INSTITUT KUDE RPARD IS E

Information and liaison bulletin N°312 MARCH 2011 The publication of this Bulletin enjoys a subsidy from the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs (DGCID) aqnd the Fonds d’action et de soutien pour l’intégration et la lutte contre les discriminations (The Fund for action and support of integration and the struggle against discrimination) This bulletin is issued in French and English Price per issue : France: 6 € — Abroad : 7,5 € Annual subscribtion (12 issues) France : 60 € — Elsewhere : 75 € Monthly review Directeur de la publication : Mohamad HASSAN Numéro de la Commission Paritaire : 659 15 A.S. ISBN 0761 1285

INSTITUT KURDE, 106, rue La Fayette - 75010 PARIS Tel. : 01-48 24 64 64 - Fax : 01-48 24 64 66 www.fikp.org E-mail: bulletin@fikp.org Contents

• KIRKUK: TENSIONS OVER THE WITHDRAWAL OF THE PESHMERGAS.

• IRAQI KURDISTAN: THE HISTORIC VISIT OF THE TURKISH PRIME MINISTER.

• SYRIA: IN THE MIDDLE OF THE “ARAB SPRING” CONTAGION, THE KURDS ARE REMAINING CAUTIOUS.

• TURKEY: IBRAHIM TATLISES HAS SURVIVED THE THIRD ATTEMPT TO MURDER HIM.

• CULTURE: HINER SALEEM’S FILM: “IF YOU DIE I’LL KILL YOU” HAS BEEN RELEASED.

KIRKUK: TENSIONS OVER THE WITHDRAWAL OF THE PESHMERGAS he “day of anger” that his reasons were only their quarters and on Kurdish organised throughout because of just one of the political party offices. T Iraq on 25 February demonstrators’ demands, name - with a mixed backing ly the withdrawal of the This fear was confirmed, accord - depending on the Peshmergas from the Province. ing to Jafar Mustafa, by a hostile regions, had the unexpected result anti-Kurdish statement by some of inflaming the debate about However the Kurdish Minister Arab movements: “ The Baathists Kirkuk and its status, a source of for the Peshmergas, Jafar Sheikh intended to attack the institutions conflict between Kurds and Iraqis. Mustafa, retorted that his troops’ run by the Kurds and by the The governor of Kirkuk, in deed, presence was necessary because Turcomen (…) when the police banned an Arab demonstration in of the danger that the behaviour alone would be have to ensure secu - the city and imposed a curfew, of some extremist Iraqi Arabs rity in Kirkuk were the Peshmergas while troops and Peshmergas sur - towards the Kurds in Kirkuk. to withdraw ”. Jafar Mustafa rounded Kirkuk. Thus, since the latter were refus - added that the Arab agitators he ing to take part in these demon - incriminated did not represent The pro-Arab parties violently strations, they seemed to fear an the views of the “real” Arabs of criticised this decision, arguing attack by the demonstrators in Kirkuk. • 2 • Information and liaison bulletin n° 312 • March 2011

General Aziz Waisi, commander Province’s towns, Hawja and protested at the fact that Jalal of the Zerevani (Kurdish Special Riyadh, and three police killed. Talabani’s position “ did not repre - forces) also confirmed that the The controversy very soon sent any group or party but was aim of the Kurdish troops was to spread beyond the Iraqi borders President of Iraq ”. He also added protect their fellow countrymen when the Turkish newspaper that the Kurds’ “ inclination ” to from attacks by Arab extremists. Milliyet , commenting on the visit annex Kirkuk was “enormous” “We have come to Kirkuk at the to the Kurdistan Region of a and that they had a “ strategic Governor’s request. We will not with - Turkish Foreign Ministry delega - vision ” behind this. draw our forces until he asks us to ”. tion led by Fereydun Sinirlioglu, Assistant Foreign Minister, An Arab member of the Kirkuk Rizgar Ali, a Kurdish member of reported that the object of the Provincial Council, Mohammed the Kirkuk Provincial Council, visit was not only to meet Khalil al-Juburi, also criticised for his part, recalled that the President Barzani but to raise the this stand, saying that, as Kurds had not been deployed Kirkuk issue and the stationing President of Iraq, he should round the city without US agree - of Kurdish forces there. Thus the remain impartial. ment. “ This was due to an agree - delegation is alleged to have ment reached between the Minister expressed its “concern” for the The Kurds, on the other hand, for the Peshmergas and the city’s Turcoman community and retorted that, at this PUK rally, American forces ”. asked the President to withdraw Jalal Talabani was only speaking his troops. as leader of his own party. Moreover, the Peshmergas were stationed in other zones with a However, Jabbar Yawar, the This did not prevent some Iraqi large Kurdish population not yet Pershmerga Ministry’s M.P.s of the Al-Iraqiyya group incorporated in the Kurdistan spokesman, replied that this was from launching a petition Region, in some districts of a purely internal Iraqi business demanding that Jalal Talabani be Diyala Province. Thus the dis - and that, to the best of his “summoned” to Parliament. This trict of Jalawla had lost 600 knowledge, the Turkish govern - demand was rejected by the Kurdish families, obliged to flee ment had never made any such National Coalition, the group to the Kurdistan Region after request. led by Prime Minster Nuri al- being threatened by Arab militia Maliki, who considered that it — over 400 Kurdish civilians Far form calming down, the con - would harm the developing had been assassinated by insur - troversy were still further political stability, that Kirkuk gent groups over the last three inflamed when the Iraqi was an Iraqi province and that years. Since then, Pehmergas President, Jalal Talabani, stated Jalal Talabani’s remarks had not from Suleimaniah have been sta - on 7 March that Kirkuk was changed anything. tioned there permanently, as “Kurdistan’s Jerusalem ” — a decla - Mahmud Samgawi, their com - ration of faith that people were Meanwhile, pressure is continu - mander explained: “ Under cover more used to hearing from ing, both from Americans and of demonstrations, some terrorists Masud Barzani, even though Iraqis, for the withdrawal of wanted to attack the Kurds and Talabani was not expressing him - Kurdish Peshmergas from massacre them. The situation is now self as President of the Republic, Kirkuk — pressures that come stable and the Peshmergas are but as leader of his party, the up against persistent Kurdish remaining in Jalawla ”. PUK, in its stronghold of refusal. The web site of the Suleimaniah at a commemoration Kurdish press, AKnews even In a joint press conference, of the 1919 Kurdish uprising. spoke, on 15 March, of a two- Kurdish and Turcoman members week ultimatum from the of Parliament for the Province While the Arab and Turcoman Americans for such a withdraw - described the situation as “very members of Parliament were al. This news was rapidly denied sensitive” and insisted on the indignant, others saw there a pos - by a spokesman of the Kurdish urgent need for provincial elec - sible attempt to calm down the Parliamentary coalition in tions. issue or get round the controver - Baghdad, Muayyid al-Tayyib. sy the Kurdish government is fac - Confirming the Kurds’ fears for ing in this city. However, politi - At the same time, as the their security, some government cians hostile to this incorporation, Governor of Kirkuk Province buildings and police stations such as Wihda al-Diemeili, a resigned this month, a new were attacked and set on fire on Member of Parliament for the Governor and a new head of the 25 February in two of the Sunni Arab block Al-Iraqiyya, Provincial Council were elected n° 312 • March 2011 Information and liaison bulletin • 3•

— much to the displeasure of This Kurdo-Turcoman alliance South-East of Kirkuk to be some local Arab political public was not to the taste of the Arab replaced by US troops 0n 28 figures, who had called for these parties, who denounced this March. Kurdish troops remain to elections to be boycotted. As a “marginalisation”. the North and Northeast. The result, a Kurdish M.P., Dr, Peshmerga Minister officially Najmaldin Karim, was elected Finally, despite earlier denials of announced that an agreement Governor and a Turcoman, “American pressure ”, the had been reached with the Iraqi Hassan Toran, became head of Peshmerga forces withdrew and American forces for apply - the Kirkuk Provincial Council. from some positions to the ing new security measures. IRAQI KURDISTAN: THE HISTORIC VISIT OF THE TURKISH PRIME MINISTER n 28 and 29 March, the Recep Tayyip Erdogan took footing of economic cooperation Turkish Prime Minister, advantage of this visit to officially — but also linguistic since O Recep Tayyip Erdogan open, with Masud Barzani, the Mehmet Simsek, a native of visited Iraq, accompa - recently enlarged Irbil Airport, Batman, was able to make a nied by several which can now handle 150 flights speech in Kurdish, speaking of the Ministers and a delegation of a day. In his inaugural speech, the “millennial brotherhood ” of Kurds businessmen “ to discuss major President of the Kurdistan Region and Turks. However, at a time political and economic relations with described the new international when Kurdish elected representa - this neighbouring country and to Airport as “ a first step in the build - tives can still be taken to court for strengthen economic cooperation and ing of a solid infrastructure through - making a speech in Kurdish regional issues ”, according to a out Iraq and particularly in before their electorate, many saw Turkish diplomatic source. He Kurdistan. It is the key to many pro - this more as an attempt to added that the question of the jects, on much bigger scale, for the appease or win the favours of the struggle against the PKK was also development of Kurdistan and of Kurdish electorate for the coming tackled with the Iraqi President, Iraq ”. elections. Jalal Talabani and Prime Minister Muri al-Malilki. Masud Barzani then welcomed The procession of officials then the presence there of the Turkish went to the Turkish consulate, However, the highlight of this Prime Minister and Foreign which although it has been open visit was its Irbil stage, since it Minister: “ We consider this as a very for some time, they proceeded to was the first time that a Turkish historic moment. We think that this “inaugurate ” that day to mark the head of government had visited visit will build a very solid bridge in occasion. This time, in his speech, the Kurdish capital. the bilateral relations between Iraq the Turkish Prime Minister and Turkey — and especially between stressed the economic links The PKK was not the only subject Turkey and the Kurdistan Region ” between the two capitals and the of disagreement between Turkey extent of Turkish investments in and the Kurdish Region. The Recep Tayyip Erdogan stressed Kurdistan. Kirkuk question and the relations the “ historic and cultural links with between Kurds and Turkmen Iraq ” and with “ this beautiful “Last year Turkey had a turnover of 7 were also tackled, as had previ - region ” (without specifically nam - billion dollars with Iraq, more than ously been reported by ing Kurdistan). He announced half of which was with the Northern Saadreddin Arkij, leader of the that Turkish Airlines flights to provinces. There are, at present Turkmen Front, a party backed by Irbil would begin on 14 April 20,000 Turks who have secured work Ankara. However, a sign of the next. Hitherto it was a private permits from the Irbil government warming of the political climate company, Atlas Jet, that carried and over 35,000 if ewe add those at between Kurds and Turks, the out, from Istanbul, 4 weekly Duhok and Suleimaniah ” head of the Turkmen Front point - flights to Irbil and Suleimaniah. ed out that the Turkish govern - Turkish Airlines will set up 3 A private meeting then took place ment had insisted that they “ settle weekly flights to Irbil. between President Barzani and their differences with the Kurds ”: the Prime Minister Tayyip “One of the objectives of this visit is As well as the Prime Minister, the Erdogan covering bilateral rela - to try and reduce the differences presence of Mehmet Simsek, the tions, economic relations and between Turkmen and Kurds, but we Turkish Finance Minister, enabled cooperation in the areas of fuel do not know what will be decided ”. the delegation to be placed on a and power. • 4 • Information and liaison bulletin n° 312 • March 2011

SYRIA: IN THE MIDDLE OF THE “ARAB SPRING” CONTAGION, THE KURDS ARE REMAINING CAUTIOUS. n 8 March, twelve sent 9% of the Syrian population. greater flexibility towards reli - Syrian organisations for The Kurds must be able “ to enjoy gious and ethnic minorities to as O the defence of human the use of their culture and language in the better to control the Syrian rights, Arab as well as accordance with civic, political, cultur - Sunni majority. Thus, for the first Kurdish, called for the al social and economic rights ”. time in many years, the Newroz lifting of the State of Emergency in celebrations took place without force since 8 March 1963 following Moreover, the “Arab Spring” that any violence or repression from the assumption of power by the has succeeded in overthrowing the the Syrian authorities, the police Baath Party. Among the signatories ruling powers in Tunisia and having clearly received instruc - were the Syrian Human Rights Egypt has reached Yemen and tions to show tolerance. A presi - Research Institute, the Syrian Libya, is also beginning to stir dential adviser, Ms. Buthaina League for Human Rights, the things up Syria, with demonstra - Shaaban, even publicly wished a National Organisation for Human tions against the Baath Party presi - “Good Newroz” (Newroz Rights in Syria, the Damascus dency, in Damascus, Deraa, and in Mubarak) to the country’s Kurds, Centre for Theoretical Studies and the South. So far, however, the thus imitating the attempts by the Civil Rights, the Kurdish Kurds have not joined up with the Turkish government in the late 90s Committee for Human Rights in demonstrators, since, so far, there to take over the Kurdish New Syria and the Kurdish Organisation have been few co-ordinated Year. However she did not go as for Human Rights in Syria. actions by the Arab and Kurdish far as to decree, as was done in oppositions. This is due to the dis - Turkey, that Newroz was an “The State of Emergency infringes trust aroused by possible “ Kurdish “Arab” tradition. Buthaina Nahas Human Rights and public freedom in separatism ”. For over a decade the simply praised the “magnificent Syria, where they are subjected to fre - Kurds, who are the most persecut - co-existence” between the differ - quent violations. We call for the lift - ed group in Syria, have conducted ent components of the Syrian peo - ing of the State of Emergency and for their own struggle against the dis - ple the release of all political detainees ”. crimination from which they suf - fer without having enjoyed much However, this does not resolve the The same NGOs also demanded support from the other Syrians. “Kurdish question” in Syria, espe - the “ promulgation of a law on politi - This was particularly the case cially that of the Kurds who were cal parties that would allow the citi - since 2004 during attacks by Arab stripped of their nationality and zens to exercise their right to take part militia against Kurdish football more generally, that of their cul - in the management of the country’s supporters at Qamishlo. However, tural and linguistic rights. affairs, the abrogation of all the laws if the movement broadens, many that prevent Human Rights organisa - observers expect that the Kurds On 28 March, 200 political prison - tions from working publicly and freely will take advantage of it to reaf - ers were released, 14 of whom and the associations of civil society firm their demands. were Kurds, held in the ill famed from fulfilling their role effectively ”. Saydnaya Army Prison. According With respect to the Kurds, “urgent - Meanwhile, Beshar al-Assad, to the Syrian Human Rights asso - ly to take all the measures needed to faced with the protest movement ciations, the bulk of these prison - cancel all forms of discrimination in the South of the country, has ers had already served three-quar - towards Kurdish citizens ” who repre - resumed his father’s policy of ters of their sentence.

TURKEY: IBRAHIM TATLISES HAS SURVIVED THE THIRD ATTEMPT TO MURDER HIM n the night of 14 television studio, shortly after weapon. The murderers, no March, the Turkish midnight. doubt in a vehicle, fled without I singer, of Arabo- being identified. Kurdish descent and He was accompanied by his born in Urfa, Ibrahim press attaché, Buket Cakici, and Caglar Cuhadaroglu, the sur - Tatlises , was the victim of an was just about to get into his car geon who carried out an emer - attempted assassination in when he was hit by a bulletin gency operation on the singer, Istanbul, as he was leaving a the head, fired from a long-range indicated that Ibrahim Tatlises n° 312 • March 2011 Information and liaison bulletin • 5•

had received “ a bullet in the head also a businessman and the head elections for the Gemç Partisi, a that entered from the rear and exited of an empire, with his own pro - party belonging to Cem Uzan, a from the forehead. His life is still in duction company, a television businessman who is being sued danger but his condition has channel, and a chain of restau - for financial offenses and who is improved since he arrived at the rants. A bus company, a brand of trying to stand in the coming 12 hospital ”. clothes and a building company June elections in the hope of active in Iraqi Kurdistan as well securing parliamentary immuni - They were able to stop the inter - as a lottery that he was planning ty. nal haemorrhage that followed to operate in Iraqi Kurdistan as the bullet’s impact but it is prob - well. In 1990 and 1998 he had The AKP party was hoping to able that the victim, at present already been subjected to attacks use him as a candidate, because kept in an artificial coma, will by gunfire, but had only been of his great popularity in Urfa, to retain some after-effects, particu - lightly wounded. Each time the the extent that the AKP mayor of larly some paralysis of the left press had linked these attempts his birthplace organised an all- side. at murder to the mafia. However night vigil of prayers for his the mafia-type settling of recovery. Prime minister Ibrahim Tatlises is a very popu - accounts could also be mixed Erdogan even visited him at his lar singer in Turkey, in the with shady political reasons, bedside when the singer, emerg - “Arabesk”, that is “ popular and since Ibrahim Tatlises had been a ing from his coma, seemed oriental ” style. However, he is candidate at the last general almost to have recovered.

CULTURE: HINER SALEEM’S FILM: “IF YOU DIE I’LL KILL YOU” HAS BEEN RELEASED he Kurdish film direc - tured story in which one never In Express , Thierry Cheze sees tor, Hiner Saleem’s lat - knows what is going to happen or the film as “ a burlesque tale subli - T est film “ If you die I’ll where the characters gradually mated by the enchanting acting of kill you ” was released reveal themselves. It’s like a Russian Golshifteh Farahani ”. Jean-Luc on 30 March. As in doll … A scenario in which each of Douin, in Le Monde sees the “The roof-tops of Paris ”, the entire the characters passes the action on film as “ devoted to paying tribute action takes place in the French to one another. The film begins with to a lower class Paris and to his capital. a friendship between two men and favourite actors and actresses ends by a young woman deciding (Maurice Benichou, Mylene The hero, Phillipe, played by on her own destiny ”. Demongeot, Jane Birkin and his Jonathan Zaccai, has just come “Jane B” quietly suggested) ” and out of prison. He gets friendly The film was unanimously by “ selecting the best: funny dia - with Avdal, a Kurd, who is look - praised by the critics, both in the logues at the beginning, a dialogue ing for an Iraqi criminal. Avdal printed press and on the Web of the deaf with a municipal employ - invites his fiancé, Siba, to France sites that specialise in the cine - ee responsible for funerals, the where he hopes to settle perma - ma. In Evenement , they note that recurrent presence of unbreakable nently, but dies suddenly. “the film director, Hiner Saleem, hard boiled eggs, a way of depicting Meanwhile Siba, (Golshifteh seems to pack into his film all the the Kurdish diaspora like a gang of Farahani) arrives in Paris not things that he likes in life: the Daltons …” Pierre Murat, of knowing that her fiancé is dead Kurdish cause, Paris, beautiful Telerama points out the director’s and is welcomed by six Kurdish actresses, alcoholic drinks, changes “skill ” at “ worming his way brothers and meets Phillipe, who in the weather and a mixture of between drama and fantasy ” even quickly falls for the young girl. tones. The tone was set by his first though he considers his best film Then Avdal’s father arrives in film: “Long live the bride … and the was “ Lemon Vodka ”. France … freedom of Kurdistan!” All his films are fables, with a tense plot and a The Iranian actress Golshifteh “After “The Roof-tops of Paris” I generous moral. His sense of absurd Farahani, who plays the part of wanted to return to a kind of film humour is often marvellous, even Siba, has been living in exile that I am fond of: a comedy that is when (or especially when) he is talk - since 2008 since her part in both absurd and burlesque ”, ing about serious things like reli - Ridley Scott’s film “ Pack of Lies ” explained Hiner Saleem. “ What gious intolerance, cultural preju - had displeased the Iranian excites me is to write an unstruc - dices or impossible loves ”. authorities. She managed to • 6 • Information and liaison bulletin n° 312 • March 2011

leave her country just before taboos, to rebel without making a For him, men are the guardians of being forbidden to leave the revolution She represents a feminist women. Cheto knows, deep in his country. Hiner Saleem tells the tend that is slow but decided, that heart, that Siba is free. He might even reasons for his choice to embody wants to free itself. Siba is a modern accept it, but before the community Siba: “ I met Golshifteh nearly a and free young girl who does not let he reacts differently to save what he year before the shooting. I had herself be intimidated. She has a calls his honour ”. already seen here in some films and I strong character ”. felt she had great potentials. I rela - Cheto is played by a Turkish actor tionship of mutual confidence was Jonathan Zaccai, who plays the whose mother was Kurdish, soon established. She really surprised part of Phillipe, has already acted Menderes Samancilar: “ This was a me during the shooting. She is an with Ridley Scott in his film Robin very tough experience for him. He extremely talented actress and very Hood, where he played the part of had to play the part of a father and, generous. She brought to the charac - Phillipe August, the King of above all, to speak in Kurdish, his ter exactly what I wanted— a mix - France. mother’s language, that he didn’t ture of tradition and modernity ”. know and that is forbidden in his Regarding Cheto, the father-in- country. He had to learn Kurdish Indeed, for the director, Siba, the law, a traditional Kurd who is still phonetically and my assistant had to Kurdish fiancé, is far from being a angry that his son has been translate my instructions from fearful and passive feminine char - imprisoned in France. Hiner Kurdish to Turkish for him. After all acter: “She represents, to me, the Saleem sees him as “the last gener - these years, this magnificent actor new generation of women of these ation of Kurds still attached to tradi - rediscovered his Kurdish culture with regions who are trying to break the tion. He is an ambivalent character. great feeling ”. Revue de Presse-Press Revieiv-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Ozeti

MARDI 1er MARS 2011

La region irakienne du Kurdistan veut de l'aide pourmieux accueillir les chrétiens d'Irak

Un colloque organisé samedi par l'Institut kurde de Paris, a fait le bilan de l'accueil de io ooo familles chrétiennes irakiennes dans cette province

autonome

Depuis 2003, 10718 familles chrétiennes irakiennes ont trouvé refuge au Kurdistan. «La communauté chrétiennefait un travail remarquable pourfaciliter l'ar¬ rivée de nouveaux arrivants, assure Le I* décembre dernier, au monastère de la Vierge-Marie de Qosh (Kur¬ Falah Mustafa, ministre des relations distan irakien), des chrétiens réfugiés ont trouvé un abri temporaire. extérieures de la région autonome kurde d'Irak. Mais nous manquons En filigrane percent d'ailleurs de ressources pour couvrir leurs be¬ autorités kurdes versent une aide quelques-unes des questions que soins humanitaires: logement, nour¬ financière aux nouveaux arrivants pose cette installation en masse de riture, soins, etc. » Samedi, au cours pour leur permettre de trouver un chrétiens au Kurdistan. Une «solu¬ d'un colloque organisé au Sénat logement temporaire. Elles essaient tion parmi d'autres», comme le note par l'Institut kurde de Paris, Falah également de trouver un travail aux un spécialiste du dossier, mais qui Mustafa a vanté la politique d'ouver¬ hommes, et souhaiteraient «de nou¬ n'emporte pas l'adhésion de l'ensem¬ ture menée par son gouvernement veaux équipements pour pouvoir sco¬ ble des évêques irakiens. Certains à l'égard des chrétiens chassés du lariser les enfants en arabe» (la seule imaginent déjà les tensions que reste du pays par la violence et les langue que parlent la plupart en arri¬ attentats.:,|jn accueil qui s'est encore vant), les soigner. . . Évêque chaldéen pourrait provoquer parmi la popu¬ accéléré Klpuis le sanglant attentat d'Amadia au Kurdistan, fervent dé¬ lation kurde une implantation chré¬ du 31 octibre 2010 à Bagdad: 2000 fenseur de la province autonome, tienne durable, d'autant que les rela¬ tions entre Kurdes et chrétiens sont familles seraient arrivées depuis. Mgr Raban Al Qas a confirmé que loin d'avoir été toujours idylliques À l'unisson avec Fouad Hussein, 370 villages chrétiens avaient déjà par le passé. «Certains Kurdes, arabes directeur de cabinet de Massoud Bar- été construits, dotés chacun «d'une ou chrétiens, nous demandent parfois zani, président de la région autonome église ou d'une chapelle et d'une pourquoi cet accueil, certains doutent kurde, il a également fait appel à la école». «Il faut être reconnaissant de nous, nous accusent de duplicité», générosité de la France et de l'Europe au gouvernement du Kurdistan qui a reconnu Fouad Hussein, assurant pour faire face au coût que représente a mobilisé l'argent nécessaire, a-t-il cet accueil. «Le Haut-Commissariat insisté. Dans certains cas, lorsque les qu'il ne fallait y voir que le résultat des Nations unies pour les réfugiés chrétiens sont revenus dans le village d'une histoire kurde elle-même (HCR) aide les réfugiés irakiens hors qu'ils avaient été contraints de quitter douloureuse. «Les Kurdes savent ce d'Irak mais pas les déplacés à l'inté¬ ily a quarante ans, les autorités kurdes que c'est d'être réfugiés, déplacés mais rieur du pays», a-t-il déploré. «La ont demandé aux habitants de leur aussi aidés par d'autres. » France et l'Europe ont une tradition rendre leurs maisons. » La soumission des chrétiens à ce d'assistante humanitaire: sans elles, gouvernement kurde revendiquant nous n'auikons peut-être pas survécu «Certains Kurdes, son autonomie par rapport à Bag¬ aux atrocités que nous avons subies arabes ou chrétiens, dad pose aussi question. La piste dans les années 1980 et 1990. Nous d'un «district chrétien autonome» espérons que vous trouverez le moyen nous demandent parfois dans le nord de l'Irak, autour de de soulager notrefardeau'. » Mossoul (à côté et peut-être en En pratique, ont-ils plaidé, les pourquoi cet accueil.» partie à l'intérieur de la province Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Ôzeti

kurde), a d'ailleurs été évoquée partout en Irak. En ce qui nous con¬ se répandre dans tout l'Irak, de telle fsamedi, même si les représentants cerne, nous disons que là où ily a une sorte qu'il n'y ait plus de citoyens de du gouvernement autonome se majorité de chrétiens, il peut y avoir seconde zone», a estimé pour sa part sont montrés évasifs. «Cela dépen¬ autonomie administrative», a indiqué le P. Nejib Mikaël, supérieur des do¬ dra du souhait des communautés le ministre des relations extérieures. minicains de Bagdad. chrétiennes: certains disent vouloir «L'exemple du Kurdistan, qui est un ANNE-BÉNÉDICTE HQFFNER peu le chouchou de la France, doit vivre comme des citoyens ordinaires

Le premier ministre turc attise MARDI 1ER MARS 2011 le débat allemand sur l'immigration

BERLIN De notre correspondant

En inaugurant avec An¬ gela Merkel, hier, la foire allemande des hautes technologies, le Cebit, le premier ministre turc, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, est d'abord venu soigner l'image de son pays. La moitié des foyers turcs sont bran¬ chés sur Internet aujourd'hui! «La Turquie n'a plus rien à voir avec les villages de campagne dont étaient issus les immigrés venus renforcer l'industrie allemande dans les années soixante», a-t-il souligné, s'adressant à plus de dix mille de geant de la Bundesbank, Thilo nions, les attentes, les besoins des ses compatriotes venus l'accueillir Sarrazin, L'Allemagne se liquide Turcs en tant que groupe». Elles à Dûsseldorf. elle-même. Vendu à plus de 1,2 mil¬ ne tiennent toujours pas compte Le premier ministre en a profité lion d'exemplaires, ce pamphlet aujourd'hui de l'opinion des auto¬ pour s'inviter dans le débat sur l'in¬ met en garde contre l'invasion dé rités turques responsables de ces tégration qui fait rage en Allema¬ l'islam, qui menacerait la culture questions, alors que la coopération gne. «On vous appelle travailleurs allemande dominante. entre les deux pays serait indispen¬ immigrés, étrangers ou Turcs alle¬ sable à l'intégration réussie, selon mands, mais peu m'importe. Vous « Personne n'a le droit lui. «Une solution impraticable», êtes, mes compatriotes, mesfrères et réplique Philipp Missfelder, porte- s Vous appartenez à l'Allema¬ de contester nôtre parole de la CDU. gne mais aussi à la grande Turquie», identité. L'islamophobie Le premier ministre turc était a-t-il lancé, déclenchant des ova¬ également en campagne électorale tions, la salle scandant en réponse : est un racisme à Dûsseldorf, en vue des élections «Nous sommesfiers de toi. » turques de juin prochain. Il a an¬ « Oui à l'intégration, non à l'as¬ aussi dangereux noncé à ses compatriotes qu'ils similation, a répété Recep Tayyip que l'antisémitisme. » pourront dorénavant voter d'Alle¬ Erdogan. Je veux que vous appreniez magne pour les élections dans leur l'allemand, que vos enfantsfassent Recep Tayyip Erdogan avait déjà pays d'origine. Et pour ceux qui ont des études, préparent des diplômes, déclenché les critiques virulentes acquis la nationalité allemande, la deviennent médecins, professeurs, en Allemagne avec des propos simi¬ Turquie va créer une « carte bleue», responsables politiques en Alle¬ laires en 2008, lors de sa visite à Co¬ équivalente à une carte d'identité, magne. » Mais ils doivent d'abord logne. Dès hier, Guido Westerwelle, qui contournera ainsi l'interdic¬ apprendre le turc correctement, et cultiver leur identité, selon lui. le ministre des affaires étrangères tion de la «double nationalité» en d'Angela Merkel, lui répliquait en «Personne n'a le droit de contester vigueur en République fédérale. De soulignant que «l'apprentissage notre identité. L'islamophobie est un quoi à nouveau irriter Berlin. Autres racisme aussi dangereux que l'an¬ prioritaire de la langue allemande sujets qui fâchent, le premier minis¬ tisémitisme», a conclu le premier est la clé de l'intégration». Tandis tre turc devait insister hier auprès ministre turc, mettant en garde que son collègue Alexander Do- d'Angela Merkel pour que l'Allema¬ contre la montée de la xénophobie brindt, responsable de la CSU gne lève les visas d'entrée toujours bavaroise, s'emportait contre des en Allemagne. imposés aux ressortissants de son Coutumier de cet éloge de la affirmations qui font «régresser la pays, et cesse de faire obstacle à coexistence des cultures, il a politique d'intégration des années l'adhésion de la Turquie à l'Union ainsi répondu à la fois à la «mort en arrière». européenne.

Mais celle-ci est en échec, avant MICHEL VERRIER de la société multikulti» allemande tout, selon le premier ministre turc, annoncée par Angela Merkel et au parce que les autorités allemandes succès du livre brûlot de l'ex-diri- n'ont pas pris en compte «les opi Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Ôzeti

Barzani évoque la possibilité d'élections anticipées au Kurdistan 4

ERBIL - 3 mars 2011 ( AFP )

S

LE PRÉSIDENT de la région autonome irakienne du Kurdistan, Massoud Barzani, a évoqué jeudi dans un discours télévisé la possi¬ bilité d'organiser des élections anticipées, après des manifestations sanglantes dans plusieurs villes kurdes.

«Je demande au Parlement de consulter les partis politiques pour étudier la possibilité d'élections anticipées, parce que la population devrait avoir son mot à dire», a déclaré M. Barzani. Le président de la région autonome irakienne du

Kurdistan, Massoud Barzani. © AFP «Je demande également l'accélération du processus d'organisation des élections provinciales au Kurdistan», a-t-il ajouté. Ces scrutins locaux s'étaient tenus en janvier 2009 dans la plupart des provinces kurdes, mais les de la province de Souleimaniyeh contre la domination exercée par les pas dans les trois provinces kurdes. deux formations, mais aussi contre la corruption dans la région. En juillet 2009, les élections au Parlement régional et à la présidence de Ces manifestations s'inscrivent dans une contestation plus générale sur la région avaient sans surprise été dominées par le Parti démocratique du l'ensemble du territoire irakien. Si les autorités de Bagdad ont tenté d'apai¬ Kurdistan (PDK) de M. Barzani et l'Union patriotique du Kurdistan (UPK) ser la population en réduisant le salaires des hommes politiques ou en du président irakien Jalal Talabani, les deux partis qui dominent l'échiquier augmentant les aides aux pauvres, les dirigeants kurdes n'ont à ce stade politique régional depuis des décennies. fait aucune concession aux manifestants. Des milliers de personnes ont manifesté le mois dernier dans plusieurs vil-

Un campement de <*

manifestants et une radio <$***, *-v.\ v.«. attaqués au Kurdistan

SOULEIMANIYEH 5 mars 2011 - (AFP) - V-' V *' '"

a*" " UN CAMPEMENT de manifestants a été attaqué dans la nuit par des inconnus sur une place de Souleimaniyeh, dans la région autonome du Kurdistan irakien, où le siège d'une radio indépendante a égale¬ ment été saccagé à Calar, a-t-on appris dimanche.

Plusieurs des tentes érigées place Tahrir à Souleimaniyeh par des manifes¬ tants demandant des réformes politiques ont été incendiées dans la nuit par des hommes armés et masqués, a indiqué un porte-parole des manifes¬ tants, Nafit Kader, qui a accusé les forces de sécurité locales d'avoir mené cette attaque. Des centaines de manifestants kurdes assistent à la prière du

"Ils ont fait irruption vers 02h30 (23H30 GMT samedi) à Tahrir, brûlé des vendredi le 4 mars 2011 à Souleimaniyeh dans le nord de tentes et sont repartis en emmenant certains des manifestants", a déclaré l'Irak. M. Kader, précisant que cette attaque n'avait pas fait de blessé. "Nous som¬ mes convaincus que l'attaque a été menée par des hommes liés aux auto¬ rités kurdes". Quatre manifestants ont péri depuis le 17 février à Souleimaniyeh dans des Ces accusations ont été rejetées par le général Hassan Nouri, chef des ser¬ affrontements avec les forces de sécurité. vices de sécurité de la province de Souleimaniyeh, agglomération située à Le siège d'une radio locale indépendante a par ailleurs été saccagé dans 270 km au nord-est de Bagdad. la nuit à Calar, une localité de la province de Souleimaniyeh à environ 200 "Nous avons entendu dire que des hommes armés ont attaqué des mani¬ km au nord-est de Bagdad, a indiqué Mirwan Hama Saïd, responsable du festants après minuit et nous avons ouvert une enquête", a-t-il dit. "Mais les site internet de l'organisation kurde Metro de défense de la liberté de la forces de sécurité ne sont pas responsables de cette attaque." presse.

Ce campement installé vendredi abritait plusieurs dizaines de manifestants. "Des inconnus sont entrés en pleine nuit dans les locaux de la radio Dank, Plus aucune tente ne subsistait dimanche matin, selon un journaliste de ils ont détruit une partie du matériel et volé certains équipements", a-t-il dit. l'AFP sur place. Il s'agit de la deuxième attaque contre un média kurde après celle menée L'Irak est depuis début février le théâtre de manifestations contre le man¬ dans la nuit du 20 au 21 février contre la chaîne "Nalia", qui avait aupara¬ que de services, la corruption ou encore l'incompétence des dirigeants. vant diffusé des images des manifestations contre le siège du PDK.

Au Kurdistan, Souleimaniyeh a été l'épicentre de la contestation du mode de gouvernance du Parti démocratique du Kurdistan (PDK) du président régional Massoud Barzani et de l'Union Patriotique du Kurdistan (UPK) du chef de l'Etat irakien Jalal Talabani. Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Ozeti

Mardi 1" mars 2011 Les acteurs de l'économie Jacques-Marie Vaslin Calouste Gulbenkian, le roi du pétrole ottoman

avec le régime de Vichy le pousse¬ f^QË^Êfc De l'histoire du Bretagne s'attachera à diversifier par Raymond Poincaré. La CFP sera I ^2^H pétrole, on ne retient ses approvisionnements en or rebaptisée Total en 1985. ront à partir dix-neuf ans plus %ridlHP que quelques noms: noir. La France, quant à elle, prend Le 15 octobre 1927, la découverte tard. Il meurt au Portugal, pays dans lequel il crée la Fondation Gul¬ Rockefeller aux Etats-Unis, Nobel tardivement conscience de l'inté¬ d'un important champ de pétrole benkian. Un musée à Lisbonne ras¬ et Rothschild en Russie, Knox d'Ar- rêt de cette énergie, les champs près de Kirkouk^Irak) suscite bien semble aujourd'hui l'ensemble de cy en Iran ou encore Deterding un pétrolifères se trouvant hors de sa des convoitises et contraint lés sa collection. B peu partout. Or l'un des acteurs zone d'influence. Le pays dépend actionnaires à renégocier leur par¬ majeurs de la première moitié du de la Standard Oil of New Jersey, ticipation. Au terme d'un accord XXe siècle n'est pas le propriétaire de Rockefeller. Menacé d'une signé en juillet 1928, la TPC est déte¬ Jacques-Marie Vaslin, , d'une compagnie, mais un habile pénurie en 1917, Clemenceau juge nue par quatre actionnaires à hau¬ maître de conférences à l'IAE d'Amiens. négociateur britannique d'origine dès lors « l'essence aussi nécessaire teur de 23,75 % chacun. La CFP en

arménienne du nom de Calouste que le sang dans les batailles de fait partie. Les 5 % restants sont Gulbenkian (1869-1955). demain ». L'approvisionnement entre les mains de Gulbenkian, ce Né près de Constantinople, Gul¬ stable devient ainsi un enjeu politi¬ qui lui fera dire qu'« il vaut mieux

benkian obtient à 20 ans le titre que. Gulbenkian donnera un coup un toutpetit morceau d'un gros d'ingénieur pétrolier du King's Col¬ de pouce providentiel à la France. gâteau qu'un gros morceau d'un lege de Londres. Ses écrits sur les petitgâteau ». Afin de préserver champs pétrolifères déBakou le Convoitises ses intérêts, Gulbenkian trace sur

font remarquer du gouvernement En 1912, il est à l'origine de la une carte une ligne rouge qui ottoman, qui le nomme en 1898 création de la Turkish Petroleum démarque la zone d'influence de la conseiller auprès des ambassades Company (TPC), dont l'objectifest TPC. La compagnie obtient le à Londres et Paris. A moins de de négocier des concessions sur le monopole de la production de 30 ans, Gulbenkian maîtrise territoire ottoman. Elle est initiale¬ pétrole à l'intérieur de cette zone,

mieux que quiconque l'économie ment détenue par des capitaux ce qui interdit de contourner cet du pétrole et les arcanes de l'admi¬ anglais et allemands. Avec la encombrant intermédiaire en pros¬

nistration d'un Empire ottoman , guerre et l'effondrement de l'Empi¬ pectant pour son propre compte.

sur le déclin. Cette double casquet¬ re ottoman, ces derniers sont évin¬ Sa participation de 5 % fera de te va le rendre incontournable. cés. A la conférence de San Remo, Gulbenkian l'homme le plus riche C'est que l'époque s'y prête. Les en 1920, la France récupère la part de son temps. Il constitue une col¬ pays tournent peu à peu le dos au de l'Allemagne. Celle-ci rentre lection d'oeuvres d'art de 6 000 piè¬ charbon. Churchill impose le ensuite dans l'escarcelle dé la Com¬ ces, où les peintres hollandais moteur à explosion à la Royal pagnie française des pétroles (CFP), côtoient les impressionnistes. Il vit Navy dès 1912. Dès lors, la Grande- créée pour l'occasion en mars 1924 à Paris dès 1923 ; ses accointances

TeDlonde

Jeudi 3 mars 2011 Iran : nouveUe manifestationnon autorisée de l'opposition

Les contestataires ont réclamé la libération de leurs chefs de file, MM. Moussavi et Karoubi

La«disparition»desdeux figu¬ D'autres, tout aussi violents à tionnaire de 1979 : «Allah akbar» Quant au sort des deux diri¬ res de proue de l'opposition Chiraz. La contestation a même (« Dieu est le plus grand »). geants «verts», rien n'a filtré. Devantla réprobationet l'inquiétu¬ en Iran, Mir-Hossein Moussa¬ gagné Semnan, région d'origine du Les défenseurs des droits de vi et Mehdi Karoubi, qui, selon président Mahmoud Ahmadine- l'homme parlaient, mercredi de exprimées par plusieurs capita¬ leurs proches, ont été récemment jad, dont la réélection en juin 2009 matin, de blessés mais pas de mort, les occidentales, dont Washington ' emmenés vers une destination est toujours contestée par l'opposi¬ alors que les deux dernières mani¬ et Paris, un pprte-pàrole du ministè¬

inconnue par les services secrets, tion: selon des témoignages festations, elles aussi non autori¬ re iranien des affaires étrangères n'a pas dissuadé leurs partisans de recueillis par téléphone, pour cal¬ sées, les 14 et 20 février, s'étaient sol¬ s'est borné à déclarer mardi: «Ce descendre dans la rue, mardi mer les turbulences étudiantes, dées respectivement par deux et sont des affaires internes. Aucun 1" mars, pour réclamer leur liberté. l'université locale aurait été occu¬ un morts. Tous des manifestants, pays n 'a le droit d'intervenir. »

Combienétaient-ils ? Des centai¬ pée par les lebashakhsi, la redouta¬ ce que conteste la police. De son côté, le chefde la diploma¬ nes à coup sûr. Des milliers ? Diffici¬ ble police en civil. Il y aurait eu aussi, mardi, de tie iranienne, Ali Akbar Salehi, qui le à dire, tant sur les vidéos disponi¬ Jusque vers minuit, les manifes¬ nombreuses arrestations. La plus se trouvait lundi à Genève, n'avait bles, les groupes de manifestants, tants ont lancé des slogans récla¬ « symbolique » est celle de Fakhros- pas hésité à «dédramatiser» la très nombreux, étaient dispersés mant la liberté de MM. Moussavi et sadat Mohtashamipour, l'épouse situation dans son pays. Le minis¬

pour échapper à un impression¬ Karoubi et d'autres hostiles au Gui¬ de l'ex-vice-ministre de l'intérieur tre, qui se disait «choqué» par la nant dispositif policier à Téhéran, de suprême : «AprèsBenAli, Mouba¬ et «cerveau» dés réformateurs, réactionviolente du régime Khada- ; Tabriz, Machad, Rasht ou Ispahan. rak, au tour de Seyyed Ali Mostafa Tadjzadeh, emprisonné fi en Libye, expliquait qu'en Iran, il Au milieu des gaz lacrymogè¬ [Khamenei]. » Denombreux contes¬ depuis les événements de n'y avait « que quelques protesta¬ nes, des heurts se sont produits tataires, profitant de l'obscurité, juin 2009, sans que son procès soit tions manipulées alors que dans la près de l'université, autour de lapla¬ ont repris, chanté depuis les toits achevé. Un état de fait que cette région se profilaient d'authenti¬

ce Azadi, l'avenue Vali-A-Ast ou des maisons, notamment dans l'est femme courageuse n'avait pas ques mouvementspopulaires ». l'avenue Navab à Téhéran. et le nord de Téhéran, le cri révolu dénoncé ouvertement. Marie-Claude Decamps Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Ozeti

INTERNATIONAL^

THE WORLD'S DAILY NEWSPAPER Turkish leader provokes MARCH 1, 2011 criticism in Berlin

BERLIN

Erdogan tells immigrants

in Germany to preserve their own culture first

BYJUDYDEMPSEY

German politicians, already divided over how to integrate immigrants, on Monday criticized the Turkish prime minister after he called on the large Turkish community living in Germany to teach their children the Turkish lan¬ guage first and then German. Speaking on Sunday night in the in¬ dustrial city of Dûsseldorf to an estimat¬ Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, in his speech to Turks Hying in Germany, said, "You should ed crowd of 11,000 Turks living in Ger¬ many, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip definitely integrate with the German society, but we are against assimilation." Erdogan told them they should not let

go of their culture. "You should definitely integrate with Germany, when the country was going the German society, but we are against through a postwar economic boom. It "Our children must learn assimilation," he told the crowd mem¬ was short of workers, but no attention German, but first they must bers, who were waving Turkish flags and was paid to integrating the foreigners. applauding Mr. Erdogan, who is leader learn Turkish." Beginning on Tuesday, the Family of the moderate Islamic Law and Devel¬ Ministry will embark on a million, opment Party. "No one should be able to or $550 million, program, lasting until rip us away from our.culture and civiliza¬ the European Union and integration 2014, aimed at teaching German in tion. Our children must learn German, policies, but also the immense changes kindergartens and child care centers to but first they must learn Turkish.' ' taking place in North Africa and the children of immigrant background. The Mr. Erdogan's remarks touched a raw Middle East.

nerve in Berlin, which has largely op¬ program is focused on children under 3 Mrs. Merkel has long opposed Tur¬ posed Turkey's ambitions to join the who speak little or no German at home. key's joining the 27-member bloc and in¬ stead has proposed a "privileged part¬ European Union. Apart from criticizing Mr. Erdogan's Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle remarks about integration, leading con¬ nership," that would give Turkey said Monday that it was crucial that servatives, including Volker Kauder, a substantial trade, economic and social ; children of immigrants learn German parliamentary leader of the conserva¬ links with Europe but no voting rights in first, calling it "the key to integration." tive bloc, condemned Turkey's record any of the E.U. institutions. "The children who will grow up in on religious freedom. Mr. Kauder sug¬ President Nicolas Sarkozy of France, Germany must in the beginning learn gested that E.U. accession talks with who is also a staunch opponent of Tur¬ German," he said. "Without the Ger¬ Turkey should be suspended until Tur¬ key's becoming a member of the Union, man language, they will not continue in key supports the rights of Christians to said Friday during a visit to Ankara that Turkey should not join, but instead it schools and they will have far worse op¬ ordain priests. portunities than others." Johannes Singhammer, the conserva¬ should be offered an alternative ar¬ The country's state secretary for inte¬ tive bloc's deputy parliamentary leader, rangement. gration issues, Maria Bohmer, said suc¬ said all E.U. membership talks should be cessful integration could not be com¬ suspended until detailed investigations

pared to assimilation. have taken place as to whether there is ' 'What's important is that in our coun¬ verifiable progress on religious freedom. try the German language takes preced¬ ' 'A country that has over 2,000 years of ence," she said. "Only those with good a Christian tradition now is becoming a German have opportunities to advance Christian-free zone with the state looking in our country." on," Mr. Singhammer said, "We cannot Mrs. Bôhmer emphasized that it was and will not accept this development." an advantage if children were brought On Monday, Mr. Erdogan was in Han¬ up with different languages and cul¬ over to inaugurate, with Chancellor An¬ tures, and added that employers could gela i Merkel, the annual communica¬

use such experiences. tions and information technologies fair, The German government has been CeBIT. Mr. Erdogan was also scheduled seeking ways to integrate the country's to have, dinner with Mrs. Merkel to dis¬ 7.5 million people of foreign origin, of cuss not just Turkey's ambitions to join which a third are of Turkish descent. During the 1960s, the Turks came as "guest workers" to what was then West Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Ozeti

HI Rudaw«Net 1 MARCH 2011

Kirkuk Under Curfew, Surrounded

By Thousands of Kurdish Troops

By BARZAN MUHAMMAD and

SAMAN BASHARATI

ERBIL, Iraqi Kurdistan: An indefi¬

nite curfew imposed by the govern¬ ment in Kirkuk on Tuesday has so far prevented the occurrence of a planned

Arab-led demonstration in the disputed

city, which is surrounded by thousands

of newly stationed Kurdish peshmerga

forces. Kirkuk's Arab political parties said one of the key demands of Tuesday's protest would be to call for the expul¬ sion of Kurdish security and armed for¬ ces from the oil-rich province of Kirkuk.

Iraqi Kurdistan's minister of pesh- Kurdish peshmarga forces being trucked in to surrounding areas of Kirkuk city. marga, Jaafar Sheikh Mustafa, said the Iraqi Arabs posed a threat to Kurds in

the disputed regions, and that the However, Mustafa said the issuers Kurdistan (PUK) newspaper, said the newly-stationed Kurdish troops would of Saturday's statement did not repre¬ forces would speed up the "return" of remain in the surrounding areas of sent the views of the "genuine" Arabs Kirkuk to Kurdistan. Kirkuk and other disputed areas. from Kirkuk. "The presence of peshmarga forces Friday, February 25th, was nomi¬ "We will never leave Kirkuk," he will be a factor in the return of these nated by Iraqis throughout the country added. areas to the Kurdistan region," he said. as the "Day of Rage," on which thou¬ General Aziz Waisi, commander of Rizgar Ali, a Kurdish member of sands of Iraqis staged anti-government the Zeravani - an armed force affilia¬ the Kirkuk Provincial Council, said the demonstrations, calling for more ted with the Kurdistan Democratic United States had agreed to the Kurds accountability and better services from Party (KDP), which is headed by deploying their forces to the areas sur¬ their elected leaders and government. Kurdistan President Massoud Barzani rounding Kirkuk. However, in Kirkuk, the Kurds had - said the aim of stationing the forces "This has happened after an agree¬ not only refused to protest on political in the areas surrounding Kirkuk was to ment between [Kurdistan's] minister grounds, but because they also feared guarantee the security of Kirkuk's of peshmarga and the American for¬ that the main aim of the Arabs' protest population, particularly the Kurds, ces," he said "The divisions deployed in would be to attack the Kurds and the who had often been targets of radical Kirkuk province will...not go back." headquarters of their political parties Islamic Arab militias. and security forces. Kurds in other dis¬ Peshmarga forces have also been "We went to Kirkuk because of a puted areas had the same fears. deployed to Dyala province and other request from Kirkuk's [Kurdish] gover¬ disputed areas. "There was a great danger to the nor," said Waisi. "We will not withdraw In Dyala's Jalawla district, for ins¬ Kurdish inhabitants," said Mustafa by our forces until he requests it." telephone from Kirkuk, where he and tance, from where 600 Kurdish fami¬ Kurdish political experts say they other high-ranking Kurdish officials lies fled to the official region of Iraqi believe the thousands of Kurdish pesh¬ had been for nearly a week. Kurdistan after they had received marga forces around Kirkuk could be threats from Arab militants, Mahmoud Referring to the Arabs who issued used to forcefully incorporate Kirkuk Sangawi, a PUK military commander an anti-Kurdish statement before the into the Kurdistan region, rather than of peshmarga forces in Sulaimani, said Day of Rage, Mustafa said that "the waiting for the implementation of the a sizeable number of Peshmarga forces Ba'athists had intended to attack insti¬ Iraqi Constitution's long-delayed had now been stationed in the district. tutions run by Kurds and Turcomans Article 140, which requires a referen¬ "Under the name of demonstration, on the [Day of Rage]," adding that dum to determine the fate of the dispu¬ terrorists wanted to attack Kurds and "when the security forces are able to ted areas. ensure the security of Kirkuk, the pesh- massacre them," said Sangawi. "Now "Sending Kurdish troops to the dis¬ marga forces will be withdrawn." the situation is stable and peshmarga puted areas is a very good thing and a forces are in Jalawla." In another statement on Saturday, great victory," said Amjad Shakali, a More than 400 Kurdish civilians Kirkuk's Arab parties demanded an Kurdish nationalist author, who regu¬ have reportedly been killed by insur¬ immediate and "unconditional" expul¬ larly writes on Kirkuk. "That step gent groups in the past three years in sion of the Kurdish security and pesh- should have been taken in 2003. Back Jalawla. More than a 100 of them have marga forces from Kirkuk by Tuesday. then, the Kurds should have not pulled been from one tribe alone, the "Their headquarters must be closed their forces out." Zargwshen, whose members are without any discussion," read the state¬ Arif Qurbani, editor-in-chief of mostly based in Sa'adya town. ment. Kurdistani Nwe, a Patriotic Union of Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Ozeti

Mïimùwm Iraq's February oil export highest March 1,2011 since invasion

By SINAN SALAHEDDIN country's precarious security situa¬ reached to resume the exports.

Associated Press tion, coupled with feuding between The government aims to raise the central government in Baghdad daily output to 12 million barrels by and the Kurds in the north have slo¬ BAGHDAD - Iraq's oil exports 2017, a level that would put it nearly wed efforts to bolster the vital sector. climbed to their highest level in on par with Saudi Arabia's current February since the 2003 U.S.-led The Kurds have sought greater production capacity. Many analysts, invasion, boosted by a resumption in control over oil in their crude-rich however, say the target is unrealistic.

exports from the semiautonomous region, while Baghdad has argued Even so, the current boost in Kurdish region in the north, a senior that the oil is a national resource that exports and oil prices will likely help oil official said Tuesday. should be under central government ease pressure on Iraq's budget. control. The country, which overwhelmin¬ The government has set an $82.6 gly relies of oil revenues for its bud¬ The resumption of exports from billion budget for 2011, based on an get, also benefited from the spike in the north helped boost February's average oil price of $76.5 per barrel higher crude prices triggered by the figures. The Kurdish region's prime and 2.2 million barrels per day in oil violent uprising in Libya that has led minister said Sunday that oil exports exports. The deficit is projected at to a 50 percent cut in production from were running slightly over 80,000 about $13.4 billion. that OPEC member. barrels per day from two northern Underscoring the challenges Iraq fields. Iraqi oil exports averaged 2.202 faces, gunmen last week stormed the In all, Iraq exported an average of million barrels per day in February, 310,000-barrels-a-day Beiji refinery - up from 2.161 million barrels per day 1.708 million barrels per day through the country's biggest - and bombed the previous month, said Falah al- the south while 484,000 barrels per the facility, forcing its shutdown. Amiri, head of the State Oil Marketing day were pumped through to the Hours later, the 30,000 barrel per day Organization. At prices ranging bet¬ Turkish port of Ceyhan, through the Samawa refinery was shut down due north, said al-Amiri. In addition, ano¬ ween $97-$g8 per barrel, Iraq gene¬ to a fire in a storage unit. rated more than $6 billion from oil ther 10,000 barrels per day were On Monday, the Oil Ministry said sales in February, he said. exported to neighboring Jordan using it had restarted operations partially at tanker trucks. The increase is crucial for Iraq Beiji refinery and full operations at Exports from the north were hal¬ which, although sitting atop the Samawa. Beiji produces refined fuels world's fourth largest proven reserves ted a few months after they started in for the local market, and a prolonged June 2009 amid a disagreement bet¬ of conventional crude, has been strug¬ outage at the plant can mean electri¬ gling to rebuild its oil sector after ween the Baghdad government and city cuts and long lines at the pumps years of war, sanctions, neglect and Kurdish officials over payments. for Iraqis who are already fed up with more recently, sabotage. But the Earlier this year, an agreement was corruption and the pace of develop-

Kurdistan Regional Government

3 March 2011

President Barzani Asks President Barzani Asks Parliament to Study Parliament to Study Possibility of Possibility of Early Early Elections in Elections in Kurdistan Kurdistan

Salahaddin, Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRP.org) - In a televised address to the people of the Kurdistan Region today, President vances using peaceful means," said the President in his Barzani called on the Iraqi Kurdistan Parliament to study the address, adding that he would rather not live in a Kurdistan possibility of holding early general elections in the Kurdistan where its people did not enjoy their freedom. Region.

He once again extended his condolences to the families of The last general election in the Kurdistan Region was held in those killed during protests in recent days, and called on the July 2009 and the next election is scheduled for 2013. KRG authorities to provide all the medical care and assistance In his address, the President expressed his admiration for the to the wounded. young people of Kurdistan for displaying political maturity in The President also called on the KRG and the Parliament to airing their demands through peaceful demonstrations. But he immediately start making preparations for provincial elections urged them to avoid resorting to violent means in their pro¬ in the three provinces of Dohuk, Erbil, and Sulaimaniya, tests, as this, he said, would tarnish die image of the Kurdistan which together constitute the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Region. Provincial elections were last held in the Kurdistan Region at "Our people have the right to demonstrate and air their grie the end of 2005. Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Ozeti

tecting it is our duty, not just that of the Iraqi government," 3f REUTERS Mustafa told Reuters.

"There was a serious danger awaiting the Kurds in Kirkuk Iraq PM demands because of these events (demonstrations). So peshmerga were deployed around Kirkuk to secure it from the threats."

Kurdish forces leave Some 12,000 peshmerga troops armed with small and medium artillery as well as AK-47 assault rifles are surrounding Kirkuk, Arab and Kurdish sources said. The troops also have cannons and disputed city armored vehicles.

A police source said a curfew would be imposed on Kirkuk from BAGHDAD , March 3, 2011 (Reuters) By Suadad al-Salhy 6 a.m. (0300 GMT) Friday ahead of the expected protests.

The cabinet source said Maliki had reached a provisional deal IRAQ'S PRIME MINISTER asked the Kurdistan Regional with Kurdish officials in Baghdad for the withdrawal of the Government Thursday to remove thousands of troops surroun¬ troops, saying that protecting Kirkuk and other disputed areas ding the oil-rich northern city of Kirkuk without central govern¬ was the exclusive responsibility of central government security ment permission, a cabinet source said. forces. The government of the semi-autonomous northern region moved But there was no immediate sign in Kirkuk that the Kurdish the heavily armed peshmerga troops into position around Kirkuk troops were withdrawing, officials on the spot said. last week to secure the city from threatened attacks during mass protests, a senior Kurdish official said. Iraqi troops and Kurdish peshmerga fighters have come close to blows on several occasions over the past two years as Maliki has The move raised tensions in the volatile north and prompted sought to strengthen the central government's presence in and Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki to demand their immediate with¬ around the disputed areas. drawal, the Iraqi cabinet source said.

The U.S. military has intervened several times to prevent fighting "These troops were deployed without the permission of the cen¬ breaking out. U.S. troops will fully withdraw by the end of this tral government and the prime minister has asked them to draw year in accordance with a security pact with Iraq. down immediately," said the source, who asked not to be named. Ethnic Kurds have staked a claim to Kirkuk, which sits on massive Longstanding differences between Arabs, Kurds and Turkmen oil reserves, and want it wrapped into their semi-autonomous over land and oil in Kirkuk and other disputed northern areas are region. The city's population is a mix of Kurds, Arabs, Turkmen considered a potential flashpoint for future conflict. and others. Jafer Mustafa, the Kurdish minister of peshmerga, said the troops "The street (people) in Kirkuk are afraid of the entry of these for¬ were deployed at the entrances to Kirkuk and in locations around ces into the city in any moment with its big numbers and heavy the city to protect Kurds from alleged planned attacks by al Qaeda weapons," said Abdulla Sami al-Asi, a member of Kirkuk's pro¬ and members of Saddam Hussein's outlawed Baath party. vincial council. "If this happens, there will be a big problem that "Kirkuk originally was taken from the Kurdistan region and pro cannot be controlled."

jnt n6WSI Agency of Kurdistan for News

Minister rejects U.S. demand for Kurdish troops' withdrawal from Kirkuk

Erbil, March 4,2011 (AKnews)

KURDISTAN MINISTER for Peshmarga

(armed forces) said his ministry will not

withdraw the Kurdish troops from the

outskirts of Kirkuk city, unless the

situation is calmed. peshmarga la karkukJaafar Sheikh jS» Mustafa's statement came in response to The KRG claims the tenure of the oil rich an earlier request form the U.S. forces for province and there are clear signs of an Day of Anger, Feb.25, but since then some the Kurdish troops to move from the area. opposition among the different ethnic parties say there are threats against the

Following Feb.25 public protests in the groups of the province for that ownership. residents in Kirkuk coming from the areas multiethnic Kirkuk which served the anti- Some groups have asked for the Kurdish which have fallen into the hands of the government protesters to expel the secu¬ troops' withdrawal and wish Kirkuk to protesters. Kurds justify their presence in rity forces from some areas in the province remain under Baghdad government auspi¬ the province by saying the residents have

and take over the power, the Kurdistan ces. demanded peshmarga to protect them. Regional Government (KRG) expedited its Mustafa, the minister, also added as long Jamal Tahir, Kirkuk police chief, told a troops to the outskirts of Kirkuk city, the as the threats for "destabilizing" Kirkuk city press conference Thursday the pesh¬ provincial capital. are there, the peshmarga will remain in the marga presence in Kirkuk is "temporary,

"Whoever asks us to withdraw our troops province. ending whenever the tensions in the pro¬ from Kirkuk province before the situation is vince recede." Kirkuk, 255 km north of Baghdad, was alleviated, his demand will be turned already a restless city before the national Reported by Hevidar Ahmed down," the minister said. Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Ozeti

liuûfSm®X\hVMt MARCH 4, 2011

from Mr. Maliki's State of Law coalition, sense of their marginalization. criticized Mr. Allawi's withdrawal as Iraq coalition Mr. Allawi has threatened to leave the rash, and said that Iraqi leaders were government before and it was unclear still negotiating the contours of the posi¬ on Thursday whether his decision was tion Mr. Allawi had rejected. part of a negotiating ploy. Nevertheless, suffers blow "We need to be more united and flex¬ it comes as Iraq braces for potentially ible for the best of the country,' ' Mr. Alaq violent protests on Friday, calling for more accountability from Mr. Maliki said. as key player The Iraqiya bloc has fumed over the and better government services. last few months, saying Mr. Maliki has Mr. Allawi said Mr. Maliki had been failed to follow through on agreements slow to detail the powers of a new stra¬ rejects post to share power, and has personally tegic policy council, which Mr. Allawi taken control of crucial security minis¬ had agreed to lead; He said he would de¬ tries in charge of Iraq's police and army. BAGHDAD cline the position "because of a lack of "Maliki is not interested in this part¬ commitment to national partnership." nership," said Maysoon al-Damluji, a BYJACKHEALY ' ' I will not participate,'' Mr. Allawi said, spokeswoman for Iraqiya and a mem¬ AND MICHAEL S. SCHMIDT according to excerpts of an interview to ber of Parliament. "He wants to have all be broadcast Thursday evening on Iraqi powers in his hand. He doesn't want to Iraq's shaky power-sharing government television. "This is a final decision." share with anyone. So let them be in his suffered another setback Thursday It was a sharp turnabout from three hands and good luck to him." when former Prime Minister Ayad months ago, when Mr. Allawi accepted Iraqiya is still nominally a part of the Allawi rejected a high-ranking advisory defeat after last March's inconclusive government, but its members have in¬ job that had been created to end the national elections and agreed to join a creasingly accused Mr. Maliki of country's protracted political deadlock. government led by his old political rival, reneging on the deal that helped return The decision by Mr. Allawi, who leads Mr. Maliki. Mr. Allawi's coalition nar¬ him to a second term as prime minister. a political coalition backed by much of rowly won the popular vote, but was out- "None of it has materialized. None," Iraq's Sunni minority, exposed new fis¬ maneuvered by Mr. Maliki in nine Ms. Damluji said. "There is no partner¬ sures in a coalition government forged months of ensuing political deal-making. ship as far as we are concerned.' ' with American backing late last year! With the top positions of prime minis¬ U.S. officials said the participation of The government brought together ter and president out of his reach, Mr. Mr. Allawi and his Sunni-supported Iraq's main ethnic, religious and politic¬ Allawi was offered a consolation prize political bloc were both crucial to form¬ al factions, with Mr. Allawi a critical as head of a strategic policy council that ing a representative government. In piece of the equation. still remains to be formed. The body November, an American official said But in recent days, Mr. Allawi and would have provided a check on Mr. Ma- Mr. Allawi had to be "a genuine partner members of his coalition, Iraqiya, have liki's power, though its exact powers or in the government with real authority." accused Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al- membership have still not yet been de¬ A spokeswoman for Mr. Allawi said he Maliki of failing to follow through on his termined. would retain his seat in Parliament. promises to share power, deepening a Ali al-Alâq, a member of Parliament

HmlblSiEribune march 7, 2011

Turkey charges 2 journalists in conspiracy case

ANKARA al for membership in Ergenekon, a net¬ be disclosed due to the confidentiality of work that prosecutors say plotted to the investigation," the statement said.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS create chaos in Turkey and overthrow Earlier, President Abdullah Gul was the government. ; î quoted as expressing worries that the A Turkish court on Sunday ordered two The government insists that the trial detentions were undermining a country investigative journalists jailed pending . is strengthening democratic rule in Tur¬ that some have promoted as a model de¬ the outcome of a trial into an alleged plot key by helping to unravel shadowing mocracy for Middle Eastern nations. to topple the Islamic-rooted govern¬ networks linked to state institutions "When I follow the developments, the ment, raising further concerns over that once operated with impunity in the impression I get is that there are certain freedom of the news media in Turkey. country. developments that the public con¬ The defendants, Nedim Sener and Ah¬ But critics contend that the govern- science cannot accept," the president met Sik, were charged with links to the ment is using Ergenekon case-to jail Er¬ told Milliyet in an interview published alleged conspiracy to overthrow Prime dogan's secular-minded opponents and on Sunday. "This is casting a shadow Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's gov¬ undermine Turkey's secular legacy. over the level that Turkey has reached ernment in 2003, according to Anatolia, They say there is no solid evidence and the image that is lauded by every¬ the state-run news agency. against many of the defendants and de¬ one. I am concerned about this." On Thursday, the police raided their nounce their long detention periods. Mr. Sik was already on trial for a book homes, seized hard disks and notes as The prosecutor's office issued a state¬ he co-wrote about the Ergenekon case. evidence and detained them along with ment saying the journalists were not de¬ He had just finished writing another six other journalists, drawing expres¬ tained because of their reporting. book on the influence of an Islamic group sions of concern from Western govern¬ "The investigation is not about opin¬ within the police force when he was de¬ ments and international media rights ions or books that have been written," tained, newspaper reports said. groups. One of the six was released the statement said, according to the Mr. Sener is known for a book about without charge on Sunday, while the newspapers Hurriyet and Milliyet. "No alleged intelligence failures that he others were still being questioned. one has been detained because of their claims led to the murder of Hrant Dink, About 400 suspects are already on tri duty." There is evidence "that cannot an ethnic Armenian journalist, in 2007. Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Ozeti

6 March 2011 Rudaw*Net The Kurdish Struggle in Iran: A Lost Cause?

By ROZH AHMAD / Rudaw. Iranian Kurdish The Kurds' ongoing struggle for more communist cultural and political rights in Iran is peshmaragas more isolated and fragile than ever before, patrol the with countless splits occurring in the Iranian mountains of Kurdish parties and often ferocious in-figh¬ Zirgwez in ting. Iraqi Due to bans imposed on these political Kurdistan. groups by the Islamic Republic of Iran, Photo by they are mostly now officially stationed Rozh Ahmad well within the borders of the neighboring for Rudaw. semiautonomous Kurdistan region of nor¬ thern Iraq, as political refugees hosted by the Kurdistan Regional Government

(KRG). To this day, the groups are still armed - armed with microphones and computer lism in the longer run, but its immediate not adequately enough to counter Iran's keyboards in their media studios, from demand is to form a democratic state with military might, but with more than enough where they broadcast to Iran and the rest of all the other Iranian political forces inclu¬ firepower to fight each other, as some of the world, via television, radio and the ded," according to Komala-CPI's them did in recent years, when several internet. Rahmanpanah. party splits led to inter-party armed "We support civil struggle, and cultural He said any democratic government in

conflict. and political representation of the Kurdish Iran "must guarantee the democratic rights With sectarianism now seemingly more nation, and we also believe in a political of the Kurdish nation, even if they want to important among these exiled Iranian solution for the Kurdish question in Iran," secede." Kurds than the struggle for their rights, the said Mohammad Nazifi, member of the "Our socialist demands are similar to unity of the Kurdish resistance is weake¬ PDKI's Secretariat, at the democratic those of the Communist Party of Iran ning in Iran, and there is the ever-present party's camp nestled under the Haibasultan [which includes both Kurds and Iranian possibility of further armed conflict or even Mountains, just 10 minutes' drive from the Persians, and is also based in the Zirgwez civil war among the groups, which would town center of Koya in Erbil province. camp], but because of the extent of the further weaken the Kurdish cause in Iran. Hassan Rahmanpanah, spokesman and national oppression in [Iranian] Kurdistan, Currently, five major Iranian Kurdish Central Committee member of the Komala- ending this oppression is one of our prime political groups outlawed by Iran have their CPI, said the communist group did not goals," added Rahmanpanah. "We have bases within Iraqi Kurdistan. The groups, believe in armed struggle, but that it still agreed to fight for the people's judicial co-existing in an ideologically uneasy rela¬ had weapons and military camps to defend representation in Iran at our latest tionship, comprise the Democratic Party of itself from "the Islamic regime's attacks." congress." Kurdistan-Iran (PDKI), the Komala- "If we did not have our guns we The PDKI, led by Mustafa Hijri and

Communist Party of Iran (Komala-CPI), couldn't have our media, our publications founded in 1945 in Iranian Kurdistan, has a and their splinter parties. and the [clandestine] civil struggle we are contrasting position to Komala-CPI's on Saddam Hussein's Ba'athist govern¬ operating in Iran against the Islamic the Iranian Kurdish question. The PDKI's ment allowed the groups to be in Iraq after regime," he told Rudaw at the Komala-CPI Nazifi said its central aim was "to build a the 1979 Iranian Islamic Revolution, due to camp in the craggy mountains of Zirgwez, federalist government in Iran that assures their opposition to a common enemy: the about 45 minutes' drive south from the right of the Kurds and the Iranian government. Sulaimani city. other... nations [ethnic groups] in Iran on During the Kurdish uprising against During the 1990s, prominent members an ethnic and geographical basis." Hussein in 1991, the groups were allowed of both groups were often assassinated by He added that the PDKI had long belie¬ to establish bases in Iraqi Kurdistan, and Iranian secret service members when they ved in a "decentralized federalist govern¬ they have been here ever since. The KRG were en route to and from their camps and ment," similar to the one existing in Iraq supplies them with power, water and land. while in Iraqi Kurdish towns. Although today, that "could guarantee the rights of all Iran claims the Kurdish groups are ter¬ there have not been any deadly attacks those nations, settle Iran's problems peace¬ rorists, although the groups themselves since security increased in Iraqi Kurdistan fully and create good relations in the

renounced armed struggle in 2003, as the in 2003, the groups remain ever-vigilant. Middle East and internationally." Iraqi Constitution does not allow armed

political activities to be operated from Iraqi The roots of the political tension Breaking away from the mother soil. The groups do not allow Iraqi Kurds Historically, there have always been party as members, so as to avoid upsetting the political differences between Komala-CPI Komala-CPI, known to the communists

KRG's foreign relations. and the PDKI. These differences reached as "the mother party," has also given birth Rudaw recently visited the two most their highest level in the early 1980s, when, to two further "Komala" parties which prominent camps of these Iranian Kurdish in the Iraqi Kurdistan mountains, a bloody insist on using the term "Komala" (mea¬

parties and observed the daily life of their six-year civil war erupted between the two ning "Group" in Kurdish) in their party peshmarga fighters, which is no longer groups, who were both heavily armed at names, creating great headaches for outsi¬ limited to military duties alone. With their that time. ders trying to work out the identity of these guns put to one side, Rudaw saw both male Komala-CPI, founded in 1967 in the various groups. and female peshmargas - still in their mili¬ Kurdish region of Iran, is a Marxist organi¬ In 2000, the biggest split in Komala- tary fatigues - building, planting trees and zation, which now "fights to destroy capita- CPI's history occurred when Abdullah

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

Muhtadi, one of Komala-CPI's most consequence was quite unfortunate," said Other peoples join the Kurds' strug¬ renowned leaders, decided to break away Komala-PIK's Wakili, adding that there gle from the party due to his disenchantment were no political or ideological differences The Iranian Kurdish movement has, on with its communist ideology and his increa¬ between the two "social democratic" the whole, also fought for the rights of all sed embracing of a social-democratic posi¬ groups, who both blame each other for the major ethnic minorities in Iran, namely tion. sparking off the violence and, to this day, the Arabs, Azeri, Baluchis and Turks.

will not engage in mutual dialogue. In turn, members of these minorities

He formed a new faction named the "The violence was a result of deviating have joined the Kurds' ranks. Komala Party of Iranian Kurdistan away from Komala-CPI's fundamental Rudaw met peshmargas in their early

(Komala-PIK). principles," said Komala-CPI's twenties from these various nationalities at

"Our faction's split was the only one Rahmanpanah, adding that no violence had both the Komala-CPI and PDKI camps, that occurred for political reasons in the ever taken place during a split from his own many of them speaking in broken Kurdish. history of Iranian-Kurdish politics," said party. "We pick up each other's languages,

Farwq Wakili, Komala-PIK Central "When [Muhtadi's Komala-PIK] first because we struggle together and we are

Committee member and the party's repre¬ split from us, we even provided them with also living here together," said a 21-year-

sentative in Sulaimani city. "We are still a a camp next to us and paid for all their old communist peshmarga, adding that the leftwing organization - left of social demo¬ expenses for three months," he said. The peshmargas of other ethnicities usually cracy. Our Komala fights for federalism in Komala-PIK camp still stands next to the picked up the Kurdish language after being

Iran and the rights of the Kurds and other original Komala-CPI camp. in the camp for a couple of months. nations on ethnic and geographical The Kurdish democrat's PDKI did not At the PDKI camp there was a ceme¬ grounds." escape the epidemic of sectarianism either. tery which, as well as having graves and

Perhaps underscoring a fundamental In that same year, just after the PDKI's 13th memorials for Kurds, included those for similarity in purpose among the Iranian congress, a splinter group left the party to Arab and Turkish party martyrs, killed

Kurdish parties, which is ignored due to form the Kurdistan Democratic Party while fighting the Iranian military forces or

their highly politicized internecine fighting, (PDK), not to be confused with Iraqi assassinated by the Iranian secret service.

Komala-PIK's aim, as expressed in Kurdistan's own Kurdistan Democratic

Wakili's statement, appears to be exactly Party (KDP), which is one of the region's A united front or lost cause?

the same as the "democratic" PDKI's, as current ruling parties. As a member of both Socialist

expressed in Nazifi's statement, even The PDK claimed they had had issues International (SI) and the Unrepresented though Komala-PIK is led by former with the original party's "internal democra¬ Nations and Peoples Organization (UNPO),

staunch communist Muhtadi and uses the tic structure," while the PDKI claimed the the PDKI is substantially more internatio¬ name "Komala," now inextricably associa¬ faction had broken away because their nally recognized than the other Iranian

ted with communism. demands had not been met in the congress. Kurdish parties.

To add even more confusion to the Both "democratic" parties have similar In 2004, Komala-PIK also requested to

party nomenclature and ideology, the manifestos, exasperatingly similar names become a SI member, but was refused

Kurdish-language name of Komala-PIK and even celebrate similar party anniversa¬ because Si's policy only allows for the

translates as "Komala-Revolutionary ries. The lack of fundamental political and membership of one democratic, including

Toilers' Party of Kurdistan," with the party ideological differences between them mir¬ social democratic, party per country. name rather shrewdly toned down in its rors the relationship of Muhtadi's Komala- Despite this, Komala-PIK's Wakili says English version for Western and internatio¬ PIK with its offshoot, Zada's Komala-KTP. his party is the most influential Iranian

nal consumption. Kurdish party.

"This is because 'revolution' and those The 'Iraqi Kurdistan solution' for "You can see the important position our kinds of names are not popular outside the Iran's Kurds party holds in the international media,

country and in the West," explained Wakili. Apart from communist Komala-CPI, all which means we are progressing politically

the Iranian Kurdish parties view the United and more recognized than the [other par¬

Split after split leads to armed States' 2003 invasion of Iraq, and the sub¬ ties]," he said.

conflict sequent formation of the KRG, as the solu¬ The other two splinter groups, the PDK

In 2008, the year when the sectarianism tion to the Kurdish question in Iraq. and Komala-KTP, as yet have no great

and factionalism among the Iranian Komala-CPI is the only one of these groups influence nationally or internationally,

Kurdish parties peaked, several Komala- demanding "the right of the Kurdish nation especially when compared to the PDKI and

PIK Central Committee members decided to self determination." Komala-CPI, possibly due to the recentness

to further break away from the Komala In contrast to the communist party's of their formations. Only time will tell whe¬ splinter party, apparently because of perso¬ separatist views, the PDKI's Nazifi told ther these groups will become substantial nal politics, to form their own organization, Rudaw that, "to put into practice our fede¬ enough to rival the two mother parties, or called Komala-Kurdistan Toilers' Party ralism, all the regions of the indigenous whether they will simply sink into oblivion (Komala-KTP), led by Omer Ilkhani Zada. nations must be part of Iran," adding that like dozens of other parties in the turbulent This separation was not as peaceful as his party envisioned a semiautonomous history of Iranian politics. Muhtadi's split from the Komala-CPI Kurdish region within an "Iranian federalist All the Iranian Kurdish parties mentio¬ "mother party." Tension ran so high bet¬ state," echoing the status of the Kurdish ned here told Rudaw, and indeed have often ween these two "social democratic" splinter semiautonomous region in Iraq. grandly proclaimed to the rest of the groups that armed attacks were mounted However, Komala-CPI remains world's press, that their aim is to form a against each other, and the parties took each staunchly opposed to federalism. united front against their common enemy, others' cadres as prisoners. This was even¬ "Federalism is unable to answer the Iran. On the surface, this would seem the tually stopped by the intervention of the Kurdish question and guarantee the demo¬ obvious and most simple solution, but in Iraqi Kurdish security forces. cratic rights of the Kurds," said Komala- practice, appears to be a far cry from reality, The split, and the subsequent violence, CPI's Rahmanpanah, adding that federalist- due to the violent, but often petty and poin¬ had reportedly been simply due to petty type governments had been equally unsuc¬ tless, ideological disputes and personal personal differences on how to and who cessful in addressing such issues in the rest politics among the groups. should run Komala-PIK, but as a result, ins¬ of the world as well. The Kurdish struggle in Iran appears to tead of fighting their common enemy, the "The experiences of Palestine, India be a lost cause, stagnating amid the factio¬

Iranian regime, the refugees had turned and Iraqi Kurdistan show that federalism nalism and sectarianism that is bogging

their weapons on each other. has not offered a solution for the different down the Iranian Kurds' simple hope to "It was a management issue which ethnic minority groups," he said. secure their rights and freedom.

could have been solved easily, but the

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

£elÏÏ®n«te Samedi 5 mars 2011

Le vent de la révolte arabe bute sur le régime syrien

Un nouvel appel à manifester pour des réformes a été lancé, après un premier rendez-vous raté

quement sur les événements tuni¬ Le prochain rendez-vous a été sein desquels étaient évoquées la de l'homme, l'écrivainAh Al-Abdal¬ siens ou égyptiens, les autorités fixé au 15 mars. Les Syriens fin de l'état d'urgence, en vigueur lah et les avocats Muhannad syriennes ont pourtant jugé la sont théoriquement, invités depuis 1963, des élections vérita¬ Al-Hassani et Haytham Al-Maleh situation suffisamment inquiétan¬ ce jour-là à manifester dans les blement pluralistes et la libération ont été condamnés ces derniers te pour multiplier les mesures d'or¬ rues contre le régime du président des prisonniers politiques. Riyad mois à de nouvelles périodes d'em¬ dre social, prenant le contre-pied Bachar Al-Assad, au pouvoir Seif, l'une des figures de proue de prisonnement pour avoir «répan¬ de la politique de rigueurbudgétai¬ depuis 2000, date à laquelle il avait ce mouvement pourtant circons¬ du de fausses informations» ou re suivie précédemment, dès la chu¬ succédé à son père, Hafez Al-Assad. crit à la bonne société syrienne, « affaibli le sentiment national ». . te de Zine El-Abidine Ben Ali, le Le 4février, une première invita¬ avait alors été emprisonné. 14 janvier. tion avait été lancée, sans rencon¬ Une répression identique avait Contré-pied , Alors que les réserves en pétrole trer le moindre succès. A Alep, frappé cinq ans plus tard les signa¬ L'un des signataires de la « décla¬ du pays s'épuisent, la Syrie doit fai¬ dans le nord du pays, un activiste taires d'une «déclaration de ration de Damas », le journaliste et re face chaque année à l'entrée sur qui, selon Human Rights Watch, Damas » appelant à une transition écrivain Michel Kilo, libéré en 2010 un marché du travail atone de plu¬ avait lancé des appels publics pour politique, qui avaient été traduits après trois ans passés en prison, a sieurs dizaines de milliers de jeu¬ plus de liberté avait été arrêté. La en justice et emprisonnés. accordé lundi un très prudent nes. Certains signaux témoignent Syrie est en effet le seul régime Contraint un an plus tôt à se retirer entretien au quotidien libanais de tensions, ainsi le bref soulève¬ autoritaire du Proche-Orient resté du Liban, soumis à 'la pression Al-Nahar pour dresser un premier ment d'un quartier de Damas, imperméable aux insurrections conjointe des Etats-Unis et de la bilan de la vague de contestation Al-Hariqa, le 17 février, en protesta¬ en cours et aux révolutions surve¬ France, le régime syrien était isolé. arabe. «Nous entrons dans l'ère de tion contre les mauvais traite¬ nues en Tunisie et en Egypte. La reprise spectaculaire des rela¬ l'après-despotisme arabe, a-t-il esti¬ ments infligés par la police à un Il faut dire que les deux derniè- tions avec Paris en 2008, qui a mé, après la misère, la violence, la commerçant. Comme le montre . res tentatives de mise en cause culminé avec lavisite dans la capita¬ corruption vécues dans le monde une vidéo consultable sur YouTu- ; publique de la nature du régime le française du président Assad, en arabe. Tous les pays vont entrer be et comme partout ailleurs dans syrien ont rapidement tourné juillet 2008, n'a eu aucune consé¬ dans l'histoire libre et démocrati¬ cette région en ebullition, l'événe¬ court. Le régime du président quence sur le sort des signataires que, même si leurs régimes ne vont ment a été immédiatement filmé Àssad avait brutalement stoppé de cette déclaration qui n'ont pu pas chuterprochainement. (...) Ceux par des dizaines de téléphones en septembre 2001 le « printemps recouvrer la liberté qu'au terme de qui refusent les réformes vivent brandis par les contestataires. de Damas » : une floraison de leur peine. Trois autres figures désormais dans un autre temps. » Gilles Paris salons politiques dans le pays au syriennes de la défense des droits Sans jamais s'exprimer publi

LE FIGARO jeudi 3 mars 2011 De fait, la RTCN est administrée com¬ me un protectorat. Elle est bien dotée Chypre du Nord se dresse d'un gouvernement et d'Un « président » mais Y « ambassadeur » de Turquie veille à l'application des ordres d'Ankara. Le contre le « protecteur » turc gouvernement turc vient d'ailleurs de

20 000 personnes ont manifesté hier à Nicosie. nommer à ce poste de « président bis » le technocrate qui a mis en place les mesu¬ politiques ont pris le pas sur l'opposition res d'austérité. « Notre banque centrale, LAURE MARCHAND au plan de rigueur du gouvernement notre police et même nospompiers sont di¬ ENVOYÉE SPÉCIALE À NICOSIE turc. Le 28 janvier, une première mani- rigéspar les Turcs », explique Gùven Va- MÉDITERRANÉE Le vent de révolte qui . testation s'était concentrée sur les mesu¬ roglu, président du syndicat des ensei¬ souffle sur le pourtour méditerranéen a res visant à assainir le déficit budgétaire gnants, qui a mis en place la plate-forme de la « République turque de Chypre du atteint la partie de Chypre sous domina¬ de contestation. De plus, 40 000 soldats Nord » (RTCN), État fantôme reconnu tion turque depuis 1974. Hier, plus de turcs stationnent toujours dans le tiers par la seule Turquie et qui survit sous per¬ 20 000 Chypriotes-turcs, soit un sur sept, nord de l'île. Un noyau dur de Chyprio¬ ont manifesté dans le nord de. Nicosie fusion d'Ankara. Des banderoles anti- tes-turcs réunis autour du quotidien contre les mesures d'austérité imposées Turcs avaient mis hors de lui le premier Afrika fait campagne pour la. réunifica¬

par la mère-patrie et pour se débarrasser ministre turc, Recep Tayyip Erdogan. tion et la fin de l'emprise turque. « Qui sont ces gens ? », avait-il éructé, en de sa tutelle. « Ce pays est à nous, nous « Pris en sandwich » voulons le diriger », «Retirez votre paquet les traitant de « charognards ». « Ils cra-

ou tirez-vous», «Ankara, lâche-nous », chent dans la main de celui qui les nourrit. Vendredi dernier, des coups de feu ont

pouvait-on lire sur de nombreuses pan¬ (...) Nous avons versé notre sang pour eux. été tirés contre les locaux du journal et cartes hostiles à la mainmise turque. De Bs doivent être déférés devant la justice. » son rédacteur en chef, Sener Lèvent, a rares drapeaux chypriotes flottaient dans Pour les Chypriotes-turcs, ces propos aux reçu des menaces de mort. « Ce n'estpas la manifestation, la police les ayant vio¬ relents colonialistes ont fait l'effet d'une la première fois, déclare-t-il. Cette nou¬

lemment confisqués, tout comme les pan¬ douche froide. « La Turquie pense qu'elle velle attaque prouve bien qu'on vit sous est chez elle ici », s'indigne Cinel Htiseyin, cartes dénonçant « l'occupation ». occupation. » Si l'ensemble de la popula¬ Les revendications sont montées d'un enseignante d'anglais qui s'est envelop¬ tion ne réclame pas de couper radicale¬ cran ces dernières semaines et les griefs pée dans un drapeau chypriote. ment le cordon ombilical avec la Tur-

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

ligieux, les autochtones supportent de quie, le sentiment d'être menacé dans réunification de l'île. Victimes de la moins en moins les différences de mode son identité chypriote est de plus en plus mauvaise volonté turque et chypriote- de vie avec les migrants turcs et la multi¬ partagé. grecque, les négociations sont au point plication de mosquées. Leur nombre est Les colons installés à partir de 1974, les mort. « On est pris en sandwich entre les passé de 20 à 47 depuis l'arrivée au pou¬ travailleurs, les étudiants et les militaires deux, déplore Gtiven Varoglu. Nous voir en Turquie, il y a huit ans, des mu¬ turcs sont désormais plus nombreux que avons un passeport européen mais nous sulmans conservateurs de l'AKP. les Chypriotes. « Nous sommes en danger sommes les citoyens invisibles de l'Union La peur de l'assimilation est renforcée de mort », estime Zeki Besiktepeli, à la européenne. » u tête du mouvement jasmin. Très peu re par le blocage complet du processus de

ielHomk

Mercredi 9 mars 2011

Iran : sous la pression, M. Rafsandjani cède la présidence de l'Assemblée des experts

La perte d'un poste-clé par l'ex-président de la République illustre la crispation et l'isolement du pouvoir

Rumeurs, pressions et de qu'il y a trente ans», il a mis en v Ali Khamenei, et M. Rafsandjani. populaire qui met l'avenir de la rares déclarations : la campa¬ cause les plus hautes autorités du Ce dernier, personnage très République islamique en danger». gne pour l'élection du prési¬ régime entraînées dans une spira¬ contesté (le pouvoir l'accuse régu¬ A l'heure où, devant un regain dent de l'Assemblée des experts, ce le de répression face à toute for¬ lièrement de corruption) mais his¬ de contestation en dépit de la rouage religieux de la République me de contestation, en décla¬ torique, et surtout dernier « poids répression, le pouvoir iranien s'est

islamique au rôle en théorie essen^ rant: «La République islamique a lourd » du régime à ne pas s'être durci demandant à chacun de faire tiel puisqu'il peut «élire, contrôler perdu la confiance desfidèles, la totalement aligné sur le clanfonda¬ allégeance, l'élimination de l'an¬

ou démettre le Guide suprême», a solution n'est pas la terreur mais mentaliste au pouvoir, a pourtant cien président de la République été aussi discrète qu'acharnée. le dialogue. » été le « parrain » de M. Khamenei d'un poste stratégique semblait

Le dénouement est intervenu Evoquant le vote des « experts », lorsqu'il a succédé à l'imam Kho- cruciale à ses yeux. mardi 8 mars, lorsque les 86 mojta- M. Rafsandjani a ajouté: «Ici, les meyni à sa mort, en 1989. Depuis, Ce n'est pas la première fois que heb (docteurs de la loi) qui compo¬ décisions sont prises en dehors de les relations entre les deux hom¬ les ultraconservateurs tentaient sent l'Assemblée se sont retrouvés cette Assemblée. » Ce qui était une mes se sont dégradées. de le déloger de l'Assemblée des pour une élection qui a lieu tous allusion très claire à l'un des para¬ M. Rafsandjani, qui a l'écoute experts. Ces dernières années les deux ans. L'ancien président de doxes de cette Assemblée, où les des grands ayatollahs de Qom, la M. Khamenei avait favorisé l'élec¬ la République Ali Akbar Hachemi « experts » chargés de surveiller les ville sainte, ou des membres tion d'experts qui lui sont proches, Rafsandjani a cédé de lui-même la influents du bazar en raison de sa souvent passés par des postes idéo¬ place qu'il occupait depuis 2007 à «La République politique affairiste, s'était rendu logiques dans les forces armées, la tête de cet organe de pouvoir à incontournable. Il était devenu mais M. Rafsandjani avait réussi à

l'ayatollah Mohammad Reza islamique a perdu la une gêne pour le nouveau Guide sauver sa place. Mahdavi Kani, 80 ans. Cet ayatol¬ confiance des fidèles » suprême qui a toujours manqué, Cette fois, il a jeté lui-même lah conservateur, éphémère pre¬ entre autres, d'une grande légiti¬ l'éponge, semblant se placerouver¬

mier ministre par intérim peu Ali Akbar Hachemi Rafsandjani mité religieuse. C'est ainsi qu'en tement dans une forme d'opposi¬ après la révolution de 1979 et diri¬ 2005, le clan conservateur, à l'ins¬ tion. Il lui reste encore des atouts, geant de l'université Imam-Sade- actions du Guide suprême sont tigation de M.Khamenei, avait ne serait-ce que son poste à la tête gh qui forme les élites de la Républi¬ avalisés par ce même Guide sur évincé M. Rafsandjani de l'élec¬ du Conseil de discernement qui que islamique, était so'utenu par une liste restreinte soumise ensui¬ tion présidentielle. Le Guide lui arbitre les litiges, entre le Parle¬ les fondamentalistes. te au vote de la population... ayant préféré la candidature du ment et le gouvernement. Conscient de ce que la bataille Enfin, l'ancien président de la maire populiste de Téhéran, Mah¬ Sa disparition d'un poste-clé était perdue d'avance après les République s'est livré à unevive cri¬ moud Ahmadinejad: comme celui de président de l'As¬ pressions dont ont été l'objet les tique des dérives du régime par¬ Une situation qui s'est encore semblée des experts marque membres de l'Assemblée (une bon¬ lant de « mystification », de «paro¬ dégradée lors des manifestations cependantuntournant. «SiRafsan- ne trentaine avait fait allégeance à les vidées de tout sens islamique » suscitées en juin 2009 parla réélec¬ djanisaute, le Guide aurafranchi la M. Mahdavi Kani avant le vote), et de « mensonges » permanents. tion contestée de M. Ahmadinejad. dernièreligne rouge : ilseraplus iso¬ M. Rafsandjani a préféré éviter un Pourquoi une telle violence Tout en gardant ses distances, lé que jamais face à l'opposition,

affrontement interne dévastateur. dans sespropos? Parce qu'en réa¬ M. Rafsandjani, connu pour son car seul M. Rafsandjani a l'étoffe et

Mais dans son discours lité, l'épisode qui s'est dénoué pragmatismeet son habileté à trou¬ la crédibilitépour lancer un pont, si d'ouverture de la séance de l'As¬ mardi, le début de l'éviction de ver des compromis, a soutenu le c'est encore possible entre pouvoir semblée il n'a guère mâché ses M. Rafsandjani, n'est que l'abou¬ mouvement « vert » d'opposition, et opposition », nous confiait peu mots, sortant de sa réserve habi¬ tissement d'une rivalité politi¬ appelant dans un discours remar¬ avant l'élection un dirigeant réfor¬ tuelle. Expliquant que « le monde que qui dure depuis plus de vingt qué en juillet 2009, au « dialogue » mateur de passage àParis. d'aujourd'hui n'est plus le même ans entre le Guide suprême, devant « la grave crise de confiance Marie-Claude Decamps

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

Kurdistan Regional Government

06 march 2011

KRG officials discuss plight of Iraq's Christians at Paris "V h conference

Paris, France (KRG.org) - Kurdistan Regional Government ministers last week at the French Senate in return to villages in Kurdistan that they had left 40 years Paris said that they will continue to do all they can to help before. He said, "Three hundred and seventy Christian villa¬ Christians fleeing from violence in other parts of Iraq. ges have been rebuilt, and we should be grateful to the Kurdistan Regional Government for rebuilding them as well Minister Falah Mustafa Bakir, the KRG's Head of Foreign as building a school and chapel or church in each. The Relations, said, "We are proud to help in whatever way we government also built roads to the villages, where before can. We remember the material and moral aid that we recei¬ there were only paths accessible by mules. Above all their ved in the darkest days of our history. We do all we can to ability to return to the villages gave them a chance to live in help them, but we lack the resources to meet all their huma¬ peace without the threat of terrorism. I invite you to come nitarian needs. We welcome the French Foreign Minister's and visit us there." call to European countries in January to give concrete sup¬ port to regions that have received fleeing Christians." Mr Olivier Poupard, Adviser on Religious Affairs to France's Minister of Foreign Affairs, spoke about the threat Minister Bakir was joined by Dr Fuad Hussein, Chief of of terrorism to Christian as well as other communities in dif¬ Staff to President Masoud Barzani, at a conference on ferent parts of the Middle East, and called on the internatio¬ February 26th on the fate of Iraq's Christians in the Senate, nal community to react strongly to terrorism regardless of France's upper house of parliament. The conference was the religion of the victims. He said, "President Barzani's ini¬ organised by the Kurdish Institute in Paris. tiative last November to open Kurdistan's door to Christians under threat and attack in other parts of Iraq is both generous Since 2003, over 10,000 Christian families have found and a step in the right direction. It helps to avoid the exile of refuge in Kurdistan. Since October 2010 alone, after an a people that has always lived in Iraq, that is an irreplacea¬ attack on a church in Baghdad, 2,000 families fled there. ble community acting as a guarantor of peace and social har¬ mony." Dr Hussein said, "Some have doubts about us and our inten¬ tions, and ask why we are open to the Christians. We believe He said, "The French authorities will look at the KRG's pro¬ in this policy because we believe in our own humanity and posals and respond. Through France's consul general in in democracy, in the diversity of our society. We know that Erbil, we will study what projects France can fund, notably we're not alone and that we have to fight together and live in the education sector which we hold dear. But any initia¬ together." tive however generous needs a favourable environment."

He added "Our policy in the Kurdistan Region has much to The Bishop of Mosul, Emile Nona and Father Nejib Mikael, do with our common history of suffering, and with the future the Superior of the Dominican Order in Baghdad, also spoke of our country - the country of the Kurds, Arabs, Chaldeans, about the threats and attacks faced by their communities. Assyrians, Turkmen, Muslims, Christians, Yezidis. We believe in the diversity of Kurdistan, and our policy must All the speakers at the conference, which was in two ses¬ reflect the reality of this diversity." sions, stressed the need to take concrete action to help Iraq's Christians. They included Dr Kendal Nezan, President of the Minister Bakir said that the Kurdish government effectively Kurdish Insitute; French Senator Bernard Cazeau; the writer gives the Christians financial support to pay for temporary Ephrem Isa Yousif; and Abbot Pascal Gollnisch, Director of accommodation and tries to help them find jobs. But, he the Christian charity L'Oeuvre d'Orient. added, the KRG would like new facilities for social care and to provide schooling in Arabic for the children.

Raban Al-Qas, the Bishop of the town of Amadiya in Kurdistan, commended President Barzani for immediately coming to the aid of Christians and helping many of them to

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

THE HUFFINGTON POST MARCH 7, 2011

Turkeyfs Unity Threatened: Polarization Over Kurdish Policy

TheHuffingtonPost Kurdistan with Turkish land. The Congress brought spotlight ideology are Erdogan's reasons on Turkey's human rights for fully supporting Hamas and When the United States mili¬ record in its dealings with the Hezbollah while refusing to tary toppled Saddam Hussein Kurdish issue ~ rather in a dis¬ accept the Kurdish Peace and in 2003, Turks also feared that proportionate way. In the Democracy Party (BDP) as legi¬ /Tulin Daloglu its other mission in the region meantime, the Turks in the timate. Simply put, Kurds was creating an independent western part of the country did represent a secular movement; Kurdistan ~ a deep-rooted fear not want to know what was the others are Islamist. based on how the Ottoman happening in the Kurdish While the Arab world is Empire was lost by the end of regions. And that was even To move on, Turks went to the swept by a series of World War I. As a result, the more problematic than any¬ polls last September to decide revolutions ending the long Turkish State seems to have thing else... on a referendum to change lasting status quo in the decided between the two "evils" parts of the Turkish constitu¬ region, Kurdish separatists surely not used in literal Under the AKP's leadership, tion, and Erdogan stoked the announced the end of a six- sense but as a metaphor and however, the state prosecutor fires by bringing up the Turkish month cease-fire this week in cast its lot with the Justice and in Istanbul prosecuted military's operation in 1937 in their nearly 30-year fight Development Party (AKP) on Ergenekon, a shadowy Turkish Dersim to end a Kurdish upri¬ against the Turkish state. The the grounds that the Kurds ultra-nationalist gang, in a sing. Turks should be able to timing is undeniably mea¬ were less trustworthy than the high-profile trial. Many in the talk about the dark parts of ningful. March kicks of elec¬ Islamists. Rightly or wrongly, general population thought their history honesty can tion season in Turkey, and the military favored an AKP that Turkey had reached a only strengthen their country's people will vote on the next takeover of Turkey's eastern point where it could deal with unity. But Erdogan wasn't government in three months. and southeastern regions, its darker elements and end the trying to be constructive. He Kurds also celebrate Newruz which are populated mainly by workings of the "deep state." was trying to hurt his main this month. The March 21 fes¬ Kurds, rather than allow the But nearly three years after the opponent, Kemal Kilicdaroglu, tivities mark the arrival of Kurdish parties to rule there. trial began, Turks have not whose hometown is Tunceli spring, and the massive num¬ The result is a rather complica¬ begun to come to terms with formerly Dersim. Erdogan ber of people likely to attend ted mess. the crimes of the past or move wanted to embarrass increases the odds of a clash forward with a national healing Kilicdaroglu, who represents between Kurds and Turkish When Turkish Prime Minister process. Instead, this historic the Republican People's Party security forces. Such an inci¬ Recep Tayip Erdogan rose to trial is now all about a 2003 (CHP), and create the impres¬ dent may give a picture that power in 2003, he complained coup plot ~ and even though no sion that he was acting against

the fever in the region jum¬ that the previous government clear evidence exists that steps the people of his own home¬ ped to Turkey, too. And it's had failed to address the were taken to carry it out, it is town by leading a party that needless to say that any type Kurdish issue and had done the reason that 1 out of every 10 actually had given the order to of fight is bound to play a role nothing to further the state's high-ranking Turkish military use air bombardment to end in the national election. interests since jailing PKK lea¬ officers is in jail. the uprising in Dersim in 1937. der Abdullah Ocalan in 1999. He hoped that it would bring Before going further though, Now, after nine years of AKP Still, I'm convinced that the him the votes. He was right. it's important to give a brief rule, not much has changed; in Turkish state backs AKP on its But it did not change the fact, context to the dilemma, which fact, the problem has grown Kurdish policy. Or I can reph¬ Kilicdaroglu insisted that his threatens Turkey's unity, peace even bigger and more chronic. rase it differently and argue politics would not be determi¬ and security. Without a doubt, that the AKP acts accordingly ned by ethnicity or religion and Turkey has approached a very Turkey's fight against the PKK with the Turkish state when it that an overwhelming majority

crucial turning point in its dea¬ has not been easy. In the name comes to the Kurdish issue. in Tunceli voted against the lings with its Kurdish citizens. of counterterrorism, the Either way, Kurds made signifi¬ referendum. What Erdogan To start with, the issue of secu¬ Turkish military and security cant gains in the 2009 local should have done, if his real larism and the role of Kurds in forces have acted illegally, shat¬ elections, but since then many aim was to examine the mista¬ Turkey either as part of the tering innocent lives and sprea¬ have worried that the AKP and kes of Turkish history, was not republic or separate from it ~ ding fear over the Kurdish the larger Turkish state are to use such a traumatic inci¬ has been a key weakness since population. The United States trying to destroy them politi¬ dent as a political football. the country's founding 88 years did not necessarily care what cally. That seemed the logical Rather, he should have apolo¬ ago. Even after so many years Turkey did in mid-to-late conclusion, one Kurdish repre¬ gized for those past mistakes oftheir own form of democratic 1980s. The U.S. policy line was sentative told me, after thou¬ and tried to move the country government, Turks are still that the "PKK is a terrorist sands of Kurdish activists were forward. As the prime minister, insecure about the strength of organization and we support prosecuted after the local elec¬ he owns Turkey's past and the

the secular regime and Kurds Turkey's right to defend itself tions in the Kurdish present... do not feel like equal citizens. against terrorism." But the Gulf Communities Union (KCK) The Kurdish political parties War led to a dramatic shift in trial. Unquestionably, the The military constitution draf¬ have long sought autonomy, the U.S. policies toward the Turkish government should ted in 1982 mandated that par¬ leaving open the question of Kurds. That affected the rela¬ have dealt with the Kurdish ties must achieve a 10-percent whether they would try to tionship between the U.S. and parties differently. Yet many threshold in the popular vote to create an independent Turkey throughout the 1990s. speculate that religion and be represented in the Turkish

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

Parliament, and a minimum change the constitution decide. It backfired. Those cities, they could not compre¬ vote of 7 percent in the natio¬ without opposition. returnees are now being arres¬ hend what it really meant to nal election to be eligible for ted and standing trial mainly them. funds from the state treasury. Last but not the least, AKP's for supporting a terrorist orga¬ That stipulation was a blatant Kurdish opening or democratic nization. Alas Erdogan as the Turkey's unity is more at stake move to keep Kurds out of opening lacked a true content. Turkish prime minister ~ than ever. People are becoming Turkey's politics. But while No one seemed to be clear as to should have known better that more and more polarized, and Erdogan continually talks what it really constituted. Yet it there is no way for Turkey to there is hardly any sincere about Turkey's strengthening became clear that AKP had cut really take a step forward on debate questioning the AKP's democracy, he argues vehe¬ a deal with the PKK through the Kurdish issue without the policies. Instead the focus is on mently against lowering those back channels persuading consent and approval of its two the military's mysterious plot barriers so that people can the return of a group of 34 peo¬ opposition parties ~ the to overthrow the government really be represented in ple from northern Iraq through Republican People's Party rather than genuinely concen¬ Parliament. He wants to win a Habur border gate in October. (CHP) and the Nationalist trating on the country's well- third term in June, and by Some of those were PKK mem¬ Movement Party (MHP). They being. Erdogan's tactics of dis¬ playing the hardball he is bers and others were refugees were, however, completely traction, manipulation, clou¬ trying to hold the vote for the at the Makhmur refugee camp. excluded from this process. As ding the issues and causing Nationalist Movement Party In the end, both sides misused a result, when Turks saw confusion may keep him in (MHP) under the 10-percent this opportunity. Turkish judges at the border in power by dividing people, but threshold. If he succeeds, he the tents issuing them an easy they don't change the fact that could end up with 367 AKP The AKP leadership failed to pass to normal life with no his policies are hurting rather deputies in Parliament prepare the country, but ramification, and watched on than helping the country. which would be the magical authoritatively pushed the peo¬ their television screen the vic¬ number allowing him to ple to accept whatever they tory festivities in the Kurdish

Talabani: opposition is necessary for progress of Kurdistan

March 7th 2011 - (AKnews) - by Sarwa Hawrami

Erbil Iraq's president and the secretary-general of the

Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, Jalal Talabani said on Monday that

an opposition is necessary for progress and development of

Kurdistan, noting that his party has decided with the Kurdistan

Democratic Party to make reforms in the region.

Jelal Talabani , Kongrai PUKTalabani said in a speech during a cere¬ tors or security forces ". mony held in Sulaimaniyah to the occasion of the twentieth anniver¬ Sulaimaniyah the second largest city of Kurdistan is experiencing sary of March uprising in the nineties of the last century that "the since Thursday of 1 7 of last February several protests that demand opposition has to maintain the unity and integrity of the people, as to fight against corruption and provide jobs for the unemployed and their presence is essential for the progress of Kurdistan, we believe political reforms, but it transferred into clashes between demonstra¬ in different opinions and ideas." tors and security forces that killed and injured a number of people. "We support and work to achieve the demands made by the demons¬ Kurdistan Parliament issued a resolution last week about the situation trators and work to improve the living conditions of society." in the region, which included 1 7 points, and called representatives of

The Kurdish people has a mass uprising against the former regime in the political blocs in parliament to listen to the demands of the

the spring of 1 991 , including local people in cities and towns as well demonstrators, and support the results of the national dialogue bet¬

as Kurdish Peshmarga forces, which led to the liberation of most of ween political parties and political blocs represented by the members

the provinces and cities in Kurdistan from the grip of the former Iraqi of parliament. regime. Kurdistan is witnessing mobility internally among the various political

"We support this kind such as the protest that took place in parties in an effort to calm the situation after Sulaimaniyah experien¬

Sulaimaniyah and demonstrate peacefully, this is a legitimate right of ced tension on the background of the demonstrations. every society which is contained in the permanent Iraqi constitution Kurdistan region's President , Massoud Barzani demanded on as well as in the Constitution of Kurdistan." Thursday the need to address the situation in the region, , also stres¬ " we hope that these demonstrations are peaceful and the demons¬ sed at the same time the absence of the President for life in the

trators would deal in a civilized way with the security forces and we region. condemn any kind of violence and murder if it was by the demonstra

16 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Ozeti hè Rudaw«Net 8 March 2011

Kurdistan's Gets $9.5 Billion revenue from these sites is estimated at around US$2 billion, and is not In Iraqi Budget incorporated into the national budget "under the pretext of being used for

development projects in their respec¬

100,000 Iraqis. tive provinces," according to Jaff, Jaff said the budget law obligated who criticized the parliament for still

By HEMIN BABAN Maliki to reach a deal with Kurdish allowing money generated from other

President Massoud Barzani on "the sources of revenue to be spent on

peshmarga's budget and armament." these shrines. ERBIL, Iraqi Kurdistan: Iraq's Ahmed Chawshin, another However, she added that, as part parliament passed the country's Kurdish lawmaker in Baghdad, said of a deal, the Shiite parties had voted budget for 2011 in late February, the 2011 budget had earmarked for the allocation of more budget for amounting to 96.6 trillion Iraqi dinars, around US$37 million for develop¬ the implementation of Article 140, approximately US$81.5 billion. ment in Kurdistan's three provinces and in return die Kurds had agreed to Almost US$9.5 billion of this will go of Erbil, Sulaimani and Duhok. allocating budget for the holy shrines. to the Kurdistan region. However, Chawshin said he had Five percent of the national bud¬ Ashwaq Jaff, a Kurdish member written a complaint to the parliament get will go to reparations still being of the Iraqi parliament, said the first speaker, because the budget actually paid to neighboring Kuwait as a result draft of the budget bill had "many needed for development projects in of Hussein's invasion of the country points in it that were not in the Kurds' Kurdistan amounted to around in 1990. Around US$25 billion of the interest. But the second draft is much US$245 million. budget will be allocated for invest¬ better." The budget has been one of the ment projects. She said Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri most contentious issues between the Maliki had agreed to provide the bud¬ Kurdish and Iraqi governments. Although Kurdish authorities say get for tine Kurdish armed forces, Under Saddam Hussein, Kurds recei¬ the number of civil servants in known as the peshmarga, and had ear¬ ved around 13 percent of the entire Kurdistan amounts to 1 .2 million peo¬ marked a budget of nearly US$150 national budget, but since the 2003 ple, Iraq's 2011 budget only provides million to implement a constitutional US-led invasion of Iraq, the rate has for around 606,000 Kurdish civil ser¬ article on the territories disputed bet¬ increased to 17 percent. vants. ween the Kurds and the Iraqi govern¬ In recent years, Iraqi lawmakers Shoresh Haji, an Iraqi lawmaker ment. Key among such territories is have voiced objections to the budget from the Kurdish opposition group, the oil-rich city of Kirkuk that the allocated to Kurdistan, saying it is Gorran, said there was no "accurate" Kurds, Arabs and Turcomans all more than what the Kurds deserve on data on the number of civil servants in claim. a per capita basis. There are no accu¬ the Kurdish region, not even in the However, the parliament has redu¬ rate population statistics for Iraq, but Kurdistan parliament's records. ced the budget initially proposed for the population of the Kurdistan The Iraqi budget allows for the carrying out the constitutional provi¬ region is estimated at around four to Kurdish Regional Government to sion by around US$85 million. five million people. employ 10,000 more people this year. Article 140 of the Iraqi Constitution Chawshin said that die victims of The budget law also allows for demands compensation for the thou¬ the atrocities committed by Hussein's provincial administrations to use all sands of Kurds expelled from Kirkuk regime had been allocated 20 percent revenues generated from ports of by Saddam Hussein's regime, which of the budget surplus in compensa¬ entry in their provinces for projects in will assist them to return to their tion. These include survivors of those provinces. homes. It also provides for compensa¬ Hussein's genocidal Anfal campaign Chawshin said the Kurds suppor¬ tion for Arab settlers who were against the Kurds and the chemical ted that provision because some of brought to Kirkuk so that they can go bombardment of Halabja. Iraq's bud¬ Iraq's key border crossings passed back to their original areas. get mostly depends on oil revenues, through Kurdistan's provinces. Iraqi But, Jaff said the Iraqi govern¬ and so is linked to the international Kurdistan shares borders with Turkey, ment had promised to add funds to oil price, which currently stands at Iran and Syria. Article 140's budget from surpluses around US$1 10 per barrel. in other areas. Kurdish lawmakers are also The Iraqi government will also concerned about the fate of revenues pay for the employment of 10,000 generated from Iraq's religious shri¬ people in Kurdistan as part of a natio¬ nes in areas such as Najaf and nal job-creation plan involving Karbala in the south of Iraq. The

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

Iraqi Kurdistan's Liberation Square

Hundreds of people have been gathering in Sulaimaniya's central

8 MARCH 2011 square to demand an end to corruption.

AI Jazeera

Mohammed A. Salih

The winds of change sweeping through the Middle East and North Africa have now reached an otherwise peaceful cor¬ ner of northern Iraq. Nowhere is their arrival more visible than in Bardarki Sara, the central square of Sulaimaniya, which has turned into a venue for mass protests against the authorities in Iraqi Kurdistan.

Inspired by the protests in Cairo's Tahrir Square, the protesters have renamed their square 'Maydani Azadi', the Kurdish equiva¬ lent of Tahrir or Liberation Square.

Yesterday's protests were the largest so far, partly because it was the 20th anniversary of the Kurdish uprising against Saddam Hundreds of protesters are gathering daily in Iraqi Kurdistan Hussein's regime in Sulaimaniya, but protesters have been tur¬ [Credit: Mohammed A. Salih] ning up in their hundreds for the past two weeks, chanting slo¬ gans against the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) and its two major ruling parties, singing patriotic songs and demanding a change in the status quo. A podium has been set up, from where "I call on the parliament to engage with all sides to study the pos¬ speakers - intellectuals, students, members of parliament and sibility of holding early general elections so that the people can imams - talk to the crowd. make their voices heard and have the final say," said Massoud Barzani, the president of Iraqi Kurdistan, in a televised speech on Protest organisers have called for a period of civil disobedience Thursday. He also called for the government to prepare for pro¬ and public strikes across the region. But there has been only limi¬ vincial elections. ted participation since Saturday, when they were due to start. In the early hours of Sunday morning, masked men burned down "After looking into the whole situation, I have come to the conclu¬ tents that had been set up for a sit-in by protesters at Maydani sion that the situation calls for a fundamental remedy, rather than Azadi and arrested a number of them. band-aid solutions."

"I'm here to ask for my rights. When are we going to see the bene¬ Stressing his unity with the "voices calling for reform and social fits of the economic boom in Kurdistan?" asked one young justice," Barzani added: "I would not like to live in a Kurdistan demonstrator who makes his living selling goods on a small stand where its people did not live freely and proudly." in downtown Sulaimaniya. "We want jobs, better living conditions, better services and social justice," said the 20-year-old, asking to Zones of influence be identified as Jivara - Kurdish for Che Guevara.

Barzani's call for early elections came weeks after a similar To live 'freely and proudly' call by the main opposition group, Gorran (Kurdish for Change). But back then the KDP, headed by Barzani, and its The protests were started on February 17 by a network of coalition partner in the government, the Patriotic Union of civil society groups expressing solidarity with the Egyptian Kurdistan (PUK), headed by Jalal Talabani, Iraq's president, and Tunisian people and voicing discontent over chronic cor¬ lambasted Gorran for prescribing "a coup d'état". ruption and the poor provision of public services.

"We welcome the call for elections as a way out of the current cri¬ But when protesters gathered in front of the Sulaimaniya head¬ sis. But to carry out clean elections, the current government quarters of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and started needs to be dissolved because any elections under this KDP- throwing stones, the building's guards opened fire, killing one per¬ PUK government will not be free of fraud and pressure," said son and injuring dozens more. Angered by what they saw as a Zana Rauf, a member of the Kurdish parliament from Gorran. hugely disproportionate response, protesters took to the streets "There needs to be an interim government run by technocrats and of towns across the province. independents to prepare the ground for genuine elections."

Eight people, including a policeman, have died to date in the pro¬ Gorran accepted the results of the last Kurdish parliamentary tests, about 200 have been injured and two television and radio elections in July 2009 but expressed strong criticism of what it stations in Sulaimaniya have been burned down by unknown said were irregularities and fraud. The group gained 25 seats in assailants. those elections, while the KDP-PUK coalition garnered 59.

As elsewhere in the Arab world, social media sites have played a The role that political parties have carved for themselves in public major role in empowering the protesters. There are numerous life is at the root of much of the public wrath. Despite the exis¬ Facebook pages dedicated to getting out timely accounts of the tence of a government, the autonomous region has, in practise, protests and expressing the grievances of the demonstrators. been divided into two separate zones of influence. The local administrations in the provinces of Erbil and Dohuk are controlled And with the protests showing no sign of abetting, officials are by the KDP, while Sulaimaniya is mostly administered by the now trying to appease the protesters. PUK.

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

Ushering in a new era Riding the wave of discontent

Many residents of the region are angry at what they per¬ The challenge the current protests have posed to the ruling ceive to be widespread corruption, control of the economy parties, and in particular to the PUK, is unparalleled. by politicians and their inner circles and diminishing freedoms. Sulaimaniya province has been a stronghold of the PUK for But, unlike in Egypt or Tunisia, where regime change was an decades, but the party's popularity and authority has been overwhelming public demand, there does not appear to be eroded since the Kurdish parliamentary elections in 2009, such a broad consensus in Iraqi Kurdistan. While some pro¬ when Gorran gained most of its votes at the PUK's expense. testers are demanding a change in Kurdistan's political regime, their representatives have largely been engaged in So who is behind the protests? The organisers claim that they do talks with the government. not owe loyalty to any political party, but the ruling parties, parti¬ cularly the KDP, have accused opposition groups such as Gorran, According to Rauf, people want "a major restructuring of the poli¬ some Islamist parties, and neighbouring countries such as Iran of tical and economic system and [the] reshuffling of the relationship standing behind the protesters. between the ruling parties and state institutions". For their part, opposition parties have strongly denied being invol¬ The protests have largely been confined to Sulaimaniya province ved in organising the protests and, as violence broke out on the and attempts to organise demonstrations in Erbil - where there first day of protests, Gorran issued a statement calling for calm have been reports of a security forces crackdown on would-be and cooperation with official institutions. demonstrators - and Dohuk have not yet produced any significant results. That was construed by some as a sign that the opposition leaders had turned their backs on the protesters. But when Gorran offices The fact that there have been regular elections in Kurdistan in in areas under de-facto KDP rule were attacked, the party adop¬ recent years, coupled with the existence of vibrant opposition ted a more aggressive tone. And with protests continuing, oppo¬ groups and a significant measure of press and political freedoms sition parties now seem content to ride the wave of popular dis- - surpassing many other countries in the region - may mean that gruntlement. Iraqi Kurdistan will not witness the major political upheaval expe¬ rienced elsewhere. Seizing on the momentum initiated by the protests, Gorran and the two other Kurdish opposition groups - the Kurdistan Islamic But many protesters and observers believe that a new era in the Union and the Kurdistan Islamic Group - issued a statement on politics of Iraqi Kurdistan has been ushered in. "We are definitely Thursday calling for a major overhaul of Iraqi Kurdistan's political in a new era now. Kurdistan after February 1 7 is different from the and economic system. Kurdistan before," said Asos Hardi, the founder of two indepen¬ dent Kurdish newspapers. "There is an interaction between the street and the opposition," said Hardi. "The protests are not controlled by the opposition par¬ "Before that date the people, the media and the opposition all ties but the opposition tries to use the momentum on the streets used to call for reforms but their demands were not taken in order to create changes in the political system." seriously. But after February 17, the authorities can no longer remain indifferent to people's demands and pressure."

g^e$«i

Syrian political prisoners go on hunger strike to demand their freedom, end to emergency laws

Damascus' Adra prison. The political down on liberals, showing that there Associated Press detainees also include AH Abdullah were limits to dissent under his rule. of the Damascus Declaration opposi¬ The state news agency reported tion group, prominent lawyer Anwar DAMASCUS, Syria - Thirteen Monday that Assad declared an al-Bunni and Kurdish activist Syrian political prisoners have begun amnesty for prisoners convicted of Mashaal Tammo. a hunger strike to demand their minor crimes such as theft and for¬ The political detainees demanded release and the lifting of emergency gery. He has declared such amnesties an end to the emergency laws in laws that give authorities a free hand for thousands of prisoners, usually force since the Baath Party came to to jail political and human rights coinciding with religious or national power in 1963. activists, a rights group said holidays. Monday. "Time has come to end this perse¬ Monday's amnesty came a day cution matter as the winds of demo¬ The prisoners include prorninent before the 48th anniversary of the cratic change spread in the Arab human rights activist Haitham al- Baath Party's accession to power. world," the political detainees were Maleh, according to the Syrian The amnesty this year comes quoted as saying in a statement from Observatory for Human Rights. Al- during a wave of unrest in the the rights group. Maleh, who is 80 years old and has Middle East that has already brought The rights group said it backs the diabetes and thyroid problems, has down the leaders of Egypt and detainees and called for their imme¬ been under arrest since October 2009. Tunisia and threatened the rule of diate release. He was jailed from 1980 until 1986 others. President Bashar Assad released for demanding constitutional It was not clear how many priso¬ hundreds of political prisoners after reforms. ners will be affected by the decree, corning to power upon the death of The rights group said the activists but lawyers say it involves thou¬ launched the hunger strike in his father in 2000, but he clamped sands.

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

_.-. __ INTERNATIONAL^. a/iao^it-7 o/m 1 Hcralbâl^Sribune MARCH7'20" Arabs rise, Tehran trembles

money educating Ryan Crocker, a former U.S. ambassador

tens of thousands of to Iraq, "the more resistance they get." The seeming In the long I Karim Sadjadpour Palestinians and Elsewhere in the Arab world, Iranian consensus run, the Ira¬ Lebanese Shiites to proxies like Hezbollah will increasingly among many nian regime become doctors, pro¬ find themselves in the awkward position pundits fessors and lawyers? of being a resistance group purportedly can't afford In "Garden of the Brave in War," his that Iran will Wouldn't those com- fighting injustice while simultaneously a free and classic memoir of life on a pomegranate fill the Middle munities now be cashing checks from a patron that is farm in 1960s Iran, the American writer democratic East power much better off and brutally suppressing justice at home. Terence O'Donnell recounts how his il¬ vacuum is m a much stronger The Arab uprisings of 2011 will also, of Middle literate house servant, Mamdali, would l _» position to assert course, have their effect on Iran intern¬ short-sighted. meir ^3 ^«..à.vis East. wake him every morning with a loud ally. Iranian democracy advocates have knock on the door and a simple ques¬ Israel? long taken solace in the belief that they tion: "Are you an Arab or an Iranian?" "What good would that have done for were ahead of their Arab neighbors, "If I was naked," O'Donnell explained, Iran?" he responded candidly. "Do you who would one day too have to undergo "I would answer that I'm an Arab and think if we sent them abroad to study he would wait outside the door, whereas they would return to southern Lebanon the intolerance and heartaches of Islam¬ if I was clothed I would reply that I was and Gaza to fight Israel? Of course not; ist rule. The largely secular nature of an Iranian and he would come in with they would have remained doctors, the uprisings in Egypt and Tunisia have the coffee." This joke went hand in hand, lawyers and professors." bruised the Iranian ego: were they the O'Donnell wrote, with an age-old chau¬ Iran, in essence, understands that it only ones naïve enough to succumb to vinism that depicted the Persians' Arab can inspire and champion the region's the false promise of an Islamic Utopia? neighbors as ' 'uncivilized people who downtrodden, but not the upwardly mo- In the short term Tehran's oil lar¬ went about unclothed and ate lizards." . bile. Its strategy to dominate the Middle gesse and religious pretensions have

The Islamist victors of the 1979 Irani¬ East hinges less on building nuclear seemingly created for it deeper, if not an revolution intended to change things, weapons than on the twin pillars of oil wider, popular support than many Arab to replace the shah's haughty Persian and alienation. Iranian petrodollars are regimes. But the regime's curiously nationalism with an Arab-friendly, pan- used to finance radicals Khaled Me- heavy-handed response to resilient pro- Islamic ideology. Yet Tehran's official shaal in Syria, Hassan Nasrallah in Leb¬ democracy protests including the re¬ reaction to the 2011 Arab awakening anon and Moktada al-Sadr in Iraq, to cent disappearance of the opposition shows that, at the heart of the Islamic name a few who feed off popular hu¬ leaders Mir Hussein Mousavi and Me- Republic of Iran's Middle East strategy, miliation. As an Arab Shiite friend once hdi Karroubi betrays its anxiety ; there lays a veiled contempt for Arab in¬ complained to me, "Iran wants to fight about the 21st-century viability of an telligence, autonomy and prosperity. economically floundering, gender- What many Iranians see as a familiar America and Israel down to the last Pal¬ apartheid state led by a "supreme lead¬ struggle for justice, economic dignity estinian, Lebanese and Iraqi." er" who purports to be the prophet's and freedom from dictatorial rule, Ira¬ At first glance, the fall of Western-ori¬ representative on Earth. nian officialdom has struggled to spin ented Arab governments may appear Tehran publicly cheered the fall of as a belated Arab attempt to emulate to be a blow to Washington and a boon Egyptian and Tunisian regimes undone the Islamic revolution and join Tehran for Tehran. The seeming consensus by corruption, economic stagnation and in its battle against America and Israel. among Western analysts and pundits repression. Do its rulers not know that The delusions of the Iranian regime that Iran will fill the Middle East Iran according to Transparency In¬ are partly attributable to a generation power vacuum is short-sighted. ternational, Freedom House and the gap. Tehran's ruling elite continues to While the relationship between Egypt World Bank ranks worse than Tunisia cling to the antiquated ideology of and Iran the regions two oldest and and Egypt in all three categories? Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, whose most populous nations will likely im- A saying often attributed to Lenin worldview was formed by decades of im¬ : prove, the competition between them best captures the sorts of tectonic shifts perial transgressions. The demographic will likely intensify. taking place in today's Middle East. boom in the Middle East, however, has Tehran's ascent in the Arab world "Sometimes decades pass and nothing brought a wave of young Arabs and Ira¬ over the last decade has been partly at¬ happens; and then sometimes weeks

nians who associate subjugation and in¬ tributable to Cairo's decline. The poten¬ pass and decades happen." tial re-emergence of a proud, assertive The uprisings may not all end happily. justice not with colonial powers, but with Egypt will undermine Shiite Persian As history has shown time and again their own governments. Iran's ambitions to be the vanguard of notably in Iran in 1979 minorities that Until now, Iran's interests have been the largely Sunni Arab Middle East. In¬ are organized and willing to use violence served by the Arab status quo: frus¬ deed, if Egypt can create a democratic can establish reigns of terror over unor¬ trated populations ruled over by emas¬ model that combines political toler¬ ganized or passive majorities. Whatever culated regimes incapable of checking ance, economic prosperity and adept ' ensues, however, the Arab risings have Israel and easily dismissed as Ameri¬ diplomacy, Iran's model of intolerance, revealed that Iran's revolutionary ideol¬ can co-dependents. A conversation I economic malaise and confrontation ogy has not only been rendered bank¬ once had with a senior Iranian diplomat will hold little appeal in the Arab world. rupt at home, but it has also lost the war is instructive. He complained, justifi¬ Renewed Iranian influence in places of ideas among its neighbors. ably, about Washington's excessive fo¬ like Bahrain and Yemen may also prove

cus on military power to solve political self-limiting. As we have seen in Iraq, fa¬ karim sadjadpour is an associate at the problems. I posed a simple hypothetic¬ miliarity with Iranian officialdom often Carnegie Endowmentfor International al: What if, instead of having spent sev¬ breeds contempt. Polls have shown that Peace. eral billion dollars financing Hezbollah, even a sizable majority of Iraq's Shiites Hamas and Islamic Jihad over the past resent meddling by their co-religionists three decades, Iran had spent that from Iran. "The harder they push," said

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

Le fameux «modèle turc» ? Encore un effort pour être parfait

nières années, a commencé après la victoire électorale Par JEAN ombre d'experts et de commentateurs se sont en 2002 de l'AKP, un parti.issu de la MÂRCOU subitement entichés, ces derniers temps, du mouvance islamiste, mais qui s'est Professeur à l'IEP «modèle turc». Même le Collège de défense démarqué de cet héritage en se défi- . de Grenoble et de l'Otan le qualifiait récemment de «régime nissant lui-même comme «conser¬ chercheur associé républicainet démocratique» et, tandis qu'ils renâclent vateur et démocrate » . à l'Institut français plus que jamais à accueillir la Turquie dans l'Union Le succès de cet agent post-islamiste d'études européenne, des hommes politiques du vieux conti¬ du changement turc tient avant tout anatoliennes nent n'hésitent pas désormais à la montrer en exemple au fait que, sans renier totalement la dynamique reli¬ d'Istanbul à des révolutions arabes qui souvent les inquiètent plus gieuse plus marquée qui l'avait révélé dans les an¬ qu'elles ne les réjouissent. nées 90, il a réussi à capter à son profit le capital élec¬ Pour leur part, en dépit du prestige qu'ils ont acquis toral majoritaire dont disposaient les partis de centre récemment au Moyen-Orient, du fait de leur nouvelle droit conservateurs depuis les années 50, en ralliant politique étrangère, les dirigeants turcs s'étaient jus¬ à lui un certain nombre d'intellectuels et de person¬ qu'à présent gardés de se poser en modèle. Ils se sont nalités qui, exaspérés par l'immobilisme du système, même montrés, initialement, presque aussi réservés souhaitaient transcender l'alternative sans issue «mi¬ que leurs homologues occidentaux lorsque le monde litaires ou islamistes». arabe s'est embrasé, semblant surtout préoccupés par L'apport principal de l'expérience turque est ainsi l'avenir des investissements qu'ils y avaient fait ces d'avoir montré que, sous la pression d'un rapport de

dernières années, et s'attirant à cet égard les critiques force s' appuyant sur le suffrage universel pleinement

acerbes des médias de leur pays. exercé, l'armée peut être progressivement dépouillée Depuis, le Premier ministre, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, de la fonction dominante qu'elle occupe dans un sys¬

tout en persistant à récuser l'idée de modèle, a néan¬ tème de démocratie encadrée et que, parallèlement,

moins admis de bonne grâce que l'expérience poli¬ un parti issu de l'islam politique, et perçu initialement

tique turque pouvait être «une source d 'inspiration» comme un péril par ce système, peut en devenir le

pour les peuples actuellement en révolte et, la se¬ gestionnaire en s'employant à le réformer en profon¬ maine dernière, le président Gûl a été le premier chef deur. Encore faut-il que cette force politique devenue d'Etat à visiter l'Egypte, depuis le départ d'Hosni majoritaire ne devienne pas dominatrice et n'entre¬ Moubarak, pour y faire valoir entre autres les mérites prenne pas à son tour d'encadrer un peu trop l'exer¬ du système turc. Une enquête du think tank turc Te- cice de la démocratie. sev a pourtant montré que, autant que son système Nous n'en sommes certes pas là. Mais, après l'impasse démocratique, c'étaient les traditions religieuses de à laquelle ont abouti récemment les tentatives de rè¬ la Turquie, ses succès économiques et son soutien à glement politique de la question kurde et la corùirma- la cause palestinienne qui séduisaient les pays arabo- tion de l' acharnement judiciaire dont sont l'objet des musulmans. intellectuels comme la sociologue Pinar Selek, cer¬ Cette subite «turcomania» doit donc être accueillie tains dysfonctionnements qui affectent actuellement avec discernement.. Il est vrai que la transition politi- la liberté de la presse et l'Etat de droit sont en train de montrer que le «modèle» turc reste inachevé à cer¬ Une décision a bloqué l'accès à Blogspot, tains égards. L'interminable affaire «Ergenekon» interdisant 600 000 blogs sur l'étisemble du pays, - cette enquête visant, depuis plus de trois ans, un réseau de barbouzes nationalistes qui aurait projeté alors que Youlube n'y est autorisé que depuis de renverser le gouvernement mais dont on craint novembre, après une interdiction de trois ans. qu'elle ne serve aussi à mnmider les opposants les plus résolus au gouvernement - vient de conduire à l'arres¬ tation de plusieurs journalistes d'investigation réputés que, qui est en train d'affranchir la Turquie d'une tu¬ pourtant pour avoir dénoncé naguère les coups tordus telle militaire longtemps prégnante, tout en ayant au de l'armée contre la démocratie. L'un d'entre eux, passage dissous l'islamisme dans un paysage politique Nedim §ener, ayant même été distingué récemment libéral et sécularisé, mérite la plus grande attention. par l'Institut international de la presse pour un A l'instar d'autres régimes autoritaires en Méditerra¬ née (l'Egypte, notamment), ce pays a longtemps fait ouvrage traitant de l'assassinat, en 2007, de son con¬ frère turc d'origine arménienne, Hrant Dink. Et, partie de ces systèmes politiques où l'armée est* au comme si cela ne suffisait pas, une décision de justice pouvoir mais ne gouverne pas. En Turquie, loin d'être a bloqué l'accès à la plateforme Blogspot, interdisant un héritage direct du kémalisme.cette situation a plu¬ du même coup 600 000 blogs sur l'ensemble du pays, tôt été la conséquence des premières expériences plu¬ alors même que YouTube n'y est à nouveau autorisé ralistes qui ont vu l' autorité militaire encadrer le pro¬ que depuis novembre, après avoir connu une interdic¬ cessus démocratique, et au besoin l'interrompre, avant de devenir un acteur politique majeur qui tion de trois ans. Au train où vont les choses, pour ce qui concerne n'avait plus besoin de sortir de ses casernes pour tenir l'usage d'Internet, c'est bientôt l'Egypte qui risque le gouvernement civil en respect. de faire figure de modèle sur les bords du Bosphore... La remise en question de ce système militaire consti-

tutionnalisé, qui s'est accéléré au cours des trois der

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

Syrie: 12 ONG appellent à la levée de l'état d'urgence

DAMAS, 8 mars 2011 - (AFP) Elles appellent aussi à "l'abrogation de toutes les lois empêchant les orga¬ nisations des droits de l'Homme de travailler publiquement en toute liberté, et les associations de la société civile de jouer leur rôle avec efficacité". DOUZE ORGANISATIONS de défense des droits de l'Homme, syriennes et kurdes, ont appelé mardi les autorités syriennes à lever l'état d'ur¬ Les organisations soulignent la nécessité de "prendre urgemment toutes les gence en vigueur depuis près d'un demi-siècle et à voter une loi sur la mesures nécessaires pour annuler toutes les formes de discrimination envers les citoyens kurdes" qui représentent 9% de la population syrienne. création de partis politiques.

"L'état d'urgence porte atteinte aux droits de l'Homme et aux libertés publi¬ "Les Kurdes doivent pouvoir jouir de leur culture et de leur langue, en vertu ques en Syrie qui font l'objet de violations continues. Nous appelons à la des droits civiques, politiques, culturels, sociaux et économiques", ajoute le levée de l'état d'urgence et à la libération de tous les détenus politiques", ont communiqué.

affirmé ces organisations dans un communiqué. Le texte est signé notamment de l'Observatoire syrien pour les droits de

L'état d'urgence a été décrété en Syrie peu après l'arrivée au pouvoir du l'Homme, de la Ligue syrienne de défense des droits de l'Homme, de l'Organisation nationale des droits de l'Homme en Syrie, du Centre de parti Baas le 8 mars 1963. Damas pour les études théoriques et les droits civiques, ainsi que du comité Les ONG demandent également la "promulgation d'une loi sur les partis kurde pour les droits de l'Homme en Syrie et de l'Organisation des droits de politiques qui permettrait aux citoyens d'exercer leur droit de participer à la l'Homme en Syrie (kurde). gestion des affaires du pays".

Iran: le meurtrier présumé de quatre gardes forestiers

TEHERAN, 12 mars 2011 (AFP) ches sont en cours pour retrouver les autres" membres du groupe, a-t-il ajouté.

LA POLICE IRANIENNE a tué un membre d'un "groupe religieux extré¬ Dans une dépêche séparée, l'agence de presse Mehr a cité des déclara¬ miste", responsable présumé du meurtre de quatre gardes forestiers tions de M. Hasanzadeh selon lequel "ce sont des salafistes" (musulmans dans la province du Kurdistan (ouest), et a procédé à une arrestation, sunnites radicaux).

ont annoncé samedi les médias locaux. Les quatre gardes forestiers avaient disparu le 4 mars et leurs corps avaient

"Lors d'une opération autour de la ville de Dehgolan, la police a réussi à tuer été retrouvés quelques heures plus tard.

une personne et à en arrêter une autre", a annoncé l'agence officielle IRNA, "Une enquête préliminaire montre que cette action terroriste a été menée de citant le gouverneur général adjoint de la province du Kurdistan, Iraj manière brutale par des forces anti-révolutionnaires", avait alors déclaré Hasanzadeh. Kheyrollah Moradi, responsable de l'agence de protection de l'environne¬

"La personne arrêtée a été blessée durant l'opération et nous a dit qu'elle- ment de la province.

même et son compagnon étaient derrière le meurtre de quatre gardes fores¬ Les régions de l'ouest de l'Iran, où vit une importante minorité kurde, sont le tiers", au début du mois. théâtre d'affrontements périodiques entre les forces iraniennes et des mou¬

Tous deux faisaient partie d'un "groupe religieux extrémiste". "Des recher vements rebelles armés kurdes agissant depuis des bases dans l'Irak voi¬ sin.

Turquie: 3 rebelles du PKK tués dans le sud-est

DIYARBAKIR (Turquie), 15 mars 2011 (AFP) tuaient une mission de ratissage afin d'empêcher les infiltrations de rebel¬ les du Kurdistan irakien où le PKK dispose de bases arrière.

TROIS REBELLES kurdes ont été tués lors de combats mardi avec Le PKK, qui a décrété en août 2010 une trêve unilatérale, a menacé le mois l'armée dans le sud-est de la Turquie, un incident qui survient après dernier d'y mettre fin, dénonçant le manque de dialogue du gouvernement la menace du Parti des travailleurs du Kurdistan (PKK) de mettre fin à turc.

sa trêve, a-t-on indiqué de source de sécurité locale. Le PKK n'a pas brandi à proprement parler la menace d'une reprise de ses

Les affrontements se sont produits dans une zone rurale de Gùçlùkonak, attaques, mais a déclaré qu'il se défendrait "de manière plus efficace" une localité dépendante de la province de Sirnak, située à la frontière avec contre les opérations des forces turques, sans les attaquer en premier.

l'Irak, a-t-on souligné de même source. Les combats dans le sud-est de l'Anatolie, théâtre de la rébellion du PKK,

Les soldats ont ouvert le feu contre un groupe de rebelles alors qu'ils effec ont diminué considérablement depuis le début de la trêve.

Irak: démission du président du conseil provincial de Kirkouk

KIRKOUK (Irak), 15 mars 2011 (AFP) sionner "dans les prochains jours".

Rizkar Ali Hama est membre de l'Union patriotique du Kurdistan (UPK) du LE PRÉSIDENT du conseil de la province multiethnique de Kirkouk, président irakien Jalal Talabani et Abdelrahmane Moustafa appartient, lui, dans le nord de l'Irak, a annoncé mardi sa démission pour protester au Parti démocratique du Kurdistan (PDK) du président de la région auto¬ contre l'impasse dans le conflit entre Bagdad et la région autonome nome, Massoud Barzani.

du Kurdistan portant sur cette province. Objet d'un bras de fer entre Bagdad et les autorités kurdes qui veulent l'an¬

"Je démissionne faute de solution pour Kirkouk", a déclaré Rizkar Ali Hama nexer à leur région autonome, la province de Kirkouk compte 900.000 habi¬ lors d'une conférence de presse à Kirkouk, à 240 km au nord de Bagdad. tants, appartenant à toutes les confessions et aux ethnies arabe, turco- mane et kurde. Présent lors de la conférence de presse, le gouverneur de la province, Abdel Rahmane Moustafa, a quant à lui fait part de son intention de démis La province, riche en pétrole, se trouve sur une bande de territoire de 650 km de long, qui va de la Syrie à l'Iran.

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

March 9, 2011 TheNational

Protests remind the US that a stable Iraq is not guaranteed

The National /UAE. cess that it took to form a issue has bedevilled Iraq's Iraq are partners in security

government, a world record politics, fueled acrimony bet¬ would send a strong signal

of slow progress, was mostly ween Arabs and Kurds, and within Iraq and to the region.

Henri Barkey and about dividing the spoils slowed Iraq's development of Fifth, the US needs to inten¬ Andrew Parasiliti among Iraq's leaders, and its energy resources. sify its efforts at regional not much if anything about Baghdad needs Kurdish diplomacy. Iraq cannot be governance. Iraqi protesters For the second Friday in a exports to meet expectations separated from US interests - Shiites, Sunnis and Kurds - row, tens of thousands of for a substantial increase in in Iran, Syria, Turkey and the are not seeking regime protesters across Iraq took to exports above the current Gulf. Iraq can be either an change, but are demanding the streets on March 4 figure of approximately 1 .8 opportunity for regional diplo¬ accountability for the lack of demanding improved govern¬ million barrels per day. macy and conflict resolution, security and services. ment services, better paying Months of haggling between or a zone for proxy warfare jobs, and end to corruption. There is also concern that Mr Baghdad and Irbil only among Iraq's neighbours at

Fourteen were killed during al Maliki's centralisation of recently produced a stop-gap Iraq's expense. power could threaten Iraq's agreement allowing exports the "Day of Rage" on The country is not immune to fragile democracy. The prime of 1 00,000 barrels per day February 25. More demons¬ the popular demands for minister has met these pro¬ from the Kurdistan region. trations are likely, as Prime change and reform sweeping tests with force, but has also Kurdish leaders say they Minister Nouri al Maliki strug¬ the region. A stable Iraq sho¬ taken notice of demands for could increase that to gles to meet protesters' wing some capacity for inter¬ reform and given his minis¬ 300,000 barrels in a short demands and hold his nal cohesion, self-gover¬ ters 100 days to improve time. Turkey and Kuwait also government together. nance and accountability, at their performance. stand to benefit from Iraqi These events come as the peace with its neighbours, is pipeline networks and infra¬ United States is set to with¬ Second, the US should vital to America's interests in structure projects. draw all of its military forces approach the Kurdistan the Middle East. Iraq cannot from Iraq at the end of 2011 . region as more of a strategic The recent discovery of a be the forgotten country. partner in support of good gas field in the region esti¬ Recently, however, the US The end of the US combat secretary of defence Robert governance, federalism and mated at up to 12.3 trillion mission is good news, but regional security. There are cubic feet (350 billion cubic Gates said an "additional Iraq's transition is incom¬ demands for reform within metres) gives the matter fur¬ presence" may be required plete, as the demonstrations the region, as there are ther urgency; this find could beyond December. show. Iraqi politicians must throughout Iraq, that must be render a number of pipeline We were recently in the pivot from calculations of addressed. Demonstrations projects feasible, including Kurdistan region of Iraq, also power to programmes for in Sulaimaniya since mid- Nabucco also known as the the scene of recent demons¬ reform. The Obama adminis¬ February resulted in five pro¬ Turkey-Austrian pipeline. trations, to assess the politi¬ tration also needs to partner testers killed and 150 woun¬ cal climate. Our conclusion is Fourth, and even more com¬ with a sceptical Congress ded. that a stable, federal and plicated for both Baghdad intent on budget cuts to

democratic Iraq, allied with The Kurdistan Regional and Washington, is the ques¬ ensure that the required the United States, cannot be Government is trying to seize tion of a US military pre¬ assistance is forthcoming. It taken for granted - especially the initiative for reform. Its sence after December. Many would be a tragedy if the US

now. The US should consider success is critical, as the Iraqi politicians believe a lost Iraq because of a lack of

a five-part, post-combat stra¬ Kurds are key to Iraq's future continued presence is neces¬ resources or if its attention tegy for Iraq that places as a federal, rather than sary, but are unwilling to say was elsewhere.

greater emphasis on gover¬ highly centralised, state. The so publicly. This needs to be

nance and reform, redefines Kurdistan region is both a handled with care; US bases

the security relationship, counterweight within Iraq to are generally not a winning

more effectively incorporates the ascendant power of radi¬ issue in populist Iraqi politics. Henri Barkey is a visiting fel¬ cal religious parties, many low at the Carnegie the Kurdistan region in its A small US force would with close ties to outsiders, Endowment for International planning, resolves the dis¬ continue the "transitional" and a reliable American ally Peace. Andrew Parasiliti is pute over hydrocarbons, and mission in which US troops in combatting terrorism. executive director of the integrates Iraq into a regional are currently engaged: advi¬ International Institute for security structure. Third, and related, the US sing and assisting Iraq's Strategic Studies-US First, the US must work with should help settle the long¬ security forces, including in

Iraqi and Kurdish leaders to standing dispute between counterterrorism operations;

focus more urgently on Baghdad and the Kurds over providing air support; and reform. The nine-month pro an oil law and the sharing of protecting US civilians. The hydrocarbon revenues. This message that the US and

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

Special Report: Risk, reward and REUTERS Kurdistani oil

TAWKE, Iraq - March 10, 2011 (Reuters) By Tom Bergin WEALTHY PROSPECT

Surrounded by maps, seismic charts and photographs of well sites in his office on a leafy residential street in the Christian quarter in nor¬ IN THIS part of Iraq, the hillsides sweat oil. Without any coaxing, thern Erbil, Adnam Samarrai illustrates the risk and reward of the sticky black treasure oozes from the layered rock and gathers Kurdish oil. He's experienced both personally. in pools that bubble as dissolved gases surface. Gradually, as the

crude slips down the hillsides, it solidifies into a grey mass that In 1962, while working as a geologist for Iraq's state oil company, he resembles a hardened lava flow. was abducted by Kurdish militia and held captive for six months. He

was released with a message for his bosses: no more exploration in It's a good metaphor for the progress of oil from the semi-autono¬ Kurdistan. mous Iraqi region of Kurdistan over the past five years: big on pro¬

mise, small on delivery. Forty seven years on, Samarrai returned to northern Iraq for Gulf

Keystone Petroleum, a small producer listed on London's AIM Last month, after years of wrangling between Kurdistan's regional exchange. This time, in what's called the Shaikan field, Samarrai had capital Erbil and Baghdad over revenues, exports finally started to more luck, finding what Gulf Keystone says is at least 7 billion bar¬ flow. Foreign investors among them Russian oligarchs, a British rels and may prove more than double that easily one of the world's mercenary boss, U.S. politicians, a former diplomat, and funds largest oil discoveries in recent years. controlled by the billionaire investor George Soros who have sunk

$5 billion into Kurdistan's oil fields, hope they will finally begin to "I always knew there was oil here," says Samarra, 75, whose white

enjoy the rewards. mustache matches the few whiskers of hair on his head. The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) estimates its territory holds There's just one problem: Baghdad may have given the green light reserves of 45 billion barrels. That figure has not been independently for exports, but it has yet to agree on how the companies who pro¬ verified, but if it's right, it would mean Kurdistan has more oil than duce the oil should be paid. This has happened before. For a few the North Sea has produced over the past 40 years. months in 2009, oil companies exported their product without pay¬

ment. When neither side could agree on the oil companies' cut, Little wonder that oil producers have wanted to get into the region exports were turned off again. for so long. Foreign oil investment first reached Kurdistan in the Saddam era. Nine years ago, in the last days of the regime, Turkish This time, Baghdad says it is prepared to recognize the contracts the construction magnate Mehmet Sepil agreed to develop the Taq Taq regional government has signed with foreign oil companies. But the field, which now has a capacity of 60,000 barrels per day (bpd). Sepil central government is sticking to its line that the deals must be rew¬ joined forces with Turkish billionaire Mehmet Emin Karamehmet to ritten, in a way the companies oppose because it will cut into their form a company called Genel Enerji, of which he remains CEO. profits.

So is Kurdistan on the brink of an oil bonanza, or will the promise

end up hardening like the oil from its crude-leaching hills? "EVERY OIL COMPANY'S DREAM"

"The route to getting paid is looking good," says John Gerstenlauer, After the U.S.-led invasion, other firms from western Europe, Asia Chief Operating Officer of Gulf Keystone, which says it has discove¬ and the United States moved in. The quest for oil bosses from the red a field with up to 7 billion barrels of oil. "At the end of the day, United States and Europe over the past 30 years has involved taking none of us are working for a charity so everybody's going to want to on more political and geological risk to secure fresh reserves. get paid." Charged by Beijing with feeding China's energy-hungry economy,

state-backed Chinese oil companies have joined that search. For many, Kurdistan -- and Iraq more generally is the great prize. FIRST IN "There is no other place in the world where structures of this scale, in It was that sort of optimism that prompted Norway's DNO to a known petroleum system, remain undrilled," says Alex Cranberg, become the first western firm to drill for oil in Iraq after the U.S.-led CEO of Aspect Energy, which is drilling in northern Kurdistan. invasion in 2003. Oil companies typically use a complex array of tests Wolfgang Ruttenstorfer, Chief Executive of Austria's OMV, the big¬ satellite imaging, seismic surveys, magnetic and aerial mapping gest European oil company active in the region, says Kurdistan is the before deciding where to sink their multi-million dollar wells. But answer to oil producers' biggest challenge: "reserves replacement the Chief Executive of DNO had no such problem when he came to and access." drill in Kurdistan.

One early entrant was British-based Heritage Oil, whose CEO and "It wasn't really based on a lot of in-depth technical studies," says largest shareholder is Tony Buckingham, an ex-soldier who got into Helge Eide. "You could see the surface features ... the oil seeps. It was resources via companies he formed to supply mercenaries to fight in a little bit of the stomach feeling ... sometimes you have to base your African conflicts. In May 2009, Heritage announced a 10 billion bar¬ decision on these simple things." rel find in the Miran block, in which Genel also has a stake. Dallas- But if finding the oil was easy, getting paid for it has proved frustra- based Hillwood International Energy, which is owned by the family tingly difficult. Caught in the dispute between Baghdad and the of billionaire and former U.S. Presidential candidate Ross Perot, also regional government, DNO has spent more than seven years waiting won a license, as did Norbest, a unit of Alpha Access Rénova, the for word to start exporting. investment vehicle held by four oligarchs who own half of BP's

Late last year, just 20 feet from a spot where oil weeps from the hill¬ Russian unit, TNK-BP. side in the middle of one of the region's two main oilfields, DNO's Other investors include Canada-based Longford Energy, which production manager Eric Aillaurd spoke of the long-building sense counts Soros Fund Management as its biggest shareholder, Korea's of anticipation. Nearby a red wellhead, its five-foot tall "Christmas state oil company, and Chinese state-controlled Sinopec. tree" idle, sat unconnected to any pipeline that could ship the crude In all, the Kurdish government says it has signed deals with more to market. But, said Aillaurd, the company was just waiting on the than 40 companies. Numerically, Canada and the United States have word. "If I'm told to start exports, we are ready to start producing in the strongest representation, with the biggest cash investments 15 minutes," he told Reuters. "We have the capacity to produce over coming from Britain, Turkey, Austria and Norway. Investors include 50,000 barrels per day once we get the signal." such institutional names as Fidelity, Legal & General, JP Morgan and Elliott Management one of the world's largest and most publiciry-

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

shy hedge funds. United States for having acted as a cheerleader for Kurdish autonomy

More recently, hopes for a breakthrough on the revenue impasse have after the Gulf War, penning columns in the U.S. media, without dis¬ closing that he could benefit financially from this. attracted oil majors such as U.S.-based Marathon Oil and Murphy

Oil, who have both signed contracts worth hundreds of millions of The whiff of scandal has weakened the Kurds' position in negotia¬ dollars, including signature bonuses for the Kurdistan government tions with Baghdad, proving a boon to those who argue for a centra¬ worth tens of millions, in the past few months. lized Iraq-wide system of awarding oil contracts. Among Kurds, it

Like DNO, many have found the exploration phase a breeze. Genel's has also fueled concerns about corruption which in turn has helped eight wells in Taq Taq have all struck oil - the lightest, most gasoline- build support for the opposition political party, Goran, in its bid to rich and valuable variety possible. "It's every oil company's dream," break what some Kurds see as a cozy political power-sharing cartel says production supervisor Victor Barkworth. But blocks in the sou¬ between the PUK and PDK political parties, which have dominated since the 1990s. Goran, which means 'change' in Kurdish, campai¬ thern part of Kurdistan have dangerous high-pressure reservoirs, as Canada's Western Zagros discovered when it suffered a well blow¬ gned on a platform of fighting corruption in Kurdish parliamentary elections last year and won nearly a quarter of the seats. out in May 2010. The blow-out took nine months and $100 million to bring under control.

As producers have waited for an agreement between the Kurdistani "THE 17 PERCENT" government and Baghdad, some have pumped small amounts of oil Still, oil money has already helped Kurdistan. Brightly painted new and sold it at knock-down prices on the local market. It's hardly been schools and all-weather sports grounds abound. The larger towns lucrative. With so few high-value oil products extracted from the and cities sport shiny, aluminum-clad municipal buildings, wide crude, companies make as little as $20-$25/barrel - less than a quar¬ roads with multilingual signage, and brand new traffic lights. In the ter of current world prices. countryside, criss-crossed with glistening new pylons, journeys are According to local officials, surplus heavy fuel oil is also trucked over constantly interrupted by road works as brand new diggers carve the border to Iran for onward export to complex refineries in Asia that their way through hillsides and rollers flatten the uneven earth. can convert it into gasoline and diesel. The United States says it oppo¬ The boom has attracted home exiles like Said Hemn Moustafa, 29, a ses such exports as they support the Iranian oil industry. But oil exe¬ civil servant who returned one and a half years ago after seven years cutives say opposition is weaker today that in the past. The U.S. State in the United Kingdom. "When I left, my country was not safe. Now Department denies any change in policy, but oil executives believe all is good. No one has any problem. Everyone has job," says the U.S. understands stopping the trade would hit Kurdistan's indus¬ Moustafa, out for an afternoon stroll among the fountains of the try and political stability. newly landscaped Shar Park, at the foot of the ancient, mud-brick walled Citadel which marks the center of Erbil.

A BAD SMELL Kurdistan's capital is packed with new high-rise buildings and shop¬

Visitors to Taq Taq are warned of the danger of landmines and told ping malls. The newly built ring roads and overpasses teem with what to do in case of an armed attack. The most obvious hint of risk, recent-model Korean and Japanese compact cars and the occasional though, is the smell of rotten eggs around the central processing faci¬ high-end off-roader. Hosts of foreign oil company offices give the lity, which indicates the presence of toxic hydrogen sulphide gas. sense of an emerging oil town. Ask people what's behind the new That must be treated with care, because besides burning eyes, nose vehicles and buildings and the green lawns, rose beds, fountains and and throat, it can cause blindness or paralyze the respiratory system. sculptures that occupy the roundabouts and traffic islands and the answer is always the same: "the 17 percent." Hydrogen sulphide is not the only bad smell to emanate from Kurdish oil. While companies have spent the last few years waiting Signature bonuses have probably raised several hundred million dol¬ for word to begin exports, the sector has been hit by a series of scan¬ lars, according to executives in the region. But the real money comes dals. from Kurdistan's share of Iraq's oil revenues, based on its population. This equates to 17 percent of the earnings from the 2.5 million barrels In 2009 the Oslo Stock Exchange fined DNO nearly 1 million crowns or so per day pumped from giant fields in the south of the country. ($170,000) for not providing enough information about a deal on the Can Kurdistan and Iraq - boost these export earnings? sale of 44 million shares, or 4.8 percent of its stock, to the Kurdish Regional Government. The shares later ended up in the hands of

DNO's rival and partner Genel Enerji, whose CEO is Mehmet Sepil. END TO THE STALEMATE? Investors were only told of the deal after DNO's shares had risen to In the compound ringed by blast walls that houses the Kurdish par¬ double where they had traded when the deal was sealed. DNO said liament and other government buildings, the Kurdish regional it was unaware who was purchasing the parcel of shares, and the government's natural resources minister Ashti Hawrami sits in his Kurdish Regional Government denied it had profited from the trans¬ office, dimmed by heavy drapes. The four-year-old building is clad in action, releasing a statement saying the revelations had caused it brick and boasts a grand entrance hall with an inlaid marble floor and "unjustifiable and incalculable harm." curved staircase. That gives way to more modest decorations inside: Months later Sepil himself was in trouble, receiving the UK financial inexpensive photographs of oil installations, mass-produced prints of regulators' largest ever fine of 967,005 pounds ($1.57 million) for insi¬ flowers, faux-leather sofas. der dealing. Sepil and two Genel colleagues had bought shares in Hawrami says there is "big excitement" in the oil industry. He expects Heritage Oil, their partner in the Miran block, after Heritage told the existing contracts agreed by the Kurdistani government will soon them of a major oil discovery at the block. Hours after the find was be recognized by Baghdad. But push him and even he cannot point to announced to the stock market, the executives sold their stock and a fundamental change in Baghad's position on the contracts. Put sim¬ made over a million pounds in profit. ply, Kurdistan says its contracts are in line with the constitution, Perhaps most damaging was DNO's disclosure last October that it while officials in Baghdad insist on central control over oil contracts. would have to pay $55-75 million to a former U.S. diplomat and a "In principle, it has been agreed that everything will be done accor¬ Yemeni company, for an interest in Tawke DNO had given to them in ding to the constitution, and we are not asking for anything outside return for helping the company secure its license. The diplomat, Peter the constitution, so therefore basically we have an agreement," Galbraith, son of the famous economist John Kenneth Galbraith, had Hawrami said in November. been on the staff of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee since Not quite. If Baghdad forces the Kurdistani government to redraft the 1979 where, according to his website, he uncovered and helped stop contracts, explorers' returns could be hit hard. Kurdistan's deals with Saddam Hussein's genocide against the Kurds. He was also a U.S. foreign oil companies are production sharing contracts (PSCs). But ambassador in Europe in the early 1990s. Baghdad wants the contracts to be rewritten along the lines of the ser¬ Galbraith maintained that because he had never served as a U.S. vice deals it has signed with BP and Exxon in the south. PSCs usually envoy in Iraq he was free to do a deal. But he was criticized in the offer better returns and more control than service contracts. Analysts

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

at Deutsche Bank calculate the internal rate of return allowed under U.S.-based Caliber Energy's plans for a $100 million flotation failed to DNO's contract will be 50 percent. In comparison, Baghdad's $2/bar- materialize, ending its hopes of being a major force in the region. rel service contracts with Royal Dutch Shell yield only 17 percent. Sterling Energy's shares soared to over 220 pence in late 2009, when it raised $103 million to start drilling, only to fall to under 50 pence a Iraqi Oil Minister Abdul Kareem Luaibi has said the 2011 federal year later, as it encountered drilling problems. The shares now trade budget will include the expectation of shipments of 150,000 barrels around 66 pence. per day from Kurdistan more than the Kurds say they can produce. News of a final deal on exports will please people like Norway-based So even though exports resumed a few weeks ago, with no clarity on private investor Eirik Amundsen, who holds 79,000 shares in DNO. the revenue model companies like DNO are yet to be paid. That's not "It's been some very tough years, but I have always firmly believed a problem for diversified investors like Marathon Oil and OMV who that common sense sooner or later will prevail, and thus give DNO can afford to sit and wait. But smaller Kurdistan-focused companies the opportunity to fully develop the potential of its Iraqi assets," he will struggle. says. "I have to admit, though, it has taken much longer than I antici¬

Gulf Keystone, for instance, says it has enough cash to last until the pated." And while optimism is high, there's no guarantee the wait is

second quarter of 2012. By then, it hopes to have a steady cash flow over yet. from exports, which will open up the option of debt financing. But if (Additional reporting by Andrew Quinn in Washington, Rania El Gamal in that doesn't happen, it will face a crunch. Analysts at Bernstein calcu¬ Baghdad and Shamal Aqraiui in Erbil; Editing by Sara Ledwith and Simon lated that a two-year delay in an oil project's start up could halve its Robinson) economic value. There have already been casualties.

^StfflteWmi March 9, 2011

Official: Kurd forces will remain near oil-rich Kirkuk, heightening tensions wdth Arabs, Kurds

By YAHYA BARZANJI / cities to the south.

Associated Press Fateh said the move was coordina¬ ted with the central Iraqi government

SULAIMANIYAH, Iraq and U.S. forces, but a close ally of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said the pre¬ Thousands of Kurd forces will mier asked the Kurdish forces to pull remain in their new positions around back. U.S. military officials did not have the oil-rich Iraqi city of Kirkuk for now, an immediate response. a senior Kurdish official said Wednesday. Hassan al-Sineed, the head of the parliament's security and defense com¬ While the Kurds have described the mittee, said al-Maliki asked President move as temporary, the fighters' conti¬ Massoud Barzani, a Kurd, to pull the nued presence is seen by some as a forces back because there is no more gambit to bring the city under Kurdish need for them. control and is sure to increase tensions Kurdish Peshmarga forces in Kirkuk between the central government in Al-Maliki is caught between stan¬ Baghdad and the Kurds' self-ruled nor¬ ding tough on an issue that is conside¬ thern region. red central to his Arab constituency and checkpoints created at the behest of not upsetting the Kurds, who are one of The Kurdish government, which has American forces as a way to foster his key allies in his newly-formed a separate president and parliament, cooperation and trust between Kurdish government. sent thousands of its troops into posi¬ and Arab troops. But the additional for¬ The peshmerga arrival in the city tions around Kirkuk on Feb. 24, saying ces sent in, and their move south of the 180 miles (290 kilometers) north of it feared that demonstrations planned city, increased their presence conside¬ Baghdad raised fears with Arab and for the next day could turn violent. rably. Turkoman residents, who are afraid Kirkuk, a multiethnic city just "Kurds are now trying to see if they that the Kurdish forces will never leave southwest of the Kurdish autonomous can encircle Kirkuk with a ring of and are instead trying to push for full zone, is claimed by both Arabs and Kurdish forces, which is something Kurdish control of the city. Kurds. Its future is considered one of they've never had before," said Michael "The safety of Kirkuk people should the most potentially explosive issues Knights from the Washington Institute be the responsibility of the central facing the Iraqi government as U.S. for Near East Policy. troops prepare to leave at the end of government only," said an Arab politi¬ The Kurdish side says it needs to cian in the city, Ahmed al-Obeidi. this year. protect the city from al-Qaida, Arab "What we need here is useful solutions, "Our forces will leave when the groups and supporters of Saddam not more troops sent by politicians who troubles and tension end in Kirkuk and Hussein's former regime, acting on want to change the fate of the city." the city returns to its normal situation," intelligence that those groups were He also suggested that the decision said Jafaar Mustafa, the minister in planning to take over the city during to deploy the troops was a way to charge of the Kurdish "peshmerga" protests. fighting force. He did not give an exact deflect attention from ongoing protests "We are not strangers to Kirkuk. We date and said the Kurds were coordina¬ in the Kurdish city of Sulaimaniyah. are part of the defense mechanism to ting the fighters' presence with the Iraqi Thousands of demonstrators have been protect Kirkuk," said Maj. Gen. Shirko army in the area. taking to the streets of the city, deman¬ Fateh, the commander of the newly ding political and economic reforms. The Kurds have long had forces deployed peshmerga forces. north of the city, working with U.S. and Fateh said his forces now control all Iraqi troops in a series of combined five roads leading to Kirkuk from Iraqi

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

11 March 2011 TODAYS ZAMAM as we say, or you 11 get killed. This is Kurdish intellectuals condemn not at all different from the love it or leave it, approach. Parilti was refer¬

ring to Love or Leave, a slogan used

PKK threats, intimidation frequently by ultranationalists in the

past against those critical of Turkey s

official policies.

Hesene Mete, also a writer, said:

J?#s? Threatening is uncivilized whether it is directed at a writer or an intellectual, * *"S * or a farmer or a worker or anybody

else. Today, in the year 201 1 , a force

issuing threats against artists, writers

or painters, is unacceptable.

Murad Ciwan, the editor in chief of

the Netkurd news website, said, A

threat or attack that seeks to take a

person s life, whether its source is the

state, a political organization or any si!? other group or individual, cannot be

acceptable.

TODAY'S ZAMAN, ISTANBUL posted on its website a statement cal¬ ling on the three men to keep silent, Burkay can return to Turkey written in a threatening tone. It is lar¬

gely believed that the statement was Forty-one Kurdish intellectuals In related developments, a prose¬ the outcome of words uttered by have issued a joint declaration cutor s office yesterday announced Abdullah Ocalan in a meeting with his condemning recent death threats that it was dismissing an investiga¬ lawyers on Feb. 18, 2011, on Omrali by the terrorist Kurdistan Workers' tion launched into socialist Kurdish Island where he is serving a life sen¬ Party (PKK) against Kurdish writers politician Kemal Burkay, who has tence. Ocalan, according to the mee¬ Muhsin Kizilkaya and Mehmet been in Sweden since the 1980 coup ting minutes the lawyers brought back Metiner and Kurdish singer Sivan d État, indicating that there are no from the island, said, Somebody Perwer for supporting the govern¬ legal obstacles for Burkay to end his should tell these people [naming some ment's democratic initiative, Swedish exile. Kurdish intellectuals] to shut up. TAK which seeks to end separatist vio¬ Burkay last month spoke to a s statement openly included the names lence by expanding the cultural Turkish television channel, saying he of Perwer, Kizilkaya and Metiner. In rights of Turkey's Kurds. wanted to return. Following Burkay s addition, Ocalan has made statements statement, Prime Minister Recep critical of Burkay and Mirolu in recent The declarations recalled that Tayyip Erdoan said the door is open months. socialist Kurdish leader Kemal Burkay, for him and others who might want The declaration signers also said who resides in Sweden where he was to return, but Burkay had told the they were pleased to hear a recent granted asylum, and journalist Orhan statement from BDP leader Selahattin Mirolu had also received threats from Demirtas, who referred to the threats the PKK. We, the signatures are against Kurdish intellectuals as unac¬ below, see these threats as a major ceptable. attack on the freedom of thought and strongly condemn them. We invite Declaration signer Firat Ceweri, a [PKK leader Abdullah] Ocalan and the writer and a member of the Swedish administrators of the KCK [the PEN writers network s executive

Kurdistan Communities Union, the board, said death threats by Kurds

urban branch of the PKK] and the PKK against Kurdish intellectuals and

to modify their approach. artists for expressing their opinions Kemal Burkay was extremely dangerous. It is most The signers of the declaration also frustrating for me that Kurds are being press that Erdoan s well-intentioned called on Kurdish politicians including dragged into the whirlpool of totalita¬ words would not be enough to make the leaders of the Democratic Society rian thought and are already devouring his return possible. Congress (DTK) and the deputies and their own children. mayors of the Peace and Democracy Burkay has also been a target of Party (BDP) to take a clear stance Writer Abidin Parilti, who also the PKK s anger, for his words that

against the PKK s threats. The signers signed the declaration, offered an ana¬ PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan is not

included 41 Kurdish public figures lysis of the recent mood the PKK is in, the only one Turkish officials should known for their intellectual contribu¬ saying: The feeling of losing control negotiate with for a solution to the tions to society, including Celile Celil, lies at the core of fear. Threatening, Kurdish problem. The PKK holds that Serta Bucak and Firat Ceweri. The on the other hand, is a method of for¬ Ocalan should be the only party in most recent intimidating PKK state¬ cing people to give up, making them talks about the Kurdish issue. ments were made against Kizilkaya, toe the line or obey. It is ironic that Metiner and Perwer last week. A group intellectuals and writers are being calling itself the Kurdistan Freedom silenced by the very same people who Falcons (TAK), affiliated with the PKK, promise freedoms. You will either do

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

$HtPRESS Iraqi Kurds urge ouster of Près. Barzani

March 12, 2011 / Press TV, Sulaymanieh A scene of

protests held in THOUSANDS of protesters have taken to the streets of Iraq's Sulayma semi-autonomous northern Kurdish zone demanding the ous¬ nieh on ter of the President Massoud Barzani. March 12,

As 4,000 people were protesting in Sulaymanieh on Friday, one of 2011 the protesters tried to set himself on fire, but was held back by other demonstrators, UPI reported.

The protesters, angry over corruption and rising unemployment,

called for the ouster of the Kurdistan Regional Government of (KRG) "At its sixth emergency session in two weeks, the parliament rejec¬ President Barzani. ted a vote of no-confidence in the current government by a majo¬ rity of 67 to 28, in the Ill-seat chamber," the KRG statement read. But Barzani later described the protests as a minority with illegal

demands. Human Rights Watch said it documented accounts of masked men

attacking protesters during the unrest in the Kurdish province of The demonstrations came after KRG reported Thursday that the Sulaymanieh. government has survived a vote of no-confidence from members of the regional parliament.

Aswat al-lraql t i i 1 1 iiKaaMwl Iraq's Kurdistan President charges

MARCH 12, 2011 opposition with exploiting demonstrations.

ARBIL / Aswat al-lraq - North Iraq Kurdistan Region's President,

Massoud Barzani, has charged the opposition forces in Kuristan with

"having exploited the demonstrations that took place in the Kurdish

Sulaimaniya Province for their own interests."

'This (Kurdistan) authority did not come to power by force, but got the

majority of votes in the democratic elections that took place in 2009..

We welcome the existence of an opposition watching the activity of the

government..

But the opposition parties want to exploit the current situation in Kurdistan

to achieve their own interests only," Barzani said in a speech on the anni¬

versary of 11th March, 1971 manifesto that granted autonomy to the

Kurds in northern Iraq.

The celebrations, that took place in Kurdistan Region on Friday, are also Friday close to the city's ancient fortress, carrying Kurdistan flags and the marking the 20th anniversary of the uprising that took place in Kurdistan flags of the two main Kurdish ruling parties, the Kurdistan Democratic against Iraq's former ruling Baath Party in 1991. Party and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, as well as photos of Kurdistan

President Massoud Barzani and Iraqi President, Jalal Talabani, the lea¬ 'The ruling parties in Kurdistan had come to power through the elections ders of the two parties. ballots and we won't leave power unless through the election ballots," Noteworthy is that the Kurdish city of Sulaimaniya and areas close to it Barzani said, promising to carry out reforms in the Region's government have witnessed demonstrations since February 17th last, demanding poli¬ during the forthcoming four months. tical reforms, improvement of public services and putting an end to cor¬

ruption. Thousands of Arbil citizens took part in the celebrations that took place on

PRESSW Iraqi Kurdistan economy in limbo amid protests

March 14, 2011 Tracey Shelton, Press TV, Sulaymanieh general, specifically Sulaymanieh. Looking at the possibility of pro¬ longed protests Hayder said if investors continue to pull out, wages will begin to drop and unemployment will increase. As more shops As the protests in Sulaymanieh enter a third week, local busi¬ close or reduce their work hours, fewer products will be available, nesses are beginning to feel the strain. Sales are down, many resulting in a rise in prices. are afraid to shop in the town center and the tourism industry

that was just finding its feet has ground to a halt. While complaining of the current loss, many shop owners say if the protesters succeed the result will be worth it. Hayder added that he Among government officials, there is a growing concern about the believed the government would reach an agreement with the pro¬ economic situation. testers before the economic condition deteriorates further. Sulaymanieh Palace Hotel has had to bear the extra burden of being Meanwhile, as many industries suffer loss, some have found a way located near the Kurdistan Democratic Party headquarters where to multiply their profits in the current political climate. Many small the protests first turned violent. Guest numbers are down, foreign businessmen are cashing in on the protest crowds by setting up businessmen that once frequented the establishment are looking small stalls like these in the town square to sell everything from to invest elsewhere and restaurants within the establishment often snacks, drinks and trinkets to these spring flowers that have remain closed due to lack of customers. become a symbol of the peaceful demonstrations held in this area Economic expert Khalid Hayder said this unstable environment will that has now been dubbed Freedom Square. have a negative effect on economy and capitalism in the region in

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

Rudaw.Net Kurdistan's Two Ruling Parties May

13 March 2011 Separate For Elections

By RUDAW KDP leader Massoud Barzani SULAIMANI, Iraqi Kurdistan: (left) and PUK lea¬ Leading members of Iraqi Kurdistan's der Jalal Talabani two ruling parties have confirmed that have dominated their parties are looking into the possibi¬ Kurdish politics for lity of running as separate lists in the nearly two decades.- general elections, which may take place Photo by as early as this year, after a recent request Foreign Policy. from Kurdistan President Massoud Barzani in response to recent mass anti-

government protests.

Kurdistan has been governed by the

Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), led elections, which have been requested by by its leader, Nawshirwan Mustafa, were by Iraqi President Jalal Talabani, and the the president." the dissolution of the parliament and the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), led The PUK's Pira also said that the government, then the forming of an inte¬ by Barzani, for nearly two decades. PUK and KDP had never formed a joint rim government staffed by qualified "Before, the PUK and KDP were political office before, but, because of technocrats, and finally, early govern¬ fighting each otiier and were simply the current situation in Kirkuk, Mosul mental elections within three months. increasing the size of their cemeteries. and Diyala - areas which are disputed Elections are currently scheduled in Iraqi Now they have a strategic alliance," said between the Arabs and Kurds - a joint Kurdistan for 2013. Sadi Ahmed Pira, a member of die PUK command office had been created by the After Kurdistan's president announ¬ leadership. "We have left the door open two parties, supervised by Kosrat ced that early elections would be the best regarding the question of the two parties Rasool, deputy leader of the PUK. solution for the political deadlock in participating together in the coming elec¬ In regard to the ongoing anti-govern¬ Kurdistan, Gorran affirmed that they tions, and in the next joint meeting we ment protests in Sulaimani province, were still insisting on forming a govern¬ will decide whether to have open or clo¬ which are calling for reform, and, less ment of "neutral technocrats" before any sed lists, and, in the case of open lists, consistently, the stepping down of the elections were held. whether the two parties should run sepa¬ government, Pira said that the major Pira said that, if an opposition was rately or together." opposition party, Gorran, had infiltrated dissatisfied with a government, and However, Arif Tayfur, a member of the demonstrations and was seeking to chaos ensued, then there were only two the KDP's Leadership Council, told control them. paths that could be taken: early elections Rudaw that the KDP and PUK had been "Now they want to change the course or a coup d'état. seriously discussing running in the elec¬ of the demonstrations for their own pur¬ "So, those who are discontent with tions as separate lists, so that each party poses," he said. "Gorran's demands [for the KDP and PUK's rule should ask for would know how many votes it had won, the dissolution of the government] on elections, which would be the easy way, but no final decision had yet been made. January 29th are the mother of all these but [Gorran] is inciting the people to des¬ "This will not affect the strategic demonstrations in Kurdistan, which have troy Sulaimani city," said Pira. "Now agreements we have signed between us," been creating such chaos." Gorran is trying to avoid early elections." said Tayfur. "This would mean running Gorran's main demands, announced in separate lists for the early provincial

®)t toa^ton fJOSt MARCH 15, 2011

Resignations of 2 Kurdish politicians in northern Iraq seen as challenge to Arabs for control

A protester arranges a poster

depicting Iraqi President By YAHYA BARZANJI Jalal Talabani in Baghdad,

Associated Press Iraq, Monday, March 14, 2011. Iraqis converged Monday to

SULAIMANIYAH, Iraq - Two top Baghdad's Tahrir Square to Kurdish politicians resigned Tuesday decry what they called "pro¬ from local government in northern Iraq in vocative" statements made by

what appears to be a political maneuver Iraq's Kurdish president, to challenge Arabs for control of the oil- Jalal Talabani in which he rich city of Kirkuk, one of the nation's described the disputed city of most volatile fault lines. Kirkuk as the "Jerusalem" of The city is home to a mix of Arabs, Kurds. (AP Photo/Khalid Kurds and Turkomen, who all have com¬ Mohammed) peting claims. Kurds are seeking to

incorporate Kirkuk into their autono¬ tral government in Baghdad. have long opposed the Kurds' goal.- mous region in Iraq's north - and out from It is one of Iraq's most explosive dis¬ On Tuesday, officials said resigning under control of the Arab-dominated cen- putes, and Kirkuk's Arabs and Turkomen provincial council chairman Rizkar Ali, a

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

Kurd, would be replaced with Turkoman city's Kurds. He spoke on condition of as peshmerga, to Kirkuk under die guise Hassan Torhan, raising speculation that a anonymity to discuss the delicate politi¬ of protecting citizens from demonstra¬ deal was struck to strengthen ties bet¬ cal situation. tions tiiat could turn violent. Arabs and ween the two groups against the area's Located 180 miles (290 kilometers) Turkomen accused the Kurds of trying to Arabs. north of Baghdad, Kirkuk is the capital of bring the city under Kurdish control. The other resigning Kurd is provin¬ Tamim province. Kirkuk has become a symbol of cial Gov. Abdul-Rahman Mustafa. Both Tensions in the city have long been a continued instability in Iraq, where insur¬ men stepped down during a public mee¬ top concern for U.S. diplomats and mili¬ gents launch attacks on an almost daily ting in Kirkuk, said councilman Rebwar tary officials who fear it could unravel basis despite lower overall levels of vio¬ Talabani. Iraq's tenuous security should Kirkuk's lence over the last few years. "I hope the man elected for this job fragile peace fall apart. Two attacks in Baghdad killed a poli¬ will work for the best of Kirkuk, and A day earlier, hundreds of Iraqis ceman and wounded eight people on keep friendly living conditions among gathered in Baghdad to demand the resi¬ Tuesday, officials said. all, and be representative of all people gnation of President Jalal Talabani for The slain policeman was shot by gun¬ living in Kirkuk," Mustafa said in an comments he made last week describing men with silenced pistols in the capital's

interview. Kirkuk as a Jerusalem for Kurds - sug¬ central Karradah area, a relatively He said he resigned for personal rea¬ gesting they must fight to bring the city affluent neighborhood. Another police¬ sons after eight years on the job. into the semiautonomous Kurdistan man was wounded in the attack. A Turkoman politician said was the region. Talabani, a Kurd, later said he Earlier, a security patrol hit a road¬ move is hoped to "lead to a closer was speaking as a political leader of the side bomb in soutiiern Baghdad, woun¬ approach between Turkomen and Kurds." Patriotic Union of Kurdistan party and ding tiiree policemen and four passers- He said the minority Turkomen, which not as Iraq's twice-elected president. by. are believed to make up about 12 percent And last month, Kurdish leaders sent of Kirkuk, have long felt sidelined by the thousands of their security forces, known

TODJtt'SZAIM 17 March 2011

Kurdish intellectual Kemal Burkay to Ocalan: Have pride and dignity

Speaking about the verdict of RAMAZAN KERPETEN, ISTANBUL non-prosecution, Burkay said nei¬ ther he nor the government has anything to do with the decision Kurdish intellectual Kemal because prosecutors and judges Burkay told jailed leader of the are independent from him and the

outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party government. (PKK) Abdullah Ocalan to have Burkay earlier said on state- pride and dignity, in a written sta¬ sponsored Kurdish channel TRT 6 tement he issued this week. numerous reports claimed a court that he will return to Turkey follo¬ Earlier, Ocalan had implicitly issued a verdict of non -prosecution wing the June 12 general elec¬ threatened Burkay and famous about him concerning a criminal tions. Speaking about the specula¬ Kurdish singer Sivan Perwer. case of 37 years ago. There cannot tion over his decision to return, Showing Leyla Kasim, a northern be a 37-year-old case; it is not pos¬ Burkay continued: My return has Iraq rebel who was executed for sible even in a country like Turkey. nothing to do with any bargains attempting to hijack a plane, as an Even in case of murder, a case can¬ with the government. Being an example, Burkay sarcastically said: not run 37 years. It becomes sub¬ addressee concerning the solution Ocalan, my dear, don t act like ject to the statute of limitations, of the Kurdish problem, negotia¬ that. It is a shame for you and the he said. tions or similar things are not in people who believe in you. You are Stating that even when he had question, either. Mr. Ocalan and his thinking about your own sweet life. not yet spoken about the false people should not panic. I want to But the destiny of the public is in reports, Burkay said -e-calan exten¬ return to my homeland after 30 question. Those who are leaders ded his baton like a maestro with years, that s it. The speculation for the salvation of the Kurdish lightning speed, and the terrorist over my return is ugly and shame¬ people must not disregard the leader claimed the government ful. honor of that public. Have pride abolished the sentence of Burkay and dignity like Kurdish girl Leyla from 37 years ago overnight while Kasim. apprehending thousands of people Burkay, who resides in Sweden, in the KCK (Kurdish Communities where he was granted asylum, said Union) case.

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

17 mars 2011 ZAMAN

i f « n n o e . f *

Le kémalisme a exclu « presque toutes les personnes vivant dans ce pays »

pour lesquelles le nombre de minori¬ tés vivant aujourd'hui en Turquie est LOUISE BASTARD DE CRISNAY, PARIS inférieur à celui de tous les pays du

Moyen-Orient, y compris l'Arabie Saoudite et l'Iran. Enfin, être un Quand Ataturk a pris le pouvoir, musulman sunnite était la dernière une refonte idéologique appuyée particularité importante. Elle est à sur 'l'effacement du passé ottoman l'origine par exemple des persécu¬ et la redéfinition de l'identité tions subies par la population alévie nationale, a été décidée. Dans ce durant l'histoire de la République deuxième volet de notre série consa¬ turque, question que le gouverne¬ crée à la rupture culturelle kéma- ment essaie aujourd'hui de soulever. liste, Hilal Kaplan, chroniqueuse au Même si certains alévis, notamment quotidien Taraf et journaliste à la Hilal Kaplan. ceux de la diaspora, ne se reconnais¬ télévision turque, nous dévoile les sent pas comme appartenant à l'is¬ ressorts du projet de Mustafa que le peuple turc, en tant que lam, la majorité d'entre eux définis¬ Kémal. nation, célèbre aujourd'hui. sent leur croyance comme une école au sein de l'islam. L'idéologie kéma¬

Suite à cette rupture identitaire, liste est donc une idéologie monoli¬ Comment Mustafa Kemal a-t-il quel fut le visage du nouveau thique qui excluait à la fois les popu¬ déconstruit le passé des peuples de citoyen turc ? lations non turques, les populations Turquie et quelle nouvelle inter¬ non-musulmanes, les musulmans prétation historique a-t-il imposé ? Pour asseoir sa légitimité, la républi¬ véritablement pratiquants, les que kémaliste a construit une nou¬ musulmans d'une autre école que le Après avoir aboli le Califat et tous velle identité pour les citoyens turcs, sunnisme comme les alévis. ..et fina¬ les symboles de la tradition islami¬ fondée sur trois principes : être turc, lement presque toutes les personnes que, Mustafa Kémal a dû légitimer sa être musulman et être sunnite. Être vivant dans ce pays. nouvelle conception de l'état et sa turc signifiait que, dans la mesure où nouvelle manière de gouverner. Il a les gens étaient prêts à nier leurs Quand a t-on commencé à remettre renié ce qui l'avait précédé, à savoir origines ethniques et à accepter en cause les thèses kémalistes ? un état islamique fondé sur la loi l'identité turque comme prévalant religieuse, tout au moins en ce qui sur les autres, ils ne rencontreraient Les fondements de ces thèses sont concerne les affaires civiles. Pour pas de difficultés. Un des pères de en train d'être profondément remis jeter les bases d'une nouvelle iden¬ l'idéologie kémaliste a ainsi changé en cause. Prenons par exemple les tité turque moins religieuse, le son nom d'origine juive, Moise événements de 1915, c'est à dire le citoyen turc idéal devait être musul¬ Cohen, et l'a remplacé par un nom premier déplacement de la popula¬ man mais pas profondément et turc, Tekin Alp, niant de cette façon tion arménienne. Cette question ostensiblement pratiquant. Dans une tout lien avec son identité et sa reli¬ était encore très récemment un certaine mesure, cette politique a gion d'origine. Le deuxième trait de tabou en Turquie et quiconque réfu¬ conduit au mensonge. Les historiens cette nouvelle identité était d'être tait la thèse officielle en payait le kémalistes ont ainsi produit toute musulman. Dans l'Empire ottoman, il prix. S'il y a une chose que l'AKP a une série de thèses peu vraisembla¬ y avait une population non-musul¬ réussi, c'est bien d'avoir levé les bles sur l'origine du peuple turc dans mane très importante. Celle-ci a restrictions sur la liberté d'opinion la période pré-islamique. L'idéologie commencé à être persécutée à partir et d'avoir ouvert un espace de dis¬ kémaliste a renié une partie de l'his¬ des événements de 1915 et cette cussion où les Turcs peuvent enfin toire et l'a largement manipulée politique a continué après l'avène¬ s'exprimer. Le 24 avril 2010, pour la pour accomplir ses vues et créer un ment de la République avec des inci¬ première fois dans l'histoire de la citoyen idéal qui, selon elle, était dents dont on peut citer, entre Turquie et 95 ans après les faits, des nécessaire à l'évolution du pays. autres, ceux de Thrace en 1934 et manifestants ont pu se rassembler Pour donner la mesure du déni de ceux du 6 et 7 septembre 1955. Il y librement pour commémorer la l'histoire ottomane, il faut dire avait aussi des lois discriminatoires mémoire de tous ceux que nous qu'en 1994, le Refah est le premier comme celle qui imposait une taxe avons perdus en 1915, ainsi que leur parti a inaugurer la commémoration aux populations non-musulmanes fai¬ héritage historique et culturel. Un de la conquête d'Istanbul et à tenir sant du commerce. De manière autre exemple significatif est le mas¬ un discours se référant à la période générale, ces populations ont été sacre des alévis kurdes de Tunceli en ottomane de manière élogieuse. obligées d'immigrer et si elles déci¬ 1938. Près de 10.000 personnes ont Depuis, cette commémoration a lieu daient de rester en Turquie, il leur été massacrées sur ordre du gouver¬ chaque année le 29 mai mais c'est la était devenu beaucoup plus difficile nement. En réalité, l'ancien nom de seule date de l'histoire ottomane de survivre. C'est une des raisons Tunceli était Darsim mais un autre

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

moyen utilisé par l'idéologie kéma¬ kémalisme sur toute forme de parti¬ tant et une polémique a été ouverte liste pour fonder cette nouvelle cularisme. En 2009, lorsqu'il a été sur cette question. Les historiens ont identité commune a été de changer question au parlement du problème commencé à exprimer ce qu'ils les noms des villes et des villages, kurde, Onur Ôymen du CHP s'est n'avaient jamais eu le droit d'écrire. dans l'intention de détruire la levé pour dire que les mères avaient Les habitants de Tunceli se sont mis mémoire collective remontant à la aussi pleuré à Tunceli, demandant si à parler et ainsi l'opinion publique a période ottomane, puisque certains nous devions aussi avoir pitié de leur pu largement connaître les horreurs noms étaient Arméniens ou Kurdes. sort, en réponse au discours ayant été commises sous Mustafa

Tunceli signifie littéralement « la d' Erdogan qui appelait à ne plus Kemal. main de bronze ». L'état a donc faire pleurer les mères et à traiter donné à cette ville un nom rappelant ouvertement la question kurde. Cet ce massacre et la suprématie du événement à eu un écho très impor-

ZAMAN 17 mars 2011

t ** c « . t v Le poète kurde Kemal Burkay pourra rentrer en Turquie

Une cour de Diyarbakir (sud-est) a décidé jeudi d'abandonner toute poursuite à rencontre d'un célèbre poète et militant kurde, Kemal Burkay, qui pourra rentrer en Turquie après 31 ans d'exil, a-t-on indiqué de source judiciaire.

M. Burkay, âgé de 73 ans et très engagé dans la défense des droits de la minorité kurde de Turquie, était poursuivi depuis 37 ans dans le cadre d'une enquête sur un parti kurde, sanctionné par la justice, a- t-on souligné. M. Burkay, considéré qu'il envisageait de retourner dans pour favoriser notamment l'entrée comme un modéré et partisan d'une son pays d'origine même si la ques¬ de la Turquie dans le bloc européen, lutte politique pour les droits des tion kurde n'était pas réglée. « a-t-il souligné. En raison de ses posi¬ Kurdes, sans recours à la violence, Même s'il reste encore beaucoup à tions pacifistes, il figure parmi les s'était exilé en Suède après le coup faire, au moins, la question kurde intellectuels kurdes qui ont été d'Etat militaire de 1980 en Turquie fait désormais l'objet d'un débat menacés il y a quelques jours par le où il avait vécu de longues années, public, on peut en parler ouverte¬ Parti des travailleurs du Kurdistan puis ensuite en Allemagne. Dans des ment », grâce à des réformes entre¬ (PKK). récentes déclarations à la presse prises il y a une dizaine d'années turque, M. Burkay avait affirmé

Quatre rebelles kurdes tués lors de combats dans le sud-est de la Turquie

auxiliaire de l'armée ont été blessés, a-t-il précisé.

ANKARA, 19 mars 2011 (AFP) Le PKK, qui a décrété en août 2010 une trêve unilatérale, a menacé le mois dernier d'y mettre fin, dénonçant le manque de dialogue du gouvernement turc. Trois rebelles ont déjà été tués mardi lors de combats dans le province QUATRE REBELLES kurdes ont été tués et deux membres des forces de Simak (sud-est). turques de sécurité ont été blessés lors de combats dans le sud-est de la Turquie, peuplé en majorité de Kurdes, a affirmé samedi l'état- Le PKK n'a pas brandi à proprement parler la menace d'une reprise de ses major de l'armée turque sur son site internet. attaques, mais a déclaré qu'il se défendrait "de manière plus efficace" contre les opérations des forces turques, sans les attaquer en premier. L'accrochage s'est produit vendredi dans une zone montagneuse de la pro¬ vince de Bingol, où l'armée a lancé une opération après avoir dépisté un Les combats dans le sud-est de l'Anatolie, théâtre de la rébellion du PKK, groupe de rebelles du Parti des travailleurs du Kurdistan (PKK), a indiqué ont diminué considérablement depuis le début de la trêve.

l'état-major dans un communiqué. Le PKK est considéré comme une organisation terroriste par Ankara et de

Les corps de quatre rebelles ont été retrouvés ainsi que leurs armes au nombreux pays. Le conflit kurde en Turquie a fait plus de 45.000 morts terme de l'assaut, au cours du quel un officier et un membre d'une milice depuis le début de l'insurrection du PKK, en 1984, selon l'armée.

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

Rudaw.Net 18 March 2011

Veteran Lawmaker Warns Of Current Danger For Kurdistan

By HEMIN BABAN and "resolve the current problems."

SAMAN BASHARATI He rejected some media reports that Barzani and Gorran's leader, ERBIL, Iraqi Kurdistan: A lea¬ Nawshirwan Mustafa, had reserva¬ ding independent Kurdish lawma¬ tions about meeting each other. ker in the Iraqi parliament is warning Mustafa was the PUK's second-in- of the increasing peril Iraqi Kurdistan command for decades, but split form is facing from the current unrest in the group in 2006 and set up his poli¬ Sulaimani province, and the pressing tical party. Many of Gorran's leader¬ need for the major political parties to ship are former PUK officials. The talk with each other. Meanwhile, the opposition party now has more popu¬ parties themselves are all claiming larity in Sulaimani city than the KDP openness and blaming each other for and PUK combined. the present hostile relationship among Gorran released a statement in late them. January calling for the dissolution of Mahmoud Osman, a leading indepen¬ "The danger will grow if the ten¬ the Kurdish government and parlia¬ dent Kurdish lawmaker. sions are not resolved, especially ment. When, last week, Kurdish since 40 percent of Kurdistan's terri¬ President Barzani agreed to the hol¬ tory is under the control of Baghdad, ding of early elections, Gorran said

and Turkey and Iran are stabbing us in necessary solutions to the current cri¬ elections would be meaningless under the back," said Mahmoud Osman, a sis that has emerged in the Kurdistan the present circumstances. The group veteran of Kurdish politics and an ex- region. has called for the forming of a techno¬ peshmarga in the resistance against First was the solving of what he cratic and independent interim Saddam Hussein. termed "legal problems," which nee¬ government, which would pave the Osman cautioned that the current ded to be addressed by the Kurdish way for holding elections that were political and media warfare in parliament through constitution, the free of fraud.

Kurdistan was "more dangerous than demonstration law and the creation of But, the Kurdish parliament yes¬ a real war with weapons, because it a law that would ban political activity terday renewed its vote of confidence provokes the people." among armed forces. for the current government, essen¬ Sulaimani province has been the Second, Osman said, was the sol¬ tially putting a question mark over the scene of ongoing protests for the past ving of "political problems," over holding of early elections. three weeks, leading to the death of which political parties need to nego¬ Osman criticized the way Gorran eight people, including a policeman, tiate, such as the holding of elections, was deprived of the trade portfolio in and the injuring of dozens more. the forming of a new government, the Baghdad government, apparently Kurdistan's protests, initially reforms and the combating of corrup¬ directing his criticism at the KDP and asking for government reform and tion. PUK. meant as a show of solidarity with the The third solution, Osman belie¬ But, he also criticized Gorran's Egyptian and Tunisian anti-regime ves, is the simple act of talking with leader, saying he had previously said protestors, later turned violent as protesters and carrying out their to Mustafa that he should have

security forces at a KDP office in demands. congratulated Barzani on his election Sulaimani city opened fire on young "Islamists and independent parties as the president of the Kurdistan men throwing stones at the building. want to take advantage of the differen¬ region in 2009.

Osman said that, because of the ces between Gorran and the KDP," "A top meeting between Barzani, anti-government protests, Erbil and said Osman. Talabani and Mustafa will resolve Duhok provinces were now in a sepa¬ Gorran is Iraqi Kurdistan's largest many problems," he said. rate situation from Sulaimani pro¬ opposition party with 25 seats in the PUK spokesman Azad Jundiyani vince. 1 1 1 -member parliament. told Rudaw that his party and the Erbil and Duhok provinces are the The party's relations with the KDP KDP were "seriously intending" to strongholds of the co-leading have deeply deteriorated following meet with Gorran. He pointed to Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), the recent unrest. KDP officials have recent meetings between the PUK and which is led by the Kurdistan region's accused Gorran of playing a role in Gorran, which were conducted "with president, Massoud Barzani. the attack on their office in Sulaimani, the KDP's knowledge." Jundiyani Sulaimani province is under the while Gorran has accused the KDP of blamed Gorran for not initiating a tri¬ control of the other co-leading party - being behind the recent attacks on its lateral meeting for the groups. the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan offices in Erbil province. "Gorran should try to ease the cur¬ (PUK), headed by Iraqi President Osman added that the PUK and rent tensions, so that all three parties

Jalal Talabani - although, in Iraqi Gorran currently enjoyed good rela¬ can meet at the same table," he said. Kurdistan's 2009 parliamentary elec¬ tions. He said that, during his recent Gorran leaders accuse the KDP tions, the majority of Sulaimani city's meetings with the leaders of the KDP, and PUK of trying to buy time and of votes went to the Gorran opposition PUK and Gorran, diey had all expres¬ not being serious about their promises movement. sed readiness for a meeting to for reform in Kurdistan's political sys¬ Osman said there were three tem.

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

Faraydun Jwanroyi, a senior KDP Mohammed Tofiq said he was not two parties run in Kurdish and Iraqi official, expressed his party's willin¬ aware of any efforts to stage trilateral elections on a joint ticket and divide gness to talk to all parties, including talks. the posts in Baghdad and Kurdistan Gorran, in order to "calm the current "If the KDP and PUK ever ask us equally between them. situation down." to calm the situation down, then we Osman said the KDP felt the He rejected that the KDP had any will have something to say, but, so far, attacks in Sulaimani had been direc¬ preconditions for talking with Gorran, they have not made any such ted at it, without protection from the adding that there was a "segment demands," he said. PUK, which has a much stronger within Gorran that prefers talking Osman said that, because of the peshmarga force in Sulaimani. He with the KDP and PUK, and calming unrest in Sulaimani and the attacks on added that the two parties may now tensions down." the KDP offices there, the KDP was review their strategic agreement. However, he said Gorran was not "very worried about the strategic showing any initiative in easing the agreement between the [KDP and tensions. PUK]." But, Gorran spokesman According to the agreement, the

Kurds in Syria 'waiting to take to the March 25, 2011 streets,1 academic says

By David Wilkinson, CNN

(CNN) - The Kurdish people of Syria have not joined the current

wave of unrest with any significant demonstrations against

President Bashar al-Assad and his ruling Baath party. But that

could change.

Unrest spreads in The Kurds, representing around 10% of the country's population, are Syria/ "ready, watching and waiting to take to the streets, as their cause is CNN/ the strongest," according to Robert Lowe, manager of the Middle East Youtube Centre at the London School of Economics and Political Science.

Largely concentrated along the borders with Turkey and Iraq in the

northeast of the country, the Kurds have long been described as a

repressed minority in Syria. Since the break-up of the Ottoman Khalaf Dahowd, co-chair of the International Support Kurds in Syria

Empire after World War I, they have fought for an independent Association. Violence involving Kurds, Arabs and police broke out

Kurdistan with fellow Kurds in Iran, Iraq and Turkey. Their situation in after a soccer match in Al-Qamishli in March 2004. Several people

Syria has been particularly difficult in the past five decades. were killed and over a hundred were injured.

"They didn't have problems before this regime," said Obeida Nahas, Dahowd, a Syrian Kurdish refugee now living in England, believes

director of the Levant Institute, a London-based Syrian think tank. that the resentment felt by many Kurds toward Arabs after that event

"Now they are denied the right to speak or even write in their own lan¬ has also divided Kurdish people. He speculates that many will find it

guage and are told to use Arab names." very difficult to join their Arab neighbors in protest against President

The government has been regularly accused of sanctioning a heavy- al-Assad and his government.

handed and in some cases violent approach to controlling the annual As an activist for Kurdish rights and a united Syria, Dahowd argues

Nowruz, or Kurdish new year celebrations, which have become that Kurds should put aside any bad feeling they have for other oppo¬ increasingly politicized since the Baath party took office in 1963. That sition factions. "Everybody in Syria needs to rise up. This regime

is, until this year. needs to go," he said.

On Sunday, Nowruz festivities across Syria passed without any major With several leading Kurds already imprisoned for speaking out and

incidents and members of the Kurdish community noted that police the Kurdish political movement divided between as many as 15 par¬

allowed them an unusual level of freedom. ties, the impetus to demonstrate will need to come from ordinary

Nahas said this was a government attempt to "bribe" the Kurdish peo¬ Kurds, many of them classed as "stateless" without Syrian citizens¬ ple into not following the example of the largely Sunni Muslim tribes hip.

demonstrating in the south of the country. Presidential advisor "These people are desperately poor and weak, but ripe for protes¬

Buthaina Shaaban offered her greeting of "Nowruz Mubarak" or ting," Lowe said. "happy new year," to the Kurdish people Thursday, when she told a After a week of anti-regime protests in Syria, it has become clear that news conference about the "wonderful coexistence" among Syrian the opposition there is divided along lines of ethnicity, religion, tribes people. and families. Presidential advisor Shaaban may have stated the

The political move won't work, though, according to Ribal al-Assad, government's intention to avoid referring to Syrians based on their

the first cousin of President al-Assad now living in exile in London. 'religious, ethnic or sectarian identity" but, according to Lowe, "there

"They can't suddenly give the Kurds freedom to celebrate Nowruz is a weak sense of Syrian identity because the country is such an arti¬ without expecting them to ask for their other rights, like owning an ID ficial creation." card or using their own language," al-Assad said. "The Syrian secret However, the big challenge for Kurds and other minority groups service and police are very good at dividing people, but most Kurds according to, Ribal al-Assad, the president's cousin, is to show the want to be part of Syria." overwhelming scale of feeling against the government. "Everybody is

The Kurdish community is not expected to keep quiet. in opposition in Syria," he said.

"There has been a lack of trust from the Kurds since 2004," said

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

Turquie: des centaines de milliers de Kurdes célèbrent leur nouvel an

DIYARBAKIR (Turquie), 20 mars 2011 (AFP)

DES CENTAINES de milliers de Kurdes ont célébré dimanche leur nou¬ vel an, le Newroz, dans un calme relatif à travers la Turquie, ont constaté l'AFP et rapporté les médias.

A Diyarbakir, la principale ville du sud-est anatolien, peuplé en majorité de Kurdes, plusieurs dizaines de milliers de personnes se sont rassemblées pour fêter le Newroz, nombre d'entre elles arborant les couleurs vert, rouge et jaune des rebelles kurdes du Parti des travailleurs du Kurdistan (PKK).

La foule, encadrée par un imposant dispositif de sécurité, a scandé des slo¬ gans tels que "Vive Ôcalan, vive le PKK, vive le Newroz", a constaté un cor¬ respondant de l'AFP.

Des politiciens du principal parti pro-kurde de Turquie, le Parti pour une société démocratique (BDP), ont par ailleurs appelé le gouvernement à prendre en compte les proposition d'Abdullah Ôcalan, le leader emprisonné du PKK, pour une résolution de la question kurde.

En fin de journée, des heurts ont opposé des manifestants, équipés de pier¬ res, de bâtons et de cocktails moiotov, aux forces de sécurité, qui ont fait où des dizaines de milliers de personnes s'étaient réunies dans un quartier usage de grenades lacrymogènes et de canons à eau. Plusieurs personnes excentré de la ville. ont été arrêtées mais aucun blessé n'était à déplorer. Les célébrations du Newroz, qui coïncident avec l'arrivée du printemps, sont Des heurts sont survenus dans d'autres villes du sud-est: à Viransehir, où l'occasion pour la communauté kurde de revendiquer davantage de droits et 25 personnes ont été placées en garde à vue après des jets de pierre contre d'afficher son soutien au PKK. la police et à Hakkari, où les unités anti-émeute ont utilisé des grenades lacrymogènes, a rapporté l'agence de presse Anatolie, ainsi qu'à Batman, Des incidents meurtriers ont par le passé émaillé la fête du Newroz dans selon des sources locales de sécurité. plusieurs villes turques, en particulier dans le sud-est. Le Newroz le plus sanglant s'est produit en 1992, avec quelque 50 personnes tuées par les Les célébrations se sont en revanche déroulées sans incidents à Istanbul, forces de sécurité lors de heurts dans le sud-est.

Les Kurdes de Turquie lancent AVp Associated Press une campagne de désobéissance civile

ANKARA, Turquie - 26 mars 2011 - The Associated Press

LE PREMIER MINISTRE turc Recep Tayyip Erdogan a ai%isP,.*+j- accueilli favorablement les demandes de changement qui ont balayé le monde arabe, mais des protestataires affirment qu'il ignore de semblables appels de la part de la minorité kurde de

son pays.

Des activistes pro-Kurdes l'accusent d'hypocrisie, et ont entamé une campagne de désobéissance civile pour demander des concessions culturelles et politiques destinées aux Kurdes, qui représentent envi¬

ron 20 pour cent des 74 millions de Turcs.

Le chef du principal parti kurde turc, Selahattin Demirtas, a déclaré que le peuple kurde cherchait lui aussi sa place Tahrir, faisant réfé¬ rence à cet endroit du Caire où des semaines de manifestations ont forcé la démission du président égyptien Hosni Moubarak. M. Demirtas a également dénoncé le fait que le premier ministre avait envoyé des félicitations au Caire, mais des chars et des bombes au

Kurdistan turc. Cette campagne risque fort d'envenimer la situation dans le sud-est du pays, une région volatile, au cours de la campagne menant aux La Turquie est une démocratie en développement, et possède une élections du 12 juin, où le parti kurde Paix et Démocratie tentera histoire de réformes qu'on ne retrouve pas chez ses voisins, mais la d'empêcher la formation au pouvoir d'établir une tête de pont dans question kurde continue d'être un obstacle majeur à l'harmonie son château fort. nationale. La campagne a déjà mené à une série de manifestations

ayant duré toute une nuit, une législatrice kurde frappant un policier La campagne coïncide également avec une hausse de la violence au visage, un autre menaçant de lancer une pierre à des policiers et entre l'armée turque et les rebelles kurdes après une accalmie de six un maire sautant sur le toit d'un transport de troupes blindé. mois au cours de l'un des conflits les plus anciens de la planète.

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

XtMmiêt 22 mars 2011

(Dâiaêimsi Critique "Si tu meurs, je te tue" : comédie funèbre chez les Kurdes de Paris

Hn ne sait pratique¬ ment rien de Philippe, le personnage inter¬ prété avec un charme intri¬ gant par Jonathan Zaccaï (est-â simplet, opportu¬ niste, ou tout bêtement généreux), sinon qu'il sort de prison. C'est pourtant sur lui que repose l'intrigue du huitième film de ce cinéaste kurde installé à Paris après avoir fui le régime de Saddam Hussein à dix-sept ans.

Philippe est un français comme Hiner Saleem les Siba, la fiancée d'Avnar, et incinérer Aznar, alors que pas", dit Cheto le père avec aime, bras ouvert aux exi¬ lui annoncer l'horrible nou¬ les musulmans ne brûlent un rien de dérision. lés. Sur le zinc d'un bistrot, velle ; puis Cheto, le père pas les morts... Philippe rencontre Avdal, éploré d'Avnar, un islamiste De ce film voué à honorer un Kurde qui lui confie tra¬ radical déterminé à rame¬ C'est sur le ton de la comé¬ un Paris populaire et des quer un criminel irakien. A ner le corps de son fils et die qu'Hiner Saleem comédiens fétiches la dérive, fauché, traqué par marier Siba au frère du orchestre une intrigue à la (Maurice Benichou, Mylène sa logeuse à cause de ses défunt. godille, lorgnant du côté du Demongeot, Jane Birkin et loyers impayés et de sa burlesque, de l'absurde, des son "Jane B." diffusé en petite gueule d'amour, En quête de libération histoires fantaisistes et sourdine), on retient le Philippe n'en héberge pas sociale, la féministe Siba décalées d'Otar Iosseliani. meilleur : les dialogues moins Avdal et entreprend n'entend pas repartir en Il y a un zeste de naïveté cocasses du début, le dialo¬ de lui trouver un job. Mais Irak. Elle esquisse même dans Si tu meurs, je te tue, gue de sourds avec l'em¬ Avdal meurt brutalement, une idylle avec Philippe. quelques gags convenus et ployé municipal chargé des d'une crise cardiaque, lais¬ Muni d'une arme, Cheto des libertés avec la vraisem¬ pompes funèbres, la pré¬ sant Philippe dans la traque bientôt les deux jeu¬ blance, mais surtout un ton sence récurrente d'rufs mouise. nes gens dans Paris. Son résolument facétieux qui durs récalcitrants, la façon ex-future belle fille parce illustre ce qui habite le de dépeindre la diaspora Car outre la responsabilité qu'elle se conduit comme cinéaste : l'humour, le goût kurde comme une bande de de la gestion du cadavre une traînée, et l'ex-ami de de la musique et de la Dalton... d'Avnar et de ses funérail¬ son fils parce qu'outre l'in¬ liberté. "Nous sommes un les, Philippe doit affronter famie de séduire Siba, il a peuple qui finit toujours deux épreuves : accueillir commis le crime de faire par faire ce qu'il ne veut

Iran: deux membres des forces de l'ordre tués dans deux attaques armées (agence)

TEHERAN, 25 mars 2011 (AFP) Deux autres personnes ont été blessées dans cette attaque.

Un autre membre des forces de l'ordre a été tué deux heures plus tard dans

DEUX MEMBRES des forces de l'ordre iraniennes ont été tués dans une autre attaque, a rapporté l'agence Mehr, qui ajoute que des recherches deux "actions armées" dans la ville de Sanandaj, chef lieu du ont été lancées pour retrouver les assaillants.

Kurdistan iranien située à la frontière avec l'Irak, a rapporté vendredi Les régions de l'ouest de l'Iran, où vit une importante minorité kurde, sont le l'agence Mehr. théâtre d'affrontements périodiques entre les forces iraniennes et des mou¬

Un simple appelé, identifié comme Morteza Vaziri Afshar, a été tué dans la vements rebelles armés kurdes. ville de Sanandaj jeudi soir lors d'une attaque armée, selon Mehr.

36 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Ozeti mSSELsS^ Deputy from Turkey's BDP under political DailyNews

March 22, 2011 fire for slapping police officer

ANKARA - CNNTurk, Tuncel said the Hurriyet Daily News group was attacked by police from behind. She said she was

A deputy from Turkey s main shocked at the prime minister s pro-Kurdish party has caused comments, which she called a a political uproar by slapping a sign of Turkey s separatist poli¬ police captain during a tics. demonstration Monday in the southeastern province of I wish the prime minister had Sirnak. said something when citizens were subjected to violence, the

Following Nevruz celebrations BDP deputy said. The prime marking the arrival of spring, minister, the Sirnak police and 2,000 people sought to march the interior minister need to to a Peace Tent, but were met apologize to the people. with teargas and pressurized water from police forces. An She added that her anger Sebahat Tuncel, an Istanbul deputy for the Peace and altercation broke out during during the incident was not Democracy Party, or BDP, slapped police captain Murat Cetiner. which Sebahat Tuncel, an directed personally toward the Istanbul deputy for the Peace police captain, but was of the responsibilities of a toward us, Yildiz told daily and Democracy Party, or BDP, because of the politics against deputy is to set an example for Milliyet. slapped police captain Murat Kurdish people. the people. Cetiner. After being called tactless by Former Interior Minister Be_ir In a separate event in the sou¬ the prime minister, Yildiz said Tuncel s action drew a flood of Atalay also released a state¬ theast province of Batman, Erdogan either had no idea political criticism Tuesday, ment on the slapping incident, BDP deputy Bengi Yildiz pro¬ what they went through or with Prime Minister Recep calling it a great injustice and tested police interference by was being disrespectful on Tayyip Erdoan saying, This saying Shame on you! to picking up a rock. I was using purpose. tactless person must be called Tuncel. my rights as a citizen against to account in the framework of an administration that refused A police officer can use force the law. Parliament Speaker Mehmet to talk to me as a deputy. I against a deputy, but the Ali Sahin said the incident was would have thrown the rock if deputy reacting to that is tac¬ Defending herself on disappointing, adding that one the armored vehicles came tless? asked Yildiz.

Hurriyet ^£Sf DailyNews.cn? ^ * Civil disobedience call for March 23, 2011 Kurdish issue

ISTANBUL - nue until solid steps are

Hurriyet Daily News taken on the groups four main demands.

These demands are educa¬ Civil disobedience actions, tion in mother tongue, the starting with a 20,000-person release of political prisoners, sit-in strike in Batman on an end to military and politi¬ Wednesday, are being held to cal operations [against demand a solution to the Kurds] and the elimination of longstanding Kurdish issue, the 10 percent [election] key figures from the country s threshold, Demirtas said. largest pro-Kurdish political party and civil-society group The BDP co-chair made his have announced. statements at a joint press conference held by the party The ruling Justice and solve this problem, Demirta_ intervened in through civil and the Democratic Society Development Party, or AKP, said, adding that the BDP and politics, the democratic Congress, or DTK, an has missed many chances to other pro-Kurdish groups power of the people and civil- umbrella organization of pro- solve the issue during its will no longer accept the AKP disobedience actions, the Kurdish figures and groups. eight years in power, Peace s course of action because BDP co-chair said. He said BDP co-chair Gulten Kisanak and Democracy Party, or BDP, they intend to prevent deaths the Batman actions would be and DTK co-heads Ahmet co-chair Selahattin Demirtas, from occurring in future cla¬ followed by a sit-down strike Turk and Aysel Tugluk also said Wednesday in a joint shes. in the southeastern province participated in the press press conference. of Diyarbaklr at noon conference in Diyarbakir, The government will not We want the Pr°cess to be Thursday and would conti which was attended by

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

Mayor Osman Baydemir and bers with the authority for poli¬ would be completely demo- Tsrk said he believes Turkish other Kurdish politicians. tical representation. cratic and peaceful. democrats and intellectuals will support the civil disobe¬ People will be out in the streets This is not a challenge. This is We will be very sensitive on dience actions. This is Turkey s until the four demands are met, a demonstration of the deter¬ this matter. We will not reta¬ problem too; this is an action using completely democratic, mination of the people to not liate even if crushed by [armo¬ and demand we brought for¬ peaceful methods in their live with this problem in the red vehicles], he said. These ward for Turkey to live in actions, Demirtas said. He year 2012 and to win their free¬ are the demands of a people. peace, he said. demanded that protesters be doms, he said. We want everybody to [per¬ met not with security forces in ceive] it like this. the streets but Cabinet mem Turk also said the actions

TODAYS ZAMAN Solution to Kurdish issue might 22 MARCH 2011 be found after elections

Today s Zaman have a strong following in the

Kurdistan region. People don t sup¬

port the PKK at all. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip

Erdogan s Justice and He said that although previously

Development Party (AK Party) the PKK was popular with the people government is definitely on the right of northern Iraq, this has changed

track in their attempts to settle radically in recent years. The PKK,

Turkey s decades-old Kurdish ques¬ when it started a meaningless war tion, and they will get much closer against the Kurdistan region, lost

to solving it completely, according the approval and support of the Kurdish people completely. Today, to Nechirvan Barzani, the number also said he didn t believe that vio¬ all the Kurds of northern Iraq want two person in the Kurdistan lence could ever be a solution to the the Kurdish problem in Turkey to be Democratic Party (KDP) of northern Kurdish question. The military resolved. The Kurdish question in Iraq and a former prime minister of method has been tried for the past Turkey is not completely about the the Kurdistan Regional Government. 30 years. Both the PKK and the state PKK. It is a two-part problem. With An interview was published yes¬ have used weapons. If the PKK doesn or without the PKK, you have a terday in the Turkish Taraf daily in t extend this cease-fire, it will be Kurdish population in Turkey, and which Barzani shared his opinions making a big mistake, he said refer¬ there is this problem. about Turkey s Kurds and the country ring to a unilateral cease-fire the

s three-decade-old trouble with PKK announced last summer but Barzani said it would be best for separatist violence. He said that recently retracted, although it had Turkey to solve the Kurdish question

recent riots in the Middle East have promised to keep it in place until within the boundaries of Turkey and made it imperative that the issues after the elections. through democratic methods. For facing Kurds be resolved. example, extend cultural rights. He said: Let s suppose the PKK Really, does a people not have the Barzani praised the AK Party s stages 1 ,000 attacks. That s what it right to use their own language? I do democratic initiative, a program has been doing for the past 30 years. not know how the solution will be that seeks to expand the cultural And the Turkish military has been found, but it is wrong to leave it at rights enjoyed by Kurds in Turkey, conducting operations for the past an impasse. Plus the solution should launched nearly two years ago to 30 years. And what is the result? not reflect negatively on Turkey s end separatist terror. He told Taraf They should learn their lesson from various ethnic communities. Other that the initiative process was this. The military option is no option ethnic groups should also have their obviously stalled for the moment at all. Barzani also said that the cultural rights. but added that he had full confi¬ PKK, which is currently based in nor¬

dence it would pick up again after thern Iraq, won t be able to stay in

the June 12 general elections in that area forever. Turkey. Everyone should support the He said the PKK s presence in the prime minister. The initiative must region also has implications for nor¬ continue, he said. thern Iraq s Kurdish government.

The Kurdistan Workers Party The PKK s presence in the region (PKK) has been waging a separatist prevents us from rebuilding old villa¬ terrorism campaign in the southeast ges [in the area in which they are

of Turkey since the early 80s. He based]. This is why the PKK doesn t

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

Niqash 23 March 2011

AN UNEASY TRUCE IN KIRKUK

They did so, they said, because of the current situa¬ niqash | Azad Ghareeb tion in Kirkuk province and because it was extremely diffi¬ cult to satisfy all parties. Kirkuk seems to be entering a However, sources within period of political agree¬ the Provincial Council said ment, after all the tension and that the resignations came crisis in the city recently. after a deal was reached bet¬ This has lessened the ween the Kurdistan Alliance, ?.- J anger of the Turkmen popula¬ -* which has 26 of the 41 tion, but the Arabs are still Provincial Council seats, and unhappy about the way Kurds the Turkmen Front, which has are 'engineering' the distribu¬ 9 seats. tion of political posts. A leading member of the In a ceremony on 7 March Turkmen Front, speaking on in Sulaymaniyah city to mark Peshmerga Affairs. Kirkuk are busy predicting die condition of anonymity, told the anniversary of the 1991 shape of future relations bet¬ Niqash that the agreement was Arabs say that the Region's Kurdish uprising against ween the different political for¬ aimed at reconciling both par¬ government has taken advan¬ Saddam Hussein, President ces in the province, there are ties. It would allow the tage of the demonstrations in Jalal Talabani described the others, like Usama al-Nujaifi, Turkmen Front to hold the Kirkuk to strengthen the oil-rich province of Kirkuk as the Speaker of the Iraqi Presidency of the Provincial Kurdish military presence in the "Jerusalem of Kurdistan" Parliament, who are deman¬ Council, while giving the Arab areas. and said that it should be ding the creation of an autono¬ Kurd's the post of Governor, On 19 March, the Arab annexed into the Kurdish mous Kirkuk region, indepen¬ he said. Political Council in the pro¬ regions. dent of the governments of vince issued a statement The Kurds then announced Kurdistan and Baghdad. Azad Jandiyani, a spokes¬ that they had nominated Najm demanding the equal distribu¬ man for the Kurdistan But the Kurds insist on the ad-Din Kareem, from the tion of power among the three Patriotic Union (KDP), said implementation of Article 140 Kurdistan Alliance and a main constituents of Kirkuk, that Talabani was speaking in of the Constitution, as the best member of the Iraqi parlia¬ as well as the full withdrawal his capacity as Secretary solution to Kirkuk's crisis, as ment, for the Governor post. of the Kurdish forces. General of the KDP and not in well as to the other disputed Meanwhile, the Arab par¬ It wants the Iraqi Army his capacity as President of the areas. ties say that the agreement 12th Division to be deployed in Republic. Article 140 stipulates the was reached at their expense. Kirkuk and the security brief But this explanation was "normalization" of the demo¬ They are demanding that the given to the Kirkuk Police not enough to appease the graphic conditions in the Kurds, Arabs and Turkmen Directorate, "which should wrath of the Arab and Province to counter the effects should each get 34% of the handle security and bring sta¬ Turkmen political forces in of the policies of Saddam posts in the province, with the bility to the Province." Kirkuk or Baghdad. Hussein's regime, which led to Christians getting 4%. Another demand is the the deportation of Kurds and Politicians from both the release of detainees held by The Arab bloc has issued their replacement by Arabs. Arab and Kurdish sides said the following statement: "The the Kurdish security forces that these statements had two It also stipulates that a mechanism by which the since 2003. implications. First they would referendum should be held to President of Kirkuk's Council, The Kurds, who have not reinforce Kurdish demands in allow the people of Kirkuk the Rizgar Ali, and its Governor, yet commented on the resigna¬ Kirkuk; second, they would right to self-determination and Abdul Rahman Mustafa, were tions, say that the presence of dilute Kurdish anger by rou¬ to decide whether they want to replaced was political and is a the Peshmerga forces in sing nationalistic feelings be part of the central govern¬ violation of the rules." Kirkuk is legitimate. among the Kurdish people, ment in Baghdad or join the especially in Sulaymaniyah "The Arab bloc stands Sheikh Jaafar Mustafa, the Kurdistan region. against such agreements Region's Minister for province, which, since 17 According to national and which are decisive in determi¬ Peshmerga Affairs, told Niqash February, has been witnessing international observers, the ning the Province's fate." that the Peshmerga entered continued protests calling for problem of Kirkuk is among Kirkuk Province with the general reforms. But this so-called deal rea¬ the most difficult issues yet to consent of the Iraqi govern¬ A statement issued by the ched between the Turkmen be resolved after the fall of ment and the US forces. Turkmen Front in Kirkuk and Kurds is not the only rea¬ Saddam Hussein in 2003. son why the Arab political par¬ "Our duty is to protect all accused Talabani of stirring According to the analyst ties are angry. Another reason citizens without any discrimi¬ the emotions of the people and writer, Yahya Barzanji, the is that thousands of Kurdish nation whatsoever," he said. living in the Kurdish region. city is like "a gunpowder barrel Peshmerga forces have been Muhammad Khalil, the None of the parties wanted that could explode at any deployed in the southern and Arab member in the Kirkuk to comment on the undeclared minute and lead to a civil war western areas of Kirkuk city, Provincial Council said that agreement reached between in many areas of Iraq." which have an Arab majority. the Kurds and Turkmen, nor Talabani's statements were "Any agreement tnat does They were brought in on 24 on the fate of the Peshmerga contradictory to his position as not involve all the constituents February, the eve of the Day of forces deployed in Kirkuk. a President of Iraq. of Kirkuk, including the small Rage demonstrations around A week after Talabani's They all stressed that the minority of Christians, will Iraq, "in order to protect the statements, in a move that resignation of the Governor bring the whole country back city from the chauvinist surprised people in Kirkuk, and the President of the to square one," he said. Baathists, who want to desta¬ Kirkuk's Governor, Abdul Council was aimed at bringing bilize security in the disputed "With this in mind, it is not Rahman Mustafa, and the the different sides of the areas, especially in Kirkuk," hard to predict the results of Head of die Provincial Council, conflict closer to each other according to a statement by ignoring Arabs and excluding Rizgar Ali, who are both mem¬ and promote stability in the Sheik Jaafar Mustafa, them!" bers of the Kurdistan Alliance, city. Kurdistan's Minister for submitted their resignation. While some of the people of

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

Kurdistan Regional Government

23 marche 2011 President Barzani hosts ambassadors for Newroz celebrations: "We are committed to freedom, democracy, justice"

Erbil, Kurdistan - Iraq (KRG.org) - President Masoud Barzani this

week in Kurdistan hosted ambassadors and other diplomats to Iraq for

three days of festivities to celebrate Newroz, the Kurdish New Year.

The Kurds have celebrated Newroz, which means New Day, for over

2,500 years. It falls on the spring equinox and thus it represents hope,

unity and renewal. However, for the Kurds, the holiday also symboli¬

ses freedom from oppression. According to the myth, a Kurdish hero

named Kawa the blacksmith defeated a tyrannical king on the eve of

Newroz, and lit fires on the hilltops to announce his victory.

Referring to the myth, President Barzani said, "As human beings need

food, water, and air to live, they also need freedom. Life is meanin¬

gless if people are not free." Commenting on the current struggles that

face the region, he said, "As Kawa laid this foundation over 2,500

years ago, we will stay committed to the principles of freedom, demo¬

cracy and justice." Ambassador Ad Melkert, the Special Representative to the UN

Croatian Ambassador Jerko Vokas, the Dean of the Diplomatic Corps Secretary General, was among the 36 visiting ambassadors, foreign

in Baghdad, in his speech talked of the struggles that the Kurds have representatives and international organisations. There are 20 diploma¬

witnessed. He said, "The Kurdish people in their long history have tic missions based in Erbil; their consuls and staff also participated in

gone through many difficult challenges in the struggle for survival. the festivities.

However, today, when we celebrate Newroz in peace, we cannot help

but notice how rapidly the Kurdistan Region is developing." On Monday, the day of Newroz, President Barzani and the guests visi¬ ted Bekhal waterfall and saw tens of thousands of people picnicking

Ambassador Vokas also commended President Barzani on his vision in the countryside. They attended music and dance performances and

for the region and the positive role the Kurds continue to play in the a luncheon at Pank Resort in the hills of Rawanduz, where they were

Federal Republic of Iraq. welcomed by the mayor and local representatives. At the resort, a chil¬ dren's choir sang some national songs and nomadic goat-hair tents

The visit by more than 36 ambassadors and representatives of foreign showed the international guests the traditional Kurdish way of life. At

countries and international organizations from Baghdad and Erbil was an evening banquet, some of the diplomats joined in traditional folk

arranged by the Federal Foreign Ministry in Baghdad, in collaboration dances.

with the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Department of

Foreign Relations. This was the second time that the KRG has hosted On Tuesday the guests toured Erbil citadel, which has been nomina¬

Iraq's diplomatic community for Newroz celebrations. ted as a UNESCO world heritage site and is the oldest continually inhabited fortress in the world. The governor of Erbil Nawzad Hadi

Commenting on the increasing number of diplomatic guests at this informed the diplomats about the work of the High Commission for

year's celebrations, Minister Falah Mustafa Bakir, the KRG's Head of Erbil Citadel Revitalisation (HCECR), a joint programme with

Foreign Relations, said, 'We are delighted to have the diplomatic mis¬ UNESCO to conserve and restore the area. The tour also included a sions accredited to Iraq join us in celebrating Newroz. This event has brief visit to the town centre, local bazaars, a new shopping mall and

been an opportunity for the diplomatic community to come together, Shanidar Park.

witness this special yearly tradition, and take part in its jubilant cele¬

brations. Moreover, this was another opportunity for the diplomatic The ambassadors and representative of foreign countries and interna¬

community to experience Kurdish culture and its warm hospitality. tional organisations commended the Kurdistan Region Government

The event shows our continued desire to foster stronger relations with for the Region's rapid development, made possible by its stability and

the international community." security.

The celebrations began on Sunday, the eve of Newroz. The visiting The diplomats thanked President Barzani for his invitation and com¬

diplomats and several Iraqi and KRG ministers and officials enjoyed mended the work of the KRG Department of Foreign Relations and

the lighting of a Newroz fire, a play, dinner, music, and dancing by the Federal Foreign Ministry and others, including the protocol and

renowned Kurdish, Arab, Turkoman, and Assyrian artists. Those logistics teams for delivering an enjoyable and memorable expe¬

attending included Speaker of the Kurdistan Parliament Dr Kamal rience.

Kirkuki, KRG Prime Minister Barham Salih, Iraq's Foreign Minister

Hoshyar Zebari, Deputy Foreign Minister Labbed Abbawi, Chief of The ambassadors and foreign representatives of these countries and

Staff to the President Dr Fuad Hussein, Minister Bakir, Minister of international organisations attended the Newroz celebrations: Croatia,

Culture and Youth Kawa Mahmoud, Education Minister Safeen China, United Arab Emirates, Russian Federation, France, Turkey,

Dizayee, Trade and Industry Minister Sinan Chalabi, and Transport & Germany, Netherlands, Egypt, UK, Bangladesh, South Korea, Jordan

Communication Minister Anwar Jabali Sabo. , US, Poland, Algeria, Armenia, Romania, Palestine, Lebanon, Pakistan, Morocco, Serbia, Yemen, Spain, Slovakia, Brazil ,

Several other KRG and Iraqi ministers and officials also participated, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Norway, Georgia, South Africa, Czech

such as the Head of Kurdistan's Intelligence Protection Agency Republic, Kuwait, India, the Organization of the Islamic Conference, Masrour Barzani and Interior Minister Karim Sinjari. UN Secretary General's Special Representative, and the EU.

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

8fcffdPJfprk$ttttgg MARCH 24, 2011

news analysis; Ready or Not, Iraq Ascends To Take Helm Of Arab Bloc

American force, is still a volatile tableau Meanwhile, on the Baghdad streets a face¬

from which to draw lessons about how to lift is under way to prepare the city for

By TIM ARANGO establish a democracy in the Middle East. Arab leaders, should they arrive, to accen¬

Insurgent attacks occur daily. Its prime tuate the more hopeful features of Iraq's

minister, Nuri Kamal al-Maliki, has raised transition. BAGHDAD After Libya was suspended alarms recently with moves to consolidate from the Arab League last month, de facto Hotels, many scarred from bombings, are power over the judiciary and the security leadership ended up coincidentally in the being refurbished. Concrete blast walls that forces. Transparency International ranked hands of Iraq, the Arab nation with the dominate the aesthetic of Baghdad will be Iraq as the fourth most corrupt country in most experience much of it painful - dismantled, as will many checkpoints on the world last year, just ahead of with a foreign-led military campaign the road leading from the airport to the Afghanistan, Myanmar and Somalia. Iraq is against an unpopular dictator. city's center. One five-star hotel planned still more violent for civilians than for the Green Zone remains a foundation For all of that still unsettled pain, the Afghanistan, and American soldiers still and a honeycomb of scaffolding. foreign minister, Hoshyar Zebari in his die here, as one did Sunday from a road¬

new capacity as head of the Arab League side bomb in the south. And on some of Baghdad's main thorough¬ rushed off to Paris last Friday evening to fares shopkeepers have been busy painting "They have some of the institutions of join Western and Arab allies, where he and cleaning, per a dictum from the city democracy, and habits, but not the menta¬ argued passionately in favor of action government. The result on Zaydoon Street, lity," said one senior diplomat here, who against Libya, citing the American no-fly a big shopping boulevard in the center of spoke anonymously to maintain relations¬ zone in northern Iraq that protected the the city, has been garish bursts of bright hips with the Iraqi leadership. "Politics in Kurdish population from Saddam Hussein colors and shiny buildings amid the urban Iraq is zero sum." in the years before the American invasion war-zone blight of razor coils and thatches

here, according to a senior official who Last year more than 60 percent of Iraqis of electricity wires, the beginnings of a

took part in the Paris deliberations. turned out to vote in parliamentary elec¬ Potemkin city that suggest an economic

tions, which were largely deemed free and boom that has yet to take hold. And soon, Iraqi leaders, who are facing fair by international monitors. But many their own protest movement, plan to use Still, it suggests an everyday life that conti¬ critics argue that in a nation where religion their own troublesome democracy, still nues to emerge here slowly. On one recent is intertwined with politics outside bloody and inchoate, as a showcase for afternoon, a television reporter conducted a Parliament last week little green flags flew Middle East countries. Iraq is taking on a stand-up spot on the median, while an with the words "Muhammad is our leader" larger diplomatic role in regional affairs as amputee sold boxes of tissues to passing rights to assemble and express oneself, host of the group's annual summit meeting cars in front of a pharmacy newly painted a as well as press freedoms, are under increa¬ while assuming the rotating presidency bright orange. sing attack. of the league in May. Over the last turbulent months in the "Democracy is not just elections, of "If there's a political message, it's that Iraq Middle East, history has pivoted in ligh¬ course," said Allaa Talabani, a Kurdish is back to play a major and positive role in ting-quick fashion from the egomaniacal lawmaker. "Democracy is belief. It is prac¬ the Arab region," said Labid Abawi, the perversions of its leaders to the democratic tice. Elections are just a mechanism." deputy foreign minister who has led a com¬ aspirations of its people. With Arab leaders

mittee to prepare Baghdad for the summit Iraq has faced widespread protests aimed soon to descend on Iraq, its violent and lur¬

meeting. not at upending the government, but at ching trajectory toward democracy, from

improving it. Still, as it takes its place on foreign invasion to sectarian civil war to "We take pride in that Iraq has already the stage of world affairs it does so at a the low-grade insurgency that menaces this exceeded all these other Arab countries in time when its own version of democracy country to this day, will most likely be as establishing a democratic regime," he said. seems to many to be creeping backward much cautionary tale as road map for "Now, we can say yes, we are on the right toward authoritarianism. reform. track, and other Arab countries can follow

suit in establishing a democratic regime." The gulf between the Green Zone political Iraq, still occupied by close to 50,000

elite and the Iraqi street remains vast, and American troops and reliant on United Before the democratic uprisings across the the stirrings of Iraq's own youth-led move¬ States advisers to defend its air space and Middle East, the summit meeting had ment, inspired partly by the events in protect against foreign threats, is not parti¬ already been seen as an occasion of natio¬ Egypt and Tunisia, suggest an effort to arti¬ cipating in the military action against nal pride. Now it represents something lar¬ culate an indigenous version of democracy, Libya, which began last Saturday, the ger - an opportunity, Iraqi leaders say, to different from the one imposed after the eighth anniversary of the American inva¬ showcase its fragile democracy. Some Iraqi American invasion. sion that imposed a version of democracy diplomats envision emerging from the mee¬ still far from finished. ting with a so-called "Baghdad The summit meeting, earlier scheduled for

Declaration," a statement that would define March, has already been delayed by the Steven Lee Myers contributed reporting

the principles of modern Middle Eastern region's tumult, and although Mr. Zebari from Paris, and Zaid Thakerfrom

democracy. has insisted it will go forward, lawmakers Baghdad.

and diplomats privately express skepticism But, even with all the gains here, any such and wonder if Arab leaders will dare leave declaration would be freighted with unin¬ their countries for fear of being overthrown tentional irony. in their absence. Iraq, with a democracy imposed by

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

»Rudaw.Net~24March2011

Experts Say Barzani's NATO Award No Boost

for Kurdish Independence

pleased with the award for Barzani," he said. "Ultimately the Turks remain very

By MIRKO JOUMER suspicious towards a strong Kurdish province in Iraq, and especially towards a de facto independent safe

When Iraqi Kurdistan President haven [for Kurds] in northern Iraq." Massoud Barzani received the Atlantic Award for Peace from the "The [United States of America] will North Atlantic Treaty Organization not allow the breaking up of Iraq," (NATO) Parliamentary Assembly (PA) continued Verbeek. "An independent in Rome last week, he took the oppor¬ Iraqi Kurdistan will create more pro¬ tunity to emphasize the Kurds' right to blems between Sunni and Shiite independence. According to two Dutch [Arabs]. Moreover, it will have a strong experts in international relations, the power of attraction on Kurdish Turkey. award will not have any major political It would lead to a major dispute with "is largely a symbolic act/' which will implications, largely due to resistance Turkey, and Turkey is still essential for not have any "major political implica¬ from Turkey to Kurdish autonomy. the USA [in regard to its] Middle East tions." and Iran-Afghanistan policy."

In his acceptance speech for the award Everts also says that Turkey's member¬ - presented by the Italian Atlantic Professor Verbeek said the decision to ship of NATO has a strong influence on Committee and the Italian Delegation give Barzani the award was based on any support the Iraqi Kurdistan semi- to the NATO PA - Barzani said the the overall sectarian violence in Iraq in autonomous region may receive from Kurds believed in exercising the right to the last couple of years, the breaking NATO member states for self-determi¬ self-determination to create an inde¬ out of violence against Coptic nation. pendent state of their own Christians at the end of 2010 in Egypt, and, most importantly, the creation of a "NATO is not the actor that decides on "In Sudan, people who have long suffe¬ safe haven in Kurdistan for more than the recognition of states," said Everts. red were recently given the opportunity 10,000 Christian refugees from all over "That is a matter for individual mem¬ to peacefully and freely choose a new Iraq. ber states. Also, NATO can only make course for their future through the right formal decisions unanimously, and it is of self-determination," he said. "This "The message NATO wants to give is a not likely that Turkey will cooperate to outcome is reassuring to any who have plea for religious tolerance and [a] pea¬ strengthen the international position of faced tyranny in the past or fear that ceful settlement of disputes, which is Kurdistan." they may once again do so in the future. something Barzani has contributed to," As such, we believe in the exercise of said Verbeek. "Especially during this Bertjan Verbeek, professor of this right." period of time, it seems that religious International Relations at Radboud tolerance and peaceful solutions to dis¬ University in the Netherlands, also Professor Philip Everts, director of the putes are essential." emphasizes the role of Turkey in the Institute for International Studies at issue of Kurdish self-determination. Leiden University in the Netherlands, says that granting the award to Barzani "1 don't think Turkey is very much

THE WML STREET JOUKNM, march 24,2011

Egypt's model of civil disobedience. As of noon Thursday, he Turkish Kurds said, Kurds would begin sit-in protests in city centers and would not stop until their demands were met. Call for Protest Those demands include Kurdish language education in schools, release of political prisoners and an end to military By MARC CHAMPION And ERKAN OZ operations against Kurds; and removal of the threshold of 10% of the national vote for political parties to enter parlia¬ Turkey's main ethnic Kurdish Peace and Democracy ment. "We will not respond [with violence] even if tanks come Party indicated that it wanted to spread the pro-demo¬ to crush us," Mr. Demirtas said.A spokesman for the govern¬ cracy ferment roiling the Middle East to Eastern Turkey, ment said it would respond to the call until Thursday, but with the scene of a nearly 30-year-old conflict in which tens of elections set for June 12, it appears unlikely to compromise on thousands have died. an issue that is neuralgic to many Turkish voters, analysts said. Turkish TV channels were filled with discussions of the At a televised news conference in the regional capital proposed protests Thursday evening, with some commenta¬ Dyarbikir Wednesday, party leader Selahattin Demirtas said tors asking whether Turkey would now be drawn into the cir¬ people had run out of patience with "stalling" by Prime cle of Tunisia, Egypt, Bahrain and Libya. Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's government over initiatives to resolve the Kurdish question politically, and would follow

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

24 March 2011 Rudaw.Net

Rebel PJAK Leader Says Iran and Syria Will Be Liberated Through Revolutions

By MIRKO JOUMER and WLADIMIR

VAN WILGENBURG Abdul Rahman Haji Ahmadi,

PJAK leader, says The leader of the Iranian Kurdish rebel anti-government group, Party for the Free Life of protests sweeping Kurdistan (PJAK), whose millitants are the Middle East based in the mountains of Iraq's northern and North Africa Kurdistan region, says that the Iranian will reach Iran as and Syrian regimes will inevitably fall well. Photo by due to revolutions like those in Egypt and Ararat News Tunisia, and that the United States of Publishing America supports the recent wave of (ANP)'. revolutions in the Middle East and North

Africa.

The PJAK is an offshoot of the rebel gue and correspondence and even to Turkish-based Kurdistan Workers' Party Kurdistan region in Iraq acknowledge the rights of other (PKK) and is led by Abdul Rahman Haji nations. But for a government that is a Ahmadi, who lives in exile in Germany. Reflecting the recent allegations by totalitarian dictatorship I can say that it The PJAK states it is striving for demo¬ Iraqi Kurdistan's government-controlled is virtually impossible." cratic confederalism within the state media that Iran is supporting the boundaries of Iran. ongoing anti-government protests in Jundallah and its executed leader Haji Ahmadi spoke to Rudaw by Iraqi Kurdistan's Sulaimani city, Haji email about the possible implications of Ahmadi says neighboring Iran could Jundallah is a militant group based in the ongoing revolutions in the Middle play a role in destabilizing the semiauto¬ the part of greater Baluchistan that lies East for the Kurds in general, and speci¬ nomous Kurdistan region. within the borders of the Islamic fically for those under the Syrian and "The Iranian government is a big Republic of Iran. Its founder and lea¬ Iranian governments. enemy of the Kurdish nation," he said. der, Abdolmalek Rigi, was captured

"It is trying to undermine the prosperity and executed in Iran in 2010. Revolutions are inevitable and stability of the Kurds in the south of "We have no connection whatsoever

Kurdistan [Iraqi Kurdistan] by every with Jundallah," said Haji Ahmadi, Haji Ahmadi says the recent revolu¬ means possible." when asked about the possible ties bet¬ tions originating in North Africa will But, Haji Ahmadi says the Iraqi ween the PJAK and Jundallah, and if inevitably have a profound impact on all Kurdistan government bares an impor¬ Rigi's execution had made the Baluchi the dictatorships in the Middle East, and tant responsibility to make sure it stays group powerless. "Until the Baluchi they "are not against the USA, but the free from any unwanted meddling by people achieve their right of self-deter¬ USA supports them." other countries or powers. mination, and while injustice and "Those peoples are revolting against "If the Kurdistan Regional oppression is still being imposed on the dictators, lawlessness, poverty, greed Government considers its responsibility Baluchi people, the Baluchi people will and corruption," he said in the email. as a patriotic one, and they create a state support Jundallah, and Jundallah will The PJAK leader says he is convin¬ of law, provide justice for the people, retain its strength." ced the various ethnic groups living in work for the people and fight corruption, Iran and Syria will also be freed from then Iran or any other enemy of the Iranian nuclear scientists the totalitarian regimes that govern Kurds will not be able to make our coun¬ them. try [greater Kurdistan] an unsafe one," In November 2010, a series of assas¬ "This is the end of the era of the dic¬ he said. sination attempts in the Iranian capital tators," he said. "With their speeches, Teheran resulted in the injuring and kil¬ [Iranian President Mahmoud] Talks between the PJAK and Iran ling of several Iranian nuclear scientists. Ahmadinejad and [Syrian President Iranian authorities blamed agents of Bashar] Assad cannot change the path Asked if it would be possible for the Israel and the US, and the PJAK is often that the peoples in Iran and Syria are PJAK to conduct unofficial secret dialo¬ accused by Iran of being such an agent, on." gue with the Iranian regime, as the out¬ yet Haji Ahmadi denies any involve¬ Although Haji Ahmadi says the lawed PKK had previously done with ment. Iranian regime will eventually fall, he the Turkish government, Haji Ahmadi "The PJAK is not involved in this argues that cooperation is needed to said he did not have any hope this and does not know who is involved in make this happen. could ever be possible, given the cur¬ this matter," he said. "The Iranian government will not rent political system in Iran. fall just by the Kurdish people revol¬ "The political systems in Iran and ting," he said. "But, if all the nations in Turkey are two totally different sys¬ Iran start a revolution together, then they tems," he said. "Turkey is a semi-demo¬ will be able to bring the Iranian govern¬ cratic country, and for such a coun¬ ment down." try...it is not impossible to have dialo

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

T» 4 ^INTERNA IIUNALm 4

IferaiuMËàs ©nbune. march 24, 2011 _ INTERNATIONAL. Itml&sâlliteSribtme

MARCH 25, 2011 building's grounds, where protesters Army attacks had erected tents. The mosque has been a center of protests over the past few days, with thousands gathering there

mosque in on Sunday. After deaths, The Daraa protests stemmed from out¬ rage over the arrest of more than a dozen Syria, killing schoolchildren this month for writing Syrian leader graffiti that called for greater freedoms. Elsewhere in the Middle East, Ye¬ protesters men's president on Wednesday offered vows greater to step down by the end of the year in a bid to appease mounting demands, for DAMASCUS his resignation, but opposition groups freedoms showed no sign of easing up on efforts to FROM NEWS REPORTS force him out. Weeks of protests against the 32-year DAMASCUS At least six people were killed early rule of President Ali Abdullah Saleh in Wednesday when Syrian security the impoverished state has raised alarm FROM NEWS REPORTS forces attacked protesters who had in Western capitals at the prospect of an taken refuge in a mosque in the center of President Bashar al-Assad issued an imploding country where Al Qaeda has the southern city of Daraa, news agen¬ unprecedented pledge of greater free¬ entrenched itself. cies reported. dom and more prosperity to Syrians on In Cairo, the U.S. defense secretary,. But Syrian state television described Thursday as anger grew following a Robert M. Gates, said that it was too a very different scene, showing guns, crackdown on protesters that left sever¬ soon to determine the outcome of polit¬ grenades and ammunition that it said al people dead. ical turmoil in Yemen and that the had been taken from inside the Omari In Daraa, the southern city where United States had not planned for an era mosque. The television report acknowl¬ Syrian security forces have confronted without Mr. Saleh in office. edged four dead, but said they had been demonstrators, thousands of people "I think things are obviously, or evi¬ killed when "an armed gang" attacked marched Thursday to mark the funerals dently, very unsettled in Yemen," Mr. an ambulance, The Associated Press re¬ of those killed. Gates said. "I think it's too soon to call ported. The assault on the central mosque in an outcome. We've had a good working Why the accounts of violence and of the city early Wednesday, and sub¬ relationship with President Saleh. He's the number killed differed was not im¬ sequent attacks by security forces, led been an important ally in the counter- mediately known. to an unknown number of deaths, some terrorism arena. Despite emergency laws that have of which appeared to be documented in "But clearly there's a lot of unhappi- banned public gatherings for nearly 50 bloody videos posted on YouTube. An ness inside Yemen. And I think we will years, protests have grown over thé American official who would speak only basically just continue to watch the situ¬ past week in several cities in Syria. The on the condition of anonymity said that ation. We haven't done any post-Saleh largest have been in Daraa, with thou¬ "about 15 people" were killed by forces planning." sands taking to the streets Friday and loyal to Mr. Assad. An unidentified hos¬ Mr. Saleh, whose opponents have again on Sunday, when protesters pital official put the death toll at 37. Vari¬ been inspired by the fall of dictators in burned government buildings and ous Web sites were collecting names of Tunisia and Egypt, has been an ally of clashed with the police. Several people those believed to have been killed. the United States and of Saudi Arabia in were reported to have died. No violence was reported Thursday the confrontation against Al Qaeda. But Anti-government protests continued in the huge marches, which had the killing ol more than 50 demonstra¬ on Tuesday for a fifth day in Daraa be¬ gathered around the funerals. tors on Friday has accelerated a wave of fore hundreds of demonstrators sought Announcing the sort of concessions defections to the opposition by the elite. protection from attacks in the Omari that would have seemed almost unima¬ Having tried at first to fend off calls to mosque, Reuters reported. The protest¬ ginable three months ago in Syria, quit by saying he would not seek a new ers were calling for political freedoms Bouthaina Shaaban, an adviser to Mr. term in 2013, Mr. Saleh has since made and an end to corruption, and they had Assad, said at a news conference that greater concessions and on Wednesday said they would remain in the mosque the president had not ordered his forces offered constitutional change and elec¬ until their demands were met. to fire on protesters. tions to replace Parliament and the "They are shooting," a person at the "I was a witness to the instructions of head of state this year. mosque said by telephone, referring to His Excellency that live ammunition Opposition groups, which had earlier the soldiers and other security forces. should not be fifed, even if the police, se¬ called for huge rallies in the capital, "Killing and killing and more killing." curity forces or officers of the status , Sana, on Friday to force Mr. Saleh from A doctor at the city's main hospital, were being killed," she said. power, said they were studying the of¬ Ali Nassab al-Mahameed, was shot and Mr. Assad, she said, would draft laws fer. (IHT, REUTERS) killed as he was trying to rescue others, to provide for media freedoms and allow the witness said. It was not known how for political movements other than the many people were wounded. Baath Party, which has ruled the coun- : "It seems that security forces may be try for half a century. trying to storm the complex," a resident Ms. Shaaban said that the president told Reuters. "It is not clear because who assumed power after the death electricity has been cut off. Tear gas is of his father and predecessor, Hafez al-

also being used." Assad, in 2000 had decreed the draft¬ The mosque's preacher, Ahmad Sias- ing of a law for political parties "to be neh, told Al Arabiya television on Tues¬ presented for public debate" and would day that Syrian forces were close to the strive above all to raise living standards , across the country. '

The protesters in Daraa were She said another decree would look at I "ending with great urgency the emer- ; calling for political freedoms. gency law, along with issuing legislation

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

that assures the security of the nation February of that year, forces loyal to perse the crowd with tear gas and then and its citizens." Hafez al-Assad killed at least 10,000 live ammunition. Information has trickled out slowly people in an assault on the city of Hama Among the dead was Ali al-Ma- and incompletely from Syria, which is to end an Islamist uprising. hameed, a doctor, who witnesses said one of the most closed and repressive "The regime is under serious pres¬ was shot while tending to the wounded. nations in the Middle East, and is closely sure, and it's hard to predict where this At least one person was killed after Dr. allied with Iran and the Lebanese mili- may lead," Mr. Tabler said. Mahameed's funeral Wednesday after¬ j The protests are in a Sunni area and noon, attended by thousands of people, "The regime is under the turmoil threatens to "crack the some of whom tried to return to the city Sunni veneer" of the government of Mr. serious pressure." center. Assad, who is of the Alawite religious Syrian state television said Wednes¬ minority, Mr. Tabler said. But he said day that it was not security forces who tant group Hezbollah. But as the death the protests had not so far taken on a had killed people at the mosque but toll from the Daraa crackdown rose, Mr. strong sectarian character and were rather an "armed gang." The broadcast Assad faced growing pressure both in¬ mainly a response to years of broken showed guns, grenades, ammunition ternally, as the protests spread around promises and delays in carrying. out and money that was said to have been the south, and from other nations. political reforms. taken from the mosque after a police Ms. Shaaban's statements came after Thé crackdown in Daraa began early raid. The report acknowledged four Britain, France, Germany and the Wednesday after the Syrian Army rein¬ dead. United Nations condemned the vio¬ forced the police presence in the city, The official SANA news agency said lence. near the Jordanian border, and confron¬ the "gang" had killed a doctor, a medic¬ Andrew J. Tabler of the Washington ted a group of protesters who had al worker and a driver in an ambulance, Institute for Near East Policy, and who gathered in and around the Omari and that "security forces faced down spent a decade living in Syria, said six mosque in the city center. Activists and those aggressors and managed to shoot days of protests of this size were' un¬ news reports said five or six people and wound a few of them." creuters, ihd known in Syria since at least 1982. In were killed after the forces tried to dis

25 mars 2011 I- - :

L'INTERVENTION EN LIBYE

La Turquie s'engage à reculons dans les opérations

« Les demandes et les inquiétudes de la première ligne dans l'offensive militai¬ LAURE MARCHAND Turquie ont été entendues », a-t-il as¬ re. Le président de la République, Ab¬ ISTANBUL suré, Hier, l'amiral américain James dullah Gui, a regretté : « Malheureuse¬

LES DÉPUTÉS turcs ont donné hier soir Stavridis, commandant de POtan en ment, il est clair que certains . pays

leur feu vert à l'envoi en Méditerranée Europe, se trouvait à Ankara pour dis¬ versent dans l'opportunisme. » Sans en

de cinq navires et d'un sous-marin cuter des conditions de la participation citer un nommément. Après les criti¬ pour participer . aux opérations de turque dans la coalition. Si la Turquie ques du gouvernement contre le « rôle contrôle de l'embargo sur les armes à ne souhaite pas être visible sur le front, majeur de la France » dans le déclen¬ destination de la Libye. Avec six bâti¬ elle semble prête à assurer les arrières chement des opérations, il ne fait guère

ments de guerre, la Turquie sera la plus de la coalition. La base de POtan d'Iz- de doute que la remarque du chef de

grosse contributrice au dispositif au mir, dans l'ouest du pays, pourrait être l'État turc visait Paris.

large des côtes libyennes. Mais ses revi- ' intégrée au dispositif et superviser le Crainte d'une « irakisation » rements successifs sur les opérations dispositif de surveillance aérienne. militaires contre le régime du colonel Les réticences turques s'expliquent

Kadhafi et son opposition à des frappes aussi par une crainte d'une « irakisa¬ aériennes illustrent l'embarras d'An¬ «Malheureusement, tion » du conflit et par ses', importants kara, tiraillé entre le pacte qui le lie à il est clair que certains intérêts économiques, concentrés dans ses alliés de POtan et son souci de ne pays versent le secteur de la construction, en Libye.

pas apparaître trop ouvertement du dans l'opportunisme » plusieurs milliers de ressortissants

côté de la coalition pour ne pas se met¬ ABDALLAH GÛL, PRÉSIDENT turcs se trouvent encore sur le territoi¬

tre à dos les populations arabes ou mu¬ DE LA RÉPUBLIQUE re libyen. Depuis le début de la rébel¬

sulmanes de la région. lion, Ankara joue également un rôle Depuis plusieurs jours, son désac¬ Il y a peu, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, le d'intermédiaire entre le régime de cord sur les bombardements empê¬ premier ministre, qualifiait encore de Kadhafi et les Occidentaux. Sur place,

chait les 28 pays membres de l'Alliance « non-sens » une intervention de c'est désormais la Turquie qui repré¬

de confier la mise en de la zone POtan en Libye. Mardi, devant son sente les intérêts américains, britanni¬

d'exclusion aérienne à POtan. Mais, groupe parlementaire, il martelait que ques et australiens. Elle est intervenue hier soir, le ministre des Affaires ' la Turquie « ne sera jamais celle qui dans la libération du reporter du Guar¬

étrangères, Ahmet Davutoglu, a an¬ pointera une arme contre le peuple li¬ dian, arrêté début mars, et a été remer¬

noncé qu'Ankara, qui réclamait un ar¬ byen », une manière de se démarquer ciée par le New York Times pour celles

rêt des frappes, levait son opposition. indirectement des pays engagés en de ses quatre journalistes, lundi.

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

m**ûMMM mercredi 23 rnars 2011

En Syrie, Bachar el-Assad est confronté

au défi de la rue

Les protestataires continuent d'exiger plus de libertés, la fin de

la corruption et de meilleurs salaires.

partie le clan Assad, sur la majorité sun¬ nite. Un sujet tabou que le pouvoir a GEORGES MALBRUNOT toujours masqué par une surenchère na¬ tionaliste contre Israël. Ce qui a encore PROCHE-ORIENT Plus d'un millier de Vague massive d'arrestations permis à Assad d'affirmer récemment au manifestants scandant des slogans Le parti Baas, au pouvoir depuis bientôt Wall Street Journal qu'« il n'y a aucun contre le régime se sont rassemblés hier un demi-siècle, gouverne en vertu de risque que la Syrie soit gagnée par la à Deraa, à 120 km au sud de Damas, où ils l'état d'urgence. Depuis qu'il a succédé à ont été encerclés par un grand nombre contestation puisque la population fait son père en 2000, Bachar el-Assad a de membres des forces de l'ordre. Sur le bloc autour des idéaux du Baas ». déçu ses compatriotes. Il s'est contenté plateau du Hauran, Deraa est depuis À voir... Certes, le jeune raïs a su ouvrir d'une ouverture économique, sans libé¬ vendredi le théâtre de manifestations la manne aux commerçants sunnites da¬ raliser le moins du monde la sphère po¬ sans précédent contre le pouvoir, qui les mascenes, qui n'ont pas intérêt à voir litique. Et encore cette ouverture écono¬ a réprimées, faisant cinq morts et des di¬ leur pays sombrer dans le chaos. mique est-elle dénoncée - à demi-mots, zaines de blessés. « Les tribus ne sont pas En Syrie, le pouvoir voit rouge au bien sûr - comme profitant surtout à contentes, explique un expert qui tient à moindre frétillement. Ces derniers jours, certains barons du Baas ou à des mem¬ rester anonyme. Les combattants qu'elles il a répondu par une vague massive d'ar¬ bres de sa famille, en particulier son ont envoyés en Irak ont été emprisonnés à restations - 800 à Deraa, selon des ONG. cousin germain, Rami Makhlouf, dont le leur retour et sont toujours sous les ver¬ Mais une répression comme celle qui fit nom est scandé par les manifestants à rous. » Mais la contestation s'étend bien des milliers de morts parmi les islamistes au-delà de Deraa. Ces dernières semai¬ Deraa. en 1982 à Hama n'est plus possible à Père Parmi les autres griefs contre le régi¬ nes, des rassemblements ont eu lieu à de Facebook et d'Internet. me figure la domination de la secte Damas, Lattaquieh, Banyas et Hassakeh. « H n'y a aucune raison que la grogne chiite minoritaire des alaouites, dont fait s'arrête », assure l'expert. Comment Ba¬ « Le plus inquiétant pour le régime, char el-Assad peut-Û y répondre ? « Il ajoute l'expert, c'est que la fronde n'est doitfaire des concessions qui n'irritentpas pas téléguidée par tel ou tel groupe d'op¬ trop son entourage familial, mais qui lui posants, mais par la population elle-mê¬ permettent de désamorcer lafronde. » Un me, qui réclame plus de libertés politi¬ exercice bien délicat. ques, moinsde corruption et de meûjeurs salaires. » Bref, les Syriens sont à l'unis¬ son du reste du monde arabe, en quête

de justice et de démocratie. Et les spé¬

cialistes sont unanimes : en Syrie, tous les ingrédients sont réunis pour un

changement. Mais, compte tenu du ré¬ gime de fer à Damas, celui-ci ne pourra se faire en douceur.

Les Kurdes de Turquie lancent un mouvement de protestation pour leurs droits

DIYARBAKIR (Turquie), 24 mars 2011 (AFP) Un petit groupe a jeté des pétards sur la police, qui a fait usage de gaz lacry¬ mogène et arrêté cinq personnes.

QUELQUE 3.000 Kurdes avec des députés et des maires à leur tête ont A quelques mois d'élections législatives, prévues pour juin, le BDP a investi jeudi les rues de Diyarbakir, la principale ville du sud-est ana- annoncé mercredi le lancement d'une série de manifestations en faveur tolien, peuplé en majorité de Kurdes, pour réclamer d'avantages de d'une amélioration des droits des Kurdes.

droits et appeler à la fin du conflit avec le PKK. Conspuant le gouvernement pour son incapacité à mettre un terme au

La foule a tenté d'organiser un sit-in dans le centre de Diyarbakir, mais les conflit, il a revendiqué le droit à une éducation en langue kurde, la libération autorités ont interdit la manifestation et déployé des blindés pour bloquer les de militants emprisonnés, la fin des opérations contre le PKK et la suppres¬ manifestants, a constaté un correspondant de l'AFP. sion d'un seuil électoral de 10% de voix requis pour entrer au Parlement.

Seules quelques dizaines de personnes, des élus locaux et des parieman- "Nous serons dans les rues jusqu'à ce que le gouvernement prenne des taires du Parti pour une société démocratique (BDP, pro-kurde), ont été mesures concrètes concernant ces quatre demandes", a déclaré le prési¬ autorisées à s'asseoir au lieu prévu de la manifestation, la première d'une dent du BDP, Selahattin Demirtas.

série de plusieurs actions programmées pour les prochains mois. Le PKK, considéré comme un groupe terroriste par de nombreux pays, a

Le reste des manifestants ont occupé les rues avoisinnantes en signe de décrété un cessez-le-feu unilatéral en août 2010, mais a menacé d'y mettre protestation, bloqué le trafic et scandé "le Kurdistan sera le tombeau du fas¬ fin le mois dernier, déplorant l'échec du gouvernement à dialoguer avec les cisme" ainsi que d'autres slogans en faveur du Parti des travailleurs du Kurdes. Kurdistan (PKK), qui lutte depuis 26 ans pour l'autonomie du Sud-Est.

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

XeUlonde « tiraillée entre la dénonciation du Vendredi 25 mars 20li régime syrien et celle de l'impérialis- meaméricain-.entresamissioncriti- queet la défense de l'intérêt natio¬ nal», explique Caroline Donati, Damas réprime dans sonouvragelïxceptî'onsyrien- L

Irak: plusieurs dizaines de barrages vont être construits au Kurdistan

ERBIL (Irak), 24 mars 2011 (AFP) l'Euphrate- sont l'objet d'une dispute entre Bagdad, la Syrie et la Turquie, d'autant que les pluies se font de plus en plus rares en Irak, selon un rap¬ port de l'ONU d'octobre 2010 qui notait qu'en 2009, les précipitations LE KURDISTAN IRAKIEN va se doter de plusieurs dizaines de barra¬ avaient été inférieures de 50% à la moyenne. ges pour développer son secteur agricole et faire face aux épisodes de sécheresse, un projet qui pourrait aviver les tensions régionales rela¬ Les barrages érigés par les voisins de l'Irak ont en outre considérablement tives à la gestion de l'eau, a-t-on appris jeudi. réduit les quantités d'eau disponibles dans le pays, qui a été jusqu'à la fin des années 1950 un grenier à blé pour le monde arabe. "Onze barrages avec des réservoirs d'une capacité d'un à dix millions de mètres cubes sont actuellement en construction et des études ont été faites De nombreux agriculteurs d'origine arabe de la province multiethnique de pour en construire 28 autres", a déclaré à l'AFP le ministre de l'Agriculture Kirkouk, frontalière du Kurdistan, avaient par ailleurs accusé en janvier les et des Ressources hydriques de la région autonome du nord de l'Irak, Jamil Kurdes de les ruiner en fermant les vannes du barrage de Doukan, l'un des Souleimane. plus grands de la région autonome.

"Ces barrages visent à développer le secteur agricole et à faire des réser¬ M. Souleimane a indiqué que les barrages en construction étaient érigés sur ves d'eau car l'Irak a ces dernières années été frappé par la sécheresse", des cours d'eau de faible débit et qu'il ne s'agissait pas de gros barrages sur a-t-il indiqué. le Tigre ou ses principaux affluents, le Grand Zab et le Petit Zab.

Deux des barrages en construction se trouvent dans la province de Dohouk, "Pour ce qui est des grands barrages, nous devons trouver un accord avec quatre dans celle d'Erbil et cinq dans celle de Souleimaniyeh, a-t-il précisé. le gouvernement de Bagdad car ils s'inscrivent dans le cadre d'un plan stra¬ tégique du gouvernement fédéral en Irak", a-t-il dit. La gestion de l'eau des deux grands fleuves qui arrosent l'Irak -le Tigre et

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

25 March 2011 Rudaw.Net

Islamic Clerics Call Kurdish Protestors to "Jihad" Against Their Leaders

'S* By WLADIMIR VAN WILGEN- BURG

The city of Sulaimani is known for

its secular image in the Kurdistan

region of Iraq, but now young religious !: «£ clerics are taking a central role in the

ongoing anti-government demonstra¬

tions there by leading the protest's Friday prayer sessions and speaking

out against governmental corruption.

"We are especially inspired by die . *V-:î events in the Middle East and Egypt,"

said Mullah Mohammed Nasrullah,

one of the first clerics to lead the public prayers that have become a

focal point of the Sulaimani protests.

Inspired by the revolution in Protesters pray in Sulaimani's Azadi Square on Friday, March 25th. Photo by Egypt, protestors have, since February Namo Abdulla. 17th, continuously demonstrated

against the Kurdish Regional Government in Sulaimani's central Azadi are something new for the [the government] from oppressing

Bar Darki Sara Square, which they whole of Iraq. them and [encouraged it] to listen to

have renamed Maidani Azadi "It never happened before that peo¬ them and solve their problems. This is

("Liberation Square") in tribute to ple prayed on the streets, but every¬ a good and positive thing regarding the Cairo's Tahrir ("Liberation") Square. thing that's new also results in pro¬ religious authorities."

In addition, as in the Egyptian protests, blems," he said, referring to the threa¬ Bloodthirsty "khawarij" rebels

religious clerics are now playing a tening and temporary detention of But, the protestors are not positive

central role in the political debate. some of the clerics who supported the about all religious clerics, as some of

protests. them are not supporting the demons¬

Jihad against corruption trations and, through government-

Nasrullah, an outspoken cleric, is Clerics are part of society controlled media, have called for calm

playing an especially significant role Demonstrators interviewed by among the demonstrators. in the anti-government demonstration Rudaw in the square welcomed the "Mullah Bashaer is no Kurd,"

by, for instance, calling it a "jihad" new role of religious clerics in the pro¬ screamed angry protestors in the

("holy struggle"). Although protestors tests. square against Mullah Bashaer al-

have generally been enthusiastic about "We feel supported by them," said Haddad. this label, some fear this was a call for Nian Farez Mohammed. "They have Al-Haddad, who is also a Kurdish

violence, which Nasrullah denies. the right to express their opinions." lawmaker, allegedly compared the "I did not call for violence, but for Osman Ali Achmed, the uncle of protestors to the "khawarij" ("sece-

demonstration and the solving of pro¬ 16-year-old Rezwan Ali, who was kil¬ ders" or "rebels"), a designation for

blems, for peace and tranquility," the led by security forces in the protests, extremist Muslims who refuse to com¬

cleric said. agrees the clerics have a right to parti¬ promise. In Islamic history, the khawa¬ Nasrullah admits his actions have cipate. rij fought against the Islamic caliphs, been inspired by theologian Sheikh "They are a part of die society," because they considered them Qaradawi, who led thousands of anti- said Achmed. "If the people have pro¬ impious. government protesters in prayer in blems, everybody participates, and so Protestor Barham Achmed

Egypt. do the imams. Mullahs have the right Mahmud told Rudaw that he has "no "In Egypt - a big Islamic country - to participate in protests." words for him [al-Haddad]."

we saw thousands of people come onto Fayiq Gulpi, one of the Kurdish "He is a man who sells his words the streets to pray with imams," said intellectuals supporting the protest, and he is no longer human," said ano¬

Nasrullah. "We want to support our emphasizes that the religious clerics ther protestor, Nian Farez Mohammed,

people, who came out in support of the want change. who told Rudaw that al-Haddad was

demonstrations. Our country needs us "Mullahs who lead the prayers are being bribed to make such statements. in these difficult times." calling on the government to listen to "We don't listen to him." Nasrullah, who studies religion in the rights of the people according to But, al-Haddad denied comparing

Baghdad, says the events in Maidani Islam," said Gulpi. "They prohibited the protestors with khawarij and

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

condemned both the violence of the Al-Haddad also said the events the role of clerics in the protests is not

protestors and the government. He was had been inspired by Egypt. something new to Kurdistan, although

also critical of the arrest of some pro- "Because of today's technology, die demonstrations are clearly imita¬

reform mullahs, and said he tried to anything that happens in the world will ting Egypt's. warn people away from violence and be copied in some way, and it has "When mullahs are talking about

to keep calm. surely had an impact on Kurdistan as corruption or demonstration, it is nor¬ "Everyone knows that khawarij well," he said. "But our region has its mal," said Mahmood. "This is because

are...people who tried to impose their own special character, and our Islam is a social phenomenon. In mos¬ demands and caused bloodshed," said demands are not the same as those of ques [in Kurdistan] they always talk al-Haddad. "When I tried to use this other countries." about these situations. They are a part

example, my aim was not to say these Jotiar Mahmood, director of the of society."

people were khawarij." Sarenge Centre for Strategic Studies in Iraqi Kurdistan's capital, Erbil, says

26 March 2011 he Rudaw****

Public Investigation into Corruption to Begin in Kurdistan

By NAWZAD MAHMOUD

Naz Noori Arif, SULAIMANI, Iraqi Kurdistan: After public prosecu¬ complaints that official allegations of tor for

governmental corruption are not being Sulaimani, says

taken seriously enough, Sulaimani pro¬ she has reports indicating the vince's public prosecutor has announced involvement of that the great number of reports invol¬ high ranking ving corruption filed by the Financial Iraqi Kurdish Monitoring Office (FMO) would now be officials in cor¬ investigated after the Newroz vacation ruption. and that "all names mentioned would be Photo by Rudaw. submitted to the courts."

Just a few hours before Sulaimani's

ongoing anti-government, anti-corrup¬

tion demonstrations began on 17th government and will investigate all of in the reports are not only governmental

February, Iraqi Kurdistan Prime them." and party officials, but other individuals

Minister Barham Salih and a representa¬ The announcement from the are involved as well. They should all be

tive for Kurdistan's president held a Sulaimani public prosecutor that the summoned before the court," she said,

meeting with the public prosecutors of reports would be investigated came after adding that her department also had fur¬

Erbil, Sulaimani and Duhok provinces. many past complaints from Jalal Sam ther evidence from its own investiga¬

At the meeting, Salih asked the public Agha, the previous head of the tions and from the media that the prime

prosecutors to start an investigation into Sulaimani FMO, that the reports were minister had authorized to be used in the

the reports from the FMO. being ignored. investigation, as the FMO reports were

"I told the prime minister that these "We told the prime minister that per¬ not sufficient on their own.

reports contained names of very high haps some of the high ranking officials An anonymous FMO source said

ranking officials and [so] you have to would make trouble for us, because the that, if the Public Prosecution

support us," Naz Noori Arif, public pro¬ reports were accusing them, but he said Department investigated these reports,

secutor for Sulaimani, told Rudaw. "Dr his door was always open to me if I had the source believed that "all those invol¬

Salih said we were authorized to do any trouble," she said. "The Kurdistan ved in corruption will be summoned

whatever was necessary." president's representative also told us before the court, and everything will be

According to some sources, about that the president was very eager for us crystal clear."

1200 of these FMO reports have been to start work on die FMO reports." Legal Experts say this will be an

presented to Sulaimani's Public Ms Arif said that her department had important step for public prosecution in

Prosecution Department. Ms Arif said asked that public prosecution be under Iraqi Kurdistan.

the reports contained many names of me direct jurisdiction of the Kurdistan "When the public prosecution starts

high ranking governmental and party president's office, so that a higher autho¬ their investigation of these reports, we

officials, including lawmakers, who had rity would be supporting it and it could can say that the first step toward facing

held office over the past 20 years. execute its duties with greater confi¬ and fighting corruption has been made,"

"Some of them may have left their dence, and that the prime minister had said Rizgar Muhammed Amin, a leading

positions, and their sons or grandsons approved of the idea. Kurdish judge.

have taken over their posts," she said. 'The issue is about the whole of the

"We are well authorized from the Kurdistan region. The names mentioned

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

iSI REUTERS feature - Protests revolutionise political culture of Iraq Kurds

March 25, 2011 - (Reuters) - By Namo Abdulla

SULAIMANIYA, Iraq - Protests sweeping North Africa and the Middle East have transformed Iraq's Kurdish ".* region, where an angry public is awakening to political life beyond the authoritarian leaders once seen as heroic liberators.

In other parts of Iraq, protests inspired by the uprisings in Egypt and Tunisia have tapered off over the past month.

In Kurdistan, where two political parties have jointly domi¬ nated public life for two decades, demonstrators have remained steadfast, camping out for more than a month in a square in the region's second-largest city, Sulaimaniya.

At least nine people have died, including two members of the "Peshmerga", the two ruling parties' former guerrilla authorities, even though rules have yet to be set for how to armies which are now the region's official security forces. share export revenues from Kurdish oil with Baghdad. Many Kurds say it is the first time they have been able to But many Kurds complain that they have seen little of the envisage a Kurdistan that does not revolve around the par¬ new wealth. Far too much power has been concentrated in ties, whose epic struggle against dictator Saddam Hussein the hands of the parties, and their duopoly has allowed dominated Kurdish culture as much as their patronage corruption to run rampant and dissent to be stifled, protes¬ dominated politics. ters say. "What is happening now in Kurdistan is a radical change in Sulaimaniya's protesters have been chanting "down, down, the Kurdish political landscape," said Bachtyar Ah, whose down with the authorities," echoing slogans heard across 1992 poetry collection "Sin and the Carnival" and magical North Africa and the Middle East this year. realist novels marked a Kurdish cultural renaissance that flowered after the region broke free of Saddam's grip in Protests have been more tense and bloodier in less-develo¬ 1991. ped towns such as Chamchamal, Kalar and Halabja noto¬ rious site of a poison gas attack by Saddam's forces in 1988. "We are abandoning the classic form of 20th century gover¬ At times they have taken on the character of a class strug¬ nance which indoctrinated us with the notions that ideolo¬ gle, with poor protesters demanding clean water, electricity gies, parties and the president were all sacred," he told and jobs. Reuters. "We will certainly never return to pre-February 17th Kurdistan," he added, referring to the first day of pro¬ Foreign investors complain too. Khalil Shocair, general

tests. manager of Green House, a Jordanian firm which has pro¬ vided 70 percent of Sulaimaniyah's greenhouses since 2003, BOOM NOT SHARED said business deals require the blessing of one of the ruling President Massoud Barzani's KDP party and its sometime parties. rivals, the PUK of Iraqi President Jalal Talabani, have been "If you don't have the support of a political party here, you revered as founding national liberation movements since will never win," he said. "You will not get a work visa, for the U.S.-led Gulf War against Saddam in 1991, when then- example." fighters secured de facto independence shielded by a Western no-fly zone. Barzani has issued dire warnings to protesters about the perils of trying to overthrow the authorities from the It was the first time the Kurdish people who have also streets, but, like other Middle East leaders caught in the fought for autonomy in Turkey, Iran and Syria had ever tide of public anger, he has also acknowledged the validity secured control of the apparatus of a modern state. of the discontent. The two parties' rival Peshmerga units fought each other in "Your demonstrations are a legitimate act... Meeting your a civil war in the 1990s, but since Saddam was toppled in demands is my obligation and the government's," he said 2003 they have held to a deal dividing power between in a speech this week promising "radical reforms" within them. four months. The region has flourished as the only part of Iraq spared Shukriya Mohammed Kareem, a 53-year-old housewife, the ethnic and sectarian war of the last eight years. said the government was not using its wealth to look after Sulaimaniya and regional capital Arbil have seen building the poor. booms. "My husband is 31 years retired. But I only get 200,000 Iraqi Baghdad gives the Kurdish regional government near-total dinars ($170) a month. I have a son and six daughters. I autonomy and 17 percent of Iraq's oil wealth, an annual have come here just to say I don't want this government," budget of about $11 billion for a region of some 4.5 million she said at protests this week in Sulaimaniya. people. "What's the good of a government which does nothing for Foreign investors have arrived en masse, including more you and just fills its officials pockets up with money?" than 40 oil companies negotiating deals with the Kurdish

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

Kf Rudaw.Net 1 26 March 2011

Govt Says Iraqi Kurdistan Has 70 Years of Oil Reserves

By RUDAW W^f$^$'f>li[ 1 Natural Resources ERBIL, Iraqi Kurdistan: Iraqi 'l3&w^1;v$' $W}i Minister Ashty Kurdistan's top natural resources offi¬ v^-£.vV^£ T 3?*"1* Hawrami says he cial has affirmed that the semiautono¬ J^^llfe expects Iraqi mous region is "very wealthy," with WX-§ §^?« Kurdistan to be present reserves of about 200 trillion .t-v. t -*?l^-:- Producing 300,000 cubic meters of natural gas and at least ^ î;.f £& barrels of crude oil 70 years' worth of oil. At a recent event to launch the f& ^ Per day (bPd) by the year's end. ministry's annual publication, Oil and Gas Year, Natural Resources Minister Ashty Hawrami said he expected Iraqi Kurdistan to be producing 300,000 bar¬ rels of crude oil per day (bpd) by the year's end "We now have an agreement with

the Baghdad government to export [at free to say what he wishes. He cannot to produce a further 5000 megawatts of least] 100,000 bpd from Kurdistan, but influence or cause any harm to the electricity within the next two years. this number could rise to 200,000 by the export of Kurdish oil." "The use of [natural gas] is an end of this year," said Hawrami, adding The minister emphasized that essential step towards eradicating the that Iraqi Kurdistan's total production Kurdistan was very wealthy in terms of electricity problem in Kurdistan perma¬ by the year's end was planned to be at oil and gas reserves. nently," said Hawrami. 300,000 bpd, a third of which would not "I can say that we now have around Every day, more foreign companies be exported. 70 billion barrels of oil reserves, which were arriving to exploit the oil and gas Hawrami did not seem concerned will be sufficient to cover the Kurdistan resources of the region, and the about ongoing disagreements over oil region's needs for the next 70 years," he Kurdistan Regional Government policies between the Kurdistan region said. (KRG) had signed several agreements and Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister for Furthermore, Hawrami said there witii such companies to assist in the Energy Husein Shahristani. were presently 200 trillion cubic meters development of this field, said "The daily profit from the Kurdistan of natural gas in the region, and this Hawrami, adding that the problems bet¬ region's oil is now $US10 million, and amount would easily supply the needs ween Baghdad and the KRG regarding no one is going to refuse such money," of all the factories and households in the foreign oil companies and their said Hawrami. "We have an agreement region, including the cities bordering contracts and costs were on the way to witii the Iraqi government and Prime Iraqi Kurdistan. being solved. Minister Nuri Maliki, so Shahristani is He said the extra gas would be used

MïIHISLfJBË 27 March 2011

Second policeman killed in Halabja demonstrations

employment, an end to corrup¬

The Kurdish Globe tion and the monopoly of the two main political parties in the region, and a provision of ONE POLICEMAN was killed basic services. and nearly 10 were injured in Halabja clashes with demonstrators in /File A day after the death of the Halabja. Photo policeman, Gorran members visited Halabja and renewed ^ff&artf The local police are in the pro¬ the demonstrations. This is the cess of investigating the death. second death of a member of Local demonstrators took to the police force in Halabja in the streets of the city on recent demonstrations. Tuesday afternoon, where they asked for the resignation of the SASÉEàî Under the rule and demand of mayor of Halabja alongside the Hussein regime in Iraq, were injured. Locals complain President, Massoud Barzani, other requests. Halabja was sprayed with that there is lack of attention elaborated on reforms, saying mustard gas and the nerve and improvements in services that the Regional Government For over a month now, conti¬ agents tabun, saran and VX for in their city. will launch a comprehensive nuous demonstrations have five hours on March 16, 1988. It reform program that will fight taken place in Suleimaniya pro¬ is estimated that 5,000 people Addressing the nation in his corruption and improve the vince. Among the protestors' died and more than 10,000 Newroz speech, the region's function of the government. demands are increased

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

!» Rudaw.Net 1 27 March 201X Turkey's Kurds Divided after Death Threats from Rogue Kurdish Group

PKK and the TAK's direats to punish

Kurdish public figures in Turkey. By ROZH AHMAD Aram Karim, who is on the editorial

board of the KDSP newspaper, Roje

Kurdish support for the legendary Welat, told Rudaw that the TAK is "an

rebel group, the Kurdistan Worker's independent organization and there is

Party (PKK), has recently become more no evidence to prove any links between

divided with the issuing of death threats the TAK and the PKK."

against several of Turkey's leading

Kurdish figures by the Kurdistan The Kurdish movement divided

Freedom Falcons (TAK), considered by

the Turkish government and many These recent events are showing a division among Turkey's Kurds, who others to be a front for the PKK. and adding that the PKK allowed no seem to now eitiier support the PKK or Although the PKK denies any dissent from their own political agenda the AKP government. The Turkish connection to the militant TAK, the and that "diese threats have always media has generally been providing Kurds in Turkey now appear to be divi¬ been die practice of the PKK." widespread coverage of those suppor¬ ded into pro-PKK and pro-government Ocalan says he has "nothing to do ting the AKP government over Kurdish camps as a result of the threats, which with" the TAK's threats against Shivan issues, while blaming die PKK for the have caused much outrage and disgust Perwer and the others and blames the country's political discontent. in the Kurdish community. Justice and Development Party (AKP) Burkay, who now resides in Sweden Those threatened by the TAK's government for instigating "physiologi¬ as a political refugee, was forced to recent controversial statement publi¬ cal warfare" against the PKK and the leave Turkey just after the country's shed on its website under the title Kurds. tfiird military coup d'etat of the 1980s, "Treason and collaboration will not go "Turkey is turning Kurds against because of his Kurdish nationalism. unpunished," include renowned exiled each omer... similar to die physiologi¬ Recently, after reportedly being given Kurdish singer Shivan Perwer, and cal warfare against us in 1994," said the the clear to return to the country by the Kurdish writers Mehmet Metiner and PKK's charismatic leader at his most Turkish government, he then announ¬ Musin Kizilkaya, all of whose recent recent meeting with his lawyer on ced he would return to Turkey in June statements are believed by the TAK to March 11m at Imrali Prison in Turkey's this year, at the time of the 17th Turkish betray the Kurdish cause. Marmara Sea, where he is currently ser¬ general elections. "We see these threats as a major ving life imprisonment, after being Many PKK supporters and mem¬ attack on freedom of thought [in arrested in Kenya in 1999 by the bers of affiliated organizations consider Turkish Kurdistan] and strongly Turkish secret service. condemn them," said a recent joint sta¬ Burkay's anti-Ocalan statements as "slanderous" and Perwer as an AKP tement against the TAK signed by 41 Why blame the PKK? Kurdish intellectuals in Turkey. supporter, since he appeared on TRT6 TV station, a government-sponsored Other prominent organizations and The TAK's death threats are belie¬ Kurdish TV station in Turkey, which individuals are also voicing tiieir sup¬ ved to have come minutes after a pre¬ many Kurds believe is pro-AKP. port for tiiose threatened, including the vious meeting between Ocalan and his The KDSP's Karim told Rudaw that pro-Kurdish Peace and Democracy lawyer on February 18m was made Burkay "has die right to criticize, but he Party (BDP), the Human Rights public. The minutes of the meeting dis¬ has been dishing out insults, rather than Association and Leyla Zana, who is a close that Ocalan had said: "I don't criticism," adding mat there was a hid¬ prominent Kurdish political activist in want to utter their names. Somebody den political agenda behind the Turkish Turkey. should tell them to shut their mouths." government's close relations with The Kurdish intellectuals' statement The TAK is a banned Kurdish sepa¬ Kurdish public figures. also claims the PKK has targeted ratist organization, which claimed res¬ "Turkey is a state of one nation and Kemal Burkay, an exiled Kurdish poli¬ ponsibility for the recent suicide bom¬ one language, and moreover, the tician who last week, in an interview bings in Istanbul's Taksim Square, Turkish constitution has made speaking with Turkish newspaper Vatan, compa¬ which, according to Turkish sources, Kurdish illegal. So, how would red PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan to killed 32 people and injured 15 police someone be able to legally speak about beleaguered Libyan leader Muammar officers. the Kurdish issue on a state TV station Gaddafi and the PKK to the genocidal Although the PKK and its urban in die Kurdish language, if he is not Khmer Rouge communist rebels of branch, the KCK, have strongly critici¬ clearly following the government line?" Cambodia. zed the TAK for its terrorist activities asked Karim. "We invite Ocalan, the PKK and the within tourist areas in Turkey, and, The growing differences of opinion KCK [Kurdistan Communities Union] early mis year, called on the organiza¬ in me Kurdish movement in Turkey are to modify their approach," read the joint tion to "end its attacks," many in expected to increase dramatically statement. Turkey still view the TAK as a PKK- during die approach to die Turkish elec¬ "There is really no difference here. affiliated group. tions, scheduled for June 12th, high¬ Gaddafi's regime is near dying, [former The Kurdistan Democratic Solution lighting die continued uncertainty of a Egyptian leader Hosni] Mubarak has Party (KDSP), a PKK-affiliated organi¬ political solution to die Kurdish ques¬ gone already. It is the same mentality: a zation in the semiautonomous tion in Turkey. one-man administration, a dictator¬ Kurdistan region of Iraq, also denies

ship," said Burkay, referring to Ocalan, that any connection exists between the

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

JjU FIGARO vendredi 25 mars 2011 Le « printemps syrien »

fait vaciller Assad ;f»+t-

Damas promet des réformes politiques fit, ,1 tout en réprimant dans le sang la contestation

à Deraa, faisant des dizaines de victimes.

tous les ingrédients du cocktail explosif dant qualifiées SIBYLLE R1ZK des « printemps arabes » sont réunis : de « légitimes » BEYROUTH chômage, corruption, inflation, libérali¬ - dans le but de

SYRIE Sur Facebook, « The Syrian Revo¬ sation économique incontrôlée, enrichis¬ « déstabiliser »

lution 2011 » appelle à des manifestations sement éhonté des membres du « clan » la Syrie ; le pré¬ massives, ce vendredi, dans toutes les au pouvoir, privation des libertés... C'est sident Assad va villes de Syrie contre le président Bachar l'arrestation d'enfants, auteurs de graffi¬ mettre en iuvre « immédiatement » une al-Assad. Les mesures annoncées hier tis antirégime, qui a mis le feu aux pou¬ série de réformes. Après le limogeage du

soir par le régime restent insuffisantes dres. Le bilan de la répression se compte gouverneur de Déraa et la création d'une aux yeux de l'opposition: Dans la journée, en dizaines de morts. commission d'enquête pour sanctionner des milliers de manifestants ont enterré Confrontées à une contestation sans les responsables des tueries, Bouthaina

les victimes de la répression à Deraa, une précédent depuis la sanglante répression Chaaban a annoncé un relèvement des sa¬ petite ville du sud, théâtre de violents af¬ de la révolte des Frères musulmans à laires dans la fonction publique et des mé¬

frontements depuis plusieurs jours. Hama en 1982, les autorités syriennes canismes « efficaces » de lutte contre la

Le rendez-vous d'aujourd'hui s'an¬ corruption. Elle a surtout indiqué que la le¬

nonce comme un test pour le pouvoir, se¬ vée de l'état d'urgence était « à l'étude ».

lon un observateur syrien qui, comme « La majorité des Syriens Par ces gestes, Bachar el-Assad se pose en président à l'écoute de son peuple. beaucoup de ses compatriotes, se deman¬ ne sait pas encore de si la vague des révolutions arabes em¬ Car, contrairement à Moubarak, Ben Ali sur quel pied danser » portera à son tour un régime en place de¬ ou Kadhafi, le jeune dirigeant n'a pas en¬ UN INTELLECTUEL DAMASCENE puis quarante ans. « Pour l'instant, aucune tièrement épuisé son crédit auprès de la des grandes villes du pays n'est concernée population. Une partie continue d'espé¬ et les manifestations sont très localisées », cherchent à calmerle jeu. Leur stratégie rer qu'il peut être l'homme de la réforme,

témoigne une habitante d'Alep. Alors que énoncée hier par Bouthaina Chaaban, et dirige ses critiques vers des figures de petites manifestations rapidement dis¬ conseillère du président, se résume en honnies comme son cousin Rami

persées se sont produites depuis le 15 mars trois points : les médias étrangers exagè¬ Makhlouf. Mais les morts de Deraa pour¬ dans plusieurs localités, dont la capitale rent ce qui se passe à Deraa ; des éléments raient avoir entamé cette image. « La Damas, le mouvement a subitement pris « extérieurs » manipulent les manifes¬ majorité des Syriens ne sait pas encore sur de l'ampleur à Deraa, 120 km au sud, où tants - dont les demandes sont cepen- quel pied danser », témoigne un intellec¬ tuel damascene sous couvert d'anony¬

mat. Rares.sont les élites ouvertement en

dissidence : les visages de l'opposition

sont soit des anonymes - la jeunesse

Twitter -, soit de vieilles figures militan¬

tes comme Riyad el-Turk, soit des exilés. D'après un jeune Syrien dont le père a

passé des années en prison, le régime est condamné à plus ou moins brève échéan¬

ce : « C'est lafin de l'exception syrienne »

théorisée par Assad, dit-il. Pour d'autres, le poids de la peur est plus complexe en Syrie qu'ailleurs : « Si la crainte de la ré¬

pression s'est atténuée, les minorités com¬ munautaires (notamment les chrétiens),

mais aussi la communauté des affaires, ont peur que le pays plonge dans le chaos et les violences confessionnelles à l'irakienne. Ce sentiment est savamment entretenu par le régime, qui est issu de la minorité alaouite

dans unpays à majorité sunnite », note un

analyste à Damas.

Des militants antigouvernementaux, mercredi, dans les rues de Deraa.

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

Xelîlonde

Dimanche27 - Lundi 28 mars 2011

Les révoltes dans le monde arabe

La voie empruntéepar ces manifes¬ En Syrie, la contestation tants estpavée de sang et de morts. ' Pauvrepeuple syrien ! »

Devant cette vague de contesta-

tion sans précédent, les autorités semblent hésiter quant à la marche gagne plusieurs villes ' à suivre. En témoigne l'alternance de mesures d'apaisement et de libé¬ rations, aussitôt suivies d'arresta¬

tions. Signaux contradictoires qui en dépit de la répression sont peut-être l'expression de ten¬ sions et de désaccords au sein de la hiérarchie au pouvoir. Les autorités, qui alternent promesses d'ouverture, mises L'annonce de réformes (étude de l'abrogation de l'état d'urgence, en garde et arrestations, hésitent sur la conduite à tenir pluralisme politique, ouverture médiatique), jeudi, parla conseillè¬ re du président, Boussaïna Chaaba-

ne, n'a pas eu l'effet escompté. Damas son d'un maillage de ses princi¬ « Quelquesjoursplus tôt, les autori¬ Correspondance paux points névralgiques par les tés accusaient les manifestants forces de sécurité. Des incidents d'être des agents de l'étranger et A l'appel d'opposants syriens, ont cependant troublé la prière d'avoir reçu de l'argent... Nous ne vendredi 25 mars devait hebdomadaire dans l'enceinte de pouvons plus faire confiance aux être une «journée de la colè¬ la mosquée des Omeyyades. Pen¬ promesses du pouvoir, explique re » et de manifestations en solida¬ dant le prêche mettant en garde Amar Qurabi, président de l'OND- rité avec la ville de Deraa, au sud les fidèles contre les appels à mani¬ HS. Nous voulons une riouvelle du pays, cible d'une répression san¬ fester lancés sur Facebook, un Constitution, un gouvernement glante depuis plus d'une semaine. mouvement de panique a provo¬ d'unité nationale, un Parlementélu Le vent de la révolte a soufflé sur qué une grande bousculade. par le peuple, une nouvelle loi élec¬ l'ensemble du territoire syrien au L'imam, cheikh Ramdan Al-Bouti, torale et une Syrie débarrassée de la cri de: «Il n'y a que Dieu, la Syrie et a interrompu son prêche et torture et de la tyrannie.» la liberté!» A Deraa, forces armées demandé aux fidèles de regagner La colère reste surtout dirigée du régime et contestataires se sont leur place, tandis que des slogans à qu'athée et de confession druze, contre le puissant appareil de sécu¬ de nouveau affrontés, faisant la gloire du régime étaient scandés espérant ainsi participer à la mani¬ rité et la corruption, incarnée par 20 morts, a affirmé au Monde par une cinquantaine d'hommes festation prévue à l'issue du prê¬ quelques affairistes proches du Ammar Qurabi, président de l'Or¬ près àuminbar (chaire). che. Mais il s'est ravisé. «J'étais téta¬ ganisation nationale des droits de A là fin de la prière, une foule nisé par la peur, dit-il, je n'avais palais. Les manifestants ne récla¬ l'homme en Syrie (ONDHS). inhabituelle mêlant badauds et jamais vu autant de policiers en ment pas encore le départ de Selon des témoins, la statue de manifestants s'est massée devant civil. » La veille, Hassan avait invité BacharAl-Assad. Hassan, parexem¬ HafezAl-Assad, père de l'actuel pré¬ l'entrée centrale de la mosquée, des amis pour fêter la libération de ple, s'emporte à l'évocation de tous sident, mort en 2000, a été débou¬ mais l'imposant dispositif policier son frère. Tous s'étaient promis ceux qui arborent des portraits du lonnée puis incendiée par la foule. d'assister à la prière du vendredi en président: «S'ils veulent le soute¬ nir, qu'ils sortent dans les rues pour L'agitation a gagné les villes cohe¬ Beaucoup estiment prévision des manifestations. res de Lattaquié et de Banhias, mais Mouna, chrétienne, était de la revendiquer leurs droits. C'est le aussi Homs, As Sanameïn où il y que le fort capital de partie. Sensible à la question des meilleur moyen de l'aider à mettre aurait eu des rnorts (information sympathie dont jouit droits de l'homme, elle à vécu les en place les réformes qu'il a promi- non vérifiée) et, pour la première soulèvements du monde arabe ses !» Hassan, comme beaucoup de fois, Hama, théâtre d'une révolte le président pourrait avec jubilation et tristesse. Jubila¬ Syriens, estime que le président n'a écrasée dans le sang en 1982. vite s'éroder si le sang tion devant le spectacle de peuples paslescoudéesffanchespourréfor- . Damas, elle, continue de vivre enrévolte contre leur régime ettris¬ mer le système. Il pense aussi que au rythme de rumeurs et d'annon¬ continuait de couler tesse devant l'apathie de la jeu¬ le fort capital de sympathie, dont il

ces contradictoires. Des heurts ont nesse syrienne. Son frère et son jouit encore, pourrait vite s'éroder éclaté dans le faubourg de Mouada- et le nombre de partisans du régi¬ père, fidèles partisans de Bachar si le sang continuait de couler.

mieh entre contestataires et un me criant « 1/ n 'y a que Dieu, la Syrie Al-Assad, s'étaient montrés hosti¬ Dominique Lucas convoi de partisans de Bachar et Bachar!» a dissuadé les plus les aux tentatives de mobilisation Al-Assad, mais le centre-ville est téméraires d'exprimer leur colère. organisées début février, via Face¬ resté quasi désert. Seule présence Hassan, 24 ans, explique que book. Mais aujourd'hui, dit-elle, visible, un cortège de plusieurs son frère .a été relâché la veille, «ils n'hésitent plus à clamer leur dizaines de véhicules, arborant après dix jours de détention au solidarité et leur admiration pour drapeaux syriens et portraits du cours desquels il a été sévèrement les insurgés de Deraa ». raïs, a klaxonné aux abords de la battu pour avoir manifesté le Ailleurs à Damas, d'autres pro¬ banque centrale et du Parlement. 15 mars dans le souk Hamidieh de fessent la prudence, comme Ras- La capitale n'a pas été gagnée Damas. Vendredi, il est venu prier soul, un ouvrierinquiet : «Ouipour

par la révolte, notamment en rai avec les fidèles sunnites, bien plus de liberté, mais dans le calme.

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

leftcUrljorkSimeis march 28, 2011

Clashes Fuel Debate Over U.S. Plan to Leave Iraq

By TIM ARANGO

KIRKUK, Iraq Many in this divided city want American troops to stay longer than the Obama adminis¬ tration has said they will, and a tense standoff on the southern and western edges of town last week showed why. Here, on a bridge, behind the mud brick walls of an abandoned mill and inside a hospice, Kurdish troops from the north were in positions on the outs¬ kirts of Arab neighborhoods. To calm the latest flare-up of the longstanding ethnic rivalries here has required a rush of high-level diplo¬ macy, including phone calls from Vice In Kirkuk, shown in December, fighting among Kurds, Arabs and Turkmens is under President Joseph R. Biden Jr. to way. A recent flare-up led to the deployment of American troops there. Kurdish leaders and, a rarity in Iraq today, the deployment of American

troops. military presence beyond this year suggested that troops stay to "be a cru¬ The confrontation did not turn vio¬ and there are many among the diplo¬ cial substitute for the trust that under- lent precisely, many believe, matic and military ranks of both coun¬ girds stable societies." A report publi¬ because of the presence of American tries cite Kirkuk as the centerpiece shed Monday by the International troops. But they will leave by the end of their case. Crisis Group called the pesh merga of the year, if the current schedule Perhaps the greatest unfinished deployment a "deeply troubling deve¬ stands, and many here fear that could chapter of America's war in Iraq will lopment." lead to ethnic strife, even civil war. be the status of Kirkuk, an ancient city At their most pessimistic, those The Kurdish soldiers, known as the that today is fought over by its three involved in trying to solve the Kirkuk pesh merga, were deployed last month main ethnic groups, Kurds, Arabs and problem compare it to Bosnia or by leaders in the semiautonomous nor¬ Turkmens, each making historical Rwanda two socially mixed but thern region worried about Sunni Arab claims to the land and the oil that politically divided lands that erupted in insurgents attacking peaceful demons¬ flows beneath. tragic and historic violence. When trators in the streets. But the action "From my point of view, President more optimistic, they cite the difficult was viewed by local Arabs, American Obama wants to win a second term but peaceful coexistence today of the diplomats and military officials and and show that he keeps his promises to French and Flemish in Brussels. the Iraqi government as provocative the American people," said Hassan At the Kirkuk Provincial Council and illegal. Toran, a Turkmen member of the building, where recently a column of Kurdish officials said Monday that council. "This will affect Kirkuk." American armored vehicles were par¬ the troops had withdrawn as part of a If the Americans leave, Mr. Toran ked outside, the ethnic groups try to deal with the Americans and the cen¬ said, "Anything can happen." In Iraq, settle their differences through politics. tral government, although a witness in Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki But if democracy has emerged slowly Kirkuk reported seeing the troops in is hemmed in by a bloc of politicians in Iraq, it has come even more slowly their same positions, and an Arab law¬ loyal to the anti-American cleric here. When the rest of the country held maker in the local council said that Moktada al-Sadr, who is opposed to provincial elections in 2009, Kirkuk only some soldiers had left. any delay in the American withdrawal did not. A constitutional provision that Sheik Burhan Mizher, an Arab and whose support Mr. Maliki relied mandated a referendum on Kirkuk's member of the provincial government on to secure a second term as premier. status in 2007 has not been held. who like many interviewed here wor¬ Any extension of the American troop "There is no dialogue at all," Mr. ries about the prospect of civil war presence would require the politically Toran said. "We all just give speeches after the Americans leave, said some risky decision by Mr. Maliki to ask for through the media and accuse each pesh merga forces were still positioned it. other." On Monday, a rock-throwing around Kirkuk on Monday. He said of Not only do American diplomats brawl broke out between Kurds and the American troops, "Of course, we and military leaders argue for troops to Turkmens at a technical university in want them to stay." stay, but outside experts do as well. A Kirkuk. In the debates under way in recent book written by six Iraq experts, Recently, the provincial governor, a Washington and Baghdad about where led by Kenneth M. Pollack of the Kurd, resigned. He is to be replaced by the American and Iraqi relationship Brookings Institution, called peacekee¬ another Kurd, an American-Iraqi who heads after eight years of war, those ping in Kirkuk "by far the most impor¬ once lived in Silver Spring, Md. The who argue for a continued American tant U.S. military mission now" and provincial council head, a Kurd, also

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

recently resigned, and is expected to mity." of the provincial council's security

be replaced by Mr. Toran. Across Iraq, the American invasion committee, speaks of reconciliation, But a council session last week upended traditional notions of victim- but his choice of words betrays ano¬ illustrated the layers of ethnic and reli¬ hood the long oppressed Shiites ther agenda, as does a map on his wall gious divide here in Kirkuk. As the became ascendant, while the Sunni that traces the Kurds' broader land council considered Mr. Toran's ruling elite under Saddam Hussein's claims, a line stretching in to Turkey, appointment, a Shiite Turkmen rival to Baath Party found itself on the mar¬ Syria and Iran. "Leave it to the origi¬ Mr. Toran, who is Sunni, spoke against gins of power. In Kirkuk, the Kurds, nal Kirkuki people and we will reach it, and the Kurds walked out to protest who had been brutalized by the former an agreement," he said. the theatrical display of identity poli¬ government's policies and weapons, Many in Iraq make a point of com¬ tics. From a back row of the gallery, have the strongest grip on power. The paring America's historical shortco¬ an American diplomat and two soldiers Arabs, many of whom were moved to mings in race relations to their tortured watched the proceedings. the area by Mr. Hussein in his cam¬ present of ethnic and sectarian divide. On Kirkuk's streets, insurgent paign to alter the demographics of the "Now, the president of America is attacks are still frequent. Recently, an area and dilute Kurdish influence, are black," Mr. Askari said. "We are wor¬ Opel packed with explosives detonated fighting for their own stake in the new king to learn democracy. Step by step, outside a hospital, leaving two dead: a Iraq. we will understand." young mother and a baby girl, just 5 "Shame on the other side," said Mr. Duraid Adnan and an employee of hours old. The father lost his right arm. Mizher, the Arab lawmaker. "They say The New York Times contributed "Here I am without a wife and we are Saddam. We are not slaves for reporting from Kirkuk. daughter and arm," Samir Mahmoud, anyone, for Saddam or for Baathists. 27, said in an interview. "What can I We are Iraqis." do and where can I go? It's our cala Ahmed al-Askari, a Kurd and head

Hurriyet f^SIf MARCH 27, 2011 DailyNews.com? ^ ^

state operations that included hundreds of Former agent who confessed deaths and said he would have revealed more to prosecutors if a formal case were to state murders released opened. During an interview on CNNT/k,

Carkin was asked whether the people in

by court the operations in which he participated

had committed any summary executions.

Carkin had replied, There were. If dûs

ISTANBUL Hurriyet Daily News blood was spilled, it was spilled by the hand of the state, he said.

Ayhan Carkin, a state agent who was Carkin, who was accused of killing 91

detained after confessing to the alle¬ people, had said he was now listening to

ged work of Turkey's deep state including the voice of his conscience. a series of summary executions, was Carkin served as a special operative released by the court on Saturday. for 19 years. He first became known to A former special operative, Carkin the public with the Susurluk scandal, was detained after he made a series of which exposed the links between the confessions to daily Radikal regarding his police, mafia and politicians and emerged involvement in a number of unsolved place in the mid- 90s. Speaking of the after a car accident in the town of political and mass murders from previous incidents, Carkin said during his confes¬ Susurluk, in the northwestern province of decades. sions, We committed a lot of murders. Balikesir, on Oct. 3, 1996. A former

Carkin was questioned by the public Carkin s admissions referred to a police chief, high-profile criminal

prosecutor at the Besiktas courthouse for number of unsolved political and mass Abdullah Catli and Sedat Bucak, a

10 hours on Friday. After the questioning, murders. Kurdish landlord and deputy from the Carkin was referred to court with a True Path Party, or DYP, were all found We were all covered in blood. Such request for his arrest by the public prose¬ in the crashed car, along with several horrible things were done to people [in cutor on Saturday on charges of murder. weapons and identity cards. the Southeast], Carkin told Radikal, After further questioning at the court, the confessing to being part of state groups court decided to release Carkin late that committed criminal acts in the fight Saturday. against the outlawed Kurdistan Workers

The European Court of Human Rights Party, or PKK. has found Turkey at fault five times in the Carkin spoke about a series of deep past for summary executions that took

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

March 29 , 2011 TheNational

Buoyed by oil, a semblance of stability in Iraq

grants significant power to signed by the KRG. Since June 2009, the Maliki the regional semi-autono¬ Thomas Donovan government has secured mous governments, such as At the nexus of enacting a over a dozen major oil field the Kurdistan Regional federal oil law and the dis¬ contracts with internatio¬ Government (KRG), when it pute with the KRG rests the As upheaval and political nal oil companies, and has comes to managing hydro¬ central legal and political instability sweep across made these deals the cor¬ carbon resources, as well as issue of Iraq's political the Middle East, Iraq has nerstone of Iraq's future negotiating their extrac¬ future: the long-running quietly consolidated recent economic development. tion. However, previous dispute over the ethnically- security gains against a The challenge now will be governments chose to nego¬ mixed and oil-rich area backdrop of economic pro¬ sustaining these impressive tiate these bid rounds in a around Kirkuk against a gress. As the recent rise of gains. centralised fashion, despite backdrop of Kurdish oil prices worldwide coinci¬ the lack of a comprehen¬ demands for greater auto¬ ded with a petroleum While the country's future sive petroleum law. nomy. Iraq's Kurds have industry that has reached oil production has been repeatedly called for the its production targets, Iraq optimistically projected as One of the main challenges area's energy resources to is now emerging from its high as 12 million barrels facing Iraq is the lingering be placed under KRG admi¬ civil wars and sectarian per day (bpd) by 2020, dispute between Baghdad nistration. uncertainty with a new out¬ significant obstacles remain and the KRG over oil pro¬ The local Arab population is look and better prospects to increased output. duction and exports in equally insistent that for lasting prosperity. Iraq's Kurdish region. Kirkuk and its oil remain For one, the country's infra¬ Frustrated by stalled nego¬ under the authority of Although several demons¬ structure and skilled labour tiations over a national oil Baghdad. This dispute will trations in the Kurdish supply are insufficient for law, the KRG passed its own undoubtedly last well past north have recently occur¬ the country's ambitious hydrocarbon investment the tenure of Mr al Maliki as red, demanding systemic plans, and billions of dollars law in 2007, based on a prime minister, who has political change, the early must be invested to facili¬ contentious interpretation also stated publicly that he gains in 2011 cannot be tate a supporting infra¬ of the Iraqi constitution, will not seek a third term in ignored. structure for oil field deve¬ and began independently office past 2014. lopment and exports. entering into their own pro¬

The ruling coalition, led by Although Iraq has the duction sharing contracts Although the need to deve¬ the prime minister Nouri al second largest amount of (PSCs) with over three lop the electricity produc¬ Maliki, has forged a trans¬ reserves in the world, cur¬ dozen independent oil com¬ tion and delivery system, parent - albeit tenuous - rent output is similar to the panies. increase petroleum produc¬ unity government from two level of Algeria, whose pro¬ tion to required levels, duelling political parties, ven reserves are a fraction At first, Baghdad condem¬ political cleavages, and curtailed nation-wide vio¬ of those of Iraq. ned the PSCs, which have sectarian differences may lence and helped to reduce drawn international scru¬ seem daunting and insur¬ long-simmering tensions. Beyond capacity are more tiny over allegations of mountable, the challenges bureaucratic hurdles. For impropriety, and the cen¬ which Iraq continues to More importantly, increa¬ instance, much has also tral government blacklisted face are relatively mana¬ sed revenue from the been discussed about the any oil company operating geable compared to the petroleum sector has legality and constitutiona¬ under agreement with the progress it has already enabled the Iraqi govern¬ lity of the agreements KRG. This early resistance, made. ment to revise its budget awarded through the bid however, appears to be forecast and pay for many round processes. At the changing. infrastructure- related centre of the debate is the ambiguous legal framework One of the first acts of the investments. These deve¬ Thomas W Donovan is an new federal Iraqi Minister lopments are welcome and that underlies Iraq's oil attorney with the Iraq Law industry. The absence of of Oil, Abdul Karim al long overdue. Alliance, PLLC any national hydrocarbon Luaibi, was to resume per¬

The crucial aspect in this law leaves lawmakers and mission allowing the export development strategy is, of regional governments at of petroleum from the course, the stability of the odds and uncertain over the Kurdistan Region. This petroleum and natural gas application of laws already breakthrough was further industry, and whether the in place. supported by Mr al Maliki's electricity delivery system assertion last month that will function during the The 2005 Iraqi National federal Iraq will abide by summer months. Constitution arguably the terms of the PSCs

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

HcralïSSgribunc march 30, 2011

satellite TV channel Al Arabiya who saying that executions and suicide 45 are killed also worked for CNN and Reuters, ac¬ bombers are hallmarks of the terrorist cording to the three news outlets. group. Officials said the standoff in Tikrit, 130 A senior intelligence official in Bagh¬ kilometers, or 80 miles, north of Bagh¬ dad likened the attack to a raid Oct. 31 on in siege dad, began when the attackers blew up a Catholic church in Baghdad that left 68 a car outside the council headquarters dead and stunned the nation. to create a diversion. A group linked to Al Qaeda in Meso¬ in Hussein s Wearing military uniforms includ¬ potamia claimed responsibility for that ing one with a high rank the gunmen massacre, which drove thousands of identified themselves as Iraqi soldiers Iraq's already dwindling Christian pop¬ hometown at a security checkpoint outside the gov¬ ulation from their homeland. ernment compound but opened fire on Tikrit, the burial place of Saddam guards when they were told they had to Hussein, the executed former presi¬ BAGHDAD be searched. dent, is mostly populated by Sunni "The goal.of the attackers was appar¬ Muslims. It was a hotbed of anti-Ameri¬ Gunmen wearing ently to take hostages," said Ali al- can insurgents at the height of the Iraq

Saleh, a spokesman for the provincial war. uniforms over explosives government. A number of officials and Police officers in Tikrit said U.S. targeted Iraqi officials other government employees escaped troops were at the scene to assist Iraqi before the gunmen ççuliâ é^pture them, forces, but a spokesman for the U.S. mil¬ itary in Baghdad said he could not con¬ he said. . THE ASSOCIATED PRESS The provincial council meets at the firm this information.

Gunmen wearing explosives belts un¬ headquarters every Tuesday, but a der military uniforms took hostages at a spokesman for the governor, Ali Abdul local government headquarters in Sad¬ Rihman, said local lawmakers had dam Hussein's hometown, killing 15 of ended their discussions early because them before blowing themselves up in a there was little on their agenda. As a re¬ fiery end to a five-hour siege, Iraqi offi¬ sult, he said, most of the lawmakers had cials said. In all, 45 people were killed. already left the headquarters when the The attackers set fire to the bodies of assault began. three members of the Salahuddin Pro¬ "The gunmen were armed with gren¬ vincial Council at its headquarters in ades and began their raid by firing at Tikrit, said the province's media ad¬ random at a reception room," Mr. Rih¬ viser, Mohammed al-AsL Among the man said. "Then they opened fire in¬ lawmakers was an official who was side." known for his tough stance against Al The -governor described a fierce Qaeda in Mesopotamia, which some of¬ shootout between at least eight gun¬ ficials blamed for the attack. Another men, who took over the council was an elderly politician who headed headquarters' second floor, and Iraqi ONLINE: A CALMING PRESENCE IN KIRKUK the council's committee on religion. security forces who surrounded the * Many in the divided Iraqi city want U.S. "He was just an old man he did building. He said the attackers hurled troops to stay longer than the Obama nothing," Mr. Asi said in an interview. grenades at the Iraqi forces. administration has said they will, and a "Why did they shoot him and set fire to The health director of Salahuddin Province, Dr. Raied Ibrahim, said the at¬ tense standoffon the edge of town last his poor body?" week showed why. To calm the latestflare- Gov. Ahmed Abdullah of Salahuddin tackers had killed 45 people and up of the longstanding rivalry between Province called the attack "a tragic inci¬ wounded 98 in an attack that lasted Kurds and Arabs has required a rush of dent carried out by ruthless terrorists.' ' more than five hours. diplomacy, global.nytimes.com/middleeast Also among the dead was Sabah al- Officials were quick to blame Al Bazi, an Iraqi correspondent for the Qaeda in Mesopotamia for the siege,

# RIA date de 1 962. Les agents qui procédaient alors au recensement de la population ont jugé que les quelques milliers de Kurdes qui vivaient dans la province n'étaient pas des habitants autochtones, Syrie: les autorités se penchent mais des réfugiés turcs et qu'ils n'avaient donc pas droit à la natio¬

nalité syrienne. sur la question kurde vieille Depuis, le nombre d'apatrides Kurdes résidant à Al-Hasaka a d'un demi-siècle atteint près de 300.000 personnes. Les représentants de ce peu¬ ple constituent environ 10% de la population de Syrie qui compte

23 millions d'habitants. DAMAS,' 31 mars 2ÔÏÏ- RiANovostï La commission doit achever son activité avant le 15 avril 2011, indique le communiqué de SANA, précisant qu'il s'agit d'aider les LE PRÉSIDENT syrien Bachar el-Assad a signé jeudi un Kurdes à se faire naturaliser. décret instituant une commission chargée d'organiser le recensement des Kurdes dans la province d'AI-Hasaka (nord- Selon l'agence, le décret présidentiel vise à "renforcer l'unité est du pays) où les membres de cette ethnie bénéficient du nationale de la Syrie". Ce document s'inscrit dans la logique des statut de réfugiés turcs depuis 1962, a annoncé l'agence décisions adoptées jeudi par les dirigeants du pays en réaction

SANA. aux troubles qui ont secoué le pays au cours des deux dernières semaines et fait des dizaines de victimes. La province d'AI-Hasaka est peuplée principalement de Kurdes. Le problème que la nouvelle commission est appelée à résoudre

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

Irak: Erdogan à Erbil pour la première visite d'un Premier ministre turc

ERBIL (Irak), 29 mars 2011 (AFP)

LE PREMIER MINISTRE turc, Recep Tayyip Erdoga.n a eu mardi des entretiens avec des dirigeants kurdes irakiens lors d'une visite à Erbil, la première d'un chef de gouvernement d'Ankara dans la capitale de la région autonome du Kurdistan d'Irak.

M. Erdogan est arrivé en soirée à Erbil et s'est aussitôt entretenu avec le président de la région autonome du Kurdistan (nord d'Irak), Massoud Barzani, au terme d'une visite de deux jours en Irak.

Il devait évoquer l'épineuse question de la présence au Kurdistan de bases arrières des rebelles kurdes de Turquie du Parti des travailleurs du Kurdistan (PKK).

Les relations du gouvernement turc avec la région du Kurdistan irakien d'Ankara étaient autrefois tumultueuses en raison du soutien, selon les Turcs, des Kurdes d'Irak au PKK.

Juste après son arrivée, M. Erdogan a inauguré le nouvel aéroport L'aviation turque bombarde régulièrement les positions présumées des d'Erbil et annoncé que la compagnie aérienne turque Turkish Airlines rebelles et l'armée turque a mené une série d'incursions terrestres dans commencerait le mois prochain à assurer des liaisons régulières avec le nord de l'Irak. cette ville à 320 km au nord de Bagdad. Mardi matin, M. Erdogan a rencontré à Najaf, au sud de Bagdad, le chef Dans un discours au Parlement à Bagdad lundi soir, il avait exhorté les spirituel de la communauté chiite, le Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani, avec autorités irakiennes à coopérer avec son pays dans la lutte contre les lequel il devait évoquer la crise à Bahrein. Rien n'a cependant filtré de rebelles kurdes. cet entretien.

"L'obstacle important qui empêche de renforcer la relation est l'organisa¬ Les autorités sunnites de Bahrein, un archipel à majorité chiite, ont vio¬ tion terroriste qui a une base dans le Nord (d'Irak). Je souhaite que nous lemment réprimé le 16 mars un mouvement de contestation dominé par combattions ensemble cette organisation terroriste", a déclaré M. des chiites qui exigeaient des réformes politiques. L'ayatollah Sistani Erdogan. avait alors appelé Bahrein à cesser les violences en se disant "très

Le PKK, considéré comme une organisation terroriste par la Turquie et préoccupé".

de nombreux pays, mène depuis 1984 une lutte armée pour la défense Le ministre turc des Affaires étrangères, Ahmet Davutoglu, qui accompa¬ des droits des Kurdes. Le conflit a fait 45.000 morts, selon l'armée tur¬ gne M. Erdogan, avait appelé la semaine dernière les dirigeants du que. Ankara évalue à environ 2.000 le nombre des rebelles retranchés Bahrein à empêcher que ces troubles ne se transforment en un "affron¬ en Irak. tement interconfessionnel".

Irak: Face à la contestation, le président kurde appelle à des réformes

ERBIL (Irak), 21 mars 2011 (AFP) que seul le gouvernement du Kurdistan avait le droit d'entretenir des rela¬ tions avec d'autres pays.

FACE À un mouvement de contestation, le président de la région Massoud Barzani a également appelé les grandes compagnies privées à autonome du Kurdistan irakien Massoud Barzani s'est prononcé vendre au public une partie de leur capital, laissant entendre qu'actuelle¬ lundi pour une série de mesures contre le népotisme et la corrup¬ ment celui-ci était aux mains d'un groupe restreint d'actionnaires bien en cour auprès des autorités kurdes. tion.

Dans un communiqué, il a appelé à la tenue d'élections provinciales et la Il a ajouté que les "contrats de pétrole et de gaz" au Kurdistan devraient mise en place d'une commission pour l'intégrité pour s'attaquer à la cor¬ être signés dans une plus grande transparence.

ruption et au népotisme dans différents secteurs, notamment les contrats Dans le sillage de la Tunisie et de l'Egypte, des manifestations ont lieu pétroliers. depuis février pour protester contre l'omniprésence des deux formations

"J'appelle le Parlement à fixer une date pour la tenue des élections pro¬ traditionnelles, le Parti démocratique du Kurdistan (PDK) de M. Barzani, vinciales au Kurdistan", a-t-il dit. et l'Union patriotique du Kurdistan (UPK) du chef de l'Etat irakien Jalal Talabani. Il faisait allusion aux scrutins provinciaux qui se sont tenus en janvier 2009 en Irak, à l'exception des trois gouvernorats du Kurdistan et celui de Trois manifestants ont été tués et une centaine d'autres ont été blessés à Kirkouk. Dans la région autonome, les dernières élections provinciales Souleimaniyeh, la deuxième ville de la région.

ont eu lieu en 2005. En outre, l'opposition a affirmé avoir collecté 50.000 signatures appelant

Le dirigeant kurde a également souhaité que les partis politiques et les au départ de Massoud Barzani. médias déclarent leurs sources de financement, en insistant sur le fait

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

Kurdistan Regional Government

30 MARCH 2011

President Barzani and Prime Minister Erdogan open Erbil International Airport and Turkish Consulate

Erbil, Kurdistan - Iraq (KRG.org) - Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoan in a historic visit today became the first Turkish premier to visit the Kurdistan Region. Together with President Masoud Barzani, they officially opened Erbil International Airport (EIA) and Turkey s Consulate in Erbil.

After welcoming Prime Minister Erdoan and the rest of the distin¬

guished guests, President Barzani said that he was very pleased

that the Prime Minister joined him in launching the Erbil International Airport on this historic day. He said, This [airport] is the first step to building a strong infrastructure in all of Iraq, and

especially in the Kurdistan Region, and it is a key to many large

scale projects to develop the Kurdistan Region and Iraq as a

whole.

Regarding Prime Minister Erdoan s visit, the President said, We energy cooperation. consider this to be a very historic moment. We believe that this

visit will build a very solid bridge in bilateral relations between While the new Erbil International Airport has been operational for

Iraq and Turkey and between the Kurdistan Region and Turkey several months already, it was officially inaugurated today. It was

especially. The President commended Prime Minister Erdoan for built to serve as a gateway for Iraq to the world, and it currently

his courageous policies in Turkey and the wider region. Due to the supports almost fifty weekly flights to and from more than twenty Prime Minister s wise decisions Turkey is playing a strategic role international destinations, eight of these being major international in the region, and the region wishes him success in the upcoming hubs in Europe. The airport boasts the world s fifth longest civi¬

elections, he said. lian runway and the facilities are capable of serving up to three

million passengers a year. It was designed by the British Scott

Prime Minister Erdoan said We have historical and cultural bonds Wilson Group, and was built by Turkey s Makyol Cengiz. Erbil

with Iraq, and with this beautiful region, now we 11 be connected International Airport has a contract with Seoul's Incheon by airways. But, I don t want to call it airways, rather I want to call International Airport Corporation for its management and opera¬

it the way of the citizens, and through this way of the citizens we tions. will be connected to each other and connected to the rest of the

world. He went on to say that Turkish Airlines would begin The Turkish Prime Minister and his delegation were greeted at the

flights to the new airport on April 14th this year. airport by President Barzani, Speaker of the Kurdistan Parliament

Kamal Kirkuki, Prime Minister Barham Salih, and many other After the inauguration of the new airport, President Barzani joined KRG officials. the Turkish Prime Minister and his delegation at the opening cere¬

mony for Turkey s new Consulate General in Erbil. The leaders Minister Falah Mustafa Bakir, the KRG s Head of Foreign

marked the event as another significant step in the mutually bene¬ Relations, said, With this historic visit, we are entering a new

ficial commercial and political relationship between the Kurdistan phase in our relations with Turkey. We are optimistic because it

Region of Iraq and the Republic of Turkey paves the way for greater cooperation between Turkey and the Kurdistan Region as well as all of Iraq. In his speech at the opening of the new consulate, Prime Minister

Erdoan said, Last year Turkey did more than $7 billion worth of The ministers and officials who joined President Barzani and

business in Iraq, and more than half of that with the northern pro¬ Prime Minister Erdoan at the airport ceremony included: vinces. There are more than 20,000 Turkish workers currently hol¬

ding permits to work in Erbil governorate, and more than 35,000 Speaker of the Kurdistan Parliament Dr Kamal Kirkuki

if Dohuk and Suleimaniah are included. As this demonstrates, Prime Minister Barham Salih

there is a strong economic relationship between Turkey and this Mr Kosrat Rasul Ali, Deputy Secretary General of the Patriotic

region, he said. The consulate already issues visas to Iraqi citizens, Union of Kurdistan

which has helped to strengthen ties. Former Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani

Minister of Peshmerga Affairs Jafar Mustafa Ali

Following the public events, President Barzani and Prime Minister Minister for the Interior Karim Sinjari

Erdoan held a private meeting to discuss bilateral relations, econo¬ Head of the Security Protection Agency Masrour Barzani

mic ties and cooperation on energy. The President s Chief of Staff Dr Fuad Hussein

Prime Minister Erdoan's visit to the Kurdistan Region was part of Minister of Natural Resources Ashti Hawrami

a two-day trip to Iraq. His delegation included the Minister of Minister of Trade and Industry Sinan Chalabi

State for Foreign Trade Zafer Caglayan, the Minister for Energy Minister of Education Safeen Dizayee

and Natural Resources Taner Yildiz, as well as Members of Higher Education Minister Dr Dlawer Ala'aldin

Parliament, advisers, and business leaders. He was also accompa¬ Head of Foreign Relations Minister Falah Mustafa Bakir

nied by the Ambassador to Iraq Murat Ozcelik, Consul General to Chairman of the Investment Board Herish Muharam

Erbil Aydin Selcen, and Several MPs. Governor of Erbil Nawzad Hadi Mr Falakaddin Kakaye, Head of the Kurdish-Turkish Friendship Turkey s Minister of State for Foreign Trade Zafer Caglayan also Association. attended the opening ceremonies of a Turkish school and two

Turkish banks. Turkey s Minister for Energy and Natural The ceremonies were also attended by many other regional and Resources Taner Yildiz met the Kurdistan Regional Government s international officials and dignitaries. Minister for Natural Resources Dr Ashti Hawrami to discuss

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

Hurriyetrriyet ^^| March 30, 2011

DailyNewSx OPINION Historical embracement of Iraqi Kurds

MEHMET ALI BIRAND CI

Since the beginning I have kept repeating the historical nature of this visit. But what happened in northern Iraq on Tuesday left all historical emphasis in the shadow.

What happened in Arbil, the capital of Iraqi Kurdistan, proved how stun¬ ningly fast relations between Turks and Kurds develop.

Not too long ago, in 2008, we got upset about the sign at our border to Turkey. To use the reaction of the public with respect to the killer of the three northern Iraq that read Welcome to As interests merged we ended up at children to benefit in elections. Kurdistan and Kurdish flags. Relations this point. were tense. People believed that an We expect a person like Professor The most important message from independent Kurdish state would be Burhan Kuzu, who we consider an the prime minister was to announce established in northern Iraq and our important and bright individual, to say, that Turkey has put an end to its politics Kurds with the same spirit would of denial. Let go of such nonsense, but he says he declare their independency to form a is in favor of capital punishment sta¬ This message was not just meant to Great Kurdistan in the future. ting, We banned capital punishment reach the Iraqi Kurds. It was also meant They were criticized for supporting only because the United States wanted for Kurds in Turkey. the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party, us to do so. And someone else requests At the moment the Justice and or PKK, and turning their backs on a referendum. Development Party, or AKP, adminis¬ Ankara s demands. Incredible. tration may seem to be in conflict with Barzani too would get upset. Turkey rid itself of the capital the Kurdish issue because of its disinte¬ punishment shame nine years ago. He would complain about Turkey rested approach due to elections but it not taking him seriously whereas, also shows that a lot of things will It was obvious that capital punish¬ according to him, the real solution to change after elections. ment had no deterrence effect. Besides, the PKK issue was to be found within capital punishment was banned during In this country as we are experien¬ Turkey. But nobody would listen to a period in which people comprehen¬ cing needless developments like the him. Omamin Ordusu (The Imam s Army) ded that real punishment was to put the criminal behind bars serving a life sen¬ Take a look at what happened book event, we recreated hopes when tence instead of killing him. during Turkish Prime Minister Recep the prime minister visited Baghdad and Tayyip Erdoan s visit in Arbil. Arbil. Our understanding has always been, Hang him to set an example for There is a great difference. We shouldn t be a country still others. Politics of denial is over and done arguing about capital punishment It didn t work. We hung the crimi¬ with On one side there is a Turkey that nal but others still did as they pleased. Especially the approach and interest has put its mark on the region and eve¬ of the people proves how Turkey rybody is curious about its reactions, One last note: Turkey did not aban¬ became a rising star in the region. with even the international media wri¬ don capital punishment only because ting about how democracy in Turkey the United States wanted to. The PKK s But the real player in this perception leads to it being the shining star in the jailed leader Abdullah Ocalan s death is Turkey. region. sentence was on the agenda and in that It changed its basic politics. case there would have been a bloodbath But on the other side there is a all over Turkey, not only in the It let go of pressuring Barzani and Turkey in which prosecutors go on a Southeast, thus capital punishment was also of its approach of Get me the PKK hunt for a book that hasn t even been abandoned. s head first, and then we 11 talk. Instead published yet. Journalists are being of fighting with security forces, instead arrested and the police behave boo¬ It s worthwhile to know the truth. of setting up conditions and rules, it rishly. Each protest ends up with stu¬ Or are there some that would like to preferred to cooperate on the PKK dents being beaten up. abandon the punishment and hang issue. It also cooperated in the Kurdish Turkey for the first time being able -Kralan just for the sake of a few million initiative. to trial coup attempts turns the votes? Ankara gave priority to cooperating Ergenekon epos into a monster. Please let s be serious. in economic and investment issues. As if that is not enough all of a sud¬ The public has all the right to be And Barzani changed his attitude. den once more capital punishment is upset but some decisions are made by being discussed. Moreover the brigh¬ The United States slowly retreating leaders not the people. from Iraq starting next year and Iran s test people in the administration take it increasing influence on the region pus¬ seriously. hed the Kurds to lean their backs on The reason is a simple one &

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

TODAYS ZAMAN 31 March 2011

Arbil visit harbinger of deeper cooperation with Iraqi Kurds

TODAY S ZAMAN, ISTANBUL

Turkey has vowed to further

expand cooperation with a former

adversary, the Iraqi Kurds, strengthe¬

ning solidarity with the Kurdish admi¬

nistration ahead of June elections at

home.

A strong Turkey means a strong

Iraq and a strong Iraq means a strong

Turkey. Our investments in this

region shows how our hearts are uni¬

ted, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip

Erdoan, who became the first Turkish

prime minister to visit the Kurdish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoan and Iraqi Kurdish leader Massoud Barzani region, said at a ceremony marking officially opened the Turkish Consulate in Arbil on Tuesday. the opening of Arbil s new, Turkish-

built airport on Tuesday. God willing,

we will do more. We will see better We hope that these developments recent years with the creation of a days.

Erdoan s visit to Arbil, the capital will continue after the next Turkish joint US-Turkish-Iraqi intelligence

of the semi-autonomous Kurdistan elections in the service of peace and body to fight the separatists.

region, comes amid pre-election ten¬ the service of the people of the Economic ties between Turkey and region. the Iraqi Kurds have also developed sions at home as Turkey s main Barzani s remarks were primarily Kurdish party has launched a civil rapidly, with Turkey seeking to act as

disobedience campaign in southeas¬ addressed to Turkey s Kurdish voters, a conduit for Iraqi Oil and gas, and Cengiz «andar, a columnist who Turkish firms investing in construc¬ tern Anatolia, demanding, among accompanied Erdoan on his visit, tion and other projects in the Kurdish other things, the release of outlawed

Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) lea¬ commented in the Radikal daily on zone.

der Abdullah ocalan from prison. Wednesday, noting that Barzani is Ending years of ignoring the

Speaking at the ceremony, Erdo¬ widely seen as the national leader Kurdish administration, Erdoan offi¬

an referred to his government s of the Kurds. Although he avoided cially opened the Turkish Consulate in Arbil. He also attended a cere¬ efforts to improve the situation in the word Kurdistan during his spee¬ ches in Arbil, Erdoan praised ties mony to mark the opening of the first the Kurdish-populated Southeast. If

there is no internal peace, if the with Iraqi Kurds and called Barzani two Turkish banks in Arbil and my brother. announced that Turkish Airlines mechanism of justice does not func¬ We have a historic relationship tion, there can be no economic or (THY) would begin direct flights to with Iraq and with this beautiful Arbil on April 14. social development either, Erdoan region, he said. We have started to Highlighting the depth of ties, said. We have ended the Turkey s old establish the basis for brotherhood Erdoan said there are about 35,000 policy, which used to deny the huma¬ between the peoples of Turkey, Turkish nationals holding permanent nity of the people. Decades of which was the basis for economic residence permits issued by the neglect and policies of denial have development, he added. Kurdish administration. A total of ended in areas dominated by our Turkish foreign policy was long 20,000 of them are in Arbil, while Kurdish citizens. Thus, state and marked by a deep suspicion of Iraq s nation are embracing each other the rest are based in two other Kurdish autonomous region, set up in Kurdish provinces, Dohuk and more warmly, he went on. the 1990s after the first Gulf War. Sulaimaniya. Many Kurds in Turkey have long Turkish troops have conducted ope¬ Erdoan also said the government looked up to Kurdish-run northern rations in northern Iraq against the is planning a visa-free travel regime Iraq, which has enjoyed an economic PKK, designated as a terrorist group with Iraq. Today, our consulate in boom in recent years, and Iraqi by Turkey, the US and the EU. Iraqi Arbil issues about 500 visas daily for Kurdish leader Massoud Barzani is a Kurds were harshly criticized in the our Iraqi brothers who want to visit respected figure for Turkey s Kurds as past by Turkish political and military Turkey, Erdoan said. We are plan¬ well. Barzani, who praised Erdoan s leaders, who accused them of doing ning to abolish visas with Iraq, just as visit as a historic event, appeared to too little to shut down PKK bases we already did with other countries. announce his backing for Erdoan s operating on the Iraqi side of the government. He said: Turkey now border. has a big position in the region and

this is because of your wise policies. But those disputes have eased in

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

HctaUgS'Srilmnc. thursday.march3i.2oii

The protests have presented the gravest challenge to Mr. Assad's 11-year Assad links unrest rule in Syria, which has an anti-Israel al¬ liance with Iran and supports the mili¬ tant groups Hezbollah and Hamas. Mr. Assad also accused foreign news to foreign intrigue media, which operate under restriction in Syria, of misrepresenting the protests. The government has expelled three Reuters journalists in recent DAMASCUS But he insisted that his regime would days. not be pressured into what he described Twitter and Facebook were flooded as premature change. In address to Syrians, with messages of disappointment and "Implementing reforms is not a fad," anger at Mr. Assad's speech. he makes no reference Mr. Assad said. "When it is just a reflec¬ "What we understood from his tion of a wave that the region is living, it to easing emergency law speech is that it is imperative to bring is destructive." down the regime," wrote a user on the Before Mr. Assad spoke, tens of thou¬ Facebook page "The Syrian Revolution FROM NEWS REPORTS sands poured into the streets of the 2011," echoing slogans chanted in southern town of Dara'a after mourners In his first address to the Syrian people Tunisia and Egypt, where entrenched from four funerals joined into a large after violent protests and calls for -re¬ rulers gave up power. anti-government protest, one witness form, President Bashar al-Assàd on The messages called for protests on said in a telephone interview. Wednesday blamed a broad conspiracy Friday "Friday of Martyrs" but it Then after the speech, about 3,000 from beyond Syria for thé turmoil and is unclear how many people will turn people marched in a separate demon¬ offered no concessions to ease his au¬ out to a protest movement that has stration through the northwestern town thoritarian regime's grip on public life. abated this week. of Latakia to voice their opposition to . To apparently choreographed cries of Emergency law has been used to ,Mr, Assad, and security forces opened support and applause, Mr. Assad ap¬ stifle political opposition, justify arbi- fire. A witness said at least two people peared only briefly before Parliament in had been killed and another wounded. Damascus for what had been billed as a "We are for reform and we ; Mr. Assad's speech came a day after major speech that would define his re-, are for meeting the people's his, cabinet resigned in what was seen as sponse to the biggest challenge facing a significant, if primarily symbolic, ges¬ demands. The first priority the government's authority in decades. ture in a nation where the leadership :The speech had been highly anticipat¬ was to the stability of Syria." rarely responds to public pressure and ed inside and outside Syria for signs that Mr. Assad would lift or ease the where decisions are made not by the cabinet but by the president and his in¬ state of emergency that has under¬ trary arrest and give free rein to a per¬ ner circle, including multiple security pinned his Baath Party's hold on power vasive security apparatus in Syria. services. since 1963. Arbitrary arrests have continued Ending emergency law, the main tool But he made no reference to any such across the country in large numbers for suppressing dissent since it was im¬ action,, and the speech seemed likely to since a presidential adviser, Bouthaina posed after the 1963 coup that elevated dismay protesters who have been de¬ Shaaban, said last week that Mr. Assad the Baath Party to power, has been a manding reform. was considering scrapping the emer¬ central demand of protesters. Mr. Assad's appearance had been gency law, according to lawyers and ac¬ They also want the release of political forecast as an attempt to calm tensions tivists. prisoners, and to know the fate of tens of after government forces repeatedly Mr. Assad gave no timetable for other thousands who disappeared in the opened fire on demonstrators in recent reforms he has mentioned, including 1980s. days, killing dozens of people as Syrians laws on political parties, news media clamored for the same reforms that freedoms and fighting corruption. He have become the rallying cry of many said the priority was improving living standards in a country of 22 million across the Arab world. Smiling and looking relaxed, Mr. As¬ people, where many' struggle with sad spoke of "the piots that are being rising prices, low salaries and lack of hatched against our country" and said jobs. . they represented a "test of our unity." Maamoun al-Homsi, leading opposi¬ "We are for reform and we are for tion figure, said he had the names of 105 meeting the people's demands," he said, people who had been killed in the last referring to legislative changes under two weeks in Syria, and predicted the consideration for years but not carried wave of protests would continue. out because of what he called a series of "The uprising won't stop because regional crises. "The first priority was there are rights to be achieved," he said to the stability of Syria, to maintain sta¬ in a telephone interview from Canada. Mr. Assad, 45, spoke a day after tens bility." of thousands of Syrians joined govern¬ Mr. Assad added, "We are not in favor ment-organized demonstrations of chaos and destruction.' ' He acknowledged that : "Syrian throughout the country in a show of loy¬ alty to Mr. Assad, who became presi¬ people have demands that have not been met" but said that those griev¬ dent in 2000 on the death of his father, ances were "used as a cover to dupe the Hafez al-Assad. (iht, reuters) people to go to the streets." He added, "Some of them had good intentions." "It is not a secret now that Syria is be¬ ing subject to a conspiracy," Mr. Assad

said. "The timing and shape depends on Supporters of President Bashar al-Assad

what is happening in other Arab coun¬ at a rally in Damascus on Tuesday. tries. "

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

AsiaTimés MARCH 31, 2011

ttww.aftfltes,com

current president and leader Turkey sees Kurdish threat of the coup which installed it in power in 1963, immedia¬ tely imposed an emergency in Syria unrest law, which suspended practi¬ cally all civil liberties and is still in force today. des safe passage to political government, in power since

activists with mischievous 2002, has begun a dialogue The Ba'ath party, dominated By Jacques N Couvas intentions. process with the Turkish eth¬ by Allawis, a tolerant reli¬ Inter Press Service nic Kurds to enable cultural gious Shi'ite Muslim denomi¬ A major concern for Turkey is autonomy, which, after this nation, has been at odds with the Kurdish population in year's national elections, the Sunni movement in ANKARA - A new week, Syria of 1 .4 million, which, in might evolve into devolution Syria. Hafez al-Assad in a new campaign for case of collapse of Assad's of some governance powers 1982 violently crushed a Ankara's diplomacy. After a regime could collude with the to the local administrations. Sunni Islamist Brotherhood victorious arm-twisting on estimated 15 million or more The main opposition, natio¬ revolt, killing 20,000 rebels. Saturday with the North ethnic Kurds in Turkey, 7 mil¬ nalist parties and the military Tolerance and appetite for Atlantic Treaty lion Iranian Kurds, and 6 mil¬ are, however, implacable in power did, obviously, not Organization (NATO) to lion Northern Iraqi Kurds to their hostility to such pers¬ coexist. divert the leadership of the claim an independent state. pective. aerial war against Libyan Amnesty International has leader Muammar Gaddafi In anticipation of such even¬ The Turkish nervousness repeatedly ranked Syria as from France to NATO, tuality, Ankara and about the Syrian domestic the country with the most Turkish Prime Minister Damascus formed in 2009 a situation is also influenced repressive laws in the Middle Recep Tayyip Erdogan has High Level Strategic by economic and geopolitical East. In an attempt to calm turned his attention to trou¬ Cooperation Council (HSCC) concerns. After a long period the spirits, Bashar al-Assad ble closer to home, Syria. and held in April 2010 their of cold neighborhood rela¬ offered last week to amend first joint military exercises. tions, with occasional threats the emergency law and allow Erdogan and Syrian of armed confrontation, for new parties to be formed. President Bashar al-Assad Turkey has since 1 978 been Assad and Erdogan have The gesture was turned had daily phone calls during in armed conflict with the crossed the fence to develop down by the demonstrators, the weekend, and Turkish Kurdistan Workers' Party a cosy relationship, building who insist on full democrati¬ Foreign Minister Ahmet (PKK), a belligerent "inde- on the settlement in 1998 of zation of the system. Davutoglu followed up with a pendentista" organization old political disputes. teleconference with his classified as a terrorist group Turkish business executives Syrian counterpart Wallid al- by Turkey, the European On the strategic plane, both and political observers have Mouellem to offer Turkey's Union and the United States. countries see cooperation as been recommending that assistance in the event of a being instrumental to main¬ Erdogan include in his pres¬ reform process towards a The hostilities have caused tain the geopolitical status cription to al-Assad to also democratic regime. the death of at least 40,000 quo of Iraq's territorial inte¬ work on reducing corruption, Turkish soldiers and gendar¬ grity, frustrate pan-Kurdish clientelism and cronyism, The head of the Turkish mes, PKK guerillas, and civi¬ aspirations, and to keep which are endemic in the National Intelligence (MIT), lians, while the number of Israel's and Iran's testoste¬ Syrian economy and sources Hakan Fidan, was dispat¬ wounded has exceeded rone on check. of poverty for the population. ched on Sunday to 30,000, and that of the mis¬ They hamper foreign direct Damascus to express his sing is estimated at 1 7,000. The Turkish premier, spea¬ investment from Turkey to king on Monday to journa¬ Syria. government's concerns A study in 1 998 by Brunswick lists, confirmed he had urged about spreading social University in the US reported the Syrian president over the But Turkey - a majority Sunni unrest from Daraa, in Syria's that at least 3 million people weekend to adopt a concilia¬ state with religious minorities southwest, to larger cities had by that time been displa¬ tory spirit with his people. that were "tamed" by the mili¬ such as Latakia, a ced in southeastern Turkey tary in the 20th century -

Mediterranean port nearer and the area bordering Iraq, "We advised Mr Assad that feels uncomfortable giving the Turkish border. for war operational reasons, responding to the people's lessons to its neighbor, an while 3,000 villages were years-old demands positi¬ increasingly important tra¬ Close to 100 demonstrators totally or partially destroyed. vely, with a reformist ding partner. have died and hundreds approach, would help Syria wounded in the clashes with Kurdish autonomy is a sensi¬ overcome the problems With ongoing domestic the Syrian security and mili¬ tive issue in public opinion in more easily," said Erdogan. unrest next door, but also in tary forces since the rallies Turkey, Iran and Syria alike, "I did not get a 'no' answer," Bahrain, Jordan, Yemen, began two weeks ago. where territorial integrity has he commented, adding that and, to a lesser degree, ranked at the top of these he expected reforms to be Saudi Arabia, Algeria and Domestic problems in Syria countries' priorities since announced by Damascus Morocco, Ankara's Middle are of particular sensitivity to their respective indepen¬ this week. Eastern and Northern African Turkey. Although the two dence from Western rule. ambitious plans are poised countries still have open ter¬ Syria has a long record of to return to the drawing ritorial issues, upheaval in The current regimes in iron-fist governance style, board. one may result in destabili¬ Tehran and Damascus are aimed at securing the survi¬ zing the other. Their 800-kilo¬ intransigent on Kurdish free¬ val of the ruling Ba'ath party. meter common border provi doms, while Erdogan's Hafez al-Assad, father of the

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

Çclïïonùt

Mercredi 30 mars 2011

La rébellion en Syrie, enjeu régional majeur

Des dizaines de morts déjà ; pas de négociation tant que particulièrement explosive. Le Gaza. Un changement de régime à une rébellion qui s'étend Damas n'a pas la garantie de récu¬ pays est pluriconfessionnel, prin¬ Damas, une évolution même, aux quatre coins du pays ; pérer le plateau du Golan, saisi par cipalement gouverné par la mino¬ serait un bouleversement majeur

un pouvoir dictatorial sur la l'Etat hébreu en 1967. Il y a son sou¬ rité alaouite (une dissidence du dans la région. L'enjeu syrien est

défensive : à son tour, la Syrie est tien aux organisations palestinien¬ chiisme, deuxième branche de l'is¬ une affaire stratégique. bousculée par le vent des révoltes nes les plus radicales, le Hamas lam), alors qu'il çst majoritaire¬ Américains et Européens sont arabes. L'enjeu est majeur : ce notamment. Il y a son alliance ment sunnite (la branche domi¬ attentistes. Ils ne savent com¬ pays détient les clés de l'évolution avec le Hezbollah libanais. nante de l'islam). Le risque existe ment réagir face à la rébellion

stratégique de la région. Mais le régime est jugé pour ce d'affrontements confessionnels syrienne. La secrétaire d'Etat,

, Défié depuis bientôt trois qu'il est à l'intérieur : un despotis¬ graves. Hillary Clinton, a qualifié M. Al-

semaines, le président Bachar me familial corrompu, l'habituel Ensuite, la Syrie est au caur Assad de « réformateur». Cela res¬ Al-Assad hésite, tergiverse. Tantôt mélange d'affairisme et d'autori¬ des équilibres - ou des déséquili¬ te à prouver. On manifeste plus

il laisse la garde républicaine tirer tarisme. C'est cela qui compte et bres - régionaux. Elle est l'unique de compréhension à l'égard de la ,

à vue sur les manifestants. Tantôt qui est dénoncé dans un pays de grand allié arabe de l'Iran. Elle répression syrienne qu'on en a

il joue l'apaisement : augmenta¬ commande la situation au Liban : témoigné aux régimes tunisien et

tion du salaire des fonctionnai¬ sans son appui, la République isla¬ égyptien. La Ligue arabe n'entend res ; annonce de la fin prochaine mique iranienne ne peut plus aucunement exclure la Syrie de de l'état d'urgence (en vigueur approvisionner en armes le Hez¬ ses rangs, comme elle l'a fait de la depuis près d'un demi-siècle !) ; 22 millions d'habitants dont là plu¬ bollah; qui s'affirme aujourd'hui Libye.

libéralisation de la presse. Rien part des jeunes sont en quête - contre une majorité de Libanais La ligne de conduite doit être

n'y fait. d'emplois. Dans la révolté syrien¬ - comme la puissance montante claire. M. Al-Assad doit être encou¬

Le régime bénéficie d'un cer¬ ne, on retrouve les mêmes ingré¬ dans le pays du Cèdre. ragé à choisir la voie de la « réfor¬

tain capital politique pour ses dients qu'à Tunis et au Caire et les Enfin, la Syrie est l'un des rares . me », mais dénoncé et isolé s'il

positions régionales. Il y a son mêmes revendications. soutiens des islamistes du Hamas choisit celle de la répression mas intransigeance vis-à-vis d'Israël : Seulement, la situation y est dans le territoire palestinien de sive. I

icIHonde

..30 mars 2011 En Turquie, un livre sur les liens de la police avec un groupe islamiste secret est censuré avant parution

L'auteur de « L'Armée de l'Imam », le journaliste Ahmet Sik, a été placé en détention provisoire

Istanbul manuscrit de son confrère et ami. organisées à Istanbul et à Ankara. accusé d'avoir « entretenu des liens Correspondance Le procureur accuse Ahmet Sik « Tous ceux qui touchent à Gùlen avec une organisation terroriste » d'appartenir à la nébuleuse Erge¬ brûlent», avait, crié Ahmet Sik, intitulée Commandement révolu¬

Les éditeurs en Turquie sont nekon, une cellule militaro-natio- menotte, à ses amis, le jour de son tionnaire.

familiers des tribunaux. naliste présumée, et d'avoir tenté arrestation. Hanefi Avci montrait comment Mais c'est la première fois de déstabiliser le gouvernement L'Armée de l'imam, promettait les « gùlenistes » avaient infiltré la que la justice censure un livre qui islamo-conservateur. Mais son d'éclairer les liaisons troubles police, et avaient été à l'origine des

n'est pas encore achevé. Les des¬ arrestation, en même temps que entre la police et la confrérie reli¬ révélations de complots, telle l'af- i

centes de police se sont multi¬ gieuse de l'imam turc Fethullah faire Ergenekon, qui ont éclaté pliées il y a quelques jours en fin Le procureur accuse Gûlen, exilé aux Etats-Unis depuis depuis 2007. Avec des preuves de semaine dernière dans les rédac¬ 1999. Les adeptes de Gûlen, contrô¬ reposant le plus souvent sur des

tions des journaux, dans les Ahmet Sik lent des pans entiers de l'écono¬ écoutes téléphoniques douteuses. bureaux d'une maison d'édition, d'appartenir à la mie turque, des centaines d'écoles De son refuge en Pennsylvanie, et même dans les cellules de la pri¬ à travers le monde, sont actifs Fethullah Giilen, 70 ans, a fait

son de Silivri, pour tenter de met¬ nébuleuse Ergenekon, dans la banque, la santé, l'action savoir lundi par son avocat, qu'il tre la main sur les copies de L'Ar¬ une cellule mLlitarq humanitaire et les médias, avec le était étranger aux poursuites et mée de l'imam : un livre que le jour¬ groupe Zaman. qu'il n'avait déposé dé plainte ni naliste d'investigation Ahmet Sik nationaliste présumée Cette puissante organisation contre le livre, ni contre son s'apprêtait à .terminer, début islamique, élitiste et secrète, qui a auteur. «Il me semble évident mars, lorsqu'il a été arrêté et placé celle de Nedim Sener, un autre patiemment noyauté l'appareil qu'on ne peut pas empêcher une

en détention provisoire. journaliste qui s'était attaqué à la d'Etat depuis vingt ans, est égale¬ publication d'atteindre son public La cour d'Istanbul a ordonné, police, a soulevé une volée de criti¬ ment soupçonnée de contrôler et que cela va augmenter l'intérêt jeudi 24 mars, la saisie de tous les ques parmi les démocrates turcs étroitement la police. pour ce livre » a-t-il ajouté. travaux. « L'opération Delete », a qui estiment que l'affaire Erge¬ C'est ce que dénonçait déjà l'an¬ C'est effectivement le cas. Le été lancée, écrit Ertugrul Mavio- nekon vire au règlement de comp¬ cien commissaire Hanefi Avci, site imaminordusu.com annonce

! glu, journaliste au quotidien Radi¬ te politique. dans un ouvrage paru en 2010. Son la sortie du livre sur Internet pour kal. La police l'a obligé à effacer de Des manifestations de soutien livre était en tête des ventes lors¬ le 11 avril. son ordinateur un exemplaire du aux journalistes détenus ont été qu'il a lui aussi été emprisonné, Guillaume Perrier

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

n- 1065 | du 31 mars au 6 avril 2011

e En Un dictateur en sfrsis

Trente ans de terreur

L â diversité cc^itTiU naut3sn? on Syni De 1970 à l'an 2000, date de son décès, le dictateur Hafez El-Assad, père de l'actuel président, a sévi sans

-/ la moindre pitié contre ses opposants.

f'

- ; i - * î The Independent (extraits) Londres

iep Peu avant le décès de Hafez El-Assad, en 2000, Ahmed Hariri avait prédit

ce qui se passerait lorsque serait annoncée la nouvelle de la mort du

V Ç i s- président. Hariri, un de mes vieux amis syriens qui travaillait au

ministère de l'Information, était originaire de la ,' '': Horns ville de Tadmor, à l'est de Damas. Appelée Pal- \ myre par les Romains et les touristes actuels, Tadmor abritait, masquée par un rideau d'arbres le long de la route qui traverse le désert vers Damas. > 31 À j-1 Bagdad, l'une des sinistres prisons du régime. Elle fut en 1980 le théâtre d'un massacre de détenus

,-* / -'ifL! islamistes - peut-être un millier en tout - perpé¬ 1 wt £ iî"..îV; tré par Rifaat, le frère de Hafez El-Assad. On dit V. ,* V "-y que les cadavres furent jetés de nuit dans une ! ^ ^ fosse commune au pied d'une colline proche et qu'ils y reposent depuis, sans que rien n'en

marque l'emplacement. Tandis que nous roulions vers Palmyre, Hariri fumait cigarette sur cigarette à l'arrière de ma voiture. "Quand notreprésident bien-aimé mourra, *¥ dit-il, tous les habitants de Palmyre se rendront à cette colline. Ils savent où ont été enterrés les morts - etpas seulement ceux que Rifaat afait tuer. Et, quand Us

Minorités sercmtsûrsquekprésidentserapartipourdebon,ûs

porteront des roses sur le site à la mémoire de ceux Diviser pour régner qui reposent sous la terre." Pourtant, lorsque Assad mourut d'une crise

"Pourlapremière fois dans Kurdes bien dressésparlerégime cardiaque et que le parti Baas parvint à lui

l'histoire de la Syrie et dans quiont considéré ces annonces faire succéder sans heurt son fils Bachar, aucun

l'histoire duparti Baas au pouvoir, officiellescommeun 'pas historique' habitant de Palmyre ne se rendit sur les fosses

les médias officiels ontparlé ou un 'grand accomplissemenf, communes. Il n'y eut ni parent éploré, ni rose, ni

cette année de la célébrationpar 'une initiative montrant les bonnes la moindre reconnaissance de la violence qui avait

lesKurdes, le20mars, delafête intentions des dirigeants'. Mais, sévi dans cette terrible prison au cours des trente

de Norouz, le nouvel an kurde, en pourlagrande majorité des années durant lesquelles Assad était resté au pou¬

le qualifiant de 'fête du printemps', Syriens, cegenre de maniuvre voir, de 1970 à 2000.

l'agence d'information du n'aplus aucun effet. Iln'yaqu'à Les Syriens furent tellement soulagés de voir

gouvernement, Sana, soulignant voirla répression quis'estabattue que c'était le jeune optométriste Bachar, éduqué

que la célébration de cette fête sur les manifestants à Deraa en Angleterre, un personnage plus sympathique

propreauxcitoyenskurdesreflétait pendant la mêmepériode. Ce que que son féroce père, qui prenait les choses en

laprofondeurde la diversité souhaite le régime, c'est que main que personne ne voulut remuer le passé.

culturelle en Syrie", relève l'écrivain les Kurdes, dans le norddu pays, Pourquoi mettre au jour une fosse commune à kurde Hosheng Broka dans Elaph. soientoccupés à organiser leur moins de vouloir y verser un peu plus de sang

Comment croire à ce genre de fête età s'adonnerà leur folklore, encore ? Pourtant, comme le démontre claire¬

commentaires dans un pays où tandis que dans lesudles ment un rapport publié en juin 2010 à Washing¬

les Kurdes ont toujours été brimés, habitants de Deraase voient ton par le Transitional Justice in the Arab World

où leur langue et leur culture sont interdire l'organisation Project, le régime que Bachar mit alors en place

interdites ? "Certes ilya quelques de funérailles pour leurs morts." fut loin de faire éclore en Syrie ce "printemps"

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

de violence précédemment perpétrés dans la ville démocratique que beaucoup d'intellectuels arabes "ennemis" syriens du parti Baas - étaient dirigés par les islamistes, qui y avaient massacré des attendaient de leurs veux. Ce rapport intitulé par Ghazi Kanaan, qui, après avoir été le chefdes familles entières de responsables baasistes. Years ofFear [Les années de terreur] estime que services de renseignements militaires syriens au jusqu'à 17 000 Syriens auront "disparu" au cours Liban, est devenu plus tard ministre de l'Intérieur. 25 OOO personnes auraientdisparu du règne de Hafez El-Assad ; le document de C'est alors qu'il occupait ce poste que Kanaan se Ziadeh estime qu'à partir du début des années 1980 117 pages contient des récits poignants de dispa¬ suicida, après avoir, semble-t-il, comploté contre et au cours des années suivantes 25 000 hommes ritions et d'exécutions sans procès, et explique Bachar El-Assad. pourraient avoir disparu dans les différents comment des fils, femmes ou parents auront centres d'interrogatoire et les prisons. "La plu¬ attendu en vain durant trente ans le retour Le droit de connaître la vérité part de ces disparitions ont eu lieu avant l'an 2000, d'hommes qui furent presque certainement tués Il y a plus d'une quinzaine d'années, dans un hôtel note le rapport. De nombreux détenus ont été libé¬ dès le début des années 1980. de Boston, un autre Syrien qui avait été détenu à rés au cours des dernières années. " Cela est à porter L'auteur du rapport, Radwan Ziadeh, est un Palmyre m'a confié que tout le monde savait au crédit de Bachar El-Assad. Mais, dans les exilé syrien établi depuis de longues années aux quand allait avoir lieu une nouvelle exécution. "Il années antérieures à cette date, une telle compas¬ Etats-Unis. Il dirige le Centre de Damas pour les suffisait de se mettre à lafenêtre de nos cellules. Nous sion était inconnue. Le rapport cite un ancien études sur les droits de l'homme. Years ofFear connaissions tous l'après-rasage préféré de Kanaan. détenu de Palmyre. "Chaque lundi etjeudi, Us sélec¬ couvre les trente années de pouvoir de Hafez El- Quand nous en sentions l'odeur, nous savions qu'un tionnaient desgroupes de Frères et lespendaientdans Assad, ancien commandant en chef des forces peloton d'exécution se préparait." A propos de ces les cours de laprison de Palmyre." aériennes syriennes, dont le long combat pour exécutions, le rapport souligne que "personne ne D'autres détenus syriens, pourtant condam¬ maintenir la domination des Alaouites et la lutte sait où étaient inhumés ceux qui étaient exécutés ou nés à de courtes peines, pouvaient rester empri¬ féroce qu'il mena contre des adversaires isla¬ mouraient sous la torture". Le rapport indique que sonnés durant dix ans, tandis qu'on répétait à mistes peuplèrent les immondes prisons du ces disparitions pourraient indirectement affecter leurs familles qu'aucun des services de sécurité jusqu'à 1 million de Syriens (le pays compte 21 mil¬ ; pays de milliers de prisonniers politiques. n'avait jamais entendu parler d'eux. "A présent", lions d'habitants). Amer, qui avait 8 ans lorsque Utilisant des forces de sécurité souvent corrom¬ remarque Ziadeh avec un sens impressionnant son père fut arrêté, se souvient : "Je ne pouvais pues, il combattit un mouvement religieux de de la retenue, "lesfamilles sont autorisées à rendre parler de mon père à personne, car cela suscitait la guérilla urbaine de plus en plus violent. visite au prisonnier après quelques années de déten¬ peur et éveillait les soupçons... J'aigrandi comme un En 1980, le régime et ses opposants étaient tion." Ziadeh décrit par ailleurs l'abondant dis¬ demi-orphelin, même si mon père n'estpas officiel¬ engagés dans une guerre ouverte. La loi 49 du positif juridique censé protéger les citoyens 7juillet 1980 prévoyait la peine capitale pour ceux lement mort." syriens de l'arrestation arbitraire, de la torture Certains étaient déclarés morts, puis réap¬ , qui ne renonçaient pas par écrit à leur apparte¬ ou de l'exécution. Le paragraphe 3 de l'article 28 paraissaient, comme cet adolescent de 16 ans nance aux Frères musulmans, tandis qu'une cam¬ de la Constitution syrienne déclare que "nul ne arrêté à Alep qui passa quatorze ans en prison. Le pagne d'assassinat à la Kadhafi était lancée contre peut être torturéphysiquement ni mentalement, ou les opposants installés à l'étranger. Le soulève¬ rapport de Ziadeh affirme avec force que "les vic¬ être traité de manière humiliante". Une autre loi times et leursfamilles [...] ont le droit inaliénable de ment de laville de Hama en février 1982, au cours syrienne édicté que l'Etat doit "prendre les mesures connaître la véritésur les circonstances dans lesquelles duquel l'antique cité tenue par les rebelles fut législatives, administratives etjudiciaires nécessaires ces violations des droits de la personne ont été com¬ presque entièrement détruite par les chars et l'ar¬ pour empêcher etfaire cesser les actes de disparition mises et sur le sort de la victime dans les cas de décès tillerie, se solda, selon le rapport de Ziadeh, par la forcée". Ziadeh reprend le témoignage connu ou de disparition". Un militant des droits de mort de 15 000 personnes - certains avancent le l'homme a déclaré à Ziadeh qu'on a parfois édifié chiffre de 20 000 morts. Ziadeh omet toutefois de d'Abdullah Al-Naji pour affirmer à nouveau que des bâtiments sur des cimetières clandestins. On mentionner la lutte de résistance menée à Hama, les impitoyables "tribunaux de campagne" insti¬ dit qu'àAlep une grande mosquée a été construite qui vit déjeunes filles kamikazes se faire exploser tués par le régime - et prévus à l'origine pour être sur le site d'une fosse commune. Robert Fisk au milieu des soldats syriens, ainsi que les actes utilisés contre l'"ennemi" israélien, et non les

Histoire Quarante-huit ans d'état d'urgence

En Syrie, l'exception est la règle. Le décret précise les restrictions En complément, "le Conseil des ministres

Et l'application de l'état d'urgence et les mesures que le gouvernement esten droit d'étendre ces restrictions

est particulièrement dure, explique d'exception peut imposer, comme suit : parun décretà soumettre à la Chambre

le site de l'opposition syrienne. - contrôle des correspondances, des députés". L'examen de ces restrictions

des publications et de tous les moyens montre qu'elles ne laissent aucune place

En vigueur depuis le coup d'Etat militaire d'expression avant leur diffusion ; à des mesures supplémentaires.

du 8 mars 1963, l'état d'urgence en Syrie - évacuation ou isolation de certaines Notrejuriste signale que,

- dont le président Assad aurait promis régions; vu la multiplication des lieux de détention,

d'envisager l'abrogation - est le plus long - limitation des horaires d'ouverture il est devenu impossible de connaître

de l'histoire moderne d'un pays. Selon des lieux publics ou leur fermeture ; le nombre de prisonniers qui s'y trouvent.

unjuriste, cet état d'urgence aurait - confiscation de tout bien immobilier Ces arrestations se sont généralisées

dû être levé, comme prévu par la loi, ou mobilier et imposition d'une à tel point que les arrestations normales

mais cela n'a pas été appliqué. "L'état surveillance temporaire des sociétés sont devenues exceptionnelles. "// faut

d'urgence est décrétépar le Conseil et des institutions ; signalerque la durée de la détention

des ministres, présidéparleprésident - restriction de la liberté de réunion, de préventive n'estpas déterminée etpeut

de la République, à la majorité des deux résidence, de mouvement et de passage doncs'étendresans limite dès qu'un

tiers de ses membres et doit êtresoumis des personnes dans certains lieux ordre d'exception est émis, sans aucun

à la Chambre des députés dès et à certaines heures ; contrôle de lajusticeniaucun recours

sapremière réunion/'Lejunste ajoute: - arrestation préventive de suspects administratifoujuridiquepossible

"Ce texte n'a nullement été respecté ou d'individus menaçant la sécurité pour le détenu IIest arrivé que

puisque l'état d'urgence a été imposé et l'ordre public; les tribunauxjugent innocents certains

parun ordre militaire etnon un décret, - autorisation d'enquêter sur toute accusés quirestentquandmême

parun Conseilnationalde la révolution, personne ou tout lieu à tout moment détenus en vertu de l'état d'urgence. "

etnon le Conseil des ministres, etqu'il et de charger toute personne L'une des conséquences les plus graves

n'ajamais été soumis au Parlement." de toute mission... de l'état d'urgence est "la multiplication

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

des tribunaux d'exception au pointque a remplacé en fait tous les autres Les sites Internet syriens ont indiqué certains citoyens comparaissentdevant pouvoirs, législatif, exécutif oujudiciaire. que le député Abdel-Karim Al-Sayed avait des tribunaux dont ils ne connaissent Ainsi, l'ensemble des lois constitutionnelles proposé, avant le début des manifestations ni le nom nilesjuges, tout en étantprivés etjuridiques est suspendu. à Deraa, la formation d'une commission de toutdroit dese défendre ou de faire Notrejuriste conclut : "Nous sommes parlementaire pour examiner une levée appel". Le pouvoir absolu des autorités soumis depuisplus de quarante ans partielle de l'état d'urgence en Syrie, mais d'exception, par le biais des services à un état d'urgence contraire à la loi l'ensemble des membres du Parlement de sécurité et de renseignements, età la Constitution. Cela constitue avaient voté contre. Al-Raee Atlanta une atteinte à l'Etaten tant que tel. "

LE JOUR PLUS DE CENT MORTS DEJA EN SYRIE, 27 mars 2011 LE SIÈGE DU PARTI BAAS INCENDIÉ À DERAA

Ces incendies ne sont "pas

des actes de gens qui cherchent

Louai Beshara - AFP des réformes. Est-ce qu'incen¬

dier des bâtiments peut être qua¬

DAMAS - Des manifestants lifié de manifestations pacifi¬ ont incendié un siège du parti ques?", a-t-il demandé.

Baas au pouvoir et des francs- Selon un militant des droits tireurs ont tué deux passants de l'Homme à Tafas, plusieurs samedi en Syrie, pays en proie milliers d'habitants ont participé depuis 12 jours à une contesta¬ à l'enterrement de trois manifes¬ tion sans précédent contre le tants tués la veille par les forces 'tfs- 'v: régime. de sécurité, et certains protesta¬

Ces violences interviennent taires ont incendié les deux bâti¬ en dépit des gestes d'apaisement ments dans ce village situé à 18 des autorités qui ont libéré 260 km au nord de Deraa. "4XS? . - s **

détenus politiques ayant, dans Dans cette dernière ville, -vas***1 .. leur majorité, purgé les trois epicentre de la contestation à Alors que la contestation lancée le 15 mars contre le régime de Bachar el- quarts de leur peine, selon des 100 km au sud de Damas, près Assad a fait 126 morts selon les organisations des droits de l'Homme, un organisations de défense des de 300 jeunes sont montés, torse appel à une "révolte populaire" dans toutes les provinces a été publié hier droits de l'Homme. nu, sur les restes d'une statue de sur Facebook./ AFP l'ex-président Hafez al-Assad, Alors que la contestation lan¬ père de l'actuel président, débou¬ cée le 15 mars contre le régime lonnée la veille, en scandant des de Bachar al-Assad a fait 126 La journée la plus sanglante (OSDH), il y a encore "plusieurs slogans hostiles au régime, selon morts selon les organisations des a été celle de mercredi, quand centaines de prisonniers politi¬ des témoins. droits de l'Homme, un appel à 100 personnes ont été tuées à ques" en Syrie, dont une partie à

une "révolte populaire" samedi Dans le même temps, des Deraa, selon des militants la prison de Sednaya, qui compte

dans toutes les provinces a été centaines de personnes ont défilé syriens des droits de l'Homme. 10.000 détenus. publié sur Facebook. à Damas pour soutenir le chef de Face à cette escalade, les Réaffirmant l'intention des l'Etat. Des voitures ont circulé en Dans la ville portuaire de autorités ont annoncé jeudi des autorités de répondre vite aux klaxonnant et les passagers arbo¬ Lattaquié, à 350 km au nord- libérations de détenus, des mesu¬ "revendications légitimes" du raient des drapeaux syriens et ouest de Damas, "des francs- res anti-corruption et ont déclaré peuple, une conseillère du chef des photos du président. tireurs ont tiré sur des passants, envisager d'annuler l'état d'ur¬ de l'Etat, Boussaïna Chaabane, a

tuant deux personnes et en bles¬ Vendredi, les manifestations gence en vigueur depuis 1963. affirmé qu'il y avait "un plan sant deux", a annoncé un haut s'étaient étendues à plusieurs vil¬ pour semer les dissensions et Dans le cadre de ces promes¬ responsable syrien sous couvert les. Selon un responsable syrien, porter atteinte à la coexistence" ses, 260 détenus, en grande de l'anonymat. Il avait aupara¬ 15 personnes ont été tuées dont en Syrie. majorité des islamistes mais éga¬ vant dit que des "hommes 10 manifestants, alors que des lement des Kurdes, ont été libé¬ Après les condamnations de armés" avaient tiré à partir des militants des droits de l'Homme rés, selon des associations Washington, Paris et Londres, toits. ont fait état de 24 manifestants syriennes de défense des droits l'Union européenne a dénoncé à morts. ATafas, un village au sud de de l'Homme. Le haut responsa¬ son tour la "brutale" réponse

Damas, des manifestants ont Selon un bilan officiel, 27 ble syrien a démenti le nombre syrienne aux "exigences légiti¬

incendié un siège du parti Baas, personnes ont péri depuis le 15 des libérations. mes" des contestataires. au pouvoir depuis 1963, et un mars, dont 20 protestataires et 7 Selon Rami Abdelrahmane, poste de police, a affirmé ce personnes tuées par des manifes¬ directeur de l'Observatoire même responsable. tants. syrien des droits de l'Homme

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

LE FIGARO jeudi 31 mors 20ii

ment orchestrée. Hormis la référence obligée à l'adversaire israélien, les maîtres étrange déni de réalité de ce grand complot visant à fracturer l'unité du pays ne furent pas nommés. En revanche, le président ne lésina pas sur les moyens employés par les ennemis de la lu président syrien Syrie pour la déstabiliser. En cause : les télévisions satellitaires, les SMS sur les té¬ léphones portables, les réseaux sociaux Dans son discours à la nation, Bachar èl-Assad évoque une sur Internet. « conspiration » et n'annonce pas la moindre réforme concrète. De nombreuses contradictions ! C'est à travers ces nouvelles technologies . - sur lesqueEes les services de sécurité sy- ' riens sont impuissants à exercer le moin¬ dre contrôle - qu'une « minorité » de la jeunesse de Deraa (ville méridionale, pro¬ che de la frontière jordanienne) fut « inci¬ tée » à semer le chaos et la fitna (dissen¬ sion confessionnelle). Mais la Syrie, « qui n'est pas une copie conforme des autres États du monde arabe », a su ne pas, tom¬ ber dans le piège, comme elle avait su « déjouer les plans ourdis contre elle » par les néoconservateurs américains après leur invasion de l'Irak en 2003. Dans un autre paragraphe de son dis¬ cours, qui semblait en flagrante contra¬ diction avec cette bonne vieille explica¬ tion du complot de l'étranger, le président a affirmé que son gouverne¬ ment devait se tenir davantage à l'écoute

des revendications populaires. Il a avoué que l'État syrien n'avait pas su trouver des Bachar el-Assad recevant l'ovation des députés avant son discours, hier, devant réponses à un grand nombre d'exigences le Parlement à Damas, agence officielle syrienne sana/ap légitimes de la population. Magnanime, Bachar a même reconnu que, parmi les manifestants de Deraa (où le siège du parti RENAUD GIRARD « Les syriens aspirent Baas fut incendié et la statue de son père ENVOYÉ SPÉCIAL À BEYROUTH à des changements. Hafez el-Assad jetée à terre), il y avait eu des protestataires sincères, sans affiliation PROCHE-ORIENT II y a maintenant com¬ Mais une part importante de la population, qui craint avec la conspiration internationale. Le me un rituel dans la manière dont le régi¬ raïs n'a bien sûr fait aucune allusion aux me syrien réagit à ses crises les plus gra¬ le chaos, parie sur Bachar pour réaliser les réformes » slogans hurlés par les manifestants de De¬ ves. La dernière remonte au mois de raa après qu'ils eurent subi leurs premiers février 2005, après l'assassinat à Beyrouth ROGER EDDÉ, PRÉSIDENT DU PARTI DE LA PAIX LIBANAISE morts : « Hezbollah, Iran, barra ! Surria de l'ancien premier ministre libanais Ra- hurra ! » (« Dehors le Hezbollah et les Ira¬ fic Hariri. Le Liban avait été le théâtre de nonces sur le ton presque bonhomme gigantesques manifestations antisyrien¬ niens ! Syrie libre ! ») d'une conversation. Hier, en s'adressant à Curieusement, dans son discours, le nes unissant les chrétiens, les Druzes et les son Parlement et à. son peuple, Bachar, président a précisé qu'il n'avait jamais sunnites. Confrontée à cette protestation dont les traits ne portaient pas la moindre donné d'ordre à sa police de tirer sur les populaire et à la réprobation internatio¬ trace de fatigue, s'exprimait comme un manifestants. Il est vrai que, dans la fa¬ nale, la Syrie avait été obligée de retirer père cherchant à expliquer à sa famille ce son armée du pays du Cèdre, qu'elle oc¬ mille Assad, ce n'est pas Bachar qui est qui lui était arrivé au cours des deux der¬ cupait dépuis 1976. Pour annoncer cette chargé de la sécurité du territoire, mais nières semaines. décision un peu humiliante, le président son jeune frère Maher (chef de la garde Son aisance pouvait s'expliquer par le Bachar el-Assad s'était rendu au Parle¬ républicaine) et son beau-frère Assef succès des marches, organisées en sa fa¬ ment de Damas où, follement applaudi Chawkat .(patron des services secrets) ... veur mardi. Des centaines de milliers de par les députés, il avait prononcé un long « Si le peuple réclame des réformes, il est Syriens sont sortis dans la rue à Damas et à discours télévisé. de notre devoir de les faire », a aussi pro¬ Ce scénario bien rodé a été reproduit Alep, arborant des portraits de Bachar, clamé le président. Mais il n'a rien annon¬ hier. En début d'après-midi, la télévision dans une ambiance festive. « Commëpar- cé de concret, se bornant à promettre que d'État de Damas diffusa en direct les ima¬ tout dans le monde arabe, lapopulation sy¬ son gouvernement lutterait davantage ges du raïs sortant de sa voiture devant le rienne aspire à des changements et est lasse contre la corruption et le chômage des Parlement, saluant sans cérémonie les de la dictature du Baas, explique, à Bey¬ jeunes. L'état d'urgence, en vigueur dans ; centaines de militants du Baas regroupés à routh, Roger Eddé, président du Parti de le pays depuis 1963, n'est toujours pas l'entrée, puis recevant dans l'hémicycle la paix libanaise (libéral et pro-occiden¬ levé. tal) . Mais une part importante de la popu¬ l'ovation des parlementaires, un sourire À la fin de ce discours riche en contra¬ lation, qui craint le chaos, parie sur Bachar modeste aux lèvres. dictions, oh ne pouvait pas s'empêcher de pour réaliser les réformes. » ^ Ophtalmologue formé en Occident, se demander quel était le réel pilote de La surprise vint dufond, non de la for¬ homme aux m simples, Bachar n'a l'avion Syrie et quel plan de vol il avait me. Dans son discours, le président expli¬ jamais cultivé l'emphase héroïque d'un dessiné pour traverser avec succès les qua que la Syrie était la victime d'une Nasser ou d'un Fidel Castro. Pas d'envolée turbulences actuelles du monde arabe... «conspiration» internationale savam lyrique dans ses discours, toujours pro-

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

n p r March 31, 2011

The Other Iraq' Has Its Own Problems

NPR(National Public Radio)

by Kelly McEvers

These days, it seems like there are two Iraqs. There's the Iraq that we know, where Baghdad is the capital, and where low-level bombings and political infighting are the

norm.

And then there's a place that tour groups are calling "the Kamaran Najm/Metrographyfor NPR other Iraq": the semi-autonomous region of Kurdistan. There, The Khasa bridge in Kirkuk, Iraq, leads from the citadel into the economy is booming, people are using iPhones, and vio¬ the city. The Khasa bridge is one of the landmarks of the ethni¬ lence is down. But at what cost? cally diverse city of Kirkuk. It is used as a market and connects the Kurdish-dominated north side to the rest of the city.

'Heaven Compared To The Rest Of Iraq'

To know the other Iraq is to start in the city of Irbil. Literally The Kurds of northern Iraq have long struggled with the many millennia old, it's modernizing fast. Arabs of the rest of Iraq, especially during the rule of The latest development is the Irbil International Airport: It's Saddam Hussein. clean. Flights are taking off and landing on time. There's cap¬ After the first Gulf War, the United States and its allies provi¬ puccino. On a recent day, people from probably a dozen dif¬ ded the Kurds some protection by way of a no-fly zone. ferent countries are arriving and departing. When Saddam fell in 2003, the oil-rich region reasserted its autonomy. One of the recent arrivals is Wassim Sh'eir, a Lebanese- American. Two main Kurdish parties, led by two charismatic men, claim credit for this victory. But many Kurds say these men are now "I came here through a construction company, and they want no better than dictators themselves that much of to open a franchise here," he says. Kurdistan's newfound wealth is being concentrated in the Wassim says Irbil was tough to take at first, with its shoddy hands of a few. construction and intermittent electricity. But compared to the Amid recent protests that were part of a larger wave of rest of Iraq? demonstrations around Iraq and the region, intellectuals like "Heaven," he says. "Irbil is heaven compared to the rest of Farouk Rafiq said the Kurdish success story is a myth. Iraq." "This is a myth that there is economical opportunity. You Even though he eventually wants to invest elsewhere in the know why? Because political parties, they captured the mar¬ country, Wassim says Irbil is fine for now. ket," he said. "They have their own companies for them¬ selves, for politicians, for [those] who are on the top." "Irbil is definitely the starting point," he says. "They say Irbil is the gateway to the rest of Iraq."

Boosting Economic Strength

A Myth Of Opportunity? So far, those politicians don't show any signs of relinquishing power. In fact, it's support from the Kurds that helped Iraq's incumbent prime minister, Nouri al-Maliki, recently secure a second term.

In exchange for this support, the federal government in Baghdad recently agreed to let Kurdistan proceed with agree¬ ments to pump and sell its own oil.

Now, says analyst Jutiar Adel, the Kurdish leaders see eco¬ nomic growth as a way to continue asserting their autonomy.

"The economical presence, the economical strength is very important, and they

want to guarantee that there is an economical power for Kurdistan," he says through an interpreter.

That means in addition to ignoring protesters' demands for a bigger piece of the economic pie, other issues might be on the back burner like who will control the area around the city of Kirkuk, where Kurds were the majority until Saddam sent Arabs to settle there.

At a recent conference, Kurdish President Massoud Barzani A young man goes bowling on the top floor of the newly built told followers it's likely his grandson will still be fighting for Majidi Mall in Irbil, Iraq. Kirkuk.

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

Reading between the lines, analysts suggested Barzani years, and they don't know what their fate will be. But Kirkuk might be preparing his people to let go of their immediate is their city, they say, and they are not going to give it up. claims to the region. Mahmoud Othman, a Kurdish member of Iraq's Parliament, says issues like Kirkuk and ending corruption are emotional for the Kurds. Emotional Issues "You can't get rid of it. It's something which you are a hos¬ But Kurds in a village just outside the Kirkuk city limits tage to it," Othman says. "That's why the economy is very don't want to hear that. While many parts of Kurdistan are important, maybe quite important. But it's not it couldn't be booming, they are barely getting by. a substitute for that." The village appears to have no paved roads; sewer water pours out into the street and into a central ditch. Othman says Kirkuk and corruption are problems that are not likely to be solved in the short term, no matter how pros¬ The Kurdish villagers were deported by Saddam back in the perous "the other Iraq" becomes. 1980s. When the dictator fell in 2003, they returned. But they're still not legal residents, say Ali Hussein Assaf and his aging father.

They say they have lived under these conditions for seven

New Governor Elected in Iraq's

31 March 2011 Kirkuk, Arabs Enraged

31 March 2011 Abdullah Sami al-Aassi, an Arab

By Mustafa Mahmoud (Reuters) provincial council member, said the

bloc has complained to the govern¬

KIRKUK, Iraq - A new Kurdish ment in Baghdad of what he called "a governor and a Turkmen provincial marginalisation of the Arab compo¬

council chief were elected on Tuesday nent". in Iraq's northern Kirkuk, enraging

Arab politicians in the disputed city "We have suspended our member¬ who said they would boycott the coun¬ ship in the council... We consider what cil. happened today a marginalisation and Kirkuk, an ethnic mix of Arabs, elimination process of the Arab com¬ Kurds, Turkmen and others, lies just ponent," he said. outside Iraq's semi-autonomous nor¬ Kirkuk, which sits above large oil thern Kurdish region and its political reserves, is a flashpoint of conflict at a future is one of the most hotly contes¬ time when Iraq is trying to shake off a ted disputes in Iraq. legacy of violence and U.S. troops Kirkuk's provincial government prepare to withdraw completely by the has been led for years by die powerful end of the year. Kurdish parties that control the nor¬ A referendum to determine if thern zone. They want to incorporate The provincial council elected Dr. Kurds are the dominant ethnicity, the city into the Kurdish region, a which would enhance their claim to Najmaldin Karim, a Kurd, as the city 's move opposed by Turkmen and Arab Kirkuk and its oil riches, has been new governor ofKirkuk. residents. repeatedly shelved after Arabs and The Kurdish governor and provin¬ wounded. Turkmen accused Kurds of flooding cial council chief of Kirkuk stepped Overall violence has dropped shar¬ the city with their kin. down earlier this month. Political ply in Iraq from the peak of sectarian Kurds say dictator Saddam opponents said the resignations were fighting between Sunnis and Shi'ites in Hussein "Arabised" Kirkuk by encou¬ aimed at easing public discontent with 2006-07, but insurgents still launch raging Arabs to move there in the the two main Kurdish political parties. scores of bomb and gun attacks each 1980s and 1990s. The provincial council elected week, mainly against Iraqi security Hundreds of Turkmen and Kurdish Najimeldin Kareem, a Kurd, as the forces. students clashed on Monday in Kirkuk city's new governor and Hassan Toran, after Turkmen students tried to hold a a member of the Turkmen ethnic ceremony to mark the deaths of minority, as provincial council head on Turkmen killed under Saddam. Nine Tuesday. The Arab bloc in the council students and three policemen were boycotted the vote.

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