¬ arme nucléaire d'ici la fin de la décennie d'armes nucléaires tout en pesant ses me d'armements nucléaires de l'Iran.) s'il faisait des progrès plus rapides et options, ou s'il fixera ou a déjà fixé des Nous estimons avec un niveau modéré plus fructueux que ceux observés jus¬ dates limites ou certains critères spécifi¬ de certitude qu'à la mi-2007, Téhéran qu'à présent. ques qui l'inciteront àredémarrer son pro¬ n'avait pas relancé son programme d'ar¬ 2007 : Nous estimons avec un degré gramme. mement nucléaire, mais nous ignorons moyen de certitude que l'Iran pourrait - Notre estimation selon laquelle l'Iran s'il a actuellement l'intention de dévelop¬ être techniquement capable de produire a interrompu son programme en 2003 per des armes nucléaires. Nous estimons de l'uranium hautement enrichi en quanti¬ pour répondre avant tout à la pression avec un haut degré de certitude que l'in¬ té suffisante pour une arme au cours de la internationale indique que les décisions de terruption du programme est due avant période 2010-2015. (LTNRjuge improba¬ Téhéran sontrégies parune approche coût- tout à la surveillance et à la pression ble que l'Iran parvienne à ce résultat avant avantageplutôt que parune volonté d'obte¬ internationales croissantes résultant de 2013 en raison des problèmes techniques nir le plus vite possible l'arme nucléaire la mise au jour des activités nucléaires et programmatiques prévisibles.)

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

le Bonde *. m % %" m Après le rapport du Renseignement national 6 décembre 2007 sur le gel du programme nucléaire militaire iranien Nucléaire : George Bush estime que l'Iran reste un danger

NEW YORK CORRESPONDANT George Bush, a défendu, mardi 4 décembre, sa politique vis-à-vis de l'Iran. « L'Iran était dangereux, l'Iran est dangereux, etl'Iran restera dange¬ reux s'il a le savoir-faire nécessaire pour produire une arme nucléaire », a déclaré le président améri¬ cain lors d'une conférence de L'aggravation des sanctions contre La question est capitale pour la crédibili¬ presse. M. Bush réagissait à la Téhéran est-elle menacée ? té du président Que savait-il lorsqu'il évo¬ publication, la veille, d'un rap¬ Le Renseignement national appelle à quait, en septembre, la menace dV Holo¬ port du Renseignement natio¬ les renforcer. Mais la Maison Blanche a causte nucléaire», puis, le 17 octobre, celle nal, qui regroupe les seize prin¬ fait savoir, mardi, qu'elle craint des réper¬ d'une « troisième guerre mondiale » ? cipales agences d'espionnage cussions internationales « négatives ». Si Selon le Washington Post, Mike McCon- des Etats-Unis, estimant que l'Iran a réellement arrêté son projet nell, le directeur du Renseignement natio¬ Téhéran a « interrompu son nucléaire militaire, l'urgence de le sanc¬ nal, l'a informé « en août » des « nouvelles programme d'armement nucléaire à tionner risque d'en pâtir, jugent des informations » (dont des écoutes de conver¬ l'automne 2003 ». Cette affirmation sus¬ observateurs. sations entre hauts gradés iraniens) qui cite d'innombrables questions. L'option militaire contre l'Iran est- modifiaient le regard sur le nucléaire ira¬ Quelle est la fiabilité du rapport ? elle abandonnée ? nien. Réponse de M. Bush :«Ilne m'apas « Haut degré de certitude », répondent Le rapport « ne change rien », a préci¬ dit ce qu'elles étaient et [m'a dit] qu'ilfau- ses auteurs, un terme fort dans le langage sé, mardi, M. Bush. « Une diplomatie effi¬ draitdu tempspour les analyser. » du monde du renseignement. Les Israé¬ cace est une diplomatie où toutes les options Officiellement, MM. Bush et Cheney liens le récusent Mardi, George Bush n'a sont ouvertes. » Mais Barbara Bodine, n'ont été informés du rapport final que le pas remis en cause les faits énoncés. S'ils diplomate et ex-coordinatrice américai¬ 28 novembre. Mais ses conclusions sont fiables, comment expliquer que la ne à Bagdad en 2003, estime que « désor¬ étaient connues d'eux « ces dernières précédente « estimation » du Renseigne¬ mais, cette administration n'a plus de semaines», selon des officiels s'expri- ment national, en 2005, ait conclu à la motif pour une offensive armée. Elle ne mant sous couvert d'anonymat. Combien « poursuite » d'un programme iranien pourra l'engager sans un accord du de semaines ? Plus ou moins de six qui aurait été gelé deux ans auparavant ? Congrès, qui le lui refusera. » (17 octobre - 28 novembre) ? C'est, pour Le Renseignement national s'était-il alors Assiste-t-on à un changement stra¬ M. Bush, une question cruciale. trompé ? Aurait-il subi des pressions pour tégique vis-à-vis de l'Iran ? Sylvain cypel abonder dans le sens voulu en haut lieu ? Beaucoup de commentateurs améri¬ Pourquoi la synthèse du rapport cains le pensent. Ils se basent sur deux a-t-elle été révélée ? phrases : une fois le régime iranien décrit t Une âpre bataille a opposé le vice-pré¬ comme « guidé par une approche coût- sident américain, Dick Cheney, au secré¬ bénéfice » - donc accessible à la raison -, taire à la défense, Robert Gates. Le chef le rapport propose d'augmenter la pres¬ de la majorité démocrate au Sénat, Harry sion sur lui tout en lui offrant de « parve¬ Reid, aurait eu un poids considérable nir à accéder à ses objectifs de sécurité, de dans son issue. Si la Maison Blanche classifie le rapport, il prestige et d'influence régionale» sans sera révélé d'une manière ou recourir à la bombe atomique. Il ne s'agit d'une autre, a-t-il menacé, et le plus de faire plier ce régime, mais d'allier coût politique pour la présiden¬ les sanctions à des ouvertures pour qu'il cesse pen¬ ce sera immensémentplus gra¬ de craindre queWashington ne se Mme ve. qu'à l'abattre. Pour Bodine, «plus Par ailleurs, la communauté lespressions marchent, etplus ilfaudra dis¬ du renseignement, « humi¬ cuter avec Téhéran ». Le sénateur républi¬ cain Chuck Hagel appelle à de liée » en 2002-2003 par l'utili¬ l'ouverture pourparlers directs avec Téhéran. sation faite de ses rapports sur l'existen¬ ce ou non d'armes de destruction massi¬ Quand M. Bush a-t-il été informé ve en Irak, dit un spécialiste, a lourde¬ d'un changement d'analyse du Ren¬ ment insisté pour que ce document soit, seignement national ? cette fois, rendu public.

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

ISRAËL NUCLÉAIRE IRANIEN le Dlonde 7 décembre 2007 Israël redoute un relâchement nucléaire ». Tous les dirigeants israéliens ont mini¬ international vis-à-vis de Téhéran misé les conclusions du rapport du rensei¬ gnement américain et fait valoir qu'il JÉRUSALEM Ehoud Barak, le ministre de la défense, n'était pas question de baisser la garde. CORRESPONDANT pense la même chose et affirme : « On doit Une certaine déception mêlée de frustra¬ Les autorités israéliennes ne veulent pas se souvenir que les mots n'arrêtent pas les tion se fait jour dans les commentaires. en démordre. En dépit de la publication missiles. » Ehoud Olmert, le premier On retrouve le même sentiment de désap¬ du rapport, lundi 3 décembre, de seize ministre, assure qu'il est « nécessaire de probation qui s'est manifesté en décem¬ agences de renseignement américaines, poursuivre nos efforts avec nos amis améri¬ bre 2006 lors de la publication du rapport selon lequel l'Iran a stoppé son program¬ cains pour empêcher l'Iran d'accéder à des Baker-Hamilton sur l'Irak. me nucléaire militaire en 2003, les respon¬ armes non conventionnelles ». Tzipi Livni, Et, surtout, il est regretté que la possibi¬ sables de l'Etat juif restent persuadés du la ministre des affaires étrangères, deman¬ lité d'accentuer la pression au moyen d'un contraire. Le président Shimon Pérès s'est de «des sanctions plus efficaces contre troisième volet de sanctions semble s'éloi¬ demandé, mercredi 5 décembre, pourquoi l'Iran » et fait remarquer que « toutefor¬ gner, de même que l'option militaire, qui Téhéran « investit des milliards de dollars me d'hésitation sera perçue comme unefai¬ paraît désormais plus aléatoire, ce qui pour développer son programme d'arme¬ blesse de la communauté internationale ». contrarie sérieusement la campagne de mentatomique ainsi que des missiles balisti¬ Et d'insister sur le fait que « le monde ne sensibilisation internationale entreprise ques à longueportée ». peutpermettre à l'Iran de se doter de l'arme par Israël à travers le monde. Cette campagne va se poursuivre, a indi¬ En Israël, la presse évoque la « surprise » des autorités qué Ehoud Olmert. Tzipi Livni doit se ren¬ dre, vendredi 7 décembre, à Bruxelles, pour continuer d'inciter les nations de Les conclusions des agences de rensei¬ internationale sur le danger que repré¬ l'Union européenne et les pays de l'OTAN gnement américaines ont fait les gros sentent, selon elles, les ambitions à durcir les sanctions internationales titres du YediotAharonot et du Haaretz, nucléaires iraniennes. contre Téhéran. en Israël, mardi 4 décembre. Les deux Selon le Yediot, les services de renseigne¬ Les autorités israéliennes avaient déjà quotidiens ont évoqué la « surprise » des ment israéliens ne partagent pas les ana¬ vivement protesté après la publication, à autorités israéliennes qui ont estimé lyses américaines et la « crédibilité » la mi-novembre, du rapport de Mohamed désormais « très improbable » une opéra¬ israélienne, sur ce point, risque donc ElBaradei,le directeur de l'Agence interna¬ tion militaire contre l'Iran en 2008. Alex d'être affaiblie. tionale de l'énergie atomique (AIEA), qui Fishman, le chroniqueur militaire du Le ministre de la défense, Ehoud Barak, a avait minimisé les risques d'acquisition à YediotAharonot, considère que ce rap¬ d'ailleurs estimé, mardi 4 décembre, à la court terme de l'arme nucléaire par l'Iran. port est « un coup au-dessous de la cein¬ radio militaire, que l'Iran avait « probable¬ Il avait été accusé de « mettre en danger la ture » contre les autorités israéliennes ment » relancé son programme d'armes paix du monde » et sa démission avait été qui s'efforcent d'alerter la communauté nucléaires depuis 2003. réclamée par le vice-premier ministre, Shaul Mofaz. Celui-ci avait fustigé les conclusions du rapport selon lesquelles il n'y a aucune preuve permettant d'affir¬ M. Ahmadinejad crie victoire, M. Bush mer que l'Iran se dote d'un programme nucléaire militaire. affirme que l'Iran reste un danger « Troisième plan » Les journaux israéliens sont convain¬ LE PRESIDENT américain George Bush dant un an à une centrale nucléaire, nous cus du contraire et avancent la théorie a tourné en dérision, mercredi 5 décem¬ devons avoir50 000 centrifugeusespour d'un « troisième plan », qui permettrait à bre, les proclamations de « victoire » fai¬ enrichir l'uranium. » Plusieurs diri¬ Téhéran de développer, secrètement, une tes par Téhéran, après la publication, geants iraniens ont réclamé que les capacité nucléaire militaire. Aucun élé¬ lundi, du rapport du Renseignement Etats-Unis présentent leurs excuses et ment de preuve n'est fourni et les services américain estimant que l'Iran a suspen¬ dédommagent l'Iran. de renseignement israéliens sont sommés du son programme nucléaire militaire George Bush estime cependant que ce de se mettre au travail pour le démontrer. en 2003. « Vouspouvez écrire sur vos car¬ rapport ne « change rien » à la politique Comme le dit Yossi Melman, journaliste nets quej'ai ri », a dit M. Bush lors d'un américaine, que l'Iran reste un danger et au quotidien Haaretz : « Si Israël n'avait déplacement à Omaha (Nebraska). que la communauté internationale doit pas depreuve auparavant,pourquoi en trou¬ Quelques heures plus tôt, le président maintenir ses pressions sur Téhéran. verait-il maintenant ? » iranien, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, esti¬ A cet égard, le président américain En attendant, en raison des menaces mant que ce rapport avait donné « le s'est entretenu, mercredi soir, avec son répétées proférées par le président iranien coup de grâce aux espoirs des ennemis de homologue français Nicolas Sarkozy. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad contre l'Etatjuif, l'Iran » avait déclaré : « Il vise à sortir le Selon David Martinon, porte-parole de le ministère de la défense israélien a déci¬ gouvernement américain de l'impasse, l'Elysée, M. Bush a exposé les conclu¬ dé, début novembre, de se doter, avec mais il s'agit de la déclaration de la victoi¬ sions de l'étude des services américains l'aide des Américains, d'un nouveau systè¬ re du peuple iranienface auxgrandespuis¬ et « les éléments nouveaux qu'elle me de défense antimissile baptisé « Fron¬ sances. » Expliquant que le contentieux contient, notammentsur des activités à de de David».» nucléaire était désormais « clos », caractère nucléaire militaire que l'Iran Michel bôle-Richard M. Ahmadinejad a indiqué que l'Iran aurait conduites ». M. Sarkozy aurait poursuivra ses activités et « ne bougera répondu que « si cela était confirmé, les pas d'un iota sur son droit au nucléaire préoccupations internationales depuis civil. » Avant d'ajouter : « Si nous vou¬ 2002 sur lesfinalités nucléaires en Iran lonsfournir du combustible nucléairepen seraient encore renforcées ». - (AFP.)

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

Turquie : huit rebelles du PKK tués dans des combats, 14 en deux jours

ANKARA. 5 déc 2007 (AFP) -Huit rebelles kurdes du Parti des travail¬ L'engin explosif a été lancé vers 22H00 (20H00 GMT) contre la porte d'entrée leurs du Kurdistan (PKK) ont été tués mercredi au cours de combats dans le du bâtiment par un individu non identifié, la déflagration causant des bris de sud-est de la Turquie, portant à 14 le nombre de rebelles abattus en deux jours verre dans le voisinage, indique l'agence. dans cette région montagneuse, a annoncé l'état-major turc dans un commu¬ Selon les autorités, les rebelles tués au cours des deux derniers jours font niqué. partie du groupe qui a attaqué le 7 octobre dernier un poste militaire, tuant 13 Les heurts se sont produits dans la zone du mont Kiipeli, dans la province de soldats. Sirnak, où l'armée menait une opération contre les séparatistes, indique le L'attaque avait suscité l'indignation dans l'opinion publique turque et renforcé document. l'hypothèse d'une intervention armée dans le nord de l'Irak, dont le PKK se sert Un officier a été tué dans les accrochages mardi. comme base arrière pour réaliser des opérations dans le sud-est anatolien dont la population est en majorité kurde. D'importantes réserves de vivres, des documents appartenant au PKK et des armes ont été retrouvés dans la zone des combats, poursuit le document. Une première opération restreinte faisant intervenir l'artillerie et des hélicoptè¬ res de combat a été déclenchée samedi contre une position du PKK dans le Une bombe a par ailleurs explosé mercredi soir devant un commissariat de nord de l'Irak, le vice-Premier ministre Cemil Cicek et le chef d'état-major, le Diyarbakir, la principale ville du sud-est anatolien, sans faire de victime, a général Yasar Bùyukanit, indiquant que d'autres devraient suivre rapporté l'agence de presse Anatolie.

Irak: Attentat contre la police irakienne à Mossoul après l'arrivée de Gates MOSSOUL (Irak). 5 déc 2007 (AFP) - Une personne a été tuée et l'aéroport. cinq autres ont été blessées dans un attentat contre une patrouille de police, De nombreux hélicoptères et avions de chasse survolaient la région mercredi mercredi à Mossoul, peu après l'arrivée dans cette ville du nord de l'Irak du matin, mais aucun renfort de la police ou de l'armée irakienne n'était visible secrétaire américain à la Défense Robert Gates. dans les rues de la ville à l'occasion de la visite du responsable américain. Un engin piégé a explosé au passage d'une patrouille de la police irakienne A Kirkouk (250 km au nord de Bagdad), un responsable de l'Union patriotique dans le quartier d'al-Dawassa, dans le centre de Mossoul, a indiqué à l'AFP du Kurdistan (UPK, l'une des deux grandes formations politiques kurde ira¬ un responsable de la police locale, le général Abdoul Karim Khalaf al-Joubouri. kienne) a été la cible d'un attentat à la voiture piégée, selon le général de police Une personne, un civil, a été tuée et cinq autres ont été blessées, dont un Torhan Youssef. policier, a précisé le général Joubouri. Deux personnes ont été tuées et dix autres blessées, a indiqué le général Cet attentat a eu lieu peu après l'arrivée sur la base militaire américaine de Youssef, précisant que le responsable kurde, visé, dont il n'a pas voulu donner Mossoul du secrétaire américain à la Défense Robert Gates, venu pour une le nom, est sorti indemne de l'attaque. visite surprise de quelques heures en Irak. Quatre de ses gardes figurent parmi les blessés, selon la même source. La base est située hors de Mossoul, au sud de la ville, où se trouve également

Huit membres des forces de sécurité kurdes tués dans le nord de l'Irak SOULEIMANIEYH (Irak), 6 déc 2007 (AFP) - - Huit membres des La fusillade a duré plus de deux heures, a-t-il précisé, et trois assaillants ont forces de sécurité kurdes, les peshmergas, ont été tués jeudi par des insurgés été tués. dans une attaque contre un poste de contrôle dans le nord de l'Irak, selon un Des unités de peshmergas ont été envoyés dans la région de Karatappa, où responsables kurde. sont installés des communautés kurdes chiites, alors que la province de Jabbar Yawar, commandant des peshmergas, qui assurent la sécurité dans la Diyala est le théâtre d'une offensive américaine contre les émules irakiens zone autonome du Kurdistan irakien, a précisé que l'incident s'est produit près d'AI-Qaïda. de la ville de Karatappa, dans la province voisine de Diyala. "Huit peshmergas ont été tués et cinq blessés lorsque les terroristes ont attaqué leur poste de contrôle", a indiqué à l'AFP Jabbar Yawar.

France: un centre culturel kurde inculpé pour financement du terrorisme

PARIS, 7 déc 2007 (AFP) - Le Centre culturel kurde de Paris a été mis relation avec une entreprise terroriste". en examen vendredi en tant que personne morale pour association de malfai¬ De nationalité turque et australienne pour un d'entre eux et régulièrement teurs en relation avec une entreprise terroriste et financement du terrorisme installés en France, ils sont soupçonnés d'avoir participé au financement pour ses liens présumés avec l'organisation séparatiste kurde PKK, a-t-on d'attentats commis en Turquie par le TAK, les "Faucons de la liberté", une appris de sources proches du dossier. émanation du PKK, ainsi qu'à des combats au Kurdistan irakien. Le Centre Ahmet Kaya, au centre de Paris, était représenté par l'un de ses Le PKK, considéré comme une organisation terroriste par la Turquie, l'Union dirigeants Kargeha Ozgul. Il s'est vu infliger une caution de 14.000 euros. européenne et les Etats-Unis, se bat depuis 1984 pour l'indépendance du Sud- Cette association a pour objectif de "favoriser l'insertion progressive" de la Est de la Turquie à la population majoritairement kurde. Le conflit a fait environ population kurde installée en région parisienne, selon le site internet du Centre. 37.000 morts. La justice le soupçonne d'être en lien avec le PKK et de lui fournir un soutien L'avocat du Centre, Me William Bourdon, s'est insurgé contre cette mise en financier. examen qui selon lui "ne repose sur rien" et a annoncé son intention de faire une requête en annulation devant la chambre de l'instruction. Cette inculpation intervient dans le cadre d'une information judiciaire ouverte en juillet 2006 et qui a conduit à l'interpellation et la mise en examen de 15 "A suivre le juge d'instruction, tous les mouvements de sympathisants kurdes Kurdes en février dernier pour les mêmes chefs et "blanchiment d'argent en doivent être assimilés avec le PKK, c'est inacceptable," a-t-il affirmé, dénon¬ çant une "logique d'amalgame".

18 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Ozeti Notes from secret Iran talks led to U.S. reversal By David E. Sanger highly classified operation which led Some of Bush's critics have ques¬ and Steven Lee Myers to one ofthe biggest reversals in the his¬ tioned why he did not adjust his rhetoric tory of US. nuclear intelligence de¬ about Iran after the intelligence agencies WASHINGTON: US. intelligence clined to describe how the notes were began to question their earlier findings. sa agencies reversed their view about the obtained. In a statement Wednesday, the White status of Iran's nuclear weapons pro¬ But they said that the CIA and other House revised its account of what Bush gram after they obtained notes last agencies had organized a "red team" to was told in August and acknowledged summer from the deliberations ofIrani¬ determine whether the information that Mike McConnell, the director of an military officials involved in the might have been part of an elaborate national intelligence, had informed him program, senior U.S. intelligence and disinformation campaign mounted by that new information might show that government officials say. Iran to derail the effort to impose sanc¬ "Iran does in fact have a covert weapons The notes included conversations tions against it. program, but it may be suspended." and deliberations in which some of the Ultimately, U.S. intelligence officials Dana Perino, the White House press military officials complained bitterly rejected that theory, though they were secretary, said McConnell had warned about what they termed a decision by challenged to defend that conclusion in the president that "the new information their superiors in late 2003 to end a a meeting two weeks ago in the White might cause the intelligence communi¬ complex engineering effort to design House situation room, in which the ty to change its assessment of Iran's nuclear weapons, including a warhead notes and deliberations were described covert nuclear program, but the intelli¬ that could fit atop Iranian missiles. to the most senior members ofPresident gence community was not prepared to The notes contradicted public asser¬ George W. Bush's national security team, draw any conclusions at that point in tions by US. intelligence officials that including Vice President Dick Cheney. time, and it wouldn't be right to specu¬ the design effort was still active. But ac¬ "It was a pretty vivid exchange," said late until they had time to examine and cording to the intelligence and govern¬ one participant in the conversation. analyze the new data." spoke Wednesday, ment officials, who The officials said they were confi¬ A senior intelligence official and a se¬ they give no hint why Iran's leadership dent that the notes confirmed the exist¬ nior White House official said that Mc¬ decided to halt the covert effort. ence, up to 2003, of a weapons program Connell had been cautious in his pre¬ Ultimately, the notes and delibera¬ that U.S. officials first learned about sentation to Bush in an attempt to avoid tions were corroborated by other intel¬ from a laptop computer, belonging to an a mistake made in the months leading to ligence, the officials said, including in¬ Iranian engineer, that came into the the Iraq war, in which raw intelligence tercepted conversations among Iranian hands of the CIA in 2004. was shared with the White House be¬ officials that were collected in recent Ever since the major findings of the fore it had been tested and analyzed. is months. It not clear whether those new National Intelligence Estimate on "There was a big lesson learned in conversations involved the same of¬ Iran's nuclear program were made pub¬ 2002," the top intelligence official said. ficers and others whose deliberations lic Monday, the White House has refused "You can make enough mistakes in this were recounted in the notes or whether to discuss details ofwhat Bush, in a news business even if you don't rush things." they included their superiors. conference on Tuesday, termed a "great In fact, some in the intelligence agen¬ The U.S. officials who described the discovery" that led to the reversal. cies appear not to be fully convinced

Mihdl Ghaseml/The Associated Prtst President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Wednesday that Jhe latest U.S. ofIran's nuclear program was "a declaration ofvictory" for the country against world powers.

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

that the notes of the deliberations indi¬ what it called a journal from an Iranian amined both sets of data, but they said cated that all aspects of the weapons source that documented decisions to they were closely related. program had been shut down. close down the nuclear program. On Wednesday, Bush repeated his de¬ The crucial judgments made public The senior intelligence and govern¬ mand that Tehran "come clean" and ment officials said a more precise de¬ . Monday said that while "we judge with disclose details of the covert weapons high confidence that the halt lasted at scription of that intelligence would be program that U.S. intelligence agencies least several years," it also included the exchanges among members of a large said operated from the 1980s until the warning that "intelligence gaps dis¬ group, one responsible for both design¬ autumn of 2003. cussed elsewhere in this Estimate" led ing weapons and integrating them into Iran's government, Bush said, "has the Energy Department and the National delivery vehicles. more to explain about its nuclear inten¬ Intelligence Council "to assess with only The discovery led officials to revisit tions and past actions, especially the moderate confidence that the halt to intelligence mined in 2004 and 2005 covert nuclear weapons program pur¬ those activities represents a halt to Iran's from the laptop obtained from the Ira¬ sued until the autumn of 2003, which the entire nuclear weapons program." nian engineer. The documents in that Iranian regime has yet to acknowledge." The account is the most detailed ex¬ laptop described two programs, termed Bush spoke at Eppley Airfield near planation provided by U.S. officials L-101 and L-102 by the Iranians, describ¬ Omaha, Nebraska, where a visit intend¬ about how they came to contradict an ing designs and computer simulations ed to showcase health care and to raise assertion, spelled out in a 2005 National that appeared to be related to weapons money for a Senate race was overshad¬ Intelligence Estimate and repeated by work. Information from the laptop be¬ owed by the furor caused by the report Bush, that Iran had an active weapons came one ofthe chiefpieces ofevidence and Iran's taunting reaction to it. program. Several news organizations cited in the 2005 intelligence estimate have reported that the reversal was that concluded, "Iran currently is deter¬ prompted in part by intercepts of con- mined to develop nuclear weapons." ' versations involving Iranian officials. The newly obtained notes of the de¬ In an article published Wednesday, liberations did not precisely match up The Los Angeles Times said another with the programs described in the main ingredient in the reversal was laptop, said officials who have ex

.INTERNATIONAL^ ïïcralbàSSribune France and Germany THE WOKUS DAILY NEWSTAftt December 7, 2007 want no letup on Iran

answer questions about its nuclear pro¬ Nuclear program still Merkel stopped short of explicitly grams, The Associated Press reported. mentioning sanctions, but also ap¬ The talks are Rice's first face-to-face a danger, they say peared determined to support current sessions with world powers considering negotiations in the UN Security Coun¬ new UN sanctions on Iran over its nu¬ ByKatrinBennhold cil about new measures. clear program since the National Intel¬ "I think that we are in a process and ligence Estimate was released Monday. PARIS: France and Germany said that Iran continues to pose a danger," "I don't see that the NIE changes the Thursday that Iran remained a she said. course that we're on," Rice told report¬ "danger" and that the international The National Intelligence Estimate ers as she flew to for a confer¬ community needed to keep up the pres¬ ence of NATO foreign ministers and sure over its nuclear program despite a made public on Monday said that talks between the alliance and former U.S. intelligence report concluding that Tehran had frozen its nuclear weapons Cold War foe Russia, which, along with Tehran was no longer building a bomb. program in 2003. China, has been particularly resistant The joint remarks, from two countries But it also said the country was con¬ to new sanctions. that have been important in the diplo¬ tinuing to build up technical know-how Rice also will see the Israeli foreign matic standoffwith Iran, will have come that could be used both for civilian and minister, Tzipi Livni, on Friday. Israeli as a reliefto Washington four days after military purposes. officials say their intelligence forces be¬ the publication of the U.S. National In¬ Both leaders urged to continue with a lieve Iran is still working aggressively telligence Estimate was feared to erode twin strategy of combining pressure to build nuclear arms, despite the new support for tougher new sanctions. with dialogue. U.S. conclusion about Iran. Speaking in a joint news conference In comments apparently aimed at at Elysée Palace, President Nicolas Russia and China, two members of the Sarkozy and Chancellor Angela Merkel Security Council who have dragged their indicated that the findings had not feed on new sanctions, Sarkozy urged changed their mind. that there be a "coherent" position, a "The threat exists," said Sarkozy, one view Merkel said she shared. of the staunchest defenders of tough new measures. "Notwithstanding the Rice wants more pressure latest elements, everyone is fully con¬ scious of the fact that there is a will.' among the Iranian leaders to obtain nu¬ Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice clear weapons." began talks on Thursday in Brussels "I don't see why we should renounce with European and Russian officials to sanctions," he added. "What made Iran urge greater international pressure on budge so far has been sanctions and Iran to halt uranium enrichment and firmness."

20 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Ôzeti AsiaTimes Dec 6, 2007 Oil showdown in Kurdistan

By Lvdia Khalil tani recently declared that any oil contracts signed billion barrels of proven oil reserves, though much with KRG officials are null and void. "The Iraqi of the country remains unexplored. Article 3, paragraph 3 of the Oil and Gas Law of government had warned these companies ofthe Therefore any Kurdish moves on Kirkuk are the Kurdistan Region seems straightforward consequences of entering into these contracts, and viewed with extreme suspicion. The referendum to enough: 'The regional government shall, together the consequence is that Iraq will not allow these decide whether Kirkuk province should be admin¬ with the federal government, jointly manage petro¬ companies to extract the oil." istered under the KRG, scheduled to take place leum operations ... according to the provisions of It is not entirely clear how the central government this month, has been postponed. If Kirkuk does the federal constitution" [1]. plans to enforce this, short of stationing Iraqi eventually decide to ally itself with the KRG ad¬ The law seems clear until one discovers that no military forces in Kurdistan, since KRG officials ministration, Turkey will surely not sit idly by and comparable federal (meaning national) oil law has remain defiant and refuse to bow to Baghdad let this happen. been passed and that the provisions within the pressure. In a sharply worded official rebuttal, the The Turks and Iraqi Arabs are already compiling federal constitution are still hotly contested by KRG pledged to move forward with the oil explora¬ evidence of aggressive Kurdish action in Kirkuk, many quarters within the Iraqi government. The tion projects. "We are not deterred by Dr Shahris- such as Kurdish party officials paying Arab fami¬ confusion has tani's views. Experience shows that most interna¬ lies to leave ahead of decisions by the Property tional oil companies (lOCs) now ignore his un¬ not only stalled oil exploration and production Claims Commission and the resettling of support¬ helpful interventions. We know that the KRG is efforts, it carries a palpable security threat as well. ers of Talabani's Patriotic Union of Kurdistan doing the right thing by encouraging the lOCs to (PUK) and Massoud Barzani's Kurdistan Democ¬ Despite opposition from the national government in invest in Kurdistan ... We would like to remind Dr ratic Party (KDP) in Kirkuk in advance of the Baghdad and its neighbors, the Kurdistan Regional Shahristani that we neither expect nor accept referendum. Government (KRG) has refused to be held back by threats, sanctions and punishments from partners the indecision and infighting that characterizes the in our coalition government in Baghdad. The If Kurdish officials are demonstrating their defiance central government. They have charged ahead, Kurdistan Alliance List [a parliamentary alliance of now in pursuing the oil exploration contracts passing their own Oil and Gas Law and forming the PUK and KDP] is a partner in Iraq, not a rogue despite Iraqi and regional opposition, Turkey, Iran four regional oil-related companies - the Kurdistan region to be threatened or punished ... Empty and their Iraqi brothers will not be inclined to give Exploration and Production Company, Kurdistan threats and talk of blackmail will not last. We are the Kurdish leadership the benefit of the doubt National Oil Company, Kurdistan Oil Marketing sure that eventually common sense will prevail in when they claim they harbor no intentions to Organization and Kurdistan Organization for dealing with these matters." secede by claiming Kirkuk. But Turkey and other Downstream Operations - and signed seven new regional powers are not the only security threats to Accusing Shahristani of relying on Ba'athist and exploration deals with both Kurdish and interna¬ the KRG. Iraqi insurgents have also set their sights Saddamist frameworks, Kurdish leaders blasted tional petroleum firms. Kurdish officials claim they on Kirkuk. are well within their legal right to go forward with Shahristani's record and reminded Iraqis that oil In the latest attack, a suicide bomber targeted a top the exploration deals and that fears of the KRG found in northern Iraq will benefit all Iraqis because Kirkuki security official, killing five and wounding monopolizing subsequent oil revenues are un¬ of the obligations drafted under the Revenue Shar¬ 20. As al-Qaeda and their supporters have been founded. ing Law. The response of foreign companies involved in the oil exploration deals will likely flushed out of Iraq's al-Anbar province and many Iraqi president and Kurdish leader Jalal Talabani resolve the rhetorical battle, but the disagreement parts of Baghdad, they are traveling out, upwards explained, "Regarding the Kurdistan region's between the national government and the KRG has and along the borders. Their presence is being contracts, they do not deal with oil production and greater consequences for regional security. increasingly felt at points north. The November 15 suicide attack in Kirkuk was just one of dozens, if exploitation, but with the initial stage of oil explora¬ More pressing for the Iraqi Kurds, the oil deals not hundreds, of attacks on Kirkuk this year. tion. When we reach the stage of production and threaten to exacerbate their fragile and historically exploitation, we need to go back to Baghdad in hostile relationship with Turkey. Turkey has The new exploration fields are a promising target 12 accordance with Article of the Iraqi constitution. stationed thousands of troops along the border it to incoming insurgents and an increasingly violent Hence the Kurdish position is misrepresented ... shares with the KRG and has conducted limited indigenous Kurdish opposition to the PUK-KDP The Kurds have not made any demand to monopo¬ incursions to flush out Kurdistan Workers' Party power monopoly in the KRG. A recent explosion at lize the oil and its revenues. We implement the (PKK) fighters hiding out in the Kurdish mountains. one exploration field, though it was deemed an relevant constitutional provisions and believe that Turkey claims that PKK units operating out of Iraqi engineering failure, was immediately thought to be oil and its revenues should be shared and distrib¬ Kurdish territory have perpetrated attacks inside the work of saboteurs. uted equally and fairly to all Iraqi regions without Turkey and accuse KRG officials of neglect or Conclusion exception." even collusion. Using oil to ensure autonomy While the PKK presence in Iraqi Kurdistan is a Though the Kurds insist the law is on their side with regard to the recent oil exploration deals, Despite Kurdish protestations and assurances, the pressing security concern, the long-term regional, particularly Turkish, worry is the growing auton¬ most of their neighbors and fellow Iraqis disagree. oil contracts are an obvious attempt to raise the omy of the KRG and the prospect of eventual Kurds have achieved much since 1991 - a certain KRG's strategic and international profile, as well Kurdish secession from Iraqi territory. In the degree of autonomy, influence within the Baghdad as a means of consolidating its current level of current environment, the two issues are easily government, strong economic ties with Turkey and autonomy and relative prosperity. The Kurds have conflated. the support of the United States. clearly stated that they will not allow indecision in Baghdad to hinder their hard-won progress nor Dispute over Kirkuk But the continuation and progress of these achie¬ slow down any momentum towards economic vements should not be taken for granted. They development and regional autonomy. The recent oil exploration contracts also bring to threaten to unravel if Turkish suspicion morphs mind Kurdish strategy in Kirkuk. In the minds of into Turkish aggression or if future conflicts over But what Kurdish officials often fail to mention is many within the region, and inside Iraq, the key to oil devolve into civil conflict, erasing security gains that there are a host of other issues that impact Kurdish independence lies with Kirkuk, where in the KRG. But the achievements in Kurdistan did Iraqi and regional opinion of the Kurdish oil con¬ most of the oil in northern Iraq is located. not come about without the Kurdish leadership tracts. Turkey, Iran and Iraq's Sunni Arabs all cast taking risky decisions. Going forward with the oil Kirkuk is not under KRG administration yet, but the a wary eye over the slightest movements towards exploration deals is a gamble they are apparently Kurdish leadership is doing everything within its Kurdish autonomy. Given this ultra sensitive willing to take, but one not without dangers. environment, the new oil contracts are as much of power to ensure that it will be. The Kurds and the a security risk to the KRG as they are a potential Turkomen both have historic claims to Kirkuk and boon to its economy and strategic profile. want to rectify the injustice of the Arabization policy imposed on the oil-rich province by Saddam Note The central Iraqi government has already called Hussein. No one denies, however, that Kirkuk's oil the exploration contracts illegal and threatened to resources are the main prize. 1 . The Oil and Gas Law of the Kurdistan Region. impose sanctions on any of the foreign companies (This article first appeared in The Jamestown involved in the deal, preventing them from any The current territory under Kurdish regional ad¬ Foundation. Used with permission. future work with the Iraqi state. ministration contains only about 0.5% of Iraq's proven oil reserves, while Kirkuk has 11 billion Not only that, Iraqi Oil Minister Hussein Shahris barrels of proven reserves. Iraq has a total of 1 15

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

était une série de schémas d'une tête nu¬ Observateur 13-19 décembre 2007» cléaire que la CIA avait retrouvés, l'année précédente, dans l'ordinateur portable d'un ingénieur iranien. Mais, en fait, les der¬ _ Menace nucléaire iranienne nières mises à jour de ces dessins remon¬ taient à février 2003. Il était donc bien plau¬ sible que les Iraniens aient arrêté leurs travaux après cette date. Au cours de l'été, les espions ont corroboré ces révélations par des Le écoutes téléphoniques et autres intercep¬ rapport tions. Et à l'automne, ils ont vérifié qu'ils n'étaient pas victimes d'une vaste opération de désinformation orchestrée par Téhéran. Voilà pour l'aspect technique. qui change tout Mais il y a une autre raison, politique celle-là, à ce revirement soudain. « Les servi¬ ces américains sentaient qu'une nouvelle guerre La révélation de ces se préparait, dit un officiel français. Par cette j conclusions radicalement NIE, ils ont voulu aussi dire à Bush : sans f nouvelles a fait l'effet d'un nous ! Celle-là, nous ne la cautionnerons pas ! » |? tremblement de terre à Wash- Dans cette fronde, le Pentagone a joué les I ington. Pressentant ce séisme, premiers rôles puisque sur les seize agences ?» /la Maison-Blanche a d'abord de renseignement consultées, neuf dépen¬ I voulu garder secrète cette NIE, dent de lui. g dont la version complète destinée Ces derniers mois, tout laissait penser que # à l'administration et au Congrès la Maison-Blanche programmait des frappes j' comprend 150 pages. Le patron du contre l'Iran. Forte de l'estimation alarmiste *" f renseignement, l'amiral McConnell, de 2005, l'administration Bush tentait de >.,| l'avait annoncé le 13 novembre. Mais convaincre l'opinion publique mondiale que la peur des fuites non contrôlées a poussé l'Iran représentait un danger immédiat. A Bush à machine et à l'équipe faire arrière l'écouter, Téhéran, tout à son obsession de rendre public un résumé explosif. Mais que l'arme atomique, était sur le point de franchir pouvait-on dire dans ce texte destiné à la un point de non retour. Selon les faucons, les presse ? Le débat interne entre les faucons sanctions de l'ONU, trop molles, ne pou¬ Après la volte-face spectaculaire et les « réalistes » a duré tout le week-end vaient arrêter les mollahs dans leur course précédent la publication. Venu discrète¬ folle vers la bombe. Du coup, à mots à peine du renseignement américain et le ment à Paris, le samedi 1er décembre, brie- couverts, Bush et Cheney menaçaient de fer les autorités françaises sur cette NIE, bombarder l'Iran afin, assuraient-ils, d'éviter démenti apporté à George Bush l'amiral McConnell a confié à ses interlo¬ « une troisième guerre mondiale ». Ravis, les par ses propres services secrets, la cuteurs ne pas encore savoir ce qui serait think tanks néoconservateurs présentaient révélé au monde deux jours plus tard. déjà des plans de frappes en kit : une guerre Finalement la NIE déclassifiée ne com¬ Maison-Blanche a probablement « sans risque » façon La Redoute - 48 heu¬ porte que huit pages mais constitue bien un renoncé à frapper les installations res chrono, avec force bombardiers furùfs et camouflet sans précédent pour le président missiles de croisière. atomiques iraniennes. Mais est-elle des Etats-Unis. Car elle contredit radicale¬ Tétanisés, les responsables occidentaux ment la précédente « estimation », celle dont et arabes retenaient leur souffle, en attendant prête, pour autant, à ouvrir une Bush se servait, il y a quelques jours encore, l'inévitable déflagration. Beaucoup la pré¬ pour justifier ses diatribes belliqueuses 'à voyaient pour l'été 2008. D'autres pour plus négociation stratégique avec af¬ l'égard de l'Iran. Cette synthèse de 2005 tôt encore. « Notre estimation, c'est que Bush Téhéran ? firmait « avec un haut degré de certitude » que va "taper" et peut-être très vite-», confiait au « » à l'Iran était déterminé fabriquer une « Nouvel Observateur » un responsable fran¬ bombe atomique, que son programme nu¬ çais quelques jours avant la publication de la De notre envoyé spécial Vincent Jauvert cléaire secret était actif et queTéhéran pour¬ NIE. rait disposer d'une arme peut-être dès 2010. Aujourd'hui, les anticipations ont radica¬ La communauté internationale est en état de Pourquoi un tel changement d'« estima¬ lement changé. Le monde entier ou presque choc », confiait un responsable français au tion » ? Pour deux raisons. La première est est convaincu que l'option militaire est dés¬ « Nouvel Observateur », au lendemain de « d'ordre technique. Selon le New York ormais « off the table », comme on dit à la publication à Washington de la der¬ Times », l'unité spéciale de la CIA chargée Washington ; que la guerre tant de fois an¬ nière synthèse des renseignements amé¬ du dossier iranien et surnommée « la Maison noncée (1) n'est plus d'actualité. Et c'est ricains sur l'Iran. Que dit cette note, cette National perse », a la au mis main, printemps dernier, . bien là la principale conséquence du choc Intelligence Estimate (NIE), de si important pouf sur un document top secret : le compte- produit par la nouvelle NIE. « Une attaque est l'avenir du monde ? 1) Téhéran a gelé son pro¬ rendu d'une réunion entre hauts gradés ira¬ exclue et cela pour plusieurs années » prédit gramme nucléaire militaire clandestin à l'automne niens. Selon ces notes manuscrites, les Hans Blix, ancien patron des inspecteurs en 2003 ; 2) les espions américains « ignorent si [la officiers se plaignaient amèrement de l'arrêt, désarmement pour l'Irak. Même Robert République islamique] a, aujourd'hui, l'intention de fin 2003, des travaux sur les têtes nucléaires. Kagan, un géo-stratège très écouté à développer » la bombe atomique ; 3) les dirigeants Stupéfaits, les agents américains ont rouvert Washington qui, au début de l'année, consi¬ iraniens ne sont pas des fous mais des leaders ra¬ leur dossier de 2005. La pièce à conviction dérait que la diplomatie avec l'Iran était une tionnels dont « les décisions sont régies par une ap¬ qui, à l'époque, prouvait que Téhéran travail¬ «futilité », même lui, juge que l'option mili¬ proche coût-avantage ». lait activement à la militarisation de l'atome taire a « disparu ». Et, selon nos sources, les <*

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

Quand Sarkozy persiste...

Sur l'Iran, Nicolas Sarkozy est les autorités françaises n'ont pas reçu, désormais plus radical que les depuis plusieurs années, d'informa¬ services secrets des Etats-Unis. tions nouvelles concernant le pro¬ Le 6 décembre, il a parlé de « la vo¬ gramme nucléaire militaire iranien lonté des dirigeants iraniens d'obtenir le lancé à la fin de la décennie 1980 et nucléaire militaire ». Or, dans leur rap¬ elles ne peuvent dire si celui-ci est port du 3 décembre, les espions amé¬ toujours actifou pas. Nicolas Sarkozy ricains ont écrit : « Nous ignorons si voulait-il dire en fait que l'Iran sou¬

[l'Iran] a actuellement l'intention de dé¬ haite garder ouverte une « option » velopper des armes nucléaires. » militaire, ce qui serait plus conforme Disposerait-on à l'Elysée de rensei¬ aux estimations actuelles de l'admi¬ gnements particuliers ? Il ne semble nistration ? Si oui, ne devrait-il pas pas. En fait, selon plusieurs sources, nuancer ses propos ? VJ.

dépit de ses conclusions ? On ne peut écar¬ américains ignorent si les Iraniens n'ont pas, tratégique : un «grand bargain ». De nom¬ ter cette hypothèse. en fait, repris leur programme nucléaire mi¬ breux démocrates et quelques ténors De toute façon, ne nous y trompons pas : litaire après juin 2007, voire plus tôt. Ils di¬ républicains le demandent depuis des mois. le choc du 3 décembre digéré, le débat sur la ront aussi que la NIE déclassifiée ne précise Mais Bush fait semblant de ne pas com¬ pas à quel stade était ce quand guerre sera bientôt relancé à Washington programme prendre ce qu'on attend de lui. Il dit que, oui, et, bien sûr, à Tel Aviv (voir l'article d'Henri il a été arrêté en 2003 ; qu'il était peut-être - il faut un mélange « de carotte et de bâton » Guirchoun p. 70). En quels termes ? Les op¬ très avancé et que, si cela se trouve, repre¬ pour obtenir un changement d'attitude de leurs travaux passés, les ingénieurs ira¬ posants aux frappes diront que, c'est vrai, il nant l'Iran. D assure que c'est justement ce que n'y a pas, en Iran, de justification civile à un niens seront capables de construire une tête programme d'enrichissement de ruranium nucléaire en quelques mois. Bref, ils crieront puisque le pays regorge d'hydrocarbures ; mais ils ajouteront que, selon la NIE du que le risque est trop grand pour que l'on 3 décembre, ces travaux coûteux sont desti¬ reste les bras croisés, que ne pas bombarder nés à asseoir le prestige de serait une lâcheté historique. l'Iran dans la région et pas for¬ Ces arguments ne convaincront pas l'esta¬ cément à construire une blishment américain, déjà vent debout bombe. Ils déclareront aussi contre une guerre en Iran. Mais Bush ? Les que, toujours d'après la der¬ néoconservateurs savent persuader leur pré¬

nière « estimation », même si sident préféré de passer outre le consensus les Iraniens produisent un jour washingtonien. On les a vus à l' Il y a de l'uranium hautement enri¬ un an, le conflit en Irak s'enlisait. On parlait chi, cela ne leur servira à rien d'un nouveau Vietnam. Les plus grandes fi¬ puisqu'ils ne savent pas gures de la diplomatie américaine ont écrit construire de bombe, leurs tra¬ un rapport brillant, acclamé par la presse et vaux ad hoc ayant été suspen¬ le Congrès. Ds y demandaient à dus en 2003. Bush de retirer les GI's d'Irak. Mais les faucons contre-atta- Or qu'a décidé ce dernier ? De queront avec la virulence et le faire le contraire : le surge, une brio qu'on leur connaît. L'un augmentation brusque des trou¬ de leurs chefs de file, John pes à Bagdad - un plan Bolton, a déjà lancé les pre¬ concocté par, devinez qui ?, les mières salves dimanche der¬ néoconservateurs. nier. Us mettront en doute la Cette fois encore, une victoire validité de la NIE. Ils préten¬ à l'arrachée des faucons est donc dront que ses rédacteurs ont possible, mais très improbable. Hilary Mann et Flynt Les anciens voulu faire un « quasi-putsch » Alors que va faire le président Leverett. (sic Bolton !), qu'ils ont agi par américain ? Il pourrait choisir la conseillers de George Bush vengeance contre l'intervention voie de la diplomatie, comme l'y plaident pour l'ouverture en Irak, que leurs données sont enjoignent les rédacteurs de la de négociations entre «biaiséès» et «politisées». Ensuite ils diront NIE du 3 décembre. Voici ce Washington et Téhéran. que la prétendue quête de « prestige » n'est qu'ils suggèrent pour convaincre que foutaise, que si les Iraniens sont tant Téhéran de renoncer au nu¬ pressés d'accroître leur capacité d'enrichis¬ cléaire militaire : « Une combinai¬ autorités françaises estiment, elles aussi, sement, c'est évidemment parce qu'ils ont son de menaces (...), alliées à des qu'après la divulgation de la NIE toute opportunités offertes à d'as¬ une idée derrière la tête. Laquelle ? La NIE l'Iran frappe contre l'Iran est inconcevable. surer sa sécurité et son prestige et le dit : « Laisser au moins ouverte l'option vi¬ Mais est-ce si sûr ? Certains, comme l'an¬ d'atteindre ses objectifs d'influence sant à développer des armes nucléaires. » Et cien conseiller de Bush pour le Moyen régionale par d'autres moyens. » puis les faucons s'engouffreront dans les Orient, Flynt Leverett, redoutent encore un Ils l'invitent donc à proposer à ambiguïtés de l'« estimation ». Ils argueront mauvais coup de cette administration amé¬ Téhéran un marchandage géos du fait, que, de leur propre aveu, les services ricaine entêtée et sûre de son bon droit.

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

son administration fait depuis 2003, mais que malheureusement rien n'a abouti à cause de l'entêtement des mollahs. Mais cela est inexact. En réalité, Bush n'a jamais vraiment tenté la voie diplo¬ matique pour sortir de la crise. Quand les Européens ont commencé à négocier avec l'Iran en octobre 2003, leur objectif était justement d'entraînerWashington

dans cette discussion, dans ce « grand bargain ». Mais Bush a re¬ fusé mordicus.Tous les diplomates européens impliqués s'en sou¬ viennent. A l'époque, les faucons étaient exaltés par leur victoire éclair contre Saddam. Au lieu de soutenir la diplomatie euro¬ péenne, comme Bush prétend l'avoir fait, ils planifiaient une at¬ taque contre l'Iran (ce sont d'ailleurs ces bruits de bottes qui ont, assurent-ils, convaincus Téhéran de suspendre son programme d'enrichissement pendant deux ans.) Quand, épuisée par le fiasco irakien, la seconde administration L'usine d'enrichissement Bush a fini, en 2006, par se rapprocher des Européens afin de de l'uranium de Natanz présenter une offre commune aux Iraniens, elle n'a pas voulu - au sud de Téhéran - faire le pas décisif que Paris ou Berlin attendaient d'elle - ce pas où l'Iran a installé que justement les auteurs de la NIE du 3 décembre lui suggèrent cet automne de franchir enfin : offrir à l'Iran des garanties de sécurité, c'est- 3 000 centrifugeuses. à-dire s'engager, en cas d'accord global, à respecter les frontiè¬ res de la République islamique et à ne pas chercher à renverser son régime actuel. George Bush et Robert Gates, secrétaire à la Une telle clause était dans la proposition initiale des Européens Défense, ont redit la semaine dernière que le à l'Iran. Seulement voilà, Bush a posé une condition à son rallie¬ monde aurait tort de croire que la politique ment : que la disposition en question soit retirée. Il considère que américaine vis-à-vis de l'Iran avait changé, et donner de telles assurances à l'Iran reviendrait à légitimer le ré¬ que, en réalité « toutes les options sont [encore] gime en place à Téhéran, et il s'y refuse. Si bien que la proposi¬ sur la table ». Etait-ce uniquement pour sau¬ tion américano-européenne était, dès le départ vouée à l'échec. ver la face, pour continuer à faire pression Car tout le monde le sait : sans ces garanties américaines de sé¬ sur l'Iran et, ainsi, rassurer les alliés des curité, l'Iran ne bougera pas. Etats-Unis, très inquiets d'un éventuel dés¬ Au sujet de ces négociations hautement sensibles, l'équipe engagement américain au Moyen-Orient ? Sarkozy prend aujourd'hui la défense de la Maison-Blanche. C'est le plus probable. Mais il y a une autre L'affaire des garanties de sécurité est bien le n de la crise, dé¬ lecture possible, beaucoup plus inquiétante. clarent les nouvelles autorités françaises, mais son histoire n'est Voici laquelle. pas aussi simple qu'il n'y paraît. Elles affirment qu'en lisant at¬ La scène se déroule le 17 octobre dernier. tentivement l'offre américano-européenne de 2006, les Iraniens auraient dû comprendre qu'il y avait, entre les lignes, une ouver¬ Bush a déjà été briefé plusieurs ture sur ce thème. Mais Téhéran n'aurait pas voulu s'engouffrer fois sur les découvertes de la dans cette petite brèche prometteuse. En fait, l'Iran n'aurait CIA. Il décide de s'adresser à même pas fait connaître son souhait de voir posée la question ses compatriotes. Pour leur fondamentale des garanties. faire part de la nouvelle ? Pas « C'est totalementfaux, répond Flynt Leverett, l'ancien conseil¬ du tout. Il leur annonce que, ler de Bush pour le Moyen-Orient. Les Iraniens ontfait savoir, plu¬ désormais, il entend empêcher sieurs fois - d'abord en mai 2003, via la Suisse, puis par le canal du l'Iran d'acquérir la bombe mais haut représentant européen Sohna et enfin par d'autres canaux - que aussi le «savoir-faire» néces¬ c'était de cela qu'Us voulaient avant tout parler. Mais l'administra¬ saire pour en fabriquer une. tion Bush n'a rien voulu entendre. » Et il ajoute : « Pourquoi Sarkozy Quel est ce « savoir-faire » ? Il soutient-il Bush à ce point ? » Mystère. ne le dit pas. Mais tous les spé¬ Quoi qu'il en soit et sauf surprise majeure - que Paris n'exclut cialistes comprennent : c'est de pas - il n'y aura donc pas de « grand bargain » en 2008. Après la la maîtrise de l'enrichissement publication de ia NTE, et peut-être à cause d'elle, la crise nucléaire de l'uranium qu'il s'agit. Or iranienne va traîner. Les Russes et les Chinois vont profiter du justement cet automne, l'Iran a installé choc du 3 décembre pour faire durer à l'ONU les négociations 3 000 centrifugeuses à Natanz. Certes, tout sur de nouvelles sanctions contre la République islamique. Les le monde le sait, les ingénieurs iraniens ne sa¬ Européens, eux, continueront de scruter les moindres mouve¬ vent pas encore faire fonctionner efficace¬ ments à l'intérieur du régime iranien, en espérant - sans y croire ment ces machines de haute précision. Mais, - qu'enfin quelqu'un à Téhéran saisira leur offre. Tandis que le bientôt, peut-être dès le printemps prochain, reste du monde attendra l'élection du prochain président des les espions américains estimeront que ça y Etats-Unis pour savoir comment finalement l'Amérique et l'Iran est, que ces experts sont sur le point de sa¬ trancheront leur différend historique - par la guerre ou la paix. voir faire tourner leurs centrifugeuses, d'ac¬ VINCENT JAVVERT quérir le dangereux tour de main. Par sa mise en garde d'octobre, Bush a annoncé (1) lire « Iran : la prochaine guerre », de Bruno Tertrais, qui vient de pa¬ que ce sera là un casus belli. Cette déclara¬ A raître au Cherche Midi. tion sur le « savoir-faire » visait-elle donc à minimiser la portée de la NIE en préparation et à se réserver le droit de frapper en

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

icIHoiidf La minorité chrétienne d'Irak 12 décembre 2007 proche de la « désespérance »

Ils ne sont plus de plus de la moitié depuis la pre¬ mutuelle est blessée. » pays aussi, les possibilités d'accès mière guerre du Golfe (1991). Mêmes témoignages de « profa¬ et de séjour se restreignent et les que 400 000 dans l'un des Enlèvements et libérations nations» d'églises et d'enlève¬ conditions de vie sont de plus en berceaux du christianisme. contre rançon, menaces de mort, ments dans le quartier de Dora à plus précaires. «La désespérance spoliations de maison : Mgr Geor¬ Bagdad, où, rapporte Mgr Jean- est grande, assure Mgr Selim Des évêques irakiens, ges Casmoussa, archevêque syria¬ Benjamin Sleiman, archevêque Sayeh, vicaire du patriarche latin à syriens, jordaniens et que de Mossoul, évoque des pres¬ latin de la ville, « les chrétiens n'ont Amman. Pour cette émigration sans insoutenables plus le choix qu'entre la dhimmitu- égyptiens sonnent l'alarme sions « » pour faire partir la population chrétienne. de [protection contre espoir de retour, la Jordanie n'est qu'unpays de transit. Peu d'Irakiens Hémorragie, exode : les «Des centaines de familles, des soumission] ef l'exil». s'y établissent. Leur seul espoir est mêmes mots reviennent médecins, des ingénieurs, des hom¬ Pour lui, « l'Etat recons¬ d'émigrerau loin. » pour désigner lamême réali¬ mes d'affaires, des commerçants titué n'est pas encore en Pour eux, les évolutions politi¬ té, celle d'un Irak en train de se continuent de se réfugier dans des mesure de gouverner la ques n'annoncent rien de bon. vider de sa minorité chrétienne. régions plus sûres, dans les villages société ni d'en arbitrer « Les chrétiens se sentent de moins Des évêques irakiens, syriens, jor¬ chrétiens au Kurdistan, ou à l'étran¬ tous les conflits ». en moins chez eux, assure Mgr Cas¬ daniens, égyptiens sontvenus son¬ ger », explique-t-il. Entre 1,2 et 1,5 mil¬ moussa, l'évêque de Mossoul. Le ner l'alarme à Paris, lors de rencon- ss A entendre l'évêque de Mos¬ lion d'Irakiens - dont nouvel Irak semblepromis aux seu¬ très organisées en novembre par soul, la pression des islamistes ne au moins 100 000 chrétiens - sont les trois communautés majoritaires l'Institut européen des sciences de fait que croître : elle va de menaces réfugiés en Syrie. Mais le «pays kurde, sunnite etchiite, et nous som¬ la religion (IESR) et par l'uvre téléphoniques jusqu'à des enlève¬ frère » raidit son attitude. Il a fer¬ mes disqualifiés. » Des partis politi¬ d'Orient Les Eglises de France, le ments, de prêtres en particulier. A mé ses frontières, et la plupart des ques confessionnels chrétiens, mouvement international Pax réfugiés vivent d'expédients. Mossoul, l'un d'entre eux a été tué appelés « chaldéen », « assyrien », Christi et des associations (Chré¬ « Beaucoup n'ont pas de logement et mutilé à Noël 2006. Le 3juin, un « syriaque », ont vu le jour. Ils dis¬ tiens en Méditerranée...) prépa¬ ni de permis de travail. Les enfants jeune prêtre de 31 ans et trois assis¬ putent à la hiérarchie épiscopale, rent une campagne de solidarité ne sont pas scolarises, parce qu'ils tants ont été assassinés à la sortie jusqu'alors son seul porte-parole, qui devrait culminer en 2008 pour n'ont pas de titre de séjour, témoi-% de la messe dominicale. Des cars le contrôle de la minorité chrétien¬ Pâques. gne Mgr Antoine Audo, évêque conduisant des étudiants chrétiens ne. « La question ethnique etraciale Pour ces religieux irakiens, chaldéen d'Alep. Leur horizon est à l'université de Mossoul ont été est aujourd'hui la plus épineuse en l'une des plus vieilles « chrétien¬ bouché. Ils n'ont aucun espoir de attaqués. « Les chrétiens ne sontpas Irak. commente tés » au monde, née en Mésopota¬ retour en Irak et illeurestdifficile de les seuls touchés, convient Mgr Cas¬ Mgr Casmoussa. C'est mie six siècles avant l'arrivée de trouver des visas pour émigrer aux moussa, mais ilssontacculés à l'exo¬ sur cette base que toutes l'islam, est en voie de disparition. Etats-Unis ou en Europe. » de. Pour les musulmans, ils restent La Jordanie compte, quant à les communautés, y com¬ Le pays ne compterait plus que des personnes compétentes, pacifi¬ elle, 750 000 réfugiés, dont pris les chrétiens, tentent 400 000 chrétiens, soit une chute ques, cultivées. Mais la confiance 25 000 à 30 000 chrétiens. Dans ce déjouer un rôle sur l'échi¬ quierpolitiquepour obte¬ nir le droitaune citoyen¬ neté égale. » Mais le Projet français d'accueil de réfugiés irakiens résultat est que « les chrétiens sont disloqués, minimisés, sous-représen- FRANCE est prête à été LA offrir La France traitera-t-elle des menacées. « L'asile n'ajamais tés dans les sphères de décision ». l'asile à des réfugiés irakiens, demandes seule ou avec l'aide attribué enfonction de considéra¬ « Ils n'ont pas pu peser pour la notamment chrétiens. Un comité du Haut-Commissariat pour les tion religieuse », rappelle-t-on au rédaction de la Constitution. » interministériel doit se réunir le réfugiés des Nations unies Quai d'Orsay, tout en soulignant Archevêque latin de Bagdad, 17 novembre pour étudier un tel (HCR) ? Les demandeurs cependant que cette communau¬ Mgr Sleiman déplore d'autant plus projet. devront-ils suivre la procédure té, proche de la France culturelle- cette marginalisation que les chré¬ L'engagement avait été pris classique auprès de l'Office fran¬ ment, est particulièrement à tiens ont été « loyalistes ». Ils ont dès le mois d'août par le ministre çais de protection des réfugiés et même de s'intégrer dans la socié¬ participé à toutes les élections. des français affaires étrangères, apatrides (Ofpra), ou bénéficie¬ té française. Mais il regrette l'actuel « repli eth¬ Bernard Kouchner, qui, en dépla¬ ront-ils, sous réserves de répon¬ En 2006, plus de 20 000 Ira¬ nique et confessionnel » des partis cement à Bagdad, a été frappé dre à des critères particuliers, kiens ont demandé l'asile en qui les représentent : « Lapremière des et est par le sort chaldéens d'une procédure spécifique limi¬ Europe. Pays l'un des plus sollici¬ responsabilité des chrétiens devrait avec ferme de ? rentré la intention tant les risques d'être déboutés tés avec les Pays-Bas, la Grèce et être de se rassembleret de reconstrui¬ mettre en place un plan d'ac¬ Se verront-ils accorder une pro¬ l'Allemagne, la Suède en a re, avec leurs concitoyens, un Etatde cueil. tection temporaire ou définiti¬ accueilli près de 9 000. Moins droit. Ib sont culturellementprépa¬ Le ministre français de l'immi¬ ve ? Rien n'est encore arrêté. généreuse dans sa politique de rapourincarnerune nouvellepoliti¬ gration, Brice Hortefeux, est, visas, la France a, sur 153 deman¬ que irakienne de citoyennetéet même assure-t-on dans son entourage, Opération délicate des déposées à l'Ofpra, admis une nouvelle laïcité capable de tra¬ dans les mêmes dispositions que Conscient que l'opération est une centaine de réfugiés. duire, dans des valeurs communes, M. Kouchner et prêt à un acte de délicate, ne serait-ce qu'en terme Depuis plusieurs mois, Forum la préoccupation pour le bien com¬ « générosité décisionpoliti¬ avec ».« La de sécurité avant le départ, le réfugiés demande insistan¬ mun. N'est-cepas ce que vous appe¬ que reste se ce àprendre, relève son cabinet de M. Kouchner refuse au gouvernement français d'or¬ lez la République ? » m cabinet. est de réussir à L'objectif annoncer un chiffre d'Irakiens ganiser la réinstallation d'au HENRI TlNCQ une opération maîtrisée. » Le gou¬ accueillis. Il précise que ce plan moins 1 000 Irakiens parmi les vernement entend éviter de pro¬ d'accueil ne saurait se limiter aux plus vulnérables et reconnus com¬ voquer une vague d'immigration seuls chaldéens et exclure me réfugiés par le HCR. en provenance de la région. d'autres minorités irakiennes LAETITIA VAN EECKHOUT

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

Energie Téhéran signe avec le chinois Sinopec un contrat de 2 milliards de dollars

Nicolas Sarkis, directeur de la revue Le L'Iran joue la Chine pétrole et le gaz arabes. La conclusion du contrat avec Sinopec a pris trois ans, les s Chinois jugeant visiblement les condi¬ tions commerciales peu satisfaisantes. contre les majors Si les pays industrialisés ont besoin du pétrole iranien, l'Iran ne peut se passer de l'expertise et de la technologie des pétrolières compagnies internationales. Il est incapa¬ ble de développer seul ses gisements et ne possède pas de compétence dans le gaz naturel liquéfié, essentiel pour ses occidentales exportations . Or les compagnies sontpeu intéressées par les contrats buy-back, qui ne leur donnent pas d'accès aux ressour¬ ces. «Il y a un débat au sein du pouvoir Les contrats signés en bonne et due dans les grands projets pétroliers et gaziers entre lespartisans d'une ligne dure, comme forme avec les compagnies pétroliè¬ iraniens, ils ne devraient pas laisser passer leprésidentAhmadinejad, et ceux qui veu¬ res internationales sont rares et l'occasion», a ajouté Gholam Hossein lent assouplir ces contrats pour attirer les ne se prive pas de les exhiber com¬ Nozari. Un avertissement aux majors l'Iran capitaux », rappelle M. Sarkis. me la preuve qu'il est une terre bénie pour comme Total qui hésitent à relever les Dans le gaz, les investissements sont les investisseurs étrangers. Ainsi, le minis¬ défis politiques et financiers d'une partici¬ tre du pétiole a présenté, dimanche pation au développement de Pars-Sud, gelés depuis de nombreuses années, 9 décembre, l'accord conclu avec la socié¬ l'énorme gisement gazier du Golfe persi- même si de nombreux mémorandums

té chinoise Sinopec pour développer le que. Téhéran leur a donné jusqu'en 1 ont été signés avec des majors. « Ce sont champ de Yadavaran, dans le sud-ouest juin 2008 pour se décider, alors que Wash¬ pour laplupart desprotocoles d'accord qui, du pays. « Si d'autres pays veulent investir ington souhaite de nouvelles sanctions dans de nombreux cas, ne se sont pas tra¬ contre le programme nucléaire iranien. duits par la mise en chantier de nouveaux Pékin, qui cherche du pétrole et du gaz projetsgazier », note Clément Therme, de partout, ne craint pas les représailles l'Institut français des relations internatio¬ américaines. Il y a un an, la compagnie nales (IFRI), sur Caucaz.com. Résultat, 4~ir Ahvaz mm semi-publique japonaise Inpex a renon¬ l'Iran importe autant de gaz du Turkmé¬ cé à exploiter Azadegan, le plus grand nistan qu'il n'en exporte vers la Turquie. Bassora gisement iranien, notamment sous la Abadan pression des Etats-Unis qui avaient Exportations menacées IRAN condamné le plus gros accord pétrolier Dans le pétrole, l'Iran ne remplit pas le jamais signé entre le Japon et l'Iran. En quota octroyé par l'Organisation des avril, Washington a protesté contre pays exportateurs de pétrole (manque Koweït l'ouverture de discussions entre Téhéran d'investissement, depletion des gise¬ 'Buchehr et le pétrolier autrichien OMV. ments anciens). Pour maintenir une part L'Iran rappelle qu'il détient les deuxiè¬ importante à l'exportation - 2,5 millions v6 mes réserves mondiales d'hydrocarbu¬ des 4 millions de barils produits chaque res. A Yadavaran, 3,2 milliards de barils jour - et ses rentrées de devises, il ration¬ sont exploitables (sur 18 au milliards ne les produits pétroliers. Au rythme de total). L'accord prévoit une production sa consommation intérieure, l'Iran pour¬ de 185 000 barils par jour en 2014. Dammam rait cesser toute exportation de pétrole « L'Iran a encore trèspeu departenaires *, SAHREftf en 2015, prédisait récemment Roger chinois et l'importance de l'accord c'est J. Stern, chercheur à l'université Johns 100 km QAT0R qu'il a été signé avec les Chinois », analyse Hopkins (Baltimore). « Ce risque est très sérieux », confirme M. Sarkis. Le monde serait alors privée des ressources d'un des rares pays, avec l'Irak, à disposer d'un potentiel inexploi¬ té pour faire face à une demande qui va croître d'au moins 1,3 % par an. Avant sa chute en 1979, le chah assu¬ rait que la production ne devrait jamais dépasser 7 millions de barils afin de pré¬ server cette richesse pour les générations futures. Elle atteignait alors 5 millions. La guerre Iran-Irak, les sanctions améri¬ caines et le sous-investissement l'ont ramenée à 4 millions, m JEAN-MICHEL BEZAT

Le patron de Sinopec International, Zhou Baixiu, le ministre et le vice-ministre iraniens du pétrole, Gholam Hossein Nozari et Hossein Noghrehkar Shirazi (de gauche à droite), lors de la signature du contrat de Yadavaran, le 9 décembre, à Téhéran, afp

26 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Ozeti Heurts entre manifestants kurdes et policiers à Istanbul ISTANBUL. 9 déc 2007 (AFP)- Des heurts entre policiers et sympathi¬ les ruelles étroites du quartier. sants des rebelles kurdes du Parti des travailleurs du Kurdistan (PKK) se sont La chaîne télévisée d'information CNN-Turk a fait état de heurts similaires produits dimanche à Istanbul lors de manifestations non autorisées. dans le quartier périphérique de Bagcilar, lui aussi à forte population kurde.

Dans le quartier populaire d'Okmeydani (rive européenne), quelque 200 mani¬ Ces manifestations surviennent alors que l'armée mène une campagne in¬ festants ont scandé des slogans favorables au dirigeant emprisonné du PKK tense contre le PKK dans l'est et le sud-est de la Turquie, à population en Abdullah Ôcalan avant de jeter des pierres et des cocktails Molotov sur les majorité kurde, et a lancé au début du mois une opération d'ampleur limitée policiers venus disperser la manifestation, a constaté un photographe de contre les rebelles retranchés dans le nord de l'Irak. l'AFP. L'état-major a annoncé cette semaine avoir abattu 14 rebelles dans la province La police a riposté en faisant usage de grenades lacrymogènes et de canons à de Sirnak, voisine de l'Irak. eau. Aucun blessé n'a été signalé alors que les heurts se poursuivaient dans

9 décembre 2007 ieîîïonde La Turquie envisage une loi d'amnistie en faveur des rebelles du PKK Le gouvernement turc prépare un projet de loi d'amnistie pour les rebelles du Parti des travailleurs du Kurdistan (PKK), selon des déclarations du premier ministre Recep Tayyip Erdogan publiées dimanche. "Oui, une nouvelle loi va peut-être voir le jour", a- t-il déclaré samedi à des journalistes dans l'avion le conduisant à Lisbonne pour le som¬ met Union européenne-Afrique. "Nous allons voir comment, avec quel type de loi, nous pourrons parvenir à un résultat optimal", a-t-il ajouté. Le code pénal turc prévoit déjà gan a dit envisager une mesure Turquie où opère le PKK, qui une dispense de peine pour tout "plus étendue". "Nous sommes revendique l'autonomie. M. Erdo¬ membre d'une organisation illégale désormais dans une situation gan a souligné que son cabinet n'ayant pas commis de crime, différente. Avec l'aide des médias, n'était pas en négociation avec le s'étant rendu à la justice avant le nous pouvons avoir de meilleurs PKK. "Nous ne faisons de mar¬ le PKK dans l'est et le sud-est de la lancement d'une enquête à son résultats, nous pouvons minimiser chandages avec personne. Nous Turquie, à la population en majorité encontre et ayant donné des infor¬ avec nos travaux les départs pour allons dire : 'c'est la loi, viens, kurde, et a lancé au début du mois mations contribuant à la dissolu¬ les montagnes", et "parvenir à un rends-toi'", a-t-il expliqué. une opération d'ampleur limitée tion de cette organisation. Les retour des montagnes", a déclaré le contre les rebelles retranchés dans Les déclarations de M. Erdogan résultats de cette disposition ont premier ministre, en référence aux le nord de l'Irak(AFP) interviennent alors que l'armée cependant été limités, et M. Erdo- zones montagneuses de l'est de la mène une intense campagne contre Les Kurdes d'Irak veulent des troupes américaines pour longtemps

ERBIL (Irak), 11 déc 2007 (AFP) Le gouvernement du Kurdistan irakien souhaite signer avec les Etats-Unis un accord séparé organisant la présence militaire américaine à long terme sur son territoire, a indiqué mardi un responsable kurde. Dans une déclaration à la presse à Erbil (nord), le vice-Premier ministre Omar Fatah a assuré qu'"un accord stratégique entre le Kurdistan et les Etats-Unis nous satisferait". Il commentait, en rentrant d'une visite aux Etats-Unis, la signature d'un accord entre Washington et le gouvernement central de Bagdad pour négocier le maintien en Irak de troupes américaines, à l'issue du mandat de l'ONU à la fin 2008. "Nous sommes satisfaits de cet accord entre Washington et Bagdad", a poursuivi le ministre, "la direction kurde a tenté d'avoir le même plusieurs fois". "Un accord de ce genre devrait préserver les droits des Kurdes", a-t-il encore ajouté. "Nous ne sommes pas en faveur d'un retrait rapide des troupes américaines. Nous voulons que ces troupes restent jusqu'à l'établissement d'un Irak démocrati¬ que et fédéral", a assuré M. Fatah.

Les Américains ont aidé les Turcs dans leurs raids aériens en Irak (général)

ANKARA. 16 déc 2007 (AFP) - - Les raids de l'aviation turque diman¬ d'aucune protection. che sur des cibles kurdes dans le nord de l'Irak ont été effectués avec l'aide "Les Forces armées turques ont fait passer le message à l'opinion publique des Américains, qui ont fourni des renseignements et donné la permission de turque et au monde que, que ce soit en hiver ou en été, nous les trouverons et pénétrer dans l'espace aérien irakien, a déclaré le chef d'état-major des forces les frapperons (les combattants du PKK), même s'ils vivent dans des caver¬ armées turques Yasar Buyukanit. nes", a ajouté le général Buyukanit.

"Les Etats-Unis ont fourni des renseignements (...) Mais ce qui est plus im¬ Il a affirmé que les frappes de dimanche avaient été couronnées de succès et portant, les Etats-Unis nous ont ouvert la nuit dernière l'espace aérien du nord que les cibles, des camps du PKK préalablement identifiés, avaient été détrui¬ de l'Irak", a déclaré ce haut responsable militaire à la chaîne de télévision tes, démentant par ailleurs que des villages frontaliers aient été touchés. privée Kanal D, cité par l'agence d'information Anatolie. "Aucune cible civile, aucun village n'a été frappé, même de façon acciden¬ "En faisant cela, les Etats-Unis ont approuvé l'opération", a encore dit le géné¬ telle", a poursuivi le général. ral Buyukanit. Dans un communiqué, l'armée turque avait annoncé que les raids aériens Il a par ailleurs averti les rebelles du PKK (le Parti de travailleurs du Kurdis¬ auxquels elle avait procédé tôt dimanche, avaient visé "les régions de Zap, tan, séparatistes kurdes de Turquie) que les conditions hivernales régnant d'Hakurk et d'Avasin, ainsi que le massif de Qandil". actuellement dans les régions montagneuses du nord de l'Irak ne leur seraient Le Premier ministre turc Recep Tayyip Erdogan s'était félicité de cette opéra-

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

tion "réussie", tandis que son ministre des Affaires étrangères Ali Babacan dans un communiqué publié sur son site internet. avait lui aussi assuré que les frappes aériennes n'avaient pas atteint de zones D'après ce communiqué, les frappes ont également blessé "beaucoup de où se trouvaient des civils. civils, dont des femmes et des enfants", dans des villages près des montagnes Le Parti de travailleurs du Kurdistan avait, de son côté, affirmé que sept per¬ de Qandil. sonnes -deux civils et cinq rebelles- avaient été tuées dans ces raids aériens,

La Turquie frappe fort contre le PKK en Irak ANKARA, 17 déc 2007 (AFP) - - Deux mois après la crise turco- Ces cibles auraient été déterminés grâce aux renseignements "en temps réel" irakienne sur les rebelles kurdes retranchés dans le nord de l'Irak, la Turquie fournis par les Etats-Unis qui occupent l'Irak depuis 2003. semble avoir pris les affaires en main en lançant une grande offensive aé¬ "Les Etats-Unis ont fourni des renseignements (...) Mais ce qui est plus im¬ rienne contre le parti des travailleurs du kurdistan (PKK) avec le feu vert tacite portant, les Etats-Unis nous ont ouvert la nuit dernière l'espace aérien du nord des Américains. de l'Irak", a déclaré le chef d'état-major turc, Yasar Buyukanit Même si l'armée turque n'avait fourni lundi aucun bilan sur les raids de la Et dans une mise en garde aux "terroristes" du PKK, le général a indiqué que veille, l'ampleur de l'offensive à plus de 90 km à l'intérieur du territoire irakien "les camps et les actions là-bas du PKK sont désormais pour nous des mai¬ avec la participation de plusieurs dizaines de chasseurs F-16 ne faisait aucun sons de Big Brother", émission de télé-réalité basée sur le principe d'une doute. surveillance 24/24 des participants par des caméras. "C'est la première fois que la Turquie organise une telle opération aérienne de Plusieurs commentateurs estimaient que les opérations turques se poursui¬ nuit en territoire ennemi", a commenté un général à la retraite de l'aviation vront grâce au mécanisme mis en place entre Turcs et Américains à la suite turque, Seyfettin Seymen, cité par le journal Sabah. d'une rencontre début novembre entre le premier ministre turc Recep Tayyip Pour cet analyste, l'armée turque a voulu par ces bombardements montrer Erdogan et le président George W. Bush. qu'"il n'y a aucune cible que les appareils turcs ne peuvent détruire" en Irak. Le 1er décembre, Ankara avait déjà mené une première opération limitée en L'armée turque, la deuxième plus importante en nombre au sein de l'Otan territoire irakien. après les Etats-Unis, montrait depuis octobre ses dents contre le PKK qui Turcs et Américains "ont commencé à sonner le glas du PKK en Irak", affirme dispose d'environ 3.500 hommes dans la montagne irakienne après des atta¬ dans le quotidien Vatan, le journaliste Rusen Cakir, un expert du PKK, qui ques meurtrières contre ses troupes à la frontière notamment. estime que la tension entre Ankara et Washington quant à leur "ennemi com¬ Les raids ont visé des camps dans le secteur du massif du Qandil, qui sert de mun" semble avoir été surmontée. repaire aux combattants du PKK, en lutte depuis 1984 contre Ankara. Washington, grand soutien du Kurdistan irakien, s'oppose à une incursion Selon un communiqué de l'armée turque, les raids ont commencé à 01 H00 massive de troupes turques en Irak mais les raids turcs montrent qu'il ne voit locales (23H00 GMT) pour se terminer peu avant 04H15 (02H15 GMT). pas d'inconvénients à des raids ciblés, selon l'analyste. L'armée a aussi procédé à des tirs d'artillerie et de missiles. En ce qui concerne les relations turco-irakiennes, la convocation de l'ambas¬ Le quartier-général du PKK à Qandil, près de la frontière iranienne, a été sadeur de Turquie à Bagdad pour demander que cessent les bombardements, entièrement détruit, selon les médias turcs. n'est que de "pure forme" a estimé un diplomate turc sous couvert d'anony¬ mat. Les journaux turcs spéculaient lundi sur le sort du principal chef militaire du PKK en Irak, Murât Karayilan ainsi que de son adjoint Behroz Erdal, qui se "La Turquie n'a cessé de dire qu'elle sévirait contre les terroristes en Irak" a-t- trouveraient dans cet endroit au moment des attaques. il souligné, se félicitant cependant des récentes mesures prises par les Kurdes d'Irak contre le PKK sur leur territoire. Quelque 100 tonnes de bombes ont été largués sur les cibles ennemies, a indiqué à l'AFP une source militaire qui a requis l'anonymat.

Kirkouk: l'ONU veut convaincre de la nécessité d'un report du référendum BAGDAD, 17 déc 2007 (AFP) L'ONU en Irak s'est attaquée à l'épi¬ l'ONU et ne souhaite pas être cité, les responsables irakiens et surtout kurdes neux problème de Kirkouk, où Kurdes, Arabes et Turcomans sont divisés sur ont accepté l'idée de repousser de six mois la tenue du référendum". le statut de cette zone riche en pétrole revendiquée par la région autonome du Les six mois de délai seront mis à profit pour instaurer, sous le contrôle de Kurdistan, en proposant de repousser un référendum prévu avant la fin de l'ONU, dans la région de Kirkouk, et ailleurs dans le pays, des mécanismes l'année. de réimplantation des populations, déplacées dans le cadre de la manipulation Dans un communiqué, au langage qualifié de "cryptique" par un diplomate à des frontières provinciales de l'ancien régime. Bagdad, la mission d'assistance pour l'Irak (UNAMI) a fait état récemment Aucun responsable irakien ou kurde n'a fait de commentaire public sur le d'un accord entre les principaux responsables irakiens et kurdes pour repous¬ report du referendum, sujet hautement sensible. ser de six mois l'éventualité d'une consultation sur le statut de Kirkouk. Les Kurdes notamment ont fait de la tenue d'une consultation une condition Ce communiqué évoque "la nécessité d'un délai technique", et salue "l'accord claire de leur soutien aux gouvernements dominés par les chiites, en place général" reçu des autorités irakiennes et kurdes. depuis la promulgation de la constitution en 2005. La constitution irakienne, dans son article 140, a stipulé qu'un référendum "Si rien ne se fait d'ici la fin de l'année -et rien ne se fera-, nous envisageons devait avoir lieu avant le 31 décembre 2007 pour décider si cette région riche toute une série de scénarios catastrophe: le retrait du soutien kurde au gouver¬ en pétrole devait passer sous l'autorité du gouvernement du Kurdistan irakien nement de Nouri al-Maliki; un +fait accompli+ kurde à Kirkouk, suivi de ten¬ autonome. sions avec les arabes et les turcomans, des manifestations kurdes à Kirkouk", Mais rien n'est prêt, et les tensions ethniques à Kirkouk, que les Kurdes consi¬ a commenté un autre diplomate, toujours sous couvert de l'anonymat. dèrent comme leur, sont telles que le Premier ministre du Kurdistan irakien "L'ONU a voulu arrêter la montre", a-t-il souligné en évoquant les efforts Nachirvan Barzani a décrit la ville comme une "bombe à retardement". déployés pour éviter que la tension ne conduise à une crise ouverte. Kirkouk et sa province sont habités de kurdes, d'Arabes et de Turcomans, Selon plusieurs sources internationales, le représentant du secrétaire général dans des proportions mal connues. Une politique d'arabisation de Saddam de l'ONU en Irak, Staffan de Mistura, est allé présenter l'option du report Hussein a forcé à l'exil des dizaines de milliers de kurdes, et a installé à leur accompagné de négociations aux autorités irakiennes et kurdes. place des populations venues d'autres régions de l'Irak. "Il leur a dit +il y a une formule pour résoudre le problème de l'article 140 : Aujourd'hui, le retour des communautés chassées et le départ des familles lançons un processus sérieux pour mettre en oeuvre cet article dans six mois, alors installées créent une situation dangereusement volatile. avec l'aide de l'ONU. Et prenons en compte les problèmes, pour trouver des "Il a été indiqué à l'ONU que la prochaine étape la plus appropriée est de de solutions*". démarrer en janvier 2008 et pour six mois un processus de facilitation de la M. de Mistoura n'a pu être joint pour confirmer ces entretiens, mais son bu¬ mise en oeuvre de l'article 140", indique le communiqué de l'ONU. reau ne les a pas démentis. Il doit se rendre lundi à Erbil, pour rencontrer des "En clair, a commenté pour l'AFP un diplomate qui a suivi les tractations de parlementaires kurdes, ont indiqué ses services sans donner plus de détail.

28 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Ôzeti LE DEVOIR La Turquie irrite de nouveau l'Irak 17 décemb re 2007

La reprise des raids turcs contre les combattants kurdes réfugiés dans le nord de l'Irak met à mal «les relations amicales des deux pays» Souleimaniyah, Irak - L'aviation turque a bom¬ tiques, économiques et militaires pour bardé hier le nord de l'Irak, d'où opèrent des mettre en déroute les rebelles. «De telles combattants kurdes, mettant de nouveau à exécu¬ opérations vont se poursuivre si néces¬ tion les menaces d'intervention de la Turquie chez saire», a pour sa part prévenu le vice- son voisin pour y éliminer les sanctuaires rebelles. Premier ministre turc Cemil Cicek. Sitôt annoncée, l'intervention a jeté un froid entre L'Irak et les Etats-Unis ont déjà fait pres¬ les deux pays. sion sur la Turquie pour qu'elle n'inter¬ Le vice- ministre irakien des Affaires étrangères, vienne pas massivement au Kurdistan Mahmoud al-Hajj Humoud, a en effet convoqué irakien, qui reste la région la plus calme l'ambassadeur de Turquie à Bagdad, jugeant que ce d'Irak. «Nous appelons l'armée turque de genre de raid risquait d'affecter «les relations faire la différence entre le PKK et les gens amicales entre les deux pays». L'aviation turque a ordinaires. Nous ne voulons pas que le bombardé hier plusieurs villages du nord-est de conflit entre les troupes turques et le PKK l'Irak, d'où opèrent des combattants kurdes en lutte dégénère en conflit entre les forces tur¬ avait annoncé de «lourdes pertes» dans les rangs du contre Ankara, pour éliminer les sanctuaires rebel¬ ques et le peuple du Kurdistan», a prévenu Jamal PKK, qui avait démenti cette information. les. «Cette attaque a détruit des hôpitaux, des Abdullah, porte-parole du gouvernement régional écoles et des ponts. Nous demandons que les auto¬ kurde en Irak. Le PKK, considéré comme une organisation terro¬ rités turques cessent ce genre d'action contre des riste par Ankara, Washington et l'Union euro¬ Bénédiction américaine? innocents», a déclaré dans un communiqué le vice- péenne, a utilisé dans un passé encore récent ses ministre irakien des Affaires étrangères. Ces raids auraient toutefois été effectués avec bases en Irak -- où sont cantonnés quelque 3500 l'aide des Américains, qui ont «fourni des rensei¬ combattants -- pour lancer des attaques en Tur¬ Sept personnes, cinq combattants et deux civils, gnements» et autorisé l'entrée dans l'espace aérien quie. ont été tuées par ces frappes effectuées par des irakien, a affirmé le chef de l'état-major turc, chasseurs bombardiers dans la région autonome du Ankara a menacé à plusieurs reprises d'intervenir Yasar Buyukanit. Kurdistan irakien (extrême nord-est), aux confins directement en Irak, si Bagdad n'était pas en de la Turquie et de l'Iran, selon un bilan du Parti des «L'Amérique nous a ouvert l'espace aérien irakien, mesure d'empêcher les opérations du PKK à partir travailleurs du Kurdistan (PKK) publié sur son site la nuit dernière. En nous ouvrant l'espace aérien de cette zone sous le contrôle des autorités régio¬ Internet. irakien, l'Amérique a donné son aval à l'opération», nales kurdes. a déclaré le général Yasar Buyukanit, dont tes Les raids ont visé des villages dans le secteur du Le PKK est une rébellion autonomiste en lutte propos ont été rapportés par l'agence anatolienne massif du Qandil, une zone boisée et très escarpée contre le pouvoir central d'Ankara depuis 1984. Ces de presse. qui sert de repaire aux combattants du PKK, en années de violences ont fait 37 000 morts. lutte contre le pouvoir central d'Ankara, selon À Washington, un porte-parole du Pentagone n'a Le 21 octobre, des rebelles venant du Kurdistan pas souhaité réagir à ces affirmations, soulignant l'armée turque et les autorités kurdes. Selon un irakien avaient tué 12 soldats turcs lors d'une toutefois que les États-Unis coopéraient avec la communiqué de l'armée turque, les raids aériens attaque près de la frontière, et le Parlement turc dans ce massif, mais aussi dans les régions de Zap, Turquie dans sa lutte contre le PKK en lui fournis¬ avait autorisé le gouvernement à mener une inter¬ sant notamment des renseignements. Hakurk et Avasin, ont commencé à 1h locale pour vention militaire en Irak. se terminer peu avant 4h15. L'armée a aussi procé¬ Plus tôt, la présidence de la région autonome kurde Cette perspective avait mobilisé la communauté dé à des tirs d'artillerie. avait, elle, «fermement condamné» cette opéra¬ internationale, notamment les États-Unis, alliés de tion qui «viole la souveraineté irakienne». Dans un discours retransmis à la télévision, le la Turquie et grands soutiens du Kurdistan irakien, Recep Erdogan a Premier ministre turc Tayyip Le 1er décembre, la Turquie avait mené une qui y voyaient un risque de déstabilisation de la estimé «réussie» cette opération et réaffirmé première opération limitée visant un groupe de seule région d'Irak relativement épargnée par la qu'Ankara était prêt à utiliser les moyens diploma- combattants kurdes en territoire irakien. Ankara violence.

Les frappes turques en Irak ont atteint toutes leurs cibles (armée turque) ANKARA. 17 déc 2007 (AFP) évoquées par des sources pro-PKK et le gouvernement irakien. Les frappes effectuées dimanche par l'aviation et l'artillerie turques contre des "Tous les objectifs ont été inclus dans la liste des cibles après qu'une analyse repaires des rebelles kurdes du Parti des travailleurs du Kurdistan (PKK) dans détaillée et des plus pointilleuses eut établi avec certitude qu'aucun civil n'ha¬ le nord de l'Irak ont atteint toutes leurs cibles, a déclaré lundi l'armée turque. bitait les lieux", indique le communiqué. "Les travaux de détermination des pertes humaines et des dommages maté¬ L'agence de presse pro-PKK Firat a rapporté dimanche que l'opération avait riels sur les sites visés par l'opération qui s'est achevée avec succès conti¬ fait sept tués, dont deux civils. nuent", a affirmé l'état-major dans un communiqué. "Selon les premières Le chef de la diplomatie irakienne Hoshyar Zebari a protesté lundi contre les évaluations, toutes les cibles prévues ont été touchées en plein coeur". bombardements et déploré des "dommages collatéraux parmi la population L'armée turque a mené son offensive à plus de 90 km à l'intérieur du territoire civile". irakien avec la participation de plusieurs dizaines de chasseurs F-16. Elle a La chaîne télévisée d'information CNN-Turk a diffusé lundi des images tour¬ aussi procédé à des tirs d'artillerie et de missiles. nées par des caméras infra-rouge embarquées sur des avions impliqués dans L'aviation turque a bombardé le massif de Qandil, une région boisée et très l'opération. escarpée aux confins de la Turquie et de l'Iran, où est situé le quartier général On y voit, dans de minuscules hameaux, des bâtiments visés et frappés de des quelque 3.500 rebelles du PKK qui utilisent la région autonome du Kurdis¬ plein fouet par des bombes sans que les constructions avoisinnantes soient tan irakien comme une base arrière pour leurs actions en Turquie. apparemment atteintes. L'état-major turc a démenti la possibilité de pertes civiles lors de l'opération,

29 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Ôzeti L'Irak condamne les frappes turques au Kurdistan Le chef d'état-major turc Yasar Buyukanit a affirmé que les Etats-Unis, alliés de la Turquie mais aussi grands soutiens du Kurdistan irakien, avaient donné 17 Les autorités irakiennes ont condamné BAGDAD. déc 2007 (AFP) - leur accord tacite à ces raids en fournissant des "renseignements" et en don¬ lundi les frappes de l'armée turque sur le nord de l'Irak visant des sanctuaires nant la permission de pénétrer dans l'espace aérien irakien. de rebelles séparatistes qui ont menacé de procéder à des représailles. A Washington, un porte-parole du département d'Etat a éludé une question sur "Des avions turcs ont bombardé des villages irakiens dans le Kurdistan cet éventuel feu vert. Mais Washington a jugé les raids turcs "conformes" à près de la turque, innocen¬ (nord), frontière faisant plusieurs victimes civiles des frappes déjà effectuées par la Turquie. tes" dimanche avant l'aube, indique le Parlement dans une déclaration. En revanche, l'Union européenne a appelé Ankara "à la retenue" et le patron de "Nous condamnons fermement cette violation de la souveraineté de l'Irak et du l'ONU Ban Ki-moon s'est dit "préoccupé" aussi bien par les raids turcs qui principe de bon voisinage", poursuit-il en appelant Ankara au dialogue. pourraient avoir fait des victimes civiles que par "la poursuite" des attaques du De son côté, le chef de la diplomatie irakienne Hoshyar Zebari a protesté PKK. contre les bombardements des sanctuaires des combattants kurdes turcs du Au Kurdistan irakien, des villageois ont dû fuir, parfois pieds nus dans la neige, Parti des travailleurs du Kurdistan (PKK). leurs maisons et villages du massif de Qandil après les bombardements. "Nous comprenons les inquiétudes turques sur la présence du PKK, mais il y "Nous dormions lorsque les avions turcs ont bombardé notre village. Avant, a eu des dommages collatéraux parmi la population civile. De telles actions c'était Saddam qui détruisait nos maisons, maintenant ce sont les Turcs", dit doivent être menées en coordination avec le gouvernement irakien", selon lui. en colère à l'AFP un fermier de 75 ans, Hassan Ibrahim. L'aviation turque a bombardé des villages du massif de Qandil, une région Dans un communiqué transmis à l'agence Firat, le PKK a menacé de riposter boisée et très escarpée, aux confins de la Turquie et de l'Iran, repaire du PKK aux raids. "Notre peuple a tout à fait le droit de se défendre et de riposter (...) dans la région autonome du Kurdistan irakien où sont cantonnés quelque 3.500 Notre peuple va faire ce qui est nécessaire". combattants. Le PKK, en lutte depuis 1984 contre le pouvoir central d'Ankara, est considéré Selon l'agence pro-PKK Firat, les bombardements ont fait sept tués, cinq comme un groupe terroriste par la Turquie, les Etats-Unis et l'UE. combattants et deux civils. Le 21 octobre, le PKK avait lancé en provenance d'Irak une attaque près de la Mais dans un communiqué, l'état-major turc, affirmant que les frappes avaient frontière qui a tué 12 soldats turcs, et le Parlement turc avait autorisé une atteint leurs cibles, a démenti la possibilité de pertes civiles. intervention militaire en Irak. L'armée turque, qui avait lancé le 1er décembre une première opération limi¬ Cette perspective avait mobilisé la communauté internationale, dont les Etats- tée contre le PKK, a mené dimanche son offensive à plus de 90 km à l'intérieur Unis qui y voient un risque de déstabilisation de la seule région d'Irak relati¬ du territoire irakien avec la participation de chasseurs F-16. Elle a aussi tiré à vement épargnée par la violence. Et les autorités irakiennes s'étaient engagés l'artillerie et des missiles. à tenter de limiter la liberté d'action du PKK. Quelque 100 tonnes de bombes ont été larguées sur les cibles "ennemies", selon une source militaire à Ankara. Le QG du PKK à Qandil a été entièrement détruit, selon les médias turcs.

Incursion turque en Irak: l'armée "fait le nécessaire' déclare Ankara

ANKARA. 18 déc 2007 (AFP) - Les dirigeants turcs se sont contentés Tout comme M. GUI, le chef du gouvernement a insisté que la seule cible de d'affirmer mardi que l'armée turque "faisait le nécessaire" contre les rebelles l'armée turque dans le nord de l'Irak était le PKK, "notre ennemi". kurdes dans le nord de l'Irak, en réponse aux questions pour savoir si des "Nous n'avons aucune visée territoriale sur l'Irak, nous n'avons aucune atti¬ soldats turcs étaient entrés dans cette zone. tude négative vis-à-vis de la population locale", a-t-il ajouté. Les militaires "font le nécessaire dans la lutte contre le terrorisme", a dit le Des soldats turcs ont pénétré pour la première fois depuis le début de la crise président Abdullah Gul aux journalistes qui l'interrogeaient lors d'un déplace¬ dans la région autonome du Kurdistan irakien (nord), d'où opèrent des rebelles ment dans la ville de Konya (centre), selon les chaînes de télévision. kurdes du Parti des travailleurs du Kurdistan (PKK), a affirmé de son côté "La Turquie n'a qu'une seule cible là-bas et celle-ci est le terrorisme (du PKK) Jabbar Yawar, porte-parole des forces de sécurité kurdes (peshmergas). et tout le monde le sait et l'a compris", a souligné M. Gul, laissant entendre Selon une télévision locale kurde irakienne, les troupes turques ont pénétré sur que la population civile locale n'avait rien à craindre. plusieurs kilomètres à l'intérieur de l'Irak et se sont déployées dans nombre Il a également mis l'accent sur les relations de bon voisinage entre son pays et de villages. l'Irak. "L'Irak est un pays frère", a-t-il notamment dit. Selon l'édition en ligne du quotidien turc Hurriyet, les soldats pourraient appar¬ A Ankara, le Premier ministre Recep Tayyip Erdogan, interrogé par la presse, tenir à des unités de commandos stationnées dans le sud-est anatolien et a utilisé des termes similaires: "Actuellement l'armée fait ce qui est néces¬ tentant d'empêcher la fuite des rebelles chassés de leurs positions par des saire". bombardements du week-end. "Le nécessaire a été fait jusqu'à présent et nous nous ferons le nécessaire L'aviation et l'artillerie turques avaient visé à l'aube dimanche des positions du dans l'avenir", a-t-il dit lors d'une conférence de presse commune avec son PKK dans le massif de Qandil, au Kurdistan irakien, qui abriterait environ homologue macédonien, Nikola Gruevski, en visite en Turquie. 3.500 combattants rebelles, ainsi que d'autres bases du PKK en territoire irakien le long de la frontière turque. M. Erdogan a insisté que son pays "prenait toutes les mesures diplomatiques, économiques et militaires" pour contrer le PKK, saluant la position de la Le PKK est considéré comme un groupe terroriste par la Turquie, les Etats- communauté internationale vis-à-vis de ces démarches, notamment militai¬ Unis et l'UE. res. ^^^^^^_^^__^^_

Incursion turque en Irak: les Etats-Unis se gardent d'objecter WASHINGTON, 18 déc 2007 (AFP) - - La Maison Blanche s'est vernement américain la soutenait. Mais elle a affirmé que le Parti des travail¬ gardée mardi de soulever des objections à une incursion militaire turque dans leurs du Kurdistan, cible de l'incursion, représentait une "menace pour la le nord de l'Irak, se retranchant derrière des informations "contradictoires" Turquie, pour l'Irak et pour les Etats-Unis". selon elle en provenance de la région. "Je peux vous dire que, naturellement, nous nous coordonnons avec les autori¬ La porte-parole de la Maison Blanche Dana Perino, qui n'a pas non plus tés turques et irakiennes dans cette zone. Le PKK est une menace pour la contesté que cette intervention ait eu lieu, n'a pas dit explicitement si le gou Turquie, pour l'Irak et pour les Etats-Unis. Nous continuons donc à partager

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

les informations, à partager le renseignement avec eux", a dit Mme Perino son allié turc, craignant la réaction des Kurdes irakiens et s'inquiétant de la devant la presse. déstabilisation d'une partie de l'Irak qui passe pour l'une des plus stables. "Nous avons demandé à la Turquie de veiller à ce que les opérations soient Les dirigeants turcs n'ont pas confirmé l'incursion, se contentant d'affirmer ciblées et limitées", a-t-elle dit. que l'armée turque "faisait le nécessaire" contre les rebelles. Selon le gouvernement du Kurdistan irakien, environ 300 soldats ont mené Interrogée sur un soutien ou un encouragement américain à une telle opéra¬ mardi la première opération terrestre turque dans le nord de l'Irak depuis que tion, la porte-parole de la Maison Blanche a invoqué "des informations contra¬ le parlement turc a autorisé de telles incursions en octobre pour combattre le dictoires sur le terrain". "Alors, avant de nous exprimer plus précisément, je PKK, rebelles kurdes de Turquie se servant du Kurdistan irakien comme base crois que nous devrions attendre qu'il y ait plus d'informations concrètes du arrière. terrain sur la profondeur de l'incursion, le nombre de gens, qui au juste était engagé", a-t-elle dit. Le gouvernement américain s'est beaucoup employé depuis octobre à réfréner

Incursion turque en Irak, Rice accuse le PKK de menacer la stabilité ERBIL (Irak). 19 déc 2007 (AFP) - Les troupes turques ont mené Selon le gouvernement du Kurdistan irakien, les soldats turcs ont progressé mardi une incursion dans le nord de l'Irak contre des rebelles kurdes que la sur une profondeur de trois km en Irak. Un membre du PKK a affirmé qu'ils secrétaire d'Etat Condoleezza Rice a accusé, depuis Bagdad, de déstabiliser avaient traversé "la frontière irakienne à Khawakurt", aux confins irano-turcs. la région. Pour marquer sa désapprobation du soutien américain à la Turquie, M. Barza¬ L'armée turque a confirmé mardi soir avoir mené cette opération terrestre, ni a annulé une rencontre prévue à Bagdad avec Mme Rice. affirmant avoir infligé un revers aux rebelles kurdes et de "très lourdes pertes" Selon le chef d'état-major turc Yasar Buyukanit, Washington a donné son à leurs bases lors de raids aériens pendant le week-end. accord tacite aux bombardements aériens et d'artillerie turcs dimanche contre Il s'agit de la première opération terrestre de l'armée turque depuis que le des villages irakiens frontaliers. Une centaine de tonnes de bombes ont été Parlement l'a autorisée en octobre à pénétrer en Irak pour déloger les sépara¬ larguées sur les positions du PKK, selon une source militaire turque. tistes du Parti des Travailleurs du Kurdistan (PKK) de leur sanctuaire irakien Un bilan invérifiable de l'agence pro-PKK Firat a fait état de cinq combattants d'où ils lancent des opérations meurtrières en Turquie. et deux civils tués dans ces bombardements. Selon la présidence de la région autonome du Kurdistan irakien (nord), 500 Selon le Haut commissariat de l'ONU pour les réfugiés, quelque 1.800 per¬ soldats turcs ont pénétré dans une zone inhabitée de l'extrême nord-est irakien sonnes ont fui leurs villages après les frappes turques. à la recherche de rebelles du PKK. L'armée turque, pour sa part, n'a pas donné de précisions sur le nombre de soldats engagés dans l'opération. A Ankara, le président Abdullah Gul a indiqué que l'armée "faisait le néces¬ saire" pour combattre le PKK, en lutte depuis 1984 contre le pouvoir central Entrés à l'aube dans ce secteur, "ils ont commencé à se retirer vers le terri¬ d'Ankara. toire turc", a indiqué en soirée un communiqué du bureau du président du Kurdistan irakien, Massoud Barzani. L'incursion dans la région autonome du Kurdistan irakien, la seule encore relativement épargnée par les violences en Irak, a été annoncée au moment de "Ils ne sont pas arrivés à proximité des lignes des peshmergas", les forces de la visite de Mme Rice en Irak. sécurité kurdes d'Irak, a ajouté la présidence sans faire état de combats. Celle-ci s'est rendue d'abord à Kirkouk pour soutenir les efforts de réconcilia¬ Mme Rice, qui a effectué une visite d'une journée en Irak, a refusé de com¬ tion de l'ONU dans cette région pétrolière revendiquée par les Kurdes, où se menter directement cette incursion, lors d'une conférence de presse avec son côtoient Kurdes, Arabes, Turcomans et chrétiens. homologue Hoshyar Zebari organisée après une rencontre à Bagdad avec le président Jalal Talabani. Mme Rice a souhaité apporter son soutien aux initiatives du nouvel émissaire de l'ONU en Irak, Staffan de Mistura, qui a obtenu un report de six mois d'un Mais elle a souligné que les Etats-Unis, l'Irak et la Turquie avaient "un intérêt référendum prévu avant fin 2007 pour décider d'un éventuel rattachement de à la ira¬ commun stopper les activités du PKK qui menace stabilité du nord" Kirkouk à la province du Kurdistan. kien frontalier de la Turquie. A Bagdad où elle a rencontré aussi le Premier ministre Nouri al-Maliki, Mme Les combattants du PKK, estimés à quelque 3.500, sont cantonnés dans la Rice a appelé à accélérer les efforts de réconciliation. région difficile d'accès du massif du Qandil, dans l'extrême nord-est d'Irak. Pendant la visite de Mme Rice qui a quitté Bagdad en soirée, trois attentats ont M. Zebari a minimisé la portée de l'opération turque. "Une autre incursion frappé des régions d'Irak faisant au moins 22 morts militaire limitée se déroule en ce moment même, mais c'est dans une zone de haute montagne peu peuplée".

18 décembre 2007 Kurdistan L EXPRESS Irak: les troupes turques se retirent

A la suite d'une incursion terrestre turque au Kurdistan irakien ce mardi matin, la présidence du Kurdistan a annoncé dans l'après-midi le retrait des troupes d'Irak. Les troupes turques qui étaient entrées Selon une télévision locale kurde ira¬ incursion turque intervient alors que la dans le nord de l'Irak ce mardi à l'aube kienne, les troupes turques avaient péné¬ secrétaire d'Etat américaine Condoleezza ont commencé leur retrait, a annoncé la tré de plusieurs kilomètres à l'intérieur de Rice est arrivée mardi à Kirkouk, dans le présidence du Kurdistan irakien dans un l'Irak et pris position dans plusieurs villa¬ nord de l'Irak, pour une visite surprise. en du communiqué. ges. Selon l'édition ligne quotidien Ces informations sur une opération ter¬ turc Hurriyet, les soldats pourraient ap¬ Des soldats turcs avaient pénétré ce restre font également suite à d'intenses partenir à des unités de commandos mardi matin dans le Kurdistan irakien bombardements de l'aviation et de l'artil¬ les (nord), d'où opèrent des combattants tentant de bloquer rebelles chassés de lerie turques dimanche contre des posi¬ des rebelles du Parti des travailleurs du Kur¬ leurs positions par bombardements tions du PKK dans le massif de Qandil, Une la II distan (PKK), avait déclaré Jabbar Yawar, dimanche. première dans crise dans le Kurdistan irakien, qui abriterait de la de porte-parole des forces de sécurité kur¬ s'agit première incursion troupes environ 3.500 combattants rebelles. Des des. "Des soldats turcs, appuyés par au sol turques depuis le début de la crise, frappes vivement condamnées par les en octobre, qui a vu la menacer à l'aviation, ont traversé à 4h la frontière Turquie autorités de Bagdad et du Kurdistan ira¬ irakienne à Khawakurt", aux confins de plusieurs reprises d'intervenir militaire¬ kien qui les considèrent comme une vio¬ ment chez son voisin pour y déloger les l'Iran et de la Turquie, avait pour sa part lation de la souveraineté irakienne. déclaré un membre du PKK. rebelles du PKK. Cette annonce d'une

31 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Ôzeti AZERBAÏDJAN Les nationalistes azéris prêts à dépecer l'Iran LU PS « L'euphorie pétrolière qui règne depuis deux ans fait tourner bien des têtes. Certains S LU rêvent désormais d'un Grand Azerbaïdjan unifié qui pourrait naître de l'éclatement CJ tu Q de l'Iran en cas de conflit avec les Etats-Unis.

< FED. DE GEORGIE RUSSIE NEZAVISSIMAÏA GAZETA (extraits) /c, Station radar Q Moscou 2-deGalaba -ï- En 2006, au bout de longues Soumgait années d'un travail acharné, ARMENIE AZERBAÏDJAN °B d'attente et de polémiques, '.. V Bakou les gisements Azeri-Chirag- HAUT- « +- Guneshli ont enfin commencé à pro¬ KARABAKH \ /a# Gisements offshore duire à plein. En 2007, les ventes de Azeri-Chirag- pétrole ont ainsi permis de porter le Guneshii 7<>h budget national à 7 milliards de dollars, %>. Y de et le fonds de réserve a dépassé les cesseziel depuis 1994 5 milliards. Les revenus pétroliers devraient dépasser les 10 milliards de Station dollars en 2010. Par ailleurs, les K ~> ta 3 f ' radar 2 millions d'Azéris qui travaillent à l'é¬ O 73 Id'Astara tranger, principalement en Russie, Tabriz envoient de l'argent au pays, à hauteur 0 ... de 2 milliards à 2,5 milliards de dollars par an. Les prix élevés du pétrole .V permettent au gouvernement de déve¬ IRAK V IRAN lopper l'économie, de financer divers ~*4 Ac programmes sociaux et de créer de Zone majoritairement peuplée par *> | Ides | des nouveaux emplois (environ 100 000 Téhéran 1 1 Azéris** 1 jTalisris ces derniers temps). Une classe * République autonome d'Azerbaïdjan moyenne émerge peu à peu, détentrice 1 1 Territoires azéris contrôlés de revenus relativement confortables 1 1 par les forces arméniennes. "hors Azerbaïdjan. 200 tan à l'échelle locale. H ne fait guère de doute qu'Dkham Aujourd'hui, à Bakou, l'éventua¬ d'ailleurs bien intégré. La majorité Aliev P'actuel président] remportera lité d'une guerre contre l'Iran et ses d'entre eux vivent dans le nord du pays. l'élection présidentielle qui doit avoir conséquences pour la Transcaucasie Us sont nombreux à occuper de hautes lieu à l'automne prochain. Pour la sont l'un des sujets les plus discutés. fonctions dans la vie politique et spi¬ majorité des gens, c'est lui qui, au côté Beaucoup se montrent raisonnables et rituelle, dans les milieux d'affaires et de son père, le défunt Gueïdar Aliev comprennent que, même si les Etats- l'armée. Ces vingt ou trente dernières [détenteur du pouvoir de 1969 à Unis se contentaient d'une attaque années, on n'a noté aucune tendance 2003], est l'auteur du miracle écono¬ aérienne contre des sites iraniens, cela séparatiste sérieuse dans les régions où mique actuel. L'opposition, empêtrée pourrait avoir des conséquences irré¬ la population azérie est le plus forte¬ dans ses dissensions et toujours inca¬ médiables. Il se trouve pourtant des ment représentée. pable de s'unir, n'a rien à rétorquer. journalistes et des hommes politiques En Azerbaïdjan même, plusieurs Les ambitions et l'orgueil personnel de pour clamer leur attente impatiente facteurs favorisent l'influence religieuse ses leaders rendent impossible la dési¬ d'une frappe contre l'Iran. L'idée d'un et politique de l'Iran : identité de la reli¬ gnation d'un candidat unique. "Grand Azerbaïdjan unifié" qui pour¬ gion (60 % des musulmans d'Azer¬ Mais l'euphorie pétrolière a fait rait naître d'un éclatement de l'Iran baïdjan sont chiites, et le chiisme est la tourner bien des têtes. Ainsi, une cam¬ a déjà été lancée. Les partisans de cette religion d'Etat de l'Iran), méconten¬ pagne se développe actuellement afin idée sont séduits par la perspective de tement d'une partie de la population d'attirer l'attention sur la question de transformer l'Azerbaïdjan en une puis¬ face au partage jugé inéquitable des P"Azerbaïdjan du Sud", c'est-à-dire sance régionale, un leader économique biens matériels, en particulier des reve¬ les de essen¬ provinces du nord l'Iran, et politique de la Transcaucasie. Pour nus pétroliers. Parmi les mécontents, tiellement peuplées d'Azéris. Dans les eux, si cela se réalisait, régler enfin le la création d'un "Etat islamique juste" colonnes des journaux locaux, il est conflit du Haut-Karabakh ne serait est une notion très populaire. Par de plus en plus fréquent de lire des plus qu'une question technique. ailleurs, le sud de l'Azerbaïdjan est peu¬ articles sur "le mouvement national des plé d'environ 100 OOOTalychs, une Azéris" en Iran, leur "lutte pour l'indé¬ EN CAS DE GUERRE, L'IRAN A minorité nationale persanophone.Tout pendance" et leur "droit à l'auto¬ DES PARTISANS EN AZERBAÏDJAN cela signifie que, en cas de guerre, l'Iran détermination". Articles qui rappellent, Selon des statistiques établies en 2003, pourrait compter sur des partisans en par leur esprit et leur contenu, les tex¬ l'Iran compte 66,5 millions d'habitants, Azerbaïdjan. tes répandus dans les journaux armé¬ dont environ 18 millions d'Azéris, qui, Ces deux derniers mois, un certain niens à la fin des années 1980, qui après les Persans, représentent le nombre de hauts responsables des avaient contribué à créer le climat groupe ethnique le plus important de Etats-Unis et de l'OTAN se sont ren¬ idéologique favorable à l'entreprise la société iranienne, à laquelle il est dus à Bakou. Ils ont proposé à l'Azer- d'annexion du Haut-Karabakh.

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

baïdjan de créer, avec la Géorgie, un mes. Manifestement, dans sa stratégie Orient, et transformerait toute la région "front idéologique antirusse" uni en militaire, Washington considère l'A¬ en un immense Irak. Dans tous les pays Transcaucasie et ont poussé Bakou à zerbaïdjan comme une base avancée musulmans, les islamistes radicaux en annoncer officiellement son intention bien pratique pour porter des attaques seraient renforcés, y compris en Azer¬ d'adhérer à l'OTAN et à afficher sans aériennes contre l'Iran. baïdjan, où des dizaines, peut-être des honte la présence militaire américaine centaines de partisans de l'Iran des¬ sur son territoire. Pour l'instant, Bakou LA VIE DEVIENDRAIT DU JOUR cendraient dans les rues mus par la soif a raisonnablement refusé les deux pre¬ AU LENDEMAIN UN ENFER de vengeance. Attentats, actes de sabo¬ mières propositions. Pour ce qui est de Lors du récent sommet des pays de tage, réfugiés iraniens deviendraient la présence militaire, il est impossible la Caspienne qui s'est tenu àTéhéran, une réalité que l'on a du mal à imagi¬ d'en dissimuler l'ampleur. l'Azerbaïdjan s'est engagé à ne pas met¬ ner quand on regarde aujourd'hui la Selon certaines sources, plus de tre son territoire à la disposition de pays foule paisible qui flâne le long de la pro¬ 2 000 militaires américains stationne¬ tiers désireux de mener une opération menade du front de mer de Bakou. raient en permanence sur le territoire militaire. D est peu probable qu'il tienne La vie de nombreux Azerbaïdja¬ azerbaïdjanais. En 2006, des stations parole, car, s'il rechignait au moment nais, qui profitent depuis ces deux radar ont été construites aux frontières crucial, les Etats-Unis pourraient met¬ dernières années des bienfaits d'une avec l'Iran (à Astara) et avec la Rus¬ tre en éuvre tout un arsenal de moyens croissance économique continue, sie (à Khyzy). En 2012, le bail de loca¬ de pression allant de l'élection prési¬ deviendrait du jour au lendemain un tion russe de la station radar de Gabala dentielle à un changement de position enfer. Ils ne pourraient pas rester en arrivera à expiration. A cette date, les sur le problème du Haut-Karabakh, et marge des combats, cachés derrière le Américains ont visiblement l'intention pourraient même organiser dans le pays dos des Etats-Unis, pour ensuite par¬ de la récupérer. Ils auraient aussi une "révolution orange". tager avec eux les fruits de la victoire. achevé de moderniser et de remettre Téhéran a maintes fois averti que, L'Azerbaïdjan serait immanquable¬ en parfait état de fonctionnement sept si des avions américains prenaient part ment pris dans l'orbite des actions mili¬ aérodromes (voire neuf, selon certaines à une attaque en décollant d'Azer¬ taires et deviendrait une cible pour une sources) dans le pays. baïdjan, la riposte serait immédiate. riposte iranienne. Ainsi, les partisans Officiellement} tout cela est pré¬ L'armée iranienne dispose de missiles de la guerre, qui sont en ce moment senté comme un ensemble de mesu¬ stratégiques et tactiques capables d'at¬ aveuglés par leur ivresse nationaliste et res destinées à "protéger les oléoducs et teindre le territoire azerbaïdjanais. Les le mirage d'un "Grand Azerbaïdjan", surveiller la situation en mer Caspienne", forces antiaériennes de l'Azerbaïdjan devraient s'attendre à une cruelle mais il est évident pour toute personne ne seraient sans doute pas en mesure déception. Zourab Todoua* de stopper un éventuel raid iranien. de bon sens que ces objectifs-là néces¬ * Politologue, chercheur à l'Institut de siteraient des vedettes militaires, des Une guerre contre l'Iran détruirait tota¬ religion et de politique (Moscou). corvettes et des unités navales légères lement l'équilibre des forces qui existe plutôt que des radars ou des aérodro à ce jour au Proche- et au Moyen-

IRAK VIOLENCES iellioiide 14 décembre 2007 Un triple attentat endeuille Amara, ville chiite du sud de l'Irak

AU MOINS 41 personnes ont été tuées et 3 000 soldats et imposer un couvre-feu plus de 150 blessées dans un triple atten¬ pour rétablir l'ordre. Aujourd'hui, le gou- tat à la voiture piégée, mercredi 12 décem¬ vernorat est dirigé par Adel Modher, un bre à Amara, ville chiite du sud de l'Irak. des dirigeants du mouvement sadriste, Après une période de calme relatif dans tandis que les forces de police sont contrô¬ le pays, les violences ont repris, y compris lées par le parti d'Abdel Aziz Al-Hakim. à Bagdad, frappée par une série d'explo¬ « Les habitants d'Amara sont habitués sions àla voiture piégée et d'attentats-sui¬ aux combats entre milices ou entre tribus, cides qui ont fait plus de cinquante victi¬ aux règlements de comptes, voire aux assas¬ mes depuis la mi-novembre. sinats ciblés, maispas à des attentats de cet¬ L'attentat d'Amara est l'un des plus te ampleur », explique Hosham Dawod, meurtriers d'Irak depuis des mois, dans du CNRS, qui consacre actuellement ses une région généralement épargnée par recherches au sud de l'Irak. ce type de violence. La riche province « Les explosions ont visé le centre-ville, pétrolifère de Missane, dont Amara est la frappant des civils appartenant à des tri¬ capitale, est en revanche le théâtre d'af¬ bus et des clans rivaux, sans distinction, frontements sporadiques entre milices explique-t-il. Les habitants y voient donc chiites rivales de Moqtada Al-Sadr (l'Ar¬ l' d'une main extérieure à la provin¬ mée du Mahdi) et d'Abdel Aziz Al-Hakim ce. C'estpossible. Au moment ou les Etats- (Brigades Al-Badr). Ces rivalités ont été Unis se vantent d'avoir ramené la sécurité à exacerbées avec le début de retrait des for¬ Bagdad etdans lesprovinces sunnites,frap- ces britanniques. perAmara est un messagefort. La province Le transfert de la province de Missane de Missane n'est désormais plus à l'abri. » aux autorités irakiennes, en août 2006, Jeudi matin, l'attentat n'avait pas été avait été suivi de violents combats à Ama¬ revendiqué. ra. L'armée irakienne avait dû y déployer CÉCILE HENNION

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

Eos Anaetes ©mes December 10. 2007 Iraq calmer, but more divided The U.S. troop buildup has brought down violence, but that has failed to spark cooperation among politicians. If anything, the country appears more balkanized into ethnic and sectarian enclaves.

By Ned Parker. Los Angeles Times Staff Writer BAGHDAD - The U.S. troop buildup in Iraq expect more strife. warned that Iraq was at best midway through a was meant to freeze the country's civil war so turbulent metamorphosis. No quick solution political leaders could rebuild their fractured nation. "It generally took half a decade to get anywhere Ten months later, the country's bloodshed has "It is like a baby being born, struggling and shout¬ from a situation like the one Iraq has today to that dropped, but the military strategy has failed to ing," said Sheik Fatih Kashif Ghitaa, the director of which approaches stability," he told The Times. reverse Iraq's disintegration into areas dominated the Al-Thaqalayn Center for Strategic Studies, by militias, tribes and parties, with a weak central which advises the Iraqi government. "There is a reasonable prospect that you can move this toward a set of workable compromises if the government struggling to assert its influence. Ghitaa predicted that the government would have to United States continues to provide support and In the south, Shiite Muslim militias are at war over enact legislation such as that dealing with oil reve¬ handle its military transition in a way that gives the lucrative oil resources in the Basra region. To nue and provincial powers by spring - when the Iraqis enough time to not openly confront each the west, in Anbar province, Sunni Arab tribes that drawdown of U.S. combat brigades for the Baghdad other." once fought U.S. forces now help police the streets security plan begins in earnest. Otherwise, the and control the highways to Jordan and Syria. In the stalemate would just drag on. Troops' concerns north, Arabs, Kurds and Turkmens are locked in a Even then, he warned, the passage of legislation Mid-level U.S. officers in Iraq also worry about battle for the regions around Kirkuk and Mosul. In would intensify the violence for at least a six-month what comes next as the military draws down from Baghdad, blast walls partition neighborhoods po¬ period as winners sought to claim the spoils in the current numbers of 160,000. liced by Sunni paramilitary groups and Shiite provinces. "We are going to see some problems Maj. Barry Daniels, the operations officer for the militias. between Shia and Shia and problems among Sun¬ Army's 1st Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment, recalls nis and Kurds, especially in Mosul," he said. "Iraq is moving in the direction of a failed state, a how last year his soldiers had an impossible task of highly decentralized situation totally unplanned, of Ramadi, capital of Anbar province, would also see combating Shiite and Sunni extremists across west course - with competing centers of power run by an increase in violence as Sunni tribal groups Baghdad's large Mansour district. The troop buildup and the warlords militias," said Joost Hiltermann of maneuvered for power, he added. "This is the price enabled his men to focus on just one neighborhood, International Crisis Group. "The central govern¬ of democracy." the Sunni insurgent stronghold of Amiriya. Now, at ment has no political control whatsoever beyond the end of his deployment, his men have forged an Prime Minister Nouri Maliki has sought to address Baghdad, maybe not even beyond the Green Zone." alliance with a Sunni paramilitary group that polices the splintering of the country, particularly in the the district. The capital's Green Zone mirrors the chaos out¬ south, where most of Iraq's Shiite population lives. side. the base Saddam dictato¬ Once of Hussein's There, Maliki, who is with the Islamic Dawa Party, "The big question for 2008 is what happens once all rial regime, it is now the seat of Iraq's fractured and is working with the Supreme Islamic Iraqi Council, these surge battalions leave, because all your battle dysfunctional representative government. The U.S. the leading Shiite party in the ruling coalition, to try space is going to spread back out again," Daniels help troop buildup was intended to Iraq's national to stabilize cities torn by militia infighting. said. leaders overcome differences and give them space to pass compromise measures to end the country's "They agree on what needs to be done in the south," Across Baghdad and central Iraq, the relative calm sectarian war, but lawmakers remain divided and said an official from Maliki's office. "This is a test is linked to the Americans' alliances with Sunni continue to harbor suspicions about each other's for the government on whether they can establish paramilitary groups and Shiite cleric Muqtada motives. control in a very volatile area," the official said. Sadr's freeze on his Mahdi Army's operations, but no one knows whether the fighters on both sides are Militias have reached an informal truce in Basra In the summer, the country's Sunni Arab minority just biding their time until the U.S. military leaves ahead of the expected transfer this month of secu¬ quit the coalition government, leaving Shiites and and using this interim period to organize them¬ rity responsibility for the entire province from the Kurds with a razor-thin majority in parliament. selves. They appear unable to push forward any solution to British to the Baghdad government, but a Western the country's problems, whether a national oil law, advisor to the Iraqi government said Iraqi troops "This is an opportunity for the government of Iraq to a review of Iraq's new constitution or legislation were still not up to the task. reconcile at the national level," Daniels said. "I think if they do that you are not going to have a bunch of defining the powers of provincial councils. All A major problem for locally recruited police and mini-warlords. I'm afraid if they don't, and the efforts to define relations between Baghdad and army units in Iraq is pressure from militias. outlying regions are stalled. American people decide that they have had enough "The issue you have in the army is that soldiers are of it and we go home, you could have a full-blown "The absence of government in a lot of areas has recruited in regional areas and trained in those civil war. That's my personal concern." allowed others to move in, whether militias or areas and employed in those areas. The expecta¬ Greater problems lie ahead in provinces such as others," said an American diplomat, who like tion is they will probably stay in their home areas. If Anbar, where the U.S. fought fierce battles against others, spoke on condition of anonymity. you have deployments in the south, the rank and file Sunni rebels in 2004 and which is now perhaps the will be Shia, the west Sunni and the north Kurd. He said that in the next year, the Iraqi government United States' greatest success story. must step in and assert itself as the dominant force. They will not be a rainbow mix of all groups," a "The No. 1 priority on the mind of the prime minis¬ Western official said. There, the Anbar Awakening Council, an alliance of tribes that turned against the insurgent group Al ter has got to be, 2008 is the year of services," he Anthony H. Cordesman of the Washington-based Qaeda in Iraq, has picked a feud with the main said. "It's difficult, but the window hasn't closed." Center for Strategic and International Studies said Sunni political bloc, the Iraqi Accordance Front. With such a goal in mind, the Iraqi government has he doubted the national government could stabilize budgeted more than $19 billion for public sector Iraq soon. "They don't have a strong central gov¬ Council members accuse the Sunni parties on the investment for 2008, but official spending is beset ernment at this point, and it's going to take years to provincial council of embezzling funds. "Do you by corruption and sectarianism. U.S. military create the instruments." know that the projects in Anbar are only ink on paper? They are paying the expenses and it is officers regularly complain that the education, In a recent report, Cordesman said a strong U.S. stolen by the provincial council," said AN Hatem health and water ministries bypass Sunni neighbor¬ role was needed to ensure stability and dismissed Sulaiman, a senior Anbar tribal leader, who has hoods in west Baghdad. the notion of the "soft partition" of Iraq into regional feuded with other Awakening Council leaders. "I am blocks advocated by U.S. senators in a nonbinding Western analysts question whether a government talking honestly in order to convey the reality. You resolution this fall. Soft partition entails the creation made up of only Shiites and Kurds will be able to want reality? This is the reality." impose order on a country so splintered that even of semiautonomous regions, based on the Kurdish provinces with homogenous Shiite and Sunni model, that would receive funding from Baghdad but The assassination of the council's first leader, populations are beset by conflict. govern themselves. Sheik Abdul-Sattar abu Risha, in September also hinted at turbulence beneath the surface. Although Cordesman blamed decisions by the United States The national government's dysfunction sets the the attack was blamed on Al Qaeda in Iraq, the for much of Iraq's current mess, including poor stage for more violence as different groups vie for sheik's killers allegedly included members of his planning for the post-invasion period and, later, the dominance in cities, provinces and regions. Al¬ own security detail. though the bloodshed is not likely to reach the levels administration's rush to national elections in Janu¬ seen at the height of the civil war in 2006, analysts ary 2005, which Iraq's Sunnis boycotted. He Other developing hot spots in Iraq include the

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

northern cities of Kirkuk and Mosul, in a strategi¬ Iraqis. He is going to have to make some very hard, "What I fear is that there is a group of people close cally important region with large oil reserves. Both tough decisions here," Army Gen. Raymond T. to the prime minister who feed him misinformation, have been roiled by Sunni militant attacks since the Odierno, the No. 2 U.S. commander in Iraq, told whether knowingly or not, probably not, to give summer, including two deadly car bombings that The Times last month. them the benefit of the doubt that spin him up," a left hundreds dead. Western advisor said. "He has to be shown this is In private, Western officials continue to voice their the way or he is out." Mindful of the challenges, Western officials are long-held concern that Maliki is surrounded and pushing Maliki to reconcile Iraq's warring factions. isolated by a coterie of hard-line advisors from his religious Islamic Dawa Party. "He has to show he is going to be the leader of all

December 8, 2007 %l)e Cftartatte (Pbscrwr Kirkuk: Edging out its Arab migrants By LAUREN FRAYER Associated Press Writer Umm Nasser sits on a curb in and about 500 Kurdish families have "I don't think it's a grand plot to stop discrimination against Arabs in Kir¬ northern Iraq, trying to decide set up camp at a dilapidated soccer the repatriation of Kurds. It's truly a kuk - which has a larger Kurdish where her home is. stadium, awaiting government ap¬ difficult logistical problem to conduct community and a wealthier Turko¬ proval to move back into the city. this process fairly," said Army Maj. men one. The black-draped Shiite woman left Gen. Mark P. Hertling, the top U.S. her native Baghdad for this contested The migration of both communities - Ethnic and sectarian tension has commander in northern Iraq. city 27 years ago - one of tens of Kurdish and Arab - has drastically burgeoned across Iraq since Sad¬ thousands lured by Saddam altered Kirkuk's landscape since the "You've got a Shiite-dominated gov¬ dam's fall, as ordinary people search Hussein's campaign to settle A rabs 2003 U.S. invasion. The stakes are ernment in Baghdad trying to deal for a post-authoritarian identity. In in this oil-rich area near Iran and high. with some very dicey issues. Mediat¬ Kirkuk, the search has yielded a Turkey while displacing Kurds he did ing a dispute between Arabs and strong sense of nationalism among Much of Iraq's vast oil wealth lies not trust because of their separatist Kurds in a northern province is pro¬ Kurds - whose deaths by the thou¬ under the ground here, as well as in views. bably not their No. 1 priority right sands under Saddam gave them a the south. Apart from the petrodollars, now," Hertling said. sense of entitlement once he was Saddam redrew the province's bor¬ Kurds have a strong cultural and gone, Umm Nasser said. ders to maximize its Arab population, emotional attachment to Kirkuk, The offer of resettlement under Article and paid Arabs from elsewhere in which they call "the Kurdish Jerusa¬ 140 has given Umm Nasser a choice Mohammad Kamal, a powerful Kurd- Iraq to move here. lem." Now Arabs like Umm Nasser are "The referendum is the center of being encouraged to leave as part of a attention here, because Arabs, constitutional mandate to undo the Turkomen and Kurds all claim his¬ demographic changes Saddam forced toric and ethnic rights to this prov¬ on this community. Kurds hope the ince," said Howard Keegan, head of population shift will pave the way for the State Department team aiding their autonomous administration to reconstruction in Kirkuk. "They're all take control of Kirkuk and its vast oil tugging on the same rope." wealth. The referendum is mandated by the But Turkey and other countries in the Iraqi constitution's Article 140, which region with Kurdish minorities have also calls for a province-wide census long feared that Kurdish rule of Kirkuk by the end of 2007. U.S. and Iraqi would encourage separatist sentiment officials say few details have been within their own borders. worked out on how to administer the census and referendum, and it was A referendum is expected next year postponed until sometime next year. Kurdish children clean up outside their family's makeshift home in on whether Kirkuk will join the semi- Kirkuk, 290 kilometers (180 miles) north of Baghdad on Wednesday, autonomous Kurdish zone to its north, Keegan said he expected a census in Nov. 21, 2007. About 500 families have set up temporary shelters at a or continue to be ruled by Baghdad. about three months and the referen¬ soccer stadium outside the city, waiting for government approval to dum in six to nine months. When she arrived nearly three dec¬ move back into their ancestral homes. ades ago, Umm Nasser was a fresh- "It would be difficult to achieve a faced newlywed, pregnant with the legitimacy in the process in a quicker between her hometown of Baghdad ish politician who recently helped first of what would be six children - all time frame, but there's pressure to do and Kirkuk, where she and her hus¬ broker an end to an Arab boycott of born in Kirkuk. so," Keegan said. band started a new life 27 years ago. local politics, said he hoped more Now the 47-year-old sits in the street Kurdish lawmakers - confident they Kurds would reach out to Kirkuk's She was enticed by Saddam's incen¬ outside a government building, lining have a majority - are pushing for a Arabs and not repeat the same dis¬ tives but also by Kirkuk's verdant hills up to register to leave the province. quick referendum, hoping for a politi¬ crimination Kurds faced under Sad¬ and quaint downtown, with buildings cal union with their economically dam. The Arabs who came here under painted bright pink, yellow, aqua. The prospering brethren to the north, he Saddam - still called Wafadeen, or oil-rich economy meant jobs for her "Arabs should feel no pressure to said. "newcomers," in Arabic - receive husband and a chance to leave their leave. Time has passed, and the about $16,000 in exchange for trans¬ "For every day the referendum does¬ lower middle class life behind in Wafadeen who choose to stay even ferring their residency and food ration n't happen, it's perceived as a good Baghdad. after Article 140 is completed will be cards to their ancestral homelands, day for the Arabs and Turkomen and considered the same as the original "As Shiites, what was safer for us at mainly in Baghdad and the south. The a bad day for the Kurds," Keegan said. families here," Kamal said. that time than doing what the Sunni moves are all voluntary. Local officials are awaiting guidance dictator wanted?" she said of the Umm Nasser acknowledged she So far about 1,200 families have from Baghdad on how to conduct the oppression she felt, even as a fellow received no threats or pressure to received checks, according to U.S. census and referendum: who will do Arab, under Saddam's regime. leave Kirkuk, but said she cannot and Iraqi officials who believe some the counting, who is eligible to vote shake the fear of being an Arab mi¬ Now Umm Nasser - who gave only 60,000 Arabs will eventually file and whether there will be a transition nority in a sea of Kurds. her nickname "mother of Nasser" applications here to do so. period before Kirkuk's final status because of increasing security con¬ "I'm afraid someone will eventually becomes official. Meanwhile, Kurds who fled Kirkuk in cerns - has swapped optimism for a force me out, and I don't know how the 1980s and 1990s are returning by Some Kurds have accused the federal new kind of fear. long the offer of money will be there," the thousands to file repatriation government of stalling the process for she said. "So I feel like I should take it She did not like Saddam. But since claims. Some of their houses have fear of losing this oil-rich area to the now, and say goodbye to this town I his ouster, she is worried about been occupied by Arabs for decades, Kurdish regional government. have learned to call home."

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

ïrjc U)asl)ingtoH JJost The Kurdish Question December 9. 2007 Reviewed bv Quil Lawrence How a rebel group has tried to capture a people's aspirations.

The guerrillas of the Kurdistan Workers Italy and Russia and was finally Party, known by the initials PKK, are captured in Kenya. Since then, the THF. PKK AN»

stuck in the mountains, literally and figu¬ few thousand PKK fighters left in the THE KtJSUM.Slt ratively. The Kurdish rebels know every mountains have stumbled between mile of the rough peaks and deep gorges cease-fires and ultimatums, unable l'IOllï I'OR along the borders of Iraq, Turkey and either to cut ties with their jailed lNM)liPS:Nl>tN<;K Iran. They have cliff-side bunkers, black- leader or to figure out exactly what market supply routes and plenty of am¬ to do next. munition. What they lack is a path for¬ On a recent journey to a PKK out¬ ward. post inside northern Iraq, I found This fall, the PKK made a series of bloody the rebels living in psychological as Blood and Belief raids into Turkey from its hideouts in well as physical denial. "Why does Ali/a Marcus northern Iraq, killing dozens of Turkish everyone call us terrorists?" one soldiers and practically daring the Turkish Kalashnikov-toting Kurd asked. "The military to mount a large-scale, cross- Turkish government has given the border retaliation. This situation is pre¬ Kurds no rights, no schools, no lan¬ carious not only for the rebels, but also guage. We have a right to live in for U.S. forces. The Turks, who have freedom." massed tens of thousands of troops close The Kurds surely have a cause, but to the Iraqi border, have been pressing the PKK's disregard for civilian lives the United States for years to crack down has put them on terrorist blacklists on the Kurdish independence movement. both in the United States and in the The U.S. military, however, has little to European Union. The guerrillas hint gain from opening a new front in Iraq. that they would stop fighting if of¬ Twice in six the past months, the tensions fered a blanket amnesty. But they have threatened to blow up into a full- show no savvy about how to im¬ scale war involving Turkey, Iran, Iraq and prove their image, especially their the United States the only question cult-like devotion to Ocalan. BLOOD AND BELIEF being exactly who would be allied with whom. Marcus's book helps explain this, The PKK and the Kurdish Fight For Independence too, by chronicling the horrifying By Aliza Marcus How this came to pass is the subject of business of the PKK's consolidation New York Univ. 351 pp. $35 Aliza Marcus's timely book on the PKK of power. Her account of Ocalan's and its imprisoned leader, Abdullah Oca- quest to become the sole voice of Ian. A Bos¬ hand, Marcus is compelling as she de¬ former correspondent for the Turkish Kurds is the first of its kind in ton Globe and Christian Science Monitor, scribes the PKK fighters who continued English, describing the PKK's savagery she draws on eight years of experience with the cause, believing it was greater toward groups that should have been than Ocalan's obvious flaws. She conveys covering the Kurds and a vast reservoir of fellow travelers in the fight for Kurdish interviews with PKK fighters. the trapped feelings of Kurdish boys and rights. Ocalan shared the penchant of girls who train under a mural of Ocalan's Blood and Belief begins with the forma¬ dictators around the world for killing any face painted on a cliff. And she brings tion of the PKK in 1978 by disaffected perceived rival, at times discrediting or home the most important point: The PKK Kurdish students in Turkey. Ocalan's own executing even his most able lieutenants. hasn't been rousted from its mountains in beginnings are somewhat comical; his It's an achievement of Blood and Belief two decades of fighting, and there's no marriage to the daughter of a middle- that despite the bloodletting, Marcus still reason to think another Turkish incursion class politician, he once said, was proof of generates empathy -- not for the mur¬ will bring the rebels down. * his ability to withstand any hardship the derous Ocalan, but for the desperate rebel life had to offer. But his guerrilla Kurds who joined the PKK revolution Quil Lawrence is Middle East corre¬ career was anything but funny. In the 15 feeling they had nowhere else to turn. spondent for the BBC/PRI radio pro¬ gram "The World" and author of the years after the PKK launched a separatist The book is not always an easy read. It war against the Turkish state in 1984, the forthcoming book "Invisible Nation: suffers from the lack of a decent map, fighting claimed some 35,000 lives, How the Kurds' Quest for Statehood and sometimes the narrative becomes is Shaping Iraq and the Middle mostly poor Kurds in southeastern Tur¬ disjointed among all the changing names key. 1999, United helped East. " In the States and factions of the PKK. On the other Turkey arrest Ocalan, who had fled to

December 10, 2007 TEHRAN TIMES Rafsanjani: Kurdish leaders are our good friends

TEHRAN - In a meeting with a group of Iraqi Kurdish leaders here Saddam Hussein and thereafter. They also called on Iran to on Sunday, Expediency Council Chairman Akbar Hashemi Rafsan¬ continue its support for the Iraqi people. Rafsanjani then referred to efforts by U.S. leaders to demonize Iran in the jani said ""Kurdish leaders are our good friends."" eyes of its neighbors, saying Washington has been exagger¬ Religious and cultural commonalities between Iranians and ating the threat of Iran's nuclear program to the extent that Kurds require the officials of the two countries to boost their its regional allies have protested it. U.S. friends believe that cooperation, Rafsanjani noted. He then appreciated the Iraqi the real threat comes from Israel's atomic weapons and have President Jalal Talabani for dismissing allegations that Iran is called the United States policies double-standard and defec¬ meddling in Iraq. Kurdish leaders, for their part, expressed gratitude over Iran's support for Iraqi Kurds during the rule of tive, the former president noted.

36 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Ôzeti Turkey eyes law to get PKK members to quit: report December 9, 2007 £lie Boston. t!?lobe ISTANBUL (Reuters) inform on the group. details. Turkey's government is considering a new law to "Now we can develop it further. Before we passed a "We're not negotiating with anyone. We will say encourage members of the Kurdistan Workers law but the number of people who benefited from it 'this is the law, come hand yourself in'," he said. Party (PKK) to leave the separatist guerrilla group, was not to the degree that we wanted," Erdogan Ankara, like the United States and European Union, Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan was quoted as was quoted as saying by top-selling daily Hurriyet. considers the PKK a terrorist organization. saying on Sunday. Other newspapers also carried the report. Erdogan's AK Party, which has invested heavily in Ankara blames the PKK for almost 40,000 deaths "With a new initiative we can minimize the number development in the impoverished, mainly Kurdish since the start of its campaign in 1984 and in recent of people going up into the mountains Coining the southeast, made sweeping gains in the region in months has massed tens of thousands of troops in PKK), we can eradicate that. Then we can encour¬ July's parliamentary election, taking support away the southeast for possible cross-border strikes age people to come down from the mountains," from the pro-Kurdish . against rebels based in northern Iraq. Erdogan said. But elsewhere in Turkey, an escalation of guerrilla Turkish law already allows members of the PKK Erdogan said the government was working on the violence in recent months has stirred nationalist who have not been involved in attacks to avoid plan with the powerful armed forces and said it sentiment and Erdogan could face fierce opposition punishment, but only if they hand themselves in and would not negotiate with the PKK. He did not give to any initiative perceived as an amnesty.

VIP Associated Press Iraq's Yazidis Look to Kurdish Region Decemberl 1,2007 By PAUL SCHEMM Associated Press Writer LALESH, Iraq (AP) - Iraq's embattled Yazidi minority, the target of the with hints of the ancient pre-Christian Persian Zoroastrian and Mithraic prac¬ worst single terrorist attack since the U.S.-led invasion, now is looking to tices, as well as elements of Christianity, Judaism and Islam. the Kurdish regional government for protection. All the monotheistic prophets are recognized, but Abraham and Noah are In August, four suicide truck bombs detonated simultaneously in the small especially venerated. village of Qahataniya near the Iraqi border town of Sinjar, killing more than 500 The Yazidis' most important occasion is the Eid al-Jamma, or pilgrimage Yazidis, a devastating blow to a community of no more than 500,000 people. holiday, when the community "While there have always been massacres and attacks, never has there been scattered across Iraq, Turkey, something as terrible as Sinjar," said Karim Suleiman, the head of the Yazidi Armenia, Georgia and Germany cultural center in the town of Sheikhan, near Mosul. "We've never experienced gathers in the temple city of something like this." Lalesh, nestled in a picturesque valley just north of Mosul. The Yazidis live along the sensitive faultline separating Kurds from Arabs - a line whose location will be determined by a vote scheduled for April. In October 2006, the week-long festival was held for the first time Article 140 of the Iraqi constitution states that there will be a referendum in the in years due to improved security. areas bordering the Kurdish autonomous region, including the northern oil city Thousands of Yazidis, dressed in of Kirkuk, so that people can choose whether to be ruled by the central gov¬ Kurdish, Arab, Turkish and Euro¬ ernment or the Kurds. pean dress, walked barefoot The Yazidis are concentrated in key areas for the referendum, including lands among the conical temples of the coveted by the Kurds north of Mosul and around Sinjar on the Syrian border. sacred village, paid their respects The Kurds see the referendum as a chance to right Saddam Hussein's historic and greeted rarely seen distant wrongs of forced population transfer and Arabization. The Arabs see it as a relatives. Kurdish land grab. The festival was canceled this Over the centuries the Yazidis, who primarily speak Kurdish, have identified year after the bombings in Sinjar. themselves as Arabs or Kurds, depending who held the upper hand. The "There are not many of us, so community now has firmly thrown its lot in with the Kurdish regional govern¬ ment. things like this really affect us," said Luqman Suleiman Mahmoud "We hope that the land now lived on by the Yazidis will join the Kurdish area," who was recently visiting the the community's leader, Amir Tahseen Beg, told the Associated Press from empty temple valley. "My people his residence in Sheikhan. "This will depend on the referendum, but our areas are like links in a chain, so any must return to the original motherland." small thing affects us all," he said, The Yazidis have always existed on the fringes of the region's history - the adding that there have been few occasional victim of pogroms when local leaders have accused them of devil weddings or celebrations since the attack. worship. The community is widely viewed with suspicion and Yazidis have In the immediate aftermath of the bombings, Kurdish regional president Mas- complained about discrimination, and even persecution, from both their Arab soud Barzani dispatched a force of 400 Kurdish militia, known as peshmerga, and Kurdish neighbors. to Sinjar to protect the Yazidis - a provocative move considering his official The Yazidis say that they are ethnic Kurds worshipping the original religion of jurisdiction does not extend to those lands. their people before the advent of Islam, venerating in particular Malak Taus, "We did not get the approval of the central government because these forces the chief of the angels - known in other religions as Lucifer - who takes the have been sent for a short time and for humanitarian reasons," said Jabar form of a blue peacock. Yawer, spokesman for the peshmerga. With the creation of the Kurdish autonomous region in 1991 under the protec¬ The move was appreciated by Yazidi leader Tahseen Beg, and has reinforced tion of U.S. forces, the Yazidi community was divided, with some 90 percent of the sense that the community's future must lie with the Kurdish autonomous its people remaining under Iraqi government control - a government they say region. He said his people just have one request from the government. oppressed them, prevented them from practicing their religion and even de¬ "We asking that the Yazidis be recognized," in the regional constitution being clared them Arabs in 1977. drawn up, which only has a clause granting equal rights to the different ethnic¬ "Where the Kurds are, the Yazidis are and where the Yazidis are, the Kurds ities in the region, including Kurds, Arabs, Turcoman, and Christian Assyrians, are - we are one people and one nation," said Baba Sheikh Khurto Hajji Ismail, he said. "We are not just asking for respect for different ethnicities, but we the community's religious leader. "The Yazids are from the old religion of the would like a clause recognizing different religions within the ethnicity of the Kurds." Kurds." Yazidi religious practices have been described as a blend of Eastern religions

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

December 12, 2007 AsiaTimes Fighting talk from Turkey's generals By Gareth Jenkins as chief of staff from 1990 to 1994, spent heavily on re-equipping the In November, Turkish journalist military, buying M-111 and M-114 Fikret Bila published a book armored personnel carriers from entitled Komutanlar Cephesi (The the and Cobra and Commanders' Front) based on Super Cobra helicopters from the interviews with eight retired Turk¬ United States. Gures believed that ish military commanders. the G-3 rifles being used by the Prior to its publication, extracts Turkish army were inferior to the from the book were serialized in AK-47s favored by the PKK. In Turkish in Mill iyet and in English 1991, he acquired 100,000 AK-47s in the Turkish Daily News. Komu¬ free of charge from stocks which tanlar Cephesi focuses primarily had belonged to the recently col¬ on the military campaign to sup¬ lapsed East Germany. Gures said press the insurgency of the Kurdis¬ that Turkey also bought a large tan Workers' Party (PKK). How¬ quantity of weapons and equipment ever, it also addresses the wider on the black market in Iraq from issue of the political and stocks abandoned by Saddam cultural rights of Turkey's substan¬ Hussein's army in the wake of the with Saddam Hussein's forces. about a possible military clash tial Kurdish minority, who are 1991 Gulf War. Former corps commander Gen¬ with the United States by arguing currently estimated to account for The PKK produced a change in eral Necati Ozgen claimed that a that the Turkish military was more around 20% of the country's popu¬ Turkey's strategic priorities, ac¬ cross-border operation in October than strong enough to confront the lation of 75 million. cording to Kundakic. Previously, 1992 involving 50,000 Turkish United States on the battlefield. troops broke the back of the PKK, The book also contains interesting Greece had been regarded as the leading to its eventual military insights on the way in which mem¬ main threat and the First Turkish containment during the mid-1990s. Foreign support for the PKK bers of the military view the Army, which is based in Thrace, policies and intentions of the received priority in terms of Together with the other command¬ Although they were less bellicose United States and the European equipment and personnel. Starting ers, however, Ozgen complained than Ozgen, almost all of the Union. Bila enjoys good relations in the early 1990s, however, prior¬ that the civilian government had commanders were deeply suspi¬ with the Turkish security estab¬ ity shifted to the Second Turkish squandered the opportunity pro¬ cious of the Kurdish polices propa¬ is based in south¬ lishment. In his interviews, he Army, which vided by the Turkish military's gated not only by the United States avoided questions about the impact eastern Turkey. success on the battlefield by failing but by the West in general. Kunda¬ of the more controversial aspects Martial law, which had been de¬ to address the social and eco¬ kic claimed that the United States of Turkey's struggle against the clared throughout Turkey in the nomic problems that were fueling had been actively cooperating with PKK, including: widespread hu¬ wake of the 1980 coup, was lifted support for the PKK. Ozgen ac¬ the PKK since the 2003 Gulf War man-rights abuses, the well- in the southeast of the country in cused the government of not in¬ as part of its strategy of trying to documented campaign of 1987 and replaced by a state of vesting in education in the region assert control over the greater assassination against suspected "Extraordinary Situation" (OHAL). while Lieutenant General Altay Middle East. Both the EU and the PKK sympathizers [1] and the Under OHAL, security was the Tokat criticized it for not trying to United States were supporting the forced evacuation of over 3,500 responsibility of the police and boost the local economy. PKK, according to General Gures, villages in the predominantly gendarmerie under local gover¬ and favored the eventual estab¬ Almost all of the commanders lishment of an independent state. Kurdish southeast of the country by nors and the Ministry of the Inte¬ were also highly critical of the Turkish security forces. rior. The regular military was government for failing to hang PKK General Ismail Hakki Karadayi, The PKK becomes a strategic completely excluded from the leader Abdullah Ocalan after his who was chief of staff from 1994 to priority command structure. Gures said capture and imprisonment in 1999. 1998, pointed to the PKK's use of that he decided simply to ignore Tokat argued that the decision to US, French and Italian-made Former chief of the general staff OHAL's chain of command and spare Ocalan had boosted the weapons as proof of foreign sup¬ , who led the 1980 assume control of all security morale of PKK militants and pre¬ port for the organization. Tokat military coup and served as Tur¬ throughout the OHAL region. vented the organization's collapse. asserted that what he described as key's president from 1982 to 1989, the "imperialist powers" were General Gures noted that during There was similar denunciation of admitted that the first PKK attack in seeking revenge on Turkey for the August 1984 took the military by the late 1980s, the security forces the Turkish Parliament's failure on had only conducted daytime opera¬ opposition of the Turkish national¬ surprise. Initially the Turkish March 1, 2003, to pass a resolution tions against specific PKK targets. ist movement to the Kurdish state military attempted to combat the which would have allowed US recommended by the short-lived PKK using conventional weapons As a result, the PKK was able to troops to transit through Turkey control large swaths of the coun¬ Treaty of Sevres in 1920. General and tactics. and open a second front against Aytac Yalman, who served as tryside in southeastern Turkey Iraq during the 2003 Gulf War. However, the number of PKK commander of the Turkish Land after dark. Gures founded Turkey's Kundakic insisted that, if the par¬ attacks escalated from 47 in 1984 Forces from 2002 to 2004, also first Special Forces battalion, liamentary resolution had been to 245 in 1987 and 1,111 in 1990. drew a parallel between the cur¬ increased commando training and passed, Turkey could have fin¬ Lieutenant General Hasan Kun- rent situation and the Treaty of ordered units in the field to stage ished off the PKK by establishing a dakci, who was a field commander Sevres. night operations and control terri¬ military presence in northern Iraq. during the early years of the PKK's tory rather than just seek out PKK The one commander who did not Tokat went one step further and insurgency, noted that the first units. see an American hand behind the generation of PKK militants were argued that Turkey could have Most of the commanders agreed PKK was General Hilmi Ozkok, also the best trained, having spent used the parliamentary resolution who was chief of the Turkish several years preparing for the that the establishment in spring to create a de facto Turkish protec¬ 1991 of a haven the Iraqi Armed Forces (TSK) from 2002 to insurgency in camps in Lebanon's safe for torate over the Iraqi province of Kurds worked to Turkey's advan¬ 2006. Ozkok said that he had Bekaa Valley. Once this first gen¬ Mosul. Ozgen argued that Turkey tage; not least by enabling personally never seen evidence of eration began to suffer losses, their Turkey could still invade northern Iraq, to stage cross-border operations US support for the PKK. Ozkok replacements were less well- destroy the PKK bases in the area was also alone in believing that the against PKK bases in northern Iraq and establish a permanent security trained and less effective. commander of a unit of Turkish without danger of a confrontation zone. He dismissed concerns General Dogan Gures, who served Special Forces in Suleymaniye,

38 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Ôzeti northern Iraq, was right not to knowledge the existence of Kurds, predicting that EU accession was likely to be even more prob¬ resist when taken into custody by but supported their right to speak would result in higher welfare lematic. The greatest fear of Gen¬ US troops in July 2003 on suspi¬ their own language and preserve levels that would undercut the eral Gures was that Turkish public cion of plotting to assassinate an their own culture. Evren went so appeal of separatist nationalism. opinion would eventually become Iraqi Kurdish official. All of the far as to suggest that all civil ser¬ The others were more pessimis¬ so tired of the Kurdish problem that other commanders thought that he vants posted to southeastern Tur¬ tic. there would eventually be popular should have ordered his men to key should be able to speak both support for ceding territory for the Tokat believed that an independent fight to the death, and several Turkish and Kurdish. creation of a Kurdish state. Kurdish state would soon be estab¬ suggested that he should have The endorsement of the Kurdish lished in northern Iraq, which Gareth Jenkins is a writer and been court-martialed for not doing language was not wholesale, would inspire Turkey's own Kurd¬ journalist resident in Istanbul, so. however: General Ozkok, the most ish independence movement. where he has been based for the Resolving the crisis liberal of the commanders inter¬ Karadayi maintained that the Turk¬ last 20 years. viewed by Bila, still insisted that ish state had to be more aggres¬ In the 1980s, the Turkish state Note officially denied the existence of Kurdish should not be used as a sive in combating both Kurdish 1. For example, Timur Sahan and the Kurds, their language and their medium of instruction in schools, nationalism and the PKK. Yalman Ugur Balik, Itirafci, Bir JITEM'ci culture, claiming that they were describing such use as a threat to said that Turkey had failed to solve national unity. its Kurdish problem during its first Anlatti (Aram Yayincilik: Istanbul, "mountain Turks" who had tempo¬ two phases, which he described as 2004). rarily forgotten their true identity. Only Ozkok appeared optimistic the "social phase" and the "military However, all of the commanders about the prospects for a resolution (This article first appeared in The phase" and that it was now enter¬ are now not only prepared to ac of Turkey's Kurdish problem, Jamestown Foundation. Used with ing a third "political phase", which permission.)

Todays Zaman December 12, 2007 Top commanders lash out at DTP, European Union Chief of General Staff Gen. Yasar Buyukanit said on Tuesday that acts of terrorism have been both politi¬ cized and legalized in recent years, pointing to the presence of deputies from the Democratic Society Par¬ ty (DTP) in Parliament. Buyukanit delivered a speech at a sympo¬ politicized and legalized," he said. sium titled "Prevention of Economic and Deputy Chief of General Staff Gen. Ideological Support for the PKK/Kongra-Gel," Ergin Saygun, on the other hand, organized by the Turkish General Staff Mili¬ stated that the stance of certain tary History Archives and Strategic Studies countries, including Turkey's allies, Institute (ATASE) on Tuesday in the capital. encourages members of the out¬ He noted that domestic and foreign support lawed PKK in their terrorist activi¬ flowing to the terrorist organization is an ties, while noting that financial and interaction and stated that acts of terror psychological support flowing to perpetrated by separatist and terrorist the terrorist organization should be groups has recently been politicized and cut to curb such activities. legalized, in particular reference to deputies from the pro-Kurdish DTP in Parliament. In his speech, Saygun noted that the stance adopted by certain Stating that the objective of the symposium countries, including Turkey's allies, is to curb psychological and financial support is the most crucial factor that to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party paves the way for members of the (PKK), Buyukanit noted, "It is not easy to terrorist organization to find safe find ways to prevent resources from going to havens and continue their armed the terrorist organization because it is sup¬ attacks. ported by domestic and foreign entities." Noting that financial, psychological terrorist organization to support bloody at¬ He underlined that foreign support for the and military support going to terrorist orga¬ tacks waged by the PKK and provide political separatist organization comes to a large nizations should be obstructed to flush out support for the terrorist organization. "We extent from northern Iraq, adding: "Domestic members of those groups, Saygun stressed cannot understand why some countries still and foreign support trigger each other. If the that all countries need to contribute to the continue to call members of the terrorist terrorist organization was not supported by worldwide struggle against acts of terrorism group 'PKK guerillas,' 'armed fighters' and internal dynamics, the scope of foreign sup¬ perpetrated against innocent civilians by 'Ankara dissidents'." port to members of the separatist group armed terrorist organizations. would not be that large. In other words, Saygun noted that the PKK receives financial domestic support leads foreign sources to Saygun stated that the United States, the aid from European countries where it con¬ support the terrorist organization." European Union and NATO have recently ducts illegal operations such as drug and pledged to help Turkey crack down on the human trafficking. Noting that countries around the world have PKK separatist organization. "The EU has squandered on "Steps taken by Turkey in its fight against significant opportunities the taken significant and promising steps to path to the restoration of peace and the terrorism are criticized by European countries contribute to Turkey's fight against the PKK strengthening of democracy, the rule of law for reasons of human rights, but these coun¬ terrorist group in the last few weeks. But we and human rights, Buyukanit said: "Now tries forget that they take stricter measures also see that conferences that spread the such concepts serve the interests of terrorist against terrorist organizations when neces¬ propaganda of the terrorist organization in organizations. These concepts are of vital sary. Though all European countries remain question are organized in the European Par¬ importance to foreign countries. When they silent in the face of tough measures taken to liament and in the French and UK parlia¬ hear members of a organization curb terrorist attacks waged against their terrorist ments by members and proponents of the dwelling on such concepts, they believe that countries, they are critical of a court case separatist group," he said. that the terrorist group is right in its fight." opened to close down a political party that Saygun stressed that such conferences en¬ explicitly supports a terrorist organization," "The entire Turkish nation should be very courage members and proponents of the he said. careful in its acts. Terrorism has been both

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

lINTEIWATIONAL, ïicralSKrtbune December 10, 2007 The fusion of oil, politics and ethnic The Worlds Daily Newspaper tensions make Kirkuk one of the most potentially explosive places in the country. Its fate is seen as a crucial issue by all sides in the debate about whether Iraq will eventually be partitioned Squatting in stadium, among Kurds, Sunni Arabs and Shiite Arabs. What rankles the impoverished Kurds at the stadium the most is that Kurds used as pawns while they remain in a foul-smelling limbo, on the other side oftown some of the Arabs who were forcibly moved Vote over province hinges on homeless here by Saddam Hussein still live in comfortable suburbs, a legacy of the By Stephen Farrell These homeless Kurds are here not dictator's notorious Anfal campaign in for soccer but for politics. They are re¬ the 1980s to depopulate Kurdish areas KIRKUK, Iraq: Even by the skewed luctant players in a future referendum and "Arabize" Tamim. standards of a country where millions to decide whether the oil-rich Tamim Moreover, some of the squatting are homeless or in exile, the squalor of Province in the north and its capital, Kurds complain that it is their own lead¬ the Kirkuk soccer stadium is a startling Kirkuk, will become part of the semi- ers who forced them to move to Kirkuk, sight. autonomous Kurdish regional govern¬ to pack the city with Kurdish votes be¬ On the outskirts of a city adjoining ment or remain under administration fore the referendum. some of Iraq's most lucrative oil re¬ by Baghdad. Hajji Walid Muhammad, 67, a taxi serves, a rivulet of urine flows past the Under the Iraqi Constitution, the ref¬ driver here, grumbled that after the entrance to the barren playing field. erendum is due before Dec. 31. 2003 war, the Kurdish authorities told a There are no spectators, only 2,200 But in a nation with a famously slow gathering of Kurds who were born in Kurdish squatters who have converted political clock, one of the few things on Kirkuk but living nearby in the sporting dugouts, stands and park¬ which Kirkuk's Kurdish, Arab and Chamchamal, "Even if you own a small ing lot into a refugee city of cinder- Turkmen communities agree is that yet tent you have to go back to your own block hovels covered in Kurdish politic¬ another political deadline is about to be homeland." al graffiti, some for the Patriotic Union missed. When asked what would have of Kurdistan, the party of President This unstable city can ill afford much happened if he had refused, Jalal Talabani. more delay and uncertainty. Muhammad said: "By God's name, they

Photographs by Michael Kamber for The New York Times The Tamim referendum's casualties: A Kurdish woman and a girl baking bread at their makeshift home in Kirkuk's stadium. Below, two Arabs in the city checked lists last month to see if their families could claim the equivalent of$16,000 and a piece of land in exchange for leaving town. Bottom, a view ofwhat is left ofthe soccer stadium.

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

would cut off our food basket and not "normalization," July 31 for the census In a volatile city where Sunni insur¬ pay us our salary and give us nothing and Nov. 30 for the referendum, ostensi¬ gent violence has been reduced signifi¬ else and force us to go back. They bly giving the city a month before the cantly in recent months but not elimin¬ ordered us to go back." Dec. 31 deadline mandated in the Con¬ ated, how the Kurds react to the missed stitution. Najat Jaseem Muhammad said that deadline will be crucial. But even that first stage is incom¬ the authorities "encouraged" him to The issue is further complicated by plete. U.S. and international officials leave Chamchamal, where he had lived Turkey's desire to safeguard the Turk¬ who have pushed for progress concede since 1997. "They said: 'If you do not re¬ men minority in Kirkuk and its hostili¬ that the Dec. 31 date is unfeasible. turn, we will lose Kirkuk. You are Kurd¬ ty to the notion of the Kurds gaining The inevitable delay of the referen¬ ish, and Kirkuk must return to the arms control of the oil fields there. Istanbul dum frustrates the Kurds, who are con¬ of Kurdistan,' " he said. "It was not a fears that this could embolden the fident of victory and suspect delaying matter of being forced, but if anyone Kurds to declare their own state, tactics by opponents intent on keeping stayed over there they would not have thereby encouraging Kurdish separat¬ the land and the oil. been supplied with anything and they ists in northeastern Turkey.

In contrast, the delay is welcomed .. would have been oppressed. They "No Iraqi government could 'give' with ill-concealed delight by the Arabs would have stopped my work." Kirkuk to the Kurds and hope to sur¬ of Kirkuk. opposi¬ In a province where the population vive, in view of broad popular "I believe the main error was to set a balance has been distorted by decades tion in Arab Iraq," said the Internation¬ holy date for the referendum," said of gerrymandering and forced settle¬ al Crisis Group, a nonprofit Tahsin Kahya, an Arab member of the seeks re¬ ment, the Constitution calls for a three- organization that to prevent or Kirkuk Provincial Council. "A prob¬ stage sequential process to resolve the solve deadly conflicts. lem created over 35 years cannot be issue. First a process of"normalization" "The Kirkuk question could, there¬ fixed in seven or eight months," he to restore the city's population balance fore, trigger total deadlock, breakdown said, ticking off with the ease of fre¬ to what it was before Saddam's decrees, and violent conflict, just when the Bush quent practice the constitutional, lo¬ then a census, then the referendum. administration hopes its security plan gistic, legal, parliamentary, boundary, Baghdad divi¬ A coalition agreement, in 2006 be¬ for will yield political property and financial hurdles he ar¬ tween the governing parties of Baghdad dends." gued should delay a referendum for set deadlines of March 31, 2007, for the "years, of course." Syrian government arrests dozens of dissenters By Thanassis Cambanis rights advocates say, the authorities in power to re-establish "red lines" limit¬ Damascus have turned their focus to ing public criticism of the country's ab¬ The Syrian authorities this week ar¬ shutting down the last remaining chan¬ solute leader. rested more than 30 people who had nels ofpublic debate. Assad allowed a brief flowering of been working for political change, esca¬ "This goes back to what we've always free expression and civil society activity lating a crackdown on dissent just a seen as a problem, that the opening with when he assumed the presidency follow¬ week after critics elected a leadership the West has never been contingent on ing his father's death in 2000. But over committee in an unusually direct and Syria improving its human rights re¬ the years he has gradually tightened his public challenge to the authority of cord," Nadim Houry, a Beirut-based re¬ control over the country's small politic¬ President Bashar al-Assad. searcher who tracks Syria for Human al class, with arrests and new regula¬ A majority of those arrested were Rights Watch, said in a telephone inter¬ tions. Over the last year, Syria's security questioned and released, dissidents and view this week. "It's contingent on Syria services have cast a wider net, arresting human rights advocates said. But three cooperating on Lebanon, Iraq and the not only seasoned political activists but of the most outspoken opposition lead¬ peace process." also individuals who posted comments ers remained in custody Thursday, and Dissidents and human rights advo¬ deemed subversive on Web sites. others had been summoned to state in¬ cates contend that the fact that a group Still, dissidents have continued to telligence offices for questioning. of intellectuals with no political organ¬ challenge the government, disobeying a Last month, government security ization at its disposal, many of whose ban on public meetings. forces blocked access to the popular leaders are frail or incarcerated, still On Dec. 1, Riad Seif, a former busi¬ Web site Facebook, the host to a vibrant poses à threat is a sign that the regime nessman and member of Parliament if virtual debate about the president. On itself is weak. Sunday, security agents began rounding and now an opposition spokesman, held up dozens of known dissidents who Akram Bunni, a newspaper colum¬ a meeting at his home of more than 160 nist and brother a well-known im¬ have met this fall to create a joint oppo¬ of political activists who had signed the prisoned human rights lawyer, was de¬ sition front, acting much like a political Damascus Declaration in October 2005, tained Tuesday; he has continued to party in a state that operates under calling on the state to lift its repressive emergency laws that ban any organiza¬ write in Arab newspapers about the emergency laws and allow free speech tion not connected with the govern¬ "moral bankruptcy" ofAssad's rule. and political organization, Syrian hu¬ ment and ruling Baath Party. "They're concerned about public man rights activists said. The arrests occurred on the heels of opinion," Bunni said in a wide-ranging In a direct challenge to the regime, conversation at his home in Syria in Oc¬ which prohibits independent political Syria's participation in the Middle East tober, before his arrest. "They don't want parties, the dissidents formed a body peace conference at Annapolis, Mary¬ anyone, internationally or internally, to called The National Council, electing a land, which was perceived in the region see that there are public figures who president, Fidaa al-Hourani, and a five- as a diplomatic coup for Damascus and might be an alternative to the regime." member leadership committee, which a sign of a thaw in tense relations be¬ Activists in Syria said the ongoing includes Bunni. tween Assad and the White House. crackdown was, paradoxically, a sign of The group spans the political spec¬ Emboldened by a sense that Syria's strength as well as weakness the re¬ trum, including Communists, Islamists, hard-line anti-American policies in the gime has consolidated enough internal former Baathists, secular nationalists region have paid dividends, human and Kurds.

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

has staved a series major crises A younger generation of activists, the regime, do things they cannot do in off of schooled on the Internet rather than the reality," Hendi, 23, who was arrested for and now feels strong enough to restore underground political organizations of a month last year after posting critical . the limits that once cowed critics. reports to an opposition Web site, said "States around us are collapsing and the 1970s, has also spoken out, mostly in an interview last week in Beirut. there's a high perception of danger, but on postings on opposition Web sites "They are strong on one hand, but on Syria is deterring the dangers," a Syrian and on Facebook groups. Several have another they are so weak they are afraid analyst who spoke on the condition of ended up in prison, and others, like of an Internet café!" anonymity because he feared govern¬ Ahed al-Hendi and Mohammed al-Ab- Despite the contentions that the cur¬ ment harassment said in an interview dallah, have taken refuge in Beirut. rent crackdown stems from a sense ofin¬ in Damascus in October. "The opposi¬ "They are afraid because people on¬ security, some Syrian analysts and dip¬ tion doesn't pose a threat.'' line meet together, share ideas, criticize lomats have said that the Assad regime

Turkey escalates attacks against guerrillas in northern Iraq an area farther inside Iraq, where some that would pardon certain fighters. The of the commanders of the Kurdish mil¬ effort, which opposition politicians In south, U.K. force itant group, the Kurdistan Workers' have been highly critical of, has failed Party, or PKK, are believed to hide. several times in the past. transfers control to A top Turkish general said Ankara "Let's look together for ways of win¬ had received U.S. approval for the air- ning over the people instead of alienat¬ central government strikes. "America last night opened ing them," Erdogan said recently. "If we MH Iraqi airspace to us," the state news are to get rid of terrorism, this can be¬ agency Anatolia quoted the general, By Sabrina Tavernise come possible by keeping open the door Yasar Buyukanit, as saying, according and Paul von Zielbauer of democratic politics as a way of solv¬ to Reuters. "By opening Iraqi airspace ing problems." to us last night America gave its ap¬ Turkish fighter jets bombed Kurdish After the transfer ceremony in Basra, proval to the operation." militant targets in northern Iraq before Mowaffak al-Rubaie, the Iraqi national It was the second set of strikes dawn Sunday in an escalation of Anka¬ security adviser, challenged Basra's pro¬ against the PKK since the Turkish ra's effort to weaken the Kurdish guerril¬ vincial and city leaders to stabilize the prime minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, las based across the border. In the south, met President George W. Bush meanwhile, British forces handed over with in region. "The security of Basra is one of Washington last month. The first, on control of Basra Province to the Iraqi our main responsibilities," Rubaie said. Dec. 1, consisted attacks government, relinquishing military of artillery "I address, directly, the governor, the from Turkey on targets inside Iraq. control of the final region under their general commander of the security Turkey, a member of NATO, had supervision after four and a half years. forces in Basra, the provincial council been threatening a military operation In a formal ceremony, which was held and the people of Basra. Will you agree indoors to avoid mortar attacks from the into northern Iraq. But it appears to be with militias? Will you engage in corrup¬ sticking to a more limited offensive be¬ militias that have battled British forces tion? Will you go easy on terrorism?" cause a larger-scale invasion, like those over the years, Major General Graham British paratroopers first arrived in it carried out in the 1990's, would anger Binns, the British commander in Basra, the city of Basra virtually unopposed the United States, an important ally. said Iraq was prepared to take over the during the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq in 2003. In September of this year, British province, with British forces assuming In Baghdad, Deputy Foreign Minister much lower profile support role. Muhammad al-Hajj Humoud summoned forces withdrew to an air base on the outskirts the city, abandoning a former "I came to rid Basra of its enemies, the Turkish ambassador and demanded of palace by Saddam Hussein after and I now formally hand Basra back to an end to strikes that "may affect the built its friends," Binns said before signing friendly relations between die two gov¬ coming under several mortar and coor¬ documents giving Iraqi forces opera¬ ernments and peoples," the Foreign dinated small-arms attacks from Shiite- tional control of the province, which Ministry said, according to Reuters. led factions vying for control of the city. holds most of Iraq's proven petroleum The Kurdish rebels, who have bases The two main rival groups are a mili¬ reserves. "We will continue to help in Turkey and Iraq, have been fighting tia led by the anti-American Shiite cleric train Basra security forces. But we are the Turkish military since the 1980s. Moktada al-Sadr and the Supreme Iraq guests in your country, and we will act They want an autonomous Kurdish re¬ Islamic Council, a militia affiliated with accordingly." gion in eastern Turkey. the political faction of the same name. U.S. officials said Basra, which is In Turkey, NTV reported that the mostly Shiite, could prove to be a real Sabrina Tavernise reported from strike had involved more than 50 planes test for the Iraqi government. Lieuten¬ Istanbul and Paul von Zielbauer from ant General Raymond Odierno, the and that the targets were based on U.S. Baghdad. Sebnem Arsu contributed re¬ intelligence. The military said that it had No. 2 American commander in Iraq, porting from Istanbul and Iraqi employ¬ said Sunday that officials were con¬ hit border areas with artillery fire after ees for The New York Times from Basra the airstrikes and that helicopters had cerned about whether Iraqi forces and Sulaimaniya. would be able to prevent Iran, which also flown missions along the border. shares a border with Basra Province, "We as the government are deter¬ from creating trouble in the region. mined to use all political, geopolitical In the north, Turkish attack aircraft and military vehicles against the sepa¬ struck targets in the border regions of ratist terror organization in the most ef¬ Zap, Avashin and Hakurk, the Turkish fective way," Erdogan said Sunday on military said. An Iraqi official said one Turkish television. woman had been killed. The strikes, At the same time, the government which began around 1 a.m. and lasted says it is working toward a longer-term for about three hours, also hit Qandil, solution and has begun to amend a law

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

The December 14th 2007 Economist Turkey's economy A cloud no bigger than a hand ANKARA AND ISTANBUL The Turkish economy is doing well, but it is also vulnerable IN 2001 Turkey's president, Ahmet gramme itself is due to expire next May bour costs. He provoked an outcry when Necdet Sezer, flung a copy of the consti¬ and the government has yet to decide he complained that Turkey had one of the tution at the prime minister, Bulent Ece- whether to renew it. highest wage burdens among OECD vit, helping to plunge the country into its countries. High taxes on labour, plus The current-account deficit is being worst financial crisis since the war. This onerous welfare benefits, are a big obsta¬ boosted by a rising energy bill. As manu¬ year Turkey has lurched from one politi¬ facturers shift to higher value-added cle to the creation of new jobs. Unem¬ cal mess to another. In April a top gen¬ goods, they need costlier inputs. Coupled ployment hovers at around 10%. eral threatened a coup; an early general with an overvalued Turkish lira, all this There is little doubt that Mr Simsek has election was held in July; in August Ab¬ has served to push up the import bill. In the will and the brains to do what is dullah Gul, a former foreign minister previous years the deficit was financed by needed. Ercan Uygur, an economist who whose wife wears an Islamic-style head¬ hot money, making the economy more taught Mr Simsek at Ankara University, scarf, became president over the army's vulnerable. Now nearly two-thirds of the says he was "one of my best students". objections; then Turkey threatened to deficit is covered by FDI, which may hit Yet some political observers worry that invade northern Iraq. Yet, in contrast to $22 billion this year. Metin Ar, president Mr Simsek, who is only 40, may not have 2001, the markets have barely blinked of Garanti Securities in Istanbul, predicts enough clout. Unlike his predecessor, Ali through all the turbulence. that, with the privatisation of motorways Babacan, now Turkey's foreign minister, In truth, the economy is far healthier and plans for new energy-distribution Mr Simsek is a newcomer to AK politics. than it was, thanks mainly to a rigid ad¬ networks, FDI could rise to $30 billion His swift rise has provoked some jealousy herence to IMF-prescribed reforms on the next year. "Foreigners are so keen to get within the party. part of the ruling Justice and Develop¬ a foot into the market that they are In truth Mr Simsek cuts an unusual figure ment (AK) party. Since AK came to power happy to pay double, triple the real value in the government, and not only as a in 2002 GDP growth has averaged 6.6%, of assets." former investment banker with an Ameri¬ inflation has fallen to single digits and With their dizzyingly high profits and can wife. He was born into grinding pov¬ foreign direct investment (FDI) has much untapped retail potential, Turkish erty in the mainly Kurdish province of soared. AK's economic record is one rea¬ banks look appealing targets. New regu¬ Batman. He did not even learn Turkish son why it won a sharply increased share lations can require capital-adequacy ra¬ until he was six. By his own admission, of the vote (although fewer seats) in July. tios to be as high as 20%, against the he is more comfortable speaking English. Yet Lorenzo Giorgianni, the IMF's top man international minimum of 8%. "We don't A big Shakira fan, he provoked mirth at a for Turkey, rightly says that this strong allow any bank to go below 12%," says recent cabinet meeting when he misused economic performance should not be Mehmet Simsek, the economy minister. the word transparan, meaning see- taken for granted. Year-on-year GDP He adds that the state-owned Halkbank is through, while talking about the budget. growth in the third quarter was the low¬ soon to be put on the block. Yet for now, at least, Mr Simsek has the six The est for years, at just 1.5%. credit Mr Simsek, who was snatched into the full confidence of his prime minister, crunch and fears of an American reces¬ job from Merrill Lynch in London, agrees Recep Tayyip Erdogan. And it is Mr Er¬ sion are curbing investors' appetites for that "markets like external anchors" and dogan who calls the shots. The concern is emerging markets. Turkey, with a huge concedes that Turkey is not immune to whether it may be Mr Simsek who gets current-account deficit, is especially vul¬ external shocks. Yet he sees no crisis on the blame should the economy slow fur¬ nerable. Negotiations for Turkish mem¬ the horizon. His main task is to push ther and foreign investors take fright. bership of the European Union, the pros¬ through a social-security reform that is a pect of which is an anchor for investor test of the government's commitment to confidence, have soured. The IMF pro reform. His biggest bugbear is high la

Turkish ups and downs

GDP Current-account balance Turkish lira against the dollar % change on pieviou? year As % of GDP Lira per 5, inverted scale

10 2.6 0

0 -0,5

+ o 1.0 !i.O 1.5 7.S.

X 10 _l_ _L | fj _ Q i___l__J I . I J L 2.0 MOO 02 04 0(5 07» 2000 02 04 0G 07' 2000 02 rx o$ 07 Sources: Economist Intelligent Unit; IMF; Thonisc-n Datastreain * Forecast

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

December 12, 2007 TODAYS ZAMAN Barzani rules out Kurdish state in key public appearance Iraqi Kurdish leader Massoud Barzani yesterday appeared before cameras for the first time af¬ ter he came back from a mysterious trip abroad and assured that Iraqi Kurds did not seek in¬ dependence by pressing for a contentious referendum on status of the oil-rich city of Kirkuk. M. Alihan Hasanoâlu Arbil "There is no such thing as cancella¬ tion of the referendum. Sooner or later, it will take place. Depending on IIQome neighboring countries say the outcome, Kirkuk would either be O Kurds will set up an independent part of Kurdistan region or Iraq. state if Article 140 [of the Iraqi constitu¬ Kirkuk will decide on this," he said. tion that calls for the referendum] is implemented," Barzani told a conference The Kurdish leader also called for in Arbil. "But there is no such thing. I am Iraqi authorities to change the coun¬ an Iraqi. I am an Iraqi citizen of Kurdish try's national flag, saying the Kurds origin," he went on. had been promised that the existing flag would be replaced when Saddam Turkey as well as other neighbors of Iraq Hussein regime was overthrown, a oppose a referendum which was originally pledge yet to be fulfilled. slated to take place before the end of 2007. Ankara says the vote would not A delegation of Iraqi Kurdish officials, reflect the true wishes of Kirkuk's ethni¬ led by regional Prime Minister cally mixed population since the demo¬ Nechirvan Barzani, yesterday held graphic composition has been altered due talks in Baghdad on Kirkuk and dis¬ putes between the Kurdish region to an influx of Kurdish immigrants from illegal. different parts of Iraq in the recent years. and the Iraqi central administration con¬ Ankara also says oil and other resources cerning oil contracts the regional gov¬ Iraq's semi-autonomous Kurdish govern¬ of Iraq should belong to entire Iraq. ernment has signed with foreign compa¬ ment approved a regional oil law in nies. August, paving the way for foreign in¬ Barzani said the Iraqi Kurdish administra¬ in oil and gas With national legislation stalled, Kurdish vestment their northern tion, which currently includes three prov¬ fields. But the national Oil Ministry has authorities have signed more than a inces in northern Iraq, would respect any declined deals signed under the agree¬ dozen contracts with foreign companies result from the referendum and insisted ment illegal and threatened to blacklist over the objections by Oil Ministry offi¬ that the vote would be held eventually. companies that sign them. cials in Baghdad, who consider the deals

December 17, 2007 Turkish fighters bomb northern Iraq The attack is the most aggressive yet against Kurdish rebels. Villagers say civilians were hit, and describe a terri¬ fied nighttime flight from their homes. By Asso Ahmed and Tina Susman, Special to The Times SURADEH, IRAQ - Turkish jets bombed first airstrikes began several villages in northern Iraq early Sunday about 2 a.m. in the most aggressive action in years against "Why is the Turkish Kurdish rebels who take sanctuary in the Kurdistan army bombing our border region of Iraq. village?" she said, Local officials said at least one civilian was killed breaking into tears. and several wounded. The Firat news agency, In Turkey, press reports which is linked to the Kurdistan Workers Party, or quoted Prime Minister PKK, said that five guerrillas and two civilians were Recep Tayyip Erdogan killed and that many of the damaged buildings were as saying the bombings schools and homes. were "a comprehensive The targeted towns included Suradeh, a hamlet of operation against about 30 homes nestled in the Qandil mountains camps of a terrorist more than 50 miles from the Turkish border. On organization in the north Sunday afternoon, residents who had sought shelter of Iraq." in frigid mountain caves during the nighttime bom¬ He warned of more bardment returned to a scene of damaged homes military assaults and dead livestock. Many were packing up and against the PKK, which military commander, Gen. Yasar Buyukanit, as leaving in fear of additional attacks. As they bundled has fought the Turkish government since 1984 for a saying the United States had approved the raid. blankets, dishes, food and clothes into vehicles or separate Kurdish state. Washington has denied Turkish claims that it gave onto the backs of mules, they spoke of the predawn the green light for previous raids, and a State De¬ terror. The United States considers the organization a partment official would not comment on the latest terrorist group, and during a visit to Iraq this month, "My youngest daughter is still crying and saying, report. U.S. Deputy Secretary of State John D. Negroponte 'Mama, I'm scared,' " said Muneera Khalid, who said Washington shared Turkey's goal of ending Some U.S. officials previously suggested that they sought shelter in a cave with her husband and three PKK activities "once and for all." would not oppose Turkish strikes on the PKK, as children, ages 7, 10 and 14. It took them half an hour long as they did not involve occupation of Iraqi to reach the cave, going on foot in the dark after the The Reuters news agency quoted Turkey's top territory. However, the United States also worries

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

that increased military activities along Iraq's north¬ the border region in October after an increase in leg in the bombing and his home was destroyed. ern border could uncork new volatility in the country PKK raids on Turkish targets. Turkey's parliament Nashneel Bayz, a teacher, said she was sleeping in at a time when security has been improving else¬ has also approved a resolution giving the govern¬ her bedroom when the windows were shattered by where in Iraq. ment the legal go-ahead for cross-border opera¬ bombs. tions. When asked about America's position at a briefing "I ran like a crazy person. I saw the others running Dec. 4, a State Department spokesman, Tom A Turkish military statement said the jet fighters, in panic and terror. It was chaos," Bayz said. "We Casey, said: "We've talked in the past, as have the backed by long-range missiles fired by ground are non-armed people, we have nothing, and they Iraqis, as have the Turkish government, about our troops, targeted PKK sites and returned to their send modern airplanes to bomb us." desire to see everyone work together on this and bases at 4:15 a.m. Turkey's Hurriyet newspaper She said those who suffered were civilians rather not engage in any broad military incursions, and our said the PKK's main command center was among than PKK fighters. position hasn't changed on it." the targets hit. "The PKK positions are still intact," she said. "We Turkish action had been anticipated since the But residents said that civilians bore the brunt of the even had some PKK fighters with us in the cave, in government in Ankara sent about 100,000 troops to attacks. Musheer Ahmed said his daughter lost a addition to women, children."

17 December 2007 00HNEWS EU concern at Turkish air The European Union has voiced concern at Turkish air strikes on Kurdish areas of northern Iraq, urging restraint and respect for territorial integrity. Ankara should "refrain from taking at 0200 on Sunday (2300 GMT Satur¬ any military action that could day). undermine regional peace and stabil¬ ity", the EU's Portuguese presidency said. During an operation lasting three hours, targets were hit in Zap, Ha- says Turkey its attacks are aimed at kurk and Avasin, as well as areas in Kurdish PKK rebels sheltering in Iraq. the Kandil mountains. Iraqi officials said the bombs hit 10 Turkish media reports say up to 50 villages near the border, killing one planes were involved in the opera¬ woman. The PKK reported seven tion. deaths. The Turkish military said only "terror¬ Turkey is seeking EU membership ist" targets were hit, but the PKK and calls by Brussels to grant Turkish reported that two civilians had been Kurds minority rights have dogged Sfen*j> -%&"* killed along with five of its fighters. negotiations in the past. Iraqi reports say 10 villages were hit by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan In its statement on Monday, the EU Turkish bombs hailed the raids as a "success" and presidency called for better dialogue said his government was determined between the governments of Turkey to use all political and military means, The US, a strong Turkish ally, has denied and Iraq "in order to ensure that the Iraqi both inside and outside Turkey, against territory is not used for any terrorist giving permission for Turkish aircraft to the PKK. actions against Turkey". enter Iraqi airspace but confirmed it had been informed of the strikes in advance. The US has urged Turkey to step back Iraq's government earlier summoned the from a major operation against the PKK 'Fifty planes' Turkish ambassador and demanded a halt in northern Iraq because it fears military to the strikes, saying they were unac¬ The Turkish military said its air strikes on action could destabilise what has become ceptable and could seriously harm rela¬ PKK (Kurdistan Workers' Party) bases one the most peaceful and prosperous tions between the two countries. deep inside northern Iraq were launched regions of the country.

17 December 2007 QQQ NEWS US denies backing Turkey PKK raid The US has denied it gave permission for Turkish aircraft to ca rry out air strikes against Kurd- ish PKK separatist rebels in northern Iraq on Sunday. The US embassy in Iraq said command¬ Turkey has regularly targeted the PKK We have not approved any decision, it is ers had not approved the attacks, but inside Iraq in recent months, but this is not for us to approve US embassy in had been informed before they took place. thought to be the first fighter jet raid Baghdad outside its own territory. The Turkish military earlier said the US The Turkish military said only "terrorist" had given tacit approval by opening Iraqi 'Informed' targets were hit, but the PKK said five of airspace their fighters and two civilians were killed, for the operation. The Turkish military said its air strikes on while local Iraqi officials said 10 villages Iraqi officials said the bombs hit 10 vil¬ Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) bases were attacked and one woman killed. lages near the border, killing one woman. deep inside northern Iraq were launched The PKK reported seven deaths. at 0200 on Sunday (2300 GMT Saturday). Afterwards, Turkey's most senior general, Gen Yasar Buyukanit, said the US had Iraq later summoned the Turkish ambas¬ During an operation lasting three hours, given "intelligence" that aided the opera¬ sador and demanded a halt to the strikes, targets were hit in Zap, Hakurk and Ava¬ tion. saying they were unacceptable and could sin, as well as areas in the Kandil moun¬ seriously harm relations between the two tains. Turkish media reports said up to 50 "But what is more important is that the countries. planes were involved in the operation. United States last night opened northern

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Iraqi airspace to us. By doing that, the Ankara toughened its line against United States approved the operation," the group after a spate of rebel he said. attacks inside Turkey that prompted A US embassy official asked to comment widespread calls for action. on the general's remarks said US mili¬ In October, Turkey's parliament tary commanders had merely known the voted to allow the military to launch raid was going to take place. operations into Iraq to combat the "We have not approved any decision, it PKK, which had stepped up attacks in Turkey. is not for us to approve. However, we were informed before the event," the Ankara has massed up to 100,000 official told Reuters news agency. troops near the mountainous border with northern Iraq, backed by tanks, The US has urged Turkey to step back artillery and warplanes. from a major operation against the PKK in northern Iraq because it fears military As many as 3,000 PKK members are action could destabilise what has be¬ believed to be based inside northern come one the most peaceful and pros¬ Iraq. Turkey has accused the local perous regions of the country. said his government was determined to Kurdish authorities of supporting 'Success' use all political and military means, both them. inside and outside Turkey, against the The Turkish Prime Minister, Recep Tayyip PKK. Erdogan, hailed the raids a "success" and

fUJSA December 1 8, 2007 TODWC Rice visits Kurdish region in Iraq Rice makes surprise visit to Kirkuk, Baghdad BAGHDAD (AP) U.S. Secretary of State special representative in Iraq. Condoleezza Rice made an unannounced visit The U.N. representative, who arrived last month, Tuesday to Kirkuk in the oil-rich Kurdish region, represents an expanded role for the U.N. He is to where the U.S. administration has emphasized help manage competing interests leading up to the what it sees as new signs of cooperation and pro¬ Kirkuk referendum expected in the latter half of gress, and then flew to the Iraqi capital for meetings 2008. Iraq's constitution required the referendum by with national leaders. the end of this year. At Rice's first stop in Kirkuk, she met with mem¬ Satterfield said preparing for the Kirkuk referendum bers of a civilian-military reconstruction unit and is an example of a job best done by a world body with about two-dozen provincial politicians of all such as the U.N. instead of by the United States. stripes. Turkey and other countries in the region with Kurd¬ "It is an important province for the future of Iraq, for ish minorities have long feared that Kurdish control a democratic Iraq, an Iraq that can be for all peo¬ of Kirkuk's vast wealth would encourage Kurds ple," she said at the start of the meeting with the toward declaring independence from Iraq a provincial leaders. move that Iraq's neighbors could not tolerate. Sunni Arabs ended a year-long political boycott Kurds are generally thought to have a slight major¬ earlier this month in Kirkuk the hub of Iraq's ity in the province, with Sunni Arabs close behind, northern oil fields under a deal that sets aside north of Kirkuk. though a census has not been conducted in 50 government posts for Arabs. It was the biggest step years. Provinces cannot schedule new elections Sunday's assault was the largest aerial attack in yet toward unity ahead of a referendum on the until passage of a law known as the Provincial years against the outlawed separatist group. Tur¬ area's future. Powers Act, which is currently mired in Iraq's key's military chief said the strikes used U.S. Rice was highlighting that development, although a parliament in Baghdad. intelligence, and U.S. officials said Washington was separate ethnic group is still boycotting the provin¬ informed of the plan. Tuesday's visit was meant to underscore an overall cial governing council, and the new role of the reduction in violence that the Bush administration Kirkuk is an especially coveted city for both the United Nations in resolving the future of disputed largely attributes to the escalation of U.S. forces Shiite-dominated Iraqi government in Baghdad and Kirkuk. Bush ordered a year ago. the Kurdish one in Irbil. "It truly is the crossing point for every one of Iraq's Attacks in Iraq are at their lowest levels since the Kurds want to incorporate it into their self-rule area, ethnicities, every one of Iraq's religions and sects," first year of the U.S. invasion in 2003, finally open¬ but the idea has met stiff resistance from Arabs. said David Satterfield, Rice's top adviser for Iraq. ing a window for reconciliation among rival sects, "Kirkuk is often identified as a flashpoint for the Much of Iraq's vast oil wealth lies under the ground Lt. Gen. Ray Odierno, America's No. 2 commander future of Iraq." in the region, as well as in the Shiite-controlled in Iraq, said Sunday. south. Apart from the petrodollars, Kurds have a Rice's visit is her first since a surprise joint ap¬ There are fresh threats, however. The Turkish strong cultural and emotional attachment to the area pearance with U.S. President George W. Bush and army sent 300 soldiers about 1.5 miles (2.4 kilome¬ and consider Kirkuk, which they call "the Kurdish Defense Secretary Robert Gates in September, ters) into northern Iraq in an overnight operation on Jerusalem," part of their ancestral homeland. ahead of a report card to Congress on Iraq's pro¬ Tuesday, Kurdish officials said. Turkey says it gress. The assessment gave disappointing marks Rice did not hold a separate meeting with the must cross the border to pursue Kurdish rebels to Iraqi political efforts, which remain mired in semiautonomous Kurdish leadership while in who use the border region to attack Turkey. Iraq's political squabbling and sectarian maneuvering, and Kirkuk. Kurdish leaders have chafed under U.S. government objects and the United States has stood better grades to U.S.-assisted security bench¬ demands for greater inclusion in the Baghdad between the allies for months. marks. government and swifter work to complete a frame¬ Iraqi leaders had complained Monday that Turkey work law for managing and distributing Iraq's oil In Baghdad, Rice was meeting the vice president, had not coordinated with Baghdad before sending wealth. Jalal Talibani, and numerous other leaders. A dozens of warplanes to bomb Kurdish rebel targets meeting with Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki was Kurdish leaders also favored a quicker referendum in a larger operation in northern Iraq on Sunday. scheduled, and Rice was to see the new U.N. on Kirkuk and resented U.S. pressure this fall to do The target area is in the Kurdish-controlled region more to hunt the Kurdish rebels.

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

for another new nuclear power plant in Russia delivers fuel the south of the country. That an¬ nouncement came through the Fars news service. Gholamreza Aghazadeh, head of to Iran nuclear plant Iran's Atomic Organization, said that Iran needed to produce fuel for a By Helene Cooper the fuel, in part to send a' .Message to second plant under construction. Iran that the United States and its Euro¬ "We are building a 360-megawatt in¬ WASHINGTON: The United States pean, Chinese and Russian allies were digenous power plant in Darkhovein," lost a long battle when Russia on Mon¬ hanging tough in their attempts to pun¬ Aghazadeh said. "The fuel for this plant day delivered nuclear fuel to an Iranian ish Iran for refusing to suspend enrich¬ needs to be produced by the Natanz en¬ power plant that is at the center an of ment. richment plant," he added, according to international dispute over Iran's nucle¬ "We for many years tried to stop it, the news agency. ar program. Iran, meanwhile, an¬ and for the last year we've known there Darkhovein is a city in the southern nounced plans to build a second power was no way to stop it, and that it was plant. province of Khusestan, north of coming, and we held our breath on the Bushehr, which is better known for its revealing that had delivered the In it timing," a senior administration offi¬ oil fields. Bushehr and Darkhovein fuel shipment to the power plant at first cial said. were both projects planned before the Bushehr, in southern Iran, Russian offi¬ From the American standpoint, the 1979 revolution, and abandoned later. It cials said that the fuel would be under timing of the delivery of the Russian was not clear how much progress had the control the International Atomic of fuel could not have been worse, coming been made at Darkhovein. Energy Agency while it was in Iran, just two weeks after the release of a U.S. The delivery of the first fuel ship¬ and that Tehran had given guarantees intelligence estimate that concluded ment appears to set the clock ticking on the be used the that fuel would only for that Iran had stopped its nuclear when the Bushehr power station could power plant. weapons program in 2003. become operational, although this re¬ The Bush administration, for its While administration officials main¬ mains uncertain. part, pains to the Rus¬ took not criticize tain that the national intelligence esti¬ The Russian contractor responsible sian move and said the fuel de¬ publicly mate does not mean that tie United for the plant, Atomstroyexport, said the livery meant that Iran should suspend States and its allies should ease up the plant would be technically ready to op¬ its nuclear enrichment program. pressure against Iran, the practical con¬ erate no sooner than six months after "If the Iranians accept that uranium sequence of the report has been to em¬ all the uranium fuel rods needed to for a civilian nuclear power plant, then bolden Iran in its conviction that China power the station were delivered. The there's no need for them to learn how to and Russia, two of the countries with company said it planned to deliver enrich," President George W. Bush told perhaps the smallest appetite for tough about 80 tons of nuclear fuel to Iran reporters Monday. sanctions, will not agree to a new round over the next two months. A White House spokesman, Gordon of tough sanctions at the United Na¬ "The first phase of delivery has been Johndroe, said: "There is no doubt that tions. completed," said Irina Esipova, a Russia and the rest ofthe world want to Russia's decision to deliver fuel to spokeswoman for Atomstroyexport. "A keep Iran from getting a nuclear Bushehr further emboldens Iran, sever¬ small amount of fuel is already on the weapon. And today's announcement al administration officials and Euro¬ premises of the Bushehr station in a provides one more avenue for the Irani¬ pean diplomats said privately. special storage facility." ans to make a strategic choice to sus¬ Indeed, Iran said that it had no inten¬ The Russian Foreign said o Ministry in pend enrichment." tion of suspending its uranium enrich¬ a statement: "After the Russian fuel is But, privately, administration offi¬ ment just because it had received the processed at the Bushehr nuclear power cials said that they had been hoping, fuel shipment for Bushehr, a point that plant, it will be returned to Russia for with dwindling confidence, that Russia it underscored by saying, for the first further processing and storage." would continue to stall on delivering time, that it needed to enrich uranium % $>

Si Oil prices drop as Turkey pulls back from Iraq

the Northeast of the United States. PKK, which is seeking autonomy for ByMarkShenk "S* Crude oil for January delivery fell 14 Turkey's largely Kurdish southeastern SI cents to $90.49 a barrel in late trading region and uses northern Iraq as a base NEW YORK: Crude oil prices fell on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Tuesday, erasing an early gain, as Turk¬ The January contract expired Tuesday. from which to attack Turkish forces. ish troops began to withdraw from The February contract dropped 97 The conflict has lasted more than 20 northern Iraq and on speculation that cents to $90.08 a barrel. years and has cost almost 40,000 lives. warmer weather in the eastern United "We failed to break through on the In France, striking workers at Total, States would curb fuel use. upper end of our range, so we are now the French oil company, caused output. Turkish forces started to pull back testing the lower end," said Tom Bentz, to drop by almost half at five of its do¬ they had penetrated 8 after kilometers, a broker at BNP Paribas. mestic refineries, and access to. one of or 5 miles, into the Iraqi Kurdish re¬ "I think this market will stay in a the facilities was blocked, union repre¬ gion, according to reports. tight range through the end of the year. sentatives said. Prices had risen more than $2 after The lower end is in the $86-$88 area and "The refinery strike in France and the announcement that Turkish forces the upper end is in the $92-$93 area." the skirmish in northern Iraq sent us had entered the region. higher early today," said James Ritter- "The Turkish incursion doesn't look Exports from northern Iraqi .oil busch, president of Ritterbusch & As¬ like as much of a threat as when we first fields to Turkey's terminal at Ceyhan, sociates in Galena, Illinois. learned about it," said Phil Flynn, a on the Mediterranean Sea, averaged "They were not enough to get us to commodities trader with Alaron Trad¬ 400,000 barrels a day last month, the break out of the recent range." ing in Chicago. highest since the U.S.-led invasion of Bloomberg News What's more, the National Weather the country in March 2003. Service forecast higher-than-normal Turkey has been fighting guerrillas temperatures in a 6-to-10 day period in of the Kurdistan Workers' Party, or

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

December 18. 2007 00HNEWS Iraq's Kurdish leader snubs Rice The head of Iraq's Kurdish regional government has refused to meet the US secretary of state because of the US position on Turkish cross-border raids. Massoud Barzani had been scheduled been made in northern Iraq. to meet Condoleezza Rice in Bagh¬ "This is a circumstance in which the US dad, but withdrew "as a sign of protest" has constantly counselled that we need after several villages were bombed on an overall comprehensive approach to Sunday. this problem and that no one should do The air strikes on alleged positions of PKK anything that threatens to destabilise the separatist rebels were followed by an north," she said. incursion by 300 troops on Tuesday. Her Iraqi counterpart, Hoshyar Zebari, They moved 3km (1.9 miles) over Iraq's who is a member of Mr Barzani's Kurdish border, but later reportedly withdrew. Democratic Party (KDP), said the Iraqi government remained concerned about The UN refugee agency, the UNHCR, has the threat to civilians in the north. said almost 2,000 people in northern Iraq The declaration came after a spokesman have fled their homes in recent days as a But he noted that the recent Turkish raids for the Iraqi Kurdish peshmerga security result of the Turkish operations. had been in sparsely populated areas. forces told the BBC that some 300 lightly 'Sign of protest' Iraqi officials have said the Turkish air armed Turkish troops crossed the border strikes on Sunday targeted 10 villages and into northern Iraq. Speaking to reporters in the northern Iraqi city of Irbil, the prime minister of the killed one woman. The PKK has reported The spokesman said the soldiers moved Kurdistan Regional Government, Nechir- seven deaths. up to 3km (1.9 miles) inside Iraq in an van Barzani, said its president had refused 'Whatever is necessary' area called Seeda Kan - in the triangle between Iraq, Iran and Turkey. to meet Ms Rice because of Washington's Earlier, Turkish Prime Minister Recep tolerance of the recent Turkish raids. Tayyip Erdogan re-asserted his country's Later, Fouad Hussein, chief of staff of "It was decided that Massoud Barzani President Barzani, said the troops with¬ would go to Baghdad to take part in a drew less than 24 hours after the incur¬ meeting with Condoleezza Rice and other It is unacceptable that the sion. officials, but he will not go now as a sign United States, in charge of "The Turkish force that entered is no of protest against the American position monitoring our airspace, longer there," Mr Hussein told Reuters. on the bombings by Turkey," he said. authorised Turkey to bomb our villages The incursion was believed to be the first "It is unacceptable that the United States, major Turkish troop deployment in Iraq in charge of monitoring our airspace, Nechirvan Barzani since Turkey's parliament voted in October authorised Turkey to bomb our villages," PM, Kurdish Regional Govern¬ to allow the military to launch cross- he added. ment border operations to combat the PKK. Following the Turkish air strikes on Sun¬ Ankara accuses the PKK of using bases day, the US embassy in Baghdad denied right to defend itself from attacks by the inside Iraq to launch attacks on Turkey. that US military commanders had ap¬ PKK. Turkey has massed up to 100,000 troops proved the attacks, but admitted they had near the mountainous border with north¬ been informed they would take place. "We are using our rights based on the international law against a terrorist or¬ ern Iraq, backed by tanks, artillery and ganisation," he told a news conference in warplanes. After meeting Iraqi officials in Baghdad, Ankara. As many as 3,000 PKK members are be¬ Ms Rice said the US, Turkey and Iraq "Our army is doing whatever is necessary. lieved to be based inside northern Iraq. shared a common interest "in stopping the Our security forces will continue to do Turkey has accused the local Kurdish activities of the PKK". whatever is necessary," he added, echoing authorities of supporting them. She argued that the separatist rebel group comments made by President Abdullah threatened to undo the progress that has Gul.

The Dec 18th 2007 Economist Turkey and Iraq Tension mounts ANKARA Turkey's incursions into northern Iraq TURKISH warplanes bombed Kurdish across the border by about 300 Turkish the border. And the evidence suggests rebel positions deep inside northern troops. They were said to be lightly that the raids were also prompted by Iraq on Sunday December 16th in one of armed, and only moved some 3km inside Turkey's closer military co-operation with the biggest cross-border air strikes in Iraq. But, taken together, the two actions the United States. Turkey's most senior recent years. The Turkish army declared were a considerable escalation in hostili¬ general said that the air strikes had been that all their targets had been hit and the ties across the border. sanctioned by America, which had also country's hawkish chief of the general provided the intelligence for them. The deployment of troops is believed to be staff, General Yasar Buyukanit, dismissed the first such move since the Turkish America has long opposed Turkish inter¬ reports of civilian casualties as "terrorist cabinet backed action last month to hunt vention in northern Iraq, fearing that this propaganda". The bombings were followed down Kurdish rebels from the Kurdistan could destabilise the only relatively peace¬ the next day by an overnight incursion Workers' Party (PKK) in their bases over ful bit of the country. But America's re-

48 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Ozeti fusai to clobber the rebels on Turkey's behalf has deepened anti-American feel¬ ings in Turkey. Recent polls suggest that a mere 9% of Turks like America. Many believe America is bent on establishing an independent Kurdish state that may even¬ tually lay claim to Turkey's own Kurdish provinces. America's approval for the air raids was thus aimed at salvaging relations with Turkey, an important NATO ally. But America must be hoping that the ground incursion does not get any bigger; Iraqi Kurds fret that the true aim of such an incursion is not to vanquish the PKK but to destroy their semi-independent statelet. promises to President George Bush; to ing with the law. It is expected to pardon recognise the Iraqi Kurds' regional gov¬ all PKK soldiers who can prove they were In exchange for American support for the ernment and to craft a new amnesty law not involved in any violence. After more air raids, and a promise to order the Iraqi for PKK fighters. A previous amnesty that than two decades of war against the re¬ Kurds to take action against the PKK, pardoned only those who would rat on bels, Turkey's generals and politicians Turkey's prime minister, Recep Tayyip their comrades proved a flop; last week concede that military measures alone Erdogan, is thought to have made his own the government announced it was tinker cannot fix its festering Kurdish problem.

Sfie IPfiilabelpfiia Inquirer] Dec. 20, 2007 U.N., U.S. have key roles in resolving Kurd-Turk frictions (for now). Despite the tragic end of 2007 to resolve the status of he helped organize the return deaths, new possibilities have Kirkuk - as called for by Article home of more than one million arisen in recent days that could 140 of the Iraqi constitution - has Iraqi from the By Trudy Rubin Inquirer Columnist help defuse Kurdish-Turkish ten¬ turned the city into a new center of mountains of Turkey after the 1991 sions and peacefully resolve Kurd¬ sectarian violence. Gulf War. ERBIL, Iraq - The president of ish claims to the contested, and Iraq's Kurdish region, Mas¬ So why do I see a new chance for "The ticking bomb [of Kirkuk] still oil-rich, city of Kirkuk. But for soud Barzani, leader of the legen¬ Kurdish-Turkish rapprochement? ticks," De Mistura told me in Erbil, either to happen, the United States "but we have put a new engine into dary Barzani clan, was angry - at Reason one: Now that the Turkish will have to act more strategically the acceleration of the process, Turkey and at the United States. military has made its military as a mediator than it did in the called the United Nations, which On Saturday, Turkey bombed Iraqi case of the Turkish bombs. point, Prime Minister Recep has the expertise and can provide Kurdish villages, killing two civil¬ Tayyip Erdogan may be better The air attack had as much to do legitimacy to the process." In this ians and sending hundreds fleeing; positioned to push for a diplomatic with internal Turkish politics as it process, says De Mistura, "Tur¬ 300 Turkish soldiers later made a solution. did with Turkish claims that the key has to be an important part." raid across the Iraqi border. The Kurdish regional government "The Turks did what they wanted attacks were meant to target Turk¬ Indeed, the makings of Turkish- wasn't doing enough to root out the to do, and we don't need any more ish Kurdish separatists from the Kurdish rapprochement can al¬ PKK. The issue has become tensions," I was told by the prime ready be seen in Erbil. The dusty, PKK terrorist movement, who are minister of the Kurdish regional caught up in tensions between a low-slung provincial capital is based in Iraq's northern moun¬ government, Nechirvan Barzani. moderate Islamist Turkish gov¬ booming with construction, which tains. The United States provided He hopes "after this there could be ernment that seeks better relations is almost all done by Turkish firms Turkey with the coordinates for the the beginning of dialogue with the with the Iraqi Kurds, and a secular using Turkish workers. Trade with air strikes. Turks." Turkish military that feels it is and transport from Turkey is "We know Iraqi air space is under losing ground and is looking for an The Turkish government may be Kurdistan's lifeline. U.S. control," Barzani said bluntly issue to help it recoup. interested. The day before the air on Monday in his well-guarded But despite positive signs, the In recent months, the Turkish strikes, Emre Taner, chief of presidential office, when I asked border dispute with Turkey could military has massed tens of thou¬ Turkey's national intelligence him whom he blamed. Standing still explode. Having defused sands of troops on the Iraq border. organization, visited Erbil on behalf stiffly, in his signature red and Turkish charges that we're soft on The invasion threat seems to have of Erdogan and Turkish President white checked Kurdish turban and the PKK, the United States must passed. But the Turkish military Abdullah Gul. His message to top olive-drab fatigues, he added: "If now persuade the Turkish military suspects leaders of the Kurdish Kurdish leaders: The Turkish there wasn't a [U.S.] green light, that the issue can't be resolved by regional government of harboring a government wants good relations the Turks could not have carried force. desire for independence that would with the the Kurdish regional gov¬ out the attack." Barzani then turned fuel Kurdish separatism in Turkey. ernment, and it also wants the "Turkey and the Kurds are both down an invitation to lunch with question of Kirkuk to be solved allies of the United States," says Condoleezza Rice during her The Kirkuk issue plays into these constitutionally. prime minister Nechirvan Barzani. quick visit to Iraq. fears. Many Turks believe the "This issue should be a top [U.S.] Kurds want to regain control of Reason two: There is new hope for So what's going on in Kurdistan, priority for a solution. Don't open Kirkuk (a once-Kurdish city forci¬ progress on Kirkuk. All parties the most peaceful, booming region another front" in the north, he bly Arabized by Saddam Hussein) have agreed to let the United Na¬ in Iraq? Is there a danger of a war pleads, "just as the security situa¬ to use the city's oil wealth to fi¬ tions Mission for Iraq devise a way in the north between two U.S. tion is getting better in Iraq." nance statehood. Kurdish govern¬ to implement Article 140 within six allies? Is America betraying the ment leaders' strong denials don't months. Stefan De Mistura, the Kurds? convince them. Meantime, the impressive U.N. special The answer to both questions is no failure to hold a referendum by the representative to Iraq, has won Kurds' trust: he helped organize 49 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Ôzeti

/FOX Turkish Shelling Displaces 1,800 'NEWS Northern Iraqis From Homes December 18. 2007 GENEVA - The U.N. refugee agency expressed concern Tues¬ "Many of those displaced day over the increasing number of people being driven from say they cannot afford to their homes by Turkey's shelling of northern Iraq. pay monthly rents of More than 1,800 people have fled their homes in the Sangasar US$200 to US$300 (eurol40 to euro210) for sub district of Sulaimaniyah Governorate and in Doli Shahidan in Erbil Governorate last weekend, the U.N. High Commissioner for alternative accommoda¬ Refugees said. tion and ... fear they cannot stay much longer On Sunday, Turkey launched airstrikes against rebels from the with their host families," Kurdish Workers' Party in northern Iraq. As many as 50 fighter she said. jets were involved in the biggest attack on the Kurdish Workers' About 2.4 million people Party in years. have been driven from An Iraqi official said the planes attacked several villages, killing their homes to other one woman. The rebels said two civilians and five rebels died. locations in Iraq, and an There was more shelling and displacement on Monday, said additional 2.2 million Astrid van Genderen Stort, a spokeswoman for the High Com¬ have fled to neighboring countries, most to Syria and Jordan, missioner for Refugees. Some people are leaving their homes for according to the High Commissioner for Refugees. fear of future attacks, she added. The agency distributed blankets, mattresses, stoves, lanterns The displaced have found shelter with relatives and friends, but and other relief goods on Tuesday to families most in need in with the start of winter it is difficult for the host families to take Sulaimaniyah and Erbil, van Genderen Stort said. care of additional people, van Genderen Stort said.

December 18. 2007 (Telegraph Kurds' power share row with Iraqi government

By Damien McElrov in Irbil take another route," he said. Under Iraq's new constitution, three Kurdish leaders in northern Iraq northern provinces were granted have threatened to withdraw sup¬ autonomy from Baghdad to form a port from the Baghdad government if Kurdistan Regional Government demands for federal power-sharing (KRG). Clauses guaranteed rights over and a fair share of oil wealth are not oil revenues and a referendum over met. disputed areas, including the strategic US aid for Turkish attacks angers city of Kirkuk. Baghdad has since con¬ Kurds tested KRG efforts to attract foreign oil and failed Nechirvan Barzani, the prime minister investment to deliver the referendum. of Kurdish northern Iraq, said that Iraq's Shia-led coalition government, "The problem in Baghdad is you have which relies on Kurdish MPs to sur¬ a structure, you have a prime minis¬ vive, "must be changed" if it does not ter, but you have nobody to make a transfer powers to his region. decision," said Mr Barzani. denounced Mr Shahristani's attempts "What we ask for as Kurds comes Relations between the two govern¬ to suppress its rights. within the constitution of Iraq," he ments hit an all-time low last month Kurdistan is in a different league, if said. "We did whatever we could do to when Hussein Shahristani, Baghdad's not yet a different country, from the oil minister, said that companies deal¬ ensure that Iraq could succeed, but rest of Iraq. It is attempting to estab¬ Iraq is a complicated country. Now we ing with the Kurds would be black¬ lish its credentials as a Dubai-style have reached one question, whether listed. The bulk of Iraq's oil wealth lies business centre. The region is safe outside the Kurdish region but its we are partners in the government or and booming. not. We don't have that kind of feel¬ reserves are an attractive pool of fu¬ ing. ture supply. The announcement cast a A foreign diplomat said: "Crunch time shadow on tentative efforts by West¬ is coming "Certainly if we do not see any re¬ ern firms to enter the region. sponse from Baghdad to solve the issues raised, we would be obliged to The Kurdish government furiously

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Cos Angeles fîmes December 19, 2007 U.S. practicing balancing act on Kurdish question Condoleezza Rice, in Iraq for reconciliation work, urges caution after Turkey pursues rebels across the border. By Alexandra Zavis - Los Angeles Times Staff Writer BAGHDAD Secretary of State Con¬ doleezza Rice cautioned Tuesday against any action that could destabilize Iraq after Turkey sent about 300 troops across the border in pursuit of Kurdish separatist guerrillas. The one-day incursion began hours before Rice arrived in Kirkuk on the latest high- profile attempt to reignite Iraq's stalled reconciliation process after a sharp down¬ turn in violence. U.S. officials have touted a 60% drop in attacks nationwide since the U.S. military completed a 28,500-troop buildup in June. The United States is in the midst of a delicate balancing act between two close allies: the Turkish government and the Kurdish regional authorities in northern many more. It made no reference to PKK yar Zebari said at a news conference with Iraq, where Kurdistan Workers Party casualties. Rice on Tuesday. "But at the same time (PKK) guerrillas often hide in between Jabbar Yawir, deputy regional minister in we fully understand and appreciate the attacks on targets in southern Turkey. charge of the peshmerga security forces in legitimate security concerns Turkey has The U.S. considers the PKK a terrorist Iraqi Kurdistan, confirmed that clashes over the PKK terrorist activities against organization. During a visit this month, had occurred but said he had no informa¬ them." Deputy Secretary of State John D. Negro- tion on casualties. Shortly after nightfall, Rice sidestepped a question about ponte said Washington shared Turkey's the Turkish forces withdrew to their side whether the U.S. had received advance goal of ending PKK activities in Iraq "once of the border, he said. notice of Tuesday's incursion. U.S. officials and for all." And Turkish officials have said Yawir characterized the incursion as "lim¬ have acknowledged that they were in¬ that the United States is supplying intelli¬ ited" and noted that the fighting took formed of Turkey's plans Sunday, but Rice gence to assist in their attacks on the place in a remote region, far from any emphasized that the attack was Ankara's militant group. civilian population. But he warned that "if decision. At the same time, U.S. officials do not the Turkish forces penetrate to safe areas, Rice's first stop Tuesday was Kirkuk, an want any steps taken that could upset where the Kurdish villages are located, oil-rich city about 150 miles north of stability in Iraq's largely autonomous then the Kurdistan region will defend Baghdad that remains a tinderbox for Kurdistan region, an island of relative itself." Sunni Arabs and Kurds. tranquillity and economic growth. Turkish news reports quoted Prime Minis¬ Kurds want to incorporate the city into Rice reiterated her position Tuesday that ter Recep Tayyip Erdogan as saying, "Our their largely autonomous region, but the the U.S., Iraq and Turkey share a "com¬ army is doing what it has to do right idea has met resistance from the city's mon interest in stopping the activities of now." Sunni Arabs, whom Saddam Hussein had the PKK." "We do not have any negative attitude encouraged to settle there. A referendum But she said circumstances demanded "an towards Iraq's territorial integrity, and we on the issue has been delayed until next overall, comprehensive approach to this do not have any negative attitude towards year. problem." the civilian citizens and our friends in Rice's visit was intended to highlight a "No one should do anything which threat¬ Iraq," he told reporters in Ankara, the recent agreement under which Sunni ens to destabilize the north," she told capital. "However, they are terrorists and Arabs ended a yearlong boycott of the reporters in Baghdad. our enemy, and those who are in the provincial council in exchange for govern¬ Kurdish leader Massoud Barzani refused to camps there are threatening our national ment posts. The city's ethnic Turkmens fly to Baghdad to meet Rice, citing U.S. unity." are still refusing to participate in the support for limited incursions by Turkish Turkey has insisted on its right to pursue council. forces fighting the PKK. the rebels, and in its most serious air U.S. officials have credited their troop In the latest case, Kurdish officials said assault in years, its military jets bombed buildup with helping to bring violence in Turkish troops penetrated about 1 1/2 several villages Sunday in northern Iraq, Iraq down to its lowest level since 2003, miles into Iraqi territory overnight, mov¬ killing at least one civilian and injuring the first year of the war. The decision of ing through rugged mountains near the several others. anti-U.S. Shiite Muslim cleric Muqtada Iranian border used by PKK rebels. Wire Iraqi officials say they weren't notified in Sadr to freeze the activities of his militia reports quoted the Turkish Defense Minis¬ advance about Sunday's attack and have and a rebellion by thousands of Sunni try as saying that its troops responded to formally protested to the Turkish govern¬ tribesmen against the extremists they a group of rebels spotted trying to infil¬ ment about the civilian casualties. once backed have also been key factors in trate Turkey and dealt them a "heavy "We believe any unilateral actions to de¬ the downturn, which Rice said had created blow." stabilize the situation will harm Iraq's a window in which political reconciliation A news agency linked to the PKK reported interests and Turkish interests at the needed to take place. that the rebels ambushed the Turkish same time," Iraqi Foreign Minister Hosh- "We all understand that democracy is hard troops, killing eight of them and injuring

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and that it takes time," she said. "But it is province, killing 16 people and injuring 28 death, five of them execution-style. also the case that when people elect lead¬ others. Insurgents fleeing the troop U.S. -led forces detained seven suspects ers, they expect them to make very buildup in Baghdad are believed to have during raids early Tuesday targeting Sunni strong efforts to move forward." established sanctuaries in the province, insurgents in Baiji, Mosul and east of Zebari acknowledged, "We need a political according to U.S. intelligence. Samarra, the military said. A fugitive and legislative surge to augment and Another suicide bomber drove an explo¬ Shiite militant was captured with 11 other strengthen these gains." sives-laden car into a police checkpoint in suspects in the Aziziya area, southeast of Despite the progress, deadly attacks con¬ Baqubah, killing two people and injuring Baghdad. tinue on a daily basis. 12 others, police said. Police said a suicide bomber detonated the In Baghdad, four people were killed and Special correspondents Asso Ahmed in explosives strapped to his waist in a cafe seven injured when a car bomb exploded Irbil and Yesim Borg in Ankara and special in Attarah, a Shiite village about five miles at downtown Nasr Square, police said. At correspondents in Kirkuk and Baghdad north of Baqubah, the capital of Diyala least eight others were found shot to contributed to this report.

Newsweek December 21, 2007 Friends Again U.S. support for Turkey's raids against rebel Kurds have improved relations between Washington andAnkara. Can the entente last? By Sami Kohen and Owen Matthews Turkey's general staff, praised the cooperation, security forces. In Turkey there have been calls and the press hailed the restoration of the dam¬ this week from the ultranationalist MHP party Since well before the U.S. invasion of Iraq in aged ties Washington. The popular daily and some retired generals, as well as some 2003, Turkey complained quietly and with members of the CHP opposition, to hit not only sometimes not so quietly about rebel Kurds Milliyet ran a front page editorial reminding readers how far U.S.-Turkish relations had the PKK but all forces who "harbor or support based in northern Iraq staging terror attacks come since their low point: an incident in April them," such as the Barzani administration. deep inside Turkey. But it was only when Tur¬ 2003 when troops of the U.S. 173rd Airborne Senior government advisers tell NEWSWEEK, key turned up the volume with a threat to invade Division captured 22 undercover Turkish Spe¬ however, that Turkey will "limit its strikes and northern Iraq and cut off supplies to U.S. bases operations" and will refrain fom sending any in Iraq that Washington listened. cial Forces agents in the Iraqi city of Kirkuk and detained them in plastic hoods and handcuffs signals to the Iraqi Kurds that might suggest that This week's raids into northern Iraq by up to a humiliation often revisited in the Turkish Ankara's aims go beyond neutralizing the PKK. 300 Turkish commandos are evidence of that. media. Ankara is actutely aware that serious numbers Information that emerged this week suggests of civilian casualties would quickly erode a According to assessments by the Turkish that President Bush may have made a deal with carefully constructed diplomatic edifice of military cited in the Turkish press, the PKK's Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan international backing for Turkey's raids not camps in the Kandil mountains in northern Iraq during his Nov. 5 visit to Washington by which just U.S. support but "understanding" from the have been completely destroyed. There are no the Turks would get a green light to attack the European Union and sympathy from most of the hard estimates of casualties on the PKK side as bases of the Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK. Islamic world except from Iraq itself, which yet, though the Turkish media has treated the According to a top adviser present at the Wash¬ condemned the raids. raids as a resounding victory and a revenge for ington talks, Erdogan told Bush that the U.S. PKK attacks inside Turkey, which left more The problem of unrest among Turkey's 14 president had to choose between Turkey and million-strong Kurdish minority isn't going to be the Iraqi Kurdish groups. Bush's reaction was than 80 Turkish soldiers dead this year alone. But the tactical success Turkey may have solved, however, by hitting the PKK alone. that Washington would support Ankara but that scored against the PKK pales in comparison Prominent terrorism expert Ercan Citlioglu of the Turkish operation should be "limited" and with the major result of a restoration of the Bahcesehir University says the threat of terror¬ that a political settlement should also be sought, crippled U.S.-Turkish relationship. U.S. Secre¬ ism "cannot be removed by just killing some according to the adviser. In fact, the U.S. had terrorists or bombing their shelters." He argues little choice: Washington has long said that the tary of State Condoleezza Rice, on a visit to Iraq week, outspoken in her for a comprehensive plan, not only military but PKK is a terror group and its existence in north¬ this was support for the Turkish operation and notably cool toward also political, economic, social and cultural. ern Iraq cannot be tolerated. More important, Iraqi Kurdish leader Massoud Barzani and the This also seems to be the basis of the govern¬ Washington needs Turkey as an ally in its war Iraqi Kurdish administration. Though the Kurds ment's new Kurdish strategy. Erdogan has on terror. remain America's closest allies inside Iraq suggested that he may offer a limited amnesty The raids themselves went well beyond the itself, they've worn Washington's patience thin. to encourage PKK members to "return home." small-scale military operations Turkey has According to one Western diplomat not author¬ In Turkey's largely Kurdish southeast special been mounting for months. Crucially, it was the ized to speak on the record, Barzani, the presi¬ teams of local civilian administrators and secu¬ first time since before the 2003 invasion that the dent of the semiautonomous Kurdish region, rity officers have been assigned to visit the U.S. and Turkish militaries have estabished an had been "told a thousand times" that the Iraqi families of PKK members to tell them to con¬ effective tactical cooperation. After years of Kurds must do something about the PKK or risk vince their chlidren to abandon the struggle. The disappointment and tension, the Turks finally the Turks doing it for them. "In the end they did goverment is also talking up new programs for got some strategic help from Washington and not do a lot, despite fair warning," says the the economic and social recovery of the south¬ real tactical assistance from the U.S. military. diplomat. east, in addition to the "return home" campaign, For one thing, America provided intelligence which aims to help ex-PKK members find The question is, how long will the entente last. that enabled air strikes to hit alleged PKK tar¬ jobs though Ankara has ruled out any kind of The risk is that the United States will tilt back gets, Turkey's ambassador in Washington, dialogue with the PKK leadership. Barzani refused to Nabi Sensoy, said Wednesday. (The White toward (who meet with Rice if stepped Erdogan has emerged from the crisis more House acknowledges that it shares intelligence this week) Turkey's operations are up. The United States insists, Rice said this popular than ever not least because he has with Ankara but refused to comment on reports week, that Turkey should "refrain from taking kept his promise to use force to put an end to that it had helped Turkish authorities target the action that would destabilize" Iraq. Decoded, PKK attacks. His relations with the military, PKK.) The United States also opened up north¬ that means that Washington does not want which have been strained for years because of ern Iraq's air space still under American constant Turkish incursions that go deeper into Erdogan's Islamist past, are now better than control to Turkish warplanes. The Turks, who the heartland of northern Iraq. Turkish Prime they have ever been. Erdogan's challenge now went from being America's strongest support¬ Minister Abdullah Gul and President Erdogan is to bring about a political solution as neat and ers to among its fiercest critics in the region, have said repeatedly that their military's only victorious as his military one. felt that they and the U.S. were on the same target is the PKK, not civilians or Iraqi Kurdish side again. Gen. Yasar Buyukanit, chief of

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THE TIMES December 19 2007 Turkey's cross-border raid mars Rice's upbeat visit

"We have made clear to the Turkish support for the Turkish offensive, 300 troops in assault Government that we continue to be Masoud Barzani, president of the Iraq on Kurdish north Iraq concerned about anything that could northern region, refused to meet Dr lead to innocent civilian casualties or Rice while she was in Baghdad. " to the déstabilisation of the north," Dr News of the raid broke as Dr Rice US Secretary of State Rice told a joint news conference in touched down in the oil-rich city of urges co-operation Baghdad with Hoshyar Zebari, the Kirkuk, close to the border with Iraq's Iraqi Foreign Minister, who is a Kurd. northern Kurdish region. She met Deborah Haynes Baghdad Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the Turkish local leaders before flying to Baghdad Prime Minister, said that his country to speak to Mr Zebari and Nouri al- Hundreds of Turkish soldiers had no intention of violating Iraq's Maliki, the Iraqi Prime Minister. marched into northern Iraq yesterday territorial integrity or harming "The surge that the President in a provocative cross-border raid that civilians, "but the PKK terrorist organi¬ ordered as well as the efforts of the stoked fears of violent clashes with sation's camps there are terrorist Iraqi security forces and the efforts Kurdish militants. The largest incur¬ camps, they are our enemy". of the concerned citizens ... have sion by Turkish troops since the US "They threaten our national unity improved the security situation and invasion of Iraq came on the day that and we are using our rights stemming they have given a kind of window in Condoleezza Rice, the US Secretary of from international laws to defend which political reconciliation needs to State, staged a surprise visit to Iraq. ourselves against this threat," he said. take place," she said. The timing of the operation fuelled Mr Zebari said that the Iraqi and In one sign of improved security, Dr speculation that the US military was regional Kurdish authorities were Rice lunched at the central Baghdad sharing intelligence with Turkey to monitoring the movement of the Turk¬ home of Jalal Talabani, the President, help to curtail the activities of Kurdish ish troops very closely. "We believe We are in what US troops call the "Red Zone" separatists. Publicly, Dr Rice urged any unilateral action to destabilise the concerned all of Baghdad outside the "green Turkish and Iraqi leaders to co-oper¬ situation will harm Iraq's interests and zone" government and diplomatic ate in dealing with the militants. Turkish interests," he added. about compound. The suicide bombing in Turkish forces withdrew again At about 3am yesterday, 300 Turk¬ anything the al-Abbara village, 40 miles (65km) within 24 hours, according to the ish troops ventured into Iraq, pushing north of Baghdad, served as a grim re¬ regional Iraqi Kurdish Government, up to two miles into a deserted, moun¬ that could minder of the threat of violence. A fur¬ but the operation still prompted tainous frontier area, which is also lead to ther 16 people were killed in other condemnation from Baghdad. close to the, Iranian border. While innocent bombings and shootings across Iraq. Dr Rice said that Washington, causing alarm among the Kurdish au¬ Dr Rice's choice of visiting Kirkuk Ankara and Baghdad shared a "com¬ thorities, the operation did not repre¬ civilian first highlighted another area of mon interest" in stopping the Kurdis¬ sent a large-scale incursion. casualties concern. Wrangling over whether tan Workers' Party, or PKK, but gave In the mid-1990s Turkey sent about Kirkuk should be incorporated into warning against any action that would 50,000 troops across the border to Condoleezza the Kurdistan region of northern Iraq harm civilians or stability in the large¬ fight Kurdish rebels, who have led a Rice has deepened divisions in the city, ly autonomous Kurdish north, one of bloody campaign against the Turkish which has a majority Kurdish and Iraq's rare success stories. The Secre¬ military for greater rights for Kurds in minority Sunni Arab population. A tary of State also used her trip to Iraq the south of Turkey. In recent months referendum on its status, due by mid- to highlight a drop in violence in Turkey has again massed tens of thou¬ December, has yet to take place, but recent months. Underlying the fragili¬ sands of soldiers on its border, believ¬ many Kurds regard Kirkuk as theirs. ty of the relative calm, however, a sui¬ ing that rebels use camps in Iraq from Kurdish ownership would strength¬ cide bomber killed 14 people in a Shia which to launch attacks. en Iraqi Kurdistan but neighbouring village north of Baghdad. The US, which has the unenviable countries with Kurdish minorities, Yesterday's incursion came after task ofbalancing support for the Turk¬ such as Turkey, fear that an embold¬ Turkey launched its largest aerial ish Government and the Iraqi Kurds, ened Kurdish no.rth in Iraq would trig¬ assault against the PKK on Sunday. has said that it received warning about ger rebellion within their own borders. The bombings left a civilian woman Sunday's airstrikes, while Iraq was and five rebels dead and prompted kept in the dark. more than 1,800 people to flee. The Underlining Kurdish displeasure at rebels have threatened to retaliate. what he saw as Washington's implicit

Area of TURKEY Kurdish Border crossings semi- autonomy

Sept 29 13 Turkish troops killed in Nov 6 Turkish soldier killed by PKK SYRIA DahUk f ambush in Sirnak province in southeast Turkey IRAN Arbil Oct 7 PKK kills 13 Turkish soldiers Nov 13 Turkey bombs Iraqi in southeast Turkey villages. No casualties reported Tigris , .

Oct 21 Eight soldiers captured and Dec 1 Turkish Army reports "heavy 12 killed by PKK; 32 rebels killed losses" on 60 PKK guerrillas in Iraq IKAU Oct 24 Turkish media report that Dec 16 50 Turkish planes bomb ' i'O' PKK is bombed by Turkish jets rebel targets in northern Iraq 50 miles Oct 28 Turkey kills 15 rebels Source: Times archive

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cide whether Kirkuk should become the fourth province in the semiautonomous Rice travels to Iraq Kurdish regional government. Rice's visit was her first visit since September, when she accompanied President George W. Bush and Defense after Turkish attack Secretary Robert Gates on a surprise trip. At the time, they emphasized secu¬ rity gains, sectarian reconciliation and She warns against destabilizing region the possibility of a troop withdrawal. By Graham Bowley tially explosive places in Iraq. Its fate is Kirkuk is a city made unstable by the seen as a crucial issue by all sides in the fusion of oil, politics and ethnic ten¬ Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice debate about whether Iraq will eventu¬ sions. The Kurds want a referendum made an unannounced visit to Iraq on ally be partitioned among Kurds, Sunni soon, because they think they will win. Tuesday, flying first to the northern oil- Arabs and Shiite Arabs. But the Arabs and Turkmen want to rich city ofKirkuk and then on to Bagh¬ "It is an important province for the delay a referendum, and are wary that dad to meet with Iraqi leaders. future of Iraq, for a democratic Iraq, an proceeds from oil-rich Kirkuk could be The visit, her first since September, Iraq that can be for all people," Rice used to fund Kurdish separatism. came two days after dozens of Turkish said at the start of a meeting with pro¬ In Baghdad, Rice was to meet Vice warplanes and artillery struck Kurdish vincial leaders in Kirkuk, The Associ¬ President Jalal Talibani and other lead¬ militants in northern Iraq, with at least ated Press reported. ers, The AP said. A meeting with Prime tacit approval from the United States, Dec. 31 is the constitutional deadline Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki was also and coincided with new Kurdish accu¬ for a controversial referendum to de scheduled. sations of a Turkish incursion. Rice did not directly comment on the new accusations, reported on Kurdish television and Web sites, but at a news Turkey's empty gesture conference with her in Baghdad, the Iraqi foreign minister, Hoshyar Zebari, Turkey did the wrong thing of intimating that the Turks were said there had been a "limited incur¬ for the wrong reasons careless about killing Kurdish vil¬ sion" high into a mountainous, unoccu¬ lagers Iraq; was also a diplo¬ pied area in Iraq. There was no confir- , Sunday when it sent more in it mation from Turkey. than 50 of its air force jets matic allusion to the suspected But any incursion may have been to bomb sites in northern Iraq. The source of that misinformation brief. Reuters quoted Kurdish officials goal was to kill fighters of the the United States. on Tuesday as saying that the Turkish PKK, Kurdish rebels who have Last month, after Turkey troops had withdrawn, less than 24 been mounting guerrilla attacks in threatened to send ground troops hours after the incursion began. southeastern Turkey. The bomb¬ into Iraq, the Bush administration "The Turkish force that entered today is no longer there," said Fouad Hussein, ing and shelling killed at least two said it would give Turkey intelli¬ chiefofstafffor the Kurdish leader Mas¬ civilians and five PKK members, gence on the PKK. So it was no sur¬ soud Barzani, according to Reuters. while setting Iraqi Kurdish farms prise that Turkey's military chief, Rice said the United States, Turkey and villages on fire. But as a stra¬ General Yasar Buyukanit, an¬ and Iraq had a "common interest" in tegic move, Turkey's raid was nounced Monday that "America stopping the activities of the Kurdish worse than useless. gave intelligence." To make sure militants, but said that no one should do PKK forces are ensconced in nobody misunderstood, he added, anything that threatened to destabilize caves high in the inaccessible "But more importantly, America the north and that the United States had repeatedly made this clear to Turkey. Kandil mountain range, so there last night opened the [Iraqi] air¬ Over the years, Turkey has staged was little chance Turkey's raid space to us. By opening the air¬ brief, small-scale incursions into Iraq to would accomplish more than it space, America gave its approval to chase Kurdish militants, and keeps a did. Indeed, the tactical reason for this operation." small contingent ofspecial forces troops making such an empty gesture was There could hardly be a more in¬ at an outpost there. The U.S. military that, with snow now falling in the coherent twist to President George has been supplying the Turkish military mountains, a ground invasion of W. Bush's Iraq policy. Bush has with intelligence on the rebels, and has had been threaten¬ made preserving Iraq's borders a acknowledged using spy planes over the sort Turkey rebel territory. But the Turkish Army ing would have been more costly primary objective. Yet the admin¬ has not made any major incursions since and even less effective. istration colluded in Turkey's vio¬ the American invasion in 2003. But that hardly justifies the lation of Iraqi sovereignty even The Bush administration considers bombing. The Turkish military as Washington is warning Iran to the Kurdish rebel group, the Kurdistan asserted its nationalist bravado at stop sending agents and weapons Workers' Party, or PKK, a terrorist or¬ the price of violating the sover¬ into Iraq, and is pressing Syria and ganization. The PKK wants an autono¬ eignty of a neighbor, implicating Saudi Arabia to crack down on for¬ mous Kurdish area in eastern Turkey States eign crossing Iraq. and has repeatedly attacked the Turkish the United in that transgres¬ jihadists into military, and sometimes the civilian sion and incurring a condemna¬ Bush ought to urge Turkey to population, since the 1980s. tion from the European Union. make the PKK superfluous by But in considering how to deal with Iraq's Kurdish foreign minister, granting full cultural and linguis¬ the PKK, the United States, which badly Hoshyar Zebari, exercised exem¬ tic rights to the Kurds and develop¬ wants to avert a new front in the war in plary restraint when he said Iraq ing the impoverished Kurdish re¬ Iraq, finds itself forced to choose be¬ had expected Turkey to consult gion of southeast Turkey. Turkey's tween two trusted allies: Turkey, a with it before taking such an ac¬ bombing of northern Iraq harms NATO member whose territory is the transit area for most of its air cargo to tion. The fact that Iraqi Kurdish ci¬ its chances of admission to the Iraq, and the Kurds, who are important vilians were killed suggested to European Union. And it makes the U.S. partners in Iraq. Zebari that the strike "was based United States look simultaneously maybe on misinformation." incompetent and hypocritical. Rice's visit to Kirkuk underlined its was a importance as one of the most poten This not only discreet way The Boston Globe

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December 19th 2007 The Economist Turkey and Iraq Raids across the border Was there a deal between Turkey and America? ANKARA the necessary intelligence. ish raids. AS IF Iraq did not have enough prob¬ If this is true, it may be the result of a It may well be that America and Turkey lems of its own. On December 16th delicate balancing act. The Kurdish en¬ have struck a deal. In exchange for Turkish aircraft bombed what they said clave in the north is the most successful American support for the limited Turkish were Kurdish rebel positions deep inside part of post-Saddam Iraq. The Americans raids, and a promise to order the Iraqi northern Iraq. It was one of the biggest do not want it to be destabilised. But they Kurds to take action against the PKK, cross-border air strikes in recent years also want to salvage relations with Tur¬ Turkey's prime minister, Recep Tayyip and was followed by an incursion by key, a vital NATO ally whose people have Erdogan, is thought to have made his about 300 Turkish troops. They were said become strongly anti-American since own promises to George Bush. These to be lightly armed, and advanced only America invaded Iraq in 2003. include recognising the Kurds' regional 3km (1.9 miles) into Iraq. But the two in and a Many Iraqi Kurds do not believe Turkey's government Iraq introducing actions mark a big escalation of the tradi¬ more liberal amnesty for PKK fighters. tional hostilities. claim that it is motivated only by the raids of PKK fighters. They fear that Tur¬ A previous amnesty that pardoned only The Turks' targets were Kurdish fighters key's real aim is to prevent the Kurdish those who ratted on their comrades of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), areas of Iraq from gaining full independ¬ failed. Now the government may pardon who have used bases inside the semi- ence, which would stoke up an appetite all PKK fighters who have not been in¬ autonomous Kurdish enclave in northern for secession among Turkey's own Kurd¬ volved in violence. After more than two Iraq to launch raids into Turkey. Although ish population. The head of Iraq's Kurdish decades of war against the rebels, Turkey Iraq's American occupiers have worked regional government refused to meet the knows that military measures alone can¬ hard in recent months to prevent such a visiting American secretary of state, Con¬ not fix its Kurdish problem. raid, Turkey's most senior general said doleezza Rice, as "a sign of protest" that the Americans had not only agreed against American acceptance of the Turk to the air strikes but had also provided Iraq: Kirkuk Referendum mr RodioFre«Europe f RodioLiborty Delayed By Six Months December 21 .2007

Bv Kathleen Ridolfo \ RADIO FREE EUROPE/ RADIO LIBERTY 1 Iraq's Kurdish officials reluctantly accepted a UN proposal calling for a six-month extension to implement Article 140 of the Iraqi Constitution in mid-December, despite warnings from Kurdish lawmakers that failure to implement the article would be considered a direct violation of their rights under the constitution. Article 140 refers to the normalization of Kirkuk, a highly the extension would not affect the content of Article 140. "Your contested multiethnic governorate with a capital city of the reaction should be dictated by reason and not by passion. If not, same name that contains vast oil reserves. Under the Arabiza- everyone will suffer the consequences of it," de Mistura told tion campaign launched in the 1980s, Saddam Hussein displaced parliamentarians. thousands of Kurds from Kirkuk and relocated Shi'ite Arab fami¬ Kurds Miffed By Delays lies to the area in an effort to change the demographic land¬ scape of the historically Kurdish-majority governorate. Many senior Kurdish officials voiced public support for the exten¬ sion, saying it was not a reason for concern. Regional Prime Since the overthrow of the regime, the Kurdistan regional gov¬ Minister Nechirvan Barzani told reporters in Al-Najaf on Decem¬ ernment has pushed for the return of Kurds to Kirkuk and the ber 17 following a meeting with Shi'ite Grand Ayatollah Ali al- incorporation of the governorate into the Kurdish region. The Sistani that the extension was a "positive step." Barzani's com¬ transitional administrative law, issued by the Coalition Provi¬ ments followed a week-long visit to Baghdad that included meet¬ sional Authority in 2004, which served as the precursor to the ings with senior Iraqi officials including Prime Minister Nuri al- Iraqi constitution, called for a normalization process to be car¬ Maliki and Vice President Tariq al-Hashimi on a host of issues, ried out in Kirkuk, allowing Kurds displaced by Hussein to return including the issue of Kirkuk. to Kirkuk and repatriating Arabs back to their hometowns in the south, with compensation. Kirkuk is also home to a large indige¬ Iraq's two leading Kurdish parties have invested substantial time nous Turkoman population, whose leaders claim has no desire to and money over the past two years to facilitate the demographic join the Kurdish region. correction, building houses and paying Kurds to move to Kirkuk. The six-month delay will only aid that process thereby contribut¬ Under Article 140 of the Iraqi constitution ratified in late 2005, ing to the Kurdish demographic majority, a point not lost on the Iraqi government must complete the normalization process, Kirkuk's ethnic Turkoman and Arab minorities. hold a census to determine the breakdown of the population according to ethnicity, and hold a referendum on the status of But some Kurdish leaders contend that the government seeks to Kirkuk "a date not to exceed the 31st of December 2007." renege on the constitutional provision. Kamal Kirkukly, deputy speaker of the Kurdish regional parliament expressed frustration The new extension allows the Higher Committee for the Imple¬ over the six-month extension telling the Kurdish newspaper mentation of Article 140 and the Iraqi Independent Electoral "Jamawar" that Baghdad obstructed the implementation of Arti¬ Commission much-needed time to prepare for a referendum in cle 140. "My own personal belief is that any delay or extension the governorate of Kirkuk that will determine whether the gov¬ would not aim at finding a right time for its implementation but ernorate will join the Kurdish autonomous region. to find more excuses and obstacles to prevent implementation UN Special Representative to Iraq Steffan de Mistura appealed to forever," Kikukly said in the interview published on December the Iraqi parliament to accept the delay on December 17, saying 17. "An extension by six months, ten months, or 100 months will

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

not change this reality," Kirkukly claimed. which Barzani said led to the death of civilians. Continuing, he argued: "We firmly believe that real obstacles Rice met with local officials during her brief trip to the capital were made to prevent the [Higher Committee for the Implemen¬ city, but did not hold separate meeting with the KRG, leading tation of Article 140] from completing its work. It was possible to some observers to speculate she was sending a message to the hold a Kirkuk referendum on time. From 2003 to 2005, it was Kurds over their designs for Kirkuk. Rice reportedly told local possible to hold two elections and one referendum [on the con¬ leaders in a closed meeting that the United States supports the stitution] in Iraq. Why was it not possible to hold a referendum UN proposal for a six-month extension and called on local [on Kirkuk] from 2003 to 2007, which was limited to only a few leaders to find a political solution to Kirkuk, Governorate Council specific places in Iraq and not the whole of Iraq," he asked. member Ahmad al-Askari told the website PUK media. "It is an important province for the future of Iraq, for a democratic Iraq, Representatives of the sizable Turkoman and Shi'ite Arab popu¬ an Iraq that can be for all people," AP quoted Rice as saying lation in the governorate have said their constituencies have no desire to join the Kurdish region. Many Turkoman and Arabs ahead of the meeting. accused the Kurdish parties of threat and intimidation. The Gov¬ In a press conference alongside de Mistura on December 18, ernorate Council, which ceased to function two years ago, only Rice told reporters that the UN is well-placed "to provide the began to resolve its issues in recent weeks, after the Arab mem¬ kind of technical expertise and technical efforts that are needed bers of the council agreed to end their boycott and return to to help [the people of Kirkuk] move forward." Rice said she was work on December 4. Turkoman representatives are continuing pleased with the UN decision "to help the people [of Kirkuk] to their boycott. resolve some of the differences that they have there, to look at Turkoman politician Hasan Turhan told the Kurdish website the questions of the - a way forward so that all Iraqis in the Kirkuk province can feel that they have a future in the new "Rozhnama" in an interview published December 5 that the Kurdish parties have worked to sideline and alienate Turkomans Iraq." in Kirkuk and other areas of Iraq. Turhan, who is a member of Kurds Need To Assuage Fears the Turkoman Justice Party and the Iraqi Turkoman Front, holds While UN, U.S. and Iraqi leaders have contended the delay in one of the Turkomans boycotted governorate council seats. He implementing Article 140 is solely due to technical reasons, opposes joining the Kurdish autonomous region and says he and there is no question that many fear ethnic tensions in Kirkuk his supporters prefer Kirkuk be turned into an independent re¬ could erupt into extreme violence over implementation of the gion jointly administered by Kurdish and Turkoman leaders. He article. Shi'ite and Sunni Arabs across the country fear the KRG contended that many Kurds in Kirkuk also support the estab¬ could one day seize Kirkuk's vast oil reserves - which under the lishment of an independent region for the governorate. constitution are the property of the central government - and Turkoman Front leader Ahmet Muratly, the front's representative declare independence from the rest of Iraq. Ongoing disputes to Turkey told Anatolia news agency in comments published on between the KRG and Iraqi Oil Minister Husayn al-Shahristani December 19 that the delay will only seek to benefit the Kurds. over Kurdish rights to drill inside the Kurdish region only com¬ "Kurdish groups have driven Kirkuk into a deadlock with the pound that fear. mistakes he said they made," referring to the political tensions Turkey, which supports Kirkuk's ethnic Turkoman population, plaguing the city. Muratly contended that the Kurds altered the also fears Kurds would use Kirkuk's wealth to declare independ¬ demographic landscape by bringing 650,000 Kurds to Kirkuk ence from Iraq. Moreover, Turks fear, the establishment of a from the Kurdish region and from neighboring countries. Kurdish state, would likely trigger political instability in Turkey's Sending A Message To Kurds? Kurdish-populated south, which has long-rallied for autonomy from Ankara. If Kurdish officials felt snubbed by U.S. Secretary of State Con¬ doleezza Rice's visit to Kirkuk this week, the tried not to show it. If the UN is to guide Iraq's contesting parties to a resolution, it Kurdish media outlets ran reports indicating regional president must push for greater dialogue among the parties. But perhaps Mas'ud Barzani refused to meet with Rice because the U.S. had more important, it must seek a resolution to outstanding issues allegedly given Turkey the green light to launch airstrikes on such as the draft oil law, which delineates the rights and obliga¬ Turkish-Kurdish separatists in the mountains of northern Iraq, tions of the parties in the sharing of Iraq's natural resources.

THE DAILY STAR December 22. 2007 A rare event in Kirkuk: ethnic compromise

By David Ignatius Daily Star staff - Lebanon With its volatile mix of sectarian war. for sectarian disaster. Worse, it's the most important UN Kurds, Turkmen and the Turkish raids raised the intervention in Iraq since a Kirkuk was facing a potentially Arabs, Kirkuk is often de¬ threat of a wider regional war. 2003 car bomb destroyed the disastrous December 31 dead¬ scribed as a sectarian time organization's headquarters in line for a referendum on its But the Kirkuk bomb was de¬ Baghdad. bomb. But for now, the bomb political future. The Kurds, who fused, at least temporarily, is ticking a little more slowly claim a majority of the popula¬ thanks to two factors that Iraq US Secretary of State Condo¬ thanks to that rare Iraqi event tion in the province, wanted desperately needs - internal leezza Rice made an unsched¬ - a has compromise. Iraq had the vote, and with it control of compromise among its warring uled stop in Kirkuk on Tuesday too few of these political ac¬ Kirkuk's huge oil reserves. The ethnic forces and international to bless the deal and meet with commodations during its Turkmen and their patrons in support from the United Na¬ the provincial council that downward spiral over most of Ankara threatened a full-scale tions. The compromise plan, includes all of the battling the past four years. But the Turkish Army invasion if the hammered out by US diplo¬ factions. She told them to fight Kirkuk deal announced last Kurds took power - and rattled mats working with the new UN against Iraq's history of ethnic Tuesday illustrates that there sabers this week with air raids representative in Iraq, Staffan differences, and cited her own can be virtuous cycles too, and military attacks across the de Mistura, calls for a six- experience as an African- even in a country as bitterly border against Kurdish rebels. month delay of the referendum American child of slavery. She divided as is Iraq. The success The Arabs, also wary of being while the UN assesses the then flew on to Baghdad to of the US troop surge seems to displaced by Kurds, were boy¬ situation. It's a face-saving convey a similar message be bolstering, ever so slightly, cotting the provincial council. deal that allows everyone to about reconciliation to Iraq's the advocates of conciliation step back from the brink. And battling Sunni, Shiite and and weakening the partisans of It was a classic Iraqi formula

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Kurdish national politicians. Is political reconciliation possi¬ referendum. Major Sean Wil¬ fices are worth something," he Ryan Crocker, the American ble in Iraq on the national son, a spokesman for the joint says. level? The still says ambassador to Iraq, warns answer isn't civilian-military team, it Crocker and other US officials against premature enthusiasm. clear, despite the success of held about 200 meetings with don't talk about reconciliation the surge in reducing the level local tribal leaders and provin¬ With the wary skepticism that as an end state, but as a proc¬ led President George W. Bush of violence. Baghdad, seen cial politicians to broker a deal. ess. As security improves, they from the distant lens of a Black The Arabs, who had been boy¬ to dub him in jest "Mr. Sun¬ say, so do the local economy Hawk helicopter, certainly provincial council, shine" during a recent telecon¬ cotting the and the government's ability to looks calmer today than it did ference, Crocker said in an agreed to come back after one provide services. They hope to interview Tuesday: "We have six months ago: You see a of their group was named see an upward spiral, with some very positive develop¬ tidier, more orderly city, with deputy governor. Bolstering increasing returns to stability in a ments, but it is all fragile and more people their homes the process was tribal group and order. Just as no Iraqi and more traffic on the streets. of 6,500 known as "Concerned could snap back." wanted to be the last to aban¬ Local Citizens," which mirrors The recent progress in Iraq has don what appeared to be a General David Petraeus, the similar efforts in Anbar Prov¬ resulted from bottom-up ef¬ sinking ship, neither will they commander of US forces in ince. neighbor¬ be Iraq, in a separate interview forts to build trust, want to the last to clamber hood by neighborhood. That's Wilson, who is on his third tour back aboard. expressed a similar guarded optimism: "You don't go here true in Kirkuk where a US in Iraq, says these small steps from bad to good. You go from Provincial Reconstruction Team toward reconciliation reassure has been working for months him that the Iraq effort isn't a Syndicate d columnist David bad to less bad. Progress ac¬ Ignatius is published regu¬ cumulates." to prepare the ground for this waste of lives and money. "We week's agreement to delay the want to make sure our sacri larly by THE DAILY STAR.

December 24. 2007 TODAYS ZAMAN Barzani: Attack on Kandil equivalent to attack on Arbil Iraqi Kurdish leader Massoud Barzani a statement on its Web site. It did not slammed Turkey over recent attacks on say which areas were shelled, but secu¬ the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party rity forces in northern Iraq said the (PKK), saying the cross-border offensives bombs fell about 120 kilometers north¬ were targeted at the Kurds in northern west of Dohuk. There were no casualties Iraq as a whole. reported, Yawar said. Aerial strikes on PKK targets in northern Saturday's raid follows air attacks on Iraq, meanwhile, reportedly continued Dec. 16 In the Kandil Mountains near the yesterday. Jabbar Yawar, a spokesman border with Iran, where Ankara says for the Kurdish administration in northern some 3,500 PKK members are holed up, Iraq, told the Anatolia news agency that using the area as a springboard for at¬ there were attacks by Turkish fighter jets tacks on Turkey. Two days later, hun¬ near the Kandil Mountains yesterday dreds of Turkish soldiers crossed the afternoon, although no immediate con¬ border as they spotted a group of terror¬ firmation has come from the Turkish ists trying to infiltrate Turkey. The ad¬ ner. military. ministration in Iraq's north said the sol¬ The United States allowed Turkish fighter 15 Barzani's harsh comments came on Sat¬ diers left Iraq after hours. The General jets to use Iraqi airspace and provided urday, the same day the Turkish military Staff said in a statement that hundreds of intelligence on the PKK for the Dec. 16 terrorists were killed in the Dec. 16 at¬ said that warplanes bombed PKK targets attack, angering Iraqi Kurdish leaders, in northern Iraq in the third confirmed tack, though it was not possible to pro¬ who say the strikes were an assault on cross-border offensive by Turkish forces vide the exact number of PKK casualties Iraqi sovereignty. Ankara has accused in less than a week. Barzani was on a due to difficulties of assessing the group's Iraqi Kurds, who run an autonomous visit to the area, hit by aerial strikes last losses in the mountain caves. administration in the north of the coun¬ weekend and reportedly cut short his visit The statement also vowed to continue try, of tolerating and even supporting the due to the bombardment. "You are not military operations on both sides of the PKK. "The Turkish government committed alone, this is a problem related to the Turkish-Iraqi border "no matter what the a cruel crime against the people of Iraqi Kurdish people," Barzani, the head of the conditions are." Kurdistan when they hit Kurdish villages largely autonomous Kurdish region in on the border. It is a cruel crime against The PKK, listed as a terrorist organization northern Iraq, was quoted by the Peyam- unarmed citizens," Barzani said following by a large majority of the international ner Web site, affiliated with his Kurdistan the Dec. 16 attack. "I want to remind community, uses bases in northern Iraq everybody that the blood of the people of Democratic Party (KDP), as telling resi¬ to launch cross-border strikes. Ankara dents of villages near the Kandil Moun¬ Kurdistan is not cheap." has said it can no longer tolerate the tains. attacks on its troops and, in October, Later in the week, Barzani on Tuesday "These daily strikes are unacceptable. ... Turkey's Parliament authorized the coun¬ refused to meet with visiting US Secre¬ Their goal is not only the PKK but the try's military to strike back at the PKK tary of State Condoleezza Rice because of whole idea of an autonomous Kurdish inside Iraq. Washington's tolerance of Turkish military region," he told a group of families, in attacks. "The United States supervises "Bombardment of villages near the Kandil comments broadcast on his party's Kurd¬ [Iraq's] airspace, so it is not possible that Mountains is no different than bombard¬ a violation of this airspace occurs without istan TV station. The bombing, lasting for ment of Arbil, Sulaimaniya or the entire almost half an hour on Saturday after¬ the knowledge or approval of the Ameri¬ Kurdistan region," Barzani told the resi¬ cans," Nechirvan Barzani, the prime min¬ noon, was followed by shelling from in¬ dents on Saturday, according to Peyam- side Turkish borders, the military said in ister of the regional Kurdish government.

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LE FIGARO La Turquie bombarde 17 décembre 2007 le Kurdistan irakien hors du pays avec détermination », a-t-^il souligné. Le porte-parole du

PROCHE-ORIENT Irak des raids aériens contre les terroriste», assure le communiqué gouvernement, Cemil Ciçek, a lais¬ C'est la première fois rebelles kurdes du PKK (Parti des officiel des forces années. sé entendre que d'autres opéra¬ qu'une incursion turque travailleurs du Kurdistan). Des avi¬ Selon les autorités kurdes tions seraient menées prochaine¬ sur le territoire irakien ons de chasse turcs ont en effet d'Irak, plusieurs villages ont été ment. Le commandement du PKK est menée par l'aviation bombardé les zones frontalières du touchés et une femme a été tuée, ce a longtemps été établi dans les d'Ankara depuis octobre. nord de l'Irak, dans la nuit de qu'a démenti le ministre turc des monts Qandil, forteresse naturelle samedi à dimanche et auraient Affaires étrangères, Ali Babacan, en qui sert de base arrière aux rebelles.

rtaids aériens turcs ! touché plusieurs camps du PKK, route pour Paris. Cinq autres per¬ Mais avec les menaces répétées ' au Kurdistan selon le communiqué de l'état-ma¬ sonnes au moins auraient été bles¬ d'opération transfrontalière depuis 1 irakien le printemps, semblerait que les jor turc. C'est la première fois sées. «Desfamilles ontfia ces villa¬ il TURQUIE s 0 T- cadres de l'organisation se soient qu'une telle incursion est menée ges et se sont réfugiées dans des repliés en Iran. KuMHSTAJf S depuis octobre et le vote par le Par¬ localités voisines », a expliqué Jab¬

IRAN ! Les raids aériens de lement turc d'une motion autori¬ bar Yawa, porte-parole des pech- l'armée MossouP sant les troupes à pénétrer en terri¬ mergas, l'armée du Kurdistan auto¬ turque interviennent une semaine Erbiï Mont irakien faire la chasse après que le premier ministre a SYRIE birtJ toire pour nome. Des ponts reliant les o ' aux « terroristes ». Le 1er décembre, différents villages, des maisons et annoncé qu'une loi d'amnistie 100 km Kirkouk les PKK à IRAK les forces turques avaient déjà même deux écoles auraient égale¬ pour rebelles du était bombardé le sol irakien, mais ment été détruits. Via l'agence pro¬ l'étude, afin de faire redescendre m | Peuplement kurde \ o depuis leur territoire. Cette fois, les combattants des montagnes. entre vingt et cinquante avions, kurde Firat, le PKK a assuré n'avoir Un texte prévoit déjà une dispense Istanbul selon les sources, ont franchi la subi aucune perte. de peine pour les repentis mais, frontière et pilonné des zones Le premierministre turc, Recep très restrictif, il n'a quasiment eu LE CHEF D'ÉTAT-MAJOR de montagneuses et quelques villages Tayyip Erdogan, s'est félicité, aucune portée. Une amnistie totale l'armée turque, Yasar Buyukanit, a du Kurdistan irakien. L'artillerie a dimanche, de cette opération noc¬ fait partie des revendications du affirmé hier avoir reçu l'aval impli¬ ensuite pris le relais. «Les opéra¬ turne «réussie», selon lui. «Cette PKK pour qu'il dépose les armes. cite des États-Unis pour lancer en tions ont uniquement visé le groupe lutte sera poursuivie dans le pays et Laure Marchand

Nouvelle incursion turque en Irak

Après deux mois de pressions 300 membres des commandos chefdu PKK en Irak du nord et En réaction aux infiltrations du et de menaces, l'armée turque turcs ont franchi de quelques partisan de la ligne la plus PKK, Ankara avait massé est finalement passée à l'action kilomètres la frontière pour at¬ intransigeante au sein de l'or¬ 100000 hommes sur la fron¬ en Irak du nord, dans la nuit taquer des bases des rebelles ganisation. Un PKK en crise de¬ tière en octobre, et menaçait de lundi à mardi. Environ kurdes du PKK (Parti des tra¬ puis l'arrestation en 1999 de d'une intervention massive vailleurs du Kurdistan) qui mè¬ son leader charismatique dans la région autonome kurde nent la lutte armée contre An¬ Abdullah Ôcalan, condamné à irakienne, jusque-là épargnée kara depuis 1984. la prison à vie et considéré par le chaos. Deuxjours auparavant, l'avia¬ comme une organisation terro¬ Ce bras de fer avec les autorités tion turque avait déjà effectué riste par les Etats-Unis et kurdes locales et leur protec¬ des frappes sur les montagnes l'Union européenne, teur américain en Irakafinale¬ de Qandil, traditionnelle base «les Etats-Unis ontfourni des ren- ment débouché sur un accord, arrière d'une guérilla qui relançant la (coopé¬ compte quelque 3 500 combat¬ Le chef d'état-major de l'armée ration antiterroriste' iiii<«ii£gQ07' tants. Plus d'une centaine de turque affirme que grâce à avec Washington. tonnes de bombes auraient été la coopération américaine L'incursion d'hier larguées, selondes sources tur¬ «les camps du PKK et leurs s'est déroulée alors ques, et à en croire l'agence actions sont sous surveillance même que la secré¬ pro-kurde Firat, les frappes constante». taire d'Etat améri¬ auraient tué une demi-dou¬ caine Condoleezza zaine de combattants du PKK seignements et Us nous ont ouvert Rice était à Bagdad Elle a souli¬ et blessé des dizaines de civils. l'espace aérien du nord de l'Irak», gné que les Etats-Unis, l'Irak et Selon le quotidien turc Hur- avait déclaré lundi, le général la Turquie ont «un intérêt com-% riyet, l'incursion terrestre des Yasar Buyukanit le chefd'état- mun à stopper les activités du soldats turcs visait à intercep¬ major de l'armée turque. Il af¬ PKK». Mais elle a aussi précisé ter les groupes de rebelles se firme que, désormais, grâce à «.avoir exprimé augouvernement repliant après les raids de la coopération de Washington turc ses inquiétudes quant à des dimanche. et aux satellites américains, «les pertes civiles ou surune déstabili¬ Ceux-ci auraient notamment camps duPKKetleuraction sont sation du nord de l'Irak». visé Murât Karayilan, actuel sous surveillance constante». MARCSEMO

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La Turquie se félicite IdCrovc 19 DECEMBRE 2007

du soutien américain Le chef d'état-major, le général Buyukanit, a quant à lui promis de «faire plier» le PKK. «Que cela soit contre le PKK l'hiver, qu'il neige ou non, qu'ils se cachent dans des grottes, nous les L'aviation turque a profité trouverons et les frapperons», a-t-il de renseignements Dans la nuit de lundi à mardi, martelé. c'est l'armée de terre qui a passé la En passant à l'action en plein hiver, des américains lors frappes frontière, de manière limitée. Selon l'armée turque a sans doute marqué effectuées contre des sites des responsables d'Irak du Nord, 300 un point contre le PKK, habitué aux de la guérilla kurde soldats équipés d'armes légères ont trêves hivernales. Les 24 précédentes incursions en Irak réalisées depuis dans le nord de l'Irak pénétré durant quelques heures de deux à trois kilomètres à l'intérieur les années 1990 avaient toutes été ISTAMBOUL de l'Irak. Selon un militaire turc menées au printemps. C'est un De notre correspondante cité par Reuters, des affrontements «tournant», analyse l'éditorialiste auraient eu lieu avec deux groupes Fikret Bila, dans le quotidien libé¬ L'armée turque est finalement du PKK. ral Milliyet, qui insiste sur l'effet psy¬ passée à l'action. Deux mois Ces deux incursions ont été très chologique obtenu. «Dans l'opinion après avoir reçu l'aval du critiquées par le pouvoir kurde qui publique turque avait été créée une Parlement d'Ankara pour mener gouverne le nord de l'Irak. «La Tur¬ légende des mont Kandil, inattei- des opérations contre la guérilla quie a commis un crime (...) que nous gnables, intouchables, commente- kurde du Parti des travailleurs du n'accepterons pas», a déclaré Mas¬ t-il. Or, lesforces armées turques ont Kurdistan (PKK), les forces armées soud Barzani, président de la région. frappé ces monts Kandil. Le message ont franchi la frontière irakienne à Quant au PKK, il s'en est pris à la Tur¬ adressé au PKKest qu'il n'est plus en

deux reprises. quie mais aussi à l'Iran, qui a pilonné sécurité, quels que soient le lieu et les . Dans la nuit de samedi à dimanche, également lundi des régions fronta¬ saisons.» l'aviation a visé ce qu'elle désigne lières, au gouvernement de Bagdad L'autre sujet de satisfaction pour comme «le quartier général» du et à l'administration américaine, les Turcs est la collaboration, PKK, dans les monts Kandil, à une accusée d'avoir soutenu Ankara. «enfin» effective, des forces amé¬ centaine de kilomètres en territoire L'organisation, classée terroriste ricaines. En novembre, le président irakien. Durant quatre heures, plu¬ par les États-Unis et l'Union euro¬ George W. Bush avait promis à Re¬ sieurs dizaines d'avions de chasse péenne, a appelé «le peuple kurde cep Tayyip Erdogan de partager des ont pilonné cette zone très escarpée, à user de son droit de représailles». renseignements, y compris en temps située à plus de 3000 mètres d'alti¬ «Loin de nous soumettre, nous ré¬ réel. L'opération de dimanche en est tude. Selon l'agence Firat, proche du pondrons par une résistance encore la première concrétisation. PKK, une femme et cinq membres «Oui, lesAméricains nous ontfourni plus forte», ajoute le communiqué. du parti kurde seraient morts dans des renseignements, a confirmé le en ces pilonnages et deux autres civils À Ankara, revanche, l'humeur général Buyukanit. Mais le plus im¬ à la satisfaction. Le pré¬ auraient été blessés. L'armée turque était hier portant, c'est qu'ils nous ont ouvert sident de la République Abdullah démentait lundi ces pertes civiles, l'espace aérien irakien. » Information Gul a ces opérations de assurant ne pas avoir visé de zones qualifié confirmée du bout des lèvres lundi «réussite» et d'habitation. rappelé qu'elles ne par Washington. «Il est impossible de le ira¬ visaient aucunement peuple penser quecette opération n'a pas eu kien mais le PKK. «La communauté l'aval des États-Unis, constate Mu- « Ce qui s'est passé internationale nous soutient et trouve rat Yetkin, du journal Radikal. Ce notre action justifiée», a de son côté est comparable qui s'est passé est comparable à une estimé le premier ministre Recep incursion de l'aviation mexicaine à une incursion Tayyip Erdogan, faisant allusion à dans l'État du Colorado. » l'absence de condamnations fortes Soucieuse de garder le soutien de de l'aviation mexicaine sur ce dossier - l'Union européenne ses alliés kurdes d'Irak, la secrétaire s'est, de dans l'État du Colorado. » fait, contentée d'appeler la d'État américaine Condoleezza Rice Turquie à la «retenue». a effectué une visite surprise hier dans la ville pétrolière de Kirkouk. Elle a rappelé que les États-Unis étaient un «bon partenaire» pour Condoleezza Rice soutient Kirkouk et le nord de l'Irak. Massoud les efforts de l'ONU à Kirkouk Barzani ne semble pas du même avis. En signe de protestation, il a refusé ^ La secrétaire d'État américaine Condoleezza Rice a plaidé hier en faveur de la rencontrer. "des efforts de réconciliation dans la région pétrolière disputée de Kirkouk DELPHINE NERBOIXIER lors d'une visite surprise en Irak. Elle a notamment rencontré les membres du conseil provincial de la ville, située à 250 km au nord de Bagdad, où siè¬ gent des représentants des communautés de la région, Kurdes, Arabes, Turcomans, et chrétiens. Sa brève visite est apparue comme un soutien au nouvel émissaire de l'ONU en Irak, Staffan de Mistura, qui a obtenu un report de six mois d'un référendum prévu avant la fin de l'année pour décider d'un éventuel rattachement de la ville à la province du Kurdistan irakien.

59 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Ôzeti JACQUES HUBERT-ROPIER Quatre-vingt-cinq ans tion terroriste. On avait très après la fin de l'Em¬ largement donné cette orga¬ pire ottoman, la « question Le nisation comme moribonde » boomerang kurde ressurgit au centre après l'arrestation de son lea¬ des préoccupations du derAbdullahÔcalanen 1999. Moyen-Orient, créant des Aux yeux des Kurdes ira¬ tensions entre les Etats- kiens, une communauté dont Unis et leur allié turc, et kurde est issu l'actuel président de menaçant d'ouvrir un nou¬ l'Irak, Jalal Talabani, les veau front au nord de l'Irak. Kurdes turcs sont des Après avoir mené pen¬ « frères » et Bagdad refuse de dant plusieurs semaines des démanteler leurs bases en incursions en territoire ira¬ Irak. L'Amérique est restée kien et déployé quelque sourde aux demandes de la 100.000 soldats le long de la Turquie de frapper ces bases frontière, l'armée turque a et n'a donné que tacitement lancé dimanche une specta¬ un feu vert à son allié pour culaire offensive aérienne lancerson offensive aérienne. jusqu'à 90 kilomètres à l'in¬ Pour Ankara, cette renais¬ térieur de l'Irak contre des sance intervient, comme le bases de rebelles qui se ser¬ soulignait récemment Doro¬ vent du nord de l'Irak pour thée Schmid, chercheuse à lancer des opérations meur¬ l'Institut français des relations trières de guérilla contre la Turquie. Mardi, mondiale, les Kurdes se considèrent tou¬ internationales (Ifri) (3), à un mauvais mo¬ quelque 300 soldats turcs ont pénétré à jours comme « une nation sans Etat ». Une ment. Celui où la Turquie entame avec l'intérieur de l'Irak. Ces raids, qui ont reçu nation forte de 30 à 35 millions de per¬ Bruxelles des négociations sur de « nou¬ un feu vert tacite des Etats-Unis, intervien¬ sonnes, selon des estimations très variables, veaux chapitres » d'adhésion à l'Union eu¬ nent à un moment crucial : grâce notam¬ réparties surquatrepays : en Turquie (de 15 ropéenne. Cette crise avec l'Irak, souligne- ment à l'arrivée de renforts militaires amé¬ à 20 millions environ), en Iran (8 millions), t-elle,nepeutque renforcerlecamp de ceux ricains, la situation en Irak s'est stabilisée en Irak (5,5 millions), en Syrie (1,5 million). qui s'opposent à une entrée de la Turquie dans les autres régions, au centre et au sud. Le «peuple kurde, estime ainsi Kendal dans l'Union. « Regardez ce quisepasse aux Une stabilisation qui demeure encore très Nezan, président de l'Institut kurde de frontières de la Turquie, pourront-ils faire fragile. Paris, dans un article (1) pour son organisa¬ valoir », ajoute-t-elle. Paradoxalement, pourtant, le retour de tion, est victime de sa géographie, de l'His¬ Mais il y a d'autres conséquences in¬ la « question kurde » est l'un toire et aussi sans doute du ternes à la Turquie. Pour l'armée turque, en des effets « collatéraux » de manque de clairvoyance de perte de vitesse face au pouvoir civil et qui l'invasion américaine de Autre paradoxe ses propres dirigeants ». Pour redoute d'être diluée dans la société, selon l'Irak en 2003 qui a ravivé les de l'expédition lui, c'est « sans doute lapopu¬ la chercheuse, c'est un moyen d'agiter à tensions communautaires et antiterroriste lation qui a payé le plus lourd nouveau la menace selon laquelle « le dé¬ ethniques dans toute la ré¬ américaine tribut, qui a souffert leplus du membrement de la Turquie est toujours à gion. remodelage de la carte du l'ordre du jour ». L'un des risquesserait une en Irak : avoir Proche-Orient ». Les zones montagneuses à la frontière de proclamation d'un Etat fait renaître Plus de quatre ans après la l'Irakne sont enoutrepas les seules àrisque . kurde indépendant dans le le Parti chute de Saddam Hussein, ce Une très forte communauté kurde vit nord de l'Irak qui pourrait des travailleurs remodelage fait toujours res¬ aujourd'hui à Istanbul et dans sa région. avoir un effet en chaîne en kurdes, sentir ses effets. Les Améri¬ Une petite partie de cette communauté ne encourageant des revendi¬ cains ontcru qu'ils pourraient sera-t-elle pas sensible à l'appel du PKK ? cations similaires dans les considéré comme reconstruire l'Irak en s'ap- Evidemment la « question kurde » ne se autres pays où sont installés . une organisation puyant sur les victimes de résume pas au PKK. Mais, notait Dorothée des Kurdes. Ce qui serait, terroriste. l'ancienne dictature, chiiteset Schmid, la vingtaine de députés kurdesélus dans les conditions actuelles, kurdes, « sans voir que ce type commeindépendantsauParlementturcn'a « suicidaire », selon nombre de reconstruction à la liba¬ pas souhaité se désolidariser du PKK et n'a de spécialistes. Car cette perspective est naise génère des exclus », en l'occurrence la pas condamné leurs dernières actions. intolérable aussi bien pour la Turquie que minorité arabesunnite, affirme ainsiPierre- Certes, comme veut le croire la majorité pour l'Iran et présente une menace pour Jean Luizard, du CNRS et spécialiste de des spécialistes de la région, la Turquie l'intégrité de l'Irak. l'Islam et de l'Irak dans la revue « Pour n'envahira vraisemblablement pas le nord La situation demeure explosive à Kir¬ l'intelligence du monde » (2). de l'Irak, mais elle devrait poursuivre ses kouk où les violences ethniques essentielle¬ Or ce risque d'« implosion » d'un pays incursions. Certes, encore, l'Amérique fera ment entre Kurdes et Arabes sunnites se dont l'unité avait été maintenue jusqu'en tous ses efforts pour ne pas envenimer la poursuivent en cette fin d'année. Les 2003 par « l'institutionnalisation de la domi¬ situation avec son allié turc. Mais ils sont Kurdes irakiens revendiquent comme par¬ nation des sunnites» sur le reste de la tous deux sur la corde raide. La résurgence tie intégrante de leur région la riche ville population, selon les mots du chercheur, a du PKK est aussi une occasion pour l'Iran pétrolièredunord de l'Irakoùexistentaussi fait renaître la tentation d'indépendance de tenter de faire un front commun antiter¬ une communauté turkmène qu'Ankara dans le Kurdistan irakien, déjà protégé par roriste avec la Turquie et sortir un peu de veut protéger et une communauté arabe, l'Amérique après la première guerre du son isolement international Le Moyen- installée par Saddam Hussein. Dans une Golfe de 1991. Orient est bien toujours ungrandpuzzle. Et course contre lamontre, l'ONU se livre à de Cette renaissance d'un sentiment natio¬ la question kurde un véritable boomerang complexespressions pourtenter de repous¬ nal dans le Kurdistan irakien s'est répandue de l'Histoire. ser un référendum, prévu par la nouvelle au-delà de la frontière en Turquie. JACQUES HUBERT-RODIER est éditorialiste Constitution, surle statutdeKirkouk. Cette C'est un autre paradoxe de l'expédition de politique internationale aux « Echos ». situation pourrait être un résumé de ce que américaine en Irak, vendue par le président [email protected]

, la région connaîtrait si les passions an¬ George W. Bush comme la poursuite de la ciennes se réveillaient. Car la chute des « guerre contre le terrorisme », d'avoir fait (1) wwwmstitutkurde.org grands empires a laissé des blessures. renaître le PKK, le Parti des travailleurs (2) La revue pour l'intelligence Aujourd'hui, contrairement aux pro¬ kurdes, considéré par l'Amérique et du monde, bimestriel n°9 -juillet-août 2007. messes faites après la Première Guerre l'Union européenne comme une organisa (3) wwwifri.org

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

7EH17 19 décembre 2007 Rice plaide pour la réconciliation à Kirkouk La secrétaire d'Etat américaine Condo¬ Mme Rice souhaitait égale¬ leezza Rice a plaidé mardi en faveur ment apporter son soutien aux des efforts de réconciliation dans la ré¬ initiatives du nouvel émissaire gion pétrolière disputée de Kirkouk lors de l'ONU en Irak, Staffan de d'une visite surprise en Irak. Mistura, qui a obtenu un re¬ port de six mois d'un referen¬ Son séjour est intervenu alors que l'ar¬ dum prévu avant la fin de mée turque a lancé une opération terres¬ l'année pour décider d'un tre contre des rebelles du Parti des Tra¬ vailleurs du Kurdistan (PKK), dans l'ex¬ éventuel rattachement de la ville à la province du Kurdistan trême nord de l'Irak. Mme Rice est arri¬ irakien. M. de Mistura, arrivé vée à la mi-journée à Bagdad après une récemment en Irak, "a conclu courte visite à Kirkouk, métropole du nord du pays revendiquée par les Kurdes il y a quelques jours un accord mais dont l'avenir doit être décidé par entre la mission de l'ONU en référendum. Irak et toutes les parties pour progresser vers l'application Mme Rice a rencontré les membres du de l'article 140" de la Consti¬ Conseil provincial de la ville située à 250 tution irakienne, a souligné M. km au nord de Bagdad, où siègent des Satterfield. révision des frontières régionales, dessi¬ représentants des diverses communautés nées par l'ancien régime au détriment de la région, des Kurdes, des Arabes, des Les Etats-Unis réjouis des minorités ethniques. Kirkouk et sa Turcomans, et des chrétiens. Elle a souli¬ L'article stipule qu'un referendum devait province sont habitées par des Kurdes, gné "l'importance des conseils provin¬ avoir lieu avant le 31 décembre 2007 des Arabes et de Turcomans, dans des ciaux pour l'avenir de l'Irak, un Irak dé¬ pour décider si cette région riche en pé¬ proportions mal connues. Une politique mocratique, un Irak pour tous les Ira¬ trole devait passer sous l'autorité du d'arabisation de Saddam Hussein a forcé kiens". gouvernement du Kurdistan irakien auto¬ à l'exil des dizaines de milliers de Kurdes "Un progrès considérable" nome. Les Etats-Unis "se réjouissent" de et a installé à leur place des populations cette nouvelle implication de l'ONU en venues d'autres régions de l'Irak. "Vous avez un bon partenaire dans les Irak qui était restée très limitée depuis Aujourd'hui, le retour des communautés Etats-Unis et nous pensons rester parte¬ l'attentat d'août 2003 où était mort son naire sur une longue durée", a-t-elle chassées et le départ des familles qui ont représentant, Sergio Vieira de Mello, a pris leur place créent une situation dan¬ ajouté. Selon son conseiller pour l'Irak, noté M. Le Premier Satterfield. ministre gereusement volatile. Les Kurdes no¬ David Satterfield, elle a souhaité par de la région autonome du Kurdistan, de la cette visite saluer le ralliement des élus tamment ont fait tenue d'une Nechirvan Barzani, a annoncé lundi que consultation une condition claire de leur sunnites qui ont mis fin récemment à un son gouvernement avait accepté un re¬ au de Bagdad long boycottage des travaux de cette soutien gouvernement port de six mois proposé par la mission dominé par les chiites. Après sa courte instance. Bien que les élus turcomans de l'ONU en la Irak (UNAMI) pour tenue visite à Kirkouk, Mme Rice est arrivée à continuent de boycotter ce Conseil, l'ad¬ de ce referendum. Bagdad où elle a aussitôt quitté la "zone ministration américaine voit dans le ral¬ liement des sunnites un "progrès considé¬ "Entamer la révision des frontières" verte" ultra-protégée où se trouve l'am¬ bassade américaine, pour rencontrer le rable", a commenté M. Satterfield. L'ONU souhaite mettre ce délai à profit président irakien Jalal Talabani, à sa pour entamer le processus délicat de Report du référendum résidence.

19 décembre 2007 TMM Le président kurde refuse de voir Rice Le président du Kurdistan irakien, Mas¬ Il était impossible dans l'immédiat d'in¬ du gouvernement autonome kurde. Il soud Barzani, a refusé mardi de se terroger des responsables américains à rendre à Bagdad pour rencontrer la se¬ ce sujet. Le chef d'état-major turc, Yasar crétaire d'Etat américain Condoleezza Buyukanit, a affirmé que les bombarde¬ Rice en raison de la "position américaine" ments aériens turcs de dimanche contre sur les opérations turques en Irak, a des positions rebelles kurdes dans le nord affirmé le Premier ministre de la région de l'Irak avaient reçu l'accord tacite des kurde. Américains qui, selon lui, ont "ouvert "Il avait été décidé que Massoud Barzani l'espace aérien" et "fourni des rensei¬ Le a se rende à Bagdad pour participer à une gnements". département d'Etat réunion avec Condoleezza Rice et des refusé de commenter cette information. responsables irakiens, mais il n'ira pas en Ces bombardements ont été suivis mardi, signe de protestation contre la position selon les autorités kurdes, par une incur¬ américaine sur les récents bombarde¬ sion de quelque 300 soldats turcs jusqu'à s'agit de la première incursion terrestre ments" turcs, a déclaré le Premier minis¬ trois kilomètres à l'intérieur du territoire de l'armée turque, depuis le début de la tre de la région autonome du Kurdistan irakien. Ankara n'a pas démenti cette crise en octobre, dans le Kurdistan irakien irakien, Nechirvan Barzani, lors d'une information qui n'avait été commentée (nord), d'où opèrent des combattants conférence de presse. "Il est inadmissible jusqu'à maintenant par Mme Rice. rebelles du Parti des travailleurs du Kur¬ que les Etats-Unis, chargés de la surveil¬ "Nous espérons qu'un terme sera mis à distan (PKK). lance de notre espace aérien, autorisent cette incursion qui est une violation de la la Turquie à bombarder nos villages", a-t- souveraineté de l'Irak", a déclaré le chef il poursuivi.

61 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Ôzeti Le Pentagone a été informé à l'avance du raid aérien turc en Irak

WASHINGTON, 19 déc 2007 (AFP) - - La Turquie a prévenu les "Cette coordination était adéquate, nous ne nous plaignons pas", a-t-il conclu. Etats-Unis qu'elle allait lancer un raid aérien dimanche dans le nord de l'Irak Le chef d'état-major turc Yasar Buyukanit avait indiqué plus tôt cette semaine contre des positions de rebelles séparatistes kurdes, a indiqué mercredi le que Washington avait donné son accord tacite aux bombardements aériens et porte-parole du Pentagone, Geoff Morrell, en qualifiant cette "coordination" d'artillerie turcs dimanche contre des villages irakiens frontaliers. Une cen¬ d'"adéquate". taine de tonnes de bombes ont été larguées sur les positions du PKK, selon "Nous avons reçu une notification avant les bombardements", a-t-il déclaré une source militaire turque. lors d'une conférence de presse, confirmant pour la première fois que le Un bilan invérifiable de l'agence pro-PKK Firat a fait état de cinq combattants Pentagone était informé des plans turcs. et deux civils tués dans ces bombardements. "Cela nous a été communiqué via le centre de coordination d'Ankara, qui a été "Nous continuons naturellement à nous préoccuper de la perte potentielle de ouvert il y a quelques mois, et au sein duquel du personnel turc et du personnel vies innocentes pendant ces opérations militaires, et de l'influence déstabilisa¬ travaillent ensemble pour partager du renseignement", a-t- militaire américain trice qu'elles pourraient potentiellement avoir sur l'Irak", a souligné M. Mor¬ il détaillé, tout en refusant de dire si les Etats-Unis avaient fourni des informa¬ rell, mais d'un autre côté "les Turcs, au vu de la menace terroriste du PKK, ont tions sur les cibles visées par Ankara dimanche. certains droits en matière d'auto-défense", a-t-il estimé.

La Turquie frappe de nouveau le PKK dans le nord de l'Irak

ANKARA. 22 déc 2007 (AFP) - - La Turquie a mené une nouvelle sation terroriste sont efficaces", affirme l'armée, ajoutant que le PKK "n'a plus offensive aérienne samedi contre les positions du Parti des travailleurs du aucune chance de réussite" contre la Turquie. Kurdistan en Irak, affirmant avoir infligé de lourdes pertes aux rebelles sépara¬ L'aviation turque a bombardé le 16 décembre le massif de Qandil, une région tistes retranchés dans le nord de ce pays. boisée et très escarpée du Kurdistan irakien située à la limite de la Turquie et "Des appareils de l'aviation turque ont frappé entre 13H25 (11H25 GMT) et de l'Iran. 14H00 (12H0O GMT) des positions de l'organisation terroriste" PKK, souligne Cette région abrite le quartier général des quelque 3.500 rebelles du PKK qui un communiqué de l'état-major publié sur le site internet de l'armée. utilisent la région autonome du Kurdistan irakien comme base arrière pour Les chasseurs turcs sont rentrés sains et saufs à leurs bases, selon l'armée leurs actions en Turquie. qui ne précise pas la position géographique des cibles attaquées. Une incursion terrestre turque limitée a été menée le lendemain contre les L'artillerie turque a ensuite pilonné entre 16H55 (14H55 GMT) et 17H10 rebelles dans le nord de l'Irak. (15H10GMT) des positions du PKK dans le nord de l'Irak, précise l'armée qui Le PKK est considéré comme un groupe terroriste par la Turquie, les Etats- fait état "de centaines de terroristes" tués au cours des frappes de ces derniè¬ Unis et l'Union européenne. res semaines. Washington a fourni des renseignements à Ankara sur le PKK dans la monta¬ Un porte-parole des forces de sécurité du Kurdistan irakien (peshmergas), gne irakienne, avait indiqué après la première offensive aérienne le chef de Jabbar Yawar, a confirmé ces frappes, menées après une incursion des l'armée turque, le général Yasar Buyukanit. chasseurs turcs dans la région montagneuse d'Amadiyah, proche de la fron¬ tière turque. Accusant les Kurdes d'Irak, alliés des Américains, de soutenir le PKK, la Turquie a menacé depuis le début de cette année de lancer une opération "Dans l'après-midi, des avions de combat turcs ont pénétré dans l'espace militaire dans le nord de l'Irak pour en déloger les rebelles qui se servent de aérien du nord de l'Irak dans la région d'Amadiyah. Vers 16H00, ils ont bom¬ cette région comme d'une base arrière pour leurs actions dans le sud-est de la bardé des villages kurdes d'Irak", a déclaré le porte-parole à l'AFP. Turquie, une région peuplée majoritairement de Kurdes. Il a ajouté que l'ampleur des dégâts n'était pas connue, précisant que ces La Turquie, qui dispose de la deuxième armée de l'Otan en effectifs (515.000 régions "largement désertes et situées le long de la frontière avec la Turquie". hommes), après les Etats-Unis, a massé 100.000 hommes à la frontière Le communiqué de l'armée turque souligne que le bilan des attaques turques irakienne, longue de 380 kilomètres. sera annoncé dans le courant de la semaine prochaine, ajoutant que les opéra¬ Le 21 octobre, quelques jours après le feu vert du Parlement turc pour une tions contre les rebelles kurdes se poursuivront malgré les conditions hiverna¬ opération transfrontalière en Irak, des rebelles venant du Kurdistan irakien les régnant dans cette région montagneuse. avaient tué 12 soldats lors d'une attaque près de la frontière irakienne. "Nous ferons comprendre combien les opérations (militaires) visant l'organi

Raids contre le PKK en Irak: Bush assure Ankara de son soutien ANKARA. 24 déc 2007 (AFP) - Le président américain George W. dernier a souligné que les opérations turques visaient uniquement les rebelles. Bush a assuré lundi la Turquie de la poursuite de la coopération des Etats- L'aviation turque a pilonné dimanche des positions des rebelles dans l'extrême Unis pour la lutte contre les séparatistes du Parti des travailleurs du Kurdistan nord-est de l'Irak, mais sans faire de morts ni de dégâts, a affirmé Jabbar (PKK) réfugiés dans le nord de l'Irak, a rapporté l'agence de presse Anatolie. Yawar, le porte-parole des forces de sécurité kurdes (peshmergas) d'Irak. Le président américain a exprimé ce soutien lors d'un entretien téléphonique L'armée turque n'a pas confirmé cette dernière opération. avec le Premier ministre Recep Tayyip Erdogan au lendemain d'une nouvelle opération de l'armée turque contre les rebelles kurdes retranchés dans le nord L'aviation turque a en revanche bombardé le 16 décembre Qandil, une région de l'Irak, a précisé l'agence. très escarpée du Kurdistan irakien qui abrite le quartier général des quelque 3.500 rebelles qui utilisent la région comme base arrière pour leurs actions en Les deux pays ont décidé de poursuivre le partage de renseignements sur les Turquie. rebelles suivant un mécanisme mis en place après une rencontre Bush- Erdogan à la Maison Blanche le 5 novembre et qui a permis à l'armée turque Une incursion terrestre limitée a été menée le lendemain contre les rebelles de mener plusieurs opérations transfrontalières en Irak ces dernières semai¬ dans le nord de l'Irak et le 22 décembre un nouveau raid aérien a visé le PKK nes, selon l'agence. dans cette région. MM. Bush et Erdogan ont de nouveau qualifié le PKKd"'ennemi commun" lors Le PKK, qui a engagé en 1984 une rébellion armée contre le pouvoir central de leur conversation, réalisée à l'initiative du chef du gouvernement turc. Ce turc, est considéré comme un groupe terroriste par la Turquie, les Etats-Unis et l'Union européenne.

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Mcralo^^fe Sribunc December 24-25, 2007 THE WORIP'S DAILY NEWSPAPER Iraq force builds calm and worry U.S.-paid Sunni 'Awakening' holds seeds of possible conflict By Alissa J. Rubin and Damien Cave U.S. plans. And in particular, the The movement in Iraq began in the Awakening's rapid expansion the summer of2005, when the Abu Mahals, a BAGHDAD: The thin teenage boy Americans say the force could reach tribe of smugglers by the Syrian border, rushed up to the patrol of U.S. soldiers 100,000 is creating new concerns. were being pushed out oftheir area by a walking through Dora, a shrapnel- How, when thousands are joining competing tribe that had struck a deal scarred neighborhood ofthe Iraqi capit¬ each month, can spies and extremists with Al Qaeda in Mesopotamia. Some of al, and lifted his shirt to show them a be reliably weeded out? How can the the tribe's men had been insurgents, mass of red welts across his back. members' loyalty be maintained, given killers of U.S. marines, but the border He said he was a member of a local their tribal and sectarian ties, and in was an out-of-control no man's land. Sunni "Awakening" group, paid by the many cases their insurgent pasts? And So when the tribe proposed an alli¬ U.S. military to patrol the district, but he crucially, how can the movement be ance, the Americans decided to give it a said it was another Awakening group sustained once the United States turns try. Arms and training flowed to the that had beaten him. "They took me over control to a Shiite-dominated gov¬ tribe, the extremists were pushed back, while I was working," he said, "and ernment that has been wary of and and the Awakening was born. Nearly two broke my badge and said, *You are from sometimes hostile toward the groups? years later, after several important bribes Al Qaeda.'" Despite the successes of the move¬ around Ramadi joined, the movement in The soldiers were unsure what to do. ment, it is an experiment in counter- Anbar has grown to adolescence, acting The Awakening groups in their area of insurgency warfare that could contain at once capable and delinquent New of¬ southern Baghdad could not seem to get the seeds of a civil war in which, if the fices are opening all over the province, along: They fought over turf and, it worst fears come true, the United States marking their presence with yellow satin turned out in this case, one group had would have helped organize some of the flags, armed guards and sheiks aiming warned the other that its members Sunni forces arrayed against the central to start a national political party. should not pay rent to Shiite "dogs." government on which so many Ameri¬ Attacks in Anbar are at roughly a The Awakening movement, a pre¬ can lives and dollars have been spent. tenth of what they were last year, ac¬ dominantly Sunni Arab force recruited In interviews with Awakening groups cording to military figures. And in cit¬ to fight Sunni Islamic extremist groups in 10 locations four interviewed dur¬ ies like Ramadi that were once largely like Al Qaeda in Mesopotamia, has be¬ ing a week in Anbar, and six in and beyond U.S. control, construction clat¬ come a great success story after its around Baghdad interviewed over sever¬ ter and the slosh of wet concrete has re¬ spread from Sunni tribes in Anbar al days it was evident that they were placed the snap ofgunfire. Province to become an ad hoc armed improving security in their areas. But it As the movement has spread eastward force of 65,000 to 80,000 across the was also clear that there was little loy¬ through the province* two responses country in less than a year. alty, in either direction, between Sunni have emerged: pride in the hard-fought A linchpin of the U.S. strategy for pa¬ groups and governing Shiites. peace and a sometimes violent scramble cifying Iraq, the movement has been The United States is haunted by the for rewards, credit and power. widely credited with turning around possibility that Iraq could go the way of The Americans, meanwhile, are hand¬ the areas where the Sunni insurgency Afghanistan, where Americans bought ing out hundreds ofmillion of dollars in has been based. But the beating that day the loyalty oftribal leaders only to have aid and reconstruction funds $223 was a stark example of how rivalries some of them gravitate back to the million to Ramadi and its surrounding and sectarianism are still undermining Taliban when the money stopped. areas alone since February. As a result, a dizzying number of sheiks have stepped forward in recent months claiming to be important leaders who fought Al Qaeda in Mesopotamia and to deserve money, water plants, new schools and hundreds of jobs for their relatives. Just to keep track, many U.S. com¬ pany commanders now travel with thick packets of pictures identifying what one American marine described as Anbar"s competing teams: "fake sheiks, little sheiks and big sheiks."

Stephen Farrell contributed reporting from Baghdad, Saab al-Bor and Iskandariya.

Joao Silva for The New York Times Members of a Sunni Awakening group guarding anelectrical substation in Baghdad.

63 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Ôzeti No casualties in Turkish attacks, REUTERS f Kurdish PKK says ARBIL. Iraq, December 24 . 2007 (Reuters) ond straight day and the third time in December. Turkish troops have also conducted at least two small-scale cross-border raids so far this month. Kurdish separatist guerrillas in northern Iraq said on Monday they had suffered no casualties from Turkish airstrikes and cross-border Chaderchi said the PJAK fighters were killed on Dec. 16, but gave no incursions in December. details. The Turkish military said earlier this month its attacks had inflicted heavy Ankara says it has the right to use force to combat the PKK, which has casualties on the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), which uses Iraq's been pressing its campaign since 1984. Over 30,000 people have been remote, mountainous north as a base for attacks in Turkey where it seeks killed in fighting. an independent homeland. The United States, which lists the PKK as a terrorist group, says it shares Senior PKK official Abdul Rahman Chaderchi told Reuters the Turkish common interests with Turkey in stopping PKK activities in Iraq but fears attacks had, however, killed five fighters of the anti-Iranian Party of Free a further escalation in tension could destabilise Iraq's more stable north. Life of Kurdistan (PJAK), an offshoot of the PKK. (Reporting by Shamal Aqrawi, writing by Alaa Shahine; editing by Ralph Boulton An Iraqi Kurdish official said Turkish warplanes had bombed areas in the semi-autonomous Kurdish region of northern Iraq on Sunday for the sec-

OliaHNEWS 25 December 2007 Iraq Kurds warn Turkey over raids The president of the Kurdish region in northern Iraq has warned Turkey to halt its strikes against rebel Kurdish positions in the border area. Massoud Barzani said he "vehemently Turkey - but that he did not condemned" the bombardments, want to worsen tensions over which he said had killed innocent people. the issue. His remarks came as US President Turkey's ambassador to Iraq has George W Bush and Turkey's PM Recep been summoned to the foreign Tayyip Erdogan discussed the unrest by ministry to hear a formal com¬ phone. plaint, reports the BBC's Hum¬ Turkish jets have carried out three strikes phrey Hawkesley in Baghdad. on Kurdish targets and one ground foray Up to 10 people are reported to over the past eight days. have been killed in the strikes - Turkey blames rebels from the Kurdistan it is not known whether they are Workers' Party (PKK) for launching at¬ rebels or civilians. tacks on Turkey from bases in Iraq. As many as 2,000 people have Ankara approved cross-border raids on fled the areas under attack. PKK bases in October, saying the Iraqi US support government and its US backers were not In a telephone conversation with Turkish United States, Turkey and Iraq working doing enough to halt attacks. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on together to confront the PKK", said na¬ Formal complaint Monday, US President George W Bush tional security spokesman Gordon Johndroe. "The bombing targeted safe and secure reiterated his backing for Turkey's opera¬ tions against PKK rebels, said a White areas and innocent people," Mr Barzani Last month at a meeting in the White House spokesman. told a news conference in the northern House, Mr Bush told Mr Erdogan the US city of Suleimaniya. They discussed "the importance of the would share its intelligence to help Tur¬ key fight the rebels based in northern "Several people were either Iraq. killed or wounded. We held con¬ sultations with [Iraqi] President ''^*$ÏK-S': A co-ordination centre has now been set Jalal Talabani and we will con¬ up in the Turkish capital, Ankara. tinue our consultations with Washington has previously urged the other concerned parties to put an Turks to show restraint in their policies, end to these aggressions and put ims^ fearing large-scale incursions across the an end to the shelling of vil¬ border could destabilise the entire region. lages." The PKK - which is designated a terrorist Mr - a - Talabani also Kurd was organisation by Turkey, the US, and the standing beside Mr Barzani as he EU - is thought to have about 3,000 re¬ delivered the condemnation. ~25-t''1* *!» " *jw1 bels based in Iraq. He said his government had For decades, it has been fighting for a lodged a formal complaint with Kurdish homeland separate from Turkey.

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26 December 2007 M. Alihan Hasanoglu Selahaddin TODAYS ZAMAN Iraqi Kurds complain to the United States over Turkish attacks in N. Iraq Iraqi Kurds have complained about Turkish military operations in northern Iraq against the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), urging the US to put a stop to the operations. Since Dec. 16 the Turkish military has have caused civilian casualties, a carried out three aerial strikes and one charge Turkey categorically denies. ground incursion, involving hundreds of In a speech on Tuesday, Prime Min¬ troops, against PKK targets in northern ister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Iraq. The operations took place with US those who claim that civilians are airspace clearance and US-provided intel¬ being killed in the cross-border op¬ ligence. But the US support for the Turkish erations are "lying." operations in northern Iraq have strained "Turkish warplanes are dropping the Iraqi Kurds' relations with Washington. bombs on our region. We don't ac¬ Iraqi Kurdish leaders Jalal Talabani, who is cept the operations taking place in also currently the president of Iraq, and civilian areas," Bahdiyar said, calling Massoud Barzani met yesterday with US for a political solution to the crisis. Ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker in the Talabani and Barzani also discussed northern Iraqi city of Selahaddin, convey¬ the status of the oil-rich city of ing their uneasiness about the ongoing Kirkuk with the US ambassador. A Turkish military operations to the top US referendum on the fate of the dis¬ diplomat in Iraq. "The United States is puted city, originally slated for the aware of the operations. We are saying end of this year, had to be post¬ that these operations are unacceptable," meeting with Crocker that the Iraqi Kurd¬ poned after Iraqi authorities failed to meet Molla Bahdiyar, a spokesman for Tala- ish administration would agree to the six- a series of pre-referendum conditions, bani's Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), month delay provided that clear guaran¬ including a mandatory population census. said after the meeting. "We want the tees are inserted in the Iraqi Constitution Barzani said earlier this week that the Turkish military operations to stop." stipulating that the referendum will be delay of the referendum would be for six held. Iraqi Kurds claim that the Turkish strikes months. Bahdiyar said after yesterday's

December 27. 2007 Bv Tina Susman and Asso Ahmed Ms Armeies ©imes Kurds delay vote on fate of Kirkuk as Iraq goals slip The referendum on whether the oil-rich city should join semiautonomous Kurdistan is put off for six months. BAGHDAD Kurdish lawmakers agreed Iraq's oil industry and the scheduling of provin¬ or join the Kurdistan region. The oil-rich city was Wednesday to a six-month delay in a refer¬ cial elections to ensure better distribution of subject to upheaval under Hussein as he drove endum on whether the oil-rich city of Kirkuk power among Shiite Muslims and Sunnis across out Kurds and other minorities and replaced them should join the semi-autonomous region of Kurd¬ the country. Both issues are tied to constitutional with Arabs. Since Hussein's ouster in 2003. Kurds istan or remain under Iraqi central government revisions that would spell out the powers of have tried to reclaim Kirkuk. Starting in October, control. regional governments to manage oil and other the Iraqi government began giving Arab families and establish moved to under Hussein compensa¬ The delay had been expected because of prob¬ resources, what power provinces who Kirkuk will have to manage their own affairs. U.S. offi¬ tion of about $16,000 to leave again. lems in arranging logistics for the vote, which cials worry that without political progress, recent was supposed to have been held by the end of the Kurdish officials say nearly 60.000 Arabs have security gains will not be sustained. year. A census to determine who would be eligi¬ left the region and they are confident that a ble to vote, for instance, has not been done. But Of the 111 lawmakers in the Kurdistan regional referendum on Kirkuk joining Kurdistan would by putting off the issue, the lawmakers high¬ parliament, 94 voted in favor of postponing the pass. But non-Kurds oppose the referendum, lighted what has become a constant in Iraq: the Kirkuk referendum. The decision came at the saying it would put Kirkuk's oil into Kurdish inability of leaders to settle disputes whose reso¬ advice of Staffan de hands and make non-Kurds in the region second- lution are considered key to ending ethnic and class citizens. Mistura, the United Nations' special representa¬ sectarian strife. tive for Iraq.While the delay had been seen by Meanwhile, in one sign of political progress, Another major issue, the rewriting of the Iraqi many as inevitable, legislators accepted it grudg¬ Iraq's Cabinet approved the draft of a general Constitution, is also unlikely to be completed by a ingly. Sardar Harki, a member of parliament in amnesty bill for detainees being held in Iraqi Dec. 31 deadline. The head of the Iraqi parlia¬ Irbil. the Kurdistan capital, said the Iraqi gov¬ prisons. But the measure, which could help rec¬ ment's constitutional review committee, Humam ernment as well as Kurdistan leaders "should oncile Iraq's warring sects and factions, will not Hamoudi, said Wednesday that he would request exert more efforts ... to get this issue over and be brought to parliament for debate until March a three-month delay. That would mark the fourth done with." A parliament member who opposed at the earliest, said Sami al-Askari, an adviser to time the target date for revision of the document, the delay. Ghafour Makhmouri, said he does not Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. approved in a referendum in 2005, has been put trust the Iraqi government to organize the refer¬ Also Wednesday, two U.S. soldiers were shot to off as lawmakers haggle over such issues as endum "in six months, nor in the fu¬ death in northern Nineveh province, the U.S. provincial powers and religious and cultural ture. "Makhmouri called on the Kurdistan re¬ military announced. It said three additional sol¬ freedoms. gional government to draft a bill that would allow diers were wounded in the attack Wednesday. At to and areas seized The delay in the constitutional revision could it claim Kirkuk other during least 3.900 U.S. troops have died in Iraq since the Saddam Hussein's anti-Kurdish campaigns. hinder progress on other issues that the United start of the war in 2003, according to an Associ¬ States has cited as keys to Iraqi national recon¬ The referendum would allow Kirkuk residents to ated Press count. ciliation. Those include legislation to manage decide whether they want to remain part of Iraq

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The HuffJngtOn POSt December 26. 2007 Exclusive -- Bill Clinton: We Need To Stay in Iraq to Protect the Kurds From The Turks This is America's nightmare. Turkey) have been worried about this flip-flopping American policy for some time. Just before Christmas, Turkish warplanes (F-16s made in the USA) and helicopter gunships bombed 200 Kurdish targets in northern Iraq, killing Opposition to an independent Kurdish state 150 people, after dozens of Turkish soldiers were blown up by a large contin¬ has been a longtime linchpin of American gent of Kurdish terrorists. policy in the region, going back to the Clinton era, because of fears that it would threaten There are reports that some 60,000 Turkish troops are massing on the border Turkey, a major regional ally, which has a for a land invasion of "Kurdistan". The bombings continue today. large Kurdish minority of more than 10 It is a thorny dilemma, emblematic of what is so schizophrenic up about our million who seek independence. In March policy in the Middle East. In the 1980s, the US gave Saddam chemical weap¬ of 1995, 35,000 Turkish troops invaded ons to gas the Kurds. Then we gave the Kurds arms and money to rise up northern Iraq using the US imposed "No Fly against Saddam; now the Bush administration is giving the Turks military Zone" as protection for its own jet fighters, a move which annihilated dozens of intelligence, money and arms to blast the Kurds. Kurdish villages and killed tens of thousands of Kurds. Ironically, the Turks and the Kurds are the only people in the Middle East who Not surprisingly, Turkey used Pentagon supplied weapons to attack the Kurds seem to be able to tolerate Americans and now they are in a slowly escalating in this latest foray and the Kurdish rebels used US bombs and other US weap¬ war with each other. ons to blow up the Turkish military convoy. America is supplying arms to two nations" at the to fight each other! Bill Clinton, in prescient talks to 50 wealthy supporters at a fundraiser last "friendly same time summer, off limits to the press, said: This is nothing new. America in recent decades has a zany history of arming third world countries and then of sitting back and watching their arms be used "The two wrinkles in her policy that some of the purists won't like, but I think she is absolutely right, are that she would leave some troops in against each other and us. Let us not forget that the Taliban weapons used the Kurdish area in the north because they have reconciled with each against American troops were largely manufactured in the United States to other and they enjoy relative peace and security...And if we leave help defeat the Soviet occupation. Many of Saddam's weapons were originally them...not only might they be gone into a long civil war...the Turks supplied by the US to help Iraq in its war against Iran. George Bush is in a might be tempted to attack them because they don't like the fact that tricky position. According to a headline in the Washington Post, the US, the PKK guerrillas sometimes come across into northern Iraq and hide "HELPS TURKEY HIT KURDS IN IRAQ" by providing real time intelligence after staging attacks in Turkey." to the Turkish military. Previously, the US warned Turkey not to invade Iraq, as this would interfere with our invasion of Iraq. "We don't want that," the former President went on to say. Meanwhile, the Kurds - with large oil reserves now pledged to US companies Last June, in answering questions at a leadership conference, Hillary Clinton - have a history of divided loyalty. One large faction was allied and close with made headlines in the largest newspaper in Turkey with her mildest of an¬ Saddam Hussein; another sizably large group was allied with Iran and still swers about the Kurds, calling them close US allies. None of this was reported another group was allied with the Kurdistan Workers' Party. During the inva¬ in the US press. sion, the US could not figure out which group to back and, ironically, ended up But Bill Clinton, in his "off the record" remarks, carried Hillary's statement supporting the Iranian faction to rebel against Hussein. Naturally, as the Arab much further and will cause much consternation in Turkish ruling circles. proverb says, "the enemy of my enemy is my friend." But the conundrum is: which of my friends do I support if they start fighting each other and will I lose The Turks, our most loyal Muslim allies (most of the arms and weapons that my one friend if I support my other friend? It's awfully messy out there. And the US needed for our invasion and occupation in Iraq came overland through watch the price of oil skyrocket.

United Press International December 26, 2007 Interview: Iraqi Kurds1 man at the U.N. By BEN LANDOUPI Energy Editor WASHINGTON, Dec. 26 (UPI) - There is one Iraq, but only official region, are a special case. Abused, like many other there are also two: the northern, potentially oil-rich re¬ Iraqis, by Saddam Hussein, they are against a centrally con¬ gion controlled by Iraq's Kurds, and the rest of Iraq. That, says trolled government of Iraq (though just two main Kurdish fac¬ the Kurdish liaison to U.N. efforts in Iraqi Kurdistan, is how the tions dominate Kurdish politics). The semi-autonomy since international community should view it. 1991, under international protection following the war, has given them a head start. The economy is moving forward and "We say Iraq could not be treated as one simple state," said the area is under the mostly successful protection of the Dindar Zebari, the Kurdistan Regional Government's chief coor¬ Peshmerga, the Iraqi Kurds' officially sanctioned militia. Politics, dinator for U.N. activities. "The Republic of Iraq is not only the though often controversial, have also made headway in the ministers in Baghdad. We have ministers in Irbil" the regional capital "which are sovereign, independent in terms of their KRG. policies and in terms of their areas of support." Kurdish leaders have forced a bittersweet relationship with Baghdad. The Kurdish coalition of parliamentarians is needed Zebari, in an interview with United Press International in the the ruling to its But the KRG KRG's Washington office, explained the KRG's view of its status for government maintain control. has irked many allies and rivals by moving unilaterally to de¬ in Iraq, which he said is being largely supported by the United velop its potential bonanza of an oil sector instead of allowing Nations. Baghdad, however, is a different story. the country's oil policy to be decided and administered from the "The problem in Baghdad is the mentality that has to accept center. that Iraq is composed of different structures," he said. Oil sales make up nearly all of the federal budget, which places The provincial and regional governments rely on funding and control over the oil a top power struggle priority. assistance, from security to the annual budget, from Baghdad, While nearly all of Iraq's proven oil reserves are outside of the though the international community still plays the largest role in KRG's area, limited studies and geologic formation suggest reconstruction, as well as providing something like a guiding arm for Baghdad's work. enough that the regional oil minister says the KRG will produce a million barrels within five years. Iraq's Kurds, whose three provinces they control make up Iraq's That timeline could move up if the KRG annexes Kirkuk, the oil-

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rich area just outside its official borders. Historically Kurdish, it port the unity of the country on the basis of democracy and full was separated from Kurdish leadership by Saddam Hussein, and sharing of power," said Zebari, who was quick to correct a ref¬ residents were displaced when the dictator moved in Arabs. erence to him as the KRG's representative to the United Na¬ tions. A deal was reached last week to delay by six months a referen¬ dum, scheduled by the 2005 Constitution to take place by this He said he's merely playing a role as an Iraqi Kurd, inside to¬ year's end, to allow voters of Kirkuk to decide the future of the day's Iraq. Under his watch there are now 200 local staff work¬ area. The KRG hopes voters will decide to join their area. Kirkuk ing for the United Nations based in Irbil. And it's the KRG, not contains an estimated 12 percent of Iraq's proven reserves. Iraq proper, that coordinates with the United Nations, though the KRG is part of an Iraqi delegation to the United Nations. Recent meetings between national and regional leadership in Baghdad over the controversial KRG oil deals produced no "The KRG, it is a functioning authority within the Republic of agreements, however. Iraq, which has been recognized by the law of the country," Zebari said, referring to the 2005 constitution. "It has its own Last week KRG Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani warned of budget, it has its own priorities and needs. Because we have "change" in the government if the KRG's demands are not met, The Telegraph reports. passed through most of the emergency relief programs, while other parts of the country, like Najaf and Karbala and Baghdad When asked about the comments, Zebari said, "There is a clear even today, the priority is relief programs. But in the Kurdistan article within the Constitution of Iraq that says very clearly that region, because of the prosperity and security and safety for the Iraqi Kurdistan people have full right to self determination. And last 13 years, today what we need is more mid-term, long-term on the basis of any disagreements in the future relationship projects." with the central authority, the people of Iraqi Kurdistan have full right to self determination." "Iraq today goes through a transitional period," Zebari said, detailing the Kurdish view of the needs of Iraq, which he says is He said Iraq's Kurds are not looking to declare independence, not a one size fits all. "Transitional period needs all different believed to be the end goal of the tens of millions of Kurds sort of assistance: political assistance, reconstruction and hu¬ spanning across Iraq, Turkey, Iran, Syria and Armenia. manitarian." "The policy of KRG is not for any division from Iraq. It's to sup

DECEMBER 26, 2007 Sunni militias 'aim to stem Iran1 By Ahmed Janabi venge. This is the US gameplan. They do Critics point to comments made by Shia A principal founder of the US-funded not want stability for Iraq for their own leaders who want a separate region for the sect in the south and Kurdish leaders tribal "Awakening Councils", or al- vested interests," he said. who have set their eyes on an autono¬ Sahwa, has said that parties loyal to Iran Struggle for control The al-Sahwa units mous region in the north. and Syria are targeting his group. Abu came into prominence at the end of 2005 Azam rejected accusations that al-Sahwa, when they were formed by local tribes to Fadil al-Rubei, an Iraqi historian, says al- formally known as The Tribal Arming Pro¬ fight alleged al-Qaeda members and affili¬ Sahwa might become the de facto army of gramme, was aimed at undermining the ated groups, and challenge them for con¬ the intended Sunni region in central Iraq, Iraqi resistance. "Regional forces like Iran trol of western and northern given the fact that the majority of Iraq's and Syria target our forces because they Iraq. Following a series of successful al- army and police are Shia and the know if our forces Sahwa campaigns to control Ramadi, Kurds have their own Peshmerga in forces. Al-Rubei said: "I believe the US bring stability to Iraq, the US would capital of al-Anbar province western occupation has started the third phase of turn its attention on them. And that is the Iraq, the US military and tribal leaders its strategy in Iraq. The first was to pit last thing they want," Abu Azam entered into negotiations over funding, one sect against the other when it brought said. Earlier this week two attacks on al- arming and training of the militias. the Shia religious parties to power at the Sahwa killed and injured dozens in Baiji, Each member of the al-Sahwa militias now expense of the Sunnis and others." "The 80km north of Baghdad, and receives a $300 monthly wage. second phase was to aid the losing sect Baquba. Abu Azam said that the main There are divisions among Sunni leaders [Sunnis], to annoy yesterday's winner and goal of al-Sahwa is to stem growing Ira¬ over the militias and fears that they could sow discord among sects. This was dem¬ nian power in Iraq. "Our forces have form the nucleus of a separate Sunni onstrated by major modifications to the army that could perpetuate the territo¬ de-Baathification law and the re¬ rial break up of the country. employment of many former second rung [Baath] officials." "The third phase is to strengthen the tribe against the sect. The creation of tribal militia has split the Sun¬ "We do not think the nis. The Iraqi Islamic Party of Tariq al- Hashimi, Iraq's Sunni vice-president, Iranian supported backs the militias, while the Association of Shia political parties Muslim scholars, the highest Sunni want to split Iraq. It authority in Iraq, is against them [the is not in their inter¬ militias]. But Abu Azam dismissed fears est to see the coun¬ over the breaking up of Iraq. He said: try parcelled out. "We do not think the Iranian-supported Iraq's break up Shia political parties want to split Iraq. It would have serious achieved peace and stability in their areas is not in their interest to see the country implications on by ejecting Iranian agents," he parcelled out. "Iraq's break up would Iran's national secu¬ said. Amir al-Musawi, a former advisor have serious implications on Iran's na¬ rity" to Iran's ministry of defence, dismissed tional security. If a Shia Arab region is the accusations against his country. "Iran Abu Azam, a principal created, it would strengthen Arabs in expects such accusations at this stage. founder of the US Iran's al-Ahwaz region who have been Next, when bombs go off in Shia areas, it backed al Sahwa struggling for their independence for dec¬ will be projected as al-Sahwa taking re ades. "In the north, the links between

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Iraqi and Iranian Kurds is no secret; we and authorities have serious reservations the idea. They preferred bringing pressure do not think Iran would tolerate a strong about its role." on the Iraqi government to enroll more Kurdish entity." Sunnis into the army and police." Khalid Many are suspicious of al-Sahwa because al-Maeini, a senior researcher at the Iraqi Sunni-Sunni rift Sunni political par¬ of its US connection. The militias have Centre for Strategic Studies in Jordan, ties, including Al-Tawafuq (the Iraq Accord been accused of weakening the Iraqi re¬ said: "The year 2008 will witness deep Front) - the biggest Sunni Arab bloc in sistance by targeting and arresting its divisions among Iraqis, which will weaken parliament with 44 of the 275 fighters. But Abu Azam says there is no the central government, [creating an] seats, support the al-Sahwa militias but contention between al-Sahwa and resis¬ ideal environment for the breaking up of a with reservations. Dhafir al-Ani, an MP tance groups. "I would like to emphasise country or the establishment of semi- from al-Tawafuq, said: "We are in support that al-Sahwa is not a US organisation as independent regions." "Sunnis of these forces because they help to bring some would like to describe it. Many resis¬ are already split over al-Sahwa and the balance to the Iraqi political scene, which tance factions joined al-Sahwa and they Shia alliance will see fatal divisions over has been somehow monopolised by lim¬ are working to enforce the rule of law, sharing the billions of dollars Shia pilgrims ited players belonging to one ideology. Iraqi law not anyone else's law. "I led a bring to the shrines in Najaf and Kar- one year of tough negotiations with the "However, we have fears that the al- Americans to convince them of the al- bala every year, apart from controlling Sahwa issue could develop into a Sunni- Basra's wealth and power." Sahwa project. They have always rejected Sunni clash, as some major Sunni parties

December 27, 2007 m Hitting the Kurds from All Sides By Andrew Lee Butters/Beirut In 1995, the Turkish army invaded northern Iraq, sending some 35,000 soldiers across the border to destroy the guerilla infrastruc¬ ture of the Kurdish Workers Party (PKK) a militant group made up of Turkish Kurds that had found refuge in the lawless mountain region. , as it was called, killed over 500 militants, but still the PKK survived to fight another day. In early 1997, the Turks sent in another 30,000 soldiers this time as part of to finish the job. They didn't. The Turks had to go in again later that year with . This month the Turks launched yet another operation against the PKK, and there is little to suggest that it will be any more effective than the others. So far 300 Turkish commandoes crossed briefly into Iraq, while Turkey has staged three air strikes, including one Wednes¬ day. Turkey claims to have attacked some 200 PKK locations, and killed hundreds of militants. A PKK fighter told TIME that just five of the group's members had bee 1 killed. Whatever the true figure, the ethnic Turks share a distant Central Asian past and little else.) More operation would seem to be s minor chapter in Turkey's seemingly recently, Turkey has demanded that Iraq's Kurds rid northern Iraq of never-ending civil war with radicals among its oppressed Kurdish the PKK, a job that the government-sanctioned Kurdish peshmerga minority population, who took up arms in the 1980's. militias are unable to do. The peshmerga are currently overstretched This time however there are some important differences. Turkey isn't in Baghdad and Mosul trying to keep Arab insurgents from entering invading the lawless hinterlanc of a pariah nation (Saddam's Iraq) but Kurdistan. (Iraqi Kurds tried to expel the PKK in the 1990's, but, like a region that not too long ago was considered the one relative success the Turkish army, they failed.) of the American project in Iraq. The United States which controls Now, Iraqi Kurdish leaders say that Turkey's unwillingness to open Iraqi airspace tried to forestall a Turkish invasion, but eventually peace talks with the PKK, and its adherence to failed military policies, caved into Turkish demands jnd agreed to a limited incursion. The is a sign that Turkey is using the PKK as excuse to threaten Iraq's fact that Turkey was ready to risk alienating its American ally for an Kurds and to scare them from even thinking about declaring an operation with little chance of strategic success is a testament to the independent state. Whatever Turkey's intentions, the latest Turkish uproar by the Turkish public for action against the PKK. But it is also operation has reminded the Kurds of Iraq just how much their new¬ a troubling sign of the role tht.t Turkey will play in Iraq as American found safety and autonomy depends on American protection. power recedes. Kurdish leaders in Iraq have been relatively subdued since the Turk¬ Turkey has long been hostile to the emerging power of Iraq's Kurdish ish operations began, acquiescing perhaps to the fickle will of their minority, located primarily in northern Iraq. Concerned that Kurds American masters. They know better than anyone that, without might take control of the oil ri ;h Iraqi city of Kirkuk, Turkey inserted American protection, it's doubtful their hostile neighbors not just itself into Iraq's domestic political problems by dubiously claiming Turkey, but also Iran and Syria, which have restive Kurdish minority stewardship of Kirkuk's minority Turkoman population (with whom populations of their own would limit themselves to a few air strikes.

Dec. 28, 2007 A? Associated Press Iraq warns S. Korea over Kurdish oil deal Crude exports could be halted if pact with regional government stands The Associated Press. BAGHDAD - Iraq's oil ministry threatened to cut off crude Iraqi authorities have drafted numerous versions of legislation to exports to South Korea if it does not back out of an oil deal regulate the country's oil industry and share the revenues signed last month with the Kurdistan regional government. among Shiite, Sunni and Kurdish communities. Those efforts have stalled in parliament, largely due to opposition from the

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Kurds who want a greater say in managing oil fields in their self- U.S. officials view the oil law as a catalyst for investment and a ruled area of the north. A consortium led by the state-run Korea means of tamping down sectarian violence. Most of Iraq's oil National Oil Corp. secured exploration rights in early November reserves are in the Kurdish north and the largely Shiite south. from the semiautonomous Kurdish regional government for an The provinces where most Sunnis live have few proven reserves, oil field in the northern province. The Korean consortium in¬ leading to suspicions they will be left out of oil profits. cludes SK Energy, South Korea's biggest oil refiner, and GS Jiham did not say if a deadline had been set for KNOC to annul Corp. Holdings its exploration contract with the Kurds, but said that no excep¬ "The ministry has made it clear that no contracts should be tions will be made to the ban on contracts. signed until a new national oil law is passed," Assem Jiham, a Earlier this week, Park Hyung-il, head of crude oil trading for SK ministry spokesman, said late Thursday. "There was a clear Energy, said in a statement that he had been informed "that warning to these companies that they will be blacklisted and there may be some difficulties to renew the pending contract on excluded from any future cooperation with the ministry." crude oil with Iraq. However, it is too early to confirm details at He said there would be "no leniency" shown to any company that this point." signs such contracts. Oh Ji-won, a spokeswoman with South Korea's Ministry of Com¬ U.S., investments and violence According to KNOC, through merce, said that the government was working through "diplo¬ November South Korea hac imported 42 million barrels of oil matic channels" on the issue. from Iraq, nearly triple all its imports from the country last year. Iraq is now exporting 1.9 billion barrels of oil a day, compared to Iraq is the sixth-largest provider of oil to the country. 1.5 million a day earlier this year, according to U.S. statistics. The Kurds have signed more than a dozen contracts with foreign oil companies, insisting Iraq's constitution gives them that authority. But the Iraqi Oi Ministry insists the contracts are illegal and has threatened to blacklist foreign firms who sign them.

Kurdistan's parliament approves Kirkuk referendum delay

December 28 , 2007

Kurdistan Regional Government

Erbil. Kurdistan - Iraq IKRG.orq) - The Kurdistan National Assembly, the Kurdistan Region's par¬ liament, on Wednesday approved the UN's suggestion to delay a referendum on the future of Kirkuk and other towns that were ethnically cleansed by previous Iraqi governments. Of the 111 lawmakers in the Kurdistan National Assembly, 94 voted in favour of postponing the referend urn for six months. Under Article 140 of the Iraqi constitution, the deadline for hold¬ ing the vote is the end of 2007, but it has been delayed for technical reasons. Mr Nechirvan Barzani, Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), last week also said he favoured a six-month extension of the referendum. Mr Staffan De Mistura, the UN Secretary-General's Special Rep¬ resentative for Iraq, earlie' this month suggested to Kurdish lawmakers that they consicer delaying the vote. He said, "An towns to decide whether they should be part of or outside the extension is not a postponement, but taking into consideration Kurdistan Region. that the time to carry it out has expired, there is a need to pro¬ long the period stipulated in the article." The High Committee for the Implementation of Article 140, which was set up by the Iraqi federal government to carry out The referendum will allow people in Kirkuk for the first time to the three stages, has been slow to deal with all the property decide their own fate. Ten;; of thousands of Kurdish and non- claims and compensation packages and failed to carry out a Arab inhabitants of Kirkuk, Sinjar, Khaneqin, and other towns census. were forcibly expelled by Saddam Hussein's government, and people from Southern Iraq were moved onto their lands. Provin¬ The KRG and the Iraqi federal government agreed that the UN cial borders were also gerry mandered as part of Saddam's drive could provide technical assistance to the High Committee for the to Arabise parts of Kurdistar. Implementation of Article 140 to help it complete the process. Under the Iraqi Constitution, a three-stage process should have Many Kurds including lawmakers said they were frustrated by been completed by the end of 2007: allow forcibly expelled peo¬ the delay to the referendum that was promised to the people of ple to return to their land, and offer Iraqis from the South who Kirkuk in the 2005 constitution. However, the KRG decided to were settled on their properties compensation to return to their accept the delay because it believes in a peaceful and legal solu¬ towns; conduct a census to determine voter eligibility; and, tion to the problem and is counting on an end to the stalling of finally, hold a referendum for the people of Kirkuk and other the process.

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îteralfilfe tribune. December 27, 2007 The World's Daily Newspaper Turks again hit Kurds' hide-outs

Turkish forces and they are in this case man, was caught by the police, but they Lawmakers renew the arbiters of ground truth." gave no information about any links he The United States is in a delicate situ¬ might have had with any organization. call for solution ation. Turkey is a crucial American ally, New Year celebrations in Taksim, the but so are the Kurdish and Iraqi govern¬ busy center of Istanbul, were canceled By Sebnem Arsu ments, which have objected to the Turk¬ as a show of respect for military per¬ ish attacks. sonnel taking part in the operations ISTANBUL: Turkish warplanes at¬ The PKK, which has sought an auton¬ against the PKK, a city municipality tacked Kurdish rebel c;imps in northern omous state in Turkey's predominantly statement said Wednesday. Iraq on Wednesday, the Turkish mili¬ Kurdish southeast since the 1980s, is tary said, the second cross-border air- considered a terror organization by Damien Cave contributed from Bagh¬ strike this week and the third in recent both the United States and the Euro¬ dad. days. pean Union. The warplanes shelled eight loca¬ According to many Turkish media Watch group members tions in the Zap region ofnorthern Iraq, reports here, the locations attacked re¬ killed across Turkey's southeastern border, cently by the Turkish military were the army said in a statement. already empty after the PKK rebels re¬ Four members of a local American- It gave no information on any casual¬ treated in recent months away from the backed Awakening group in Diyala ties or injuries. border in anticipation of the raids. Province were killed Wednesday when The airstrike was the latest in a num¬ "More than the mathematical results, a house they were raiding exploded, the ber of recent ground and air attacks the psychological results are important police said, Damien Cave reported from against the separatist Kurdistan Work¬ in this war of propaganda," Ali Nihat Baghdad. ers' Party, known as the PKK. Turkish Ozcan, a political analyst based in An¬ The blast, in an area just north of jets also attacked on Dec. 16 and Satur¬ kara, said. "There is an improvement in Baquba, the provincial capital, also day, the Turkish military has said. Turkish-American relations, which wounded at least four people. It was one The latest raid came: on the same day sends a strong message to the PKK and, of several attacks this month against the that Kurdish politicians in the Turkish on the other hand, pleases and relaxes volunteer neighborhood watch groups Parliament renewed their calls for the Turkish public opinion." and their members, who are known also peaceful ways to resolve the conflict. At least three Kurdish political as Concerned Local Citizens. On Tues¬ Their party, the Democratic Society parties have been closed by Turkey's day, several members of an Awakening Party, known by its initials in Turkish, Constitutional Court since the 1990s, group were killed by a suicide truck DTP, is the only Kurdis h party in Parlia¬ mainly on charges of inciting ethnic bomber near a checkpoint outside the ment and was the only group to vote in separation in the country, which has Baiji oil refinery in northern Iraq. October against a motion that author¬ around IS million Kurds. The Awakening groups are predom¬ ized sending troops into northern Iraq Earlier this year, the public prosecu¬ inantly Sunni, and have grown to num¬ to confront Kurdish rebels in hide-outs tor brought a motion before the Consti¬ ber 72,000 volunteers in nearly 300 there. tutional Court to close the DTP because communities in Iraq. They have been Since then, the Turkish military has of the DTP's refusal to denounce the credited for reducing violence in some carried out assaults aimed at the PKK. PKK as a terrorist organization and be¬ ofthe country's most violent areas even The United States, which supports Tur¬ cause of alleged links of some members as many Iraqis mainly Shiites, but key's right to self-defense against the with the rebel group. also some Sunnis worry that the Kurdish separatist group, has provided Nurettin Demirtas, the chairman of groups could destabilize Iraq because intelligence on the rebel movements. the DTP, was recently arrested and is many of them include former insur¬ The Turks claim that at least 150 PKK being kept in military jail on charges of gents who still battle each other for fighters were killed in the two earlier forging a medical report to avoid man¬ power and denounce the Shiite-led na¬ raids this month, at least one of which datory military service. tional government as an illegitimate was backed up with shelling by ground The PKK, which claims to have pawn of Iran. forces. around 3,500 rebels active in the Iraqi Both American and Iraqi officials However, Kurdish leaders say there mountains, has threatened retaliation have said in recent weeks that the were only a handful of casualties, and against the Turkish military on some groups eventually need to be disbanded that these included several civilians. Kurdish Web sites. so as not to compete with Iraq's army Americans officials in Baghdad Wed¬ In Istanbul, seven people were in¬ and the police. Under a proposal from nesday declined to clarify the wide dis¬ jured on Tuesday in a remote neighbor¬ the Americans, who still pay most parities in casualty counts. hood when a bomb placed in a garbage members about $300 a month to take Major General Kevin Bergner, an bin exploded, Istanbul police said. No part, some of the Awakening groups American military spokesman, said organization has yet claimed responsi¬ would be integrated into the security that efforts to get accurate information bility for the attack. forces while a larger portion would get were being made. Bu:, he added: "We On Monday, 3.5 kilograms, about 8 civilian jobs from the government or don't have forces there that are the ar¬ pounds, of explosives were found in an private industry. biters of the ground truth. The military abandoned bag in Sisli, a busy Istanbul The details of the jobs program are unit conducting the operation is the district. The owner of the bag, a young still being worked out.

70 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Ôzeti TIME Dec. 28. 2007 How to Talk Turkey in Baghdad By Charles Crain/Baghdad asked of the Turkish and Iraqi governments, not nounced the Turkish raids. "We condemn opera¬ For close to two weeks, Turkey has been tar¬ the U.S. military in Iraq. Maj. Gen. Kevin Ber- tions and they should be ended as soon as possi¬ geting the guerrillas of the Kurdistan Work¬ gner said that American military cooperation ble," said Massoud Barzani, the KRG head. But ers' Party (PKK) inside Iraqi territory. And they with Turkey comes through the U.S.'s European the condemnation was not as full-throated as it are not unhappy with the response of the Ameri¬ Command; American forces in Iraq are under a could have been. President Jalal Talibani cans, who control the skies over Iraq. The Turk¬ separate regional chain of command. Philip stressed that Iraqis valued Turkey's friendship, ish President, according to Turkey's state- Reeker, the U.S. embassy's spokesman, stressed and said that he hoped problems could be ad¬ controlled media, has praised the United States that the raids were "Turkish decisions." He cast dressed through diplomacy. for providing intelligence that was used by the the U.S. the role observer, saying in of that it While the United States walks its tightrope, the Turkish military in its operations. America too would "continue to watch this situation closely." Kurds are walking theirs. They are not happy has backed Turkey's right to go after the PKK, Over the weekend, U.S. Ambassador to Iraq with Turkish incursions. But they are also well which it has long called a "ter"orist organiza¬ Ryan Crocker said that defanging the PKK aware that shielding the PKK, and provoking tion." should be done in "a way that does not create Turkey, could risk the autonomy and relative problems of instability inside Iraq." But down in Baghdad, the Amsricans are not peace Kurds now enjoy within Iraq. Like the keen to associate themselves with the specifics of The trickiness of the political climate was appar¬ Americans, Iraq's Kurdish leaders may simply Turkey's campaign against the PKK. At a press ent earlier in the week, when Iraq's President, hope that the Turks finish their raids as quickly conference Wednesday spokesmen for the U.S. who is a Kurd, its Sunni Arab vice president and and with as little publicity as possible. military and the American embassy repeatedly the leader of the Kurdistan Regional Govern¬ said that questions about the raids should be ment (KRG) met in northern Iraq and de

Ovi magazine 29 December 2007 HELSINKI - FINLAND by Thanos Kalamidas Oj Repeating history with innocent Kurds There is something going on at the north borders of Iraq that seems like nobody gives the necessary weight The victims at the

moment are between the i nnocent and they count only to tens and the refugees to just a few hundred but the situation is escalating fast and soon it will look like an open wound in an area that has too many... some of them lethal.

At this very moment, it doesn't It has to do with democracy and the death. What's the difference with matter the excuses or how we shadow dictators of Turkey that the Kurdish PKK leader Mr. Oca¬ like to call it, Turkey is invading l-aq have ruled the poor country since lan? How can the Turkish govern¬ killing innocents and driving others the beginning of the 20th century ment excuse their agreement into a into refugee status and that's the behind or in the front of the cur¬ creation of a Palestinian state reality. Turkey has a past of milita¬ tains, the officers that keep the inside Israel and the demand of an ristic acts like that and has already average Turk back in the dark Israeli withdraw while they reject created a status quo with the indi¬ ages, poisoning them with national¬ exactly the same thing from the gence and sometimes support of ism, their paramilitary fascist Kurds? the international community in other groups like the "gray wolves" will But as I said before the Turks do all places. Turkey once more in her find me opposite till they vanish or I that because they keep an eye on history commits an international die. And this has nothing to do with the northern Mosul oil fields, some crime and the rest of the world is me being Greek and them Turks, of the richest in Iraq and with the just watching. this has to do with principals if they Kurds in control. What will happen if few hundreds of PKK members, can understand the word. Before I start getting comments or the Americans keep their hidden they invaded Iraq to take over and mails - Greek talking, hates Turks What is going on the northern agenda with the Kurds for their help promote their main plan and the and the rest that usually don't help borders of Iraq is devastating and in the war against Saddam and timing is perfect with the situation the argument - I want to make despite all the warnings from the they help them to build a Kurdish internationally, in USA regarding something clear, I have nothing local authorities and the Iraqi politi¬ state? A state that will be totally Iraq and Iraq itself. They have done against the Turkish people, I have cians nobody seems to be willing to independent if not rich with the help it before. They have illegally in¬ travelled a lot around Turkey ard I do anything. Turkey has a double of these oil fields, a state that can vaded Cyprus, an independent think the Turkish people are equally target. One target is the Kurdish be the beginning of a new situation country and thirty years after they victims of the military dictatorship organization PKK and the other is with the Kurds who live in Turkey negotiate with the invaded like that works behind the curtains for the oil, using the excuse of a small and Iran. A state that will endanger equals. And all that with the US decades. Whether they like it or minority of Turkish who live in the the plans of the Turkish army in the blessing, why would it be different not, Greece and Turkey are neigh¬ Kurdish area. I think the first target area. The truth is that Erdogan, the this time? bours and they are going to be next is there as a cover up for the sec¬ Turkish PM tried, and he tried hard The Turkish army and their para¬ to one another for ever. Perhaps ond and they work on it slowly and to modernize Turkey and move the military allies inside the Turkish Greece would wish to neighbour methodically. It is too easy nowa¬ army back to their barracks instead society have long worked their wind Switzerland and Turkey would feel days to call somebody terrorist but of the conspiring back rooms. But into the people's minds and they more comfortable neighbouring the question remains, who is terror¬ just like everybody before him he have brainwashed them to believe Saudi Arabia but ...this is the real¬ ist and who is liberator? had to withdraw in front the army's that the Kurds are evil. They have ity. plans for his survival and when it Was Yasir Arafat a terrorist or a already started working their way comes to Turkey we are not talking They are one next to the other and liberator? His organization was into vanishing the language and the only for his political survival but for they have to learn live one nex: to responsible for the massacre in the customs of the Kurdish population his physical survival also. So the the other; after all, prosperity Munich Olympics; still nowadays inside Turkey; hunting them now as PM and the government one more comes with unity not in a conflict the very same organization is the terrorist abroad they might give depend their survival on the wishes and the faster they both understand only credential negotiator for the them the same end they gave to of the army and in extent they are it the better it will be. At the same Palestinian problem. Mr. Arafat was the Armenians who lived ones in just following their orders which in time Zimbabwe is not Greece's awarded the Peace Nobel Prize the Ottoman Empire. this case are, invade Iraq. neighbour and I do often attack with and was invited often in the White But as I said in the beginning de¬ my House. Still the very same man Iraq is defenceless and this is a fact articles Zimbabwe's dictator was spite the Turkish army secret Mugabe and I do the same with the informed and led series of terrorist and the Iraqi leaders know well that agenda, putting aside the contro¬ Iranian dictators, with Pakistan's hits all around the world including the Americans are not going to help versy case of the Kurds and all the Musharaf and a number of others. suicide bombers and skyjackings. so they try to survive the crisis with terrorist talk there is the reality of This has nothing to do with neigh¬ Israel never stopped considering the minimum coast. The Turkish women getting killed in northern bouring but with principals. him a terrorist and wishing his army didn't invade Iraq to hunt a

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Iraq from the Turkish army, there is started moving from their houses to bombs and the Turkish army, and ..just watching! the reality of hundreds of Kurdish the south looking somewhere to of course just like it happened thirty families, women and children's that survive the Turkish airplanes years ago in Cyprus, the world is

December 29. 2007 * the Australian Let's not acquiesce in undermining Iraqi Kurds IN the past century, the principal victims of genocide or attempted genocide have been, or at least have prominently included, the Armenians, the Jews and the Kurds.

By Christopher Hitchens ish Fight for Independence. ) two directions, a number of Sunni areas would have got the point (of irreversible regime During most of last October, events and The attempt of this thuggish faction to exploit change) a lot sooner than they did. The rogue politicians conspired to set these three the new zone of freedom in Iraqi Kurdistan is PKK presence was not then a hot issue; Turkey peoples at one another's throats. highly irresponsible and plays directly into the simply wished to pre-empt the emergence of hands of those forces in the Turkish military What is there to be learned from this fiasco for any form of Iraqi Kurdish self-government that who want to resurrect Kemalist chauvinism as humanity? could be an incitement or encouragement to a weapon against Prime Minister Recep Tayyip To suggestion the huge Kurdish minority in Turkey. recapitulate, at the very that the Erdogan's Government, which it sees as soft on US House of Representatives might finally pass Kurdish demands. So, let us be clear on a few things. The Euro¬ a long-proposed resolution recognising the 1915 pean Union, to which Turkey has applied for There's a paradox here, in that the uniformed massacres in Armenia as a planned act of "race membership with US support, has insisted on satraps who claim to defend Turkish secularism murder" (that was US ambassador Henry recognition of Kurdish language rights and Morgenthau's term at a when the are often more reactionary than the recently for it time political rights within Turkey. The US can re-elected and broadly Islamist Justice and word genocide had not yet been coined), the hardly ask for less. Turkish authorities redoubled their threat to Development Party. The generals vetoed a invade the autonomous Kurdish-run provinces meeting earlier this year between Abdullah Gul If the Turks wish to continue lying officially of northern Iraq. And many American Jews - now President of Turkey and then foreign about what happened to the Armenians, then - the US cannot be expected to oblige them by found themselves divided between their sym¬ minister and the Kurdish regional government pathy for the oppressed and the slaughtered in Iraq. This alone shows that they are using the doing the same (and should certainly resent and and their commitment to the state interest of border question and the PKK as a wedge issue repudiate any threats against itself or its allies Israel, which maintains a strategic partnership for domestic politics. that would ensue from the US Congress affirm¬ ing the truth). with Turkey, and in particular with Turkey's This is enough complexity to be going on with, highly politicised armed forces. but the US Congress and the executive branch Then there remains the question of Cyprus, To illuminate this depressing picture, one have been handling it with appalling amateur¬ where Turkey maintains an occupation force ishness. The Armenian resolution has that has repeatedly been condemned by a might begin by offering a few distinctions. In (that been least 2008 in US house thesaurus of UN resolutions since 1974. It is not 1991 , in northern Iraq, where you could still see put off until at the US conduct that should be modified by Turkey's and smell the gassed and poisoned towns and under pressure from Turkey and the Bush administration) is an old story. I can remember arrogance; the US does a favour to the démoc¬ villages of Kurdistan, I heard Jalal Talabani of ratisation and modernisation that country by the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan say that Kurds when it was sponsored by then senator Robert of ought to apologise to the Armenians for the Dole and stonewalled by then president Bill insisting that it get its troops out of Cyprus, pull a shame its forces back from the border with Iraq, face role they had played as enforcers for the Otto¬ Clinton. What we didn't get it firmly about and in mans during the time of the genocide. Tala¬ on the record decades ago. the historic truth Armenia, other ways cease to act as if the Ottoman system bani, who has often repeated that statement, But now a house and a White House that can were still in operation. is now President of Iraq. barely bring themselves to utter the word

Kurdish as * IN Slate recently, I mentioned that security (I would regard his unforced statement as are both acting if nothing mattered (author, Dutch MP and evidence in itself, by the way, in that proud except Turkish amour-propre. And, as a conse¬ for former critic of peoples do not generally offer to apologise for quence, the US and its friends are being Islam's treatment of women) Ayaan Hirsi Ali revolting crimes that they did not, in fact, squeezed by Ankara instead of, to put it might have to be paid for partly by private is subscription. commit.) So, of course, it was on him, both as shortly, the other way around. This disgrace¬ undignified. an Iraqi and as a Kurd, that Turkish guns and fully On the web link below are the details for all missiles were trained In 2003, the Turkish authorities, who had been who may wish to contribute to this eminently in October. parasitic on US and NATO support for several deserving cause. This appeal is a test of our decades, refused to allow US bases in Turkey to seriousness in the face of theocracy and its And here, a further distinction: many of us who be employed for a northern front in the re¬ assassins. supporters Kurdish and are ardent of rights moval of Saddam Hussein unless their forces aspirations have the gravest reservations about were allowed to follow into Iraqi Kurdistan. the so-called Kurdistan Workers Party, or PKK. The Bush administration quite rightly refused Christopher Hitchens is a columnist for This is a Stalinist cult organisation, roughly akin this bargain. Vanity Fair and the author of God is Not to a Middle Eastern Shining Path group. (Its Great: How Religion Poisons Everything. story, and the story of its bizarre leader Abdul¬ The damage done by Turkey's subsequent fit of lah Ocalan, are well told in Aliza Marcus's new pique was enormous: nobody ever mentions it, book Blood and Belief: The PKK and the Kurd but if the coalition had come at Baghdad from

72 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Ôzeti Plus de 150 rebelles kurdes tués en Irak le 16 décembre (armée turque)

ANKARA. 25 déc 2007 (AFP) - - Entre 150 et 175 rebelles kurdes ont PKK, qui utilisent la région autonome du Kurdistan irakien, frontalière de la été tués le 16 décembre lors de frappes aériennes de l'aviation turque sur le Turquie, comme base arrière pour leurs actions en Turquie. nord de l'Irak, où l'armée turque mène depuis plusieurs semaines des opéra¬ Ces raids font suite au feu vert donné par le Parlement turc à des opérations tions contre les rebelles séparatistes du PKK, a annoncé mardi l'état-major. militaires contre le groupe séparatiste dans le nord de l'Irak. "Entre 150 et 175 terroristes ont été neutralisés" lors de ce raid, a affirmé Le 16 décembre, des raids avaient notamment frappé le massif de Qandil, une l'état-major de l'armée turque dans un communiqué publié sur son site web. région montagneuse du Kurdistan irakien, où se trouve le quartier général des "Ce chiffre ne tient pas compte des terroristes qui ont été éliminés lorsque quelque 3.500 rebelles du PKK repliés dans le nord de l'Irak. leurs abris se sont effondrés sous l'effet des frappes", a ajouté l'état-major, Une seconde série de raids, le 22 décembre, a visé "des caches et des batte¬ précisant que le raid avait fait aussi de nombreux blessés dans les rangs du ries d'armes anti-aériennes", a précisé le communiqué de l'état-major. Parti des travailleurs du Kurdistan (PKK). Depuis, les services de sécurité dans le nord de l'Irak ont fait état de plusieurs "De nombreux terroristes ont été transportés dans les hôpitaux d'Erbil, Ra- autres raids, dont une brève frappe mardi, qui n'a pas été confirmée par l'ar¬ niyeh, Kaladiza et Choman, dans le nord de l'Irak", ajoute le communiqué. mée turque. Au Kurdistan irakien, un responsable kurde "proche du PKK", refusant d'être Les frappes du 16 décembre, les plus intenses de cette série, soutenues par identifié, a démenti le bilan avancé par l'armée turque, affirmant que "cinq des tirs d'artillerie, ont détruit toutes leurs cibles, y compris seize bases de combattants ont perdu la vie dans les frappes du 16 décembre comme il avait commandement, d'entraînement et de logistique, 82 caches pour les rebelles, été annoncé par le PKK après l'attaque". dix batteries anti-aériennes ainsi que quatorze dépôts de munitions du PKK, a L'armée turque a mené depuis le début du mois de décembre plusieurs opéra¬ ajouté l'état-major. tions aériennes contre des positions dans le nord de l'Irak des rebelles du

Kirkouk: le Parlement du Kurdistan irakien accepte un report du referendum

ERBIL (Irak). 26 déc 2007 (AFP) -- Le Parlement de la région auto¬ tan irakien. nome du Kurdistan irakien a accepté mercredi la proposition de l'ONU de Les six mois de délai doivent être mis à profit pour instaurer, sous le contrôle reporter de six mois un referendum initialement prévu avant la fin de l'année de l'ONU, dans la région de Kirkouk et ailleurs dans le pays, des mécanismes sur la question controversée de la région pétrolière de Kirkouk, revendiquée de réimplantation des populations déplacées dans le cadre de la manipulation par les Kurdes. des frontières provinciales par l'ancien régime. "Le Parlement du Kurdistan a accepté à la majorité la proposition du représen¬ Kirkouk et sa province sont habitées de Kurdes, d'Arabes et de Turcomans, tant spécial de l'ONU en Irak, Staffan de Mistura, de reporter de six mois le dans des proportions mal connues. Une politique d'arabisation de Saddam referendum sur Kirkouk", a annoncé le porte-parole du Parlement régional, Hussein a forcé à l'exil des dizaines de milliers de Kurdes, et a installé à leur Adnane ai-Mufti. place des populations venues d'autres régions de l'Irak. Le gouvernement de la région autonome kurde avait déjà donné il y a une Aujourd'hui, le retour des communautés chassées et le départ de familles qui semaine son accord à cette proposition de l'ONU sur un des dossiers les plus avaient été installées dans la région créent une situation dangereusement épineux de l'Irak. instable. La constitution irakienne, dans son article 140, stipule qu'un referendum doit Les Kurdes notamment ont fait de la tenue d'une consultation une condition avoir lieu avant le 31 décembre 2007 pour décider si la région de Kirkouk (250 claire de leur soutien au gouvernement de Bagdad dominé par les chiites, en km au nord de Bagdad) doit passer sous l'autorité du gouvernement du Kurdis place depuis la promulgation de la constitution en 2005.

Le baril de brut à 95 dollars à NY, après intervention de la Turquie en Irak

NEW YORK. 26 déc 2007 (AFP) - - Les cours du baril de brut ont gie. rouvert en hausse mercredi à New York suite à une intervention militaire Le pétrole extrait des champs de turque contre les rebelles kurdes retranchés dans le nord de l'Irak, où transite Kirkouk, dans le nord de l'Irak, est le pétrole extrait des champs voisins de Kirkouk. exporté via un oléoduc qui rejoint Vers 14H05 GMT sur le New York Mercantile Exchange (Nymex), le baril de le terminal turc de Ceyhan, sur la "light sweet crude" pour livraison en février s'échangeait à 95,30 dollars, en Méditerranée. Fréquemment hausse de 1,17 dollar par rapporta la clôture de lundi. attaqué, ce pipeline a très souvent fermé au cours des cinq dernières Le Nymex était fermé mardi, jour de Noël. années. "Le marché est très nerveux après les attaques de l'armée turque contre le En outre, l'Irak détient les troisiè¬ PKK (parti des travailleurs du Kurdistan, ndlr) dans le nord de l'Irak", a expli¬ mes réserves pétrolières mondia¬ qué Edwards, analyste au cabinet éponyme. "Les facteurs géopoliti¬ William les et a exporté 1,9 million de ques restent omniprésents et vont continuer de pousser les prix", a-t-il ajouté. barils de brut par jour en septembre contre 1,69 million en août selon le dépar¬ L'armée turque a indiqué mercredi avoir lancé des opérations militaires contre tement d'Etat américain. les rebelles kurdes du PKK retranchés dans le nord de l'Irak. Les tensions entre Ankara et le PKK avaient déjà favorisé en octobre la flam¬ Les raids de l'aviation turque en territoire irakien font craindre aux intervenants bée des cours de l'or noir, leur permettant d'établir record sur record. des perturbations de l'offre de brut, qui seraient malvenues dans le contexte Sur le plan géopolitique toujours, l'explosion d'un oléoduc due à des actes de actuel d'équilibre précaire entre l'approvisionnement et la demande alors que vandalisme au Nigeria, premier producteur de brut africain, constituait un l'hémisphère nord entre dans l'hiver, période de forte consommation d'éner autre facteur haussier, selon les analystes.

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

L'eNouvel/istec WdhMlhBMB7 LA TURQUIE BOMBARDE IRAK L'aviation d'Ankara frappe les Kurdes. Les opérations de l'armée turque contre sous surveillance, se préparait à passer les sites du PKK dans le nord de l'Irak se l'hiver dans huit grottes et caches dans multiplient. L'état-major a annoncé hier la région de Zap», affirment les militai¬ avoir pilonné huit refuges près de la fron¬ res. tière avec la Turquie, tuant six rebelles Confronté à une intensification des Ces à kurdes. nouvelles pertes portent violences du PKK, le Gouvernement onze le nombre de rebelles du Parti des turc a obtenu en octobre du Parlement travailleurs du Kurdistan (PKK) tués en l'autorisation d'intervenir militairement deux jours dans le massif montagneux de dans le nord de l'Irak. Cette région fait Kùpeli, dans la province de Sirnak. office de base arrière pour les rebelles Selon un responsable des forces de sécu¬ afin de mener des opérations dans le rité dans le nord de l'Irak, les avions sud-est anatolien, où vivent une majo¬ turcs ont frappé hier matin des villages rité de Kurdes. inhabités dans le secteur de Nirvorokan, Les opérations ont débuté le 16 dé¬ dans la province de Dohouk, à l'extrême cembre avec un raid aérien contre des nord du Kurdistan irakien. L'agence de Au Kurdistan irakien, un responsable bases rebelles dans le massif de Qandil - presse du PKK, a kurde «proche du PKK», refusant d'être proche Firat News, une région montagneuse du Kurdistan rapporté que plus de dix avions avaient identifié, a démenti ce bilan. Il a affirmé irakien où se trouve le quartier général participé au raid. L'opération a été lancée que cinq combattants avaient perdu la vie des quelque 3500 rebelles du PKK - et le après établi qu'un groupe impor¬ dans les frappes du 16 décembre. «avoir long de la frontière turque. tant de terroristes, depuis longtemps ATS/AFP/REUTERS

31 déccembre 2007 Turquie Pourquoi avons-nous si peur des Kurdes ? Alors que l'armée turque s'attaque désormais aux rebelles kurdes directement sur le sol irakien, un éditoria¬ liste du quotidien Bugun regrette cette politique de la peur et propose de régler la question kurde par le développement économique. C'est par hasard, en lisant une dépêche, raux turcs, qui dans le passé se sont connaissons bien les réponses à ces que j'ai appris qu'un navire en prove¬ avérés de véritables champions de ce questions. nance d'Egypte, avec à son bord du ma¬ type d'exercice, n'en finissent plus au¬ En effet, ce dont nous avons peur, c'est tériel destiné à la construction d'une jourd'hui de faire leur autocritique et que les Kurdes habitant du côté irakien raffinerie dans le nord de l'Irak, région d'admettre qu'ils ont commis une erreur de la frontière vivent de mieux en mieux, autonome du Kurdistan irakien dirigée en niant la problématique kurde. La Tur¬ que nos Kurdes à nous les envient et par Massoud Barzani, avait été bloqué quie en est ainsi encore à devoir affronter qu'ils souhaitent in fine se séparer de la dans le port turc de Mersin parce que le cette "prétendue" problématique, qui a Turquie pour les rejoindre. Mais, bon mot "Kurdistan" figurait en toutes lettres pris de telles proportions qu'on ne sait sang, combien de siècles allons-nous sur chacun des 35 containers où était même plus lui trouver un début de solu¬ vivre avec cette phobie ! Le maintien de stocké ce matériel. La douane du de tion. Dans ces conditions, y a-t-il un sens port l'unité du territoire turc ne dépend-il Mersin pas de à prétextant qu'il n'existait répéter ce même type d'erreur en refu¬ vraiment que du maintien dans la pauvre¬ pays portant le nom de "Kurdistan" a sant et en niant la réalité de l'Etat fédéré té et sous l'oppression des Kurdes vivant placé ce matériel en quarantaine, non kurde qui existe aujourd'hui dans le nord au-delà des frontières de la Turquie ? sans au à la pein¬ de l'Irak ? avoir préalable effacé Plus les Kurdes d'Irak vivront dans la noire les de ture mentions "Kurdistan". Ce qui m'a le plus interloqué dans l'anec¬ peur et dans la misère et plus notre unité Les autorités turques ont ensuite réclamé dote du bateau bloqué dans le port de territoriale et notre sécurité s'en trouve¬ que ce chargement soit renvoyé en Mersin, c'est l'usage de la peinture noire. ront assurées ? Egypte. Il y a peu, deux containers chi¬ Mais à quoi rime donc cette panique ! nois, dont la destination finale était éga¬ On ne peut évidemment pas continuer à C'est à croire que si quelqu'un a le mal¬ lement le "Kurdistan" [irakien], avaient gérer notre pays avec une conception de heur de lire cette fameuse mention, ce déjà été renvoyés pour les mêmes rai¬ la sécurité dépendant du malheur des Kurdistan tant craint risquerait de devenir autres. Pourra-t-on vivre ainsi en se di¬ sons vers leur point de départ. soudainement réalité [au-delà des fron¬ sant à chaque instant avec angoisse : "Et Cette anecdote m'a fait quelque peu tières irakiennes]. Mais pourquoi avons- s'ils parvenaient à se développer grâce au réfléchir. Et si, plutôt que "Kurdistan", nous donc peur ? Pourquoi l'attribution de pétrole et que leur Etat devienne un pôle ces lo¬ l'inscription sur containers avait été certaines prérogatives aux pouvoirs d'attraction pour nos Kurdes ?" Pourquoi "prétendument Kurdistan" [l'équivalent caux par l'Etat central irakien rendant ne nous mobiliserions-nous pas pour de l'anglais "so called", terme abondam¬ plus efficaces les mécanismes de décision rendre meilleures les conditions de vie de une chez les an¬ ment utilisé dans certaine littérature politique Kurdes irakiens et nos Kurdes plutôt que de compter sur le politique turque comme, par exemple, nonçant même éventuellement pour plus sous-développement des Kurdes d'Irak ? dans le cas du "prétendu génocide armé¬ tard la formation d'un Etat kurde indé¬ Ne serait-ce pas plus humain ? Si compé¬ ces nien"], marchandises auraient-elles pendant dans cette région doit-elle être tition il doit y avoir, eh bien qu'elle soit aussi été bloquées ? Il y a quelques an¬ considérée comme si dangereuse pour la orientée pour voir quels Kurdes seront les nées, l'un des plus grands quotidiens Turquie ? Pourquoi l'utilisation par les plus heureux et les plus prospères. turcs avait titré en une sur la "prétendue Kurdes irakiens des revenus du pétrole question kurde". Voyez donc où nous a afin de permettre à leur pays d'atteindre Gùlay Gôktùrk mené cette politique consistant à nier un certain bien-être devrait-il constituer Buoûn systématiquement la réalité. Les géné- une menace pour nous ? En fait, nous

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« souveraimsme ». Les kémalistes conservateurs, armée en tête, frei¬ Paranoïas séparatistes nent des quatre fers devant les réformes démocrati¬ ques et l'introspection historique exigées par ce nouvel environnement Dans l'imaginaire nationa¬ liste, les puissances occidentales d'aujourd'hui sont les forces impérialistes d'hier. Ceux qui ont si ~ Ms en Turquie mis à genoux l'Empire ottoman conserveraient des desseins inavoués et comploteraient pour diviser eureux celui qui se dit turc », proclame la nation, avec l'aide des minorités. Les frontières S. le slogan national formulé par Musta¬ de la Turquie seraient menacées par le séparatis¬ fa Kemal. Mais qui peut réellement me kurde, grec ou arménien. Le PKK, dont les avoir accès à ce « bonheur » en Tur¬ bases au Kurdistan irakien sont pilonnées par l'ar¬ quie ? D'après le discours officiel, tous mée turque, a pourtant abandonné toute ambition ceux qui sont rassemblés sur ces terres, sans dis¬ Analyse sécessionniste depuis 1999, et la Turquie est une tinction de race ou de croyance. Dans les faits, les puissance régionale affirmée, dont les frontières membres des minorités religieuses, et certaines ne sont plus contestées. Mais la paranoïa sert de catégories ethniques restent des citoyens de secon¬ Guillaume Perrier ciment. Le traumatisme reste profondément ancré de zone. Le reliquat des populations chrétiennes dans la mémoire collective. (hellènes, arméniennes ou syriaques), les 15 mil¬ lions de Kurdes mais aussi les 10 millions de Changer de paradigme musulmans alévis sont régulièrement stigmatisés. Le politologue Baskin Oran qualifie cette obses¬ Une partie de la population continue à être perçue sion de l'intégrité territoriale de «syndrome de comme une menace contre l'unité nationale, qua¬ Sèvres », du nom du traité de 1920, qui prévoyait le tre-vingt-quatre ans après la fondation de la Répu¬ démembrement de l'empire. Il est d'ailleurs inté¬ blique. Car dans la conscience collective, le « bon¬ ressant de voir l'amalgame qui se crée en période heurd'être turc » renvoie nonpas à une idée territo¬ de crise : à Malatya, avantle procès des meurtriers, riale, mais bien à une définition ethnique mâtinée la presse locale a mené campagne contre les victi¬ de religieux. mes, accusant les évangélistes de soutenir le terro¬ Les brimades judiciaires à répétition, les agres¬ risme du PKK. La même accusation frappe réguliè¬ sions voire les meurtres commis contre les « enne¬ rement les Arméniens ou les « sionistes ». mis de l'intérieur », les « non-Turcs », témoi¬ Au-delà des meurtres spectaculaires, la violen¬ gnent d'un climat tendu. Le prêtre italien Andrea ce contre les minorités prend des formes institu¬ Santoro puis le journaliste arménien Hrant Dink tionnelles. Censées être « protégées » par le traité ont été assassinés. A Malatya, trois missionnaires de Lausanne de 1923, les minorités « non musul¬ évangélistes ont été égorgés. Plus récemment, le manes », sont, par exemple, limitées dans leur 16 décembre, un autre prêtre italien, le Père Adria- accès à la haute fonction publique. Des centaines no Francini, a été poignardé et grièvement blessé de biens immobiliers appartenant aux fondations à Izmir. Par ailleurs, galvanisés par la mobilisa¬ religieuses ont été légalement spoliés par l'Etat. tion anti-PKK, des groupes d'extrême droite ont Une loi mettant fin à cette situation est ardem¬ lancé des expéditions punitives ciblant les Kur¬ ment réclamée par l'UE, mais se heurte encore à des, à Istanbul ou à Bursa. Une série de crimes la bureaucratie. racistes commis au nom du sang turc, par de jeu¬ Pour les Kurdes, majoritairement sunnites, le nes ultranationalistes endoctrinés. Du déjà-vu différend porte sur les droits culturels, linguisti¬ dans l'histoire du pays. En 1955, par exemple, en ques et politiques. Les libertés des musulmans alé¬ pleine crise chypriote, la rumeur d'un attentat vis figurent, elles aussi, sur la liste de Bruxelles. Les contre la maison natale d'Atatiirk, à Salonique, adeptes de cette branche mystique etlibérale de l'is¬ déclencha les « pogroms du 6 septembre ». A lam se voient refuser le financement public des Istanbul, les commerces tenus par les grecs-ortho¬ lieux de culte, les cemevi, alors que les mosquées et doxes, mais aussi par les juifs et les Arméniens, les imams sont pris en charge par l'Etat. Et les éco¬ furent saccagés par la foule. liers alévis doivent subir les cours obligatoires de C'est également sur la base de propos déformés religion, où seul l'islam sunnite est enseigné. Une que Hrant Dink fut pris pour cible : d'abord par la anomalie condamnée par la Cour européenne des presse nationaliste, puis par lajustice et enfin par droits de l'homme. un tueur de 17 ans, Ogun Samast. La suite est Ces communautés minoritaires sont marginali¬ symptomatique : l'enquête n'a jamais permis de sées par rapport à un noyau prétendument unifor¬ remonter la piste des commanditaires. Des com¬ me. Une « norme » quasi mythologique : turque, plicités dans les hautes sphères de l'appareil étati¬ musulmane et sunnite. La Turquie est pourtant un que sont apparues en filigrane. Plus grave, creuset, une mosaïque de peuples réfugiés des Bal¬ Samast est devenu un héros populaire. Des stades kans, du Caucase ou d'Asie centrale, métissés fon¬ de football ont scandé son nom. Des gendarmes dus dans la collectivité. L'idéologie officielle s'est chargés de son arrestation ont pris la pause avec toujours employée à gommer les particularismes. lui, un drapeau turc entre les mains. Et le jour du Cette assimilation ne touche pas que les Kurdes. procès, les prévenus sont arrivés au tribunal dans Le comptage ethnique, qui était pratiqué pour cha¬ un véhicule militaire orné du slogan fétiche des que recensement, n'est plus rendu public depuis néofascistes turcs : « Ya sev ya terket ! », « Tu 1965. Et l'épuration culturelle concerne aussi bien l'aimes ou tu la quittes ! » les prénoms que lagastronomie, les noms des espè¬ Cette violence raciste ressurgit à chaque fois que ces animales ou l'architecture. Les programmes la Turquie est en proie à des crispations identitai¬ scolaires font la part belle à l'histoire des Huns, res. En pleine croissance depuis 2001, l'économie ancêtres des Turcs, au sens ethnique. Mais ne locale a embrassé la mondialisation. En 2004, disent mot des cultures anatoliennes qui préexis¬ Ankara a entamé de longues et pénibles négocia¬ taient. Ce que souhaitait Hrant Dink, comme son ami Baskin Oran, c'est que la Turquie change de tions d'adhésion à l'UE. Un changement soudain paradigme et proclame « heureux celui qui se dit de qui entraîne une perte de repères et une montée du Turquie et nonplus "turc" ».M

75 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Bastn ôzeti

TURQUIE-IRAK LUTTE CONTRE LE PKK fc Bonde che du PKK», cité mardi par 28 décembre 2007 l'Agence France-Presse, a décla¬ des aériens ré, sous couvert d'anonymat, que Intensification raids « cinq combattants avaient perdu la vie». turcs au Kurdistan irakien Le PKK est engagé depuis 1984 dans une lutte armée contre le L'AVIATION turque, qui est inter¬ raid, dont seize bases de comman¬ pouvoir central d'Ankara pour venue à plusieurs reprises depuis dement, d'entraînement et de obtenir l'autonomie du sud-est de la mi-décembre dans le nord ira¬ logistique, dix batteries antiaé¬ la Turquie, une région majoritai¬ kien, a poursuivi ses frappes, mer¬ riennes ainsi que quatorze dépôts rement kurde. On estime que ces credi 26 décembre, contre les de munitions. violences ont fait jusqu'à présent positions supposées de la rébel¬ L'armée turque a également 37 000 morts. Considéré comme lion kurde du Parti des tra¬ confirmé avoir mené une opéra¬ un groupe terroriste par les Etats- vailleurs du Kurdistan (PKK). La tion terrestre de faible ampleur, le Unis, les Nations unies et l'Union veille, l'armée turque avait affir¬ 18 décembre, sur quelques kilo¬ européenne, le PKK avait proposé mé avoir tué entre 150 et 175 rebel¬ mètres de profondeur en territoi¬ une trêve, en septembre 2006, les, lors des frappes du 16 décem¬ re irakien ainsi que de nouvelles refusée par Ankara qui avait déjà bre sur Qandil, une région très frappes aériennes, le 22 décem¬ mené une série de bombarde¬ montagneuse du Kurdistan ira¬ bre, contre « des caches et des batte¬ ments limités, notamment dans kien où le PKK s'est retranché. ries d'armes antiaériennes ». la région de Qandil. « Ce chiffre ne tient pas compte Le groupe a ensuite repris la lut¬ Côté kurde, ces chiffres n'ont des terroristes qui ont été éliminés te armée. Avec l'intensification été confirmés ni par le gouverne¬ lorsque leurs abris se sont effondrés des violences, le gouvernement ment autonome de la région du sous l'effet des frappes », a ajouté turc a obtenu du Parlement, en Kurdistan d'Irak ni par les rebel¬ l'état-major, précisant que le raid novembre, l'autorisation d'inter¬ les qui ont démenti, via leur site avait fait aussi de nombreux bles¬ venir militairement en Irak, fai¬ Internet, « des propos menson¬ sés dans les rangs de la rébellion. sant craindre une escalade de la gers » et la « propagande » tur¬ Quelque 200 cibles auraient éga¬ violence. (AFP, Reuters.) que. Un responsable kurde « pro - lement été détruites durant ce

TURQUIE-IRAK ielïïonOe Des agents israéliens 29 décembre 2007 aident l'armée turque

dans ses opérations reils volent à très haute altitude, quelles l'agence Associated Press a par ailleurs que soient les conditions météo. Ils peu¬ annoncé la livraison imminente à la Tur¬ au Kurdistan irakien vent filmer des cibles, transmettre des quie de 10 drones. « La nouvelle de l'impli¬ informations, mais aussi transporter des cation d'agents israéliens dans l'offensive DES AGENTS de la firme Israel Aerospa¬ charges explosives. L'état-major turc s'est contre les Kurdes, note cependant Haaretz, ce Industries (IAI, travaillant pour la félicité, mercredi, de ce que « les succès de risque de ne pas être bien accueillie par le défense israélienne), chargés de mettre ces opérations indiquent que les conditions gouvernement de la région autonome du en oeuvre des drones (avions sans pilote), saisonnières, la visibilité et la nature du ter¬ Kurdistan irakien. » participent aux opérations militaires rain nepeuventpas être un obstaclepour les Israël, en aidant son alhé turc dans l'at¬ menées par la Turquie dans le nord de forces armées turques ». taque d'un territoire contrôlé par un autre l'Irak, rapportent, jeudi 27 décembre, le En mai 2005, IAI avait annoncé la alhé régional, se retrouve dans une posi¬ Turkish Daily News et le quotidien israé¬ signature d'un contrat de 190 millions de tion ambiguë. Les dirigeants kurdes ira¬ lien Haaretz. dollars aveclaTurquie pourl'achat de dro¬ kiens ont en effet bénéficié d'un soutien Depuis la mi-décembre, l'aviation tur¬ nes Heron. Un retard de livraison, prévue israélien, à plusieurs reprises, au cours de que a multiplié les raids contre les posi¬ en octobre 2007, expliquerait la présence leur longue rébellion contre l'autorité de tions des combattants kurdes du Parti dés de personnels israéliens comme « solu¬ Bagdad. Depuis 2003, plusieurs médias travailleurs du Kurdistan (PKK), tuant tion provisoire». IAI a accepté de louer ont fait état d'une coopération récente entre 150 et 175 d'entre eux, selon l'armée des appareils, écrit Haaretz, mis en oeuvre entre le gouvernement kurde irakien et turque. En lutte contre l'autorité centrale par des professionnels israéliens, pen¬ l'armée israélienne, qui lui fournirait d'Ankara depuis 1984, le PKK s'est retran¬ dant un an et pour 10 millions de dollars. armes et entraînements. ché dans les montagnes du Nord irakien. La Turquie, plus proche alhé de l'Etat CÉCILE HENNION La Turquie utilise, selon les quotidiens juif au sein du monde musulman, est un turc et israélien, des drones de type Heron gros client d'Israël en matière d'arme¬ Machatz-1, fabriqués par IAI. Ces appa ment. Jeudi; un officiel israélien cité par

76 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Ozeti (FOREIGN AFFAIRS »<»*«"<»»>' *°" The Old Turks' Revolt When Radical Secularism Endangers Democracy Bv Ômer Taspinar Summary: The ruckus over the election of a religious conservative as Turkey's president has exposed the illiberal na¬ ture of Turkish secularism ~ as well as the pragmatism of the country's reformed Islamists. Preserving democracy in Turkey by keeping the military out of politics will be a tall order, but the future of the Muslim world's most promising democratic experiment is at stake. ÔMER TASPINAR is Professor of National Security Strategy at the U.S. National War College and a Fellow at the Brook¬ ings Institution. The views expressed here are his own.

Countries eyeing membership in the European Union do zealous secularists would struggle to find an Islamist drive to import European civilization wholesale, the republic not usually come to the brink of a military coup. Yet agenda behind all this. disposed of the caliphate, the Arabic alphabet, Islamic that is precisely where Turkey found itself on April 27 of this education, and the Sufi brotherhoods. It adopted Western Thus, the AKP's landslide victory in July - it won 47 year, after weeks of a pitched battle between the country's legal codes from Germany, Italy, and Switzerland, together percent of the vote, compared with 34 percent in 2002, generals and the ruling Justice and Development Party with the Latin alphabet and the Western calendar, Western when it first came to power - was less a victory for Islam (known as the AKP). holidays, and Western measuring systems. The country's over secularism than a victory for the new democratic, pro- official history and language were reworked. A new educa¬ The AKP, a conservative populist movement with Islamic market, and globally integrated Turkey over the old authori¬ tion system glorified pre-lslamic Turkic civilizations at the roots, had announced its decision to nominate Foreign tarian, statist, and introverted one. As many Turkish jour¬ expense of the country's more recent Ottoman past, and Minister Abdullah Gùl, a well-respected, jovial politician and nalists wrote in its wake, the July 22 election represented many Arabic and Persian words were purged to create an the architect of the AKP's ambitious drive to get Turkey into "the people's memorandum" - a rebuke to the generals' "authentically" Turkish vocabulary. In the name of secular¬ the EU, to the largely ceremonial but prestigious post of online memorandum of April 27. The AKP crowned its ism, even the Arabic azan, the Islamic call to prayer, was president. The media and the business community wel¬ victory by electing GUI to the presidency in August. Since translated into modern Turkish. The traditional Ottoman comed the choice as a conciliatory sign; they were relieved then, Giil has sought to ease the fears of his critics by headgear, known as a fez, was banned. Women were that Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the more mercurial and declaring that he will abide by the secular principles of the prohibited from wearing the Islamic veil in public. And polarizing prime minister, would not be running. But the republic and continue to steer Turkey toward the EU. Yet Western clothing became the new compulsory dress code staunchly secularist military and the Republican People's the top brass refused to salute him during his first official for men. Party (known as the CHP), a center-left opposition party, engagement and stayed away from his oath-taking cere¬ were not happy. To them, the presidency was the last mony. The military's shadow still looms large over Turkish Despite such ambitious reforms, however, Kemalist se- bastion of secularism, and Gul, who once flirted with democracy. curalism barely infiltrated Turkish society at large. The rural political Islam and whose wife wears a headscarf, posed an and pious masses of Anatolia remained largely unaffected To be sure, alarmism about Islamization will continue to existential threat to the republic. by the cultural reengineering taking place in Ankara; it was dominate the narrative of secularists in Turkey and the the military, the government bureaucracy, and the urban The CHP, along with other parties, boycotted the first round narrative in some Western circles for some time. But much bourgeoisie who adapted most readily to Kemalism's of the parliamentary election, held on April 27, and the vote of this anxiety is misplaced, for it overlooks both the radical thorough westernization. Winning hearts and minds in the proved inconclusive. There was little doubt that the AKP and illiberal nature of Turkish secularism and the pragma¬ countryside would have required the use of traditional and would eventually prevail, however, since in a third round, if tism of Turkey's reformed Islamists. It also overlooks an religious symbols, but those were anathema to the Turkish it came to that, a simple majority would do. But that day, ironic role reversal: just as the AKP and its supporters have republic's founding fathers. In short order, the cultural gap the CHP also challenged the whole process before the become more pro-Western and pro-globalization, the between the Kemalist center and the Anatolian periphery constitutional court, asking that the election be annulled on military and the Kemalist establishment have become more had become insurmountable. As a CHP slogan from the the dubious grounds that the legislature had lacked the insular and more nationalist, and resentful of the EU and 1920s put it, the Turkish government seemed to rule "For necessary two-thirds quorum to vote. That night, all eyes the United States. the People, Despite the People." were therefore on the court. And just as television pundits The real challenge for Turkey will be to maintain a working were debating how long it would take to issue a decision, A CIVILIZING MISSION democracy by keeping the military out of politics. This is a sudden news from the military struck the country like tall order, but the future of the most promising democratic Partly as a result, Kemalism promoted two ideologies lightning. experiment in the Muslim world is at stake. Turkey has that continue to divide Turkish society today. The first The generals had just staged the country's first "e-coup," as simply come too far in its democratic journey to be con¬ was radical secularism. The Kemalists' "civilizing mission," a dumbfounded Turkish press called it, by posting on the sumed by problems that hark back to its founding years as it might be called, was strongly influenced by the French Turkish military's official Web site a warning that "if neces¬ and to revert to the old days of military intervention. Revolution, its Jacobin leanings, and especially the French sary, the Turkish Armed Forces will not hesitate to make anticlerical tradition of laïcité, a particularly aggressive form A TORN COUNTRY their position and stance abundantly clear as the absolute of state-enforced secularism. In both France and Turkey, defenders of secularism." Given Turkey's history - the Turkey remains, as the political scientist Samuel religion became a symbol of counterrevolution and opposi¬ country has known four military interventions since 1960 - Huntington once put it, a "torn country." It straddles the tion to the republic. Militantly committed to assuming the note was a thinly veiled threat that a more conventional geographic and cultural borders of Europe and Asia without progressive roles against reactionary enemies, the propo¬ coup might be in the offing. fully belonging to the civilization of either continent. Its nents of both French laïcité and its Kemalist equivalent, relations with Europe, especially, have been fraught. Long laiklik, were keen on taking religion out of the public The next day, the AKP condemned the military's attempt to seen as a military and religious threat, the Ottoman Empire sphere. For them, laiklik was the dividing line between influence the judiciary, but within 48 hours, the constitu¬ played a crucial role in consolidating Europe's Christian enlightened and obscurantist, progressive and conserva¬ tional court decided that parliament did lack the quorum identity. But in the late nineteenth century, as the empire's tive, modern and traditional. needed to hold elections for president. A coup was grandeur declined, Istanbul launched one of the earliest avoided, and a semblance of democracy maintained. With Laiklik readily grafted itself onto a long-standing tradition of westernization projects in history. Having suffered a series parliament now unable to select anyone at all, early general state hegemony over religion, a legacy of the Ottoman of humiliating defeats at the hands of European armies and elections were called for July 22. Turkey was on edge Empire. Ottoman sultans had often enacted laws outside having grudgingly recognized the superiority of Western during the following three months. Political polarization over the realm of Islamic sharia, based on political rather than military technique, the Ottoman military was the first the country's deeply rooted identity problems worsened religious principles. When Islam and the Ottoman Empire's institution to modernize. Its troops adopted European amid concerns that the military might once again step in. raison d'état clashed, the sultans favored the state. Like¬ weapons, and its academies Western sciences and educa¬ Millions took to the streets in anti-AKP demonstrations, wise, the Kemalists maintained firm control over Islam tional methods. Its top cadres became Europe's greatest some orchestrated by retired generals. But Prime Minister because they saw religion as a political threat and Islam, in emulators. Erdogan refused to be intimidated. During his campaign, he particular, as a cause of social, cultural, political, and appealed to the pragmatic and democratic instincts of the A more radical form of westernization came on the eve of economic decline. Having realized, however, that eradicat¬ Turkish people, asking them to consider his political and World War I under the Young Turks and after the war under ing Islam altogether was not a realistic option, they tried to economic record rather than the sinister scenarios of the leadership of Mustafa Kemal (better known as Ataturk), promote a "civilized" version of it. Instead of formally creeping Islamization put forward by his opponents. The the founder, in 1923, of the Turkish republic. In the 1920s separating state and religion (as France did in 1905), AKP government had doubled the country's per capita and 1930s, the Kemalists, mostly military men who had modern Turkey monopolized religious functions and income, significantly improved its democratic record, and been exposed to Western-style positivist education in incorporated religious personnel into the state bureaucracy. begun accession negotiations with the EU - even the most Ottoman military academies, adopted a top-down project of To this day, the government-controlled Directorate of radical modernization for the new Turkey. In an ambitious Religious Affairs supervises and regulates Islam throughout

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

Turkey, appoints and pays the country's imams, and issues productive results. Instances of torture and killings in the reciting a poem with Islamic undertones.) And the secular¬ standardized sermons to be read out in thousands of Diyarbakir military prison between 1980 and 1983 helped ist backlash against the Welfare Party further convinced mosques each Friday. plant the seeds of Kurdish ethnic separatism in Turkey's moderate Islamist politicians of the benefits of liberal southeastern region. In 1984, a formerly Maoist Kurdish democracy. After having participated in democratic politics The second divisive ideology promoted by Kemalism was movement with a strong regional following, the PKK (Kurd¬ for over three decades, they had already learned to temper assimilationist nationalism. Modern Turkey pursued an istan Workers' Party), launched a separatist terrorist their views in order to gain electoral legitimacy; by the late active policy of assimilation of its Muslim minorities. "Turk- insurgency. The military junta's methods against the left 1990s, political Islam was well integrated into the main¬ ishness" came to be defined as a common national, between 1980 and 1983 proved equally ill advised. To stream political system. When, in 2001, Erdogan created linguistic, and territorial identity. Taking France as its model depoliticize the left-leaning youth, the generals encouraged the AKP from the ashes of the recently dissolved Welfare again, the Kemalist regime rejected the concept of multicul- the practice of state-controlled Islam: they expanded the Party, it was as a moderate conservative party. turalism; no communal structure would stand between the budget of the Directorate of Religious Affairs, increased the republic and its citizens. Unlike the Ottoman elites, the Meanwhile, capitalism and private-sector-driven economic number of Islamic high schools throughout the country, and Kemalists rejected multiethnic and multinational cosmopol¬ development helped a new religiously conservative base to introduced compulsory courses on religion in primary and itanism and banned Armenians, Greeks, and Jews from emerge. The gradual political, social, and economic open¬ middle schools. And in an attempt to create a united holding government jobs. Thus, ironically, the "secular" ing of Turkey under Prime Minister Turgut Ôzal during the Turkish-Islamic front against communism, they tried to win Turkish republic turned out to be less tolerant toward its 1980s had created an entrepreneurial Muslim bourgeoisie over Muslim constituencies by granting them more rights; non-Muslim minorities than the "Islamic" Ottoman Empire in the heartland of Anatolia. These middle-class Muslims for instance, they struck a law prohibiting graduates of had been, partly because Turkishness was associated with were globally integrated in terms of business but socially Islamic high schools from studying subjects other than being Muslim. and culturally more insular than the elites in Istanbul and theology at universities. But by doing so, the military Ankara. In time, these small and medium-sized business Predictably, assimilationist nationalism faced violent inadvertently boosted the number of youths sympathetic to groups - the "Anatolian tigers," as political economists opposition from religious conservatives and ethnic Kurds, political Islam - and these young Islamists began to called them - created their own financial networks and especially in the semiautonomous Kurdish provinces of express their views openly when the Cold War ended. The challenged the supremacy of the large industrial conglom¬ southeastern Turkey, which had had little exposure to Turkish military had twice shot itself in the foot. erates based in Istanbul. By the turn of the millennium, the centralization even during Ottoman times. In fact, Kemalist By the 1990s, it seemed as if the Turkish republic was back support of these businesspeople ended up proving crucial supremacy was finally established only after the military in the 1920s and 1930s, once again facing the twin chal¬ in helping the AKP shed its Islamist past and rebrand itself suppressed more than a dozen Kurdish Islamic uprisings in lenges that had defined its founding years, political Islam as a pro-market and pro-Western conservative democratic the 1920s. These major rebellions traumatized the young and Kurdish dissent. And despite a radically different party. republic's military leaders and created their suspicion of all international context, Ankara's response took a classic things Kurdish and Islamic, which abides to this day. They At roughly the same time, EU leaders finally certified Kemalist form: an authoritarian determination to reject any also convinced the generals that from then on they would Turkey's "full eligibility" for EU membership, giving the AKP cultural or political compromise. The result was the lost have to act as the custodians of secularism and national¬ yet another boost. Turkey's candidacy was on track, and decade of the 1990s - a decade of war with Kurdish ism. Erdogan, who understood that political liberalization would separatists, polarization between secularists and Islamists, consolidate the AKP's power base, wisely placed the EU's RECURRENCES economic turmoil, and systemic corruption. guidelines for democratization at the top of the AKP's After Ataturk's death, in 1938, Ismet Inonu, another The Kurdish crisis was particularly badly timed: it came just agenda. In so doing, he achieved two crucial objectives. military hero turned statesman, assumed the presi¬ as Turkey needed to demonstrate its democratic creden¬ First, he earned the support of Turkey's business commu¬ dency. He kept Turkey out of World War II, but soon after tials to the EU, which had seemed skeptical since Turkey nity, liberal intellectuals, and pragmatic middle class. the conflict ended, the Soviet Union's territorial ambitions first applied for membership, in 1963. The Turkish military's Second, and perhaps more important, he won political became clear, and Turkey urgently wanted to join the free conflict with the Kurds cost the country dearly. Between legitimacy in the eyes of the staunchly secularist military; world. Before long, Turkey had become NATO's southern 1984 and 1999, the internal struggle killed 40,000 people the EU, after all, had been the ultimate prize in Ataturk's bulwark against the Soviet Union, and its credentials as an and consumed, in military expenditures alone, an estimated vision of a truly westernized Turkey. By distancing itself ally of the West were undisputed. In a Cold War world $120 billion. It seemed to quash all hope that the country from political Islam and embracing democratic and liberal dominated by nuclear threats and a delicate balance of might democratize soon. Also, to Ankara's dismay, the EU positions - as well as condemning corruption - the AKP power, thorny questions concerning Turkey's military saw the conflict as the legitimate rebellion of an ethnic also appealed to Turkey's impoverished underclass. The interventions, human rights standards, and Muslim identity group whose cultural and political rights were being denied strategy paid off: in 2002, the party won the parliamentary were rarely raised. Turkey fell neatly into the bipolar by an authoritarian regime. elections. configuration of the Cold War; realpolitik dictated its inclu¬ THE ISLAMIC REVIVAL The AKP government soon passed an impressive series of sion in "the West." reforms to harmonize Turkey's judicial system, civil-military n the meantime, the influence of the pro-Islamist Welfare On the other hand, the Cold War also forced Turkey to relations, and human rights practices with European norms. Party rose, worsening the Kemalists' sense of insecurity. enter the age of democracy. The prospect of joining NATO Thanks to its formidable grass-roots network, the AKP was In 1994, at the height of both an acute financial crisis and and qualifying for U.S. assistance under the Marshall Plan able to provide much-needed social and economic serv¬ the military struggle against Kurdish separatists, the encouraged Inonii to hold multiparty elections. Further¬ ices: it made health care and housing credits more acces¬ Welfare Party shocked the secularist establishment by more, as communism emerged as the new major threat, sible, distributed food, increased grants for students, winning local elections nationwide and capturing control of Kemalist secularism and nationalism slowly lost their improved the infrastructure of poorer urban districts, and Turkey's two largest metropolitan areas, Istanbul and political relevance. So did Islam and Kurdish nationalism, made the promotion of minority rights for Kurds and non- Ankara: the capital would now be run by an Islamist mayor. the twin threats of the 1930s, at least on the surface. The Muslims a priority. Its efforts were not confined to democra¬ Just a year later, another Welfare Party victory, this time in new fault line dividing Turkey seemed to be ideological - tization. Following guidelines from the International Mone¬ parliamentary elections, put an Islamist-led coalition in an opposition between the right and the left - rather than tary Fund's stabilization program, the party also managed charge of the entire country. religious or ethnic. Kurdish and Muslim dissent did not fully to get the Turkish economy back on track after the eco¬ vanish, of course, but it was transformed. Kurdish discon¬ The secularist establishment began to worry that the new nomic crisis of 2001. Between 2002 and 2007, the Turkish tent was redefined in terms of a class struggle, and it found Islamist-led government would adopt an overtly Islamic economy grew by an average of 7.5 percent. Lower infla¬ a home in Turkey's fledgling socialist movement; political agenda and authoritarian manners. They feared it would tion and lower interest rates led to a major increase in Islam joined forces with conservative anticommunist suppress the secularist opposition, lift the headscarf ban, domestic consumption, and thanks to a disciplined privati¬ political parties. and challenge Turkey's alliances with Western states. In zation program, the Turkish economy began to attract fact, the Welfare Party and Prime Minister Necmettin unprecedented amounts foreign Despite democratization, one thing hardly changed during of direct investment. The Erbakan hardly broke from mainstream Turkish political average per capita income nearly doubled, from $2,800 in the Cold War: Turkey remained politically unstable, and practices. The party did try to plant its sympathizers in the 2001 to around $5,000 in 2007, exceeding those of some each time the Turkish General Staff thought the republic ministries it controlled, but so had many previous govern¬ new EU members. was in danger, it intervened, like a deus ex machina. It ments. Still, the secularist press rang the alarm, warning of ousted civilian governments three times during the Cold THE HIDDEN AGENDA an imminent Islamist revolution. On February 28, 1997, the War -in 1960, 1971, and 1980 -on each occasion staying military - in a concerted effort with civil-society organiza¬ Yet even as the AKP moved closer to a more liberal in power only long enough to restore law and order. The tions and the secularist press - forced Erbakan and his order, the Kemalist segments of Turkish society grew 1960 coup ousted the Democrat Party, a conservative party out of power. increasingly suspicious that it had a hidden agenda. They movement representing the Anatolian periphery that had feared that the AKP was exploiting the EU membership easily won all the free elections held between 1950 and This bloodless coup had major, if unintended, conse¬ process to diminish the military's political role and eventu¬ 1960. The deposed prime minister, Adnan Menderes, was quences. It paved the way for serious soul-searching ally do away with Turkey's Kemalist legacy. They balked, sentenced to death for "subversion against the constitu¬ among Turkey's Islamists, eventually causing a genera¬ for instance, at AKP measures to increase the ratio of tional order." tional and ideological rift within their movement. The civilians to military officers on the National Security Council, Welfare Party's pragmatic young leaders, such as Erdogan The interventions of 1971 and 1980, for their part, had elect a civilian to head the NSC's secretariat, remove and GUI, recognized the red lines of Turkish secularism. strong anti-leftist tendencies, and that of 1980, in particular, military representatives on the boards of the Council of (Erdogan, then the mayor of Istanbul, learned the lesson brutally crushed Kurdish and leftist dissent - with counter the hard way: he spent four months in jail in 1999 for

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

Higher Education and the Radio and Television High are reluctant to offer Turkey full membership. Partly as a to play. In the past, Washington tacitly approved military Council, and grant Kurds broadcasting and cultural rights. result, according to polls, only 40 percent of Turks are now coups in Turkey, especially anti-leftist putsches during the enthusiastic about accession, down from 75 percent in Cold War. Given the recent realignment of the Turkish Another major bone of contention was Prime Minister 2005. Although a majority of Turks still want to see their political spectrum, one might have expected Washington to Erdogan's willingness to compromise on the question of country become a proud member of the EU, an even larger support the pro-Western and pro-democracy AKP against Cyprus. The AKP strongly supported a UN plan to reunify majority believe the EU will never fully embrace Turkey, the military's e-coup of April 27. But unlike the EU, which the island; the military adamantly opposed it. Since the mainly because of its Muslim identity. immediately condemned the military's interference, Wash¬ deadlock over Cyprus was an important obstacle to Tur¬ ington initially refused "to take sides," as Assistant Secre¬ key's EU membership prospects, the issue polarized As the Turkish public grows frustrated with the EU's lead¬ tary of State Daniel Fried put it. Despite the Bush admini¬ Turkish politics, creating pro-EU and anti-EU camps. The ers, so it does with its own. The AKP's Muslim constituency stration's continued lip service to the "freedom and democ¬ independent magazine Nokta recently revealed that a was shocked by the European Court of Human Rights' racy" agenda, State Department officials initially went so far military coup over the issue of Cyprus was barely averted 2005 decision to uphold a ban on Islamic headscarves in as to defend the Turkish military's "constitutional duties" to in 2004, due to divisions among the Turkish General Staffs Turkish universities, on the grounds that it was necessary protect secularism. It was only five days after the e-coup, top brass. In retrospect, the AKP seems to have been to "preserve the secular character of educational institu¬ when Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice finally declared extremely lucky that the chief of the Turkish General Staff tions." They had supported the EU process in the hope the United States' support for democracy in Turkey, that between 2002 and 2006 was Hilmi Ôzkôk, a general deeply that, as the AKP promised, it would promote religious Washington's position fell in line with the EU's. committed to civilian supremacy over the military; he is said freedom in Turkey. Furthermore, the failure of the AKP's to have restrained hard-liners in his camp. Cyprus policy to end the economic and political isolation of This high-wire act was probably the result of Washington's the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, which is recog¬ fear that a real coup might be in the making; unwilling to Today, even the most ardent secularists within the military nized only by Turkey, has left the party open to the charge risk its relationship with the generals, Washington hedged. know they cannot successfully stage a coup against the that it has sold out Turkish interests to please the EU. Another motivation for accommodating the Turkish General AKP on the grounds that it has become too pro-Western; Staff may have been to keep Turkish forces out of Iraqi thus, their rallying cry has become the party's alleged Thanks to the July election, Turkey's quest for EU mem¬ Kurdistan, currently the only stable part of Iraq. Washington agenda to slowly Islamize Turkey. The AKP has never bership will remain on track. Having suffered the most from deemed maintaining good communication channels with hidden its desire to lift the ban on wearing headscarves in the illiberal tendencies of the Turkish political system, the the Turkish generals to be in the United States' national universities and end discriminatory measures against former Islamists continue to see the EU as their best hope interest, even if doing so inevitably came at the expense of graduates of Islamic high schools (such as special criteria for moving the country toward democracy and economic Turkish democracy. for their university entry examinations). And with more than prosperity. But there are limits to what the AKP's pro-EU 50 percent of Turkish women covering their heads, the stance can accomplish, particularly at a time when the EU This is an unprincipled and misguided approach. Unambi¬ party could easily get more confrontational without alienat¬ is sending Turkey mixed signals. The rising tide of Turkish guous support for Turkey's democratic process against any ing too much of the electorate. But the AKP's leaders prefer nationalism, which brought the far-right Nationalist Move¬ military intervention would serve U.S. interests much better. to promote reform by building a national consensus around ment Party back into parliament with 14 percent of the vote After all, there is little chance that a nationalist, Kemalist these issues rather than by challenging the secularist and gave the Euroskeptical CHP 20 percent, will also make military junta would listen to U.S. concerns about the establishment head-on. Nevertheless, the secularists it difficult for the AKP to create a national consensus on the Kurdish question and northern Iraq. Moreover, Washington remain wary. They often point out Erdogan's brief attempt EU. would be hard-pressed to find on Turkey's current political to criminalize adultery in 2004, his appointment of religious scene a better ally than the AKP to push for domestic Turkey's relations with the United States are faring no conservatives to bureaucratic positions, or attempts by the democratic reforms and a pro-Western foreign policy. And better, despite 50 years of a successful strategic partner¬ AKP to persuade certain municipalities to discourage the having recently won overwhelming support from Turkey's ship. The Turkish parliament's refusal to allow U.S. forces sale of alcohol. Kurdish population, the AKP is likely to make new over¬ to use Turkish territory to launch an invasion of Iraq in tures to mainstream Kurds while fighting separatist terror¬ The secularists and the Turkish military certainly have the March 2003 shocked Washington. And now the Turks ism. This would be a welcome development since it could right to be vigilant about Islamization. They may legiti¬ deeply resent the effect that the war in Iraq has had on catalyze a positive chain reaction: granting amnesty to mately feel uneasy now that the AKP dominates the Kurdish separatism. Turkey's long-standing fear that Kurdish militants willing to lay down their arms, for exam¬ presidency as well as the legislative and executive independence-minded Kurdish nationalists would dominate ple, could improve Turkey's democratic image in Europe. branches. But one hopes that the July 22 elections have northern Iraq - thereby setting a dangerous example for also made them understand that they will not strengthen Turkey's own 15 million Kurds - has become a reality. The United States and the EU, for their part, should do their case by derailing the democratic process or bending Since the PKK has found a new safe haven in Iraq and much more to help Turkish democracy. Washington could constitutional law. The major increase in the AKP's popu¬ resumed its attack on Turkish territories over the last two start by addressing the PKK question more effectively, larity since 2002 confirmed that although Turks continue to years, Turkish resentment of the United States is at an all- which would help prevent the militarization of Turkish respect the military, they prefer to see the generals in the time high. The Bush administration's post-9/11 counterter- domestic and foreign policy. Even a symbolic crackdown military barracks rather than hovering by the ballot boxes. rorist rhetoric has unwittingly added to the tensions: Wash¬ on PKK camps in northern Iraq would go a long way toward ington's insistence that the advent of a moderate form of improving U.S.-Turkish relations. Alternatively, Washington It is now up to the generals to show maturity and restraint. Islam in Turkey could be a model for the Middle East has could ask its Kurdish friends in Iraq to address the PKK Some hard-liners within the military may believe that it is been music to the ears of the AKP but an insult to the question more effectively themselves, as a goodwill gesture the Kemalist tradition of strict secularism that has moder¬ Kemalist secularists. to their Turkish neighbor. And the EU should show more ated Turkish Islam. And perhaps it has, to some extent. But flexibility on the Cyprus question in order to keep Turkey on they should remember that democracy and capitalism have These external tensions also matter because they are track to reform. Opening trade relations with the Turkish done more to tame political Islam. And they should be heightening differences between the AKP and the secular¬ part of Cyprus, for instance, could end the current deadlock mindful that radical secularism could eventually breed ist establishment in curious ways. The pressing domestic in EU-Turkish relations. radical Islam. That Turkey has so far avoided such a problem facing Turkey today is not Islamization, as both the predicament is no reason for pushing the limits of secular¬ Kemalist establishment and some anti-Islamic Western The stakes are high. Not only is Turkey the most advanced ism. The experience of the Arab world clearly shows that groups fear, but a growing nationalist frustration with democracy in the Muslim world, but it also shares borders authoritarianism only fuels extremism; in the absence of Europe and the United States. An interesting paradox is with Iran, Iraq, and Syria. It abuts Armenia and Georgia in democracy, mosques become the only outlet for dissent, emerging. The conservative AKP government, despite the Caucasus and serves as an energy corridor through and Islam the only voice of resistance against tyranny. If being a party with Islamic roots, has done much more than which the vast oil and gas reserves of the Caspian Sea and the Turkish military goes too far in trying to repress moder¬ the previous secular governments to improve Turkey's Central Asia pass to the West. A democratic and Western- ate Islam, it will risk spawning a more radical version. chances of joining the EU. But even as these former oriented Turkey under the AKP's leadership would act as a stabilizing influence on Iraq, remain a valuable actor in THE OCCIDENT EXPRESS Islamists have become enthusiastically pro-Western and pro-globalization, the Kemalist establishment is increas¬ Afghanistan, and set an example for the rest of the Muslim Under normal circumstances, one factor that might ingly turning inward. In fact, today, retired generals are world. A resentful, authoritarian, and nationalist Turkey appease the secularist paranoia in Turkey would be leading Turkey's neo-nationalist, anti-NATO, and anti- would be the opposite in every respect. More broadly, the the European leanings of the AKP, which has done much Western revival partly by advocating a pro-Russian and success of Turkey's experiment in synthesizing Islam, more than any other Turkish government to improve pro-Asian foreign policy orientation as an alternative. secularism, and liberal democracy would be a rebuke to the Turkey's chances of joining the EU. Lately, however, Herein lies Turkey's "Kemalist paradox": an ideology "clash of civilizations" argument. Turkey's European journey has looked increasingly prob¬ designed to westernize the country is now increasingly The July 22 election was a victory for Turkish democracy lematic. Full-membership negotiations between Ankara and turning anti-EU and anti-American because the Kemalists and a step in the right direction. It is now up to the AKP to Brussels started in December 2005 but have been partially consider the EU and Washington to be the main supporters show that it deserved such massive support - and to the suspended recently because of the unresolved Cyprus of Kurdish nationalism - in their eyes, an existential threat United States and Europe to help Turkey's positive trans¬ issue. Pessimism prevails in both Turkey and Europe. The to the republic. formation along. EU is suffering from enlargement fatigue, and since the TAKING THE RIGHT SIDE French and the Dutch rejected the EU draft constitution in 2005, it is now much harder for European politicians to However Turkey's domestic politics evolve, they are ignore public opinion. The German chancellor, Angela likely to be shaped at least in part by Turkey's relations Merkel, and the new French president, Nicolas Sarkozy, with the West; thus, the United States has an important role

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