INSTITUT KURD E DE PARIS

Information and liaison bulletin N°335

february 2013 The publication of this Bulletin enjoys a subsidy from the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs (DGCID) aqnd the Fonds d’action et de soutien pour l’intégration et la lutte contre les discriminations (The Fund for action and support of integration and the struggle against discrimination)

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

INSTITUT KURDE, 106, rue La Fayette - 75010 PARIS Tel. : 01-48 24 64 64 - Fax : 01-48 24 64 66 www.fikp.org E-mail: bulletin@fikp.org Information and liaison bulletin Kurdish Institute of Paris Bulletin N° 335 February 2013

• MOSCOW: PRESIDENT MASSUD BARZANI WELCOMED BY VLADIMIR PUTIN.

• TURKEY: NEGOTIATIONS AND IMRALI LEAKS.

• IRAQ: NO AGREEMENT OVER BUDGET BETWEEN KURDS AND ARABS.

• ROME: THE CHALDEAN PATRIARCH IS ELECTED.

• PARIS: THE KURDISH INSTITUTE CELEBRATES ITS THIRTIETH BIRTHDAY.

MOSCOW: PRESIDENT MASSUD BARZANI WELCOMED BY VLADIMIR PUTIN ollowing his diplomatic Hawrami, Minister of Natural Iraq had toughened its discourse, tour of Europe in Resources for several years past. threatening foreign companies that January, including to The presence of the last two shows signed contacts with Kurdistan F the Davos summit, The that this visit will cover issues and threatening reprisals against President of the regarding economic development their agreements with Iraq. At that Kurdistan Region, Massud and particularly the exploration time Baghdad’s main targets were Barzani, returned to Irbil for a and operation of Kurdistan’s oil ExxonMobil. According to Nefte while before leaving again for fields. The Russian company, Compass, a weekly that spe - Moscow on 19 February. The Gazprom Neft has, so far, been cialised in fuel and power issues, declared objectives of the journey mainly active in Iraq even though, Nuri al-Maliki’s government had were “ to discuss relations between in 2012, it announced it was taking envisaged replacing ExxonMobil Russia and the Government of shares in two blocks in Iraqi by LUKOIL (a Russian company) Kurdistan and developments in Iraq Kurdistan — a 40% share in the following a meeting between Nuri and in the region as a whole ”. Garmiyan field and an 80% share al-Maliki and Vladimir Putin. in Shakal. The Russian company However no official statement was Among those accompanying him then estimated that the resources made. were the President\s son, Massud of the two blocks could produce Barzani, Kurdistan’s Security about 3.6 billion barrels. In November 2012 there were con - Advisor, the Deputy Prime tradictory rumours about the Minister Imad Ahmad, the This announcement came at the future activities of Gazprom Neft. President’s Chief of Staff, Fuad height of the controversy between Some sources close to the Iraqi Hussein, the Foreign Minister, Baghdad and Irbil over the government stated that it had Falah Bakir, the Minister of Region’s right to sign its own frozen its projects in Kurdistan, Housing and Building, Kamran agreements with foreign compa - while others apparently from the Ahmed Abdullah and Ashti nies. During the summer of 2012, company itself (but not from its • 2 • Information and liaison bulletin n° 335 • February 2013

official spokesman) and from the sages from Baghdad and that the In the dispute between the Kurdish KRG stated that Gazprom Neft for contract covering the Badra field in Region and Iraq, the Americans too alliance with Russia. In October Southern Iraq has not be ques - often tried to play for time (and 2012had let them understand that tioned. even to discourage the Kurdish the contracts signed were being desire for autonomy) for Irbil to carried out. Another burning issue raised is trust Washington to ensure its that of Syria. Damascus us sup - security let alone to support them However, it is not only in the field ported by Putin whereas Massud in their differences with Iraq. of hydrocarbons that Baghdad and Barzani is supporting all the initia - History, also, provides many warn - Irbil seem to be competing Nuri al- tives to try and unite the Syrian ing such as Kissinger’s betrayal of Maliki had also visited Moscow Kurdish National Council (KNC) the Kurds in 1975, while Baghdad’s and had signed arms contracts for and has several times acted as an arms purchases from the US have a total of 4 billion dollars. Now intermediary between the Syrian also worried them. Then there was ever since the resurgence of ten - National Council, the KNC and the latest incursion by the US sion between the Kurds and the Turkey. In any case, his position is Ambassador to Ankara, Francis Iraqis over Kirkuk and the other openly opposed to that of Nuri al- Ricciardone, warning Turkey disputed territories, Iraq’s arms Maliki who, for his part, remains against its policy of energy partner - policy has been very closely close to Bachar al-Assad. ship with the Kurds at the expense watched by the KRG, that sees it as of Baghdad, which also displeased a direct threat to the Region. Last The Iranian nuclear issue also Erdogan, who then suddenly December there was a rumour of could concern the Kurds who became a warm defender of Iraqi future arms purchases worth 87 chose to remain as neutral as possi - Constitutional Federalism. At a million dollars by the Kurds from ble as between Washington and time when Kurdish and Iraqi Moscow, though this was denied Teheran although the increasing troops have been confronting one by the Irbil government. Safin Iranian influence in Baghdad has another for several months over Diyazee had denied this in not helped ease the political atmo - Kirkuk and before the Hamrin December and it was again denied sphere between the Kurds and Mountains, such an argument today by another spokesperson, Nuri al-Maliki. against Kurdish autonomy was Omed Sabah, while the media obviously not appreciated in Irbil. reported remarks by Massud According to the Kurdish presi - In any case, this visit and the agree - Barzani denying without actually dential cabinet, however, the meet - ment with Gazprom Neft is a fur - denying it (as is his habit!) by say - ing between Massud Barzani and ther snub at the Iraqi Prime ing that it was not on the agenda Vladimir Putin mainly covered Minister’s centralising policy, but that if such an offer were made strengthening economic and cul - enabling the Kurds to strengthen it would be welcome… tural cooperation and the role of their claim to being an indepen - Russian companies in the recon - dent economic power a few Seven days later, while nothing struction of Kurdistan. months after Maliki’s visit to concrete had filtered out on the Moscow. subject of arms sales, more is To the extent that there is continu - known about the agreement with ity with his father’s policies, it is Massud Barzani took advantage of Gazprom Neft. It is clear that also in Massud Barzani’s refusal to his stay in Moscow to visit the Russia’s fifth largest crude oil pro - chose between one camp or anoth - where his father, Mustafa Barzani, ducer has secured the lion’s share, er, particularly between the USA had lived during his years in exile with 80% of the Halabja oilfield, and Russia. Often supported (but after his legendary “ long march ” whose reserves are said to be also often let down) by the from Mahabad to Russia. Indeed, between 90 and 100 million tonnes Americans, the Barzanis have 66 years after the fall of the of hydrocarbons. However the always maintained good relations Mahabad Republic which had seen terms of such an agreement have with the Russians. Mollah Mustafa his father and 500 Peshmergas not been revealed. and his men’s long sojourn there seek asylum in Russia, the son “Our next mission is to prepare our (many of whom, while there, mar - returned as President of a Kurdish working programme of geological ried Soviet women and were edu - proto-State flying the same colours prospecting ” announced Vladimir cated there) always enabled the at those of Mahabad, though need - Iakovlev, first Assistant General Iraqi Kurds to maintain the same ing to maintain American friend - Manager of Gazprom Neft. neutrality between the USA and ship as well as possible promises Despite this, he asserted that he the Russians as between the USA of Russian arms. had received nonnegative mes - and Iran. n° 335 • February 2013 Information and liaison bulletin • 3•

TURKEY: NEGOTIATIONS AND IMRALI LEAKS

he negotiations taking Taraf , might be agreed, especial - had answered (without mention - place for some months ly when it’s a matter of carrying ing his sources for this) that they between the impris - out ceasefire operations and were 70% favourable. T oned chief of the PKK, demilitarisation of the PKK in Abdullah Ocalan, and the field. Thus Taraf suggests Abdullah Ocalan is said to have the Turkish Government via the that contacts between the PKK said: “ I am a prisoner and, conse - Secretary of State for the chief and his military units could quently, am unable to do everything Security Services (MIT), Hakan well be by teleconferencing. or find a solution to everything. Pidan, are arousing considerable Here I have meetings with stir in the Turkish political caste Regarding the conditions for a Intelligence officers (MIT) who are — but also in the ranks of the retreat of guerrilla units and an behaving sincerely to me. However, pro-Kurdish Peace and end to the fighting, Murat the truth is that there are other peo - Democracy Party (BDP). Karayılan avoided giving any ple and other powers involved in opinion, positive or negative, on this problem. I do not know to what During a meeting at Antalya on this issue. He just answered with extent these powers will support the 11 February, the BDP co- another question: “ Why were we process. I am doing my best, but my President, Gultan Kisanak had fighting in the first place? There means are limited as I cannot again expressed a demand for was a reason for our presence in the answer all the questions and take “autonomy for Kurdistan” and mountains ”. responsibility for everything. That again criticised the opacity of the would not be a correct approach. I political process being played For his part, the Turkish Prime have sent my proposals to the gov - out in Imrali and the way his Minister is trying to address the ernment through a State delegation, party had been pushed to one “Kurdish electorate” directly in expressing what we want and what side. order to ensure its support for we can do and how the problem can the peace process: “ We have initi - lead to a solution. Whatever the “Every day there is a new specula - ated a process … to provide a government may call it, this is a tion on who will be going to Imrali chance for a political solution. So war towards peace. The government for the second round of negotiations long as you support us we will tack - will examine my proposals and will with Ocalan. So far the government le this problem with determination ” evaluate the way the Kurdish prob - ha not recognised the BDP as part he stated in a public speech at lem can end with a solution ”. of the negotiation process ”. Midyat, a town moreover in a region with a mixed population The PKK chief affirmed that the For his part, Murat Karayalan, of Kurds, Christians, Arabs and Kurdish question concerns the PKK military commander, Turks. Qandil as well as “Europe” (the demanded to be able to have PKK in Europe) and added that direct telephone communica - However, the demand for a the co-Presidents of the BDP and tions with Ocalan, which the lat - direct visit by leaders of the BDP the Congress for a Democratic ter, apparently, had also or Members of Parliament to Society (DTK) should also take demanded. Contrary to Gultan Imrali was not immediately part in the negotiations so that Kışanak, he does not seem to agreed. In the first instance it they could communicate infor - want to act as “ part of the negotia - was Abdullah Ocalan’s brother, mation from Imrali to the PKK’s tion ” process — possibly to Mehmet, who was authorised to offices in Europe and Qandil. He avoid having personally to visit him on 16 February. The then alluded to reservations that shoulder the decisions when private character of this visit was had been made to the govern - faced with his men — but just confirmed by Mehmet Ocalan, ment following the visit by cer - fully to follow the line and who avoided any personal com - tain members of the BDP rather orders set out by Abdullah ments on the peace process, but than others, without specifying Ocalan: “ Ocalan already represents just gave the daily paper Dicle an what the reason was. us and we think it’s best to negoti - account of the conversation he’d ate with Ocalan alone ” (Firat had with his brother on the sub - “The government raised problems News). ject. Thus Abdullah is said to about the names of those who would have asked how public opinion be part of the BDP delegation, but it There is one demand that, (probably Kurdish) had greeted is not a matter of names. It is not according to the daily paper the negotiations and Mehmet right to make an issue about who • 4 • Information and liaison bulletin n° 335 • February 2013

should or should not come to Imrali. Ocalan’s suggestion) included my words incorrectly. My messages No one has been authorised since the film director Sırrı Süreyya are not sent to those I intended. The the visit by Ahmet Turk and Alya Önder (a Turk from Adiyaman), BDP and the PKK are betraying Akat 40 days ago. The Turkish and Altan Tan and Pervin Buldan. me. I no longer want to communi - Kurdish peoples are also a major The first two are members of the cate with them ”. part of the process towards a resolu - Parliamentary commission tion of the Kurdish problem — appointed to draft a new Thus Ocalan is said to accuse the which is a problem that has lasted Constitution, which is probably PKK of creating obstacles to his for 100 or 200 years, not just 30 or no accident. Pervin Buldan made efforts to establish peace, while 40. The BDP delegation must take the point that two MIT officers warning Turkey against wanting part in the discussion son the way were present at the meeting. to dictate its conditions, express - the process must advance. They ing the hope that there would must then inform the public about Erdogan had earlier explained not be any “misunderstanding” the process while Qandil and that the PKK’s disarmament was on the part of the AKP. He criti - Europe must put forward their one of his government’s princi - cised that Party’s will to hege - opinions and proposals. We need pal demands. Indeed, as from 25 mony, affirming that if they did people to convey information to February it was leant that not net him control the negotia - these circles. The Kurdish camp Ocalan would call for a cease- tions or that they failed, Turkey does not close the door on a peaceful fire on the following 21 March, could expect a future as catas - solution. If the process now taking the day of the Kurdish New trophic as Syria’s or Iraq’s. place reaches a dead end this will Year. He also announced the harm the Kurds as much as the possibility of the guerrilla’s In his opinion, the PKK’s with - Turks and the whole region ”. releasing Turkish prisoners, both drawal from Turkey would have Army and civilian (they are said to be bi-lateral and decided by In passing he gave his views on to be 9 or 10 of them), that it has Parliament and not just the the murders in Paris, where he held for several years. Prime Minister. Indeed, that seems to accuse Turkey of cover - would give some legitimacy to ing an agent: “ The judicial author - The minutes of the meeting (21 an order that is in danger of ities say that the murders were per - pages long) was sent to the guer - deeply offending Turkish public petrated by someone from Sivas rilla commander as well as a opinion. However the complete (Ömer Güney). Our people must “peace plan” of 61 pages drawn withdrawal of the Armed Forces know that these three Kurdish polit - up by Ocalan, both of which are and police from the border ical activists were killed by those supposed to remain confidential. zones or from the Kurdish who brought e here. The suspect is However, the whole of the min - regions is unlikely. As for the said to have visited Turkey and utes were rapidly published I autonomy, demanded by the Ankara 10 times last year. The the press, in the first place by the BDP, the PKK (as well as its Turkish State must reveal who this daily paper Milliyet and then Syrian branch), Abdullah Ocalan person is , what he was doing in taken up by the other papers, no longer considers it to be a Ankara, what his mission was, although the three members of means of “sabotaging” the nego - whom he met and who planned the the delegation denied being the tiations but is more insistent on attack. France, the United States source of the leak. the necessity for the democrati - and NATO all know who is behind sation of Turkey, while contem - this murder but are not telling the It should be recalled that last plating a general impunity for truth, which must be disclosed for year the Oslo negotiations had PKK members (without an the process to advance ”. failed because of similar leaks. amnesty, considered unneces - sary) — which excludes the total On 21 February it was finally In general, there is no change in dissolution of the movement. announced that some Kurdish the tone of Ocalan’s accusations The return of those displaced to Members of Parliament would and discontent regarding the their villages (destroyed by the be allowed to see Ocalan even BDP and the PKK, which gives Army) is also indicated as a nec - though the Turkish bombing of credit to the statement published essary condition for the with - Qandil were continuing. in the newspaper Sabah in July drawal. 2012, that the PKK chief had The names of those who himself asked the Minister of The PKK’s leader’s main peeve, received the Turkish govern - justice to freeze his lawyers’ vis - apart from his own movement, ments approval to visit Imrali on its: “ Don’t make me meet these was directed at the “Gülen 23 February (allegedly at lawyers. They distort and transmit brotherhood” whose under n° 335 • February 2013 Information and liaison bulletin • 5•

cover powers seem to be min - Turkey’s demands and the call ing would change or whether, gled with those of the “deep for laying down their arms. under pressure, either from the State” and to be attacking the Duran Kalkan confirms the BDP or its European offices, the MIT and the Prime Minister so PKK’s lack of enthusiasm, of guerrillas come down from the as to scuttle the political process which Ocalan reproached it and mountains. under way. stated that Ocalan had called for freeing of prisoners by the Turks A BDP delegation visited Iraqi It is possible that the reports of as well as by the Kurds ( there Kurdistan last week to carry the meeting were somewhat dis - are thousands of Kurdish politi - Ocalan’s message to the PKK torted to strengthen the impres - cal prisoners) and that “ no one guerrillas. This time, in addition sion of some complicity between expects a unilateral gesture from to Altan Tan and Sirri Sureyya Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and us ” and that it was up to both Onder, it included political lead - Abdullah Öcalan with the aim of sides to make “ political gestures ”. ers of both the BDP and the creating difficulties between the DTK, Ahmet Turk and Aysel Prime Minister and the national - On the issue of the withdrawal Tugluk and Selahattin Demirtas ists. Thus the PKK leader seems of the guerrillas from Turkish and Gultan Kisanak, who went to support the possibility of territory, Duran Kalkan asked, to Suleimaniah. Pervin Buldan, Erdogan becoming President this time in agreement with his on the other hand flew to and even of an alliance with the leader, whether the Turkish Europe to give Ocalan’s message AKP. Armed Forces also intended the PKK representatives there. “withdrawing” from the “We can seal a Presidential alliance Kurdish regions. Ahmet Turk held a press confer - with the AKP on these bases, ence jointly with Mele Bextiyar, However, he (the President) must be “That is an approach that could help of the Patriotic Union of similar to that of the United States, lead to a solution. If we each did Kurdistan (PUK) as he has been with a Senate and a People’s what was asked of us I can say, on PUK interim leader since Jalal Assembly that could be called a the PKK’s behalf that the Kurdish Talabani’s stroke. He made the democratic parliament, like the US armed movement will never be an point that contacts with the House of Representatives or the obstacle to the democratisation of political circles of Southern Russian Duma or the British House Turkey and a solution to the Kurdistan are continuing so as of Commons ”. Kurdish question. The PKK and its to collect their views on the cur - leaders are determined to fight until rent process. Mentioning the Erdogan condemned the leaks the Kurdish people wins its free - Turkish bombing of Qandil, and and denied they had any basis: dom ”. thus of Iraqi Kurdistan, he con - “Until we make a declaration and sidered that they were liable to confirm it, all rumours are lies and The military commander finally “weaken the peace process ”. unfounded. This is clearly an concluded that the PKK must attempt at sabotage by certain cir - express its position on the way Sabah asserts that a meeting cles that do not want Turkey’s that a solution should be negoti - took place between Karayılan, development ”. ated, adding that his movement Kalkan a BDP delegation and will accept “ any agreement that some Iraqi Kurdistan leaders, While he was at it he also reject - was based on the people’s agree - since a PKK military withdrawal ed any amnesty for PKK fighters ment ”. could take place with the contrary to what Ocalan is said Peshmergas acting as supervi - to have stated )or wanted) as What emerges from his state - sors and guarantors (for the well as of placing the PKK lead - ment, which was published by moment Irbil has said nothing er under house arrest. Firat News, the PKK news agen - about this). The BDP denied being the cy, is that the “peace processus” source of the leaks while affirm - as drawn up by Ocalan and the Sülbüs Peri, another of the ing it would conduct an internal MIT is, indeed, far from de light - organisation´s leaders made the enquiry. ing the guerrillas — which, was point, as had Duran Kalkan a foreseeable. The question few days previously, that a uni - On 27 February, another PKK remains whether, as in 1999, it lateral retreat was impossible to military commander, Duran will pretend to agree to a half envisage, and also called for Kalkan, commented to AFP the measure (a cease fire without guarantees regarding the securi - latest political events — disarming) in which case noth - ty of this retreat. • 6 • Information and liaison bulletin n° 335 • February 2013

IRAQ: NO AGREEMENT OVER BUDGET BETWEEN KURDS AND ARABS t the Davos forum on 24 insufficient by the Kurds. They considered too great and some January last, the claimed 4.2 trillion dinars ($3.5 Members are suggesting redis - Kurdistan Regional billion) to cover arrears pending tributing the money to the fami - A Government President, since 2010. lies hit by the recent floods. This Massud Barzani, had proposal, on the other hand, is stressed the necessity of resolv - The amount demanded by the not opposed by the Kurds, who ing the political crisis in Iraq and Kurds seemed to great to some are watching with concern the of launched the political process Sunni Arabs, like Jaber Al-Jabri, arms purchases being signed by again, pointing out the extreme - elected on the Iraqiya List, who is Nuri al-Maliki, which seem to ly dangerous character of the sit - also a member of the Finance them a threat mainly aimed at uation. Commission, especially as Iraq them. As against this, a budget has a deficit of $4.5 billion. for maintaining the Kurdish The following month the differ - Peshmergas was again rejected ences had in no way eased but Nuri al-Maliki’s list, the State of by the pro-Maliki coalition, espe - the political difficulties of Iraqi Laws, retorted that the Kurds cially since the recent tensions governance had, this time crys - must first of all pay damages to between the Arab and Kurdish tallised round the vote on the the central government for hav - forces in Diyala and around Iraqi budget for 2013, over ing failed to deliver 250,000 bar - Kirkuk. which the Baghdad Parliament rels a days as promised since seems unable to agree. The main November 2012. “The Peshmergas have pointed their cause is the multi-facetted con - arms at the breasts of Iraqi military flict between the central govern - The slowing down of exports personnel and now they want us to ment and the Kurdish region. irritated Baghdad all the more pay for their equipment and their since, on the other hand, the wages ” is how Mohammad Al Thus although the Cabinet had RGK has stated exporting oil at a Sayhood, a State of Laws mem - approved the $118 billion bud - rate of 150,000 barrels a date of ber summed it up. get last October, this has still not oil and condensate to Turkey by been passed by Parliament as its truck and they are planning to However, the Kurds are refusing provisions are opposed for a build an oil pipeline that will go to vote for the budget unless this variety of reasons by Arab directly from Kurdistan to demand is not met. The Shiite, Sunni and Kurdish mem - Turkey without passing through Peshmerga budget has not been bers of Parliament. Iraq. paid since 2007 and Baghdad owes Irbil, according to the One of the disagreements that Another point in dispute is the Kurdish Finance Minister, about has dragged on for months is the percentage of the budget allocat - $ 6.4 billion. amounts due to companies ed to the Kurdish region by the working in the Kurdish region central Government. Over the This issue has even reconciled, who export oil to Iraq. Last sum - last few years it was 17%, calcu - temporarily at least, the Kurdish mer the Kurds had suspended lated on the basis that the popu - parties in office and those in the deliveries of crude oil to Iraq lation of Kurdistan is 17% of the opposition since even the Goran because of failure to pay for it. total of Iraqis. Today, while the Members of Parliament have After several promises to settle population living in Kurdistan is agreed to block the vote should the exports had been resumed constantly growing, according to the refusal continue. last autumn but without reach - the Kurds, the Iraqi Members ing the level of 250,000 barrels a dispute this figure and holding a According to para.5 of Article 13 day stipulated by the agreement census, if accepted by the Kurds, of the 2013 Iraqi draft Budget, after Iraq had maid a first instal - would only delay the vote on the based on a mutual agreement ment of its debt. budget. Meanwhile, the State of between the Iraqi and Kurdish Laws and the Iraqiyya (Sunni Finance Ministers, all the arrears On 13 February the vote on the Arab) lists are calling on the since 2007 regarding the budget was postponed sine die Kurds to be satisfied with 12%. Pwshmergas must be settled on because the sum of $644 million the basis of payments before due to settle the arrears to the oil The share of the budget due to date. The Members, however, are companies was considered be allotted to Defence is also claiming even more: that the n° 335 • February 2013 Information and liaison bulletin • 7•

Peshmergas budget be part of the On 2 March, Safeen Diyazee, Today the Kurdish Alliance have overall budget for the whole of KRG spokesman said he was again succeeded in blocking the Iraq. Muayyad Tayyib, “not pessimistic” regarding the budget vote that Nuri al-Maliki spokesman for the Kurdish resolution of the crisis, consider - tried to bulldozer through, after Alliance (the majority list) ing that this government’s dele - refusing an invitation to visit Irbil explained that this would avoid gation had left Baghdad without although the Kurdish Prime postponing payments year after any concrete results, but that this Minister, Neçirvan Barzani, is year. “did not mean it had failed ”. He due to visit Baghdad. also renewed the idea of a census Iraq also demands a reduction in to determine the proportion of Another possible drawback of their numbers, from the present the Kurdistani population. the parliamentary crisis that 200,000 to 20,000. Evidently this works to the advantage of the is out of the question for the On 3 March, Mahmud Othman, Kurds would be the cancellation Kurds, who are determined, in an independent Kurdish Member of the arms contract between the event of any conflict, to resist in Baghdad and a well consid - Baghdad and Moscow, signed in the field the 820,600 man ered political veteran, revealed last October for a total of $4 bil - strong Iraqi Army — who, it is that Massud Barzani was in lion. Baghdad is said to have con - true would be much less motivat - favour of holding a national con - sidered reducing this, envisaging ed than the Kurds to defend ference bringing together all the limiting it to one billion, and pay - Kirkuk. Iraqi political components with - ing a penalty for this. However out exception, so as to resolve the the Iraqi Foreign Minster, According to the Minister for the crisis and all the conflicts pend - Hoshyar Zebari (a Kurd) has said Peshmergas, the Kurdish forces ing. It has just been learnt that that the contract still stands and have been maintained for years the Iraqi Finance Minister, Rafaie that the Mi-28N helicopters and by the Kurdistan Regional Al-Issawi, has resigned. He the Pantsir ground-air artillery Government, without any Iraqi announced this during a demon - are due for delivery next June. subsidy. stration against Nuri al-Maliki in the Sunni Arab Anbar province. This contract has been the subject Since all the possible intermedi - His reasons had nothing to do of considerable controversy, with aries and negotiators are often at with the budget disputes but accusations of corruption — work in Iraq, it was at the end of because, he said, the central gov - made by the Iraqi Prime February that the Supreme ernment did not respond to the Minister’s own spokesman but Islamic Council, that wanted to demands and needs of the Iraqi refuted by the Defence Minister act as mediator through its direc - Sunni Arabs even after 70 days of — which seems to indicate the tor Ammar al-Hakim, announced demonstrations. “I have take degree of unity and coherence that an agreement had been, or sides with my community” he within Maliki’s Cabinet. Soon was on the point of being, found concluded. An additional reason after, indeed, they were con - to the dispute about oil with the may be that his own bodyguards firmed by Ali al-Dabbagh, the Kurdish Alliance. had confessed (whether or not Iraqi Government spokesman under torture) to having been who added, at the same time, The day before, the KRG Minister accomplices of terrorist assassina - that the contract would be “ com - of Natural Resources, Ashti tions committed with the body - pletely reviewed ”. Hawrami, the Kurdistan Deputy guards of Tarik Hashimi, the Prime Minister, Roj Nouri Iraqi Vice President, now a Shaways, the Iraqi Oil Minister, refugee in Turkey. Thus it is possibly the foul gener - Abdel Karim al-Leabi, the Iraqi al atmosphere reigning in Finance and planning Minister, Nuri al-Maliki has refused to Baghdad more than the difficul - Ali Shukri are said to have met accept this resignation, alleging ties in having the budget accept - privately to reach an understand - “financial and administrative ed that leaves one sceptical about ing regarding payments to the oil irregularities” — which has not the reality of these Russian arms companies active in Kurdistan. helped calm things down… deliveries.

➡ • 8 • Information and liaison bulletin n° 335 • February 2013

ROME: THE CHALDEAN PATRIARCH IS ELECTED synod of 15 Chaldean Islamic Jurisprudence. From ciled Iraq. He is also a member bishops has been meet - 1997 to 2001 he taught at the of the Pontifical Council for ing in Rome since 29 Baghdad Patriarchal Pontifical interdenominational dialogue. A January to elect a new College. He was elected bishop Independent of the bishops of Patriarch, since Cardinal in 2002 and confirmed by Pope the diaspora for this very local Emmanuel Delly had resigned for John-Paul II in 2003. church, it is a very good compro - reasons of health. The man finally mise between purely Iraqi digni - chosen is Mgr. Louis Sako, As the Kirkuk diocese is the sub - taries possibly too “Baghdadi” Archbishop of Kirkuk. ject of political and armed con - and the Kurdistan bishops. flict between Kurds, Arabs and Born in 1948 in a family living in Tucomen and the target of ter - As he often travels outside Iraq to Zakho, in Iraqi Kurdistan, Louis rorists who attack both make heard the voices of Sako studied in Mossul and was Christians and Moslems, Louis Christian minorities, he speaks ordained a priest in 1974. He has Sako has been very active locally fluent French and has received a doctorate in Patristic science to promote understanding many awards for his activities. In and another in Iraq’s ancient his - between the religious communi - 2008he received the Defensor Fidei tory as well as a Masters in ties and for a united and recon - prize and in 2010 the Pax Christi.

PARIS: THE KURDISH INSTITUTE CELEBRATES ITS THIRTIETH BIRTHDAY n 23 February 2013, the or considered a pathology to be a Kurdish Federal Region in Paris Kurdish Institute cured by increased doses of Iraq, and to reflect on the socio- celebrated its 30-year Kemalism and torture. economic consequences of the O existence and organised rapid urbanisation that a symposium and the Founding the Kurdish Institute Kurdistan has experienced French National Assembly to of Paris, made possible by a between 1980 and 2010. This has celebrate the occasion entitled political change in France, was brought, in its wake, the emer - “Kurdistan and the Kurdish thus as much due to an urgent gence of a youth, now partly at Diaspora: 1983-2013”. The invi - need to save this people’s cul - the helm, whose sociological tations were presented as fol - ture — which everything profile is radically different to lows: seemed show was doomed to that of the nationalist intelli - irreversible destruction — as to gentsia of the 1950-70 period. “The 1980s are a dark period in the will to bring together Kurdish historic chronicles since Kurdish intellectuals driven Taking into account the genera - they are so characterised by abroad by political repression on tional phenomenon in massive repression and whole - top of an atrocious war between Kurdistan’s recent history is all sale destruction carried out by Iraq and Iran that was to cause the more crucial as a large part the states against any sort of over a million deaths. of the public figures who had Kurdish resistance, be it armed dominated the political and cul - or peaceful, but also against the Thirty years later, while the tural landscape such as Kurdish populations as such: in Middle East is going through a Abdurrahman Ghassemlou, Iranian Kurdistan, the heady new period of violence in many leader of the KDP-Iran, the film revolutionary days of 1978-9 countries, it is time to draw up a director Yilmaz Güney, the poets were replaced by a “juhad” balance sheet. It is self-evident Cegerxwin or Hejar or scholars launched by Ayatollah that this assessment cannot be like Noureddine Zaza or Ismet Khomeiny against Kurdish soci - just one of the Kurdish Institute Cheriff Vanly are now part of ety as a whole; in Iraqi or of the Diaspora, that has the Kurdish national Pantheon. Kurdistan the destruction of the strenuously influenced the While, in the 80s, the Kurdish countryside rises to a crescendo , changes in Kurdistan over these Diaspora still remained the only leading, at the end of the decade, decades. Indeed, it is essential to area where a peaceful intermin - to a policy of outright genocide take stock of some considerable gling of Kurds from different while in army governed Turkey transformations that have result - countries was possible, the inter - Kurdishness itself is criminalised ed, inter alia in the emergence of nal integration of Kurdistan, not n° 335 • February 2013 Information and liaison bulletin • 9•

only economic but also cultural and open negotiations with reconstruction in Iraq, but this and even political, has consider - strategic reservations and ulteri - gradually changed. People were ably accelerated in the 1990 – or motives on both sides. Thus still talking about Arabisation of 2010 period. Inter-state borders, the Kurds were granted a very Kurdish territories (outside the already made porous by new wide autonomy in the 70sthat Kurdistan Region) between 2003 communication technologies, was due to be fully carried out and 2004, but for reasons that are now further weakened by within 4 years. However, as it are unclear the Kurds finally population movements. We are remained a dead letter this accepted the American proposal forced to note that the linguistic agreement was broken off by a to call these territories “disputed and cultural areas have, over the new period of armed violence. territories”. This drastically last two decades, experienced a To conclude, Kurdistan suffered changed the way of tackling the renewal, unprecedented in a wave of destruction and geno - question of the question of these Kurdish history. In contrast with cide actions in the 80s that territories by allowing it to be the 80s, when the very word destroyed almost all the Kurdish implied that there were two “Kurdish” frightened many uni - villages. valid points of view, whereas versities, Kurdish Studies in “Arabisation” stressed the injus - Europe and in the United States The end of Saddam Hussein’s tice of the policy. are really soaring with dozens of rule allowed hope for a fresh theses on Kurdish history and start, a “resurgence of pro - Another important problem was society being presented every grammes”. the sharing of power and rev - year. enues, which became the subject At the start of the new Iraq, fol - of finicky controls by Baghdad The “present” always consists of lowing Saddam’s overthrow, while for the Kurds and attempt this space-time continuum and Nuri al-Maliki was an unknown to call into question the sharing invites us today to evaluate the quantity in Iraq, whose only of power and revenues or the past and to project ourselves effective support came from the issue of the territories they into an as yet undetermined Kurds, who were the most unit - claimed immediately triggered future. This Symposium to cele - ed and politically advanced a reaction of national defence brate the 30 th anniversary of the group in the political field, since against the possible conse - Kurdish Institute is intended as they had had the experience of quences. a response to this double chal - 10 years autonomy before the lenge”. fall of the Baath. The Kurds, at Going from Saddam to Maliki that time held the key to the has not changed the initial situa - The first round table was negotiations. tion and the basic problems: presided by M. Bernard Dorin, What do we want to create in French Ambassador, and its sub - Today, if we look at recent Iraq? An area where people can ject was “Kurdistan from 1983 to events, some people who had breathe and live worthily? A 2013”. Those taking part were previously been politically step forward has been taken Professor Hamit Bozarslan, of marginal are now threatening to since the 80-90 period, since the the EHESS, Dr. Khaled Saleh, wage another armed campaign period of genocide, but we must Vice-Chancellor of the against the Kurds. still remain aware of the basic University of Kurdistan, Chris problems that the Iraqi State as Kutschera, a journalist and a Iraq is still suffering from the well as the Kurds face over and specialist on the Kurdish political influences and ideolo - above those of individual posi - Question, Ms Sève Izouli-Aydin, gies current in the 60s and 70s tions. a Barrister and Celîlê Celîl, emer - and even the 90s, when agree - itus professor. ments could be made, signed Chris Kutschera: “The history of and then withdrawn very easily, the Iranian Kurds between Khaled Saleh : “Iraqi Kurdistan especially when someone new armed struggle and civil resis - from Saddam Hussein to Nuri came to power. This is the main tance”. al-Maliki”. danger overshadowing the per - spectives of the Kurdistan The Iranian revolution surprised Outlining the relations between Region. everyone, including Dr. the Kurdistan Region and the Abdulrahman Ghassemlou, Iraqi State, Khaled Saleh Between 2003 and 2005 there General Secretary of the KDPI. described them as an alternating was a favourable climate for a This event brought him to the series of crises, acts of violence change of attitudes and for head of an armed resistance of • 10 • Information and liaison bulletin n° 335 • February 2013

several thousands of 2011 and withdraw to the bor - card against the Teheran Peshmergas. His mistake was of ders while the Iranian Army, for regime? If so the KDPI doesn’t thinking that the Islamic regime its part, ceased military opera - carry much weight and there are would rapidly collapse after the tions and stopped executing no contacts (at least not official Shah had been overthrown. Kurdish political prisoners. Was ones) between the PJAK and the After 1983 the KDPI and the this a defeat or a real ceasefire? USA. The Iranian Kurdistan Komala withdrew to the Iraqi In any case a number of young card, unlike the Iraqi Kurdistan border and, finally into Iraqi Iranian Kurds are again fighting one, is not really promising. Kurdistan. in the PKK ranks against Turkey while relations between Teheran Sève Izouli-Aydin: “The fate of The two assassinations of the and Ankara have again become the Kurds in Syria”. KDPI leaders, Ghassemlou and tense since Turkey supports the Sherefkandi) were terrible blows Syrian opposition. Sève Izouli-Aydin began by and this party fell into a fault recalling the terrible years that that is frequent in Kurdish histo - Iranian Kurdistan, like that of followed the 1980 coup d’état in ry — that of a “ war between chiefs Turkey, has problems of geo - Turkey, when even the Kurds of and under-chiefs ” in a society still graphically defining itself, Syrian border villages round impregnated with tribal organi - unlike Iraqi Kurdistan. Qamishlo were living in fear of sations. The KDPI and the According to Iranian Kurds, Turkish incursions and the Komala split into a number of Kurdistan includes the impact created by the BBC’s movements that event went so provinces of Western announcement of the founding far as to confront one another Azerbaijan, Kurdistan, Ilam and of the Kurdish Institute in Paris violently. The years following Kermanshah. Western the assassinations were leaden Azerbaijan has cities largely in Then she outlined the broad years. habited by Azeri Shiites, like population figures of the Syrian Urmiah, Koy, Maku, Miandoab. Kurds, recalling the case of the The year 2004 saw a renewal of In 1946 qazi Mohammad had “Stateless” Kurds, either regis - Kurdish civil resistance under already refused to take a stand tered as foreigners or just not the relative liberalisation of on the issue of including the city registered at all, who live, para - President Khatami, with stu - of Urmiah in the Mahabad doxically enough, in some of the dents as at Samanjad, doctors, Republic, although some Azeri richest regions in Syria, because lawyers, journalists all watching tribal chiefs had called for this. of their water resources. In 1970, closely what was happening in The province of Sananjad has a a law on redistribution of agri - other parts of Kurdistan while more or less homogenous popu - cultural land deprived these still remaining close to the lation (Sunni Kurds); “stateless” Kurds of their land to Iranian context of the Kurdish Kermanshah and Ilam have het - give it to Arab colonists from question and suspicious of the erogeneous, largely Shiite, popu - other parts of Syria. traditional parties. lations. Iranian Kurdistan calls for a more complex solution The first Syrian Kurdish party That year also saw the founding than that of article 140 of the was founded in 1956 (the KDPS). of the PJAK, considered to be an Iraqi Constitution, to resolve the Today there are about a dozen, offshoot of the PKK, that was problem of the “disputes” with four particularly active and fighting for a “democratic and Iranian territories. influential parties. federal Iran”. Some young Kurds who admired the PKK Recently two rival leaders of the Thus one can talk of a real joined PJAK and started clashes KDPI, Mustafa Hijri and Khaled “Syrian Kurdish opposition”, with the Guardians of the Azizi, were able to meet (thanks with parties, associations, Revolution. Whale the PKK had to the efforts of Dr. Frédéric demands, a programme and for a long time been tolerated or Tissot, former French consul in considerable capacity for mobil - better in Iran, the rapproche - Irbil), which may allow us to ising within the population. ment between Erdogan’s Turkey hope for some cooperation and Teheran changed that situa - between the two rival branches Prior to the 2011 Syrian revolu - tion completely. of the KGP-I. tion, there had been the 2004 uprising following the attacks on After several years of clashes the Will the upheavals of the Arab Kurdish supporters during a PJAK concluded a ceasefire with Spring reach Iran? Are the football match by Arabs shout - the Iranians in the autumn of Americans using the Kurdish ing slogans attacking Barzani — n° 335 • February 2013 Information and liaison bulletin • 11 •

brawls that were then sup - Celîlê Celîl: “The Kurdish com - What is the assessment 20 years pressed by shooting by Baathist munities of the former USSR after the collapse of the Soviet militia. This repression after the collapse of commu - block: unleashed a series of riots in nism”. Kurdish towns and the statues In Georgia a war created prob - of Hafez al-Assad wand pulled This region has played a lems for many minorities but the down in the town of Amude, remarkable intellectual poten - Kurds now have more rights, well before the Arab revolt of tial, because of the work of the some organisations have come 2011. Kurdish intellectuals, artists and into existence some associations, scientists in the ex-Soviet Union. though with little economic or Other laws in the years2000-2010 The Kurds of the three Republics political influence. were past attacking the Kurds in the Caucasus have experi - and forbidding any real estate enced different dynamics. Thus In Azerbaijan being Kurdish is transactions, banning the in Azerbaijan the 20s saw a no longer forbidden but thou - employment of stateless persons gradual decline in Kurdish sands of Kurds have forgotten or agricultural regulations hin - dynamism. In Georgia their their language. In Karabagh and dering all activity in the Kurdish number has diminished since other regions that want to be regions. 1991. integrated into Azerbaijan the Kurds have had to face a kind of Following the 2011 revolution, a Until the end or the regime, the persecution and have also aban - decree by Bachar al-Asssd on 7 Kurds wanted to keep their doned their language and cul - April restored Syrian nationality identity: the villages were ture. to the Kurds. However, this was grouped close to each other and far from being the Kurds’ only these rural groupings became In Armenia there is now a split demand, contrary to press the basis for Kurdish identity, between the Yezidi and Moslem reports, since “ the recognition of described in books, magazines Kurds — two groups have been fundamental and democratic rights by intellectuals and teachers. formed with two alleged sepa - is at zero level”: freedom of expres - rate languages and two different sion, the length of detention, sepa - However many Kurds were cultures. Kurds have no political ration of powers, an independent deported to Central Asia by rights (not even a Kurdish mem - TV, freedom to form political par - Stalin, which created a new dias - ber of Parliament). Kurdish soci - ties, free and regular elections, lift - pora in Kazakhstan, which is ety has thus lost its unity. The ing the ban on parties. It was, still very stable. Then new cul - cultural associations have disap - indeed, a demand for establishing a tural doors were opened after peared, as they are no longer state of Laws. Thus the restoration Stalin’s death. In 1955, there was supported by the State. Some of their nationality to Syrian Kurds the publication of a Kurdish lan - newspapers will also disappear is not to be seen as a present ” — guage daily, followed by several and TV programmes are limited it’s one of a number of funda - literary works. The Kurdish to one hour. mental rights of which the intellectual world had a new Kurds have been deprived. voice as well as the scientific There are some positive points: Kurdish speaking world, until the Cyrillic alphabet has been The Kurds have always been the beginning of the Glasnost replaced by the Latin alphabet. against the Syrian dictatorship and Perestroika period. The daily Riya Taze also uses it. but they distrust the Moslem This is an important develop - Brotherhood that is trying to Then there came a new era, an ment for the Kurds of the ex- take over the Syrian revolution intermingling of freedom with USSR, as it is an instrument of with the help of the Turkish chaos. Religious conflicts were exchange and a link with the AKP, despite the secular charac - transformed into ethnic con - other Kurds and the different ter of Syria. flicts, with armed bands and the diaspora. war led to changes in Armenia The Kurds also have some specif - and Azerbaijan, especially for Overall, in the ex-USSR the ic demands and reject a second the Kurds. There were thou - Kurds enjoy a certain cultural “Syrian Arab Republic”. They are sands of victims in Azerbaijan, autonomy but their rights are also in favour of a secular and the Moslem and Yezidi Kurds insufficient and the scattering of democratic State — they want the were forced to leave the country. the diaspora makes things hard - Constitution to specify the equali - Most of them went to er. Only the diaspora in ty of men and women. Kazakhstan or Kirghizstan. Kazakhstan is strong enough so • 12 • Information and liaison bulletin n° 335 • February 2013

many Kurds from Sates in the In 1970 the Kurds wanted to cre - Turkishness — much the Union Caucasus have gone there to ate an organisation and then go and Progress party (the Young continue their work. into armed struggle. In 1980, in Turks) demanded of the the diaspora, they wanted at Armenians in 1914. least to save their culture — Hamit Bozarslan: “Turkish hence the foundation of the Paris There has also been an evolution Kurdistan from the 1980 Army Kurdish Institute. in Kurdish political language: in coup d’état to the AKP”. 1982-3 it was essentially Marxist- The balance sheet: thousands of Leninist mingled with Frantz In 1983, the most important fac - villages destroyed, a mass Fanon, then came the Ocalan tor then was the existence of urbanisation of the Kurds in personality cult, This distin - mass terror — the Kurdish lan - Turkey, the disappearance of the guishes the Kurds of Turkey guage was banned, for the first tribal and rural traditions. There from the other Kurds who never time since the 20s and is, however, a new Kurdish had a cult about their leaders, Kurdistan, as the film Yol shows, landscape — being Kurdish has even very popular ones like was a prison inside another become the very basis of politi - Ghassemlou or Barzani. prison — Turkey. cal struggle, even if the AKP has established itself there in a sig - However today there are no However, the Kurdish move - nificant manner, since its local standards on an international ment and Kurdish socialisation representatives stand as Kurds. scale, as there were before, existed and crossed the genera - under the influence of the USSR tions. In the 60sthere was the The BDP party now exercises or Albania. It is Brussels or resurgence of an autonomous some hegemony over the Washington that set the tone, Kurdish movement. In the 70s a Kurdish movement and has won and some Kurds now engage great number of Kurdish move - a central position in Kurdistan discourse on ecological, feminist ments and organisations were and in Turkey. or homosexual defence themes created. In 1977 an openly etc. Turkish Kurdistan has Kurdish mayor, Mehdi Zana, There has been a 1968 genera - become an area of artistic cre - won the municipal elections. A tion, then a 1978 generation, fol - ation and aesthetic pluralism: movement was emerging from lowed by 1988, 1998 and 2008 music, theatre and all kinds of under the repression — very waves: the Kurdish movement expressions. much radicalised and fragment - can now ensure its transmission ed in 1971. The ending of across the generations. Research about Kurdistan has Mustafa Barzani’s revolt, that However, each generation repre - developed enormously. More the Kurds of Turkey had hoped sents a breach and invents its and more young researchers are for, regarding Barzani as their own political language with dif - leaving the Kurdish question as “grand-father”, somewhat broke ferent profiles: Ahmet Turk (70 such to devote themselves to a the movement — but also years old), Ocalan (64) but also whole heap of other subjects: enabled them to organise them - some mayors in collars and ties childhood, housing etc within selves in Turkey. and young women who have Kurdish society with calmer real political influence are mak - analyses, a sure sign of becom - Between 1977-78 saw the cre - ing this movement a long-term ing commonplace. ation of the PKK and the KUK. one. After the 1980 coup d’état, the However, the Middle East is in a Kurds of Turkey opened out to In Turkey, the political language precarious and versatile situa - the Middle East and became a is changing — there is no longer tion, a new period of violence major part of the diaspora in a denial of existence of Kurds, can be feared even if we are not Europe. In fact, the PKK but the nationalist language in the 1980s, in the Kurds’ dark - engaged in its first armed strug - defines them “ the enemies within, est, most tragic years. gles in the Lebanon, against a biological threat to the Turks ”. Israel, not against Turkey. The Or else consider Kurds as an The second Round Table was diaspora was composed of very uncivilised group that has to be chaired by Mr Kendal Nezan, young activists, between 18 and civilised by the Ministries of President of the Paris Kurdish 20 years — the oldest were bare - Justice and Education . . . The Institute. Its subject was: ly 30. They had been politicised AKP is offering to recognise “Kurdish Society at the turn of since their adolescence and were them but, in return for their the millennium”. Those taking very fragmented in Europe. serving the interests of Moslem part are Mrs Nezand Begikhani, n° 335 • February 2013 Information and liaison bulletin • 13 •

of Bristol University, Mr. Khalid rences, even though things are and became culturally close to Khayati, of Linköping University, slowly changing: its practice is their neighbours. Mr. Philip Kreyenbroek, of gradually being condemned as a Göttingen University and Mr. “dishonour” rather than an hon - At the time of the Kurdish resis - Ephrem-Isa Yousif, a philosopher our. More than 50 NGOs are tance in Iraq, the Christians and writer. working on violence against sided with Barzani and took part women: information, social in the revolution to demand As Nezand Begikhani , of activism, protection (safety hos - some rights for Kurdistan. They Bristol University, was unavoid - tels) but these services are over - joined the Peshmergas from the ably absent, her contribution loaded and liable to be attacked first, in the country and abroad. was read by Mrs Khanna by the victims’ families. Thus after the signing of the Omarkhali: “The Women’s Algiers agreements in 1975 and Question in Kurdistan and in the The issue of honour crimes was Barzini’s departure Baghdad diaspora”. not included in the KRG’s politi - exacted reprisals. Amongst the cal programmes until the last 4000v villages destroyed, 182 “Honour crimes” take place few years, which have seen the were Christian. The Anfal cam - inside a family or a community first attempts to pave the way paign hit the Christians of that allow these aggressions. for fighting against these prac - Kurdistan as well. During the “Honour crimes” in the tices. This gives Iraqi Kurdistan 1991 exodus they fled with the Kurdistan Region of Iraq and in a key role, even though these Kurds and were in the camps the diaspora have been the sub - crimes remain endemic, being with them in Turkey. ject of research financed by the part of a wider range of violence Kurdistan Regional Government against women — acts of vio - The autonomous region, to on the basis of its field work. lence that are themselves part of which the Christians subse - a context of political and historic quently returned with the These research projects were ini - violence. Hence the slow Kurds, saw a renaissance of tiated after the stoning of Doa progress. Christianity as from 1993. Khalil, a Yezidi teenager of Iraqi Teaching in the Aramaic lan - Kurdistan. The Region’s Prime Honour crimes are an expres - guage was encouraged by the Minister initiated several mea - sion of the inequality between Kurdish government and sures to struggles against this men and women — and it con - Assyrian and Chaldean political scourge, including an enquiry to tributes to strengthening that parties were formed. evaluate its extent. inequality. The autonomous region also It is most important to reach an Ephrem-Isa Yousif: “Christianity encouraged the Christians’ cul - understanding of what is meant in Kurdistan”. tural efforts, with some cultural by “honour”. The collective, be centres and Mgr. Rabban’s it family, clan or nation has Christianity has a very ancient Lycée (High School) in Duhok, codes of conduct with a scale of presence in Mesopotamia and which is open to all and where honour or dishonour. Women the town that are today Kurdish both Kurdish and Aramaic are must be chaste, obedient and were the birthplaces of taught to pupils of both sexes modest. There are expectations Christianity, with the preemi - and all origins. Three years ago regarding their way of dressing, nent role of the Syriac transla - the Directorate of Syriac culture love, marriage and divorce. tors who transmitted the Greek and arts was created at Ankawa, Romantic relations, being seen classics in both Iraq and with offices at Duhok at out in male company, loss of vir - Kurdistan. However, following Suleymaniah. Eighteen months ginity before marriage endanger the Mongol invasions, then ago a Christian Culture and Art them, hence a practice of con - those of the Timurides, and the Museum was opened at cealment for fear of remarks, great plagues (the black death) Ankawa. gossip, rumours. Society as a there was a spectacular fall of whole suffers from this, not only Christian presence in Quite the contrary happened in the women. Mesopotamia. The Christians Iraq, following the fall of the then withdraw to the mountains Baath regime. There a hunt for There are no precise figures and Kurdish regions, Hakkari, Christians was opened in Mosul, about these honour crimes but Soran, and Baban etc. Some 90% Baghdad and Basra and a new they are wide spread in Iraqi of the Christians ended up in the exodus — either abroad or to Kurdistan, almost daily occur - Ottoman Empire, in Kurdistan, Kurdistan. Over 100,000 • 14 • Information and liaison bulletin n° 335 • February 2013

Christians have been settled in complexity of Kurdish society. some Moslem groups and the the Kurdish Region, which helps Most Kurds are Sunni Moslem Yezidis or the Kaka’i. them to settle, to rebuild the vil - (mostly Shafeïte) with a minority lages and provides linguistic of duodecimal Shiites in Iran, Sufism and its dervish brother - assistance to the Arabic-speak - and several Sufi orders that play hoods in Kurdistan also suffer ing Iraqi Christians for their an essential role in Kurdish cul - from lack of research, particular - education and integration into ture. To this must be added ly regarding the development of Kurdish society. some Christian groups that are the Qaderis and their relations also an integral part of the with other groups in the In the Mosul plain, 5 Christian Kurdish religious space, as were autonomous region towns and villages administra - the Jews in the past, before their tively dependent on al-Qaida emigration and a whole series of Since the 80s, the Alevis in dominated Mosul, have been religious minorities like the Turkey and the diaspora are try - given peace, protection and sta - Alevis, Yezidis and yaresan ing to find their identity in an bility by the Kurdish (Kaka’I or Ahl-é Haqq). active manner. In Germany, Peshmergas. However they are Alevis, both Kurdish and not included into the KRG but Some even smaller groups also Turkish, come to Göttingen to remain administratively depen - play a role, like the Shabak or try to find the Kurdish roots of dent on Mosul Province that is the Barzani, who have retained Alevism, that has taken on many hostile to them. in their community some very elements from older Kurdish ancient religious elements of religious movements, while the The Christians are now asking which we know very little. Alevi myths and legends are the Kurdish authorities for slowly fading from memories as University courses in Syriac, a Western perception also the older generations disappear. demand supported by the changed once it discovered the Kurdish Institute. Kurds in the 70s and 80s, with The Yezidis have experienced the first political refugees, while the greatest changes: victims of Kendal Nezan then talked of the the Turkish representatives in persecution in Turkey during Christian participation in the Europe were exerting pressure the 70s and 80s, West Germany Kurdistan liberation movement, on them the West to continue to gave them collectively political with some major historic figures: believe that the Kurds did not asylum. Their religious practice Father Paul Beidar, member of exist but were all “ Turkish citi - was then very discrete, as in the leadership of the Kurdish zens with the same religion as the Iraq, where the Yezidi religion Movement in the 60s; Turks ”. Little was known about was considered by many Marguerite George, who led a Kurdish specific characteristics Moslems to be “impure”. women’s brigade; François and diversities, cultural, linguis - Hariri, who was the first tic and also religious — during However, during the Anfal cam - Christian governor of Irbil and the period of PKK prominence paign, the world became aware one of Massud Barzani’s closest there was even a tendency to of the Kurds as in 1991. The set - associates until he was assassi - minimise them, considering that ting up of the autonomous zone nated by Islamic fundamental - it harmed Kurdish unity. led the leaders of the movement ists. to ask questions about Kurdish The religious life of the different identity. In 1991, Massud Finally there is the new Moslem Kurdish communities Barzani spoke of the Yezidi reli - Chaldean Patriarch, the former has not yet been studied in gion as the “original” Kurdish Bishop of Kirkuk, who is a detail, as is the case for the rest religion, which was pasted up Christian from Zakho — which of the Middle East Sunnis, which on the walls of all the Yezidi moves the centre of gravity of gives the West the distorted communities. Mesopotamian Christianity from image that all the Sunnis have a Western Universities then Baghdad to Kurdistan, homogenous culture. This did became interested in the Yezidis not allow an understanding of and those in the diaspora began Philip Kreyenbroek: “The the emergence of extremist to make themselves heard. development of the religious Kurdish groups like Ansar al- Today many Yezidis want to space in the last 30 years”. Islam, or the increase in of prac - study the whole body of their tices like excision in a culture sacred texts, hitherto only trans - Kurds and non-Kurds have where it had been inexistent, as mitted orally, which is a major become aware of the religious well as the tensions between revolution. n° 335 • February 2013 Information and liaison bulletin • 15 •

The Ahl-é Haqq in Iran are expe - tions linked to the Kurdish dias - with a transnational culture and riencing serious tensions pora: language, literature, and some symbols representing feel - between those who consider social questions. ings and emotions in several themselves Moslems, and so tol - areas. The Kurdish identity in erated by the regime and those Rogers Brubakers, an American the diaspora was built round a who see themselves as outside sociologist working on the dias - discourse of victimisation, of an Islam and thus persecuted. This pora gave this definition: a dias - identity of being victims as with has led to a great split in the pora has three important com - the Armenians. It was not the community. The Moslem Ahl-é ponents: dispersion, since any product of imagination but root - Haqq have drawn the attention population considered as a dias - ed in traumatic experiences of of academics in recent years pora is a population that has real tragedies: — the genocide, while the other group is consid - been dispersed by forced dis - the chemical air raids in Iraq, the ered in these works as “back - placement or departure under severe repression of the Kurds ward” and “ignorant”. This has, constraint; a tendency to look in Turkey, the denial of their unfortunately led to their being back to the old country, as a identity and banning their lan - persecuted by the Iranian gov - community retains an emotional guage, the destruction of vil - ernment. or concrete link with its country; lages and the use of capital pun - the maintenance of a specific ishment for ethnic purposes. In Iraq the atmosphere of fear identity different from that of was the same as that of the the original group that has The Kurds also experienced Yezidis in 1991 and still exists remained in the country, since policies of discrimination and of among the Kaka’i in the Kurdish its identity is mixed. social exclusion in Europe. In autonomous Region so they con - Sweden they lived in segregated tinue to keep quiet. One of them The Kurdish diaspora is a very areas and could not get decent who advocates spreading their vast one — it stretches from jobs. This was also linked to the culture, the former Minister of Kurdistan to Central Asia, to kind of life the Kurds had in the Culture, himself a Kaka’I, Russia, Europe the Iraqi towns, areas where they were working. received death threats (from his Syria, Iran, Turkey and beyond community) after he announced the Kurdistan Region. Among the many internal prob - that he hoped to publish a book lems of this diaspora was a on his religion. Because of these The first group to arrive in pathology of Kurdish politics, misgivings, some crucial infor - Europe was a group of intellec - that of “divide and rule”, with mation about the Kaka’I and tuals, a list of whom is given in different political organisations other groups that speak Gorani the Bulletin of the Kurdistan and certain groups being consid - are not available. Research Centre. The second ered mutual enemies. This was wave of Kurdish students creat - sometimes passed on to the sec - In the last 30years, great changes ed a first Kurdish students’ ond generation of the diaspora. have taken place, especially in the organisation that celebrated perception of religious space, out - Newroz for the first time in There was also an association of side Kurdistan, where they used Europe in 1956, but there wasn’t Kurds with violence — the word to consider that all the Kurds, a real diaspora until the 80s, Kurdish is often raised when Turks or Arabs were Moslem. with the arrival of refugees. discussing “honour crimes” or However the religious complexi - violence linked to honour. ty of Kurdish society is now bet - Before that there was a large- ter known. This openness should, scale arrival of Kurdish labour However, this feeling of victimi - as in the case of the Yezidis, mean in Western Europe, especially in sation provides a certain dynam - an improvement for all members Germany. This, however, could ic: the Kurds created a large of the community, but our not be considered part of a dias - number of organisation, institu - knowledge of certain Kurdish pora — it was later that they tions and transnational net - religions is still insufficient. started to be identified with the works, like the Kurdish Kurdish diaspora, with a politi - Institute, to strengthen and revi - Khalid Khayati: “The formation cal change and the fact that the talise their identity in the dias - of the Kurdish diaspora in second generation became inter - pora. Europe”. ested in their origins. The Kurdish diaspora has been a We should, as with the Kurdish The forming of the diapora meeting place for a good num - question, discuss many ques - occurred to preserve its identity, ber of Kurds, which has had • 16 • Information and liaison bulletin n° 335 • February 2013

positive consequences. Thus Studies by recalling that in the Kurdish, had in unifying Khaled Khayati, a Kurd from 60s a bare handful of academics Kurdish speech and its literary Iran met Kurds from Turkey were interested in the Kurds — language. It also, consequently, within the diaspora. Kurdish in France they were Roger played a part in the feeling of dialects that were eradicated in Lescot, Celadet Bedir Khan and national identity. That period of Turkey still exist in Sweden in a Gérard Chaliand. The founding religious education in Kurdish in diaspora that is an area of popu - of the Kurdish Institute of Paris the madrassas was a primordial lation visibility where people created an important centre for one in a very Persianised context can appear in public and where information and resources. — that is cosmopolitan rather they have a right to exist. It is than nationalist. also a place for cultural and Michiel Leezenberg: “Linguistic artistic and academic achieve - debates in Kurdistan´ or alterna - A century later, at the end of the ment, a place where democratic tively “The Kurdish language 19 th and beginning of the 20 th values are promoted. The dias - and “super-diversity”. Century, was a stage of nation pora also put pressure on Iraqi building but, for the Kurds, Kurdistan in favour of democra - Bülent Arinçsaid in the Turkish rather one of the destruction of a cy, equality of the sexes, the Parliament that Kurdish is a lan - nation. Linguistic development rights of women and of children. guage without a civilisation. He was more secular than religious. is wrong, even though some The period saw the development The Kurdish diaspora is an illus - long-standing differences exist of a Latin alphabet by the Bedir tration of cross-border citizen - between the dialects of the Khan brothers in Syria and in ship: it does not have a single regions of Kurdistan. the Soviet Union (with Erebê state, with one flag, one lan - Semo, for example) where a guage — one can be or several Four stages in the vernacularisa - Latin alphabet was also devised nationalities. It is also the most tion and standardisation of the and then a Cyrilic one. However, politicised diaspora in the Kurdish language: it was also the development of a world, which is over-represent - new dialect as a national one, ed in Sweden — there are, The 17 th and 18 th Centuries were Soranî, which till then had not today, 7 Kurdish members our the period of the vernaculisation been considered standard lan - of 349 Members of the Swedish and standardisation of the guage, despite its expansion. parliament, 4 men and 3 women Kurdish language. Many people from different political organisa - know the work of Khani and his The third phase is that of the tions. Kurdish intellectuals are “Nûbara biçûkan ” (dictionary) Paris Kurdish Institute and the well represented in Swedish cul - but few know that there are two Kurds of the diaspora. During tural and public life. works of grammar and linguistic the years of total cultural repres - and religious sciences produced sion, some Kurdish intellectuals , A Ministry for the diaspora at the same time, which saw the particularly in Sweden, Mehmet ought to be formed in the beginning of an educational tra - Emin Bozarslan, Mehmet Uzun Kurdistan Regional Government dition in Kurdish, accompanied and Reşo Zîlan undertook by a literary civilisation amongst important work to perpetuate The third and last Round Table the Kurds. How many people the existence of a literary and was presided by Mrs Joyce Blau, have heard of Ali Termukhi? Yet modern Kurdish language, professor emeritus of INALCO. Its he was one of the most impor - which required some heroic subject was “Language, litera - tant people in the intellectual efforts for this generation that ture and artistic creation in history of Kurdish literature, the had been educated to think in Kurdistan”. Those taking part first man to have written a Turkish. The Southern Kurds are: Michiel Leezenberg, Kurdish grammar, which is had never undergone this kind Amsterdam University, Reşo almost unknown since the of assimilation process, hence ZÎLAN, The Kurdish Institute of “Tesrifa kurmancî” is a very the great differences in the liter - Paris, Mrs. Clémence SCAL - small booking Kurdish about the ary tradition of these two BERT, Exeter University, Mr. Kurdish language. It was used in Kurdish languages. Salih AKIN, Rouen University, primary classes of the madrassas Mrs. Khanna OMARKHALI, of North Kurdistan and all the Phase 4, at the start of this centu - Göttingen University. former pupils of these madras - ry, is one of consolidation — and sas knew the book by heart. also, paradoxically enough, of Joyce Blau gave a short history Hence the incredible role that globalisation. In Southern of the development of Kurdish this book, written in Northern Kurdistan, cultural and linguis - n° 335 • February 2013 Information and liaison bulletin • 17 •

tic activities are made easier. In does seem legitimate it no longer language in higher education is Northern Kurdistan the corresponds to the reality of glob - beginning to be an issue that “Kurdish opening” has created alised world. The Kurdish lan - many European universities are real opportunities for studying guage cannot, today, be unified. facing. the Kurdish language at univer - sity and secondary school, and In a conference last year at A brief history of Kurdish in a few years time this could Amed-Diyarbekir, everyone Studies over the last 30 years. extend down to the primary spoke their own Kurdish dialect schools. and everyone was, more or less, At the beginning of the 19 th understood … or not. However, Century several European as The Kurdish language has, thus, everyone wanted a unified lan - well as Kurdish academics, incredible opportunities — but guage — while thinking that it began to be interested in also some centrifugal tendencies was important to cultivate his Kurdish language and literature, with the politicising of dialects own dialect. with a certain number of publi - and writings. In Southern cations, for example Grazoni’s Kurdistan, writing in Latin char - This is a fairly realistic conclu - grammar. In Russia Kurdish acters implies sympathy with sion: there are ancient differ - Studies also began in the 19 th the PKK; some varieties of ences of dialect, of literary tradi - Century with some publications. Kurdish are connected with tions, but a feeling of cultural sympathy for one political party unity. The reality must, there - Russia can be considered to be or another. fore, be accepted — that Kurdish the cradle of Kurdish Studies, is a language that has at least with the cities of Petersburg- There is also a process of urbani - four standards: Leningrad, Erevan and Moscow, sation, of migration national and where Kurdish Studies formed international migration, satellite the Kurdish of Northern an independent field of study, TV and Internet (Facebook), Kurdistan, Kurmancî, written with a team of specialists that which has, paradoxically, with Latin characters was unique in the world for the strengthened Kurdish national number and variety of its feeling still more. Globalising Zaza, that has developed in research projects. world technology = super diver - Northern Kurdistan as a written sity, new cultural forms, language, and perhaps other In the20th Century, Kurdish dialects, and variations of lan - dialects Studies began to be very active guage: the development of a in the 30s at Leningrad hip-hop culture in Kurdish. - the Soranî of Southern University and form the basis of Kurdistan, written with a more modern Kurdish Studies. There is also a debate over the or less Persian alphabet standardised language. In In 1959, this group of Kurdish Southern Kurdistan some intel - - the Kurdish of behdini, of Studies became an independent lectuals recently wanted to make Southern Kurdistan, also written unit of the Leningrad Institute of Sorani the standard language for with Persian letters, which s not Oriental Studies. It covered all Kurds with a centralisation of quite identical to Kurmancî three major disciplines: Kurdish the language, which gave rise to a history, language and Mediaeval heated polemic, since the Kurds Khanna OMARKHALI: studies, led by Orbelian, have always stood up against the “Kurdish Studies in Europe”. Zuckerman, Kurdoev, Rudenko, centralisation of other States. This Mussaelian Vassilieva, is the paradox the Kurds are in: The Kurdish language is daily Smirnova, O. Celîl and with the Kurdistan Regional gaining in importance, on all Yousupova. The strong point of Government, Internet etc. it is sides and in different countries the Kurdish studies at St much easier to form a national as well as in Kurdistan. The rea - Petersburg was linguistics and community. Yet, at the same time son is not just the importance of work on different Kurdistan there are more possibilities for the the Kurdish question in the dialects: Mukrî, Kurmancî, diversification of the Kurdish lan - changes that the Middle East is Sorani and Zaza. guage, which goes against the going through but also the fact ideology that considers that lin - that the Kurds are beginning to Literature was also a strong guistic and cultural unification be an important part of the point of this group, with helps political unification. This is European population and the Rudenko as leader, who trans - a 19 th Century idea even but if it question of teaching the Kurdish lated a certain number of works • 18 • Information and liaison bulletin n° 335 • February 2013

by ancient Kurdish poets. This supports Kurdish Studies A de-territorialising of the work centre was able to train active abroad, with centres like the of writing can also be seen, due Kurdologists not only in the Kurdish Studies Department at to political conditions, as from USSR but also in Kurdistan. Exeter. In 2011 the Kurdish the first years of the Turkish Studies Network was launched Republic, with Hawar appearing There are now two schools and on Internet. Contacts between un Syria and the setting up of a two directions taken by Kurdish research workers throughout the Kurdish diaspora in Europe in Studies in Russia: St Petersburg world have become easier. the 70s. This was especially the and Moscow. The latter devotes case of the diaspora in Sweden itself mainly to the politics, econ - Mrs. Clémence SCALBERT : in the 80s,with the forming of omy, international relations and “Development of the field of Kurdish literature, since the history of the Kurds. In 1979 a Kurmancî literature”. Swedish State’s support for pub - Kurdish Study group was lishing and creating allowed formed in Moscow, separate As from the emergence of the some development of this litera - from the Department of the Near first Kurdish organisations in the ture. and Middle East. last years of the Ottoman Empire and in Kurdish nationalism, cul - Before the end of the 70s literary In the last 20 years, a significant ture played a major part — and creation was the result of a limit - number of non-academic insti - Kurdish nationalism also con - ed number of people who had a tutes and individual research tributed to reformulating that variety of different activities — workers have supported and culture. However, can all expres - the same author could write promoted Kurdish culture, sion of Kurdish culture be iden - essays, a dictionary and fiction including the Paris Kurdish tified with nationalism? How etc. Then creation became differ - Institute in 1983, with its review and with what consequences can entiated, at the end of the 70s Kurmancî. The Kurdish a minority cultural expression and after the coup d’état of 1980, Language was also taught in make itself independent of poli - but still remained linked to poli - France at INALCO by Roger tics? tics, even though the new gener - Lescot and Kamuran Bedir ation of after the coup d’état Khan. There is no standard language to turned more towards literature use as a tool of a creativity once in the diaspora. In Germany, there was the spread by education. At the Navend centre and Göttingen beginning, those who wanted to Conditions have now changed a University where they teach learn Kurdish had to do it them - great deal in Turkey and this has Kurdish language, literature and selves, had to adapt it and create had a positive effect on the cre - non-Islamic Religions. a language for writing. There ation of Kurdish literature. The were few books in Kurdish, thus role of the diaspora in creation In Vienna Celîlê Celîl has pub - very few resources on which to has diminished as the number of lished an abundance of works on build a contemporary Kurdish books published there has Kurdish literature. literature. declined whereas it has greatly increased in Turkey and in Today, however, the major part There was also a bilingualism Turkish Kurdistan. Kurdish is of the Kurdish Study pro - that became very characteristic thus becoming part Turkey’s lit - grammes are incorporated into of the practice of the Kurdish erature whereas, on the other Iranian or Islamic studies. Thus speaking population, with the hand, Kurdish literature from in 2004, at St Petersburg, the coexistence of Kurdish lan - Turkey and that from Iraq independent Kurdish Studies guages and Turkish along with, remain in two different spheres, group was integrated into the sometimes, loss of the Kurdish each more integrated into their Near East Department. language. respective national fields.

A great number of research The Kurdish language, which is While the field of Kurdish litera - workers are interested in the raw material for the creation ture has become more indepen - Kurdish Studies with a growth of Kurdish literature, also has a dent with publications, publish - of theses covering political ques - political connotation — writing ing houses etc, it continues to tions. In 2010 a Kurdish Studies in Kurdish means affirming develop under different laws. Department opened at Mardin one’s Kurdish identity, which The idea that Kurdish literature University, in Turkey. The was not an automatic choice. must be written in Kurdish is Kurdistan Regional Government still very strong, but a breach is n° 335 • February 2013 Information and liaison bulletin • 19 •

opening with some poets work - including that of the Paris dialect, which was started in ing in the Turkish language. Kurdish Institute, to preserve the 1993 and has since met about 20 Kurmancî dialect, threatened times and publishes on that The actions of State actors in the with assimilation, built round a dialect’s culture, language and field of Kurdish literature (uni - group of researchers, writers, lin - literature with the Kurdish versities, the State TV channel) guists , novelists from different Institute’s backing. means that Kurdish literature , parts of Kurdistan, who all today, is not longer an act of worked together. They founded a There are now Kurdish dictio - resistance and Kurdish literature review, “Kurmancî”, which start - naries published in almost every is thus not simply a committed ed publishing in the spring of language. There are now also literature. This could be an invi - 1967. They used to meet twice a Kurdish dictionaries on Internet. tation to review Kurdish literary year in various countries like works and their relation to other France, Belgium, Denmark, M. Salih AKIN : “Language(s) kinds of literatures of the region Germany and Sweden. The and identity(ies) in the diaspora as well as review the dynamics regional Government of in Europe.”. of resistance and determination. Kurdistan also housed w meet - ings and 2 others took place in A programme financed by the Reşo ZÎLAN: The Kurdish Northern Kurdistan, one at Wan French and German Foreign Institute of Paris, “Linguistic and one at Beyazîd. We are reach - Ministries called “contrasting studies in the diaspora”. ing our 50 th issue with over 50 evaluation of the social implica - meetings. These issues been tions of linguistics in the Linguistic studies in the diaspora bound into book form — one vol - Kurdish language as a language by Kurds and non-Kurds, over ume of 20 issues printed in of immigration” is a research the last thirty years have pro - Sweden and one of 40 issues project that associates Rouen duced some major works on the printed in Istanbul. and Potsdam Universities. Kurdish language. About 80-85 people have taken This research project has four These works on the Kurdish lan - part in these Kurmancî seminars objectives : guage by diaspora Kurds to date and unfortunately three of appeared in the 60s. The reason them are since died. measure the transmission of the was that at that time, a Kurdish first language in Germany and diaspora was settling settled Kurmancî works on: 1. questions in France abroad as it was in the 60s that of language and spelling; 2. pre - intensive emigration of Kurds serving knowledge of proverbs, to evaluate the language skills of began. This was particularly due the classics and less known pupils born of the Kurdish to the Kurdish revolts in the words of the language; 3. a lexi - immigration in their first lan - South and the intensifying of con of the speech of different kur - guage and in language in which repression on Kurdistan by politi - mancî speaking regions; 4. typical they are taught (French or cal regimes, as well as in Turkey, words and phrases of Kurdish German). as well as some economic emigra - life like carpets, clothing, cattle, To seek to determine if mastery tion. There also began an expatri - milk products, weapons etc. with of the parental language by the ation of intellectuals, who, in this a list of idioms; 5. on children’s children plays a role in their diaspora, could work on Kurdish language, in Kurdish and neigh - school results. culture and language, which they bouring languages, Kurdish and couldn’t do in Turkey. ancient languages (Parthian, To seek to study the connection Pehlevi etc); 6. qewls (religious that might exist between the lan - With the publication of books, songs) and Yezidi beyts (cou - guage and identity in the con - reviews or radio and television plets); 7. Terminology in the sci - text of the diaspora. broadcasts they wrote and spoke entific, legal economic, geograph - in Kurdish. However, they had to ical, anatomical, literary and In the framework of this action, move from a language of villages mathematical fields as well as only the 4 th point has been tack - to a more general language cosmetics and football; 8. a dic - led. adapted to modern life. This is tionary of the fauna and flora also how these intellectuals grad - with dialectic variants. Some results have been obtained ually worked to develop a lan - in discussions in French and guage and a culture. There is also a review “Vate”, Kurdish regarding the language- Several projects were born, that is working on the Zazki identity link in the context of the • 20 • Information and liaison bulletin n° 335 • February 2013

diaspora with Kurds from expression and a symbol of Kurds were practically Turkey who have had access to struggle and resistance. Using it unknown, except to specialists. education, having suited in sec - becomes a duty. Thus Mehmet They were just emerging from 30 ondary schools and universities. Uzun admitted that if Kurdish years of repression in Turkey, were not in danger of disappear - Iraq and Iran and the repression Apart from one of the people ing he would certainly have had not ended with the 1975 questioned who declared that his written in Swedish, but by writ - Algiers Agreement. mother tongue was Turkish, all ing in Kurdish he was commit - the other Kurds stated Kurdish ting himself. “ Abandoning one’s However, as tile passed, thanks was their mother tongue, even mother tongue language in the con - to accidents such as, the spring one of them, Ahmed, who comes text of the diaspora is treason ”, said of 1991, when the YV cameras from the Haymana region of one of those questioned, which were able to show the Kurdish Ankara, from a Kurdish commu - is an extreme idea of linguistic exodus from Iraq and then nity that had been displaced a loyalty, the only way maintain - another when the US decided to long time ago. ing the memory. remodel the Middle East and attack Iraq, the Kurds found Those questioned were then Recounting past events is not themselves in an unexpected sit - asked if they had received any experiencing the events, espe - uation: for the first time the education in their mother tongue: cially in exile. However, the con - Kurds were faced with manag - there is still a lack of education in vergences of testimonies enables ing a society and not just with an their mother tongue and its trans - the extent of the linguistic vio - insurrection. mission is not didactic but solely lence suffered to be brought to within the family circle. The poli - light and establish a strong con - The situation has been positive, cy of forbidding it released nection between the ethno-cul - even if fragile and imperfect among those being questioned tural identity and membership regarding the economy, educa - memories of a conflictual situa - of the diaspora. The mother tion, threatened but still much tion. Ezdan remembered the trau - tongue is the principal vector of has been done and it is more matism he suffered at school, the collective memory in the useful to welcome what has which was, above all, an area of uprooting experience of exile. been done than to lament the assimilation and that Kurdish is things that have not yet been being gradually stifled, even in The final discussion was done family circles. presided by Mr. Gérard About links with their origins: Chaliand, a writer and geo-polit - Bernard Dorin put forward two “You can’t be attached to a history, ical expert. Those taking part proposals for the future: a culture if you do not speak the were Mr. Bernard Dorin, a impressed by what had been language of that culture ” (Faris). French Ambassador de France, said about “territorial delimita - Mr. Kendal Nezan, Mr. Jonathan tions”, it seemed to him funda - It may seem paradoxical to talk Randal, a journalist, former mental to have a map on which of the beneficial effects of the Washington Post correspondent to locate “the four Kurdistans”. diaspora , but the Kurdish exiles Mr. Frédéric TISSOT, French A document is most valuable in have freed themselves from the Consul General de France at this respect — the Norodov constraints and interdictions Erbil, from 2008 to 2012. myra Atlas drawn up in the weighing on their language and Soviet Union is extremely pre - have been able again to take Gérard Chaliand recalled that cise linguistically and shows over their language and their 51 years earlier, in 1959, when he where the Kurds are throughout culture, with the possibility of was mainly working on “practi - the Near East. learning to read and write in cal anti-colonialism”, he was Kurdish. Exile, which many peo - asked to write a 30 or 40 page He also proposed that we should ple consider a mechanism of lan - article on “ a cause no one spoke be inspired by his proposal for a guage dispossession, has, in the about ” — the Kurds. He was “Council of Elders” already mad case of the Kurds, been a means given one book by Basile for Africa on the occasion of of rediscovering their mother Nikitine and one by Thomas Senghor’s funeral, which would tongue and an intellectual Bois. In 1960 the 5 th Congress of draw up a global continental rebirth. Kurdish students took place in policy. A “Council of the four East Berlin attended by Ismet Kurdistans” could meet quarter - The mother tongue is considered Cheriff Vanly and Abdulrahman ly to discuss the state of their to be an authentic means of Ghassemlou. At that time the part of Kurdistan and seek help, n° 335 • February 2013 Information and liaison bulletin • 21 •

if need be, from the other parts. Turkish border and that, while of benefit to all parts of A Pan-Kurdish Cultural Council the latest diplomatic develop - Kurdistan. would enable regular contacts ments between the KRG and with officials in the different Turkey were positive, the Iraqi He ended by referring to the Kurdish areas to create a “ spectre Kurds should remain wary. He reluctance of foreign to recognise of unity of the Kurdish nation ”. ended by recalling the tragic and the Kurdish reality and called on turbulent fate of the Christians the diaspora to take part in build - Jonathan Randal recalled his of Mesopotamia and of the Tur ing a future for the Kurds. first contacts with the Kurdish Abdin over the last two cen - Institute, its library and the turies and the danger of their Kendal Nezan agreed that there Kurdish circle that he met then, disappearing. was still an enormous amount of including Ghassemlou and the work to be done and to hope help he’d received from Kendal Frédéric Tissot stressed the that hand it over to younger Nezan and Joyce Blau when he major role of the Kurdish dias - generations. He also explained was writing his book “After pora that saw to it that the the difficulty of ensuring the Such Knowledge What Western countries would finally financial survival of an indepen - Forgiveness?”. He then talked know what is a Kurd and also dent institution, open to all the about Kissinger’s betrayal of the the role it could still play to Kurds and also to the Christians Kurdish revolution and how ensure that one that there really of Kurdistan without becoming Mustafa Barzani had said he be a Kurdistan. dependent on Kurdish political wanted to make Kurdistan the parties. He also paid tribute to 53 rd American State. After a his - He wanted to draw attention to the memory of all the foreign tory summary of the betrayals the fact the linguistic and cultur - public figures who have sup - that the Kurds had experienced al diversity of the Kurds does ported the Institute, including from the Great Powers, he said not always enriching but can Danielle Mitterrand as well as that when looking at the “suc - also be a handicap, recalling the the outstanding Kurdish intel - cess story” of Iraqi Kurdistan it civil war of 1994-96 and that it lectuals from all parts of should not be forgotten that made the Region’s daily running Kurdistan who contributed their George Bush Senior had called of the Region harder, both inside prestige in founding the Kurdish upon the Kurds and Shiites to the KRG and in its relations with Institute. He called for the col - revolt against Saddam in 1991 — Baghdad. lective work of the Institute to making them then pay terrible continue and announced that a price. He also recalled George The diaspora must still continue Kurdish dictionary would soon Bush Junior’s attempt to have its unceasing work to ensure be coming drawn up by the US troops enter Iraq via the that this wealth and diversity be Institute. Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Özeti FEVRIER 1, 2013 Irak: Grandes manifestations sunnites contre le Premier ministre Par Kamal Naama / (Reuters) nés et marginalisés par le pou- voir en place, dominé par les ALLOUDJA, Irak- Des chiites depuis la chute du parti dizaines de milliers de Baas. Fmanifestants sunnites ont défilé Craignant de voir les isla- vendredi en divers points mistes attiser la colère des sun- d'Irak, après les grandes prières nites, Nouri al Maliki a lâché du hebdomadaires, pour clamer lest sur certains points et libéré leur colère envers le Premier plusieurs centaines de détenus. ministre chiite, Nouri al Maliki. La colère des manifestants sun- Les sunnites manifestent nites, loin de s'apaiser, a monté depuis la fin décembre contre la d'un cran après la mort de cinq discrimination dont est victime personnes tuées par l'armée selon eux leur communauté lors d'un rassemblement à depuis la chute de Saddam Falloudja, voici une semaine. Hussein en 2003 et l'arrivée au «Nous n'oublierons jamais ce après l'achèvement du retrait politique de «débaassification». pouvoir des chiites, majoritaires que l'armée nous a fait, non militaire américain, le gouver- Le vice-Premier ministre, Saleh dans la population. seulement vendredi dernier nement dirigé par Maliki, al Moutlak, qui est sunnite, a Défilant sous l'ancien dra- mais, plus largement, en pre- constitué de chiites, de sunnites déclaré qu'une rencontre tenue peau à trois étoiles, qui était nant parti contre nous», décla- et de Kurdes, est ainsi confronté vendredi avec l'Alliance natio- celui de l'Irak sous Saddam rait un manifestant à Falloudja. à sa crise la plus grave, d'autant nale, la coalition chiite de Hussein, des dignitaires sun- «Notre nouvelle revendication, plus que ses composantes ne se Maliki, et avec Irakia, formation nites, des cheikhs de tribus et c'est que l'armée irakienne se sont toujours pas entendues, soutenue par les sunnites, avait de jeunes manifestants ont retire de notre secteur», ajou- depuis plus d'un an, sur les permis d'avancer sur certains exigé que l'actuelle législation tait-il. modalités de partage du pou- projets de réformes. «On peut antiterroriste soit amendée, de Discussion sur une loi voir. dire que les choses ont avancé même que celle qui a encadré la d'amnistie Nouri al Maliki a chargé au cours de cette réunion, ce «débaassification» du pays - L'Etat islamique d'Irak, la une haute personnalité chiite de qui ne s'était probablement pas l'interdiction faite aux membres branche irakienne d'Al-Qaida, a discuter avec les manifestants produit les fois précédentes», a- de l'ancien parti Baas de Ë appelé jeudi la communauté de leurs revendications, notam- t-il dit. Saddam Hussein d'occuper des sunnite à prendre les armes ment d'une loi d'amnistie et postes dans l'administration. contre Nouri al Maliki. Un an d'un assouplissement de la Les sunnites se disent discrimi-

L'archevêque de Kirkouk, Louis Sako, élu patriarche des Chaldéens CITE DU VATICAN, 01 février 2013 (AFP) dAmérique du Nord ou dEurope. Le nouveau "patriarche de Babylone des Chaldéens" est bien vu des autori- MGR LOUIS SAKO, archevêque de Kirkouk, ville du Kurdistan irakien, a tés irakiennes et des Occidentaux. Il est jugé pro-kurde et comme ayant favo- été élu patriarche de l'Eglise chaldéenne dans la nuit de jeudi à vendredi risé dans son diocèse une collaboration fraternelle avec l'islam. à Rome, ont annoncé plusieurs sites de l'Eglise chaldéenne. Comme les autres communautés, les Chaldéens ont payé cher les suites de Mgr Sako, qui a été élu par les quinze évêques de cette église réunis depuis l'intervention américaine lancée contre le régime de Saddam Hussein, les lundi à Rome, remplace le patriarche Emmanuel III Delly qui avait démis- chrétiens ayant été perçus parfois comme les alliés des "croisés" occiden- sionné en décembre, après avoir atteint 85 ans. taux. La nouvelle de l'élection de Mgr Sako a été annoncée vendredi matin sur le Selon Radio Vatican, cette Église, rattachée à Rome, comptait quelque site Ankawa.com des communautés chrétiennes d'Irak et sur celui du patriar- 550.000 fidèles en Irak avant 2003, et 150.000 dans la diaspora. Aujourdhui, cat à Bagdad, mais le Vatican ne l'a pas confirmée, attendant vraisemblable- après un exode massif, les proportions sont presque inversées. ment l'aval de l'élection par le pape. Cette Église que la tradition fait remonter à lapôtre Thomas fait face à de Les débats dans une maison de la congrégation des Passionnistes sur la col- nombreux défis, notamment la question de sa place dans une société ira- line du Célio ont été longs et complexes, a-t-on indiqué de sources informées. kienne marquée par la violence et les menaces islamistes. Présidé par le cardinal argentin Leonardo Sandri, préfet de la Congrégation "Nous avons besoin dun chef qui nous aide à voir lavenir, et qui rapproche les pour les Eglises orientales, le synode de cette communauté principalement gens entre eux", avait déclaré Mgr Sako à Radio Vatican avant l'ouverture de irakienne se tenait à Rome et non à Bagdad pour des raisons de sécurité. ce synode. I Les évêques de cette très ancienne Eglise d'Orient sont originaires d'Irak, d'Iran, de Turquie, de Syrie, du Liban, mais proviennent aussi de la diaspora

1 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Özeti 2 FÉVRIER 2013 DE RETOUR DE SYRIE, UN CRI D’ALARME Koert Debeuf fut porte-parole de Guy Verhofstadt. Il représente les libéraux au Moyen-Orient. C’est le premier officiel de l’UE à s’être rendu en Syrie depuis le début du conflit.

Delphine MINOUI , Alexander page –, et un missiles syriens ont pulvérisé les l’acheminement de l’aide huma- Dominique MARCHAL représentant de l’ASL, ses com- échoppes à 14h, en pleine heure nitaire internationale. « L’ONU a pagnons de route dans cette Syrie d’affluence. 30 personnes ont récemment annoncé l’attribution à feu et à sang, où plus de 60 000 péri dans l’attaque. Parmi elles, d’une aide de 519 millions de aire - Koert Debeuf est en personnes ont perdu la vie en des femmes et des enfants. dollars à la Syrie. Or, elle passe colère. Depuis son incursion moins de deux ans. Par la fenêtre L’homme que nous avons ren- par le gouvernement syrien et le Cau Nord d’Alep, en territoire du véhicule, il photographie du contré nous disait qu’il y avait Croissant rouge. Autant dire que insurgé, il l’affiche sans réserve. regard tout ce qu’il voit : carcass- encore des corps sous les populations civiles qui vivent « Les Syriens vivent au rythme es calcinées des tanks du régime dans les provinces sous contrôle des bombes d’Assad, de jour syrien, maisons en ruine, mais les décombres, mais pas de l’Armée syrienne libre n’en comme de nuit. Ils ne savent pas aussi, à son grand étonnement, d’équipement pour les déterrer. » verront pas la couleur. » A quand et où elles peuvent tomber. les premiers check-points qui Le représentant européen se fait l’inverse, poursuit-il, « j’ai été Ils manquent de médicaments, de sont tenus, non pas par la rébel- le porte-voix du désespoir des positivement surpris par la façon nourriture, d’armes pour se lion mais par la branche syrienne Syriens : « Partout, c’est la dont les zones contrôlées par défendre. Ils en ont assez des du PKK, le Parti des travailleurs pénurie. J’ai visité la seule l’opposition s’autogèrent : elles promesses vides de la commu- du Kurdistan – l’illustration fla- boulangerie qui fonctionnait. Les ont leurs conseils locaux, leurs nauté internationale. Ne pas les grante des divisions qui autres ont été bombardées par le tribunaux, leur police. Ces gens- aider, c’est trahir la révolution déchirent déjà les opposants au régime. Dans les villages alen- là sont prêts à aller récupérer syrienne et c’est soutenir le plus régime. « Le PKK contrôle une tours, il n’y a pas de chauffage, vivres et médicaments à la fron- grand des criminels ! », lâche demi-douzaine de postes sur un pas d’électricité. Le prix de tière turque pour en assurer la l’ex-porte-parole du Premier corridor d’environ dix kilomètres l’essence a atteint 13 fois son distribution. J’ai obtenu ministre belge. qui longe la frontière turque. Les prix d’origine. » l’engagement d’Abdel Nasser Kurdes sont très bien organisés. Farzat, le commandant militaire Ce lundi 28 janvier, nous le Sans doute poussés par Massoud De son voyage express, il retient de l’ASL au Nord de la Syrie, de retrouvons au Caire. C’est ici Barzani, au Kurdistan irakien, ils aussi ces scènes de détresse dont nommer un civil pour superviser qu’il a élu domicile, peu après le entretiennent le rêve d’un terri- il a été témoin, le 23 janvier, lors cette distribution, et limiter le début du printemps arabe, toire autonome. La partition est d’une étape finale au camp de risque de corruption. » comme représentant des libéraux une des réalités de l’après-Assad déplacés d’Azaz avant de regag- du Parlement européen – un », observe Koert Debeuf. ner la Turquie. « 11.400 person- uant à l’aide militaire aux poste inédit dans l’histoire de nes dont 8.000 enfants y vivent rebelles, elle lui semble « l’Union européenne. Echarpe es surprises ne font que com- entassées sous des tentes. Qcruciale pour faire cesser le mas- rouge sur blazer bleu foncé, la mencer. Le lendemain, après Certaines familles en sont sacre ». « Les approvisionner en mèche rebelle qui lui balaye le Lune nuit passée à Azaz, et ponc- réduites à se réchauffer en défense antiaérienne leur permet- front, il a mis plus d’une heure à tuée par le bruit sourd des bom- brûlant des journaux. Les plus trait de contrer les attaques par arriver au rendez-vous : la faute à bardements, ses hôtes l’invitent à chanceuses sont équipées d’un missiles. C’est le seul moyen de de nouvelles manifestations qui se rendre à Alep. Il se retrouve en petit poêle. Depuis douze jours, faire plier Assad. » enflamment la place Tahrir. Mais fait sur la ligne de front de la il n’y a plus de lait. Alors, les qu’importe, c’est pour ça que ce bataille pour l’aéroport de enfants boivent de l’eau sucrée. A ceux qui s’inquiètent de voir Belge de 38 ans a choisi de vivre Quweris. La veille, les environs Les adultes, eux, ne font qu’un ces armes tomber entre de mau- au cœur de cette région : pour ont été libérés par l’ASL. Mais repas par jour, à base d’un vaises mains, il répond : « Cette voir, sentir, vivre et décrypter les les combats s’y poursuivent, vio- mélange de légumes acheminés peur est démesurée ! ». « Oui, bouleversements inédits qui la lents, meurtriers. « Face aux depuis la Turquie, la récolte j’ai vu des islamistes. J’ai même traversent depuis deux ans. Et bombes d’Assad qui pleuvent du locale de légumes étant rendue croisé un Syrien qui se revendi- c’est pour ça, aussi, qu’il s’est ciel, les soldats de l’ASL n’ont difficile par les bombardements quait d’Al-Qaïda. J’ai également rendu en Syrie. Non pas par la que leur courage pour se battre. persistants du régime de Damas. vu beaucoup de barbus, et beau- voie officielle, celle de Damas et Ils sont équipés de simples Pour ce qui est de l’aide médi- coup d’hommes qui faisaient la de la propagande du pouvoir, mitraillettes, saisies dans les cale, les trois hôpitaux de cam- prière parmi les combattants mais par la route clandestine des dépôts de l’armée régulière. Des pagne tenus par Médecins sans anti-Assad. Mais à cela, je vois insoumis, celle qui mène aux armes promises par la France, le frontières ne sont pas suffisants. deux raisons principales : quand principales zones du Nord tenues Qatar ou la Turquie, je n’ai rien Dans le camp, j’ai vu un enfant on frôle la mort au quotidien, on par la rébellion. vu. Du coup, ils en sont réduits à d’un an blessé à la jambe par des se réfugie dans la prière ; quant à fabriquer des armes artisanales. éclats de Shrapnel. Sa plaie était la barbe, c’est un signe qui per- Un voyage à haut risque qui Mais ça ne fait pas le poids », en train de s’infecter, mais il n’y met de se distinguer des soldats commence le 18 janvier à Hatay, observe-t-il. Pire : Assad vise, avait pas de quoi la soigner », de l’armée régulière. Donc, pour en Turquie. Après deux jours de selon lui, « délibérément des raconte-t-il. l’heure, je dirais que les dji- rencontres avec des généraux de sites civils ». Comme en hadistes demeurent minoritaires l’Armée Syrienne libre, l’envoyé témoigne cette vidéo, rapportée ntitulé « De retour d’enfer », le ». Et d’ajouter : « En revanche, européen traverse clandestine- de Syrie, où un habitant d’Azaz rapport brûlot qu’il vient de Plus nous attendrons pour offrir ment la frontière, grâce à l’aide déambule, le regard hagard, à Iremettre aux députés libéraux une aide adéquate aux opposants, de passeurs. A ses côtés : travers un ancien marché d’Azaz. n’y va pas par quatre chemins. « plus la guerre se prolongera, et « Des tas de pierre ! C’est tout ce Il est urgent, dit-il, de revoir au plus nous renforcerons les com- l’activiste Rami Jarah – plus Ë connu sous le nom de son blog qu’il en reste ! Ca s’est passé une plus vite le soutien apporté à la battants islamistes. » semaine avant notre visite : deux Syrie. » A commencer par

2 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Özeti 3 février 2013 "Deux hommes armés portant des vestes munies d'explosifs ont essayé de prendre d'assaut le poste central de la police de Attaque d'un commissariat Kirkouk mais les gardes les ont tués", a déclaré une source policière jointe à à Kirkouk, en Irak, 33 morts l'intérieur du complexe. Kirkouk, 250 km au nord de Bagdad, est au centre d'un bras de fer sur la réparti- tion des terres et des droits pétroliers entre le gouvernement central et la région autonome du Kurdistan irakien. Plusieurs groupes armés sont actifs dans cette métropole où cohabitent Kurdes, Arabes et Turkmènes, y compris les insur- gés sunnites de l'Etat islamique d'Irak affilié à Al Qaïda, qui prennent fréquem- ment pour cible les forces de sécurité et ont recours aux kamikazes. Kirkouk abrite également l'armée Nakchbandi ou JRTN, un groupe armé formé d'anciens soldats et membres du Parti Baas de l'ancien président Saddam Hussein. par Mustafa Mahmoud | Reuters dizaines de blessés et des corps restent Le mois dernier, un attentat suicide au ensevelis sous les débris. camion piégé y a fait 25 morts et dans une ville voisine, un kamikaze a tué 26 KIRKOUK, Irak - Au moins 33 per- Selon le décompte de la police, douze employés du bâtiment administratif figu- personnes lors de funérailles célébrées sonnes sont mortes dans l'attaque au dans une mosquée chiite. camion piégé d'un commissariat de police rent parmi les 33 personnes décédées. De dimanche matin à Kirkouk, dans le nord source médicale, on parle d'un bilan pro- La violence en Irak a régressé depuis le de l'Irak, a-t-on appris de sources poli- visoire de 16 tués et plus de 90 blessés. pic de violences interreligieuses qui ont cières. Le kamikaze qui conduisait le véhicule fait des dizaines de milliers de morts en 2006 et 2007 mais plus de 4.400 per- L'explosion, qui a provoqué piégé était accompagné par au moins deux autres assaillants qui ont été tués, a sonnes y ont trouvé la mort l'an dernier l'effondrement partiel d'un bâtiment dans des violences politiques. G public attenant, a fait également des ajouté la police.

07 FÉVRIER 2013

l'Irak et la Turquie. L'ambassadeur des Etats-Unis en Turquie, Francis Ricciardone, Les Kurdes irakiens déterminés s'en est publiquement inquiété mardi. à construire leur oléoduc "Si la Turquie et l'Irak ne parvien- Isabel Coles, Le gouvernement central affirme terminé." nent pas à améliorer leurs rela- Anthony Barker / reuters qu'il est le seul à avoir autorité sur tions économiques (...), le conflit Le pétrole provenant de la région les réserves d'hydrocarbures. pourrait s'aggraver en Irak et les kurde transitait par Bagdad Les autorités kurdes affirment de forces de désintégration à e Kurdistan irakien persiste jusqu'en décembre dernier, mais leur côté que leur droit l'intérieur de l'Irak pourraient se dans sa volonté de construire le flux atteignant les 200.000 d'exploitation est inscrit dans la renforcer", a déclaré le diplomate Lson propre oléoduc à destination barils de brut par jour s'est brus- Constitution en vigueur en Irak à américain. de la Turquie, a déclaré jeudi le quement tari en raison d'un diffé- la suite de l'intervention anglo- ministre de l'Energie de cette pro- rend concernant le partage des Les violences en Irak ont américaine de 2003 qui a abouti vince autonome, en dépit de la recettes avec le gouvernement régressé depuis le pic de vio- au renversement de Saddam volonté des Etats-Unis qui crai- central. lences inter-communautaires qui gnent que le projet n'aboutisse à Hussein. ont fait des dizaines de milliers de Le Kurdistan irakien cherche à la scission de l'Irak. "Nous voulons notre propre oléo- morts en 2006 et 2007, mais plus renforcer ses liens avec la La région kurde autonome de 4.400 personnes y ont trouvé duc", a déclaré le ministre kurde Turquie voisine, avide en hydro- s'oppose frontalement au gouver- la mort l'an dernier dans des vio- des Réserves naturelles, Ashti carbures, et un important parte- G nement central de Bagdad sur la lences à caractère politique. Hawrami, lors d'une conférence nariat énergétique entre les deux question épineuse et hautement de presse organisée dans le entités est en négociations stratégique de l'exploitation des chef-lieu de province, Erbil. "Il est depuis l'an dernier. réserves d'hydrocarbures en Irak, actuellement en travaux et nous les quatrièmes plus importantes continuerons jusqu'à ce qu'il soit Cette relation déplait à Bagdad et au monde. complique les relations entre

3 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Özeti

4 February 2013 Abdullah Ocalan: A bridge between Kurds and Turks? By James Reynolds BBC News, Istanbul Abdullah or decades, the islands on the Sea of Ocalan, the Marmara outside Istanbul have been imprisoned homeF to Turkey's most dangerous exiles and prisoners. leader of the Ottoman princes were held there; Trotsky PKK, has been made the islands his home following his held in an island escape from Stalin's Russia; and a Turkish prison off prime minister was executed there after Istanbul since a military coup in 1960. 1999 The island of Imrali is now famous for one prisoner - a man Turkey often calls The Chief Terrorist. eastern Turkey. His hair is white and he has lost weight. "His amazing willpower is what keeps him He spends his days reading academic alive," says Mehmet Ocalan from the works in his prison cell. He has an AM family home in the village of Omerli. radio, and was recently given a television set. A picture of Abdullah Ocalan playing in the snow hangs on the wall. "His condi- For almost 14 years now, no-one apart tions in prison are very tough." from a handful of prison guards, politi- cians, lawyers and family members has The two men are usually allowed visits seen him or heard his voice. which last 45 minutes. The brothers are watched by prison guards. In January, three Kurdish activists But Abdullah Ocalan remains the unques- were killed in Paris - their deaths tioned leader of the Kurdish armed move- "We talk about what's happening in the remain unsolved ment, the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). village, and about the family for about 15 minutes. Then for the next half an hour peace process. In January, three Kurdish Message from a cell we talk about politics - about events in activists were killed in Paris, and buried urkey's capture of Ocalan in Kenya in the region and around the world." 1999 did not end his role in the here in Turkey. "Does Ocalan ever issue instructions to conflictT between the Turkish state and Their deaths are unsolved. Mourners at you to pass on to his followers?" Kurdish rebels. the activists' funeral in Diyarbakir insisted History shows that imprisonment can "Yes, he does. Sometimes he tells me that the peace process must go ahead. often increase a rebel leader's standing. things. I am a member of the Kurdish The Turkish state wants the PKK to Any doubts about Ocalan's continuing Peace and Democracy party, so he does. disarm. The Kurds want autonomy, the influence ended in November 2012. "Abdullah Ocalan is a bridge between right to education and justice in their He passed a message from his prison cell, Kurds and Turks," Mehmet Ocalan insists. own language, and better conditions for ordering the ending of a hunger strike by "If that bridge is broken, there may be Abdullah Ocalan. hundreds of Kurdish activists. serious divisions. I've said it before: He is His lawyers demand better access to their a bridge. He is working for humanity to His order was immediately obeyed. client. Firat Aydinkaya was last allowed stop the bloodshed." This action may have forced the Turkish to see Ocalan 18 months ago. One aim government into a profound decision: If it "The peace process is directly linked to is to solve its 30-year-long conflict with ut others may disagree. Turkey, the US Ocalan's conditions in prison," says Mr the PKK, it may have to do so with the and the EU have designated the PKK as Aydinkaya, "If his conditions are impro- involvement of Ocalan himself. aB terrorist organisation. ved, he will have a stronger hand and his Its war with the Turkish state has cost Last December, reports emerged that the peace messages will be more effective." around 40,000 lives. Among Turks, the Turkish Prime Minister, Recep Tayyip Turkey last heard Abdullah Ocalan's voice hatred provoked by the PKK is deep. Erdogan, had sent a senior intelligence in 1999, during his trial on the island of official, Hakan Fidan, to Imrali island for But the desire to end the conflict may be Imrali. Many people in this country ques- talks with Ocalan. even deeper. tion his commitment to peace. But they Two Kurdish MPs were also allowed to "Today we are, once more - with ambition do not doubt his influence. visit the PKK leader. and patience - in an honest effort to end The one man this country hates above all this violence and terror," the prime minis- Bridge others is the same man it now approaches ter recently told his ruling AK party. to try to end the Kurdish war. I hese were rare new faces for Abdullah "Believe me we have one aim - which I Ocalan. For years, the only person repeat again - to stop the tears in all regularlyT allowed to visit the PKK leader mothers' eyes." on Imrali island has been his younger bro- ther Mehmet, who works as a farmer in But violence has marred the start of the

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

. WratlMTlOSM. ïfcrdbiÊfe$rUmttt monday, Februarys 2013 clear issue, say Western diplomats in¬ volved with the talks, and Mr. Jalili has regularly refused offers to meet sepa¬ Iran again is open rately with the American negotiator in the multilateral talks, who is now Wendy R. Sherman, the undersecretary for political affairs in the State Depart¬

ment. to talks, envoy says In the last round of talks, in Moscow in June, Iran insisted that the world powers lift all sanctions against Tehran of Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali MUNICH as a precondition for substantive talks Khamenei. It is Ayatollah Khamenei on reducing or eliminating Iran's grow¬ who will decide matters on the nuclear ing stockpile of enriched uranium..The But his lack of clout fuels issue, and certainly will decide whether six powers have maintained that Iran Iran opens direct talks with the United doubts on negotiating must first comply with Security Council States, whom he regards as intent on re¬ resolutions demanding that it halt en¬ over nuclear program gime change in Iran, the officials said. richment and satisfy the International And Mr. Jalili is in Damascus meeting Atomic Energy Agency that it does not with officials from the Syrian govern¬ BY STEVEN ERLANGER have a nuclear weapons program. Iran ment, which Iran is supporting with has also refused the agency access to Iranian foreign minister said Sun¬ arms, fuel and cash. various sites in Iran. day that his country was open to a re¬ Iran has played hard to get on the nu newed offer of direct talks with the United States on its nuclear program and looked favorably on a proposal for a new round of multilateral nuclear nego¬ Turkish Marxists claim tiations on Feb. 25 in Kazakhstan. But the Iranian official, Ali Akbar Salehi, does not have the power in the attack on US. Embassy Iranian system to decide these matters on his own, so his comments were viewed bearing the hammer-and-sickle symbol by European and American officials as ISTANBUL more atmospheric, designed for the of Communism is behind him. trans-Atlantic audience at the Munich The attack Friday, coming in the wake BYTIMARANGO Security Conference, than definitive. of the attack on a U.S. diplomatic mis¬ ANDSEBNEMARSU Mr. Salehi called a restated offer here sion in Benghazi, Libya, by Islamic ex¬ for direct talks with Washington, ex¬ A Marxist group with a history of polit¬ tremists in September, initially raised pressed on Saturday by Vice President ical violence in Turkey has claimed re¬ fears that it was the work of jihadists. Joseph R. Biden Jr., "a step forward" sponsibility for a suicide bombing at the That the bomber has ties to a relatively and said, "We take these statements U.S. Embassy in Ankara, releasing a minor Marxist group is likely to chal¬ with positive consideration." statement calling the United States "the lenge assumptions about the nature of But Mr. Salehi quickly added that murderer of the peoples of the world." international terrorism and the risks to "each time we have come and negotiat¬ The statement, which also denounced U.S. interests abroad. U.S. officials,' ed, it was the other side, unfortunately, U.S. foreign policy, was released on Sat¬ however, have not confirmed the iden¬ who did not heed" its commitments. urday by the Revolutionary People's tity of the attacker or a motive, and the And he complained to the Iranian press Liberation Party-Front, and a transla¬ United States plans to investigate. of "contradictory signals" from Presi¬ tion was distributed by the SITE Intelli¬ In a statement Saturday, Ordu offi¬ dent Barack Obama and "the threaten¬ gence Group, which monitors the com¬ cials said Mr. Sanli spent four years in ing rhetoric that everything is on the munications of extremist groups. The prison after being arrested in 1997 for at¬ table," including military means to pre¬ message, which was posted on a Web tacking a military hostel and police sta¬ vent Iran from attaining a nuclear site that has previously carried state¬ tion in Istanbul. He was released in 2001

weapon. ments from the group, condemned Tur¬ under an amnesty program for inmates "This does not go along with this ges¬ key for its cooperation with the United with medical conditions, said Muammer ture" of direct talks, he said, "so we will States and for its policy of supporting Guler, the Turkish interior minister. Mr. have to wait a little bit longer and see if Syrian rebels fighting the government Sanli reportedly had Wernicke-Kor¬ they are really faithful this time." Hav¬ of President Bashar al-Assad. sakoff syndrome, a brain disorder ing negotiated in the past with Washing¬ After conducting DNA tests, the Turk¬ caused by malnutrition that he suffered ton over Iraq, he said, Iran has no "red ish authorities on Saturday identified the during ajailhouse hunger strike. lines." man who detonated himself at the em¬ The authorities said Mr. Sanli lobbed Similarly, Mr. Salehi said he had bassy, killing himself and a Turkish a hand grenade during the attack Fri¬ guard, as Ecevit Sanli, 40, also known as day just before detonating his explo¬ "good news," hearing that the Euro¬ Alisan Sanli. Mr. Sanli was a convicted sives-packed vest, suggesting that pean Union's foreign policy chief, Cath¬ terrorist who had twice attacked govern¬ there were actually two explosions. erine Ashton, had proposed another ment facilities in Istanbul but was freed The Turkish newspaper Hurriyet re¬ round of negotiations with Iran by the from prison under an amnesty program. ported that Mr. Sanli had gone to Ger¬ members of the U.N. Security Council Earlier Saturday, officials in the Black many after being released from prison, plus Germany during the week of Feb. Sea town of Ordu said he lived there. and according to the semiofficial Anato¬ 25 in Kazakhstan. The Ankara police said they had de¬ lian News Agency, he returned to Tur¬ Iran has regularly delayed such meet¬ tained three people thought to have key illegally only a few days before the ings, which the six powers had hoped to helped Mr. Sanli and had found a hand¬ attack by crossing the Aegean Sea from restart in December and then in Janu¬ gun linked to the militant group. They a Greek island on a boat. ary, with arguments, over venue and also released security footage from the The group has struck U.S. and other timing. embassy in which Mr. Sanli was shown Western targets in Turkey before, and in . And Mr. Salehi did not confirm the pretending to be a courier. its statement the group condemned meeting. Iran is represented in nuclear The statement by the group included NATO's recent deployment of Patriot talks by Saeed Jalili, who is designated two photographs of Mr. Sanli. In one, he missile batteries in southern Turkey to there as the "personal representative" is holding an assault rifle, and a banner protect against strikes from Syria. Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Özeti Carnegie Endowment for International Peace FEBRUARY 5, 2013 The Rise of Syria's Kurds Heiko Wimmen and Müzehher Selcuk Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

n the lee of the struggle for Syria, the PKK comes back in from the cold. Since the summer of 2012, the beleaguered ISyrian regime has all but abandoned areas predominantly inhabited by Kurdish populations. So far, the main benefi- ciary of this situation of quasi-autonomy for a “West Moreover, there is little reason to believe that the structures Kurdistan” (as it is referred to in Kurdish political geography) of Kurdish self-government that have since developed could appears to be the Democratic Union Party (Partiya Yekitiya even survive should Bashar al-Assad ever manage to reclaim Demokratik, or PYD)—a powerful Syrian Kurdish group esta- control over the whole of Syria. Yet tensions between the PYD blished in 2003 by Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) militants and FSA imply the clear danger of worsening relations of Syrian origin in the Qandil mountains of northern Iraq. between Sunni Arabs and Kurds in this part of the country— The largely bloodless withdrawal of the Syrian army and with sizable Christian communities caught in the middle. security forces in the north and northeast of the country—as well as tensions between the PYD and other revolutionary The second major accusation leveled against the PYD—often actors—has given rise to a host of accusations and suspi- by an increasingly nervous Turkey—is that the party is noth- cions about the group’s motivations, as well as its national ing more than a front for the PKK. Officially, the PYD denies and regional designs. any such damaging affiliation. Yet, even if one disregards the origins of some prominent PYD leaders in the PKK, the In a remarkably short time, the PYD has succeeded in setting group’s language, its symbols (most visibly, images of impris- up a well-armed military of about 10,00 fighters, known as oned PKK-leader Abdullah Ocalan), and its organizational the Popular Protection Units (or Yekineyen Parastina Gel, or structures (not least among them, a visible presence of YPG), as well as local, self-organized civilian structures under female fighters in the lower ranks) mirror those of the PKK. the label of the “Movement for a Democratic Society” (Tevgera Moreover, it is unclear how the Syrian Kurds could have set Civaka Demokratik, or TEV-DEM). In theory, the PYD shares up (and by themselves, no less) the logistical and structural power with some 15 other Kurdish parties (who form the framework to form an effective military force of more than Kurdish National Council, or KNC) in the framework of the 10,000 fighters. Kurdish Supreme Council, which was established in July 2012 through the mediation efforts of Massoud Barazani, At the same time, there is little evidence thus far of Kurdish president of Iraqi Kurdistan and leader of Iraq’s Kurdistan fighters attempting to infiltrate Turkish territory from Syria. Democratic Party (KDP). Yet on the ground, the PYD is dis- While the PYD and the PKK leadership are concerned enough missing its council partners as nothing more than proxies for to deny Turkey any pretext for direct intervention—author- Barazani himself, whose close relationship with Turkey the ized by the Turkish parliament in early October 2012, with- PYD deeply mistrusts. Additionally, the PYD has prevented out specification where exactly it may occur—their priority is any armed Kurdish presence besides its own loyalist Populist to build autonomous structures and military forces. This pri- Protection Units; most recently, armed altercations were ority fits into PKK’s broader strategic shift since 2000, which reported with the Kurdish Union Party in Syria (Yekiti) in the abandons the call for a unified, independent Kurdish state towns of al-Darbasiyah and Qamishli. and instead strives for Kurdish autonomy within existing state borders. Establishing a second autonomous Kurdish The PYD and YPG have also repeatedly clashed with fighters area (after Iraq’s) that puts one of the post-PKK organizations of the Free Syrian Army (FSA), who themselves are connect- in charge of the quasi-state structures (and eventually, a role ed to the KNC through the Syrian Opposition Coalition—par- in negotiating Syria’s future) appears far too precious an ticularly in the mixed town of Ras al-Ayn (Serekani) on the opportunity to be jeopardized. In addition, the rugged territo- Turkish border. Fighting continues to flare up despite all ry to the north and northwest of the Qandil Mountains of attempts at mediation. The PYD have also repelled attempts northern Iraq, where the PKK headquarters are located, by the FSA to enter Kurdish areas in and around Aleppo and offers far better inroads into Turkish territory than the have accused Turkey of instigating and supporting the forays Turkish-Syrian border region—most of which is fairly acces- of Islamist elements (such as Jabhat al-Nusra and Ghuraba sible and comparatively easy to monitor from the Turkish Al Sham) into Kurdish areas. side.

The tension between PYD and FSA (as well as with other rev- Still, since the outset of the crisis in Syria, PKK operations olutionary elements) have given rise to accusations that the have been picking up across southeast Anatolia, with a PYD is, in fact, acting as a sub-contractor for the Syrian notable increase of fighters of Iranian-Kurdish origin among regime. In late December, Arab tribes attacked PYD offices in the reported casualties on the Kurdish side. Interestingly, the mixed city of al-Hasakah in retaliation for previous however, operations of the PJAK (the Iranian version of the regime violence against protesters, and accused the party of PKK) on Iranian territory have nearly ceased. Some reports collaboration with the regime. But while the position taken by even advance theories whereby a strategic alliance has been the PYD certainly complicates the situation for the FSA and forged between the PKK and Iran in attempts to put the heat its Turkish backers (and therefore provides an objective ben- on Turkey and re-stabilize Assad. Yet even without such an efit for the Syrian regime itself), there is little evidence for explicit realignment, the conflict over the Syrian crisis was active cooperation between the two sides. Areas controlled by bound to undermine Turkish-Iranian security cooperation on the PYD are occasionally targeted by the regime, if only on a the border region. From an Iranian perspective, turning a much lesser scale than those where the FSA is present. blind eye to Kurdish infiltration of Turkey offers ➡

6 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Özeti

➡ the double benefit of both putting the squeeze on Turkish Prime Minister Tayyeb Erdogan in retaliation for his support Recent Turkish efforts to reopen negotiations with impris- for the Syrian revolution, while also directing the separatist oned PKK-leader Abdullah Ocalan may in part reflect the efforts of its own restive Kurds elsewhere. extent of fears of the PKK’s intentions and the corresponding urge to reign in the group’s more militant elements. Turkey These developments appear to have added new dynamics to has few other options to address a situation it has partly cre- the long-standing struggle for leadership within the PKK, ated for itself with its hard line on the Assad regime and its between its acting leader Murat Karayilan and Bahoz policy of Kurdish suppression. None of its allies south of the Erdal/Fahman Hussein (often referred to as “Dr. Bahoz”), the border—neither the FSA nor Massoud Barazani—has signifi- former commander of the People's Defence Force (Hêzên cant potential to put pressure on PKK or PYD. A full-fledged Parastina Gel, HPG) from 2004 until he was sacked by invasion into Syrian (or Iraqi) territory would only galvanize Karayilan in 2009. Erdal, a younger leader who supports mil- the local population behind the parties and expose Turkish itary action, appears to have made a comeback in 2011, as troops to guerilla warfare on foreign and intensely hostile ter- events in Syria improved the margin for such an approach. rain—a situation in which regular armies rarely fare well. But Time and age are clearly on the side of Erdal (provided he that may just be the PKK’s preferred scenario. N continues to successfully avoid being captured or killed), and so is his Syrian background—and control of a quasi-state is Heiko Wimmen is a researcher at the Berlin-based German bound to boost the weight of the Syrian element in the over- Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP) and coor- all PKK structure. Thus, it can be expected that the Syrian dinates its project, “Elite Change and New Social Mobilization crisis will accelerate the generational change within the PKK in the Arab World.” Müzehher Selcuk is a research assistant toward a younger, more radical leadership. For the moment, at the Berlin-based Forum for Public Security. the leadership is in the advantageous position of being able to put military pressure on Turkey on one front while demon- strating a capacity for maintaining stability in the midst of chaos on another.

February 4, 2013

government office. But a health official said only 16 bodies were at a hospital morgue and more than 90 were wounded. The attack comes as insurgents linked to al-Qaeda try to inflame sectarian conflict in Iraq, where a powersharing government split among the Shia majority, Sunni and ethnic Kurds has been in crisis since US troops left a year ago. Shia prime minister Nuri al-Maliki is facing mass protests from Sunni Muslims in western provinces calling for him to step down. They complain of marginalisation since the fall of Saddam Hussein. In the north, the premier is also caught in a standoff with the autonomous Kurdish enclave over control of oil wealth and land along the so-called “disputed territories” where both regions claim control. Sectarian tensions Kirkuk, 170km north of the capital, is at the heart of the dispute. Last year Baghdad and the Kurdistan regional government sent Soldiers carried the wounded from the police headquarters rival forces to towns close to the disputed areas. in Kirkuk, Iraq, after the bombing. Several armed groups are active in Kirkuk, and Sunni Islamist insurgents linked to al-Qaeda often attack security forces in an attempt to undermine Mr Maliki’s government and stoke sectarian tensions. Iraq suicide bomb Al-Qaeda’s local faction, Islamic State of Iraq, though weake- ned after years of war with American troops has benefited from the inflow of Sunni Islamists and arms into Syria where Sunni rebels kills at least 33 in are fighting Syrian president Bashar al-Assad. Suicide bomb attacks are the hallmark of Iraqi al-Qaeda. And Kirkuk the group claimed responsibility for a suicide attack that killed a t least 33 people were killed in the Iraqi city of Kirkuk yes- Sunni lawmaker last month in Falluja. terday when a suicide bomber detonated a truck packed But Kirkuk has also been home to the Naqshbandi army or Awith explosives outside a police headquarters and gunmen dis- JRTN, one of several insurgent groups made up of former soldiers guised as officers tried to storm the compound. and members of Saddam’s outlawed Baath Party. The blast was the third major attack in weeks in or near the mul- Iraqi Arabs, Kurdistan’s government and Kirkuk’s minority tiethnic city of Arabs, Kurds and Turkmen, at the heart of a dispute Turkmen all lay claim to the city, known to some as the “Jerusalem between Iraq’s government and autonomous Kurdistan region. of the Kurds”, a reference to its historically disputed status. “A suicide bomber driving a vehicle packed with explosives hit Last month a suicide bomber killed at least 26 at a funeral at a the entrance of the headquarters and after the blast gunmen in Shia mosque in the nearby city of Tuz Khurmato. Days earlier a sui- explosive vests attacked with AK47s and grenades, but the guards cide bomber driving a truck killed 25 in an attack on a political killed them,” said a police official. party office in Kirkuk. Survivors were dragged on to stretchers amid the wreckage of Violence in Iraq is lower than at the height of sectarian slaugh- the blast, which left a large crater in the street. ter in 2006-2007, when tens of thousands died. But more than 4,400 Police said 33 were killed, including 12 employees at the people were killed last year in attacks and bombings. – (Reuters)

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

fclïïonde

Mardi 5 février 2013 Washington se dit prêt à des discussions directes avec Téhéran sur le nucléaire

Propositions renouvelées à

l'Iran de contacts directs « , 1 I 1 * » 1». '

avecles Etats-Unis parle vice- » M" président Joe Biden, perspective de reprise, à la finfévrier, des négo¬ ciations multilatérales : le dossier du nucléaire iranien a été relancé, samedi 2 févrierlors de la49e confé¬ f rence sur la sécurité de Munich, S vaste forum international sur les questions stratégiques. Joe Biden, A- - qui a quitté l'Allemagne pour *fc' Paris, dimanche, devait aborder cette question, ainsi que les dos¬ siers syrien et malien lors d'un déjeuner, lundi 4 février, avec le président François Hollande, avant de s'envoler pour Londres. C'est «une offre sérieuse», les

Etats-Unis necherchentpas «un ali¬ bi», avait insisté Joe Biden, samedi à Munich, après avoir déclaré que Washington était prêt à rencontrer Joe Biden (à droite), avec le ministre russe des affaires étrangères, le 2 février, à Munich. Matthias schrader/ap des représentants du gouverne¬ ment de Téhéran. Les Etats-Unis lement lorsque nous aurons suffi¬ proposée par le chefde la diploma¬ l'inflation et le chômage sont éle¬ sont ouverts à des discussions bila¬ sammentconfiance dans la sincéri- tie européenne Catherine Ashton. vés. N'attendezpas troppoursaisir térales «si le gouvernement ira- tédesAméricains. » Affirmant à plu¬ Le débat organisé au forum de l'occasion qui se présente ! » nien,leleadersuprêmeestsérieux». sieurs reprises l'importance que Munich entre Ali Akbar Salehi et Au cours de ce débat, l'expert

Affirmant la nécessité d'un «agen¬ l'Iran - « berceau de la civilisation » l'Allemand Ruprecht Polenz, prési¬ Vali Nasr, un Iranien qui enseigne da» précis, M. Biden a ajouté: - attachait à son indépendance, dent (CDU) de la commission des à la John Hopkins University aux

«Nous ne sommespas prêts àfaire M. Salehi a ajouté qu'il devait s'agir affaires étrangères au Bundestag, Etats-Unis, ne s'est pas montré très celajuste comme un exercice». de « négociations entre égaux». a donné la mesure du fossé qui optimiste: «Lacommunautéinter-

Alors que, depuis 2009, les Ira¬ sépare les deux parties. « Vous ne nationale doit reconnaître que niens refusent régulièrement de « Inflation et chômage » pouvezpas dire que tout le monde mener de pair des sanctions et des rencontrer les négociateurs améri¬ Parallèlement, un autre proces¬ se trompe et que vous êtes les seuls négociations est difficile. Les sanc¬ cains, le ministre iranien des affai¬ sus a été relancé : L'Iran et le grou¬ à avoir raison», a attaqué tions, n'ont pas joué leur rôle». res étrangères, Ali Akbar Salehi, a pe 5+1 (les cinq membres du Ruprecht Polenz au sujet de l'enri¬ Néanmoins, un facteur peut être pris note «positivement » de la pro¬ conseil de sécurité et Allemagne) chissement de l'uranium iranien à décisif: «Plus longtemps l'Iran position de Joe Biden qu'il a quali¬ devraient se réunir au Kazakhstan des fins militaires, «fly a quelque sera éloigné du marché pétrolier fiée de «pas en avant». «Nous som¬ le 25 février. Les dernières négocia¬ chose qui cloche: vous demandez international,plus il lui sera diffici¬ mes tout àfait prêts à mener des tions menées en août 2012 à Mos¬ qu'on vous respecte mais vous ne le d'y revenir», parce que les Etats- négociations, mais cettefois, ilfaut cou n'avaient rien donné. Depuis respectezpas les autres. » Le dépu¬ Unis y occupent une place crois¬ quel'autrepartieaitvraimentenvie décembre 2012, les différents pro¬ té a souligné que l'Iran est classé sante, mais aussi parce que l'Iran de parvenir une solution, a déclaré tagonistes n'étaient même pas parmi les pays les moins respec¬ nebénéficie pas des dernières tech¬ le ministre, qui ne détient pas seul d'accord sur le lieu de ladite négo¬ tueux en matière de droits de nologies d'exploitation.» le pouvoir de décision en la matiè- ciation. A Munich, le ministre ira¬ l'homme. «Alors que l'avenir de Philippe Bernard re. Les négociations auront lieu'seu- nien a repris la date du 25 février votre pays pourrait êtreflorissant, et Fk£d£kic Lemaîtri (à Munich)

fe Bonde Turquie Dimanche 3 - Lundi 4 février 2013 Attentat contre l'ambassade américaine à Ankara

ANKARA. Un attentat-suicide a été commis, vendredi 1" février, à une entrée latérale de l'ambassade des Etats-Unis à Ankara et a coûté la vie à un vigile. Un visiteur turc a été grièvement blessé et plusieurs employés américains et turcs ont dûêtre soignés à la clinique de la représentation diplomatique après avoir été touchés par des débris. L'at¬ taque n'a pas été revendiquée, mais le ministre de l'intérieur, Muam- mer Gûler, a déclaré que l'auteur de l'attentat, qui portait une ceinture d'explosifs, appartenait à un groupe d'extrême gauche et semblait être de nationalité turque. Le kamikaze est soupçonné de faire partie du Par¬ ti-Front de libération populaire (DHKP-C). - (Reuters.) Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Ôzeti

ÙMoïlût 5 février 2013

Le chefde la Coalition nationale syrienne reste prêt

à dialoguer avec BacharAl-Assad

L'initiative de Moaz Al-Khatib/qui a pour objectifun départ du dictateur, avait surpris

les autres membres de l'opposition fin janvier

Son appel au dialogue avec le d'une illustre famille damascene que des tiraillements, notamment coordination pour le changement régime Assad a pris de court sillonne les banlieues déshéritées au Conseil national syrien, la prin¬ démocratique, qui a lancé fin jan¬ toute l'opposition syrienne. de la capitale où bat le pouls de la cipale composante de la CNS, vexé vier un autre appel à la négocia¬ Deux semaines après le lance¬ révolution. Dans les oraisons funè¬ d'avoir été tenue à l'écart. tion - silencieux celui-là - sur le ment de son initiative, le 30 jan¬ bres qu'il offre aux victimes de la Certains observateurs y voient sort réservé au président syrien. vier, en dépit des remous qu'elle répression, il récuse tout sectaris¬ la marque de l'amateurisme politi¬ «La solution politiquefait peur à provoque en interne et malgré le me, à rebours de la propagande du que du cheikh Khatib. Avant d'être Bachar, car il n'a rien à lui opposer. dédain affiché par les autorités de régime. En 1995 déjà, les autorités propulsé àla tête de la coalition, en Ellefissure le blocpolitico-militaire Damas, Moaz Al-Khatib, le chef de sur lequel son système estfondé. » l'avaient relevé de ses fonctions de novembre 2012 à Doha, il la Coalition nationale syrienne prédicateur, parce que ses ser¬ dans la société civile, à la tête d'une (CNS), campe sur ses positions. Maison incendiée mons sortaient du moule. Arrêté association islamiste modérée. Ce quinquagénaire à la barbe au printemps 2011, il est harcelé, D'autres en revanche se félicitent A l'origine de cette ouverture, blanche et à l'allure élancée est avant mêmeles considérations tac¬ que sa spontanéité coupe court surveillé puis incarcéré de nou¬ prêt à rencontrer des émissaires tiques, il y a une réaction d'effroi aux interminables débats dont veau en avril 2012, ce qui le persua¬ du président Bachar Al-Assad à face à l'hécatombe en cours. Selon l'opposition est coutumière. «S'il de de la vanité de ses efforts de deux conditions : que les quelques un diplomate occidental, Moaz avaitconsulté ses collègues, sa pro¬ conciliation. Libéré en juin, il centaines de Syriennes actuelle¬ Al-Khatib est « authentiquement position n'auraitjamais vu le jour, prend la fuite et s'installe au Caire. ment derrière les barreaux soient angoissé» à l'idée que le conflit assure la chercheuse Bassma Kod- Vis-à-vis de Moscou et de Téhé¬ libérées et que les discussions por¬ finisse par ravager le pays tout mani. // était temps que la CNS éla¬ ran, les deux protecteurs du régi¬ tent sur les seules modalités de entier, notamment la capitale, me Assad, qui ont applaudi son départ du dictateur. M.Khatib bore un discours plus politique-. On Damas. nepeutpas se contenterde répéter projet, M.Khatib a d'ores et déjà ambitionne même de faire endos¬ Dans cette hésitation face à la "Assad doitpartir". » marqué des points. Il peut se tar- ser son offre par le bureau politi¬ guerre, le chercheur français Tho¬ Soutenu par plusieurs cadres guer d'avoir été salué comme une que de la CNS, fondé sur un refus mas Pierret, spécialiste de la Syrie, de la CNS, comme l'influent Riad voix «sage» et «raisonnable» par de toute discussion avec le régime qui connaît personnellement le Seif, qui fut l'architecte de la réu¬ le chef de la diplomatie iranienne, syrien. «Moaz Al-Khatib est en patron de la CNS, voit aussi l'in¬ nion de Doha, et l'universitaire dis¬ Ali Àkbar Salehi. Pour ne pas frois¬ train d'affirmer son leadership», fluence des idées de Jawdat Saïd, ser ses alliés, le maître de Damas sident Burhan Ghalioun, qui diri¬ explique un diplomate occidental, alias le Gandhi arabe, un penseur gea le Conseil national syrien, s'est abstenu jusque-là de rejeter qui le rencontre régulièrement. syrien, tenant d'un pacifisme radi¬ Moaz Al-Khatib séduit aussi parmi explicitement l'offre du prêcheur- C'est par un simple message cal. «MoazAl-Khatib a attendu très les militants de gauche qui sont ingénieur. Ses hommes de main Facebook, à la manière d'un révolu¬ tard avant de soutenir la lutte restés en dehors de la Coalition. seraient-ils moins diplomates? tionnaire lambda, que ce religieux armée», rappelle M. Pierret. Jus¬ «Sa proposition permet d'isoler le Dimanche 10 février, la maison réformiste, ancien prêcheur de la qu'au printemps 2012, il a cherché régime, de le discréditerface aux familiale des Khatib, à Damas, a mosquée des Omeyyades, à à négocier avec le régime, de Syriens qui seraient tentés de croire été réduite en cendres par un Damas, s'est lancé fin janvier dans concert avec le laïc Lôuay Hussein, incendie. en ses promesses de réconcilia¬ cette man risquée. Formu¬ une personnalité de l'opposition tion », explique Haytham Al-Man- Benjamin Barthe lée de façon maladroite, sans intérieure, tolérée par Damas. na, le responsable du Comité de avec Christophe Ayad concertation préalable, elle provo A cette époque, ce descendant

10 février 2013 LEJl

rebelles puis d'obtenir leur retrait du terri¬ Obama salue les efforts d'Ankara toire turc vers leur base du nord de l'Irak. Selon la presse turque, les rebelles pour¬ pour une paix avec le PKK raient déposer les armes au printemps. Le PKK, considéré comme une organisation Le président américain Barack Obama a "Je pense que les mesures proactives adop¬ "terroriste" par Ankara, les Etats-Unis et salué les efforts menés par les autorités tées par la Turquie pourront avoir des résul¬ l'Union européenne, est tenu par le gouver¬ turques afin de parvenir à une solution négo¬ tats réels", a estimé le président américain, nement central pour responsable de la mort ciée du conflit kurde qui perdure depuis près avant d'ajouter: "Le peuple turc doit savoir de plus de 40.000 personnes depuis qu'il a de trente ans, dans un entretien à un journal que les Etats Unis vont continuer d'appuyer pris les armes en 1984 pour obtenir turc publié dimanche. par des voies concrètes sa volonté de tourner l'autonomie des Kurdes de Turquie. "J'applaudis les efforts du Premier ministre cette page horrible et d'avancer vers la paix Une précédente tentative de négociation (Recep Tayyip) Erdogàn de chercher un et la sécurité". avec le PKK en 2009 avait échoué. règlement pacifique à ce conflit qui a provo¬ Ankara a entamé ces derniers mois des dis¬ qué tant de souffrances", côtés kurde et turc, Les Etats-Unis, alliés de la Turquie au sein cussions avec la principale figure du Parti a répondu M. Obama à des questions écrites de l'Otan, coopèrent depuis plusieurs années des travailleurs du Kurdistan (PKK, inter¬ qui lui ont été adressées par le quotidien avec Ankara contre le PKK dans les terri¬ dit), Abdullah Ôcalan, qui purge une peine Milliyet. toires irakiens. (AFP) o de prison à vie, dans le but de désarmer les Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Özeti FEBRUARY 6, 2013

Syria's Kurds Try to Balance Security

By JOSH WOOD andInstead, he said Alliances the groups that attacked “are Government formed a seemingly independ- mainly just taking orders from the Turkish ently acting bloc in December. regime.” RBIL, IRAQ — Syria’s Kurds have “In terms of the relationship with the Syrian mostly escaped prolonged bouts of The Free Syrian Army “is a name, or a opposition and in terms of their demands, direct conflict in the country’s civil war, but E trademark, not registered to anybody,” said the formation of this subgroup is in fact a with rebel units pushing east toward the Mr. Muslim. “So anybody can come from greater element of division within the resource-rich Kurdish heartland, Kurdish his home and get a hold of some weapons Kurdish National Council,” said Maria militias proliferating and calls for greater and say, ‘I am Free Syrian Army.”’ Fantappie, an analyst in Iraq with the autonomy growing, this may not remain the International Crisis Group. case. The push on Ras al-Ain, a town on the Last summer, the Democratic Union Party, Turkish border about 300 kilometers, or 185 Mustafa Jumaa, who leads the Azadi Party, known by its Kurdish-language acronym miles, northeast of Aleppo, could reflect a one of the factions in the Syrian Kurdish P.Y.D., seized control of many towns and number of things: a rebel attempt to gain Democratic Union, said the alliance had villages in the Kurdish majority northeast. strategic territory, the lack of coordination been formed out of frustration with the The group also holds territory in a few among Free Syrian Army units, the spread inability of the Kurdish National Council to Aleppo neighborhoods and some towns of armed groups beyond the control of the make decisions. around the city. Free Syrian Army, or the prodding of rebel groups by Turkey to confront the Kurds. Members of the new bloc have started to The P.Y.D. is the most powerful Kurdish field militias, with Mr. Jumaa saying the faction in Syria and has a well trained mili- Mr. Muslim believes that Turkey, which is union has about 1,500 fighters in Syria and tia. This is perhaps a product of its ties to the concerned that P.Y.D.-controlled areas along will ultimately take control of thousands Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or P.K.K., a guer- its borders could act as a base for P.K.K. more troops being trained by Kurdistan rilla group that has been fighting for attacks and has warned of intervention if it Regional Government forces, the Kurdish autonomy in Turkey. feels threatened, had something to do with Peshmerga, in Iraq. the outbreak of fighting. The leadership of the P.Y.D. plays down its Previously, the P.Y.D. was the only Kurdish ties to the P.K.K. But Syrian Kurds often use “I think it’s a part of the larger plan by the group in Syria with a significant armed the names interchangeably, and P.Y.D. Turkish regime,” he said. “They want to dis- presence. offices feature portraits of the imprisoned arm all people, to leave them without P.K.K. leader Abdullah Ocalan and Syrian defense.” “We took this decision because we saw the P.K.K. guerrillas killed in fighting with future for Syria was getting worse and Turkey. Beyond the strategic value offered by the maybe we would be facing heavy clashes in northeast, with its access to long stretches of Kurdish areas, so we have to be ready for Detractors of the P.Y.D. accuse it of working the Iraqi and Turkish borders, the area is that,” Mr. Jumaa said. “The most important in collusion with the Syrian government. home to the majority of Syria’s oil. Before thing is that we do not want to fight our The party’s leadership and supporters, who the conflict, oil exports earned Syria $4 bil- Kurdish brothers.” say they were struggling against the govern- lion per year. ment to secure rights for Syria’s two mil- Given the sharp political divides, the intro- lion-plus Kurds well before the uprising The amount of oil that Syria could produce duction of militias could increase tensions began in 2011, reject this allegation. is negligible when compared with other and the possibility of intra-Kurdish fighting exporters in the region, but with the econo- down the line. But in the complexities of Syria’s civil war, my shattered the oil fields are attractive real friendships are not born of common ene- estate. Ms. Fantappie, the analyst, said the Syrian mies. Kurdish fighters being trained in Iraq were There are conflicting reports over who holds “an important counterbalance to negotiate The P.Y.D.’s militant Kurdish nationalism, the main northeastern oil fields around the with the P.Y.D.,” though she said she did not which puts ethnic identity before allegiance town of Rmeilan, though in late January a believe that the formation of more militias to Syria, and their goal of some form of video appeared online purporting to show in the area would result in a fight. autonomy has put them at odds with Syria’s members of the P.Y.D.’s militia patrolling rebels. After decades of discriminatory poli- the smaller Gir Ziro field nearby. Like others in his alliance, Mr. Jumaa holds cies against the Kurds under the Baath a mostly favorable view of the mainstream Party, the P.Y.D. is opposed to anybody but Beyond the P.Y.D., the other notable politi- Syrian opposition and the Free Syrian Army, Kurds ruling their areas. cal player in Syria’s Kurdish areas is the which he referred to as “a national army for Kurdish National Council, a coalition of 16 Syria.” Last month, fighting flared in Ras al-Ain, parties. The parties are mostly small and which the Kurds call Serekaniye, as rebel have differing views, though on the whole But in a war rife with misgivings and uncer- units assaulted P.Y.D.-held areas. Dozens they are more amenable to working with the tainties, Mr. Jumaa said his group was pre- were killed in the fighting. mainstream Syrian opposition, which the pared for other outcomes. P.Y.D. rejects. “Those groups attacking Serekaniye, we “If the Free Syrian Army attacks our don’t consider them as Free Syrian Army,” The Kurdish National Council was further Kurdish area, our political opinion will said Saleh Muslim, the leader of the P.Y.D. fractured when four of its parties close to change completely and we will be against the leadership of Iraq’s Kurdistan Regional them also,” he said. “Even if we do III

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

III not agree with the P.Y.D. on a lot of influences from a number of religions things, we have to defend and protect our including Islam, Christianity and These fears have helped raise the popularity area.” Zoroastrianism, have long been persecuted of the ultranationalistic Kurdish ideology of for their beliefs. The refugees in Iraq fled the P.Y.D., said Omar Hossino, a Syrian- He added that if minorities were not guaran- mostly out of fear of Arab Islamist fighting American researcher in Washington. “They teed their rights by the opposition in a post- groups in Syria, particularly extremist ele- are getting a lot of recruits because people Assad Syria, there would be a “revolution ments like the Nusra Front. are afraid of Islamists,” he said. “People are within a revolution.” starting to move into ethno-sectarian mili- A man who identified himself only as tias to protect themselves.” As sectarian and ethnic lines harden, many Ahmed left his hometown, Qastal Jindu, Syrian Kurds fear for the future and are near Efrin, after an Islamist rebel unit This retreat to ethnic and sectarian identities especially concerned about what could hap- attacked the village. “The P.K.K. defended in Syria could prove to make any future dia- pen if their areas fall under rebel control. the village,” he said. “Without the P.K.K. logue between different groups difficult. we all would have been killed.” “It’s one of the most dangerous conse- In the Iraqi town of Shariya, just outside of quences of the armed conflict,” Ms. the city of Dohuk, Syrian Yazidi refugees, a As he spoke in the sparse concrete room he Fantappie said. I minority within the Kurdish minority, have was renting, his children attentively sought shelter with their co-religionists. watched a movie depicting a past P.K.K. Members of the Yazidi faith, which shows struggle against Turkey.

EUROPEAN COMMISSION shed full light on this crime. We encourage all parties involved not to let 6 February 2013 this horrible incident or other possible provocations in the future distract them from their goal to achieve peace. Honourable members, Štefan Füle European Commissioner for Enlargement and It is crucial that the European Union as a whole conveys its strong and Neighbourhood Policy clear support for these on-going efforts. It remains equally important that we coordinate our messages of support to Turkey. The Commission stands ready to assist where it can, including on using our financial assistance under our Instrument for Pre-Accession to sup- SPEECH port a post conflict and reconciliation strategy and to expand further the - Dialogue for socio economic development as well as the political and cultural rights of the citizens of Kurdish origin. a peaceful solution of Thank you! Concluding remarks the Kurdish issue First of all, since some of you have raised the issue, you need to know that our progress report, like for a number of previous years, has been trans- lated by our Delegation in Ankara into Turkish and has been put on the Plenaryin Turkey debate, European Parliament, Strasbourg website of the Delegation. Second point: I was happy to note, in my meeting yesterday evening with (Strasbourg, 5 February 2013) ''A successful outcome would not only representatives of the BDP (I see a number of them being with us today put an end to a conflict that has claimed tens of thousands of lives over to observe this debate), that the Kurdish politicians and civil society the past three decades. It would solve many outstanding problems in remain fully committed to a successful outcome of the talks. In can only Turkey, and play a crucial role in fostering political and constitutional encourage them to maintain this constructive, solution-oriented approach reforms; it would be a strong incentive for the adoption of the fourth judi- and to resist any provocative action aiming at distracting them from the cial reform package, actually addressing the key problems related to free- search of a peaceful solution. dom of expression and other fundamental rights and it would facilitate the redrafting of the constitution, with respect to the right of citizenship.'' said Regarding what we can do concretely to support this effort: on the one Commissioner Štefan Füle at the plenary debate in the European hand, the Commission monitors the compliance of Turkey with the politi- Parliament. cal criteria, of which respect for the rights of people belonging to minori- ties are an important component. We raise issues of concern on a regu- In this regard, a solution of this issue would have a strong impact on the lar basis with the Turkish authorities and assist them where we can in their accession process of Turkey as such, as it would further consolidate the reforms. I can mention the work done in the Working Group for the chap- role of the European Union as a benchmark for reforms in Turkey. ter on Judiciary and Fundamental Rights (23) under the positive agenda, In turn, putting the accession negotiations back on the right track would in which we are working with Turkey on notably the adoption of a Human also be a strong incentive for supporting a solution to this issue and to the Rights Action Plan. reform process in general. We also have a number of projects financed by the Instrument for Pre In the meantime, I welcome steps such as the recent adoption of the law Accession in South East Turkey, such as a project aimed at the empower- allowing for the defence in Kurdish in Courts as an important confidence ment of Women, a training project for Children on mines and other wastes building measure in the context of the on-going talks. of conflict or a project in support of local research on disappearances, Regarding the redrafting of the constitution, we have understood that it unsolved murders and mass graves in South-East Turkey. We currently has entered a critical stage. While all parties are to be congratulated for run projects of more than 400 million euros of IPA funds which benefit the constructive attitude so far, now is the time for results in the spirit of directly or indirectly the Southeast of the country. compromise and I cannot underline enough the importance of keeping up Obviously, should a wider effort be requested to support a post-conflict the participatory process. and reconciliation strategy, the Commission would be ready to support it Finally a few words on the tragic events which occurred in Paris last including through its financial assistance. month. A last point: I understand this debate as a strong support for a peaceful We are aware of the distress this triple murder has provoked. We are solution of the Kurdish issue and for the current talks, stressing, as you did, the wider context of the reform process in Turkey. And because of that confident that the on-going investigations by the French authorities will G it is being a good debate.

11 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Özeti FEBRUARY 7, 2013

would now accept. Issues in the talks are likely to include steps towards decentralization, Kurdish Jailed rebel leader holds language education, constitutional changes to improve equality and reform power to end Turkey's of an anti-terror law under which thou- sands of people have been jailed for links to the PKK. Kurdish conflict Parliament has made only slow pro- gress on constitutional changes and Erdogan has vowed to present his own reform plans in March if there is no cross- party agreement.

ERDOGAN'S BALANCING ACT

The current momentum for a solution has in part been driven by last year's escalation in fighting between the PKK and NATO's second-largest army.Fears of more bloodshed have brought public opinion, Turkish and Kurdish, behind the process. "There are funerals every day. Really the mothers cannot bear it anymore. We don't have the strength for it," said Esma Seydioglu, tugging her black headscarf as she described her sons who joined the PKK - one killed in a clash and one in pri- son. "If Ocalan is convinced, those in "We want peace after this. No more of Qandil will be convinced. Those in our people should die, no more of our BY DAREN BUTLER Qandil could not and would not resist an children, no more soldiers, no more Ocalan who is clearly determined," said police, no more guerrillas," she said, sit- STANBUL (Reuters) - Sitting across the Cengiz Candar, author of a think-tank ting in a small office in Diyarbakir in sou- Itable from top Turkish officials, jailed report on ending the conflict. theast Turkey. Kurdish rebel leader Abdullah Ocalan The talks have been kept under Erdogan himself has described "hal- wields the power to silence guns across wraps for fears of a nationalist backlash, ting the mothers' tears" as the goal of the southeastern Turkey which have killed but media close to the government have current process, but he is wary of infla- more than 40,000 people in a three outlined a process under which the PKK ming nationalist anger over talks with decade-old insurgency. will halt hostilities, withdraw from Turkey Ocalan, a man often described by Reviled by most Turks and held in vir- within months, before ultimately disar- Turkish media in the past as the "baby tual isolation since his 1999 capture, the ming. killer". Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) leader has Ocalan, isolated on the prison island His caution is illustrated by his repea- expressed in fledgling peace talks with of Imrali near Istanbul, will need to be ted insistence that it is the intelligence Ankara a will to end a conflict which both able to communicate with Qandil and agency in talks with Ocalan and not the sides realize they cannot win militarily. offer them strong incentives to pull out government, despite the agency being A similar resolve in Ankara amid a around 2,000 fighters believed to be in under his direct authority. winter lull in violence has created an Turkish territory. "As the government we can't say unprecedented opportunity to end figh- "Ocalan is no doubt the person who 'come on Ocalan let's sit down with you ting which has inflicted massive human knows his own group the best," said and negotiate'. If we say that the nation and economic costs, and has long under- Sahismail Bedirhanoglu, head of a busi- wouldn't forgive us," Deputy Prime mined Turkey's democratic ambitions. ness association in the mainly Kurdish Minister Bulent Arinc said on Monday. But both sides face major challenges city of Diyarbakir who heads a contact In a sign of a rocky path ahead, a row to meet their end of the bargain. group aimed at fostering dialogue on has emerged in the last couple of weeks Looming elections next year and the Kurdish issues. over the make-up of a Kurdish delegation growing risk of renewed clashes as sum- "(The state) must create channels via set to visit Ocalan, with Erdogan rejec- mer approaches mean Prime Minister which Ocalan can talk to the PKK ... or the ting the inclusion of MPs filmed embra- Tayyip Erdogan will need to initiate talks will not have legitimacy." cing PKK fighters last August. reforms swiftly to widen Kurdish minority Ocalan was seized by Turkish special Mixed signals which Erdogan himself rights and enable the rebels' reintegra- forces in Kenya in 1999, brought back to has sent out in recent months have fuel- tion into society. Turkey, tried and sentenced to hang. The led distrust among Kurdish politicians In return, Ankara hopes Ocalan will sentence was later commuted Ocalan with denials that there is a "Kurdish pro- set in motion steps towards a militant dispatched to Imrali. blem". ceasefire and withdrawal from Turkey in The PKK, designated a terrorist group From an expression of regret that the the coming weeks. First he will need to by Turkey, the United States and the lifting of the death penalty had spared win over battle-hardened PKK fighters in European Union, took up arms in 1984 Ocalan from execution in 1999, to a call to the mountains of northern Iraq. with the aim of carving out a Kurdish lift Kurdish politicians' immunity from Comments from Kurdish politicians state in southeast Turkey. Subsequently it prosecution, Erdogan has often alienated and PKK commanders based in Iraq's moderated its stated goal to autonomy, those he is now seeking to win over. Qandil mountains suggest Ocalan can do but it is unclear what sort of deal Ocalan The result is a climate of mutual just this.

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

suspicion which was exacerbated last the city of Arbil in northern Iraq, where cultural and language reforms for month when Turkish warplanes bombed Iraqi Kurdish leaders are expected to Turkey's 15-million strong Kurdish mino- PKK targets in northern Iraq, drawing play a role in the process. rity during his decade in power, does condemnation from Kurdish politicians. "It is not just Ocalan in this process. not have time on his side. "The two sides do not trust each Maybe it is not highlighted, but people Turkey faces local and presidential other," said Hugh Pope, Turkey project representing the PKK leadership are fre- elections next year and his government director for the International Crisis quently discussing details with MIT is currently seeking ways to push Group. (Turkish intelligence agency) opera- through parliament a constitution which "There needs to be a trust-building tives from Ankara in Arbil," Ozgurel would enable Erdogan to take charge of phase. For a start they need to stop said. a new executive presidency. attacking each other." The militant group itself has officially There is also a risk of sabotage, with denied such talks. last month's killing in Paris of three FROM OSLO TO ARBIL Outlining the process, Ozgurel fore- Kurdish women activists, including a cast that initially there would be a sym- PKK co-founder, seen by many as such Ankara previously held secret talks bolic withdrawal of fighters to northern an attempt. with the PKK in Oslo which fell apart in Iraq, with the PKK ordering its fighters to "If dead bodies continue to arrive, 2011 amid renewed violence in sou- halt attacks. who will believe in this process?" said theast Turkey.The risk of the latest nego- "If this agreement functions without Raci Bilici, Diyarbakir head of the tiations meeting a similar fate will grow problems, the group will announce a Human Rights Association. if the talks drag on. ceasefire decision in May. Disarmament "We will not be able to solve any- Commentator Avni Ozgurel, who has will come later," he said. thing in the Kurdish problem with wea- followed the process closely, said Oslo While Ocalan commands the loyalty pons, violence, clashes and security had not been in vain and top PKK com- of the PKK, the prospects of disarma- measures." mander Murat Karayilan had voiced his ment could still be undermined by the commitment to the Oslo process. emergence of splinter groups. The pic- "This process showed that, contrary ture is further complicated by the Syrian to expectations, the PKK had a strong conflict, which has enabled a PKK proxy desire for peace," Ozgurel said. party to assert its authority in parts of While attention is focused on northern Syria. Ocalan, there is also evidence of talks in Erdogan, who has pushed through

FEBRUARY 7, 2013

Kurdish factions, which has intensified since U.S. troops withdrew a year ago. Iraqi Kurds press on "The Iraqis have been struggling to pass a hydrocarbons law. It is very impor- with oil pipe to Turkey tant that they succeed in that," U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Francis J. Ricciardone said in Ankara on Tuesday. despite U.S. fears Reluctant to wait, Kurdistan has been looking to resource-hungry Turkey for ans- RBIL, Iraq (Reuters) - Iraqi Kurdistan wers. A broad energy partnership between will press ahead with building its own them ranging from exploration to export Aoil export pipeline to Turkey, the region's has been in the works since last year. energy minister said on Thursday, despite Majority Sunni Turkey's deepening ties U.S. objections due to fears the project with the Kurdistan region in northern Iraq could lead to the break-up of Iraq. have heightened tensions between Ankara The autonomous Kurdish region is and the Shi'ite-led government in locked in a turf war with the central Baghdad. government in Baghdad over how to "If Turkey and Iraq fail to optimize exploit Iraq's hydrocarbon riches and their economic relations... There could be divide up the proceeds. more violent conflict in Iraq and the forces Baghdad says it alone has the authority of disintegration within Iraq could be to control exports of the world's fourth Iraqi Kurdish Minister for Natural emboldened," Riccardione said. Resources Ashti Hawrami largest oil reserves, while the Kurds say Kurdistan is already bypassing the their right to do so is enshrined in Iraq's to be shipped to world markets through a federal pipeline network by trucking small federal constitution, drawn up following Baghdad-controlled pipeline to Turkey, but quantities of crude over the Turkish border the U.S.-led invasion of 2003. exports via that channel dried up in in exchange for refined oil products. "We want to have an oil pipeline to December, from a peak of around 200,000 "The issue is that we are entitled to 17 ourselves," Iraqi Kurdish Minister for barrels per day (bpd) due to a row over percent of (Iraq's)refined products, but Natural Resources Ashti Hawrami said at a payments with Baghdad. the central government sends us only 3 news conference in the regional capital The United States says the solution lies percent and our refining capacity is not Arbil. "It is currently in the works and we in a national hydrocarbons law that has enough to satisfy domestic demand," will continue until it is completed." been delayed for years by a power strug- Hawrami said. G Crude from the Kurdistan region used gle between Iraq's Sunni, Shi'ite and

13 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Özeti 10 February 2013 Obama voices support for talks on resolving Kurdish issue TODAY'S ZAMAN, ANKARA answer reveal a great deal. The unan- swered questions may be an indication S President Barack Obama has that the divergence of opinion on numer- confirmed his country's support for ous issues between Turkey and the US Uthe peace initiative the Turkish govern- persists, although at the same time the ment has started with Abdullah Öcalan, two countries may also be cooperating the imprisoned leader of the terrorist as close partners on a number of issues. Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), to settle Turkey's decades-old Kurdish issue. One of the questions Obama chose not Obama has expressed his belief that to answer asked how the US feels about the proactive measures the Turkish Obama said in an interview that Turkey's strengthening economic and government has been taking will appeared in the Milliyet daily on Sunday political ties with the autonomous achieve progress in settling the that he applauds Turkey's effort to find a Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Kurdish issue. (Photo: AP, Pablo in northern Iraq while the country's rela- peaceful solution to a problem that has Martinez Monsivais) caused much suffering. tions with Baghdad have soured in the past year. Turkey has been acquiring oil Noting that the US has always supported and similar products from the KRG, and the oil of the region -- although small in Turkey in its fight against terrorism, while sanctions imposed by the US on Iran, amount -- has for some time now been at the same time encouraging the steps and that Turkish people pay a higher exported via Turkey to international mar- Turkey has taken to deal with the issue price for energy as a result of the same kets, an act harshly protested against by through the use of politics, Obama re- sanctions. However, he also maintained Baghdad, which maintains that it is affirmed that the US would continue to that the price the world would have to unlawful for the KRG to export oil without extend concrete support in this area. pay for gas in the event of Iran succeed- authorization from the Iraqi central gov- Regarding the governing Justice and ing in producing nuclear weapons would ernment. Development Party's (AK Party) peace be much higher, especially for neighbor- initiative, Obama expressed his belief ing countries like Turkey. that the proactive measures the govern- A broad energy partnership -- including the building of an oil pipeline -- between ment has been taking will achieve gen- Obama also noted Turkey's request for northern Iraq and Turkey, ranging from uine progress in settling the Kurdish Patriot missile systems and thanked exploration to exportation, has been in issue. Turkey for allowing these missiles to be place since last year, but the project has deployed in its territory. He pointed out been criticized by the US, which fears The Turkish government has complained that the aim of the deployment is to pro- that the project may pave the way for the that the international community is not tect Turkey, not Israel, against a ballistic Kurds there to break away from Iraq by offering sufficient support for the removal missiles threat. of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad enabling the Kurdish region to become financially independent, thereby leaving from power, and that the US, for its part, It is known that Prime Minister Recep the remaining part of Iraq to fall even fur- has appeared for some time to be some- Tayyip Erdoğan hopes to pay a visit to ther under Iran's influence. what unwilling to offer substantial back- Washington to speak with Obama. ing to the opposition forces fighting the However, rumors among political circles Another question that went unanswered Syrian regime. However, Obama, who in Turkey say that he has been denied an concerned the two countries' diametrical- described the situation in Syria as a invitation by the Obama administration, ly opposed attitudes on an Israeli attack tragedy during the interview, conducted probably on account a divergence of on Palestinians in the Gaza Strip that via email, seems to have taken a res- opinion on various issues. Obama admit- took place a couple of months ago. While olute attitude against Assad because he ted that Turkey and the US have prob- Erdoğan described Israel as a terrorist acknowledged that the end of the Assad lems but that they can still talk sincerely state following the attack, Obama said regime will come, sooner or later. The with each other. Calling Erdoğan a good Israel had acted in self-defense. To the US president also re-affirmed its commit- friend and a great partner with whom he question whether this divergence of ment to expend efforts with Turkey to has been working closely on global opinion has caused any damage to US- that end. issues, Obama said, “I very much look Turkish relations, Obama preferred not forward to seeing my friend Prime to respond. Iran's nuclear efforts have long been crit- Minister Erdoğan again.” He also icized by the US, and the interview revealed that his team is trying hard to Questions about Erdoğan's remarks on Obama underlined the view that a identify a suitable date for the two lead- Turkey's willingness to become a mem- nuclear Iran would pose a serious threat ers to meet, adding, “I'm confident that ber of the Shanghai Cooperation to all its neighbors, including Turkey. The we'll find an opportunity to do so soon.” US president, though stating that he Organization (SCO) and whether Obama plans -- as he had so promised during wants to settle the issue in a peaceful Only seven of the 11 questions emailed his election campaign in 2008 -- to rec- way at the negotiating table with Iran, to the White House by Milliyet's ognize the ordeal experienced by the made it clear that the US is resolved in Washington representative were Armenians of the Ottoman Empire as its position to not allow Iran to possess answered by Obama. As noted by the G genocide, also went unanswered. nuclear weapons. Obama admitted that daily's representative, Pınar Ersoy, the Turkish companies have had to pass up questions the US president chose not to business opportunities because of the

14 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Özeti February 10, 2013 Iran and Hezbollah build militia networks in Syria in event that Assad falls, officials say By Karen DeYoung and Joby Warrick, force subordinate to the IRGC that has been heavily involved in the violent crackdowns and serious human rights abuses occurring ran and Hezbollah, its Lebanese proxy, are in Iran since the June 2009 contested presi- building a network of militias inside Syria dential election.” to preserve and protect their interests in the I In a divided Syria, Iran’s natural allies event that President Bashar al- would include Shiites and Alawites concen- Assad’s government falls or is forced to trated in provinces near Syria’s border with retreat from Damascus, according to U.S. Lebanon and in the key port city of Latakia. and Middle Eastern officials. Under the most likely scenarios, analysts The militias are fighting alongside say, remnants of Assad’s government — Syrian government forces to keep Assad in with or without Assad — would seek to power. But officials think Iran’s long-term establish a coastal enclave closely tied to goal is to have reliable operatives in Syria in Tehran, dependent on the Iranians for survi- case the country fractures into ethnic and val while helping Iran to retain its link to sectarian enclaves. Hezbollah and thereby its leverage against A senior Obama administration official Israel. cited Iranian claims that Tehran was backing Carnegie Endowment for International Experts said that Iran is less interested in as many as 50,000 militiamen in Syria. “It’s a Peace. “It’s going to be very hard to put preserving Assad in power than in maintai- big operation,” the official said. “The imme- Syria the nation back together.” ning levers of power, including transport diate intention seems to be to support the “We’re looking at a place which is sort of hubs inside Syria. As long as Tehran could Syrian regime. But it’s important for Iran to a zone, an area called Syria, with different maintain control of an airport or seaport, it have a force in Syria that is reliable and can powers,” Salem said. could also maintain a Hezbollah-controlled be counted on.” Iran has a history of profiting from supply route into Lebanon and continue to Iran’s strategy, a senior Arab official chaos, even without control of the govern- manipulate Lebanese politics. agreed, has two tracks. “One is to support ment ostensibly in power. Hezbollah arose Preservation of an Iranian-supported Assad to the hilt, the other is to set the stage out of the Lebanese civil war of the 1970s, area on the coast has always been “Plan C or for major mischief if he collapses.” when Iran was able to exploit the grievances Plan D” for core regime supporters, Salem The officials spoke on the condition of of that country’s Shiite population, a pattern said. “If everything fails and they lose, they anonymity to discuss intelligence matters. it also followed in Iraq during the chaos that have always prepared for the fortress region The fragmentation of Syria along reli- followed the U.S. invasion. ... with everything they can cart away, even gious and tribal lines is a growing concern Tehran’s interest in preserving a Syrian if they lose Damascus.” for neighboring governments and the admi- base partly explains why the financially “That’s not necessarily what they want,” nistration, as the civil war approaches its strapped Iranian government continues to he said. “They want to hold on to the whole third year with little sign of a political solu- lavish resources on groups such as Jaysh al- thing.” But the worst-case scenario is that tion or military victory for either Assad’s Sha’bi, an alliance of local Shiite and Alawite “the whole regime relocates to the north- forces or the rebels. militias that receives weapons and cash west, and they still have the most powerful Rebel forces, drawn largely from Syria’s from Iran, according to U.S. and Middle [armed] unit inside Syria, with a lot of the Sunni majority, are far from united, with Eastern officials who have studied the orga- current structure.” schisms along religious, geographic, politi- nization. The groups are receiving military Newly installed Secretary of State John cal and economic lines. Militant Islamists, training from officers from Hezbollah and F. Kerry expressed during his confirmation including many from other countries and Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps hearing last month the administration’s with ties to al-Qaeda, are growing in power. (IRGC). concern that Syria could break apart, saying Kurdish nationalists have their own While ostensibly created to bolster that “one of the scenarios everybody’s tal- militias, with control over major swaths of Syria’s battered, overstretched army, Jaysh king about is that people could sort of break the northeastern part of the country and in fighters — separate from Syria’s pro-regime up off into their places ... and you could parts of Aleppo. They are far more interes- shabiha, or “ghost,” units, which are noto- have a disintegration, and who knows ted in autonomy than in an alliance with rious for reprisal killings of suspected rebel where that leads?” either side in the conflict. Minority sympathizers — are predominantly a secta- “These are the risks,” Kerry said. “I Christians have largely sided with Assad, rian fighting force overseen by Iranian and mean, this is what is at stake in this new fearing the outcome of an Islamist victory. Hezbollah commanders. world that we’re dealing with. And nobody Syria’s 700,000 Druze, followers of an offs- “Jaysh is essentially an Iran-Hezbollah could sit here and tell you how it all plays hoot of Shiite Islam, are increasingly leaning joint venture,” said David Cohen, underse- out.” toward the rebels. cretary for terrorism and financial intelli- In a closed-door meeting of the U.N. Despite U.S. efforts to convince mem- gence at the Treasury Department. “Given Security Council last week, U.N. and Arab bers of Assad’s Alawite sect, itself a minority the other constraints on Iranian resources League envoy Lakhdar Brahimi cited two within Islam’s Shiite branch, that their inte- right now, it’s obvious that this is an impor- “big risks that are of serious concern to the rests lie in abandoning him, Alawite support tant proxy group for them.” international community.” remains fairly solid. In slapping sanctions on the militia in “The first is the transformation of Syria Each of Syria’s internal actors has exter- December, the Treasury Department said into a playground for competing regional nal backers. Iran had provided it with “routine funding forces, governments and non-state actors “Syria is basically disintegrating as a worth millions of dollars.” alike,” Brahimi said. “This process is largely nation, similar to how Lebanon disintegra- A Treasury statement noted that Iran’s underway.” The second risk, he said, is “full- ted in the ’70s to ethnic components, and as Revolutionary Guard commander has said fledged regionalization of the Iraq did,” said Paul Salem, director of the N Syrian civil that Jaysh was “modeled after Iran’s own war.” Beirut-based Middle East Center of the Basij,” which it described as “a paramilitary

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

10 fevrier 2013 LESKURDES,LASYRIEET BACHAREL-ASSAD Depuis le début du soulève- ment contre le régime syrien, Une manifesta- difficile de comprendre la tion kurde anti- position des Kurdes, certains Bachar el- combattant contre les Assad à rebelles et d'autres penchant Kameshli, en pour l'opposition réunie au juillet 2012. sein du Conseil national REUTERS/Shaa syrien. m News

L'AUTEUR novembre 1988– que les Kurdes syriens Ariane Bonzon Journaliste, En 1962, le régime baassiste prétexte un spécialiste de politique recensement au cours duquel un grand s’engagent et s’entraînent (parfois aux côtés étrangère. Elle a été en poste à nombre de Kurdes ne pouvant prouver qu’ils des Palestiniens du FPLP et des Arméniens Istanbul, Jérusalem et y résidaient avant 1945 sont expropriés et de l’Asala). Dès 1980-90, de nombreux Johannesbourg. Vit et travaille se retrouvent sans identité, apatrides. Kurdes syriens vont se battre contre la Turquie dans le Kurdistan d’Irak. actuellement entre la France et la Turquie. Ils seraient entre 300.000 et 800.000 (sur Arabophones, ils sont aussi très utiles à la Dernier ouvrage paru: Dialogue sur le un total de un à deux millions, selon les esti- branche politique du PKK dans ses contacts tabou arménien, d'Ahmet Insel et Michel mations). Ces Kurdes «étrangers en Syrie» syro-libanais, et dans le reste du monde Marian, entretien d'Ariane Bonzon, ed. ne peuvent circuler librement, accéder à des arabe. Liana Levi, 2009. emplois publics, se marier ou pire pour cer- tains à ne posséder aucun papier légal, La Syrie s’allie dès 1979 au PKK. Ils ont tous donc sans accès à l'université et à l'aide ali- deux un adversaire commun: la Turquie mentaire ou médicale. avec laquelle la Syrie compte de nombreux epuis le début du soulèvement, les contentieux (guerre de l’eau, Iskenderum). Kurdes de Syrie ont beaucoup louvoyé 2. Comment Hafez el-Assad s’est-il mis D Et puis, membre de l’Otan, la Turquie est ali- et hésité entre les promesses de Bachar el- les Kurdes de son côté pendant trente gnée sur l’ennemi numéro 1 de la Syrie, Assad et celles du Conseil national syrien. ans (1970-2000)? Israël. Finalement, le Parti de l'union démocratique Ayant les pleins pouvoirs à partir de 1971, La proximité du PKK avec le régime alaouite (PYD, la branche syrienne du PKK, le Parti Hafez el-Assad gèle l’arabisation forcenée est telle qu’il a collaboré avec les moukha- des travailleurs du Kurdistan) a profité de ce des zones kurdes. Le nouveau président barat (agents de renseignement) pour que Bachar el-Assad a retiré ses troupes syrien, qui veut promouvoir son clan contrer l’influence d’autres partis kurdes. pour instaurer une zone kurde au nord du alaouite, ne peut se mettre à dos les autres pays, jouant ainsi la «division» voulue par le minorités. En 1982, la révolte des Frères En novembre 1998, Damas expulse régime. musulmans est écrasée dans la terreur, mais Abdullah Öcalan. A la clé, une réconciliation Résultat: les combattants, majoritairement les Kurdes ne prennent pas parti. D’ailleurs avec le voisin turc, la signature de proto- arabes, de l'Armée syrienne libre (ALS, bras les gardes du corps d’Hafez el-Assad sont coles et une réintégration dans le concert armé du Conseil national syrien) affrontent souvent des chrétiens ou des Kurdes, peu des Nations. Arrêté au Kenya le 15 février les combattants kurdes du PYD, tandis que susceptibles de l’assassiner ou de fomenter 1999, le leader du PKK est jugé et le reste des partis kurdes pencheraient plu- un coup d’Etat. condamné à mort en Turquie le 29 juin 1999, peine commuée en perpétuité en tôt pour l'opposition réunie au sein du Le pays est alors prospère, l’école obliga- 2002. Conseil national syrien. En revanche, contre toire, les contacts universitaires avec les djihadistes venus se battre en Syrie, les l’étranger nombreux, les Kurdes de Syrie Le PKK syrien n’est alors plus «persona Kurdes se retrouvent unis. n’ont aucun droit politique et culturel, mais grata» en Syrie; Öcalan déclare un cessez- 1. Est-il vrai que des dizaines de mil- ils vivent plutôt bien. Pour autant qu’ils ne le-feu unilatéral, demande aux combattants liers de Kurdes syriens sont apatrides? soient pas politisés, car dans ce cas-là, ils kurdes de se rendre et lance sa politique de connaissent le sort de tout opposant au «paix et de fraternité» avec les Turcs. Le Au début des années 1960, le gouverne- régime: accusés de trahison, de sépara- PKK arrête ses attaques contre la Turquie, ment syrien veut arabiser sa frontière avec tisme, de propagande au service d’une puis- et en Syrie, connaît un véritable effondre- la Turquie dans les régions kurdes, en parti- sance étrangère, d’atteinte à la sûreté de ment politique. culier la zone de Djézireh, triangle peuplé de l’Etat, etc. Kurdes (et de chrétiens) qui s’enfonce tel un 4.Quand l'opposition kurde au régime bec de canard[1] entre la Turquie et l’Irak. 3. Interdit en Turquie, le PKK agissait- a-t-elle commencé à se faire enten- il en toute liberté en Syrie? dre? Objectif: sécuriser cette région qui a connu des mouvements autonomistes durant le A propos du PKK en Syrie, on a pu parler Après l’arrestation d’Öcalan, c’est l’heure du Mandat français et garder ces terres agri- d’un «Etat dans l’Etat». C’est à partir du bilan pour les Kurdes de Syrie. Ceux qui se coles fertiles et riches en pétrole. Liban et de la Syrie –où réside le numéro 1 sont battus dans la guerrilla du PKK contre du PKK, Abdullah Öcalan de juillet 1979 à la Turquie ont l’impression d’avoir été ➩

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

➩ bernés et sacrifiés et les pro-Barzani ou participent pas aux manifestations anti- hadistes venus d’on ne sait où, les Kurdes pro-Talabani (Irak) sont déçus par la guerre Bachar des autres Kurdes. Pis: ils les empê- syriens connaissent le terrain, ils sont chez fratricide de ces deux leaders kurdes. chent voire même tabassent les manifes- eux. De facto, ils constituent l’un des meil- tants. leurs barrages contre les djihadistes. «Nos problèmes à nous d’abord», disent les militants d’un petit parti kurde syrien, Yekitî D'abord attentiste, le PKK-PYD s'allie finale- 7. A quoi ressemble la carte du (unité) fondé en 1992. Les revendications ment au Baas. C'est le meilleur moyen, Kurdistan de Syrie? sont modestes: la régularisation des Kurdes pense-t-il, de constituer une future zone Le Kurdistan de Syrie est constitué de trois apatrides, le droit à l’éducation en kurde, «autonome kurde et démocratique» en poches qui ne communiquent pas entre etc. Pas question de demander Syrie (à l'image de ce qui s'est fait en Irak elles et que le régime de Bachar el-Assad a l’indépendance, de toucher aux frontières. du nord). abandonnées au PKK-PYD depuis juillet C’est un mode d’intervention qui est original Tolérés par les milices arabes, les membres 2012. D’abord toute la région d’Afrin au pour le Moyen-Orient: des actions civiques, du PKK-PYD sont les seuls à être armés. Ce nord ouest d’Alep, puis de petits territoires des micro-manifestations, avec pancartes sont parfois de très jeunes adolescents de qui débordent du Kurdistan de Turquie (sous en anglais pour attirer l’audience internatio- 15-16 ans qui font la loi. Ils contrôlent les la ville turque d’Urfa, la région de Ras-Al- nale, et très vite l’utilisation d’Internet. barrages, prélèvent des taxes sur les mar- Aïn, Amude, Hassaké); enfin le «bec de chandises, réquisitionnent certains biens. canard» de la Djézireh, avec la ville de Le régime de Bachar el-Assad réprime ces De nombreux Kurdes syriens dénoncent Kameshli, une ville stratégique –pouvant militants. Les Kurdes syriens du PKK-PYD, leurs exactions (rackets, tortures, intimida- être rattachée au Kurdistan d’Irak– que le eux, ne bougent pas une oreille. tion politique, tribunaux populaires de type régime de Bachar el-Assad tient toujours. En mars 2004, à Kameshli, un match de foot maoïste). 8. Les Kurdes de Syrie pourraient-ils opposant l’équipe kurde locale à une équipe A Erbil (Kurdistan d’Irak) en juillet 2012, être les grands perdants de l’après- arabe dégénère. En toile de fond: Massoud Barzani réunit et réconcilie tous les Bachar el-Assad? l’émergence du Kurdistan d’Irak soutenu par partis kurdes syriens y compris le PKK–PYD. les Américains. Une véritable psychose Sans parler des représailles dont pourraient Selon l'accord, ce dernier consent à la paranoïaque s’empare des Arabes syriens. souffrir les Kurdes du PYD-PKK qui ont fait cogestion des villes et de la population. Mais Des milices armées tirent sur des Kurdes, le jeu du régime, les Kurdes syriens redou- il refuse d’appliquer une des clauses qui pré- faisant quelques morts. Les villes et quar- tent que les arabes de la «nouvelle Syrie» voit une force armée unifiée avec les pesh- tiers kurdes de Syrie s’embrasent. Bachar el- oublient une fois de plus d'accéder à leurs mergas kurdes syriens bloqués en Irak du Assad tente de temporiser, et reconnaît pour revendications (comme c'est arrivé en Irak). nord qui veulent s’allier à l’Armée syrienne la première fois l’existence des Kurdes. libre (ASL). Les partis kurdes syriens tentent donc Depuis 2004, chaque Newroz donne lieu à l'impossible: s'entendre à la fois avec le des émeutes et des manifestations violem- Au sein de l’ASL existe déjà un bataillon Conseil national syrien (pour la reconnais- ment réprimées par les miliciens qui tabas- kurde du nom du plus illustre d’entre eux, sance de la nation kurde dans la future sent ou tirent dans la foule. Salahaddin. Les Kurdes qui le composent constitution) et avec le PYD (co-gestion des sont très anti-PYD syrien, qu'ils considèrent En mai 2005, le cheik soufi kurde Khaznawi régions kurdes, force armée kurde unique) comme des «traîtres qui roulent pour est enlevé, torturé et assassiné. C’est une hostile au CNS. Bachar el-Assad». Sur le terrain, à Alep figure de premier plan pour les Kurdes, un comme à Ras Al-Aïn, les trêves se succèdent Finalement, c'est le président du gouverne- patriote, prônant la non-violence et le dia- entre YPG (branche armée du PYD) et ALS, ment régional du Kurdistan irakien, Massoud logue inter-religieux. Une nouvelle généra- chacun voulant contrôler seul «son terri- Barzani, qui tente d'unir les Kurdes syriens tion kurde se fait entendre. Les arrestations, toire». Mais des attaques de djihadistes et de les pousser –non sans heurts– à procès, emprisonnements et tortures de indépendants contre les Kurdes compliquent rejoindre le camp de l’opposition au régime. Kurdes se multiplient; à partir de 2009, les la situation. La tutelle du président de la première entité statistiques sont publiées sur le site kurde autonome rassure quelque peu les Kurdwatch. 6. Pourquoi n’y a-t-il pas plus antidji- Kurdes, comme une garantie pour obtenir hadiste qu’un Kurde? En octobre 2011, tous les partis kurdes un minimum de droits. syriens –hormis le PYD-PKK– fondent le Les Kurdes abhorrent les djihadistes qui les Conseil national Kurde syrien (CNKS), ont depuis toujours pris pour cible. Quant opposé à Bachar el-Assad. Et de nombreux aux Frères musulmans (sunnites), ils consi- jeunes Kurdes syriens très politisés et plutôt dèrent les Kurdes comme de mauvais L’auteure remercie Sandrine Alexie, traduc- pacifiques descendent dans la rue par soli- musulmans (en raison du soufisme kurde, trice de littérature kurde, en poste à darité avec la jeunesse arabe, dénonçant des yézidis, de leurs femmes non voilées, l’Institut kurde de Paris, pour l’aide qu’elle «les partis kurdes de papa», trop timorés, et non séparées, et puis les Kurdes refusent lui apportée. Sandrine Alexie qui blogue le agitant autant les drapeaux syriens que l’arabisation). En Irak du nord, les Kurdes monde kurde a écrit également deux kurdes. Pour ces jeunes, le printemps arabe n’ont pas laissé un djihadiste mettre le pied romans, dont La Rose de Djam. est un printemps syrien. dans la région autonome kurde depuis l’attentat de février 2004 qui fit 105 morts. 5.Le PKK syrien, le PYD, est-il devenu [1] Entre les deux guerres, lorsque la Syrie Et ils comptent bien faire de même en Syrie. un supplétif du régime de Bachar el- était sous mandat français, un jeune colonel Assad? Décrié, parfois détesté par de nombreux nommé Charles de Gaulle rédige un Syriens kurdes, le PKK-PYD a un atout dans mémoire sur la «question du bec de canard Au début du soulèvement populaire, en la mesure où il est en première ligne face de Djézireh». Il aurait également consacré mars 2011, Bachar el-Assad veut mettre les aux djihadistes que la Turquie, dit-il, aurait une brochure à «La question kurde» publiée Kurdes de son côté. C’est pourquoi il publie laissé passer la frontière. en 1930 par l’Imprimerie du Bureau un décret accordant des cartes d’identité à topographique du Levant. 6.000 des Kurdes apatrides. Durant l’un des combats de la ville de Ras Al-Aïn, il y a eu 5 morts du PYD et 30 djiha- Ne voulant pas ouvrir un second front distes, ce qui tend à prouver que des mem- contre les Kurdes, le régime de Bachar el- bres aguerris de la guerilla du PKK sont là- Assad se désengage des régions kurdes et bas aussi. Et puis, à la différence de ces dji- laisse faire. Les militants du PKK-PYD ne

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

XtDtonfc

Dimanche 10 - Lundi il février 2013 L'armement des rebelles syriens divise Washington

Une audition au Sénat a révélé les dissensions de l'administration

sortante sur le soutien à l'opposition syrienne

L'histoire retiendra-t-elle le ferme, mais il disait encore avoir Veto présidentiel refus de Barack Obama d'ar¬ du mal à trancher: «Nous ne ren¬ Le 2 février, le New York Times mer les rebelles syriens à la dons service à personne quand avaitrévélé que, à l'été 2012, la secré¬ fin de son premier mandat com¬ nous nous précipitons avant de taire d'Etat et le patron de la CIA me une manifestation de sa sages¬ regarder, quand nous prenons en avaient joint leurs forces pour sou¬ se ou comme une erreur tragique ? charge des choses sans avoir tenir «un plan » consistant à « sou¬ De façon inattendue, la ques¬ réfléchià toutes les conséquences. » mettre les groupes rebelles à une tion a pris un singulier relief, jeudi L'utilisation d'armes chimiques enquête approfondie et à entraîner 7février, au Sénat américain, lors¬ par le régime syrien contre des des combattants qui auraient été que deux très hauts responsables opposants, à Homs, le 23 décembre, approvisionnés en armes». Le du Pentagone ont reconnu avoir, aurait pourtant dû faire basculer conflit semblait connaître un tour¬ au cours de l'été 2012, soutenu Washington, puisque Barack Oba¬ nant. Le régime avait été ébranlé, le Hillary Clinton et David Petraeus, ma en avait fait une « ligne rouge » 18 juillet, par un attentat spectacu¬ alors respectivement secrétaire aux «conséquences énormes ». laire à Damas, suiviparune offensi¬ d'Etat et chef de la CIA, qui recom¬ Mais le département d'Etat s'est ve rebelle sur Alep. Le recours aux mandaient de fournir des armes déclaré en janvier incapable de bombardements aériens avait aux opposants au régime de «confirmer» l'usage des armes redonné un avantage au régime, Bachar Al-Assad. chimiques, rapporté par Le Monde. qui a répondu favorablement ven¬ Témoignant devant les séna¬ Le grand renouvellement des dredi à une offre de dialogue du teurs, Leon Panetta, secrétaire à la hauts cadres de l'exécutif - chef de l'opposition, Ahmed Moaz défense (surle point d'être rempla¬ M Clinton vient d'être rempla¬ Al-Khatib, en excluant ses «condi¬ cé par Chuck Hagel) et le général cée par John Kerry et le général tionspréalables ». Martin Dempsey, chef d'état- Petraeus est sur le point de l'être Les Etats-Unis contrôlent la major de l'armée américaine, ont par John Brennan - semble avoir' fourniture aux rebelles d'armes admis, dans la foulée, que cette favorisé le déballage d'un désac¬ légères, qui viennent principale¬ option avait fait l'objet d'un veto cord tenu secret jusqu'ici. 11 met en du président Obama, alors en cam¬ ment du Qatar et d'Arabie Saoudi¬ exergue la réticence de l'adminis¬ pagne électorale. te, via la Turquie. Mais Washing¬ tration Obama à s'impliquer mili¬ Ces dissensions, révélées au ton ne livre que du matériel de tairement de façon visible par cours d'une audition publique, ont vision et de transmission, des crainte de l'hostilité de l'opinion. fait sensation, au point d'en éclip¬ moyens d'entraînement ainsi que «Nous regardons quelles mesures, serl'ordre du jour, consacré à l'atta¬ de l'aide humanitaire. Les Améri¬ notamment diplomatiques, pour¬ que contre le consulat américain à cains maintiennent un embargo raient être prises pour s'efforcer de Benghazi, en Libye, le 11 septembre sur la fourniture d'arrnes antiaé¬ réduire cette violence », a d'ailleurs 2012. Longue de quatre heures, la riennes, parcrainte de les voirutili- indiqué vendredi M. Kerry. Ce der¬ séance a connu un pic d'intensité sées contre eux dans le futur. nier s'est refusé à commenter les lorsque le sénateur républicain Depuis le veto présidentiel amé¬ révélations de MM. Panetta et John McCain, adversaire de M. Oba¬ ricain, la rébellion a continué de Dempsey: «Je ne vais pas revenir ma en 2008 et partisan d'une aide marquer des points, mais avec un en arrière. C'est un nouveau gou¬ américaine aux rebelles syriens, a coût humain extrêmement élevé vernement, un second mandat questionné solennellement et au prix d'une fragmentation et pourleprésident,je suis le nouveau d'une radicalisation inquiétantes MM. Panetta et Dempsey. secrétaire d'Etat et nous allons «Combiendegensdevrontmou- dans ses rangs. Ce'tte évolution a avancerà partir de là.» cpnduit les Européens à débattre rir avant que ne vous recomman¬ Après son « scoop », John diez une action militaire ? En mars de la possibilité de lever l'embargo McCain a qualifié la situation en dernier, 7500 Syriens avaient été sur les armes, défendue principale¬ Syrie d'« échec choquant de la poli¬ tués. On en est maintenant à au ment par les Britanniques et plus tique américaine», exhortant le moins 60 000 ! » Et le sénateur de modérément par les Français, président à «tenir compte des préciser sa pensée : le Pentagone mais à laquelle les Scandinaves conseils{...)etàprendreimmédiate- a-t-il soutenu la recommandation s'opposent. Les ministres des affai¬ ment les mesures nécessaires (...) faite par M Clinton et le général res étrangères de l'Union euro¬ afin de hâter lafin du conflit ». Les Petraeus de-fournir des armes à la péenne devraient à nouveau en partisans d'une aide militaire aux résistance? «Avez-vous soutenu discuter le 18 février. rebelles soulignent qu'elle seule cela?» «Nous avons soutenu Aux Etats-Unis, l'éventualité donnerait aux Etats-Unis une cela », ont répondu tour à tour d'un changement d'attitude du influence réelle si, à Damas, le pou¬ M. Panetta et le général Dempsey. président Obama après sa réélec¬ voir venait à changer de mains.»

tion, le 6 novembre, n'a pas pris Philippe Bernard corps. Fin janvier, interrogé par CBS, le président semblait moins

18 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Özeti 11 FÉVRIER 2013 Kurdistan: vers un accord historique entre Ankara et le PKK? BENOÎT MARGO tés turques sous le prisme sécuritaire, sée par les purges effectuées par l'AKP Consultant en géostratégie du Moyen- plutôt que sous l'angle socio-politique. dans son commandement ces dernières Orient Outre la Turquie, les Etats-Unis ou années. Or, la guerre en Syrie menace la l'Union Européenne ont d'ailleurs le PKK stabilité de tout le sud-est de la Turquie. sur leur liste noire des groupes terro- Pour contrecarrer les Turcs, qui sou- URDISTAN - Depuis décembre, le ristes. tiennent les rebelles, le régime de Bachar gouvernement turc et le principal Or, le gouvernement turc dialogue al-Assad a réactivé ses réseaux d'avec le Kmouvement armé kurde sont officielle- aujourd'hui directement avec le mouve- PKK. En effet, il faut rappeler que Damas ment en négociations pour conclure un ment par l'intermédiaire de son fonda- fut longtemps la base-arrière d'Abdullah accord politique. En jeu, la reconnaissance teur et chef charismatique, Abdullah Öcalan. En 1998, celui-ci avait finale- officielle du particularisme kurde contre la Öcalan, détenu depuis 1999 sur l'île ment été expulsé par le père du président fin des affrontements armés qui ont fait des d'Imrali, au sud d'Istanbul. Depuis son syrien actuel dans le but précis d'éviter milliers de morts depuis trente ans. arrestation, Öcalan conserve une vérita- un conflit armé avec la Turquie. ble aura chez ses partisans, et il plaide Aujourd'hui, en Syrie, les milices du Qui sont les Kurdes? désormais pour un règlement pacifique Parti de l'Union Démocratique (PYD), Les Kurdes sont réputés être le plus de la crise. Une frange extrémiste du affiliées au PKK et hostiles aux rebelles grand peuple sans Etat. Il n'existe PKK conteste cependant cet appel. de l'Armée Syrienne Libre (ASL), contrô- aucune statistique incontestable, mais ils En quoi le contexte actuel incite lent une grande partie des zones kurdes seraient de l'ordre de 30 millions, répar- à un rapprochement? au nord du pays, et ce avec la bénédiction tis entre la Turquie (plus de 15 millions), D'abord parce que les dirigeants de Damas. Cet apprentissage de l'Iran (plus de 7 millions), l'Irak (plus de turcs ne sont plus foncièrement opposés l'autonomie, conjugué à la quasi-indé- 5 millions) et la Syrie (plus de 2 mil- à la reconnaissance du droit des Kurdes. pendance des Kurdes d'Irak depuis lions). Artisan d'une réforme de l'Etat nationa- 2005, constitue une vraie bombe à retar- Bien que très majoritairement liste traditionnel, l'AKP (Parti pour la dement pour Ankara. musulmans sunnites et proches du Justice et le Développement, au pouvoir L'enjeu géostratégique d'un accord monde culturel iranien, ils ne sont ni depuis 2002) a d'ailleurs bénéficié d'une avec le PKK est donc double: il s'agit, arabes, ni turcs, ni persans. À la fin de la certaine sympathie électorale chez les d'une part, de prévenir la montée en première Guerre Mondiale, lors du dépe- Kurdes à ses débuts. puissance irrésistible des Kurdes dans la çage de l'Empire Ottoman, les Kurdes La signature d'un accord avec le PKK région, et d'autre part, de neutraliser ont échoué à obtenir un Etat indépen- serait en outre du plus bel effet pour le l'influence du régime syrien chez les dant. Depuis, ils se mobilisent dans leurs Premier ministre islamiste Recep Tayyip Kurdes de Turquie. Etats respectifs. Erdogan un an avant sa candidature pro- Que peut-on attendre de la Créé en 1978, le Parti des Travailleurs bable à la première élection présiden- situation? Kurdes (PKK) est le principal mouve- tielle turque au suffrage universel. Fin Les rumeurs d'accord évoquent plu- ment revendicatif de Turquie, originelle- connaisseur de l'Histoire de son pays, sieurs phases. Pour le PKK, cela va du ment d'inspiration marxiste. A partir de Erdogan aimerait rétablir une entente cessez-le-feu à la fin de la lutte armée. 1984, il lance une insurrection contre qui faisait dans le temps des Kurdes les Pour le gouvernement, de la libération l'Etat turc en réclamant l'indépendance "garde-frontières" du calife ottoman. d'activistes à l'introduction de la langue des zones majoritairement kurdes du Malgré tout, le contexte interne reste kurde dans les écoles et les tribunaux. pays. Toutefois, après des années de tendu. En 2009, le parti qui était consi- Si un tel accord doit effectivement luttes infructueuses, le PKK s'en tient déré comme le bras politique du PKK a être signé, il faudra surtout l'appliquer. aujourd'hui à la revendication d'une été dissous par la justice turque. Or le débat sur la question kurde est loin large autonomie au sein d'un Etat fédéral Prudent, celui qui lui a succédé reste d'être clos en Turquie. Les tensions ne turc. sous pression. Depuis 2011, les violences s'apaiseront certainement pas du jour au Pourquoi un accord serait-il armées sont aussi revenues sur le devant lendemain. "historique"? de la scène. On peut s'attendre à d'éventuelles Parce que, jusqu'aux années 1990, le Des procès sont toujours en cours actions radicales venant d'opposants à fait kurde était pour ainsi dire nié en contre des activistes kurdes. Il y a cette démarche de compromis. Turquie. Les Kurdes étaient pudique- quelques mois, des centaines de détenus L'assassinat de trois militantes kurdes à ment appelés "Turcs des montagnes". En s'étaient mis en grève de la faim pour Paris, le mois dernier, en est un exemple. effet, la République de Turquie a été fon- réclamer notamment des négociations Enfin, l'accord sera vu par beaucoup dée par Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, dont la entre le gouvernement et Öcalan. C'est d'activistes comme une simple étape vers doctrine était ultranationaliste et résolu- dans ce cadre qu'Erdogan a donc sauté le l'acquisition d'une véritable autonomie ment hostile à l'idée d'une Turquie "plu- pas. territoriale. rielle". En fait, le plus important pour lui est Le dossier kurde est par conséquent La guerilla menée par le PKK reste le contexte régional. Gardienne du tem- loin d'être fermé. Ë jusqu'à maintenant traitée par les autori- ple kémaliste, l'armée turque est fragili-

19 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Özeti 10 February 2013

all aspects of exploring and producing Kurdistan's oil by Erbil and Ankara to sign a Turkish companies, marketing and exploring the Region's oil and gas to Turkey. In the future strategic agreement this could lead Kurdistan to world markets through Turkey. The Kurdish Globe L However, in the present Turkey's Energy Kurdistan Region will no Minister Taner Yildiz longer be dependent on Kurdistan is safe, which and Kurdish Natural Baghdad for oil exports. has prompted interna- Resources Minister Dr. Consequently Turkey would Ashti Hawrami speak tional investors, and the not depend on Iranian or during the "Kurdistan KRG has been very keen Russian oil and gas either. Region's Road to on encouraging new Development businesses to start-up. Conference in Erbil, Revenue independency May 21, 2012. he Iraqi Prime Minister Reuters report argues that Nouri al-Maliki has tried to exploring oil is a great success Tpersuade the American oil new businesses to start-up. This rather than whether it has the for the Kurds since the region giant Exxon Mobil to withdraw is in contrast to Southern areas ability to produce oil. would receive the revenues of from Kurdistan and resume its of Iraq, where there is no secu- its oil exports directly and it investment in the West Qurna 1 rity or safety for workers. Kurdistan will not wait would no longer depend on its Unfortunately the Iraqi govern- field, which is under the control for Baghdad 17% share in the Iraqi budget as of Baghdad. Exxon's CEO Rex ment has not played a positive the only source of revenue for role in attracting international the region. Robin Miles, an Tillerson met the Iraqi Prime Until recently Kurdistan's oil oil companies to help develop exports at the Manarco consul- Minister in January, but has not was exported via a pipeline that the poor economic infrastruc- tancy company states that, made any promises, and met is controlled by the central gov- ture of this war torn country. "Assume that Kurdistan with Kurdistan Region's ernment. However, this line of Consequently, oil giants have exports 1 million barrels of oil President Massoud Barzani in export was put on hold last been more keen to sign con- per day; the revenue of this Zurich, Switzerland the next month due to Baghdad's refusal tracts with Kurdistan Region, export would be much more day, where he reiterated his to pay oil companies' fees. as opposed to central and larger than the budget shares it company's commitment to its Reuters reports that KRG Southern parts of Iraq. currently gets from the central contracts with the Kurdistan authorities will not wait for government". Regional Government (KRG). Baghdad any more, and as a In a report published by Oil autonomy result they have started to Reuters on the development of export crude oil to Turkey and Relations get balanced During the last few years, Kurdistan Region in the oil and get refined fuel products in Kurdistan Region has been rela- Commenting on the ties gas industry, Exxon Mobil return. Although the volume of tively autonomous in the ener- between Kurdistan and Turkey, lawyers and top executives exports is small but as per gy industry, Reuters reports. a senior KRG official says that have been examining their deci- Reuters it is an indication for This autonomy and develop- Turkey has a significant impact sion which could change the reaching greater goals in the ment in Kurdistan has even on the economic development balance of power in Iraq if they future, and according to an pushed Exxon Mobil to sacri- in Kurdistan. The KRG official pull out of Qurna 1 oil filed in energy expert "Kurdistan has fice its contracts in the south for argues that "When we start Southern Iraq. reached a point in oil and gas the sake of having consistent exporting oil and gas, every- sector, where it would not and fast development with a thing would change, and our Exxon Mobil's entry into return back and the KRG would promising energy industry in relations would reach a com- Kurdistan Region's oil sector no longer support a centralized the region. An energy expert plete balance". Reuters also has had an significant impact oil and gas policy". on the development of this argues that signing an agree- says that the Turkish govern- ment with Exxon Mobil was a region. It consequently encour- Erbil-Ankara Relations ment is eagerly working aged several other oil giants to big step towards developing towards improving ties Kurdistan region, and since the between Ankara and Erbil. sign agreements with KRG for Erbil-Baghdad ties have almost agreement this region has Selahattin Cimen, Deputy exploring oil, including French reached a deadlock since last changed dramatically. Energy Minister of Turkey says giant Total, Russian giant year, while KRG has strength- According to the report by "cooperation between the KRG Gazprom and American giant ened its ties with neighboring Reuters, Kurdistan Region is and the Turkish government for Chevron. Turkey over the months. A very rich in oil and gas exporting oil to world markets diplomat who is aware about resources. This has attracted would strengthen the relations Safety and Stability in the talks between Erbil and many international energy that already exist between us." Kurdistan Ankara has said that the two companies, with many other parties are about to sign a very companies eyeing the region Kurdistan Region is safe, which large agreement covering all for future investments. The has prompted international major energy aspects. The question now has become, how investors, and the KRG has agreement is expected to cover been very keen on encouraging Kurdistan can export its oil

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

WTOUtATIONAl10NAL îkral&j*^jâSribunc monday, February h, 2013 Any solution to Syria?

without working with Iran. Because of with "full powers" and with equal rep¬ the age-old ties between Iranian Shiites resentation ofAlawites and Sunni rebels. and the Shiite Persian-speaking If the Russians could be persuaded to Afghans of Herat, Afghanistan's third- back such a resolution (not easy), it largest city, Iran always was and al¬ could break the stalemate inside Syria, ways will be a player in Afghan politics. because many regime loyalists would Shiite Iran has never liked the Sunni see the writing on the wall and abandon Thomas L. Taliban. "Iran is the natural counter to Assad. The stick would be to tell the Rus¬ Sunni extremism," said Akbar. It's in sians that if they don't back such a reso¬ Friedman Iran's interest to "diminish the lution, the U.S. would start sending Taliban." That's why America and Iran weapons to the secular/moderate rebels. were tacit allies in unseating the Can there really be such a policy be¬ Taliban, and they will be tacit allies in The question NEW DELHI Should the U.S. intervene preventing the reseating of the Taliban. tween George W. of whether to stop the bloodshed in Syria? I find So from India, the struggle in Syria Bush's "all-in" ap¬ the United myself torn between four different per¬ looks like just another chapter in the proach to transform¬ States should spectives from New Delhi, Baghdad, long-running Sunni-Shiite civil war. ing Iraq and Barack intervene is Tel Aviv and the U.N. Syria is a proxy war between Sunni-led Obama's "you-touch- Last week, I met with a group of Indi¬ Saudi Arabia and Qatar two mon¬ more compli¬ it-you-own-it-so-

an strategists here at the Institute for archies funding the Syrian "demo¬ cated than don't-even-touch-it" Defense Studies and Analyses to talk crats," who are largely Syrian Sunnis Yes or No. approach to Syria? about how America should withdraw and Shiite Iran and the Shiite-Alaw- One should study from Afghanistan and navigate the in¬ ite Syrian regime. It's a war that never Iraq. The lesson of terests of India, Pakistan and Iran. At ends; it can only be suppressed. Iraq is that deep historical currents one point, I tossed out an idea to which Which is why in Israel some Israeli were at play there Sunnis versus one of the Indian analysts responded: generals are starting to realize that if Shiites and Kurds versus Arabs. The That was tried before "in the 11th Syria is a fight to the death it could pose December 2010 Iraqi elections demon¬ century." It didn't work out well. as great a strategic threat to Israel as strated, though, that multisectarian That's why I like coming to Delhi to Iran's nuclear program. If Syria disin¬ parties and democratic rule were possi¬ talk about the region. Indian officials tegrates into another Afghanistan on ble in Iraq and actually the first tend to think in centuries, not months, Israel's border it would be an un¬ choice of most Iraqis. But America and they look at the map of the Middle tamed land, with jihadists, chemical would have had to keep some troops East without any of the British-drawn, weapons and surface-to-air missiles all there for another decade to see that shift colonial borders. Instead, they only see freely floating about. from sectarianism to multisectarianism old civilizations (Persia, Turkey, Can that collapse be avoided? From become even remotely self-sustaining. Egypt), old faiths (Shiites, Sunnis and Washington, some hoped that by Syria is Iraq's twin. The only way

Hindus), and old peoples (Pashtuns, . quickly toppling the regime of Bashar you'll get a multisectarian transition Tajiks, Jews and Arabs) all interact¬ al-Assad in Damascus, the West and there is with a U.N. resolution backed

ing within long-set patterns of behavior. the Sunnis could "flip" Syria from the by Russia and backed by a well-armed

"If you want to understand this re¬ Iranian-Soviet orbit to the Sunni-Saudi- referee on the ground to cajole, hammer gion, just take out a map from the American orbit. I'm dubious. I doubt and induce the parties to live together. Ganges to the Nile and remove the Brit¬ that Syria can be flipped in one piece; it It's the Middle East, Jake. ish lines," remarked M. J. Akbar, the will break apart in the'air into Sunni If you will the ends, you'd better will veteran Indian Muslim journalist and and Alawite regions. And, if we did the means. You can't change the politics

author. It takes you back to the true un¬ manage to flip Syria, Iran would try to "unless you say you'll stay for a hun¬ dercurrents of history that have long "flip" predominantly Shiite Iraq and dred years," insists Akbar. But no one

ruled the Middle East "and to interests Bahrain into its camp. wants to play empire anymore. In which defined by people and tribes and not Some Arab diplomats at the U.N. ar¬ case, he argues, it's always best not to just governments." gue, though, that there is a middle way, stay long in any of these countries five When you look at the region this way, but it would require the U.S. to lead: months, not five years. Five years, says

what do you see? First, you see that First, mobilize the Security Council to Akbar, is just long enough for people to there is no way the U.S. can keep Af¬ pass a resolution calling for the creation hate you, but not fear or respect you, let ghanistan stable after we draw down of a transitional government in Syria alone change their long-held ways.

In a separate incident in Mosul, gunmen using silenced weapons killed s Attacks kill the bodyguard of a Kurdish member of the city's provincial council and three others, police said. 12 in Iraq's Mosul A surge in violence since the withdrawal of U.S. troops in late 2011 is sto¬ king fears of a return to the sectarian strife that killed tens of thousands of

MOSUL, Iraq - February 12, 2013 (Reuters) Iraqis in 2006 and 2007.

A SUICIDE car bomber and unidentified gunmen killed at least 12 peo¬ Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, a Shi'ite Muslim, is facing mass protests

ple in the Iraqi city of Mosul on Monday, police and hospital sources by disenchanted Sunnis and is at loggerheads with ethnic Kurds who run said, as sectarian and ethnic tensions build ahead of elections in April. their northern region autonomously from Baghdad.

The bomber drove a vehicle packed with explosives up to a military The prospect of provincial elections is hardening the divisions as political checkpoint in Mosul, 390 km (240 miles) north of Baghdad, and detonated leaders appeal to their constituencies with hostile and uncompromising it, killing eight people and wounding 18, among them soldiers. rhetoric.

"The blast destroyed everything. It looks like there was nothing here The conflict in neighbouring Syria, where mainly Sunni rebels are fighting before the explosion," said a policeman at the scene who declined to be to overthrow a leader backed by Shi'ite Iran, is also whipping up sectarian identified because he was not authorised to speak to the media. tensions in Iraq and across the wider region.

21 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Özeti February 11, 2013

serves Assad's interests by unnerving Turkey, which has supported the uprising against Fuel, food aid draw Iraq, him. UPPER JAZIRA Syria Kurds closer The outcome of the Syrian conflict is still highly uncertain, By Isabel Coles | Reuters but analysts say Barzani may be looking to strengthen his foo- thold on the other side of the ISHKHABOUR, Iraq - Kurds border. on either side of the river "All options are open in TigrisF that runs between Syria Syria and since anything is pos- and Iraq are linked by kinship, a sible, Barzani might have an eye history of oppression and now by on Upper Jazira," said Gorgas, fuel lines and boats ferrying food referring to the territory where and medical aid across the Syrian Kurds are concentrated. waters that divide them. But he said any future The lifeline thrown by Iraqi government in Syria is unlikely Kurdistan to its neighbor to willingly cede much control extends the influence of Masoud over an area with one of the Barzani, the autonomous country's few oilfields, and nor region's President, over Kurds in would Turkey countenance too Syria as civil war threatens to strong a Kurdish entity on its dismember the country. southern frontier. For Syrian Kurds the conflict Syrian Kurds practise reading the Kurdish language at a school Iraqi Kurdish politicians say presents an opportunity to win in Derik, Al-Hasakah October 31, 2012. REUTERS/Thaier al- their main concern is to prevent the kind of rights enjoyed by Sudani Syrian Kurds from repeating the their ethnic kin in Iraq, who live mistakes of the 1990s, when autonomously from Baghdad Barzani's Kurdistan Democratic with their own administration, Divided between Syria, Iraq, Once laden, each boat takes Party (KDP) fought a bloody civil armed forces and an increasin- Turkey and Iran, the Kurdish less than a minute to reach the war against the Patriotic Union gly independent foreign policy. people number around 25 mil- other side. of Kurdistan (PUK) led by Jalal "Besides the humanitarian lion and are often described as "We thank God and we thank Talabani. dimension there is a political the world's largest ethnic group the president of Kurdistan for Although they buried the dimension (to the aid) as well," without a state of their own. this aid which is an ointment for hatchet to form a shared admi- said historian Jordi Tejel Gorgas, In Syria, where they make up our wounds," said 49-year-old nistration, friction between the an expert on Syrian Kurds based about 10 percent of the popula- Amin Ahmed, one of tens of KDP and PUK remains, and in in Switzerland. "The KRG tion, Kurds have been systemati- thousands of Syrian Kurds who Syria they back different (Kurdistan regional govern- cally discriminated against have sought refuge in the auto- Kurdish parties within the KNC. ment) and Barzani, as leader of a under Assad and his father nomous region. "One might assume that the de facto Kurdish state, are sho- before him, who stripped more After being unloaded in PUK will try to undermine wing they are committed than 100,000 of their citizenship. Syria, the aid is distributed to Barzani's moves in Syria," patriots." Kurdistan's approach to Kurds and Arabs alike by com- Gorgas said, noting that those It is not clear what exactly Syria contrasts sharply with the mittees operating under the parties associated with Talabani Barzani may hope to gain, but central government's. Shi'ite "Higher Kurdish Council", a have tended to lean towards the the aid consolidates his involve- Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki body formed last year at PYD. ment with Kurds in Syria, to says Iraq's policy is "non-interfe- Barzani's insistence to unite rival A senior Kurdish politician whom he has already provided rence" in Syria, but his interests Syrian Kurdish factions. said Barzani's objectives were to political support in preparation are closely aligned with those of The dominant Kurdish group ensure Kurdistan's border with for a future power transition. Iran, which backs Assad. on the ground in Syria is the Syria was secure and to contain KRG spokesman Safeen "The central government has Democratic Union Party (PYD), the PYD: "We want to keep them Dizayee denied there was any not objected so far," said the aligned with the outlawed in the tent," he said on condition ulterior or political motive to the head of the crossing, Shawkat Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), of anonymity. aid, calling it an obligation. Berbehari, a framed portrait of which has fought a 28-year-old The KRG has cultivated close Kurdish areas in Syria's nor- Barzani's father Mulla Mustafa insurgency against the Turkish ties with neighboring Turkey theastern corner have been spa- hanging on the wall behind him. state. and does not want the PYD to red the worst of the fighting bet- The Fishkhabour crossing Weaker but more palatable complicate that strategic rela- ween rebels and forces loyal to opened in mid-January and the to the international community tionship, analysts say. President Bashar al-Assad, but authorities are constructing a is the Kurdish National Council "My sense is that there isn't are nonetheless suffering from floating bridge over the river to (KNC), itself an umbrella for an over-arching strategy. It's severe food and fuel shortages. make it easier to traverse. more than a dozen smaller par- more a reactive response to On the Iraqi side of the river, "We are helping our bro- ties, several of which are tied changing events, with a focus on white pick-up trucks reverse thers and sisters in Western closely to Iraqi Kurdish groups. protecting what they have down to the water's edge and Kurdistan," Berbehari said, Both the PYD and the KNC already gained," said Crispin men heave sack after sack of using the term by which Kurds are wary of the Arab-dominated Hawes, director of political risk flour, tinned tomatoes and ghee refer to the area of Syria they lay Syrian opposition, which they consultancy Eurasia Group's into the hull of a motor boat wai- claim to as part of their rightful see as inherently hostile to their Middle East and North Africa ting to speed over to Syria. The homeland: "Greater Kurdistan". interests, but they differ on how practice. Kurdish flag flies overhead. "OINTMENT" best to capitalize on the civil "The ambitions are clearly "They are our brothers and a Around one million liters of war. there to expand but the core shared fate binds us together," diesel and a thousand tonnes of The KNC has accused the desire is that nothing gets rolled Barzani was quoted as saying in flour as well as medical supplies PYD of colluding with Assad in back."
the bi-monthly newspaper of a have been donated so far by the return for him letting the group's Syrian Kurdish party close to his KRG in northern Iraq to their fel- supremacy in Syria's Kurdish own. low Kurds across the river. areas go unchallenged. That

22 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Özeti 11 février 2013

LA TENSION REPREND À LA FRONTIÈRE TURCO-SYRIENNE

Syrie . L’explosion d’une dans le village turc d’Akçakale, voiture qui a tué au tuant cinq civils. L’armée avait riposté par des tirs d’obus sur moins dix personnes des positions tenues par des hier, n’a pas été militaires syriens. Les Etats- revendiquée. Unis, l’Allemagne et les Pays- Bas avaient ensuite déployé sur Sur le lieu de l''explosion, lundi. Ankara craint une attaque syrienne en représailles à son soutien aux opposants à Par LUC MATHIEU le sol turc, dans le cadre d’une mission de l’Otan, six batteries Bachar al-Assad. (Photo AFP) ttentat de missiles sol-air Patriot. ou accident causé forces du régime avait ensuite principes» malgré les «com- par un trafiquant d’essence mis à jour les rivalités au sein de plots». Ces déclarations peu- ? Une voiture a explosé hier à la Ankara craint une éventuelle A attaque des forces syriennes en l’opposition. Les jihadistes qui vent être comprises comme une frontière entre la Turquie et la s’étaient imposés à Bab al- réponse au chef de l’opposition, Syrie, tuant au moins dix per- représailles à son soutien affiché aux opposants à Bachar al- Hawa en ont finalement été Ahmed Moaz al-Khatib, qui sonnes et en blessant une cin- chassés par l’ASL. propose un dialogue sous con- quantaine d’autres. Selon des Assad. Dans les mois qui ont suivi le déclenchement de la ditions. «J’adresse un dernier officiels turcs, le véhicule était Ces tensions, récurrentes dans message au régime pour qu’il garé sur un parking dans le no rébellion, en mars 2011, les autorités turques ont laissé des la province d’Idlib, n’ont pas essaie de comprendre la souf- man’s land séparant le poste empêché les jihadistes, dont le france du peuple syrien, parce frontière de Cilvezoglu de celui commandants de l’Armée syri- enne libre (ASL) s’installer sur Front al-Nusra, de s’imposer que la révolution continuera et de Bab al-Hawa, côté syrien. comme l’une des composantes ne s’arrêtera jamais», a déclaré L’explosion, non revendiquée, a leur territoire, dans la région d’Antakya, où ils ont tenté les plus efficaces de la rébellion. Al-Khatib hier. mis le feu à une quinzaine de Ils ont pris hier le contrôle du voitures et camions. Un respon- d’organiser la résistance. Et même si elles craignent une barrage de l’Euphrate, selon Beaucoup plus ambigu, le chef sable du ministère turc des l’Observatoire syrien des droits de l’Eglise maronite, le cardinal Affaires étrangères a affirmé infiltration de combattants kur- des, elles ont permis à 200 000 de l’homme (OSDH). Il s’agit libanais Bechara Boutros Raï, a qu’il y avait «51% de chances «de la plus grande perte affirmé dimanche à Damas que pour que cette explosion soit réfugiés syriens de passer la frontière. économique pour le régime «la vie humaine est une valeur une attaque terroriste». Si cette depuis le début de la révolte», a qui n’a pas de prix, tout ce hypothèse se confirmait, elle affirmé Rami Abdel Rahmane, qu’on appelle réformes, droits risquerait de relancer les ten- Certains d’entre eux ont été autorisés à rentrer en Turquie en directeur de l’OSDH. de l’homme et démocratie ne sions entre la Turquie et la Syrie. valent le sang d’un seul homme Tirs d’obus. Le dernier incident passant par le poste de Bab al- Hawa, situé à proximité de «Dernier message». A Damas, innocent». Le cardinal Raï était à la frontière remonte à début Bachar al-Assad a réaffirmé hier le premier patriarche maronite à octobre 2012, lorsqu’un obus Reyhanli, là où s’est produite l’explosion d’hier. Les rebelles que son régime ne cédera pas se rendre en Syrie depuis tiré par les forces du régime de aux «pressions». Il a ajouté que l’indépendance du Liban en Bachar al-Assad avait explosé en avaient pris le contrôle à la N fin juillet. Cette victoire sur les la Syrie «ne renoncera pas à ses 1943.

Un responsable Kurdistan (PKK)". Cet homme qui agissait sous le nom d'emprunt "Hamza" en Allemagne, avait été financier présumé du chargé de juin 2003 à juin 2004 de récolter de l'argent pour le compte de l'organisation au moyen "de dons, contributions, événements commerciaux, et PKK poursuivi en Allemagne la vente de matériel de propagande". BERLIN, 12 février 2013 (AFP) D'après le parquet, il s'assurait également d'une présence suffisante de militants LE PARQUET FÉDÉRAL allemand a annoncé mardi avoir engagé des à des manifestations et événements du PKK. poursuites contre un Turc de 46 ans soupçonné d'avoir récolté de l'argent Abdullah S. aurait séjourné auprès de la direction du PKK dans le nord de l'Irak en Europe pour le compte de l'organisation kurde PKK, selon un commu- entre mai 2005 et juin 2007, avant de diriger un "bureau économique et finan- niqué. cier" de l'organisation en Europe jusqu'en mars 2010, a précisé le parquet dans Le parquet fédéral de Karlsruhe (ouest), compétent en matière de terrorisme, a son communiqué. indiqué avoir mis en examen un homme répondant au nom de Abdullah S., "pour Arrêté le 27 avril dernier, cet homme se trouve depuis en détention provisoire. I appartenance à l'organisation terroriste étrangère Parti des travailleurs du

23 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Özeti 11 février 2013

«le même que celui de la Kurdes tuées : un suspect présence d’Omer Güney». DOUILLES. Autre élément à au profil déroutant charge, des résidus de poudre de tir ont été relevés «à ENQUÊTE N Omer Güney, arrêté après la mort de militantes à Paris, est l’extérieur et à l’intérieur de la décrit comme «gentil, naïf», et laisse ouverte la piste de la manipulation. sacoche» découverte dans le véhicule de l’association utilisé Par PATRICIA TOURANCHEAU par Omer Güney le jour des meurtres. Or, le «chauffeur» de Cansiz portait la même sacoche a personnalité d’Omer sur la vidéosurveillance. Les Güney, suspect des meur- douilles «de deux marques dif- Ltres de trois militantes kurdes à férentes» retrouvées «peuvent Paris le 9 janvier, opacifie provenir de la même arme» de encore un peu plus le mobile de calibre 7,65 mm qui cadre mal ces exécutions. Les pistes poli- avec des règlements de tiques d’un complot comptes professionnels. Dans d’extrémistes turcs ou d’un l’attente des expertises balis- règlement de comptes entre tiques, le parquet de Paris n’a Kurdes ont tendance à «rien qui permette d’affirmer s’estomper au profit d’une ven- qu’il y ait eu deux ou trois geance privée ou du coup de tueurs. Nous n’avons pas la folie d’un déséquilibré. A moins conviction qu’ils étaient qu’il ne s’agisse d’une manipu- plusieurs». lation… A Paris, le 10 janvier, hommage aux trois militantes assass- inées. (Photo Vincent Nguyen) Le mode opératoire, «une Le Turc de 30 ans, écroué le 21 sacrée expédition punitive, 4 janvier pour ces meurtres, est ice neurologique de l’hôpital coups de main aux Kurdes, balles, 4 balles et 3 balles» dans un homme perturbé devenu Sainte-Anne qui lui détecte Omer Güney, qui «parle bien le la tête des victimes, détonne sympathisant du PKK (Parti «une tumeur au cerveau ». français», a été amené à servir avec le profil apparent d’Omer des travailleurs du Kurdistan) Contraint de quitter son de chauffeur à Sakine Cansiz et Güney, mis en examen pour l’an dernier par désœuvrement, emploi, Omer Güney touche à «la promener dans Paris les «assassinats et association de si l’on en croit son avocate. Il depuis une «pension trois jours» qui ont précédé les malfaiteurs, en relation avec conduisait depuis trois jours à d’invalidité de 700 à 800 euros», crimes. Il s’est présenté de lui- une entreprise terroriste». Paris, avec la voiture de «habite chez ses parents puis même au 36 quai des Orfèvres Néanmoins, enquêteurs et l’association, Sakine Cansiz, 55 squatte chez des amis», part de le 16 janvier pour expliquer à la magistrats s’interrogent sur le ans, égérie du PKK proche du temps en temps en Turquie brigade criminelle qu’il a motif, resté «inconnu», de ce chef emprisonné de la rébellion, «avec un billet pas cher pour y «passé la dernière journée triple meurtre et sur ce suspect Abdullah Öcalan. «Homme à chercher la femme idéale» . Ce avant sa mort avec Sakine qui «évoque une tumeur au femmes», selon un enquêteur, désœuvré «passe beaucoup de Cansiz, si cela peut aider à trou- cerveau» mais «ne relève pas Omer Güney connaissait bien temps à aider des familles kur- ver celui qui a fait ça». Omer pour autant de l’I3P» les deux autres victimes, des dans leurs démarches Güney soutient alors aux (infirmerie psychiatrique de la surtout l’activiste de 25 ans administratives», et «joue par- policiers qu’il a accompagné préfecture de police de Paris) : Leyla Soylemez, mais aussi fois au billard» dans les locaux Sakine Cansiz sur les lieux du «Est-il perdu ou manipulateur Fidan Dogan, 28 ans, qui tenait de l’association de Villiers-le- crime le 9 janvier, mais qu’il est ?» Son avocate n’exclut pas que le Centre d’information du Bel. Il drague les filles «qui se parti vers 11 h 30. Or, les images son client ait pu être «manipulé Kurdistan (CIK) au 147 rue prennent d’affection pour lui» de vidéosurveillance montrent ou utilisé par d’autres qui Lafayette à Paris, où les corps et «s’intéresse à la cau se que Sakine Cansiz et son chauf- seraient impliqués. En tout cas, ont été découverts. kurde». feur entrent dans le local du Omer Güney n’a pas les capac- CIK à 11 h 29 mais qu’Omer ités mentales d’être un agent TUMEUR. Arrivé en France il y Contrairement à certaines sup- Güney en ressort, seul, à 12 h secret, ces exécutions ne collent a plus de vingt ans avec ses par- positions, «sa famille n’est pas 56. Son avocate impute ces con- pas avec ce type lambda et lui- du tout nationaliste turque ni tradictions à ses «trous de même se sent incapable de tels ents qui tiennent un restaurant N en banlieue parisienne, le jeune prokurde, pas politique», mémoire, réels» : «Il n’a aucune actes». homme se marie et s’installe en souligne encore son avocate. notion du temps.» Mais pour le Allemagne en 2003. De retour à Ses proches et ses ex- procureur de Paris, François Paris en 2011 après son divorce, employeurs décrivent Omer Molins, «la confrontation de Omer Güney devient agent Güney comme «un brave type l’heure des assassinats et de d’entretien à l’aéroport de sympa, pas contrariant, gentil l’emploi du temps d’Omer Roissy. Sujet à de «fréquentes et naïf, qu’il est trop facile de Güney constitue un élément crises d’épilepsie», explique présenter comme le tueur pré- capital». Car le créneau horaire son avocate, il consulte le serv- sumé». A force de donner des de la mort des trois femmes est

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

leBondc

Mercredi 13 février 2013

A l'Académie arts et culture

du Kurdistan, proche du mouvement duParti des travailleurs du Kurdistan,

à Paris, le 16 janvier.

I i CHRISTOPHEPETITTESSQNP0UR«LEM0NDE»

ce, menées par le juge antiterroriste J» Thierry Fragnoli. Désormais, «toutes les demandesde la Turquie, oupresque, ontété satisfaitespar la France », estime le journa¬ $&' , .\-Li liste Emre Demir, correspondant à Paris du quotidien conservateur turc Zaman, pro¬

che du gouvernement.

Ce 11 février 2013, le procès de la Kampa¬

nya démarre devant la cour d'appel de I i:C Paris. Il passerait peut-être inaperçu s'il n'y

avait eu, à peine un mois plus tôt, un triple h- "-' assassinatpolitique:troisfemmes, militan¬ tes kurdes, tuées de plusieurs balles dans la

tête, en plein Paris, le 9 janvier 2013. Entre

les revirements de 2007 et la brutalité de ces meurtres se dessine soudain un puzzle compliqué, où les pièces semblent bien fai¬ Tourments re partie d'un même tout, mais où aucune ne s'emboîte. « Une affaire quipue», lâche . un enquêteur. Elle montre aussi à quel au "Petit Kurdistan" point la France est aujourd'hui empêtrée dans le conflit turco-kurde.

Avrai dire, unpremierprocès de la Kam¬

panya avait eu lieu en juin 2011 : une jeune

femme y avait fait sensation, au-delà des FLORENCE AUBENAS Le procès en appel peines prononcées - toutes avec sursis. ET GUILLAUME PERRIER oie Kurdes accusés Fidan Dogan a 30 ans. En 1991, ses parents ont atterri du Kurdistan turc dans un HLM 4>, de Strasbourg. Fidan apprend le français à

uand Riza Altun est arrivé toute allure, saute des classes, rêve de méde¬ d'Iran au milieu des années des fonds pour cine. Elle est l'espoir de la famille. Puis elle 2000, il savait que ce serait les lâche tout : la cause kurde a envahi sa vie. agents de la DST, les services de le PKK, qui s'est Elle passe des cours de danse folklorique renseignements français, qui auxmanifestations politiques,fait de la tra¬ l'accueilleraient à l'aéroport ouvert,le il février duction pour les activistes en escale à Paris pour, le conduire en voiture jusqu'à Paris. et continue parun stage deformationthéo¬ Pas de tapis rouge, bien sûr, rien d'officiel devant le tribunal rique en Hollande. «La recherche des raci¬ nonplus. Surtout pas. Entre ce haut respon¬ nes», estime Nursel, une de ses copines. sable kurde et le contre-espionnage fran¬ correctionnel- Fidan Dogan devient indispensable dans çais, les relations sont plutôt discrètes, les relations publiques du mouvement, mais solidement nouées par des accords entre Strasbourg, Bruxelles et Paris. Dans tacites et des intérêts bien compris. Un son carnet d'adresses, François Hollande ancien des services les résume d'une for¬ ître inaperçu voisine avec Martin Schulz, le président du mule: «Si vous ne faites pas d'histoires, Parlement européen. «Elle décroche ce nous n'enferonspas nonplus. » s'il n'y avait' qu'elle veutpour une raison simple : elle ne D'un côté, donc, le ministère de l'inté¬ peut pas imaginer qu'on lui dise non », rieurtolère les activitéspolitiques etdonne eul'assassinat raconte un militant. Devant le tribunal cor¬ des titres de séjour, même aux membres rectionnelde Paris, elle a pris enmainla ges¬ revendiqués du PKK, le Parti des tra¬ de trois militantes tion du procès, parlant à la presse et aux vailleurs du Kurdistan, considéré comme avocats, allant jusqu'à placer dans la salle illégal, voireterroriste, par un certain nom¬ les membres de la communauté. Elle est bre de pays. De l'autre, les militants kurdes DST. Il donne des noms, des numéros de partout, tout le temps, avec son rire et ses

évitent tout ce qui pourrait faire déborder téléphone. talons qui claquent joyeusement. Fidan sur le territoire français le conflit qui les La fameuse « levée de fonds » s'appelle Dogan est l'une des trois femmes assassi¬ oppose au gouvernement turc depuis plus la « Kampanya », une collecte annuelle fai¬ nées le 9 janvier 2013. de trente ans. te publiquement au sein de la communau¬ Découverte à minuit, la nouvelle des

Le 5 février 2007, pourtant, lorsque les té kurde. Sérielle, en partie, à financer la meurtres traverse en unéclairla nébuleuse policiers sonnent à la porte d'un apparte¬ guérilla en Turquie ? Bien sûr. Et cela a tou¬ des associations kurdes françaises autour ment à Ville-d'Avray (Hauts-de-Seine), c'est jours été un des sujets banalement évo¬ du PKK: A 4heures du matin, un millier de

Cette fois pour arrêter Riza Altun au petit ques avec la DST. Mais rien n'y fait : le juge personnes sont déjàrassemblées spontané¬ matin. L'opération vise une vingtaine de d'instruction refuse toute confrontation. ment, service d'ordre compris, devant le personnes au total, suspectées de lever des Entre la France et les Kurdes, la situation lieu des crimes, le Centre d'information du

fonds pour financer une « entreprise terro¬ vient de basculer. Depuis, en cinq ans, pas Kurdistan, dans le 10' arrondissement de riste». Pendant la procédure, Riza Altun moins de vingt et une procédures ont été Paris. A 10 heures le lendemain, ils sont argue de ses contacts privilégiés avec la lancées contre les réseaux du PKK en Fran 4000, chiffre qui enfle à près de 20 000 à la

25 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dent.ro de la Prensa-Basin Ôzeti

manifestation le jour suivant. Certains sontvenus des Pays-Bas ou d'Allemagneen "Wl car. Des parlementaires du Parti pour la- paix et la démocratie (BDP), vitrine légale

du PKK en Turquie, tiennent une réunion de crise dans une brasserie en face de la

gare du Nord, avec l'égérie de la cause kur¬

de, LeylaZana, PrixSakharov Leshautsres- . ponsables politiques en exil, Zubeyir Aydar et Remzi Kartal, débarquent de i Bruxelles. Tout le 10e arrondissement, bap¬ tisé, «le Petit Kurdistan», paraît en deuil. . Des vendeurs de kebabs, taxiphones ou coiffeurs ont fermé, par solidarité. A certai¬ nes devantures sont placardées les photos des trois femmes. Remarquable organisa¬ tion, sévèrement cadrée, mais cadenassée surelle-même-avecdiscours enturcet slo¬ gans directement importés du pays - à

l'imagé du mouvement tout entier.

' oins de quinze jours après les faits, l'arrestationd'OrnerGûney,

* 30 ans, n'a pas permis de dissiper

les zones d'ombre. On serait tenté de dire qu'elle les a épaissies un peu plus. Orner desgenssontpourtantfavorables aux négo¬ seins, elle n'a pas parlé. Elle n'a pas hurlé Gûney et sa famille viennent d'une région ciations avec la Turquie, ils veulent aussi nonplus. Elle s'étaitjuré de ne jamais lais¬ turque ultranationaliste, mais le jeune tinedémilitarisationduPKKletransformer ser échapper un son devant ses tortionnai¬ homme s'est pourtant approché des asso¬ en un mouvement civil sans le culte res », raconte une mère de famille. Libérée ciations kurdes depuis un an ou deux, ser¬ d'Ocalan et les réflexes staliniens. » en 1991, elle rejoint la « montagne », le nom vant volontiers de garçon à tout faire. Son A travers Sakine Cansiz, «c'est un sym¬ donné à la lutte armée, où le mouvement oncle le ditvaguement simple d'esprit, et il bole quia étéfrappé », lance Berivan, mili¬ s'est engagé en 1984. s'est d'abord lui-même présenté au com¬ tante, née en France. Sakine Cansiz, 55 ans, Jidanet Sakine ont rendez-vous au Cen¬ missariat pour témoigner. Ce suspect fan¬ est ladeuxième femme assassinée le 9 jan- tre d'information kurde. La fondatrice du tomatique et ambigu a permis au gouver¬ vier. « Quand elle entrait dans la cafétéria PKK doit arriver de Villiers-le-Bel (Val- nement turc et à la rébellion kurde de se du Centre culturel kurde, les gens se d'Oise), où l'héberge un militant. Qui renvoyer immédiatement la responsabili¬ levaient spontanément, même les hom¬ aurait une voiture pour l'amener? Fidan té des meurtres. Le premier dénonce un mes», dit Mehmet Ulker, président de la Dogan appelle Ômer Gùney, comme sou¬ règlement de comptes interne. La seconde Fédération des associations kurdes de vent dans ces cas-là. Il dépose Sakine Can¬ y voit la signature de « l'Etat profond », ces' France. « Rien qu'à safaçon de marcher, on sizvers 11 h 15 dans un parking.Va chercher réseaux clandestins de la contre-guérilla voyaitquielleétait.»DToite.Sûred'e\\ë. Elé¬ du jus d'orange à l'épicerie. Le dernier mail

dont se sont servis, par le passé, les services gante. Pas de café, pas de cigarette, pas de part du centre à 12 h 42, une demande de

secrets turcs pour liquider des opposants. viande, pas d'alcool, pas de mari, pas de vie traduction à une association. La caméra de «Plusieurs d'entre nous ont été pris pour personnelle. Réveil à 5 heures du matin. surveillance enregistre Ômer Gûney en

cibleparlapresse nationaliste turque. Nous Gymnastique. Discipline. train de quitter le centre à 12 h 56. La police avons reçu en 2012 des menaces précisant Comme tous les cadres du mouvement, trouvera quatre verres sur la table et trois que des équipes de tueurs se baladaient en Sakine Cansiz navigue à travers l'Europe. femmes assassinées. Ômer Gùney nie. France eten Allemagne », continue Zubeyir Début janvier 2013, elle arrive à Paris pour La troisième femme s'appelle Leyla

Aydar, responsable du PKK en Europe. refaire ses papiers. Le 9, elle doit partir Sôylemez, mais on disait «'ta petite». Elle Turcs et Kurdes s'accordent en revanche pour l'Allemagne, mais, juste avant, elle n'avait pas 25 ans et voulait s'«engager sur un point : ce crime politique vise à tor¬ dans la montagne», selon un camarade. piller les négociations de paix engagées à Moins dequinzejours Sakine Cansiz devait l'y aider. Au dernier Imrali, l'île-prison où est détenu Abdullah moment, les deux femmes avaient décidé Ôcalan, le leader historique du PKK. Des aprèsletriplemeurtre, de partir ensemble en Allemagne. pourparlers secrets avaient déjà été menés l'arrestation d'Orner entre Kurdes et Turcs à Oslo, brutalement interrompusen 2011 par la retranscription Gûneyn'apas permis dans un journal turc de bandes enregis¬ de dissiper trées pendant les discussions. Dans la fou¬ lée, « les quatre représentants du côté kurde les zones d'ombre ont tous été inscrits surla liste des barons de la drogue aux Etats-Unis», relève l'avocat doit retrouver Fidan Dogan, avec son rire Antoine Comte, qui défend l'un d'eux, et ses talons. Si la jeune femme paraît être

Adem Uzun, interpellé en France en 2012. l'incarnation même de la seconde généra¬ Cette fois, les négociations semblaient plus tion de militants, Sakine est la première, la largement soutenues par la classe politi¬ toute première. Sa légende se raconte dans que turque et susceptibles d'aboutir à un tous les foyers kurdes, on la montre sur les accord sur un conflit qui a fait plus de posters aux côtés d'Ocalan à la fondation 45 000 morts en trente ans. « Le résultatest du PKK, en 1978, son arrestation presque que nous risquons de nous repliersurlePKK, aussitôt, les douze ans de prison, la tortu¬ constate Ercan. un artiste kurde. La plupart re. «Quand ses geôliers lui ont coupé les

26 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Özeti February 13, 2013 Erdogan Seeks Kurdish Allies For New Turkish Constitution

By: Kadri Gursel for Al-Monitor Turkey Pulse www.al-monitor.com

ll four political parties represented in the Turkish parliament want a new “civilian” constitution to replace the one imposed by a putchist militaryA 31 years ago. The problem is that the same four parties that agree to "no’’ on the September 12 military constitution cannot agree to "yes" on a new draft constitution There are two main reasons for the discord. The first is Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s desire to replace the Turkish parliamentary regime with an executive presidential regime on his own terms. A propo- sal for Erdogan’s “à la carte” authoritarian presidential system has been submitted to the parliamentary Constitutional Reconciliation Commission. [Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan addresses members of his Justice and Development Party in parlia- There is no doubt that if Erdogan submits a draft putting the choice of a ment in Ankara. (photo by REUTERS/Umit Bektas)] presidential system to a referendum — and if it is approved — his goal will be to take his place in history as the first executive president of the issues from a local perspective and attach priority to securing their eth- Turkish Republic. This is the challenge confronting the parliamentary nic demands, which are neutral citizenship, education in one's mother opposition. tongue and decentralization — that is, achieving some of their demands for autonomy by empowering local administrations. The presidential system proposed by Erdogan envisions a majoritarian and authoritarian regime. Through it, a president endowed with exces- To partially satisfy Kurdish demands through a new constitution is one the sive powers will dominate the executive and have supremacy over the key elements of the AKP’s peace initiative toward the Kurdish movement legislative and judicial branches. A minimal of checks and balances will that it labels the “disarming of the PKK [Kurdistan Workers Party].’’ not remain. Judicial independence will be terminated. Erdogan is most eager to hear the PKK's decisions on a cease-fire and disarming. His impatience is understandable because he will be facing For the opposition, the most important negative aspect of the proposed voters in a series of ballots until 2015, led off by the constitutional refe- regime is that unlike in the current parliamentary system, political par- rendum. The prime minister wants to approach these contests as a suc- ties short of majority support can nonetheless share in governmental cessful leader who ended the war between the Turkish state and the PKK. power. They would be stripped of such an opportunity in a presidential A constitutional draft that introduces a presidential system and partial system in a divided, polarized and heterogeneous society. fulfillment of the Kurdish demands would deserve to be known as a “AKP- This is the anxiety of the main opposition, the secularist Republican BDP constitution.’’ People's Party (CHP), and the other opposition party, the far-right What we are living through is this: Two major elements of the country — Nationalist Movement Party (MHP). the religious and the Kurds — both marginalized by the modern Turkish The second reason for discord is the omission of Turkishness from the part republic established by Ataturk, now want to set up their own regimes of the constitution defining citizenship. Its inclusion until now had through their own political representation. blocked resolution of the Kurdish issue, and its omission is a demand of If it works out, the formula for an AKP-BDP constitutional reconciliation the Kurdish Peace and Democracy Party (BDP). A neutral definition of will occur like so: The BDP will support the presidential regime Erdogan citizenship cleansed of references to being a Turk does not disturb wants, and the AKP will approve a constitution that meets Kurdish Erdogan’s neo-Islamist Justice and Development Party (AKP), but the demands. In short, the formula will be a combination of a peaceful set- secular nationalist CHP and Turkish nationalist MHP are not comfortable tlement of the Kurdish issue and an authoritarian regime that will with such a change. concentrate all powers in the hands of a single person. On the other hand, the AKP does not control enough seats in the parlia- Such a set up would appear to be paradoxical and hard to accept by ment to enable it to unilaterally draft a presidential-system constitution Turkey’s democrats, who believe that a peaceful settlement of the and submit it to a referendum. To do so, it needs to control 330 seats in Kurdish issue will automatically democratize Turkey. Is there really a the 550-member parliament, but has only 326, thus lacking four. To over- contradiction, however? come this mathematical hurdle, the AKP has two options: One is illegiti- mate according to political ethics, while the other is not. True, applying decentralization, allowing use of the Kurdish language and releasing Kurdish prisoners will not eradicate the authoritarian features The illegitimate approach is to resort to what in the Turkish political lexi- of an authoritarian presidency. AKP spokesmen — visibly uncomfortable con is called the the "parliamentary bazaar.” The AKP, in need of at least with the equation “Kurdish demands in return for presidential regime” four more seats in parliament, could lure them with a variety of incen- and the press' use of the label “AKP-BDP constitution" — are now saying tives. It may, however, require many more than four new members if one they their party has not been bargaining with the BDP and that their aim can believe rumors that in secret parliamentary balloting for the new as well is a constitutional draft agreed to by all four parties. constitution some members might break with party discipline and vote against the measure. In such a situation, Erdogan's only option is to col- As long as Prime Minister Erdogan insists on an authoritarian presidential laborate with the Kurdish party if he continues to insist on an executive system, however, he is not going find another party to deal with except N presidential system. the BDP. A statement Erdogan made the previous week on his way home from a tour of central Europe was enough to shake up the agenda. He said, "If Kadri Gursel is a contributing writer for Al-Monitor's Turkey Pulse and has writ- we can agree with the BDP on a referendum, then we can take joint steps ten a column for the Turkish daily Milliyet since 2007. He focuses primarily on with them.” The next day, the BDP co-chair, Selahattin Demirtas, said in Turkish foreign policy, international affairs and Turkey’s Kurdish question as the same context, “The party we are close to is the AKP.’’ well as Turkey’s evolving political Islam. The Kurdish party is not, however, a party of Turkey. Its members view

27 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Özeti FEBRUARY 13, 2013 Anger growing among Iraq's Sunnis The minority population is increasingly frustrated by what it sees as Shiite Prime Minister Nouri Maliki's sectarian politics. It seeks a fundamental change in the culture of Iraq's government. By Ned Parker

AMADI, Iraq - The call to prayer echoes across the quiet highway in western Iraq and a few hundred menR gather along the roadside in the frigid night air. Each has a story to tell: a father whose son languishes in jail without trial; a veteran who cannot get a job; a student so terrified of the police that he avoids Baghdad. In the morning, they know the area will fill with thousands of people like them, with stories like their own. Under the flutter of tribal flags, they will shout boisterously the same words heard from protesters across the Arab world: Down with the regime. Something has broken. Much of Iraq's minority Sunni Muslim population appears to have run out of patience with Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, a religious Sunnis demonstrate in Ramadi, Iraq, against the government of Prime Shiite Muslim who has ruled since 2006. Minister Nouri Maliki. Sunni Muslim population appears to have run out of In recent weeks, Sunnis by the thousands patience with al-Maliki. have carried out a campaign of nonviolent Ned Parker/Los Angeles Times/MCT civil disobedience, closing off the main roads to Fallujah and Ramadi in the west American occupation emerged, followed areas; some expect al-Maliki to impose a and mounting demonstrations in Samarra, by the rise of the virulent sectarianism of curfew. Others whisper of a run on guns. Baghdad and Mosul. the Sunni-based group al-Qaida in Iraq At a recent Friday protest in Ramadi, a The rallies are a testament to problems left and, finally, the defeat of al-Qaida by tribal young poet sang about the seat of power in unresolved when the U.S. military cam- fighters fed up with the militants living in Baghdad: "They are hiding in the Green paign ended here, and to the new tension their midst. Zone. All suffering and problems come that has spread throughout the Middle Iraq's next turbulent phase has begun with from the Green Zone. They are slaves of East. Angry citizens of other countries these protests. They spring from the foreigners." have overthrown entrenched rulers cumulative effects of 10 years of war and through street protests or armed revolt. In Young men hoisted one another up on turmoil: poor services and government neighboring Syria, Sunnis have risen up as shoulders, some of them bare-chested, all neglect, relatives detained for years well, forming the backbone of the insur- thrusting their fists high in disgust and without charges, the visible dichotomy gency against President Bashar Assad. defiance at politicians, Sunni and Shiite between Baghdad's circles of power, and alike. The singer, with glasses sliding off Though the protests have taken Iraq by the poverty and struggles of ordinary peo- his nose, recited harsher words, his voice surprise, they were triggered by two events ple. trembling in a whine, and drew more no different from many in recent years The old ways used by the al-Maliki regime applause. "Baghdad is for us." that have left Sunnis feeling like second- to subdue the population _ a mixture of class citizens: news reports about the rape The protest leaders, including representa- security raids and patronage offered to a of a woman in prison and the arrest of a tives of the tribes, former security officers, select few _ no longer seem to work. local politician's bodyguards. But the ori- professionals and clerics, are aware they ginal causes no longer matter; they have The protests could lead to a stronger, uni- sit atop a volcano of rage. And they know mushroomed into a larger outrage. ted Iraq that rallies Shiites and Sunnis that extremists and political parties alike, around the shared goal of ending the cor- from al-Qaida and the old Baath Party to The protest leaders' goal is quixotic: draw ruption and human rights abuses of the Sunni politicians and even the al-Maliki support from across Iraq's sectarian divide governments that followed the fall of government, wish to exploit their move- for fundamental change of the political Saddam Hussein. But they could just as ment. But the leadership in Ramadi and culture. But they face a minefield of reli- easily kick off a period of violence that Fallujah, where the protests originated, gious and historical grievances. might threaten to break up of the country. want nothing less than to drive the politi- Since the U.S.-led invasion in 2003, many Checkpoints have been tightened around cal elite from power. key events in Iraq have started in Anbar Baghdad's Sunni neighborhoods. Rumors All say the words like a lament: America province, the western desert region that is are rife: People speak of police preventing handed Iraq on a plate to politicians in the home to more than 1.5 million Sunnis. cars from entering the capital from Sunni pay of Shiite-dominated Iran and ➼ Here the first wave of resistance to the

28 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Özeti ➼ other powers. They want to guarantee effort sectarian, and some Shiites fear that movement seeks a government that does that Baghdad never again treats them as the Sunni demonstrations will augur a not abuse its power. At times, Suleiman second-class citizens. They worry that if new civil war. has stumbled, briefly threatening violence Syria's Assad, an ally of Tehran, is over- A nostalgia for Saddam is woven into the two weeks ago after the army killed five thrown, then Iran will try to exert greater crowds, with some waving the 1990s-era protesters in Fallujah. influence in Iraq. Iraqi flag. The display articulates a belief The challenges of making the protesters' The protesters' leadership committees say that while the past was terrible, the pre- goals a reality were evident in a recent they are planning for a year or more of sent is far worse. However, their rage is protest in Ramadi. A few Shiite sheiks demonstrations, and the thousands gathe- stunningly blind to Shiite memories. from Nasiriya were visiting, and even as red on the highway outside Ramadi leave Sunni and Shiite moderates appear hob- they proclaimed their support for the little doubt about their ability to mobilize. bled by the fear that if they reach out too demonstrators' goals, four youths hurled Their wishes transcend sectarian goals, aggressively to the other sect, they will be water bottles and derided them as allies of with the call to free prisoners, provide discredited by their own community's al-Maliki. The incensed sheiks bolted more employment and end corruption. extremists. from the stage and were hurried off by Shiite religious leaders, including cleric their bodyguard in blue camouflage. The danger is a stalemate that will fuel the Muqtada al-Sadr and Grand Ayatollah Ali Suleiman raced to their cars, begging their al-Sistani, have voiced support for their violence everyone fears, cost moderates credibility and trigger the gradual break- forgiveness: "Come to my house. I apolo- aims. Delegations from Shiite tribes have gize." If you can't control a few people, visited the rallies. down of Iraq into separate Shiite, Sunni and Kurdish regions. how can you lead this movement, one "We are demanding the rights of Samawa, sheik replied before they sped off, though Kufa and Najaf," said Sheik Khalid At the front of the demonstrations in some Shiite tribal leaders stayed behind. Jumaili, one of the leaders of the Fallujah Anbar province are tribal leaders such as Sheik Ali Hatem Suleiman, the crown Later, Suleiman mounted the stage in a protests, listing the names of mostly fury. Shiite cities. He makes it clear that the prince of the Dulaimis, an early fighter protests' aim of taking the country back against al-Qaida in Iraq in 2006. He is "I need you to promise me what happened from Iraq's reigning political class gives emblematic of the Sunni rift with al- today will never happen again," he rasped, no quarter to Sunnis. "There is no excep- Maliki: He broke with the prime minister, his fist in the air. The young men in the tion. All the politicians are sectarian." his former friend, in 2010, disillusioned crowd raised their hands in a pledge. Ë by the perceived sectarian tenor of al- But the legacy of Saddam's Sunni-led Maliki's politics. regime and the subsequent civil war bet- ween Sunnis and Shiites has hampered Suleiman is clear about what the demons- efforts to turn the protests into a nation- trations should be: They must remain wide movement. Al-Maliki has labeled the peaceful and win over the Shiites as the

February 11, 2013 Iraq Delays Budget on Dispute Over Kurds’ Share:Lawmaker By Khalid Al-Ansary & Nayla Razzouk

raq’s parliament postponed a vote on the federal spending plan as Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki’s coalition requested a Ireduction in the share of Kurdish provinces amid a spat over crude sales, a lawmaker said. The vote has been delayed “at least until next week,” Jaber al-Jabiri, a member of the parliament’s financial affairs com- mittee, said by telephone from Baghdad today. The main rea- son is that Maliki’s State of Law bloc wants to decrease the Government over oil-revenue sharing, production contracts and semi- autonomous Kurdish region’s share of the state budget to land. Tensions have deepened in recent months, with armed 12 percent from 17 percent, he said. clashes in the disputed Kirkuk area in November and a halt in The Kurds have asked for 4 trillion dinars ($3.4 billion) for oil exports from Kurdistan by pipeline in December. payments due to oil companies working in the Kurdish region in Iraq holds the world’s fifth-biggest crude reserves, accor- Iraq’s north, while the budget draft allocates no more than 750 ding to BP Plc statistics that include Canada’s oil sands. billion dinars for those businesses this year, al-Jabiri said. The Kurds said the 4 trillion dinars cover retroactive payments from Disagreements over the Defense Ministry budget also played 2010, 2011 and 2012 as well as 2013, he said. a role in the decision to delay today’s parliament session, said al-Jabiri, a member of the Al-Iraqiya bloc led by former Prime Exxon Mobil Corp, Total SA, DNO International ASA and Minister Ayad Allawi, an opponent of Maliki. N Genel Energy Plc are among companies caught in the conflict between Iraq’s central government and the Kurdistan Regional

29 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Özeti February 12, 2013 Iran warns Iraqi Kurdistan against thinking about independence or closer ties with Turkey By Hevidar Ahmed - Rudaw der, its deputy secretary- general Barham the Kurdistan Region. This was in return Salih and Khasraw Gul Muhammad, a for keeping Maliki in check and making RBIL-Hewlêr, Kurdistan region leadership member. him promise not to attack the Kurdistan 'Iraq',— Iran has warned Iraq’s Many voices among Iraq’s Kurds Region. Maliki's stay in office is impor- Eautonomous Kurds against thinking have been clamoring for independence, tant for Iran,” Khan said. about independence, harming relations and the region is keen on closer ties with "Iran is worried about the fact that with the Shiite government in Baghdad neighboring Turkey to sell and exports the Kurdistan Region has strong econo- and getting too close to Turkey, a senior its oil and gas. Relations between the mic and commercial ties with Turkey. Kurdish official said. KRG and Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al- Iran feels that Turkey has crept into the He said that Iran’s concerns were Maliki’s Shiite-led government, have Kurdistan Region more than it should," voiced in Tehran last week to a visiting been strained over competing territorial Khan added. delegation from his Patriotic Union of claims and Kurdish aspirations for inde- A senior PUK official, speaking on Kurdistan (PUK), one of the two ruling pendence. condition of anonymity, said that exis- parties inside the Kurdistan Regional Baram Majeed Khan, a PUK advisor ting differences between Kosrat Rasul Government (KRG), by Qassem on Iranian affairs, said that Tehran did and Salih also were resolved at the Suleimani, the commander of Iran’s not want the Kurdistan Region to worsen Tehran meeting. “Iran told them that powerful Quds Force who is said to exer- its relations with Maliki. He said that, in there should be no conflicts between cise enormous influence in Iraq. exchange,www.ekurd.net Iran had pled- them inside the PUK, and their issues “Soleimani told the PUK delegation, ged to keep Maliki in check and made were resolved in Tehran." ‘You should not think about the division him promise not to attack the Kurdistan Soleimani also told the Kurds that of Iraq and harming Kurdish-Shiite rela- region. Tehran backs Salih to succeed Jalal tions,’” the official said. “Soleimani also Iran wants “to stabilize the political Talabani as Iraq’s president. Talabani, asked the delegation to keep their dis- situation in the Kurdistan Region, espe- who led the PUK for decades and is tance from Turkey and not join their cially in the green zones in which Iran Iraq’s president, is recovering from a axis," he added. does not allow political destabilization. serious stroke. I The PUK delegation consisted of Secondly, Iran wants to maintain good Kosrat Rasul Ali, the party’s acting lea- relations between the State of Law and

February 14, 2013

face-to-air missiles, either from foreign sup- porters or from Syrian military bases they Syrian rebels take town, have captured. Video posted online Thursday showed one of the aircraft shot down in Idlib streaking part of oil field, in north across the sky spewing white smoke and a second plane streaking through the sky trai- By Babak Dehghanpisheh and opposition groups. ling black smoke. Ahmed Ramadan, The battlefield gains come only a few A third video shows a jet that was hit in days after rebels scored other notable Hama province on fire, along with subsequent advances in their fight against the government EIRUT — Rebel fighters captured a footage showing the flaming wreckage of the of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. town in the oil-rich province of Hasaka jet strewn across a field near the town of Bin northeastern Syria on Thursday after On Monday, rebels took control of the al- Morek. three days of heavy fighting, opposition Furat hydroelectric dam in northeastern Syria, The rebel takeover Thursday of the nor- activists said. the country’s largest such facility, and on theastern town of Shaddadi, along with a por- Among the rebels were members of the al- Tuesday, they took over a military airport in tion of a nearby oil field, represents a strategic Nusra Front, an extremist Islamic group the north, according to the Syrian Observatory victory for opposition fighters, given that thought to have links to al-Qaeda, that has for Human Rights, a Britain-based group that Hasaka province accounts for most of Syria’s proved to include some of the most capable monitors the violence in the country. fighters in the opposition forces. oil output. Taken together, the rebel gains in less than At least 30 al-Nusra fighters and more A look at the Syrian uprising nearly two a week appear to signify renewed momentum than 100 government soldiers were killed in years later. Thousands of Syrians have died after several weeks of relative stalemate, par- the battle over the city, according to the and President Bashar al-Assad remains in ticularly in the large cities of Aleppo and Observatory. power, despite numerous calls by the interna- Damascus, the capital. tional community for him to step down. “The Free Syrian Army under the com- The opposition’s claim to have shot down mand of Jabhat al-Nusra took over the town,” Rebels also shot down two Syrian military three aircraft in one day, if proved true, raises said Miral Biroreda, an activist with the Local jets in Idlib province, in the northwest, and the question once again of whether the rebels Coordination Committees activist network in one in central Hama province, according to are receiving heavier weaponry, such as sur- ➤ Hasaka. “Al-Nusra commanded

30 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Özeti ➤ the operations logistically, militarily and But the inroads into the province made by Front for instigating violence against them. on the ground.” the rebels, particularly the hard-line fighters Biroreda said that following recent nego- A video posted online Thursday shows an from the al-Nusra Front, could also pit them tiations, a truce has been struck for now bet- against Kurdish fighters who see the opposi- ween rebel representatives and Kurdish figh- al-Nusra fighter, at what appears to be a mili- N tary base in Shaddadi, beating a picture of tion as a potentially hostile Arab force. ters in the area. Assad with a stick as his comrades chant, Just last month, dozens were killed in “God is great!” clashes between rebels and Kurdish fighters, who have in the past blamed the al-Nusra

February 15, 2013 Iraq budget battle opens new front in Kurdish feud fields and political autonomy between Baghdad's Arab-led Suadad al-Salhy / Reuters government and Kurdistan, where ethnic Kurds run their AGHDAD - A dispute bet- own regional administration. ween Iraq's government B and the autonomous While Kurdistan has a regional region of Kurdistan over oil government and armed forces, it rights is delaying this year's contributes its oil to national national budget, jeopardizing exports and relies on Baghdad much-needed investment, as the for 17 percent of the federal country's finances have become budget, which is financed a new front in the long-running almost completely by the sale of feud. crude. Iraq's cabinet approved the Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki's $118.6 billion budget in State of Law coalition, Sunni- October, but infighting among backed Iraqiya Bloc and some Shi'ite, Sunni and Kurdish fac- other political blocs this week Iraqi Kurds stand near pipes that feed diesel from a pumping sta- tions this week scuttled attempts called for Kurds to get no more tion in Iraqi Kurdistan to Syria on the Iraqi bank of the river Tigris by lawmakers to pass the draft than 12 percent of the budget at the Iraqi-Syrian border near the Dohuk province, February 2, legislation in parliament. based on their minority popula- 2013. (REUTERS/Azad Lashkari) tion, increasing tensions with the central government and the Kurdish of illegally shipping A year after the last U.S. troops the northern Kurdish enclave. left, Iraq's economy is improving autonomous region deployed some of its oil out of the country and should grow 9 percent this The political blocs in Baghdad troops to reinforce positions instead of contributing to the year, the central bank projects, say Kurdistan's portion should along their disputed internal national budget. also be cut to make up for the as oil production expands. border. The central government in deficit after the autonomous Maliki's supporters say the bud- Baghdad says it alone has the However, it still needs invest- region stopped oil shipments in get dispute has also revived a authority to exploit and export ment in everything from infra- protest over Baghdad's failure to disagreement between the cen- the country's crude, but the structure to transport to rebuild compensate companies wor- tral government, Shi'ite and Kurds say their right to sign the economy, and key oil and king there. investment laws languish in par- Sunni blocs over the deals is enshrined in Iraq's fede- liament because of political tur- Kurds say U.S. authorities assi- Peshmerga's role in Iraqi secu- ral constitution and have gran- moil. gned them 17 percent based on rity. ted contracts to companies such their estimates after the 2003 as Exxon Mobil, Chevron and "Peshmerga pointed their guns Lawmakers will try again next invasion. Total. week to reach agreement on the to the chests of the Iraqi military 2013 national budget. Further Lawmakers said the political personnel, and now they want us Kurdistan has enticed oil com- delays would postpone major blocs also disagree on the to equip them and pay their panies by providing lucrative infrastructure projects and pay- amount owed to those oil com- salaries," said Mohammed al- production-sharing contracts ments to regional authorities in panies and over the payment of Sayhood, a lawmaker in Maliki's and better operating conditions the OPEC producer whose state Kurdistan's Peshmerga armed coalition. than in the south of the country. forces. coffers are financed almost enti- Payments to oil companies ope- "It is a very big sum of money," rely by crude exports. "Maliki is trying to use the bud- rating in Kurdistan is still the said Jaber al-Jabri, a lawmaker The budget, which foresees a get to twist our arm," said biggest disagreement in the from the Sunni-backed Iraqiya deficit of $15.5 billion, includes Kurdish MP Rawaz Khoshnaw. budget. Kurds says they are Bloc who is also a member of the $45.5 billion for investment pro- "It's just a political tool that they owed more than 4 trillion Iraqi Finance Committee, referring to jects and has allocated $644 mil- are using against the Kurdistan dinars, or $3.5 billion, by the more than 4 trillion dinars lion for companies working in regional government." Baghdad to cover the costs demanded by the Kurds in back Kurdistan. BACK PAYMENTS accumulated by oil companies payments. over the past three years. Iraq has the world's fourth-lar- The ongoing turf war over oil "Most blocs have not agreed to
gest oil reserves and oil and land rights escalated late But the Iraqi government alloca- include it in the budget." resources are at the heart of the last year to the point that both ted just 750 billion Iraqi dinars broad dispute over territory, oil- ($644.33 million), accusing the

31 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Özeti 13 février 2013

police nationale (GIPN) et la Brigade de recherche et d'intervention (BRI) de l'antenne PJ de Bayonne. Les recherches Bordeaux : descente de police ont été positives puisque plusieurs milliers d'euros en numéraire et des armes ont été dans la communauté kurde découverts. Les locaux de l'association culturelle kurde, Par jean-michel DESPLOS rue Camille-Sauvageau, dans le quartier Saint-Michel à Bordeaux, ont également été Quinze Kurdes ont été interpellés sur passés au peigne fin par les policiers à la l'agglomération bordelaise dans le cadre recherche de documents. d'une enquête antiterroriste portant sur Transférées à Paris des tentatives d'extorsion de fonds. Quinze Kurdes ont été placés en garde à vue au commissariat central de Bordeaux n vaste coup de filet a été mené, hier, pour y être entendus. Leurs déclarations U au petit matin, dans la communauté sont traduites par des interprètes avant kurde girondine, mais aussi à Toulouse et d'être actées sur procès-verbal. Les poli- en Espagne. L'opération, préparée dans la En octobre 2011, les policiers de la Direction ciers cherchent d'abord à déterminer le par- plus grande discrétion, était conduite par la centrale du renseignement intérieur (DCRI) cours de chacun des mis en cause depuis Direction interrégionale de la police judi- ont mené une opération dans les locaux de leur arrivée en Gironde. Viendront ensuite ciaire (DIPJ) de Bordeaux et par des enquê- l'association culturelle kurde, où ils ont inter- les questions relatives à l'impôt révolution- teurs de la sous-direction antiterroriste de pellé des sympathisants du PKK qui dor- naire. Trois individus sont fortement soup- Paris. maient là. Les enquêteurs avaient égale- çonnés d'être les principaux leaders du ment saisi la comptabilité de l'association et Quinze personnes ont été arrêtées dans le groupe, chargés de recruter des exécutants. divers documents. Sept d'entre eux avaient département, à Bordeaux, Cenon, Lormont Ces derniers auraient déjà exercé des vio- été déférés et placés en détention provi- et Mérignac. Une autre a été interpellée à lences à l'encontre de gens de leur commu- soire. Toulouse tandis que plusieurs l'étaient au nauté qui refusent de donner de l'argent. même moment en Espagne, toujours en lien De l'argent et des armes Des victimes auraient eu droit à un passage à tabac. avec l'affaire suivie par le parquet antiterro- L'enquête, ouverte à la fin de l'année 2011, riste de Paris portant sur de présumées vio- concerne uniquement des hommes âgés de Hier après-midi, quelques Kurdes, membres lences et tentatives d'extorsion de fonds 20 à 45 ans soupçonnés d'avoir proféré des de la communauté bordelaise forte destinées à financer le Parti des travailleurs menaces ou commis des violences pour se d'environ 250 membres, ont manifesté du Kurdistan (PKK). Tous ces suspects sont faire remettre la « kampanya », la fameuse devant la préfecture où une délégation a été en garde à vue pour une durée pouvant aller collecte annuelle faite au sein de la commu- reçue. Une banderole sur laquelle était ins- jusqu'à 96 heures. nauté kurde. Cette levée de fonds est utili- crit « Relâchez-les immédiatement » a été des précédents sée en partie pour financer la guérilla en déployée. Turquie. En quelques années, plus d'une À Bordeaux, au mois de février 2008, trois La plupart des personnes en garde à vue vingtaine de procédures ont été lancées membres du PKK ont été arrêtés. Ils travail- devraient être transférées à Paris à l'issue contre le réseau PKK en France. Celle laient dans le secteur du bâtiment et des tra- des auditions, en vue d'une mise en exa- d'hier s'inscrit dans la volonté de déstabili- vaux publics. Ces interpellations étaient men pour « association de malfaiteurs en ser le Parti des travailleurs du Kurdistan, liées à l'incendie criminel de deux bars relation avec une entreprise terroriste ». organisation armée fondée en 1978 contre turcs, qui avaient été pris pour cible avec le pouvoir turc. Au même moment, à Paris, Laurent Fabius, des cocktails Molotov au printemps 2007. ministre français des Affaires étrangères, Au mois de mars, Chez Musa, rue de la Agissant dans le cadre d'une enquête préli- recevait son homologue turc, Ahmet H Fusterie, et le bar Fut Bol, place Bir-Hakeim, minaire, les policiers de la DIPJ et de la Davutoglu. avaient été totalement détruits par le feu. SDAT ont effectué plusieurs perquisitions avec l'appui du Groupe d'intervention de la

comme un mouvement terroriste par la Turquie, l'Union européenne et les Etats- Six arrestations en Unis. Espagne lors d'une En 1984, il a déclenché une rébellion sécessionniste dans le sud-est de la Turquie, région pauvre et sous-développée, peuplée majoritairement de Kurdes. opération contre le PKK Le conflit a fait plus de 45.000 morts depuis cette date, selon l'armée. MADRID (Espagne), 12 février 2013 (AFP) Selon le ministère espagnol, l'opération menée conjointement avec la police SIX PERSONNES ont été interpellées mardi en Espagne dans le cadre française a permis de démanteler un réseau chargé de recueillir des fonds "dont d'une opération de police contre un réseau de soutien au Parti des l'objectif était l'achat d'armement et de matériel explosif afin de soutenir l'activité Travailleurs du Kurdistan (PKK), menée parallèlement en France, a armée terroriste en Turquie". annoncé le ministère espagnol de l'Intérieur. Les suspects, ajoute le communiqué, recueillaient des fonds "à travers des Selon les autorités espagnoles, cette opération, baptisée Cappadoce, a permis extorsions de compatriotes ainsi que le recouvrement d'un 'impôt révolution- le "démantèlement de l'appareil de financement et d'extorsion du PKK en naire'". Espagne". En France, une source proche de l'enquête a annoncé mardi l'interpellation Six personnes, toutes des Kurdes, ont été arrêtées: quatre à Madrid, une à d'une quinzaine de Kurdes dans le sud-ouest du pays, la plupart à Bordeaux, Barcelone dans le nord-est de l'Espagne et deux à Murcie dans le sud-est, a dans le cadre d'une enquête antiterroriste sur des tentatives d'extorsion de précisé le ministère de l'Intérieur dans un communiqué, ajoutant que l'opération fonds au profit du PKK. menée parallèlement en France avait permis l'interpellation de 16 personnes. Selon une source judiciaire, ces arrestations s'inscrivent dans le cadre d'une I Le PKK, qui mène une lutte armée contre le régime d'Ankara, est considéré enquête antiterroriste préliminaire ouverte en mars 2012.

32 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dent.ro de la Prensa-Basin Ôzeti

iflîîoiidf

Jeudi 14 février 2013 cle important dans les relations me du processus doit être ouvert, Turquie-UE va être levé», a com¬ explique-t-on à l'Elysée. La relance menté Ahmet Davutoglu à son va prendre du temps, car la France retour à Ankara, mardi. « Nouspen¬ n'estpas le seul obstacle à la pour¬ sons que le veto sera progressive¬ Dégel du processus suite des négociations. » ment levésur les autres chapitres». A Paris, comme à Bruxelles, on «Une étape importante», titre le considère que certains chapitres - d'adhésion comme les marchés publics - sont impossibles à ouvrir en rai¬ «La relance son du manque de réformes constaté à Ankara. Et l'on attend va prendre du temps, de la Turquie à TUE l'assouplissement de certaines explique-t-on lois anti-terroristes, considérées comme liberticides, dans le à l'Elysée, caria France Paris a décidé de rouvrir l'un des chapitres contexte des pourparlers engagés n'est pas le seul de négociations bloqués par Nicolas Sarkozy avec la minorité kurde. « Legeste deParis est unpasposi¬ obstacle à la poursuite tifpour remettre en mouvement des négociations » des relations très-positives avec la un processus très dégradé», se Bruxelles Turquie. » François Hollande réjouit une source diplomatique à Bureau européen journal Hûrriyet mercredi. «Nous devrait d'ailleurs se rendre à Anka¬ Bruxelles. La présidence tournan¬ avons de bonnes nouvelles aujour¬ ra à une date encore indéterminée. te des Vingt-Sept, assurée par l'Ir¬ Une amorce de dégel, après d'hui .- le gouvernementfrançais a Engagede bonnevolonté, le gou¬ lande ce semestre, espère ouvrir le des années de brouille: décidé de ne pas poursuivre la vernement français accepte, com¬ chapitre «politiques régionales» mardi 12 février à Paris, Lau¬ même politique d'obstruction que me l'a indiqué le chefde la diploma¬ d'ici à la fin du semestre. Ce serait rent Fabius, le ministre des affai¬ le précédent », a souligné le minis¬ tie à M. Davutoglu, l'ouverture une première depuis juin 2010. res étrangères français, a indiqué à tre des affaires européennes, Ege- d'un des cinq chapitres bloqués L'Irlande n'exclut pas non plus son homologue turc Ahmet menBagis. par le gouvernement précédent, d'aborder le chapitre relatif à Davutoglu que la France était favo¬ Lundi, au cours d'un dîner à celui portant sur la politique régio¬ l'union économique et monétaire. rable à la relance des négociations Ankara avec les ambassadeurs des nale, c'est-à-dire les aides aux terri¬ «Ce n'est pas une priorité dans le d'adhésion de la Turquie à l'Union Vingt-Sept, le premier ministre toires les moins développés. contexte actuel de refonte de la européenne (UE). ' Recep Tayyip Erdogan avait vigou¬ Ankara réclamait depuis l'élec¬ zone euro », tempère-t-on à Paris. L'initiative marque une nette reusement critiqué l'UE, accusée tion de M. Hollande la levée de ce Depuis l'ouverture officielle rupture avec l'attitude de Nicolas de refuser la candidature turque blocage. Les quatre autres chapi¬ des négociations,en 2005, 13 chapi¬ Sarkozy sur ce dossier: l'ancien depuis plus de cinquante ans. Fin tres - politique agricole commu¬ tres sur 35 ont été ouverts et plus chef de l'Etat s'opposait à l'entrée janvier, il avait même suggéré ne, union économique et monétai¬ d'une douzaine étaient jusqu'ici d'Ankara, et avait mis son veto, en que la Turquie pourrait privilé¬ re, dispositions institutionnelles, bloqués, soit parParis, soit par Chy¬ 2007, à cinq chapitres de négocia¬ gier, faute de progrès avec les Euro¬ dispositions financières - ne sont pre. Les Européens ont de surcroît tions. péens, un rapprochement avec pas débloqués à ce stade. décidé de ne clore aucun des chapi¬ François Hollande entend reve¬ l'Organisation de coopération de « Nicolas Sarkozy refusait tres ouverts tant que la Turquie ne nir à des relations plus apaisées, Shanghaï, emmenée par la Chine d'ouvrir les discussions dans des reconnaîtra pas Chypre, dont elle entre autres en utilisant le levier et la Russie.» matières qui préjugeaient de l'ad¬ occupe la partie nord. del'adhésion.«LaFrancevaren/or- Philippe Ricard hésion. Nous revenons sur cette L'assouplissement des posi¬ cer son soutien aux négociations avec Guillaume Perkier position avec l'ouverture d'un cha¬ tions de la France est cependant d'adhésion de la Turquie, a déclaré (à Istanbul) pitre, touten considérantque le ter très apprécié à Ankara. « Un obsta M.Fabius. Nous souhaitons avoir

Turquie: attaqués, et n'ont pu se déplacer que grâce à une imposante escorte policière, parfois dans des véhicules blindés, sous des jets abondants de pierres, selon, les médias.

des élus kurdes Aucun des députés n'a été blessé dans les incidents. annulent un déplacement "Nous ne voulons pas du PKK dans notre ville", ont scandé les manifestants arbo¬ rant des drapeaux turcs, pour signaler la sympathie du BDP pour la cause du Parti ANKARA, 20 février 2013 (AFP) des travailleurs du Kurdistan, en lutte armée contre les forces turques depuis 1984. UN GROUPE DE PARLEMENTAIRES KURDES de Turquie a été contraint d'annuler un déplacement dans le nord de la Turquie après avoir été violem¬ Les autorités turques ont lancé en décembre un nouveau round de discussions ment attaqués par des manifestants nationalistes, ont indiqué avec le chef emprisonné du PKK, Abdullah Ôcalan, un processus de paix mené mercredi à l'AFP les organisateurs. sur instruction du Premier ministre islamo-conservateur Recep Tayyip Erdogan qui provoque l'ire des milieux nationalistes. Le comité formé d'élus du Parti pour la paix et la démocratie (BDP), la principale formation pro-kurde de Turquie, prévoyait de visiter cinq provinces situées au bord Mardi, M. Erdogan a dénoncé les attaques visant les élus kurdes, accusant de la mer Noire pour expliquer à la population locale, réputée pour son nationa¬ l'opposition parlementaire d'avoir initié ces attaques.

lisme, le processus de paix en cours entre Ankara et la rébellion kurde mais le "Vous n'êtes pas obligés de les aimer, mais vous êtes obligés de respecter leurs voyage a dû être écourtè "en raison des circonstances", a expliqué une source du opinions", a-t-il dit au sujet des députés kurdes dont il était pourtant dans le passé BDP. l'un des plus fervents critiques.

"Après les incidents survenus à Sinop et Samsun, a été décidé d'annuler le pro¬ Ôcalan exerce une influence considérable sur les membres et les partisans du gramme restant du déplacement", a précisé cette source sous couvert PKK. Le gouvernement turc croit que les pourparlers avec lui pourraient aboutir à d'anonymat. un calendrier sur le retrait du PKK à partir de la Turquie et leur désarmement pos¬

Les députés kurdes ont été pris à partie par une foule en colère de plusieurs cen¬ sible. taines de personnes, constituées pour la plupart de jeunes, dans ces deux villes

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

LE FIGARO mardi 19 février 2013

À Sednaya, la sale guerre main, quelque deux cents ouvriers de Baïda, employés à Sednaya, ont été à leur tour kidnappés. Cent quatre-vingt d'en¬ des enlèvements tre eux ont été relâchés quelques jours après, mais les responsables de Sednaya ont gardé une vingtaine d'otages, comme laire. Rafaat et deux autres miliciens cal¬ GEORGES MALBRUNOT monnaie d'échange, qu'ils ont placés feutrés dans une guérite de fortune, ENVOYÉ SPÉCIAL A SEONAYA dans le sous-sol d'un immeuble. fouillent les voitures. D'autres pa¬ « Ce ne sontpas de vrais otages, dit Abou trouillent durant la nuit ou surveillent les Thaer, en charge des négociations avec les LE VISAGE encagoulé sous un keffieh trois monastères du village. Ils ne sont ar¬ dignitaires de Baïda. lis ont à manger, et pour se protéger du vent, Raafat tient un més que de fusils et de mitraillettes, mais surtout ils ont pu appeler' leurs parents à barrage sur la route à l'entrée de Sed¬ leur tâche soulage une armée qui ne Baïda, ajoute ce membre du parti Baas au naya : «Je suis là uniquement pour défen¬ contrôle plus que les grandes villes du pouvoir en Syrie. C'estlagrandedifférence dre notre cité », jure ce chrétien qui habite pays et ses principaux axes routiers. avec nos voisins. Nous, nous ne cessons de cette ville de montagne à trente kilomè-- Cette collaboration avec un régime qui réclamer d'entendre la voix de Haïdar», très au nord-ouest de Damas. Haut lieu réprime massivement ses opposants a un insiste Abou Thaer. En fait, les habitants de la chrétienté en Syrie, Sednaya et sa prix. Il y a deux mois et demi, Youssef, le douzaine d'églises sont entourées de vil¬ frère du chef-du comité de défense popu¬ de Sednaya pensent que leur coreligion¬

lages musulmans, qui soutiennent les re¬ laire de Sednaya, a été tué par des habi¬ naire a^été tué par ses ravisseurs. Ce qui

belles anti-Bachar el-Assad. tants du village voisin de Baïda. La tête de expliquerait pourquoi, privés de leur bu¬ tin, les rebelles de Baïda ont de nouveau Les dix mille chrétiens de Sednaya, ce dernier avait été mise à prix sur Faoê- enlevé six chrétiens et un musulman de eux, ont choisi l'autre camp. Celui d'un book par l'Armée libre, selon Ms1' Yo-

régime laïc qui assure défendre des mi¬ hanna Taly, le supérieur du monastère Sednaya la semaine dernière, alors que leur bus traversait le village voisin. norités, inquiètes de la montée du radica¬ Saint-Georges, qui égrène les épisodes de

lisme islamiste. Depuis bientôt un an, en cette sale guerre des enlèvements. Le plus incroyable dans cette surenchè¬ accord avec le pouvoir, 300 d'entre eux re aux otages, c'est que malgré les ten¬ L'engrenage de la vengeance ont constitué un comité de défense popu- sions, les habitants de ces villages conti¬

Après le bombardement par l'armée ré¬ nuent de se fréquenter. Chaque jour, des gulière du village voisin d'Attal l'été der¬ dizaines d'ouvriers de Baïda viennent sur Beytouth nier, 400 de ses habitants se sont réfugiés les chantiers de Sednaya. Comme si l'in¬ à Sednaya. Parmi eux figurait une quin¬ dustrie du kidnapping était devenue une zaine d'insurgés que le chef des miliciens banalité dans une Syrie 'en pleine anar¬

chrétiens a dénoncés au régime. L'engre¬ chie. «C'est en effet un grand marché»,

nage de la vengeance était enclenché. reconnaît Ali Haïdar, le ministre en charge Un mois après, Haïdar, le fils du patron de la Réconciliation, qui estime à 5000 le des miliciens de Sednaya, a été capturé, nombre des personnes détenues par l'un et depuis ses proches sont sans houvelles. ou l'autre des deux camps, ou par des cri¬ «On a les noms des personnes qui l'ont minels qui profitent de l'instabilité pour pris, assure Nicolas Zaher, le maire de s'enrichir. Chrétiens contre sunnites, Sednaya. C'est un groupe de criminels. Ils sunnites contre alaouites et vice-versa, sont connus. Mais on pense qu'ils Vont toutes les communautés sont concernées. vendu à l'Armée libre » . À Lahjat dans le sud, des rebelles désar¬ La riposte de ces montagnards rugueux gentés et coupés du monde n'ont rien ne s'est pas fait attendre. Dès le lende- trouvé de mieux à faire que d'aller enle¬

ver quelques chrétiens d'un village voisin qui ne participe pas à l'insurrection fcliïondc contre le pouvoir. A Damas, Ammar un

Vendredi 15 février 2013 chrétien, un industriel, est sans nouvelle de son associé musulman sunnite. «Son fils est allé dans une banlieue pour déposer un sac en plastique qui contenait les 30000 dollars réclamés par les ravisseurs Un responsable iranientué qui M avaientpromis qu'une heure après, il récupérerait son père», raconte Ammar. par des hommes armés Un mois après, l'otage n'a pas réapparu. Dimanche soir, le ministre Ali Haïdar BEYROUTH. Un responsable iranien a été tué par « des groupes terroris¬ recevait dans son bureau une vingtaine tes armés» en Syrie dans la nuit de mercredi 13 février à jeudi, a annoncé de représentants de toutes les régions de l'ambassade d'Iran à Beyrouth. L'ambassade a identifié la victime com¬ la Syrie. Officiellement pour parler de ré¬ me étant Houssam Khoshnevis, président de la Commission iranienne conciliation entre les composantes d'une pour la reconstruction au Liban, tandis que les Gardiens de la révolu¬ mosaïque qui a volé en éclats. En fait, la tion, corps d'élite des troupes iraniennes, ont fait état de la mort d'un de réunion a été surtout consacrée à établir leurs commandants, Hassan Shateri. Téhéran est l'un des principaux des listes d'otages à échanger ou de pri¬ soutiens du régime de Damas dans le conflit qui ravage la Syrie depuis sonniers à libérer. «Regardez, ce sont les mars 2011. Dans un communiqué, l'ambassade a indiqué que M. Khosh¬ noms d'une dizaine de soldats d'Anadan nevis «a été tuépardesgroupes terroristes armés alors qu'ilfaisait route dans le nord près d'Alep qui sont entre les pourBeyrouth depuis Damas ». La Commission iranienne pour la mains d'un groupe armé, on va essayer de reconstruction au Liban a été mise en place après la guerre de 2006 les faire sortir», soupire le ministre un entre Israël et le Hezbollah, puissant mouvement chiite libanais soute¬ peu dépassé par l'ampleur de la tâche qui nu parTéhéran.-(AFJ?.,)« est la sienne, s

34 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Özeti 14 February 2013

ked increasingly east. Turkey is attempting to adapt to a new Middle East, seeks a proactive The ironic America-Turkish role in current conflicts, particu- larly in Syria, while it perceives the Obama administration as twist on Kurdistan increasingly distant, slow and lobe Editorial indecisive. U.S. President Washington is particularly G Barack Obama uneasy about deteriorating By Bashdar Pusho Ismaeel shakes hands Turkish ties with Israel and cau- with Turkey's tioned Turkey on recent "inflam- Prime Minister matory" statements. The Middle East can be Tayyip Turkey has also realised an ironic stage. Erdogan after a necessity of peace at home at a bilateral meet- time of Middle Eastern sands- nly a few years ago, the US ing in Seoul torms with a new reach-out to the administration, deep in its March 25, 2012. PKK and its own Kurds. It deems OIraqi quagmire, was reassuring the new strategic relations with the Turks about the unity of Iraq and Iraqi Kurds as a bridge with its pressing an anxious Ankara own Kurdish community. towards diplomacy over potential the Kurds doing illegally? Are in the energy sector. Closer cooperation with Iraqi conflict with Kurdistan. they breaking laws or is The Kurds are faced with a Kurds comes at a time when Fast forward to 2013, and it is Baghdad's only gripe Kurdistan's predicament to either wait indefi- Turkey is increasingly wary of the Americans who are worried growing strategic clout and eco- nitely on Baghdad and be at their Maliki and his Iranian influence. that increasingly close alliances nomic prominence? mercy on oil exports or drive their U.S. Ambassador to Turkey, between Ankara and Erbil is fuel- In a further twist of irony, own destiny with the legal basis to Francis J. Ricciardone, warned ling the disintegration of Iraq. while Washington has tried to do so. that "If Turkey and Iraq fail to American views are mirrored by slow down Kurdistan's growing The stop start nature of oil optimize their economic rela- Baghdad who accuses Turkey of independence and close ties with exports via Kurdistan and the bit- tions... There could be more vio- dividing Iraq. Ankara, US oil majors Chevron ter disputes over payments to lent conflict in Iraq and the forces There is no doubt that ties bet- and Exxon-Mobil have signed key foreign companies is synonymous of disintegration within Iraq could ween Turkey and the Kurdistan agreements with the KRG. This is with many other disputes between be emboldened." Region are miles apart from that in addition to Total and Gazprom Erbil and Baghdad. This follows previous war- of 2008 when Turkey invaded, who have joined the ranks. The control of oil exports is nings by Ricciardone and other harsh rhetoric was the norm and If it was so illegal to deal with one remaining noose that senior US diplomats. even recognition of the Kurdistan Kurdistan and such deals were Baghdad has around Kurdistan With Maliki at the helm and Regional Government (KRG) was "unconstitutional", why would oil and this is also manipulated in with a continuous policy of lip- a bitter pill to swallow. majors flock to do business? other political struggles against service to implementation of key But in the fast changing socio- There is growing talk of a the Kurds. constitutional articles, division political whirlwind of the new "secret" framework agreement Recently, KRG has started to and the disintegration of Iraq is Middle East, 5 years is an awfully signed between Turkey and the export independently via trucks to intensifying. There is no fear of long time. Turkey and the Iraqi KRG around the transportation meet domestic demand much to something breaking when it is Kurds have become natural allies and marketing of oil and gas from the fury of Baghdad. But it already broke. and have much to gain politically Kurdistan directly to Turkey. appears that with Turkish support With a fragile government, and economically, in particular Kurdish plans to build an and growing confidence, the monopolisation of power under from Kurdistan's immense energy independent pipeline to Turkish Kurdish patience with the Maliki, renewed sectarianism, a potential. ports are hardly a secret or a new Baghdad waiting game is running lack of security and deep distrust And it is these energy ties that initiative. Broad plans including thin. and discord throughout Iraqi cir- continue to underpin and consoli- oil pipe-lines were announced Turkish Prime Minister Recep cles, is it really the Kurds who are date strong relations between both publicly last year at the internatio- Tayyip Erdogan, in a major boost the source of the Iraqi divide? governments that are the source of nal energy conference hosted in to Kurdish ties, defended Turkish discomfort for Baghdad and Erbil. energy cooperation with Washington. It goes without saying the Kurdistan. Erdogan deemed such Baghdad's all too frequent political importance of a national ties as legal and in line with Iraq's cries and threats against KRG hydro-carbon law for Iraq, but 6 constitution and stated they were energy deals with foreign firms is years since the last draft was side- merely helping their neighbour hardly a new phenomenon nor has lined, efforts to reconcile diffe- meet their needs. it deterred the Kurds or oil majors rences have been lacking and Political ramifications who have started to stream in. The Nouri al-Maliki's government has There is no doubt that Turkish underlining question is what are done little to bridge major dis- ties with America has rapidly coo- putes with Kurdistan, and not only led, especially as Turkey has loo-

35 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Özeti 17 February 2013 A decade after the invasion of Iraq, the Kurds emerge as surprise winners

PATRICK COCKBURN

World View: Troubles in surrounding countries may Building puncture Iraqi Kurdistan's boom: New boom but, for now, new residential hotels and malls are complex in mushrooming the Kurdish city of Erbil he Kurds of Iraq are the big winners in the 10 years since the overthrow of Saddam Hussein. They have also been lucky.T Up to a few weeks before the invasion in 2003, the US was intending to invade for oil, the hotels and new apartments are great advantage that I could use my satellite northern Iraq from Turkey, along with full, and every week sees the arrival of a del- phone from my south-facing room instead of 40,000 Turkish troops. The Kurds were hor- egation of businessmen from Turkey, having to clamber on to the roof. People in rified at this, suspecting that once the Turks Germany or the Gulf. The KRG benefits from Erbil were in an edgy mood, hopeful that were in northern Iraq it would be impossible being one of the few places in the world seen Saddam would be overthrown, but fearful to get them out. I remember the Kurdish as booming at a time of recession and stagna- that the Turks might invade alongside the relief and jubilation when the Turkish parlia- tion elsewhere. Americans. They were also fearful of a poison ment voted against participating in the US gas attack by Saddam, having experienced it invasion. A striking change is in the countries sur- first hand at Halabja in 1988. In the days rounding Iraqi Kurdistan. I was very inter- before the invasion started, the city emptied Erbil, the Kurdish capital, was at that time a ested in these places in early 2003 because I of people, who took refuge in the country- dismal, impoverished place at the centre of was trying to reach Iraq in time for the start side. The few who remained bought plastic three Kurdish provinces with de facto inde- of the US-led invasion. I was certain the gov- sheeting to cover windows and doors in a pendence from the rest of Iraq since 1991. ernment in Baghdad would not give me an touching effort to keep out any gas. But self-determination had come at the price entry visa because they disliked a book about of isolation and poverty. The mountains were Saddam Hussein I had written with my The last weeks of peace and the short war bare, stripped of trees and bushes by people brother Andrew. I knew I would be welcome that followed were filled with incidents that desperate for firewood. In the middle of in the Kurdish enclave, but it was difficult to seemed ominous for the future of Iraq. The minefields, along the Iranian border at get there since it was virtually besieged by first American soldiers I saw in Iraq were Penjwin, I came across villagers who had a neighbouring states – Turkey, Iran, Syria and part of a US State Department security detail peculiarly dangerous occupation. They Saddam Hussein's Iraq. guarding Zalmay Khalilzad, the Afghan-born defused and dismantled a jumping mine US diplomat, who was overseeing a confer- called the Valmara in order to sell the explo- The problem appeared depressingly insolu- ence involving the opponents of Saddam sives, and the aluminium in which they were ble until the Kurds persuaded the Syrians Hussein. The US soldiers stood in the driving wrapped, for a few dollars. The local ceme- that it was in their interest to allow some for- snow, enforcing stringent search procedures tery was full of fresh graves and many vil- eign journalists to pass through Syria into on venerable Shia clerics and bemused lagers were missing hands and feet. Iraqi Kurdistan. The journalists would be Kurdish military leaders, as well as on jour- able to publicise the Kurds' hostility to a nalists. "Stop filming and frigging listen to All this sounds like tales from a medieval Turkish invasion of northern Iraq, something me," shouted an American soldier. "This [the past, given the present state of the five mil- both the Kurds and Syria wanted to avoid. I body search] is non-negotiable and anyone lion people living under the Kurdistan flew to Damascus on a tourist visa, was driv- who doesn't like it can leave." At this stage, Regional Government (KRG). Erbil today has en for 10 hours, by a member of the the Americans did not much care what Iraqis a glossy new international airport and its Kurdistan Democratic Party, to the police thought of them. skyline is broken by the towers of new five- headquarters in Qamishli in northern Syria. I star hotels. In contrast to the rest of Iraq, life waited in some trepidation as a Syrian officer All this seems like very ancient history these is safe and the electricity supply almost con- leafed slowly through a large handwritten days. American influence diminished after tinuous. New housing and shopping malls ledger to see if my name was among those its last soldiers left at the end of 2011. have sprung up everywhere. allowed to cross the frontier. Finally, his fin- Instead of Turkey being feared as a menace ger stopped at an approximation to my name to the Iraqi Kurds, it has become their rein- Critics argue that there is rather less to this and I drove immediately to the Tigris, on the surance policy against action by Baghdad. than meets the eye and the main beneficiary far side of which was a sliver of territory con- So dependent is the Kurdish economy on of Kurdistan's economic prosperity is the rul- trolled by the Kurds. I got into a tin boat with Turkey that some in Erbil wonder if their ing elite. "We have plenty of new hotels," a spluttering outboard motor, which slowly leaders might not be making the same mis- remarked one jaundiced Kurdish observer, made its way across the river. take as in the past when they became over- "but just try to find a decent school for your reliant on the US and Iran, both of which children or a hospital for a sick relative." I spent the next three months in Kurdistan in cynically betrayed them when it suited their Government supporters respond that 50 to a hotel called the Dim Dim in Erbil, which interests. Just at the moment, the Iraqi 60 international oil companies are looking was low on creature comforts, but had the Kurds probably do not have much ➩

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

➩ choice other than looking to Turkey promise at the time since I had run into a there is no sign of this being impaired. But for support. Kurdish police general in a resplendent uni- the countries around the KRG are under form who told me that he was the director of stress, from civil war in Syria to smouldering Once the prospect of Turkish military inter- traffic-designate for Kirkuk once it had been guerrilla war in south-east Turkey, rising vio- vention disappeared in 2003, the Kurds were taken. Ten years on, Kirkuk is firmly under lence in the rest of Iraq, and economic sanc- the only military ally of the US in northern Kurdish control, with no sign of acceptance tions and regional setbacks in Iran. These Iraq with troops on the ground. They exploit- of this by Baghdad or compromise over its troubles may one day puncture the Kurdish ed this cunningly, placing themselves under future. boom and expose it as fragile, but that day US command and promising not to capture has not yet come. G Kirkuk. I was not a great believer in this Key to Kurdistan's success is security and

February / 18 / 2013

amends an anti-terror law in accordance with European Court of Human Rights norms. There are 5,000 to 6,000 KCK sus- Turkey enters key week pects behind bars. in Kurdish solution bid NO TURKISHNESS OR KURDISHNESS The week ahead could be a In his rallies in Mardin over the week- turning point in Turkey’s bid to end, Erdoğan reiterated that he was against all sorts of nationalism, saying: end the Kurdish issue thanks to “We are into the solution process. No one judicial reforms and a possible should come to us with Kurdishness or visit to the PKK’s leader Turkishness in this process. We are a government that disregards all sorts of urkey is entering one of its most crucial nationalism. Those who claims that his or weeks in its efforts to solve the Kurdish her race is superior than others is in the Tquestion amid expectations surrounding footprints of evil.” new judicial reforms and visits to the The ruling Justice and Development Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) leader, but Party (AKP), in contrast, is patriotic, rather the premier has warned against possible than nationalist, he said. sabotage. Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip “The Turkish Republic is one nation on The significance of this week is due in Erdoğan is on a visit to souteastern this soil,” Erdoğan said. “That one nation includes everyone. Whoever pursues eth- part to expectations that the government is province of Mardin. AA photo expected to complete its deliberations on nic nationalism is of ill-intent. No one the fourth judicial package before submit- should come to us regarding being Turks ting it to Parliament, which could result in or being Kurds. We have no separatism or the releases of many jailed Kurdish politi- morning that the names had been provided divisions. Our nationalism is about patrio- cians, as well as anticipation of a second to the government and that they would tism and about humanism,” Erdoğan said. meeting between a Peace and Democracy provide a decision later in the day. The Speaking on the issue of terrorism in Party (BDP) delegation and Abdullah Öca- peace process is being coordinated by the the region, Erdoğan mentioned a new form lan, the imprisoned leader of the PKK. National Intelligence Organization (MİT), of “national unity and brotherhood” pro- Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan was which has been in constant talks with Öca- ject that called for the end of guns and vio- set to decide on the names of the BDP dele- lan since December 2012. lence and the triumph of the political will. gation late yesterday. Kurdish lawmakers Ahmet Türk and “We have started a process to allow an “A very big atmosphere of hope has Ayla Akat Ata conducted the first visit to opportunity for politics. The south will developed across all of Turkey. Believe me, Erdoğan on Jan. 3, but Erdoğan vetoed have the same rights as the west. The solu- this crowd today is voicing hope the way Türk for the second visit because he subse- tion to the problem involves providing the [the Black Sea province of] Rize is voicing quently criticized military strikes in the same rights for everyone.” it. Istanbul and Ankara are as hopeful as southeast. The BDP has pressed for the Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdağ you are. Let’s not waste this hope. Let’s not delegation to include one of the party’s co- also responded to criticisms that his allow those who would kill this process [to chairpersons, Selahattin Demirtaş or government was acting slowly on the succeed],” Erdoğan said yesterday during Gültan Kışanak, but the latter is said to peace process given that no visits to İmralı an address to voters in the southeastern have no chance of going after being photo- had been conducted for several weeks and province of Mardin. graphed embracing militants last summer. that a second had yet to be definitively Erdoğan spent the weekend in the pro- Alongside Demirtaş, BDP deputy Pervin scheduled. vince, where he attended the opening cere- Buldan is in the running to join the delega- “There is no timetable for the solution monies of numerous projects accompanied tion. process,” he said in an interview with pri- by several ministers, including his new Equally important is that the govern- vate channel Kanal 7 yesterday. interior minister, Muammer Güler, who is ment completes the necessary procedures “What is essential is that we obtain a from the area. on the fourth judicial package, which could result from this process. The right thing to Following days of uncertainty as to the effect the release of many Kurdish politi- do is to advance in a way to get a result date of the BDP’s second visit to İmralı cians who have been arrested as part of the from this process and not to move spee- island, where Öcalan is serving a life sen- Kurdistan Communities’ Union (KCK) dily,” Bozdağ said. “People tell us to stop tence, Justice Minister Sadullah Ergin case. It is believed that a great majority of the terror. ‘End this how no matter how announced that it could occur this week KCK suspects will be released pending you do it, end bloodshed;’ they tell us. trial as a result of the fourth judicial They don’t impose on us a certain after he receives an official application I from the BDP. Erdoğan said yesterday package. Ergin confirmed that KCK detai- method.” nees would benefit from the package as it

37 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Özeti 19 fevrier 2013 Syrie : l'UE maintient son refus d'armer les rebelles Face aux réticences de Soldats de certains pays de l'UE, l'Armée les insurgés ne devraient syrienne recevoir que du matériel non libre, dimanche létal. près de l'aéroport al- Par Alain Barluet Neirab à Alep. Le 'implacable réalité s'est imposée aux conflit a fait Vingt-Sept: aucune solution politique 70 000 morts Ln'est en vue en Syrie, et la population en deux ans. subit chaque jour plus intensément des REUTERS violences qui, en presque deux ans, ont fait 70 000 morts. Prenant acte de cette situation, les ministres européens des Affaires étrangères réunis lundi à d'une évolution importante», souligne armes défensives «puisque la Coalition Bruxelles ont reconduit pour trois mois une source proche du dossier. (de l'opposition) nous l'a demandé». les sanctions infligées au régime de Comme ce fut le cas pour la Libye, Lundi, le chef de la diplomatie française a Damas. Parallèlement, ils ont accepté plusieurs États appelaient à la levée par- d'ailleurs estimé que la décision avait été d'amender l'embargo sur les armes pour tielle de l'embargo pour armer les prise «conformément à la demande» du permettre l'envoi de matériel non offensif rebelles. Une ligne sur laquelle le chef de la Coalition nationale syrienne, et une assistance technique pour la pro- Royaume-Uni s'est montré en pointe, Moaz al-Khatib. Pour Paris, la priorité est tection des civils. Concrètement, si cette soutenu notamment par l'Italie et, dans la consolidation de cette structure poli- décision est confirmée au terme de une certaine mesure, par la France. Le tique, rempart, veut-on croire, contre les l'embargo, le 28 février, les insurgés pour- chef de la diplomatie britannique, dérives djihadistes de la rébellion. Dans le ront recevoir des équipements tels que William Hague, a d'ailleurs salué la déci- contexte de la crise du Sahel, les risques des gilets pare-balles et des casques mais sion de lundi dans la mesure où elle per- d'une militarisation accrue n'ont pas man- aussi des moyens de communication mettra, selon lui, d'«aller plus loin» dans qué d'être évoqués à Bruxelles. «Le but cryptés, de même que des moyens de trois mois, lorsque le sujet reviendra sur n'est pas de combattre les djihadistes au détection et d'information infrarouge. «Ce la table. En face, une forte opposition Mali pour fournir des armes aux dji- sont des équipements dont ne sont pas s'est exprimée en particulier de la part hadistes en Syrie», a déclaré le dotées les forces de Bachar et qui, peuvent des pays scandinaves, du Benelux et de Luxembourgeois Jean Asselborn. faire la différence dans un conflit», estime l'Allemagne. Récemment, François Hollande avait une bonne source. déclaré qu'une levée de l'embargo ne Volet le plus sensible de la politique DÉRIVES DJIHADISTES saurait être à l'ordre du jour tant de sanctions décidée au printemps 2011 qu'existait la possibilité d'une issue poli- contre Damas, l'embargo sur les armes et La France, longtemps hostile à toute four- tique, signe que le débat a aussi lieu à son éventuel allégement font depuis plu- niture d'armes à la rébellion, a évolué. En Paris. «Ne pas alléger l'embargo, c'est sieurs mois l'objet d'un âpre débat au novembre dernier, Laurent Fabius avait donner des arguments aux plus évoqué la possibilité d'une levée de extrémistes», argumente ainsi une source sein des Vingt-Sept. «Il s'agit toutefois I l'embargo pour fournir aux rebelles des proche du dossier.

Gazprom: nouveaux contrats au Kurdistan malgré la colère de Bagdad MOSCOU, 20 février 2013 (AFP) affaire directement avec la région autonome du Kurdistan, sans solliciter son accord. LE KURDISTAN IRAKIEN a signé de nouveaux contrats de production de Interrogé sur un possible départ de Gazprom du Kurdistan, M. Barzani a assuré pétrole avec le groupe public russe Gazprom, malgré la colère du pouvoir que ce n'était "pas vrai". central de Bagdad contre les accords existants, a indiqué mercredi à "Les accords signés récemment confirment qu'ils vont continuer à travailler" Moscou le président de cette région autonome. dans la région, a-t-il martelé. "Ces derniers jours nous avons conclu des accords très importants avec L'exploitation des hydrocarbures est le principal enjeu des relations houleuses Gazprom Neft", la filiale pétrolière du géant gazier, a déclaré Massoud Barzani, qu'entretiennent Erbil et Bagdad. Le Kurdistan jouit d'une grande autonomie par cité par les agences russes. rapport au reste du pays et gère sa propre administration. En novembre, le gouvernement irakien avait sommé Gazprom de choisir entre A l'automne, l'américain ExxonMobil avait répondu à un ultimatum posé par le contrat passé avec lui sur l'exploitation du champ pétrolier de Badra, dans l'est Bagdad en disant préférer un contrat signé avec le Kurdistan à l'exploitation d'un de l'Irak, et son engagement avec le Kurdistan. champ pétrolier du sud de l'Irak. I Bagdad est furieux de voir nombre de compagnies pétrolières étrangères faire

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

LE FIGARO 19 février 2013 La Russie poursuit ses ventes

d'équipements militaires au régime d'Assad

ISABELLE LASSERRE

PENDANT que les Européens s'inter¬ y- Cérémonie rogent sur l'opportunité de lever l'em¬ pour l'arrivée, bargo sur les armes à destination de la * -xi en 2010,

Syrie, qui pénalise de facto la rébel¬ d'un navire lion, la Russie réitère son soutien mili¬ militaire russe dans le port taire au régime de Damas. «Nous syrien de continuerons de remplir nos engage¬ t Tartous, pierre ments sur les contrats de la vente vw<--: angulaire de d'équipements militaires», a affirmé la coopération Anatoly Isaikin, le patron de l'entre- militaire entre . prise d'exportations d'armes Rosobo- Moscou ronexport. et Damas.

Le montant des ventes d'armes que GRIGORIY SISOEV/

la Russie aurait livrées au régime sy¬ RIANOVOSTI

rien en 2011 est estimé à un milliard de dollars. Moscou, qui a bloqué trois ré¬ bliée par la Fondation , pour la solutions du Conseil de sécurité de recherche stratégique (FRS). Il vise l'ONU visant à augmenter la pression aussi à «mettre en garde l'Occident contre Bachar el-Assad, assure cepen¬ TURQUIE contre une tentative d'appliquer à la Sy¬ dant ne pas fournir d'avions de com¬ rie un scénario libyen ». bat et d'hélicoptères d'attaque à Da¬

mas. Les contrats concerneraient Partenariat stratégique surtout des systèmes de défense anti¬ Au bord de mer Méditerranée, le port missiles et la. réparation du matériel Tartous #Alef de Tartous et sa base navale russe sont

endommagé pendant la guerre, com¬ SI devenus la pierre angulaire de la coo¬

me les hélicoptères. Homs pération militaire entre Moscou et Da¬

Au milieu des années. 2000, les auto¬ mas. Redynamisé depuis l'arrivée au rités russes avaient livré de nombreux Damas pouvoir de Vladimir Poutine, le parte¬ missiles sol-air, des roquettes anti¬ nariat stratégique russo-syrien s'est

chars et des systèmes de défense anti¬ traduit par un développement des in¬

aérienne au régime syrien. Entre 2007 JORDANIE frastructures portuaires de Tartous

et 2011, Moscou a même été le principal juste avant le début de la guerre.

fournisseur d'armements de Damas. Ce point d'appui russe en Syrie

La coopération militaire entre les réalisés par sa marine dans la région. «s'inscrit dans une logique globale et de deux pays ne date pas d'aujourd'hui. L'augmentation de l'activité navale réinvestissement de l'Océan mondial

Depuis Catherine II, le Kjemlin a tou¬ russe en 2012 en Méditerranée orienta¬ par la marine russe », poursuit Igor De¬ jours cherché à consolider sa présence le «matérialise le soutien affiché pflr lanoë. Tartous accorde aux navires dans le bassin méditerranéen. Loin de Moscou à. son allié syrien et met de nou¬ russes une plus grande capacité opéra¬ s'affaiblir, elle semble avoir été ravivée veau en lumière l'intérêt de la Russie tionnelle en Méditerranée mais aussi par les événements syriens. Le mois pour la Méditerranée et le Moyen- vers l'océan Indien. Autant de raisons, dernier, la Russie a organisé « les plus Orient», écrit le chercheur de Har¬ vu de Moscou, de ne pas lâcher le régi¬ importants exercices» militaires jamais vard, Igor Delanoë, dans une note pu- me de Bachar el-Assad, ai

Turquie: Libération de maires Kurdes accusés de collusion avec le PKK

DIYARBAKIR (Turquie), 19 février 2013 (AFP) les milieux de l'Union des communautés kurdes (KCK).

Le KCK est une organisation clandestine considérée par les autorités turques comme la branche urbaine du PKK. UNE COUR DE DIYARBAKIr a décidé de libérer mardi 10 militants kurdes, dont six maires, jugés dans le cadre d'un vaste procès visant un orga¬ Le gouvernement turc accuse le KCK de vouloir se substituer à l'Etat dans les nisme kurde proche des rebelles du Parti des travailleurs du Kurdistan collectivités des provinces peuplées en majorité de Kurdes du sud-est anatolien (PKK). en créant une structure administrative parallèle aux institutions officielles.

Les juges ont estimé que le temps qu'ils ont passé en prison dépasse le délai Plusieurs procès sont en cours dans différentes villes turques et visent les diffé¬ d'incarcération prévu par la loi s'ils étaient trouvés coupables, a-t-on indiqué de rentes vitrines présumées de l'organisation (médias, cabinets d'avocats ou par¬ source judiciaire locale. tis politiques).

La Cour pense en outre que les preuves dans ce dossier ont déjà été recueillis La libération de ces militants intervient alors que autorités turques ont lancé en et que la libération de ces personnes ne pose "aucun risque" à la procédure en décembre dernier un nouveau round de négociations de paix avec le chef empri¬ cours. sonné du PKK, Abdullah Ôcalan.

Les premières arrestations dans cette affaire sont intervenues en 2009 contre

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

TIME February 18, 2013

/ ~)

Baghdad o

A Kurdish army position looks ont over

Iraqi lines near Kirkuk. Ivor IViiki'lt lor 1 l\ll' DIFFERENT TAKES

LOOKEASTFROM THE $1.50 Amount of profit per barrel that the Iraqi government allows oil companies KURDISH TRENCHES

on a dusty ridge outside the northern Iraqi $30.00 mer U.S. Army colonel who led U.S. forces city ofKirkuk and you can see the cause of Amount of profit per barrel that the into Kurdistan in 2003 and returned in his it all: a rudimentary oil field where water Kurdish government allows oil companies retirement to advise the Kurdish govern¬ wells are being sunk and sites are being ment on security issues. "This could blow cleared for drilling. up to be a war that no one wants." Now look south into the valley below the Kurdish positions and you can see two Civil Affair Of course, oil isn't worth much unless Iraqi army units poised to make sure that you can ship it to the people who want to drilling never begins. THE TINDERBOX HAS BEEN YEARS IN the making. Kurds a nomadic Indo- buy it, and Iraqi Kurdistan is landlocked. Since November, a crisis of oil, money So last monththe Kurds struck aprovision¬ European ethnic group spread across and history has been building in the parts of Turkey, Syria, Iran and Iraq al deal with neighboring Turkey to build a semiautonomous northern Iraqi region have sought an independent state since pipeline to carry any oil drilled on Kurdish of Kurdistan. Some 30,000 Kurdish 1920, with limited success. But Kurds in lands or even disputed territory out of soldiers face just as many regular Iraqi Iraq. There's just one problem: under the army troops, setting the stage for a civil northern Iraq were largely able to govern new Iraqi constitution, Baghdad controls war in a country that has already endured themselves from 1991 to 2003 in Iraq and all oil exports. And without a pipeline more than its share. Under these lands had little or no contact with Baghdad. to move the crude to market, drilling in lie an estimated 66 billion barrels of Only after the fall of Saddam Hussein, Kurdistan makes little sense. The result oil, enough to shift the global market however, did the Iraqi Kurds begin to flex is an increasingly nasty standoff that's for crude and alter Iraq's economic their muscles on energy policy, claim¬ brought to the surface deep divisions be¬ fortunes provided the resource doesn't ing the right to sign deals with foreign tween the Kurds and Baghdad. tear apart the country first. oil companies and drill on lands they The Iraqi government has threatened Both armies arrived in Kirkuk at historically claimed. When the Kurdis¬ to forcibly halt any Kurdish exports ofoil the end of November after a gas-station tan Regional Government opened up to by truck about 70,000 barrels a day head shoot-out nearby between Iraqi police drilling in 2004 it sweetened the offer by out by road to Turkey and to stop the and Kurdish troops left one dead and allowingforeign oil companies to keep far pipeline's construction, which is sched¬ both sides furious. The forces have been more of the profits than the post-Saddam uled to begin later this year. Last May, tripping over each other since, in patrols government was offering from oil fields in al-Maliki sent President Obama a letter through the divided city of Kirkuk and southern Iraq. Baghdad in 201 1 threatened asking him to persuade ExxonMobil to throughout the surrounding disputed ter¬ to cancel all its contracts with companies either abandon or slow down its Kurd¬ ritory, which is a bit larger than Kuwait. drilling elsewhere in the country if they ish activity. The appeal had little effect; The situation has become tense for both signed up with the Kurds, but that didn't Obama informed al-Maliki that he has no sides. "I'm going to fight them," Iraqi deter more than 50 multinationals from control over private companies, though Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki warned making deals with the north, including his staffand allies in December. "Iwill use majors like ExxonMobil, Chevron, Total the White House warned all U.S. oil firms force to prevent them fromworking in the and Gazprom. "U.S. firms want to be able working in Iraq that signing contracts disputed area." With the two armies.mus- to work anywhere in Iraq and base their without the approval ofBaghdad exposed tered in such close proximity, war may business decisions on which province or them to international legal risks. not wait; a suicide bomber killed at least region is the most attractive for investors," The company with the most at stake 36 people and wounded more than 100 at says Hussain Qaragholi, president of the is ExxonMobil, the first oil major to sign a Kirkuk police station on Feb. 3. "Acci¬ U.S. Business Council in Iraq, whose board on with the Kurds in 2011. It is the only dents happen," says Harry Schute, a for includes ExxonMobil and Chevron. company to own contracts three of its

40 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dent.ro de la Prensa-Basin Ôzeti

A separate people From top: tankers are lined up to export oil;young Kurdish men smoke shisha in Erbil; a Kurdishfamily rides a

gondola high over the city

was. An estimated 60,000 Kurdish and Iraqi troops marched to Kirkuk, taking up positions across the disputed terri¬ tory. On Dec. 19, the peshmerga, as the ' i I ?J< !. Kurdish troops are called, fired on an Iraqi helicopter. The disputed region has been hit by a wave of sectarian bomb¬ ings in the past month that have killed '*.*: more than 90 people and injured more than 500 violence that alarmed State Department officials. Administration of¬ ficials, including U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Robert Beecroft, have stepped in to try negotiating a settlement, but no timeline has yet been set for troops to withdraw. On top ofeverything else, Iraqi President Jalal Talabani, a Kurd and an experienced peacemaker, has been incapacitated since suffering a stroke on Dec. 17.

Battle Lines

DESPITE THE DRAMA, WAR SHOULD STILL be avoidable, in part because peace would be a lot more profitable. Until they can

start exporting their oil in bulk, the Kurds remain reliant on Baghdad for rev¬ enue. When the new Iraqi government was formed, the Kurds were given 17% of all oil revenue annually, which today accounts for nearly all the Kurdistan Regional Government's budget. Turkey,

-

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

TIME February 18, 2013 Israel Enters the Syria Conflict

ISRAEL The question defense systems like the ofHizballah but also beyond is not whether Israel sent Russian-made SA-17 missiles the reach ofthe more extreme

warplanes into Syria on strapped onto the semitrailers jihadists among the motley the night ofJan. 29. Israeli that we know Israeli fighter- rebel forces advancing on Syrian Defense Minister Ehud Barak bombers blew up during the President Bashar Assad.

made that clear enough later Syrian strike. Assad, Iran and Hizballah all

in the week, calling news The question is what else threatened to retaliate for Israel's reports ofthe lightning Israel's jets hit that night. A intrusion. Israeli officials took strikes "proof [that] when we Western intelligence official the threats in stride, calculating

said something, we mean tells Time the air strikes that Syria and Iran dealing it." What Israel had said was also targeted Syria's main with, respectively, a civil that it would not tolerate laboratory and assembly war and crippling economic

Syria's sending advanced center for chemical and sanctions have their plates

weapons into Lebanon, where biological weapons the full. As the dominant player in the Shi'ite militia Hizballah Scientific Studies and Lebanon's politics, Hizballah

waged war on the Jewish state Research Center, located in the also has interests to protect. The

in 2006. According to then Jamraya district, northwest wild card is on the other side of chiefofmilitary intelligence ofDamascus as well as Syria's civil war: al-Qaeda-grade

Amos Yadlin, Israeli leaders two additional targets not extremists, the last people in subsequently drew the line at identified publicly. The logic the world Western powers want four specific armaments: long- behind the Jamraya strike, to see capturing a bioweapons range Scud missiles, precision the official explained, was to lab. Small wonder that the land-to-sea missiles, chemical keep unconventional weapons intelligence official indicated the

weapons and advanced air not only out ofthe hands U.S. militarywas poised to erase weapons-of-mass-destruction

sites elsewhere in Syria. "Ifwe succeeded all these years to deter the Syrians and all

the other surrounding countries that possess weapons ofmass destruction not to make use of [them], it's because we knew how to deliver the message that the price would be very high," says

Amnon Sofrin, a former senior official in Mossad, the Israeli CIA. But the Islamist extremists in Syria pose a different challenge: "What kind ofthreat can you put in the face of a terror

organization?" karl vick

Israelisfear that the Syrian conflict could loose weapons ofmass destruction AND AARON J. KLEIN/TEL AVIV

Hurriyet Tfflur Da!lyNewSx->T * February / 20 / 2013 Imams already preach in H Kurdish, says Turkey's top imam -vf 7^-W

4 V ISTANBUL - Hurriyet Daily News preach with comfort in the language unders¬ tood by the people coming into the mosque,

Imams are already able to preach in any lan¬ especially in rural areas," Gôrmez said. "It is guage understood by the attendees of the sad to treat such an ongoing practice as if it i

mosque, including Kurdish and Arabic, just appeared today." Turkey's Religious Affairs Directorate Turkey's Religious Affairs Directorate head Having all languages in the mosque has head Mehmet Gôrmez. AA Photo Mehmet Gôrmez has said, describing the never caused any problems in the past, and exclusion of any language or ethnicity as "a Kurdish people have previously been prea¬ crime against humanity and the maker of all ched to in the Kurdish language, leading to no "When we pray personally, along with the

humanity." societal conflict, Gôrmez said, referring ins¬ original verses, we use the language given to

Gôrmez said any language could be used tead to the "psychological barriers of certain us by God, the language that we use all day. to preach in mosques, adding that no lan¬ periods." There is nothing wrong with that. If religion is guage had the right to exclusively own reli¬ The common language was Islam and it is universal, you cannot talk about a single lan¬

gion. a human duty not to let spoken languages guage," he said.

"The representatives of religion can perish, Gôrmez said.

42 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Özeti February 18, 2013 Kurdish refugees have mixed feelings about Syria Civil war » If the regime falls, the rise of Islamists presents a new threat to ethnic minority.

concerns, the dominant Kurdish faction in By KARIN LAUB Syria, the Democratic Union Party, or PYD, The Associated Press is seen as an offshoot of the Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK, the leader of the omiz Refugee Camp, Iraq / Syrian armed rebellion in Turkey. Kurds who fled their country's civil war Dhave mixed feelings about a future without The president of Iraq's Kurdish region, Bashar Assad: They hope to win a measure Massoud Barzani, has tried to exert influ- of autonomy after the fall of the regime, but ence over Syrian Kurdish groups, presum- fear chaos and the rise of Islamists could ably in part to protect his strategic relation- instead make their lives worse. ship with Turkey. Last year, he helped form an umbrella group of Syrian Kurdish groups More than 81,000 Syrian Kurds have found that includes the PYD and smaller factions refuge in northern Iraq's autonomous loyal to him. Kurdish region in recent months and hun- But the emergence of yet another dreds more arrive every day. Few seem in a autonomous Kurdish region would likely "Barzani has some sway over Syrian rush to go home. spook Turkey, a regional power that is key Kurds," said Washington-based Turkey to plans by Iraq's Kurds to export their oil expert Soner Cagaptay. "He has been reach- The Kurdistan Regional Government allows riches directly, if necessary without permis- ing out to a spectrum of Syrian Kurds, fellow Kurds from Syria to work and move sion from the central Iraqi government. including the PYD, to stop the hostile rhet- freely in the three provinces of northern Iraq oric and attitude toward Turkey." it controls. Some 30,000 refugees still live Turkey is home to an estimated 15 million in a camp of tents and cinderblock shacks Kurds, some with self-rule aspirations, and Falah Mustafa, in charge of the Barzani near the Syrian border, while the rest have has been battling Kurdish insurgents for government's foreign relations, said Iraqi found jobs and homes in towns across the nearly three decades. Adding to Turkey's Kurds want to make sure their Syrian coun- autonomous region, some staying with rela- terparts are united when negotiating their tives. role in a post-Assad Syria with the Sunni Arab-led opposition. Even those struggling with the hardships of camp life say they prefer to stay in Iraq after He said it's up to all Syrians to shape their the fall of the regime, until they have a bet- future, but that Kurdish rights have to be ter idea how Islamists and other groups in protected - an outcome he suggested is not the Sunni Arab-dominated Syrian opposi- assured. Asked in an interview if Syrian ter- tion will deal with Kurds, Syria's largest ritory should remain intact at all costs, he ethnic minority. said, "I do not believe that these borders have to be sacred, because these were artifi- "If the Muslim Brotherhood takes over and cial." there are problems in the future, we want to stay here," said Faroush Fattah, a 28-year- Syria's Kurds, who make up more than 10 old laborer from the northeastern Syrian percent of a population of 23 million, ini- town of Qamishli who arrived in the Domiz tially remained largely on the sidelines after camp three months ago. the uprising against Assad erupted almost two years ago. They had been marginalized The refugees' ambivalence about the by the regime, but were also weary of the upheaval in Syria is shared by Iraqi Kurdish In this Friday, Feb. 15, 2013 photo, Syrian Syrian rebels, many of them Sunnis. Some leaders, who have carved out an increasing- Kurdish refugee Abdel Khader Taha, 37, prominent Kurds joined the Syrian political ly prosperous quasi-state in the autonomous shows off his tatto of Massoud Barzani, opposition in exile, while some younger region, aided by an oil-fueled economic the president of Iraqi Kurdistan, with a Kurds joined street protests against Assad. boom. flag of Iraqi Kurdistan in the background, in the Dumiz refugee camp in northern Kurds were pulled into the conflict on a Kurdish autonomy in post-Assad Syria, Iraq. Syrian Kurds who fled their country's larger scale when Assad's forces unexpect- similar to the Iraqi model, could strengthen civil war have mixed feelings about a edly withdrew from predominantly Kurdish long-standing Kurdish demands for an inde- future without Bashar Assad: They hope to areas in the northeast of the country last pendent homeland for the more than 25 mil- win autonomy if the regime falls, but fear summer, enabling the PYD to take control lion Kurds in parts of Turkey, Iran, Syria chaos and the rise of Islamists could there. and Iraq. instead make their lives worse. (AP Photo/Karin Laub) The pullback appeared to serve two

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

objectives at the time - giving the PYD are dispersed across the country. Refugees in the Syrian town of Kobani and arrived in a higher profile to pressure Turkey, one of say they fear the Muslim Brotherhood, the Domiz last week. If he can find work as a the most vocal backers of the Syrian oppo- pan-Arab Sunni movement driving the anti- cook, he'll bring them to Iraq, he said. sition, and allowing thinly stretched gov- Assad rebellion, will disregard Syria's eth- ernment troops to move to hotspots else- nic and religious minorities once Assad Some are even carving out a life in the where. falls. camp, administered by the government and a U.N. agency. The PYD denies it is affiliated with the "We fear a big ethnic war in Syria," said Ali PKK or coordinates with the Syrian regime, Kalash, 57, a former Syrian civil servant, Cousins Rezzan and Ibrahim Jegarkhouen even though in some areas, such as standing with a group of men in one of the invested $2,000 to build a cinderblock Qamishli, residents say both the regime and tent-lined alleys of the camp. shack and turn it into a barbershop, spend- PYD forces maintain military posts. At the ing a recent sunny afternoon whitewashing same time, the PYD has clashed with rebel Staying in Iraq may be their best option, the walls. fighters, particularly those from the al- and the Kurds are getting an easier start Qaida-inspired Jabhat al-Nusra. than hundreds of thousands of Syrian Even before the Syrian uprising, there was refugees who have fled to Turkey, Lebanon little work in their hometown of Qamishli, Some in the Domiz camp said the PYD and Jordan. and the move to Iraq presents an opportuni- protects Kurds against both rebel fighters ty, they said. "If there is no democracy and regime soldiers, while others described Ali Sindi, the planning minister in Iraq's (after the fall of Assad), we will not go the PYD militiamen as regime sub-contrac- Kurdish region, said his government has a back," said Ibrahim. tors terrorizing residents. special obligation to the Syrian Kurds because of the uncertainties over their Khader Qassem, 30, has planned even fur- "The regime and the PYD work together," future after the fall of the regime. ther ahead. said Abdel Khader Taha, a 37-year-old laborer from Qamishli who sported a color- Many of the new arrivals have found jobs, Since arriving with his wife and five chil- ful tattoo of Barzani on his chest. Taha said in part because they're willing to work for dren eight months ago, he has replaced a he fears all Kurds will one day be targeted less than the locals. U.N.-issue tent with a cinderblock shack by Syrian rebels because of the PYD's per- complete with tiled floors, running water ceived collusion with the regime. Biran Hassan, 25, left Qamishli nine and a washing machine. He has also built months ago and now works as a waiter in a an adjacent grocery, for a total of $7,000. Taha and others in the camp seemed hotel in Irbil, the capital of Iraq's Kurdish ambivalent about Syria's future. region, making $500 a month - just half "I want to stay here for at least 10 years," what local residents get paid. Most of the Qassem said of Iraq. "We have more rights While favoring Kurdish autonomy, they hotel staff are Syrian refugees. here than in Syria." G acknowledge that carving out a self-rule zone, like in Iraq, is difficult because Kurds Faisal Mahmoud, 42, left behind his family

February 19, 2013 Turkey frees 10 pro-Kurdish politicians in mass trial IYARBAKIR, Turkey: A tops 3,500 while official figures DTurkish court released on from late 2011 say over 600 peo- Tuesday 10 pro-Kurdish politi- ple had been arrested. cians who were among hundreds, Tuesday's decision comes possibly thousands of people on amid peace talks between the trial accused of ties to the outla- state and jailed PKK chief wed Kurdistan Workers' Party Abdullah Ocalan to negotiate an (PKK). end to the Kurdish insurgency The court in the southeastern which has left 45,000 people city of Diyarbakir freed the politi- dead since the PKK took up arms cians on the grounds that the in 1984. time they spent in custody had Nearly 1,000 more Kurdish now exceeded any prison term prisoners are expected to be they would serve if convicted, freed after parliament approves a court sources told AFP. new set of laws being drawn up Turkish authorities first laun- by the government to bring its ched a major campaign of arrests widely criticised anti-terrorism in 2009 against the Union of legislation in line with European Kurdistan Communities (KCK) standards. which is considered a terrorist Turkey has faced internatio- organisation and an urban wing nal criticism over lengthy pre- Kurdish people take part in a demonstration, gathering of the PKK. trial detentions of suspects -- thousand of people from all around Europe, to ask for the Critics of the crackdown say including journalists, academics, liberation of jailed leader of Turkey's Kurd rebels the number of people arrested activists, lawyers and politicians - Abdullah Ocalan in Strasbourg, eastern France, on pending trial in the KCK case - on terrorism charges. H February 16, 2013. AFP PHOTO/FREDERICK FLORIN

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

fe Bonde

Mercredi 20 février 2013 Turquie : cap à l'est 7<

L'homme-clé de la nouvelle de sciences politiques qui a tenté de met¬ Istanbul politique extérieure tre sa thèse en pratique. Fini le monde Correspondance bipolaire, la devise turque devient «Zéro

problème avec les voisins », et M. Davuto¬ L'annonce du déblocage par la Ministre des affaires étrangères glu imagine une Turquie prospère dans France de l'un des chapitres des depuis 2009, après avoir été le une région stable. D'où un rapproche¬ négociations entre la Turquie et conseiller de l'ombre du prési¬ ment sur son flanc est avec l'Iran, l'Irak et l'Union européenne qui avaient dent Abdullah GUI puis du pre¬ la Syrie. Avant que n'éclate la révolution été gelés par Nicolas Sarkozy a mier ministre Recep Tayyip Erdo¬ contre le régime de Bachar Al-Assad, en mis un peu de baume au c gan, Ahmet Davutoglu porte les 2011, M. Erdoganenvisageaitmême la créa¬ de la diplomatie turque, après deux ans de ambitions d'Ankara sur la scène tion d'une zone de libre-échange avec le statu quo. Bien sûr, il en faudra plus pour internationale. Parfait anglopho¬ Liban et la Jordanie, «un Schengen du réactiver un processus dont le but, l'adhé¬ ne et arabophone, cet universi¬ Moyen-Orient». Ankara a testé son soft sion, semble aujourd'hui inaccessible. Il en taire, professeur de sciences power régional en tentant une médiation faudra plus encore pour calmer le premier politiques, a été l'artisan du entre la Syrie et Israël, puis en s'invitant ministre, RecepTayyip Erdogan. La frustra¬ retour de la Turquie dans son ancienne sphère d'influence, tion des Turcs, «qui frappent à la porte comme intermédiaire dans les négocia¬ diplomatie qualifiée 1959 » et se sont heurtés ces derniè¬ tions sur le nucléaire iranien. Deux de « néo-ottomane ». res années à l'opposition de la France et de échecs. l'Allemagne, les a détournés de l'objectif. Mais les nouvelles ambitions turques Selon un sondage mené fin janvier par ont d'autres aspects. Economiques l'institut EDAM, seuls 33,3% des Turcs se d'abord. Pays en plein développement,

disent aujourd'hui favorables à la poursui¬ gros consommateur d'énergie mais te des pourparlers, tandis que 59,5% esti¬ dépourvu de ressources naturelles, là Tur¬ ment que la Turquie ferait mieux d'aban¬ quie dépend largement de la Russie et, donner la perspective européenne. Une Cap à l'est ? Ancrage à l'ouest ? Une ques¬ dans une moindre mesure, de l'Iran, ses réaction d'orgueil tant l'enthousiasme tion éternelle en Turquie. Mais, à l'at¬ principaux fournisseurs. L'industrie tur¬ étaitcommunément partagé,en 2004 lors¬ mosphère négativequi entourait les négo¬ que cherche des débouchés, et les échan¬ que Bruxelles avait donné son feu vert à ciations avec Bruxelles et à la question de ges avec les pays d'Asie, du Moyen-Orient l'ouverture des négociations avec Ankara. Chypre, se sont ajoutées la réduction de la et d'Afrique progressent rapidement. En Mais M. Erdogan est allé plus loin fin part de l'Europe dans la balance commer¬ témoigne l'ouverture de nombreuses janvier en affirmant, sur une chaîne de ciale (moins de 40 %) et la crise qui touche lignes aériennes. Culturelles, ensui¬ les pays européens. L'horizon bouché à télévision, que la Turquie songeait sérieu¬ te, avec la création de dizaines d'éco¬ l'ouest, M. Erdogan s'orienterait vers une sement à «des alternatives» à une entrée les turques à l'étranger et grâce aux autre direction, invoquant tantôt les origi¬ dans l'UE. «Si nous adhérons à l'Organisa¬ échanges universitaires. La Turquie a nes altaïques du peupleturc, tantôtl'Empi¬ tion de coopération de Shanghaï [OCS], repris pied dans son ancienne sphère . re ottoman triomphant et les lieux saints alors nous dirons au revoira VUE. Le grou¬ d'influence ottomane et même bien de l'islam. pe des cinq de Shanghaï est mieux, il est au-delà. Elle possède ainsi une trentaine Depuis l'arrivée aupouvoirdu parti isla- plusfortet nous avons des valeurs commu¬ d'ambassades sur le continent afri¬ mo-conservateur de l'AKP, en 2002, la nes avec eux », a déclaré le premier minis¬ cain, sillonné par ses commerçants. diplomatie turque s'est démenée sur tous tre. Cette organisation créée en 1996 réu¬ Le « printemps arabe » a remis à les fronts, une « diplomatie à 360 degrés » nit la Russie, la Chine et les républiques plat les ambitions turques. Les rela¬ menée parle ministredes affairesétrangè¬ d'AsiecentraleetaacceptélaTurquiecom- tions avec l'Iran, l'Irak et la Syrie res ; ÀhmetBavutoglu, ancien professeur me «partenaire de dialogue » en 2012, sont de nouveau exécrables et la Tur¬ quie est revenue à une diplomatie classi¬ que. Elle s'est ralliée à l'intervention en Libye en 2011 puis, à la faveur du conflit syrien, s'est rapprochée des positions L'armée est rentrée dans le rang européennes. Ankara a réclamé et obtenu la protection de l'OTAN, dont il est le pilier L'armée turque, la deuxième Erdogan, qui a purgé ses rangs oriental, et sixbatteries de missiles Patriot armée de l'OTAN, a quasiment des éléments les plus hostiles aux ont été déployées en janvier dans le Sud, abandonné tout rôle politique islamistes. Autrefois gardiens près dela frontière syrienne. La Syrie a éga¬ depuis l'arrivée au pouvoir de autoproclamés de l'ordre institu¬ lement été la source d'un incident avec la l'AKP et l'adoption des critères tionnel et de la laïcité, les militai¬ Russie, avec l'interception d'un avion démocratiques européens. Plus res ont été mis au pas par lajus¬ transportant un radar militaire pour le question de coups d'Etat suivis tice. Le procès, toujours en cours, régime de Damas. En 2011, le gouverne¬ de périodes de répression - la Tur¬ de la cellule nationaliste Erge- ment de M. Erdogan avait autorisé le quie en a connu quatre depuis nekon etcelui des responsables déploiementd'une partie dubouclieranti¬ 1960 -, ni même de menaces d'un plan présumé de coup d'Etat missile de l'OTAN sur le territoire turc, appuyées, comme en 2007. L'ar¬ baptisé « Balyoz», en septerh- sujet de discorde avec Téhéran.» mée est désormais aux ordres du bre2012, ont envoyé des dizaines Guillaume Perkier premier ministre, Recep Tayyip d'officiers derrière les barreaux.

45 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Özeti 18 février 2013

témoin assisté et les onze autres ont été inculpés, notam- ment pour "association de mal- PKK : onze Kurdes inculpés pour faiteurs en relation avec une entreprise terroriste", "finan- cement du terrorisme" ou e 10 000financement à 45 000 Kurdes, du terrorisme encore tentatives d'extorsion. Dselon la préfecture et les Sept d'entre eux ont été placés organisateurs, ont défilé samedi en détention provisoire dans la 16 février dans les rues de nuit de samedi à dimanche, et Strasbourg. Onze des dix-sept les quatre autres placés sous Kurdes interpellés mardi 12 contrôle judiciaire. février dans le sud-ouest de la Le PKK est considéré France ont été mis en examen comme un mouvement terro- dans le cadre d'une enquête riste par la Turquie, l'Union antiterroriste sur des tentatives européenne et les Etats-Unis. d'extorsion de fonds pour En 1984, il a déclenché une financer le Parti des travailleurs rébellion sécessionniste dans du Kurdistan (PKK), parti sépa- le sud-est de la Turquie, région ratiste en Turquie, a-t-on appris peuplée majoritairement de lundi 18 février de source judi- Kurdes. Le conflit a fait plus de ciaire. quarante-cinq mille morts A l'issue de leur garde à vue depuis cette date, selon après leur interpellation à l'armée. G Bordeaux et à Toulouse, douze De 10 000 à 45 000 Kurdes, selon la préfecture et les organ- (AFP) d'entre eux ont été déférés isateurs, ont défilé samedi 16 février dans les rues de samedi devant la justice. L'un a Strasbourg. | REUTERS/JEAN-MARC LOOS été placé sous le statut de

26 February 2013 Budget conflict and Kurdistan pipeline LOBE EDITORIAL Kurdistan region. Postponement of the ratificcation of the budget AzadG Amin 2013 is mostly due to the dis- An oil ppute regarding the share of the worker espite the fact that Kurdistan. The State of Law tending to a Iraq’s Cabinet approved Coalition, led by Prime Minister supply Dthe $118.6 billion budget in Nouri al-Maliki, is trying to pipeline in October last year, infightiing slash this share from 17% to Iraqi among Shiite, Sunni and 12%, which has led to vehement Kurdistan. Kurdish factions this week Kurdiish objections. scuttled attempts by lawma- The discussion and disppute kers to pass the draft legisla- over the budget may be seen a tion in parliament. A dispute purely technical issue that due to between Baghdad and the the lack of proper census in Iraq regional governmment.” implementing much- needed autonomous region of result in allocation of budget to It is the Iraqi central infrastructure projeects that mil- Kurdistan over oil rights is provinces that which proviince goveernment that for a very long lions of Iraqis are urgently nee- to get what proportion. However the main cause of dellaying time have repeatedly postppo- ding it is the Kurdistan region it is not simply a technical issue ned the carrying out censsus in that suffers a lot. Kurdistan eco- this year’s national budget. but used by the Al-Maliki The Iraqis have accusttomed Iraq. Baghdad fears the census nomy due to stability and secu- government as a way of punish- to yearly argument over the bud- may release the proportion of rity attracted billlions of dollars ment of Kurdistan region. More get and this year without excep- ethnic combinnation of disputed local and foreign investments in than that allocation of Iraqi bud- tion the issue has again come to territories and strengthen the varioous fields and economic get to Kurdistan used by Maliki the fore, as the Iraqi parliament hands of Erbil against Baghdad boom have become a norm as a blackmail to force the cannot decide on what proppor- on territorial issues. rather than exception. Life stan- Kurdish authoritties to give up tion to give to each of Iraq’s Delaying of budged have dards of the people of Kurdistan on territorial and oil dispute regions. At the core of the mat- negative effect on Iraqi and par- since 2003 have considerably with Baghddad. A Kurdish MP, ter however is the political dis- ticularly on Kurdistan economy. increased. A growing middle Rawaz Khoshnaw, rightly pute amongst the divided ethnic It is true that uneending budget class now appears in the region. argued that “Maliki is trying to and relligious constituencies of infighting each year is jeopardi- Budget problems that use the budget to twist our arm. Iraq. The most hotly debateed zing investment in almost in Baghdad artificially creaates is It’s just a political tool that they aspect of the budged at the par- everything from transport to an attempt to impede growing are using against the Kurdistan ➤ liament is about the share of rebuilding the economy, and Kurdish economy and

46 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Özeti ➤ the growing differeences Kurdistan than other parts of more than 12 perccent of the cularly on energy sector to between Kurdistan region and Iraq. budget based on their popula- rebuke Baghdad's attempt to the rest of Iraq. Indeed in a short Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri tion. Kurdistan share of budget diminish Kurdiish economy. To period of time successful econo- al-Maliki’s State of Law coali- since the formation of new do so it is essential that mic policies of Erbil made a tion is not the only bloc in governmment following the Kurdistan to have its own pipe- huge differences between Baghdad that tries to reduce the demise of Baath regime in 2003 line in order to export its energy Kurdistan and rest of Iraq from Kurdiistan share. Sunni-backed have been 17 percent. sources to global market to have infrastructure to publlic ser- Iraqiya Bloc and some otheer Kurdistan region governm- its own independent budget political blocs have also called ment is right to develop an inde- should Baghdad ever tries to vices. Access to electtricity and H clean water is much better in last week for Kurds to get no pendent economic poliicy parti- stop Kurdish 17 percent.

20 février 2013 En mal d'énergie, la Turquie courtise contre toute attente les Kurdes d'Irak

NKARA,(AFP) - d'un gazoduc capable Soucieuse de réduire sa d'acheminer 10 milliards de Adépendance énergétique au gaz mètres cubes de gaz par an. et au pétrole importés, la S'il n'a pas confirmé ce projet, le Turquie lorgne avec insistance ministre turc de l'Energie Taner vers le Kurdistan irakien et ses Yildiz a en tout cas justifié réserves de brut, malgré la l'intérêt de son pays pour son colère de Bagdad et la crainte voisin du sud. "Quoi de plus de son allié américain de voir naturel pour la Turquie que de l'Irak éclater sous l'effet de ce protéger ses intérêts ?", a-t-il rapprochement. lancé. C'est un de ses bouleversements d'alliance qui donne des sueurs Une réponse aux critiques que froides aux diplomates. Pendant suscite le rapprochement entre très longtemps, Ankara s'est Ankara et Erbil. A commencer refusé à tout contact avec les par celles de l'Irak, qui dénie à la région kurde le droit d'exporter Kurdes d'Irak, accusés Le minsitre turc de l'Energie Taner Yildiz (2g) et le ministre irakien ses hydrocarbures sans son d'héberger sur leur sol leurs du Pétrole Hussein al-Shahristani (d) signent un contrat sur accord. "frères" honnis du Parti des tra- l'utilisation de l'oléoduc Kirkouk-Ceyhan, le 19 septembre 2010 à vailleurs du Kurdistan (PKK), Ajoutée au refus turc d'extrader Bagdad en guerre ouverte contre ses le vice-président irakien Tareq troupes depuis 1984. al-Hashemi, la question énergé- gration, et ce ne serait bon ni leure marché et un moyen, pour Mais, depuis qu'il a pris les tique a pourri les relations entre pour la Turquie, ni pour les la Turquie, de réduire sa dépen- rênes du pouvoir, le Premier le Premier ministre chiite irakien Etats-Unis, ni aucun pays de la dance énergétique", souligne ministre turc Recep Tayyip Nouri Al-Maliki et la Turquie, à région", a averti récemment Mete Goknel, l'ancien patron du Erdogan a prudemment repris majorité sunnite. l'ambassadeur américain à transporteur turc langue avec les dirigeants de ce Inquiétude américaine Ankara, Francis Ricciardone. d'hydrocarbure Botas. qui constitue aujourd'hui la En décembre, l'Irak a interdit à La sortie a été peu goûtée des Politiquement, Ankara a fait de "région autonome kurde" d'Irak, l'avion de Taner Yildiz d'atterrir Turcs. "Nos relations écono- l'enclave kurde irakienne une de et noué avec elle des liens écono- à Erbil pour y parapher l'accord. miques se renforcent malgré ses cartes maîtresses dans le dia- miques très forts destinés à Un mois plus tôt, les autorités de tout, même malgré les Etats- logue de paix renoué fin 2012 nourrir en énergie Bagdad ont empêché le groupe Unis", a lancé M. Erdogan. "Ils avec le chef emprisonné du PKK l'impressionnante croissance pétrolier turc TPAO de partici- nous disent que nous avons tort Abdullah Öcalan. Sur ce dossier, (8,9% et 8,5% en 2010 et 2011) de per à un appel d'offres pour un d'agir ainsi. Je leur réponds le Kurdistan irakien constitue son pays. contrat d'exploration. +non+, la Constitution irakienne l'un de ses rares alliés. De 2,8 milliards de dollars en l'autorise", a-t-il ajouté en rappe- Mais ce n'est pas tout: M. "La Turquie ne peut pas ignorer 2007, le montant des échanges lant que ce texte permettait aux Erdogan doit aussi affronter les les Kurdes d'Irak", juge le pro- entre la Turquie et l'Irak est Kurdes d'utiliser comme bon mises en gardes de Washington, fesseur Huseyin Bagci, de passé à 10,7 milliards l'an der- leur semble 18% de l'or noir du qui redoute que ses attentions l'université technique du nier, dont une très large part pays. pour la région kurde précipite Moyen-Orient. "Je considère les avec sa région kurde, où un mil- un éclatement de l'Irak, dévasta- Aux yeux des analystes, le choix liens noués par la Turquie avec lier d'entreprises turques sont teur pour la stabilité de la turc de réorienter une partie de les chefs kurdes d'Irak comme implantées. région. ses coûteuses importations l'un des plus intéressants déve- Aujourd'hui, la Turquie propose d'hydrocarbures de l'Iran, loppements survenus dans les "La réussite économique peut de transformer cette entente en l'Azerbaïdjan et la Russie vers le affaires régionales", renchérit favoriser l'intégration en Irak. véritable partenariat straté- Kurdistan irakien est une évi- Ross Wilson, du Conseil atlan- Un échec pourrait y nourrir les gique. Selon la presse turque, ce dence économique. tique, un centre de recherche forces qui poussent à sa désinté- N projet prévoit la construction "L'énergie irakienne est la meil- américain.

47 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Özeti February 19, 2013 According to the US Energy Information Administration, Turkey has been importing about half of its crude oil Defiant Turkey from Iran, although this is likely to fall given internatio- nal sanctions on Tehran. pursues Iraqi In 2011 Turkey was importing nearly 60 percent of its natu- Kurd energy ties ral gas from Iran, with a fifth coming from Russia. Turkish PM has moved gradually to forge ties Business interests overshadow "Turkey depends on Russia political ones with Iraqi Kurds in bid to quench its econo- and Iran on energy and if both countries close the tap, the Turkish economy will tank," said an my’s growing thirst for energy despite US energy expert who asked to remain anonymous. opposition. This imported energy has been responsible for a large part of Turkey's trade deficit, which threatens to crimp expansion. By Fulya Ozerkan - ANKARA - AFP 'Turkey cannot ignore Iraqi Kurds' Goknel said Iraq would also benefit from Turkey becoming a regional Turkey is defying Washington and Baghdad in developing a broad energy hub. energy partnership with Iraqi Kurds as it pushes to secure afforda- ble oil and gas supplies to fuel its rapid economic growth. "It would be more advantageous for Iraq to ship its gas to western markets through Turkey versus the more expensive shipping lane, the Analysts say the move could also establish the country as a regional strait of Hormuz," he said. energy hub, but risks aggravating tensions in the powderkeg region and damaging ties with the United States, its major ally. A decision is expected within months on the route of a separate pipe- line to ship natural gas from Azerbaijan via Turkey to Western Europe. Ankara had initially refused to engage in official contacts with Iraqi Kurds, fearing that the establishment of an independent Kurdish state But Baghdad appears intent on dashing Ankara's designs to become a there could embolden its own Kurds, some of whom have waged a regional energy hub, blocking Turkish efforts to step up their presence nearly three-decade insurgency. in Iraqi Kurdistan. But as Turkey's economy has boomed -- it grew by more than 8.0 per- In November, Baghdad blocked Turkish national energy firm TPAO from cent in 2010 and 2011 -- and its thirst for energy grown, Prime bidding for an oil exploration contract, a decision which Erdogan said Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has moved gradually to forge trade ties was not "smart business". with Iraqi Kurds. And in December, Baghdad barred a plane carrying Turkish Energy In a major deepening of those ties, Turkey and Iraqi Kurds have repor- Minister Taner Yildiz from landing in Arbil as he was reportedly on his tedly agreed recently to build a natural gas pipeline to transport at way to seal the much-speculated energy deal. least 10 billion cubic metres of gas annually. A Baghdad-controlled oil pipeline that goes to Turkey operates well That represents over a fifth of Turkey's current consumption. below its capacity to transport 70.9 million tonnes per year. Turkish officials have refused to publicly confirm the project that Sunni-majority Turkey is also at loggerheads with the Iraqi govern- threatens to aggravate a dispute between Baghdad and the autono- ment of Shiite Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki over a number of issues mous Kurdistan region over control over energy resources. including Ankara's refusal to extradite fugitive Vice President Tareq al- Hashemi. The burgeoning energy ties are raising eyebrows in Washington, where there are concerns that they could tip the volatile country towards Despite the difficulties Turkish trade with Iraq has grown rapidly, from disintegration and push an increasingly isolated Baghdad into Iran's $2.8 billion in 2007 to $10.7 billion last year. embrace. Iraq is now Turkey's number two trade partner following Germany, "Economic success can help pull Iraq together," US Ambassador to with most of that trade with the Kurdish region. Turkey Francis Ricciardone said earlier this month. More than 1,000 Turkish companies are currently operating in nor- But "if Turkey and Iraq fail to optimise their economic relations ... thern Iraq, and they are optimistic Iraq could become Turkey's top there could be more violent conflict in Iraq and the forces of disinte- trade partner as soon as this year. gration within Iraq could be emboldened," he warned. "Turkey cannot ignore Iraqi Kurds" Professor Huseyin Bagci of the "...and that would not be good for Turkey, the United States, or any- Middle East Technical University said, citing both strong economic body in the region." links and nearly three-decade old Kurdish insurgency. Turkey has already ruffled Washington's feathers by continuing to The Iraqi Kurds, who for long sheltered PKK rebels, could hold the key import Iranian (oil and gas) despite US efforts to isolate Tehran over to peace. its alleged nuclear weapons drive. Iraqi Kurdish leader Massud Barzani remains key to new talks between But Ankara has remained defiant, supporting Iraqi Kurdistan's right to Turkey's secret services and jailed Kurdish rebel leader Abdullah use part of its energy resources as it sees fit. Ocalan which were resumed late last year with an ultimate goal of disarming the rebels. Erdogan said the regional Kurdish government "is free to use this right with whichever country it wants and we are their neighbour." And peace with the rebels would likely further increase the attracti- veness of Iraqi Kurdish energy resources for Turkey, say analysts. Analysts say energy-hungry Turkey's dependence on expensive energy imports from Iran and Russia are pushing it to find cheaper sources, "I see Turkey's relationships with Iraqi Kurdish leaders to be one of the and northern Iraq appears to be the best provider. bright new elements in regional affairs," said Ross Wilson, director of the Dinu Patriciu Eurasia Center at the Atlantic Council in the United "Iraqi sources are the cheapest and it is a way for Turkey to diminish States. G its energy dependence," Mete Goknel, former director of Turkey's state-owned pipeline company Botas, told AFP.

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

_ wraowTioxM. îkralb^3â$rUmiw Wednesday, February 20, 2013

"When criticizing, you should offer co-founder of the P.K.K., as "a pioneer" In Turkey, an alternative, and they haven't," is her and an "enlightened Kurdish woman." response to critics. "In Turkey today, Ms. Zana's differences over the years the death tolls on both sides hurt soci¬ with the P.K.K. and its armed struggle a voice for ety as a whole. The funds of this coun¬ are subjects on which she remains reti¬ try, billions of dollars, are spent on this cent during this meeting. The killings of conflict. The necessary condition is set Ms. Cansiz and the two other women the silenced for the Kurdish question to be solved; have raised questions about divisions this opportunity should not be wasted." among Kurds and Turks over the Turk¬ "I always tried to be the voice'of the ish government's move to accept the silenced," she said at another point in a imprisoned P.K.K. leader Abdullah The Female spirited 45-minute conversation. "Yes, Ocalan in talks on ending the Kurdish conflict. Factor the struggle has yielded results. This is good, but not enough. Turks newly be¬ In the current Middle East turmoil, gin to understand Kurds. I have faith in can Kurds resolve their fate? "A new Turks and Kurds. We have many more process has begun in the Middle East, hardships to face. Each system is the proving dictatorial regimes can no AYSEGULSERT mirror of a society. If people are still im¬ longer be accepted," Ms. Zana replied. prisoned in this country because of "I think what we see is an overall resis¬ Ankara At 51, she is petite yet power¬ their views and identity, it shows the tance to injustice," a larger struggle ful. Arriving at a cafe in a crowded level of development and democracy." that should help, not hinder, the Kurds. shopping mall, she sits only after her Indeed, many Kurdish activists are in "Kurds will be free one day," she brother has checked out the locale. pretrial detention as part of a continu-. said. "I don't know if I will get to see it,

Generally reluctant to speak to journa¬ but I do know that when I leave this ing terrorism case winding through the lists, Leyla Zana has come by caution world, I will do so with a clear con¬ courts. the hard way but has lost none of her science, for I have done my very best." Ms. Zana's political career was inter¬ determination to fight for the rights of And women? She sighed, but noted rupted in 1994 when her party was shut Kurds, and of women. "a social awakening." down by the government and her im¬ Born in the province of Diyarbakir in "Today, women in Turkey rush to the munity lifted; she was sentenced along southeast Turkey in 1961, she dropped streets and make their voices heard," with other deputies on several counts, out of elementary school because she she said. "In the past, they were shout¬ including separatism and collaborating could not understand the language of ing to exist as human beings; now they with the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' instruction Turkish and was for¬ shout to express their ideas and ideals. Party, the P.K.K. She spent 10 years in bidden to speak her own. We have overcome many difficulties. jail. While incarcerated, she won the Married at 14 to Mehdi Zana, a polit¬ The view was: If you are a man, you Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought ical Kurd some 20 years her senior who have value; if you are a woman, you from the European Parliament in 1995. became mayor of Diyarbakir and spent don't. This narrow-mindedness had to "Prison may have captured me phys¬ 16 years in jail after the 1980 military be shattered. A woman is equal to a ically, but never mentally," she said. coup, she found herself the single moth¬ man. However, in this change of bal¬ Like many revolutionaries in history, er of two children. Learning Turkish ances, men should not be enslaved she used it to improve her mind. "I with them as they were schooled, she while women find their freedom. The read tremendously while incarcerated; also found her political voice and goal is to walk shoulder to shoulder to¬ I educated and questioned myself a went on to become, in 1991, the first gether." lot." Kurdish woman elected to the Turkish She traces her activism back to the Parliament. #Join a discussion on the IHT military-ruled Turkey of the 1980s "I There, she famously infuriated na¬ Female Factor Facebook page: saw oppression. I saw brutality. I had to tionalists by wearing a headband of yel¬ www.facebook.com/IHTFemaleFactor do something against that injustice," low, red and green the Kurdish colors she said, recalling in particular an old and, amid loud whistles, recited the woman hurled to the ground by an of¬ formal oath in Turkish, adding at the ficer for speaking Kurdish as prisoners' end a sentence in Kurdish calling for wives waited hours for a glimpse of brotherhood between Turks and Kurds. their loved ones. It was the first time that Kurdish had Demographers estimate that Kurds, been spoken inside Parliament. who are a sizable minority also in Iraq, Viewed against that history, today's Syria and Iran, amount to about 15 mil¬ Turkey has come a long way. The use of lion of Turkey's 75 million people. Kurdish in public is legal now and is "Kurds want to have a status," Ms. slowly expanding to some instruction Zana said. "What kind of governance and possibly to courts, along with radio and autonomy they choose is up to and television broadcasts by TRT, the them, but first and foremost they want national public broadcaster. to have their identity recognized and Last year, Ms. Zana paid a once in¬ their rights respected." conceivable visit to Prime Minister For 25 years, Ms. Zana knew Sakine Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Just weeks Cansiz, one of three Kurdish female ac¬ earlier, she had said that Mr. Erdogan tivists shot and killed in Paris last could solve the Kurdish issue, a state¬ month. Ignoring doctors' orders not to ment that drew fierce criticism from fly because of ear problems, Ms. Zana foes and even friends who saw her as went to France, lauding Ms. Cansiz, a naïve.

49 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Özeti FEBRUARY 21, 2013 Ras al-Ain Agreement Between FSA and Kurds Reduces Tensions http://www.al-monitor.com By: Tareq al-Abed Translated from As- Members of the Safir (Lebanon). Free Syrian Army are seen in he northeastern Syrian city of Ras al-Ain the northern Tcan finally live in peace after the unpre- cedented agreement between the Popular Syrian town of Protection Units and Free Syrian Army (FSA) Ras al-Ain, near brigades. The agreement, which puts an the Turkish bor- end to the constant fighting between the der, Jan. 25, 2013. two groups, resulted from various media- (photo by tion efforts orchestrated by opposition lea- REUTERS/Osman der Michel Kilo. It signaled the end of the Orsal) hostile media campaigns orchestrated by both sides, and it constituted a victory for the inhabitants of Sri Canet — the Kurdish name for Ras al-Ain — in the face of constant attempts to cause strife between Arabs and Kurds. This went along with a campaign to portray the Kurds as traitors and accuse their parties of fighting along- side the regime. The accusations were denied by the Kurds, who affirmed their loyalty to Syria and their rejection of any calls for secession. PYD's The agreement entails the withdrawal of all Kurdish fighters from the streets, the redeployment militias. of military forces and the establishment of a temporary follow-up and monitoring com- mittee with members from both sides. The revenue for the brigades controlling these According to Kurdish opposition activists, committee's task will be to monitor the vast riches. the perception that the Kurds harbored agreement's implementation and to estab- secessionist feelings and were part of a lish a local civil council that represents the Securing these regions would also guaran- fifth column is an old one. Kurds were city’s constituents and administers the tee keep them from falling under the con- viewed that way even before the popular city’s affairs. In other words, the council trol of Kurdish forces opposed to Turkey, demonstrations began two years ago. That would be considered a local representative and therefore prevent the spread of any perception intensified with the increased of the sovereign authority, in whose affairs Kurdish forces feared by Ankara. Turkish sway on political opposition fig- no military force may interfere, in addition Additionally, it would neutralize the threat ures, especially those belonging to the to responsibilities for managing the border of an Arab-Kurdish conflict erupting under Syrian National Council (SNC). Turkish crossing. the guise of an inter-clan war. The Hasakah intervention even extended to many mili- Province comprises a mixture of different tant brigades fighting on the ground, to the The agreement transcended the borders of clans, some loyal and others opposed to point where Turkish tanks sometimes inter- Ras al-Ain, for it considered the cities and the regime. In addition, there are Arab ceded to back FSA troops against the towns in which the regime has no presence clans that look on their Kurdish neighbors Kurds. — Drabsiyeh, Amouda, Tel Tamr, Kirki and with suspicion since in Ras al-Ain, the Derek — to be “liberated” cities, per a joint Kurds have a large presence of Popular The aforementioned agreement hasn't gar- communiqué issued by the two parties. The Committee forces. nered support from all armed opposition result is an agreement that ends the contin- factions, such as the Jazeera and Euphrates uous Arab-Kurdish state of conflict. The presence of the Kurdish Democratic Front to Liberate Syria, headed by one of Union Party, which shares much of the the most prominent clan elders in the But why Ras al-Ain? And what drew all sides same ideology as the Kurdistan Workers region, Nawaf al-Bashir. The position of to this specific region? The answer is that Party (PKK), further exacerbates an already Salafist factions, such as Jabhat al-Nusra Ras al-Ain, this small border town with delicate situation, as a result of the Syrian and the Ghuraba al-Sham Brigades, is not Turkey, is viewed as a microcosm of socie- armed opposition’s accusation that it yet known. Such factions have never hesi- ty composed of Arabs, Kurds, Turks, backed the Bashar al-Assad regime. The tated to open fronts against the Kurds, not Muslims, Christians and a Yazidi minority. joint protection leadership denies this accu- only in Ras al-Ain, but in other Kurdish Opposition control of the town is consid- sation, arguing that the party’s members areas of the north as well. Despite this, ered a prelude to the opposition controlling only took up arms to defend themselves optimism reigns in Sri Canet that the agree- the region’s remaining areas, and securing and the Kurdish populace against armed ment will restore the Arab-Kurdish relation- the northern oil fields, having already brigades that considered them a threat to ship to its previous state. Furthermore, it secured those of Deir al-Zour. This would their agenda in the “liberated” regions. could pave the way for a wide-ranging be followed by the sale and export of oil to recognition of Kurdish rights, and the pos- Turkey — which would generate significant But the real story goes back further. sibility that they may be allowed to ➡

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

➡ manage their areas without having to course, not suffice, as these figures are ranks. The committee has demanded that face accusations of being mercenaries and notable in their disregard for the events the international community exercise pres- separatists. taking place in town. sure on Turkey, which is heavily involved in Kurdish affairs. This optimism remains cautious for fear With the exception of spurious statements, that any slight problem might produce a the Kurdish issue has been absent from the One can say that the Kurdish factions and new crisis. All it takes for the media war and activities of the opposition coalition, as it is the FSA brigades have succeeded in signing street provocations to resume is for emo- busy with the initiative launched by its pres- a truce that puts an end to the madness of tions to flare in opposition to the Kurdish or ident, Ahmad Moaz al-Khatib, and the for- war. It now falls on the Kurds to make their Jabhat al-Nusra flag being raised. Such sen- mation of a transitional government. The presence felt and play an effective role as sibilities might in turn lead to a renewed SNC was also unable, during the reign of its part of the Syrian opposition. The opposi- argument about who is more entitled to run former president Abdulbaset Sieda, to put tion as a whole must now approach the the region — with the Kurds insisting that an end to the Arab-Kurdish conflict. On the Kurdish issue with a great deal more they be allowed to run their own affairs, other hand, the Coordination Committee responsibility, for the risk remains great and the FSA insisting that it alone should seems more in tune with the situation on that matters could deteriorate if some ele- control the region, in accordance to certain the ground, as evidenced by the presence ments continue to try to sabotage the truce. clan or political considerations. Guarantees of the prominent Kurdish opposition figure N offered by opposition figures will, of Salih Musallam among its leadership’s

February 22, 2013 The rebels were represented by Colonel Hassan al- Abdullah of the FSA Military Council and Fahd al-Gaad of the Islamist Al-Nusra Front, Syria Islamist-Kurd and the Kurds by Juan Ibrahim of the popular defence committees, hostilities end after Mohammed Saleh Attia of the Kurdish National Council and several representatives from Kilo’s mediation the Supreme Kurdish ‘There are very few fighters left Arab anti-regime rebels, Kurdish militias end three months Authority. in Ras al-Ain now’ of hostilities following fragile agreement brokered by promi- North and northeast Syria are nent dissident Michel Kilo. home to most of the country's two million-strong Kurdish minority. They have engaged carefully with the uprising against Assad, but have Middle East Online also resorted to arms to keep the rebels out of their regions, for fear of By Alison Tahmizian Meuse – BEIRUT attracting the violence that has engulfed much of the country. Rebels have frequently accused the Kurds of cooperating with the regime rab anti-regime rebels and Kurdish militias in northern Syria have after government troops withdrew from their areas early on in the revolt ended three months of hostilities following a fragile agreement bro- without violence. Akered by prominent dissident Michel Kilo, a Christian. Sunday's agreement is therefore a significant step, said Kilo, though he Clashes have erupted periodically between the two sides since Islamist admitted "any accord in the world can suffer violations". rebels entered the city of Ras al-Ain last November and seized a strate- gic crossing on the Turkish border. Just one month ago, the Ras al-Ain branch of the Kurdish National Council had called on the Syrian opposition to intervene over the fierce The majority Kurdish city was once home to some 55,000 people of rebel incursion. mixed ethnic and religious origin, among them Arab Sunnis, Christians and Armenians. "We felt we must do something to end this foolishness," Kilo said. Activists say some 65 percent of the city's residents have fled because of "We told the (two sides) we can make a win-win situation ... All comba- the fighting, and those who have stayed behind have little access to food tants agreed to retreat from the city and fight the regime together," he and other essential goods. said. Negotiations led by Kilo, an independent, long-time opponent of A Kurdish activist from Ras al-Ain said the Kurdish parties were hopeful President Bashar al-Assad's regime, began 15 days ago and ended with a that the main opposition Syrian National Coalition would ensure the weekend accord between the Free Syrian Army (FSA) military council rebels honour their side of the bargain to allay residents' fears. and the Kurdish popular committees. "Hostilities ended between the two parties a week ago and since then "The FSA signed on behalf of all rebel groups except (jihadist) Al-Nusra things have been calm," the activist, who gave his name as Havidar, said Front, which did not take part in the last round of fighting. Still Al-Nusra via Skype. "There have been no confrontations following the agreement." took part in the talks and guarantees the agreement will not be broken," But a prominent Kurdish anti-regime dissident said by phone that the Kilo said by phone. agenda of radical Islamists in Syria meant fighting could erupt again at Kilo also said Ghuraba al-Sham, the second-most powerful Islamist rebel any time. group after Al-Nusra in the area, supported the agreement. "Ghuraba al-Sham believe all Kurds are pro-regime and not Islamic The most critical point in the pact was the "complete withdrawal of mili- enough for their taste," said Massoud Akko. tary forces from and displays of arms in the city". "Either side can break the agreement at any moment," he warned, after "There are very few fighters left in Ras al-Ain now," Kilo said. taking part in the talks leading up to the accord. Kurdish fighters and rebels meanwhile agreed to join forces against "The FSA military council is not strong in the area, and its leadership has troops loyal to Assad. made contradicting statements in the past. From my point of view, this accord is empty." Ë "We unite our energies in the battle of dignity against a bloody, authori- tarian regime to build a free Syria in which all members of society can exercise their legitimate rights," said a statement issued on Sunday.

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

Ofisêmrteur 21 février 2013 - n° 2520

JUSQU'OÙ IRA L'AKP ? Turquie : la dérive islamiste

Au pouvoir depuis dix ans, de plus en plus autoritaire, le Premier ministre Erdogan impose au pays un tournant conservateur, puritain et intolérant

islamique, comme le proclament cer¬ DE NOTRE CORRESPONDANTE se régalent les Turcs chaque semaine ainsi que des millions de téléspecta¬ tains de ses opposants ? «Lafinalité

Avant d'attaquer une des¬ teurs dans quarante pays, doit son n'estpas la charia mais davantage de

cente tout schuss, les succès aux intrigues amoureuses du valeurs conservatrices dans l'espace

skieurs de la station de sultan dans son harem. Mais, pour public, relativise Mustafa Akyol,

sports d'hiver du mont Recep Tayyip Erdogan, montrer ainsi musulman libéral auteur de "l'Islam

Erciyes, au caur de l'Anatolie, pour¬ son « ancêtre » batifoler alors qu'il a sans extrêmes". La question est de

ront bientôt s'en remettre à Allah. « passé trente ans de sa vie à dos de sayoirjusqu'où l'AKP ira. »

Une mosquée de trois étages et de cheval » est inacceptable. Sans surprise, l'alcool est une des

1 200 places est en construction en Les déclarations politiques sur le premières victimes de la croisade

bordure de pistes. Les justiciables parvis de lamosquée le vendredi sont morale des autorités. Lasemaine der¬ nière, lacorhpagnie aériennepublique turcs, de leur côté, ont depuis le mois devenues monnaie courante. Le chef

de janvier lapossibilité de choisirune dugouvernement surveille comme le Turkish Airlines a confirmé la sup¬

avocate voilée pour les défendre, ce lait sur le feu son projet architectural pression des boissons alcoolisées en quiest une révolutiondansunpays où sur la colline de Çamlica, qui sur¬ classe affaires sur la plupart de ses

les tribunauxétaientjusqu'à il y a peu plombe le Bosphore. Déjà surnommé lignes intérieures. La classe éco n'y avaitdéjàplus droit Dans lafoulée, les des bastions ultralaïques. « mosquée du sultan Erdogan », l'édi¬

Les symboles de l'islamsont de plus fice pourra accueillir 30 000 fidèles, passagers de huit destinations inter¬

en plus visibles dans l'espace public « sera visible de tout Istanbul », et ses nationales, comme l'Iran ou les pays

turc. Aupouvoirdepuis une décennie, sixminarets, les plus hauts du monde, du Golfe, ont également été mis d'of¬

confortés par une troisième victoire dépasseront ceux de Médine. Les fice au jus d'orange. Vins, bières et

électorale en juin 2011, les islamistes députés sont également gagnés par liqueurs sont régulièrement frappés

modérés du Parti de la Justice et du cette frénésie bâtisseuse : une loi pré¬ par une hausse des taxes. Une bou¬

Développement (AKP) multiplient les voitde doter les salles de théâtre etles teille de raki, laboisson nationale ani-

réformes conservatrices en invoquant universités de salles de prière. En 1923 Fondation sée, coûte désormais près de 30 euros,

le respect des valeurs morales et fami¬ revanche, en décembre, le Parlement de la République une somme énorme pour les Turcs. A par Mustafa Kemal liales de leur électorat. Un vent de a une fois de plus refusé d'accorder le Ankara, dans les repas officiels, se Atatiirk. statut de heu de culte aux endroits où servir un verre de vin, lorsqu'il y en a, puritanisme souffle de plus en plus 1960-1971-1980 est devenu un geste politique alors fort en Turquie. lesAlevis, une minorité de 15 millions Coups d'Etat

L'humour des « Simpson », par de membres, pratiquentleurreligion. militaires. que, jadis, ne pas boire d'alcool pou¬

exemple, ne plaîtplus auHautConseil Etant musulmans, ils doivent aller à 1997 L'armée vait coûter une promotion.

renverse de l'Audiovisuel turc. Dans l'un des la mosquée, selon la déclaration de la La personnalité du Premier le gouvernement épisodes, Dieu encourage des jeunes GrandeAssemblée, qui perpétue ainsi ministre, surnommé le « Poutine dirigé par turc » par ses détracteurs, est la clé de às'enivrer lors du réveillon de laSaint- la discrimination subie par les Alevis le Premier

Sylvestre, et Ned Flanders se trans¬ depuis l'Empire ottoman. Des haut- ministre islamiste voûte de cette évolution. Le nouvel

forme en tueuren série, croyantobéir parleurs appelant cinq fois par jour à Necmettin homme fortqui murmure àsonoreille Erbakan. à un ordre divin alors qu'il s'agit d'un la prière ont été installés dans leurs s'appelle BeMr Bozdag, vice-Premier 2005 Ouverture mauvais tour d'Homer, son indécrot¬ villages. ministre et théologien de formation. des négociations En 2008, le Parti de la Justice et du Son entourage s'est modifié au fur et table voisin. Pour avoir passé ces d'adhésion de la à mesure que son discours politique séquences qui « tournenten dérision » Développement avait été condamné Turquie à l'Union

Dieu et nuisent au développement pour « activités antilaïques » et avait européenne. se radicalisait. Les conseillers pro¬ 2008 L'AKP est des enfants, la chaîne CNBC-e s'estvu échappé de peu à une interdiction. européens ont disparu du premier condamné pour infliger une amende de 22 600 euros. Depuis, toutes les institutions, de l'ar¬ cercle depuis que le virage nationa¬ « activités mée à la justice, sont passées sous les liste a enterré le projet d'adhésion de La célèbre famille américaine n'est antilaïques ». laTurquie à l'Union européenne. Et il pas la seule à subir ce nouvel ordre fourches caudines dugouvernement. 2011 L'AKP

rigoriste. Le Premier ministre turc, Débarrassé de contre-pouvoirs, celui- remporte n'y a plus beaucoup de volontaires les élections autoproclamé grand censeur, aappelé ci a désormais les coudées franches. pour modérer l'autoritarisme de législatives pour la justice à sévir contre « le Siècle Est-il en train de mettre en place son Recep Tayyip Erdogan. la troisième fois « agenda caché» pour transformer la Savision des femmes les réduitàun magnifique », qui s'inspire de la vie consécutive rôle de génitrice. « Faites au moins intime de Soliman Ier. Cette série, dont république laïque en une république depuis 2002.

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

Résultat, les inscriptions sont en forte "* ' *> -v hausse. Il y a désormais 1 808 écoles imam hatip, selonle ministrede l'Edu¬

cation. Et, en septembre dernier, de

nouveaux établissements de ce type

ont remplacé des écoles d'enseigne¬

ment général. Dernière annonce, fin

& décembre, l'introductionde questions

sur la religion dans le concours d'en¬ * i trée à l'université.

En fait, l'AKP n'a pas démocratisé t * - l'appareil d'Etat, il l'a mis au service ^ * d'une autre idéologie. Le Diyanet, par

exemple.aété conçuen 1924pourpla-

cerlareligion sous le contrôle de l'Etat M x * laïque. Cette administration chargée i des affaires religieuses et rattachée au Premier ministre salarie les imams,

qui sont des fonctionnaires, et rédige

les prêches du vendredi. Cette tutelle

était fortement critiquée par les isla¬

mistes tant qu'ils étaient dans l'oppo¬

sition. Non seulement le Parti de la I Justice et du Développement n'a pas supprimé le Diyanet mais il en a fait li' l'une des institutions les plus puisr santés du pays. « Son budget a quasi¬

ment triplé en dix ans et représente le

doubledeceluiduministèredelaSanté,

détaille Samim Akgônûl, professeur

au département d'études turques de

lTJniversitédeStrasbourg.ttdonneson

avis sur tous les sujets de société, prête

sesfonctionnairesà tous les ministères,

notamment à celui de l'Education

nationale, quipeut leurfaire occuper

lafonction deprofesseurprincipal... » troisenfants», serine-t-il.Et, lorsqu'au pour avorter, obtenir l'aval d'un Recep Tayyip Les classes pieuses ont longtemps printemps dernier il compare l'avor- conseil d'experts et seront obligées Erdogan en habit été opprimées par l'armée, partisane tement à un « meurtre », l'interdic¬ d'écouter les battements cardiaques traditionnel, d'une laïcité autoritaire, et par les tion de celui-ci est aussitôt évoquée de l'embryon. décembre 2012 kémalistes -gardiens de l'héritage du par ses ministres. Les manifestations L'Education nationale a également fondateurde la république - qui déte¬ pour défendre un droit obtenu en intégré la ligne fixée par le Premier naient les postes clés des institutions.

1983 et les résultats de sondages défa¬ ministre, qui a déclaré que sa mission « Maintenant que les conservateurs vorables à sa suppression ont finale¬ était de former une «jeunesse reli- ont le pouvoir, ils continuent de

ment eu raison des velléités législa¬ gieuse»etnonpas«droguée». En plus prendre leur revanche defaçon hai¬ tives. « Il ny aurapas d'interdiction, du cours de religion hebdomadaire, neuse, dit encore Samim Akgônûl. mais l'accès à l'avortement et à la obligatoire, qui se limite à un ensei¬ L'AKPvaréussiràformeruneélitetrès contraception est rendu de plus en gnement de la foi sunnite - le rite conservatrice etpeu tolérante. » Jadis, plus difficile, décrypte Pinar Ilkka- majoritaire en Turquie -, le nouveau l'« insulte à la mémoire d'Atatûrk » racan, cofondatrice de l'association programme prévoitunenseignement pouvait conduire en prison,

Femmes pour les Droits fondamen¬ optionnel de la vie de Mahomet et du aujourd'hui c'est leblasphème qui est taux des Femmes. En 2011, 37 des Coran. L'accès aux imam hatip, des condamné. Fazil Say, pianiste de

43 plannings familiaux qui prati¬ écoles initialement destinées à la for¬ renommée mondiale, a comparé sur

quaient des avortements etfournis¬ mation des imams mais fréquentées Twitter un islamiste à un «pou » et à saient un moyen de contraception majoritairement par les filles de un « bouffon ». Cet artiste à l'athéisme gratuitement ont étéfermés, ceux qui familles conservatrices, a été facilité. revendiqué encourtune peine de dix-

sontencoreouverts nefontplusd'avor- Ces établissements sont désormais huit mois de prison pour avoir

tement. » Selon un projet de loi ouverts auxélèves dès l'âge de 9 ans, et « insulté les valeurs religieuses d'une

concocté en catimini mais que la les restrictions d'entrée à l'université partie de lapopulation ».

presse a détaillé, les femmes devront, pour leurs diplômés ont été levées. LAUREMARCHAND

53 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Özeti February 22, 2013

Is Abdullah Ocalan a double agent working for Turkish intelligence against his own PKK? Even Öcalan has called for an end to the violent insurgency and for a BY Palash R. Ghosh focus on a political solution to the http://www.ibtimes.com ancient Turk-Kurd conflict. he name Abdullah Öcalan Late last year, Turkish media may not sound familiar to reported that Prime Minister mostT people, but is known to eve- Recep Tayyip Erdogan of the rybody in Turkey. For a few ruling Justice and Development months in early 1999 he even party (AKP) – a longtime adver- made international headlines, sary of the Kurds – directed his when the Kurdish independence senior intelligence officials to leader turned up in Rome, where reach out to the jailed Öcalan in he provoked a diplomatic brou- order to commence some kind of haha as the guest of an uneasy peace dialogue between Ankara Italian government -- before and the PKK. fleeing to Kenya and eventually Quite a surprising turnaround, being captured there by Turkish given that in 2012 Erdogan had Hostilities between Turkey and the Kurdish militant group agents. ordered Turkish jet fighters to PKK has escalated, while the group's leader, Abdullah The Turks were after him for a bombard PKK bases in Iraq, kil- Ocalan, remains imprisoned for life.(Photo: Reuters) reason: He was, at the time, the ling scores of Kurdish guerrillas. country’s number one public Murat Yetkin, a columnist for controlled by [the] Turkish state. attend meetings at a foundation enemy. The 64-year-old co-foun- Turkey’s Hürriyet Daily News, He and PKK provided cover for operated by Turkish intelligence der of the separatist Kurdistan commented that talks with Öcalan [the] Turkish state to ... destroy in the 1960s, when the future Workers' Party (PKK) is widely would have been “unthinkable” [the] Kurdish heartland, its way PKK leader was still a student. blamed for tens of thousands of just a few years ago. of life, culture, language." deaths, of both civilians and sol- Özgürel's allegations about Öca- diers, arising from the Turkish “But now the majority of the peo- Welat and other observers believe lan's unsavory arrangements with state’s multi-decade war against ple, Turks and Kurds, are giving that prior to the forming of the non-Kurdish organizations were Kurdish nationalists in the sou- silent consent to the process, PKK, in the mid-1950s, Turkish painted with a fairly wide brush. theastern part of the country. hoping for an end to the vio- intelligence infiltrated Kurdish He told the Aksiyon weekly lence,” Yetkin wrote. activist groups and helped esta- magazine that besides his links to The Kurds, a separate ethnic blish their Communist creden- MİT, Öcalan had relationships group related to Iranians, have Specifically, Öcalan has been tal- tials, thereby providing a legiti- with senior political figures in been seeking for a long time to king to Hakan Fidan, the head of mate excuse to oppress Kurds in foreign countries, including the form an independent state. Turkey’s National Intelligence the name of preventing the spread U.S., UK and Greece. Organization (MİT), and his Since his arrest, Öcalan has been of Communism (which would, of aides. In connection with these “I don't want to elaborate on this incarcerated at the Imrali island course, please Turkey’s then-new preliminary negotiations, PKK [Öcalan's relations with other prison in the Sea of Marmara -- allies in Western Europe and the guerillas have temporarily offered countries] now because one day I up until recently he was the sole U.S.). to lay down their arms. want to prove it with documents inmate in the facility. He was sen- Then in the 1970s, so the theory that show where and with whom tenced to death, but that was later However, in the complex, serpen- goes, Turkish intelligence facilita- Öcalan met,” Özgürel told the commuted to life imprisonment tine world of Turkish political ted the emergence of PKK, publication. after the Ankara government eli- intrigue, not everything is as it hoping to use it as a counterforce He may have good reason to keep minated capital punishment as seems; indeed, whose side is Öca- that would weaken other Kurdish part of its bid to join the European lan really on? quiet; some Turks believe that insurgents. “MİT planned to split one investigative reporter lost his Union (a process that is still Questions about Öcalan's true Turkish leftist groups by creating ongoing). life probing alleged connections loyalties and motivations have (its own) Kurdish leftist group, between Öcalan and MİT. Over the past 14 years, the world floated for many years, even PKK -- but apparently it got out has changed dramatically for both among his Kurdish brethren. of control," said Emrullah Uslu, Özge Mumcu, the daughter of Öcalan – called "Apo" ("uncle") Some critics have accused Öcalan an analyst at the Jamestown journalist Uğur Mumcu, who was by his legion of admirers – and of working in league with MİT. Foundation and a professor of killed by a car bomb in 1993, told reporters in 2010 that her father the Kurds. While the PKK still Writing in KurdishAspect.com in political science and international died because "he probably was wages a periodic campaign 2007, a columnist named Sosun relations at Yeditepe University in investigating evidence proving against the Turkish state from Welat explicitly accused Öcalan Istanbul. that Öcalan was a MİT agent." armed camps across the border in of serving as an agent for MİT According to at least one eyewit- (Mumcu’s murder has never been northwestern Iraq and Iran, the and blamed him for perpetrating a ness, Öcalan's ties to MİT even go solved.) Kurds of Turkey – representing at “systematic betrayal and treason back fifty years. least 20 percent of the population to [the] Kurdish cause.” Mumcu was planning to meet – have gained some civil and poli- Late last year, Turkish journalist with a retired prosecutor named “Öcalan played a double agent tical rights, thereby compromi- Mehmet Avni Özgürel, who him- Baki Tug to discuss Öcalan’s ties role for years,” Welat wrote. “His sing the PKK’s radical and violent self has been linked to MİT, told to MİT but he never made that rise and fall was well planned and ➼ agenda. local media that he saw Öcalan appointment. According

54 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Özeti ➼ to Memcu's son, Tug knew of rorist organization, also known as ties, after a ceasefire, despite the – leaders of whom are actually Öcalan's MİT relationship the "deep state" -- a secretive fact that Kurds in Turkey had gai- MİT agents. because in 1972 Tug was asked group comprising Turkish mili- ned new rights as the government But it is a mystery what Turkish by Turkish intelligence to release tary officers, right-wing nationa- sought to enter the EU. intelligence can gain at this point Öcalan from jail after he was lists, and others who seek to top- In order to protect himself from in keeping Öcalan alive and conti- arrested for participating in a pro- ple the government of moderate- accusations of serving as a double nuing to support its alleged Kurdish, anti-government boy- Islamist Prime minister Recep agent, Öcalan has also claimed “enemy,” the PKK. cott. Öcalan was freed without Tayyip Erdogan. that the PKK was infiltrated by explanation, within weeks. “This problem has turned into a According to Öcalan's former Ergenekon. But his former col- political and sociological crisis,” About a month after Mumcu’s right-hand-man, Hüseyin league Yildirim says that Öcalan Uslu concluded. “I don't know death, another man who was Yıldırım, "Öcalan controls the is trying to throw up a smokes- what the MİT is aiming for with investigating the same links, Gen. PKK and the ‘deep state’ controls creen. this, but it is no secret that MİT Eşref Bitlis, died in a mysterious Öcalan.” As Yıldırım sees it, “This is in fact putting his own does not want to harm Murat plane crash. “Öcalan made an agreement with crimes on the shoulders of Karayılan, the current acting head Yeditepe University's Uslu said the ‘deep state’ at İmralı [prison] others," Yildirim told Taraf. "This of the PKK.” to save his life.” that Öcalan has admitted "that is an effort to protect himself.” As it apparently does not have when he was a student at Ankara Following this line of reasoning - Meanwhile, today Kurdish PKK any interest in hurting Öcalan. University he had contacts with - which may be little more than a guerrillas remain encamped over MİT. But Öcalan argues that conspiracy theory -- the Kurdish- Indeed, Öcalan remains safely the border in Iraq, awaiting a vic- locked away in Imrali prison with ‘MİT wanted to use me but I used Turk conflict is now being direc- torious battle against Turkish them instead.’" ted by Ergenekon in order to secrets that he will likely take to forces that seems more and more the grave, the same place many of But MİT isn't the only organiza- foment social chaos, thereby pre- distant by the day. cipitating a military coup. his former friends and current tion seemingly anathema to Indeed, Uslu contends that MİT enemies will have to leave their Kurdish interests that Öcalan has Political scientist Uslu speculated continues to penetrate the PKK suspicions about him. G been linked to. Some of Öcalan's that in 2004, entities related to the through a new organization called closest associates allege that he is "deep state" may have asked the Koma Civakên Kurdistan (KCK) controlled by the Ergenekon ter- PKK to resume its violent activi-

sources. Only a few Turkish officials are familiar with details of the negotia- Kurdish militant tions and MPs from the pro-Kurdish Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) who visited Ocalan on Saturday only conveyed the brief state- leader to call ceasefire ment from the PKK leader. "My health is good but I am getting old. I want to see peace before I in 1 month - media die," the Milliyet daily quoted Ocalan, 63, as saying in Imrali where ISTANBUL, February 25, 2013 (Reuters) he has been held in virtual isolation since his capture in 1999. The timetable for ending the conflict envisages a gradual withdrawal * Ocalan signalled Turkish captives could be relea- of several thousand militants from Turkey after the ceasefire call and sed by PKK Yeni Safak said the PKK fighters would begin leaving Turkey bet- ween March and June. * Peace plan envisages withdrawal of militants from Turkey In return the government is expected to push through reforms exten- ding the rights of a Kurdish minority numbering around 15 million * More than 40,000 people killed in conflict out of a tutal population of 76 million. Last week the government sent JAILED KURDISH militant leader Abdullah Ocalan will call a cea- to parliament a penal reform bill which is expected to result in the sefire at the Kurdish New Year next month, moving forward a peace release of some of the thousands of Kurdish activists who are cur- process with Turkey aimed at ending his group's 28-year-old insur- rently on trial accused of links to the PKK. gency, media reports said on Monday. The PKK, which is designated a terrorist group by Turkey, the United Ocalan, head of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), has States and European Union, launched its insurgency in 1984 with the been holding peace talks with Turkey since last October and met a aim of carving out a Kurdish state in southeast Turkey but it has delegation of Kurdish politicians at the weekend to discuss the nego- moderated its goal to limited self-rule. tiations. A 21-page record of the talks between Ocalan and the BDP was deli- At those talks, on the island of Imrali near Istanbul, he signalled the vered to the PKK leadership in the Qandil mountains of northern Iraq PKK may release Turkish state officials it is holding, according to a on Saturday night and Ocalan's 61-page peace plan was being delive- statement read by the politicians. Several newspapers on Monday red to the PKK separately, Yeni Safak said. reported details of a timetable to end a conflict which has killed more It added that the PKK was expected to release several security per- than 40,000 people. sonnel and officials which it holds this week, while its fighters in "Ocalan will make a ceasefire call to the PKK at Newroz for a lasting Turkey were ordered to keep away from military areas. There was no peace," the liberal Radikal daily said, referring to the March 21 immediate comment from the PKK. Kurdish New Year. The Yeni Safak newspaper, which is close to the The PKK holds nine people, including soldiers and civil servants, G government, carried a similar report. They did not disclose their according to the Diyarbakir-based Human Rights Association.

55 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Özeti 23 fevrier 2013 Syrie: Michel Kilo, le chrétien à l'origine de la trêve entre kurdes et islamistes Opposant syrien de longue date, Michel Kilo a organisé des négociations entre les com- battants kurdes et islamistes qui se déchiraient depuis trois mois près de la frontière turque. Focus sur ce dissident tre le régime syrien, dont il connaît les pires facettes. Né en 1940 à Lattaquié sur Par Marie MICHELET le littoral syrien, Michel Kilo a étudié en Égypte et en Allemagne. Un temps journal- l n’a pas hésité à négocier avec les iste pour le quotidien libanais al Safir, il n’a Irebelles islamistes de Jabhat al-Nosra, eu de cesse de dénoncer l’occupation syri- groupe officiellement considéré par enne au Liban. Son positionnement poli- Washington comme une organisation ter- tique éloigné de toute influence religieuse, roriste. Après plus de trois mois de vio- a toujours séduit largement l’opinion lents combats dans la ville de Rass al-Aïn publique syrienne au-delà des clivages située à la frontière turque, rebelles et mili- communautaires. Membre de la coordina- ciens kurdes ont accepté dimanche 17 tion du changement national et démocra- février d’observer une trêve, grâce à la tique (CCND), il a été emprisonné à deux médiation du célèbre opposant chrétien d’autres factions djihadistes ainsi que des reprises, la première fois par le régime Michel Kilo. représentants des combattants kurdes. d’Hafez al-Assad de 1980-1983, la sec- Après plus de quinze jours de négociations onde par celui de son fils Bachar, peu après Présents dans le nord de la Syrie, les les différentes parties sont parvenues à un le Printemps de Damas entre 2006-2009. À Kurdes se sont engagés très prudemment accord dont la clause principale stipule "le sa sortie de prison, il annonce qu’il pour- dans la contestation et ont dans plusieurs retrait complet des forces militaires et des suivra comme par le passé ses activités localités instauré des zones autonomes. En armes de la ville" désertée depuis par ses politiques en Syrie, renforçant l’admiration empêchant les rebelles de pénétrer dans habitants. Plus encore qu’une trêve, qui lui est vouée. leurs régions, afin d’éviter d’éventuelles rebelles et combattants kurdes auraient représailles du régime, ils ont fréquem- conclu une alliance puisqu’ils ont depuis Malgré l’aura dont il bénéficie en Syrie, il ment été accusés par les insurgés de décidé de combattre ensemble les forces reste peu connu en Occident. L’une des coopérer avec le pouvoir. Des heurts vio- loyales à Bachar al-Assad "afin de constru- raisons est qu’il ne fait pas partie de la lents ont ainsi éclaté en novembre dernier ire une Syrie libre dans laquelle tous les Coalition nationale syrienne considérée par à Rass al-Aïn, une ville de 55 000 habitants citoyens pourront exercer leurs droits les pays occidentaux comme l’organe le en majorité kurde, quand les rebelles légitimes", selon le communiqué plus représentatif de l’opposition. Depuis islamistes ont voulu s'en emparer pour annonçant la trêve. le début du soulèvement, il n’a eu de cesse contrôler un poste-frontière vital vers la de mettre en garde contre la militarisation Turquie. Opposant de longue date du conflit en fondant notamment le 15 avril 2012 au Caire le Forum démocratique Aujourd’hui, selon les militants de la ville Le journaliste et écrivain marxiste a lui- qui regroupe des opposants de la société les combats ont cessé. Grâce à Michel Kilo. même pris l’initiative d’organiser ces négo- civile syrienne. Il a réuni à la même table, des membres du ciations. Un rôle nouveau pour cet intel- Conseil militaire de l’Armée syrienne libre, lectuel défenseur de la laïcité. À 72 ans "Kilo place l’intérêt de la Syrie au-dessus des représentants de Jabhat al-Nosra et Kilo mène de longue date un combat con- de tout le reste"

De prime abord, sa démarche à Rass al-Aïn a de quoi surprendre. La communauté internationale n’a eu de cesse de mettre en garde contre la montée de l’islamisme en Syrie depuis l’apparition il y a plusieurs mois de factions de combattants dji- hadistes très présents dans le nord de la Syrie. Il y aurait une vingtaine de groupes distincts et non coordonnés agissant sur tout le territoire. Le plus connu d’entre eux, Jabhat al Nosra – Front de la victoire – qui a déjà revendiqué la plupart des atten- tats meurtriers qui ont secoué à plusieurs reprises Damas et Alep, a été placé par Washington sur sa liste des organisations terroristes. Mais cela n’a pas découragé cette bête noire du régime Assad.

Pour Fabrice Balanche spécialiste de la Syrie et directeur du Groupe de recherches et d’études sur la Méditerranée et

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

le Moyen-Orient (GREMMO), l’initiative entretien accordé au Figaro début avril peur avec les extrémistes", disait-il dans de Kilo lui ressemble. Il le décrit comme un 2012. "Nous devons leur offrir une alterna- un entretien accordé à la BBC, interpellant homme "honnête, qui voudrait faire tive à Bachar", affirmait-il. ceux qui mettent en garde contre la mon- avancer la modernité en Syrie". "Il place tée de l’islamisme en Syrie. "Je suis entré l’intérêt de la Syrie au-dessus de tout le Dédiaboliser Jabhat al-Nosra en Syrie. J’y ai rencontré des membres de reste", confie-t-il à FRANCE 24. Depuis le la Jabhat al Nousra et du Liwaa Ahar Souria début de la révolte et alors que Aujourd’hui, les combattants islamistes - Brigade des hommes libres de Syrie, que l’opposition représentée par le Conseil sont à ses yeux un interlocuteur incon- vous qualifiez de fondamentalistes. Moi national syrien, puis par la Coalition tournable. "C'est la première fois que je qui suis chrétien, ils m’ont serré dans leurs nationale syrienne s’y est longtemps leur parlais mais ce ne sera pas la dernière. bras, ils m’ont embrassé, ils m’ont entouré refusée, Michel Kilo préconisait ainsi de Nous voulons éviter les combats au sein du d’honneurs", a-t-il poursuivi, cité par le site dialoguer avec Moscou. "Les Russes veu- peuple syrien", a-t-il affirmé à l’AFP. d’information syrien d’opposition All for lent trouver un partenaire au sein de Syria. "La Syrie ne s’oriente pas vers le fon- l'opposition qui garantit leurs intérêts: Depuis ces pourparlers concluants, Kilo damentalisme. Il s’agit d’une situation rester influents au Moyen-Orient, garder tente par voie de presse de dédiaboliser temporaire due à l’influence de la croyance leur position de partenaire privilégié avec les combattants islamistes de Syrie. dans la lutte contre le régime", a conclut l'armée syrienne", expliquait-il dans un "Cessez d’abuser les gens en leur faisant Kilo. G

La manifestation est survenue au lendemain d'une visite de députés kurdes au Manifestation à Istanbul chef emprisonné du PKK, Abdullah Öcalan, sur l'île-prison d'Imrali (nord-ouest), à l'issue de laquelle le dirigeant rebelle a qualifié d'"historique" le processus de contre les pourparlers de paix en cours. paix avec le PKK "Suspendez Imrali, pendez ce bâtard d'Öcalan", ont crié les manifestants, dont ISTANBUL, 24 février 2013 (AFP) plusieurs faisaient de la main le signe du loup, signe de ralliement des Loups Gris, une organisation d'extrême droite radicale. PLUSIEURS centaines de manifestants ont protesté dimanche à Istanbul De nombreux protestataires ont également appelé à la démission le gouverne- contre les discussions de paix avec les rebelles kurdes engagées depuis ment du Parti de la justice et du développement (AKP, issu de la mouvance isla- décembre par les autorités turques, a constaté un journaliste de l'AFP. miste) et son Premier ministre Recep Tayyip Erdogan. "Nous voulons du respect pour les Turcs" et "Nous voulons du respect pour les Les autorités turques ont lancé en décembre des discussions de paix avec le martyrs", a scandé la foule en remontant l'avenue de l'Indépendance, la princi- PKK, qui se sont concrétisées par plusieurs entretiens entre Abdullah Öcalan et pale artère commerçante de la métropole. des responsables du renseignement turc, ainsi que deux visites de députés Les soldats tombés au combat contre la rébellion du Parti des travailleurs du kurdes à Imrali. Kurdistan (PKK) sont qualifiés en Turquie de martyrs. L'objectif est faire déposer les armes au PKK au printemps. "Nous sommes les soldats de Mustafa Kemal", ont également clamé les mani- Une précédente tentative de négociation avec le PKK en 2009 avait échoué. I festants, faisant référence au fondateur de la Turquie moderne, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk.

La Turquie responsable de l'escalade de la violence en Syrie (chef kurde syrien)

PARIS, 26 février 2013 (AFP) Saleh Muslim assure toutefois que le PYD va coordonner ses actions avec l'armée syrienne libre (ASL), le principal groupe de l'opposition armée en Syrie, pour faire chuter le régime de Bachar al-Assad. LA TURQUIE est responsable de l'escalade de violences en Syrie, où elle instrumentalise des groupes de combattants jihadistes, a accusé mardi à Il entretient toutefois le flou sur ces actions en se disant "contre la militarisation Paris le chef de l'Union démocratique kurde (PYD), le principal parti kurde du conflit". "Ce que nous faisons est différent, il s'agit d'autodéfense", assure-t- syrien. il. "La Turquie a fait dévier la révolution de son cours, a participé à sa militarisa- Le nord et le nord-est de la Syrie abritent la plupart des deux millions de Kurdes tion. Elle a soutenu des groupes jihadistes", a accusé Saleh Muslim, du PYD, du pays, dont les milices sont indépendantes et parfois hostiles à l'ASL. branche syrienne du Parti des travailleurs du Kurdistan (PKK, rebelles kurdes en A côté de l'ASL, différents groupes de combattants, salafistes ou jihadistes, Turquie), lors d'une conférence de presse à Paris. majoritairement sunnites, combattent l'armée syrienne de Bachar al-Assad. "L'Etat turc s'ingère dans les affaires syriennes. Il essaie d'influencer la situation Dans une interview au quotidien français Le Monde, le chef de l'ASL, le général dans le sens de ses intérêts. Il a négocié son soutien à l'opposition syrienne à Salim Idriss, déplore que les pays occidentaux "semblent attendre que notre la condition que les Kurdes soient écartés du mouvement", a accusé Saleh pays soit intégralement détruit pour venir à notre secours". Muslim. Le général Idriss dément recevoir des armes du Qatar et d'Arabie saoudite et "Parmi les groupes de jihadistes, il y en a, comme le front al-Nosra, qui dispo- affirme que la rébellion achète des armes "à des marchands spécialisés et qui sent de bases d'entraînement en Turquie", a affirmé M. Muslim. rentrent en Syrie par l'Irak". Le leader du PYD estime également que "l'opposition de l'extérieur", réunie "Tout le reste de notre arsenal provient de l'armée syrienne", ajoute-t-il en réfé- notamment au sein de la Coalition nationale syrienne, a des "relations étroites rence à des armes "récupérées sur des sites" dont les rebelles ont pris le avec le régime turc et ne veut pas traiter avec le conseil suprême kurde", contrôle ou "achetées" à des officiers de l'armée syrienne loyaliste. embryon de l'administration dans les zones kurdes contrôlées par le PYD. Citant des responsables occidentaux, le New York Times rapportait mardi que Les régions kurdes de Syrie, que le PYD appelle "l'ouest du Kurdistan", bénéfi- l'Arabie Saoudite a acheté en Croatie des armes pour équiper les rebelles cient d'une relative autonomie depuis le début de la contestation en mars 2011 syriens. qui a tourné à la guerre civile. Les armes appartenant à "un stock secret" datant des conflits dans les Balkans Depuis l'été 2012, des combattants organisées par comités de protection du dans les années 90 ont été fournies aux rebelles syriens via la Jordanie en peuple kurde (YPG), bras armé du PYD, assurent la sécurité des zones kurdes. décembre, selon le journal. I

57 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Özeti February 25, 2013 Russia renews Kurdish bonds By M K Bhadrakumar Kurdistan, which began in the early 1990s when the US-led "no- n unusual visitor arrived in fly zone" was imposed on Iraq fol- Moscow last Tuesday - lowing the Gulf War, is leading to A President of the Kurdistan independence. region in northern Iraq Massoud Waving the red flag Barzani. The Kurds played it up as Barzani's "first official visit" to ccording to the Kurdistan ver- Russia. Moscow called it a "wor- sion, Barzani proposed to dis- king visit" but nonetheless embel- Acuss "a number of important issues lished the official trappings - concerning relations between President Vladimir Putin received Russia and the Kurdistan region him at the Kremlin on Wednesday. and the political developments in Iraq and the region in general". The historical poignancy is self- Barzani's delegation included his evident. According to folklore, 60 Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, right, and Massoud son and key security adviser, Barzani, president of the Iraqi Kurdistan Region and the leader years ago Massoud's father and Masrour Barzani, and top officials legendary Kurdish leader, Malla of the Kurdistan Democratic Party, before a working breakfast in charge of oil and gas, construc- at the Russian Foreign Ministry, Moscow. Mustafa Barzani stood outside the tion and housing. Kremlin's Spassky Tower, and Given the current state of US- knocked on the massive gates Russia relations, it might be temp- but to pursue strong ties if they "The parties discussed the pros- crying out, "This is the Kurdish ting to view Moscow's dealings want to optimize the use of Iraq's pects for bilateral cooperation dee- people knocking." He had fled to with Barzani as an "anti- resources and export them via pening in the oil and gas sector. In Russia with thousands of Kurdish American" impulse. But Moscow Turkey. If Turkey and Iraq fail to particular, the meeting addresses fighters following the collapse of and Washington are probably on optimize their economic ties, the potential interaction between the so-called Republic of Mahabad the same side of history here. failure could be worse than that. Gazprom and Kurdistan's oil and in 1947. Joseph Stalin decided to Neither wants Iraq's break-up. The There could be a more violent gas companies in geological explo- provide him asylum in Russia, recrudescence of the al-Qaeda conflict in Iraq and [the chances ration, development and operation where he lived for 12 years. groups in Iraq worries both. of] disintegration of Iraq could be of oil and gas fields." The son visited Mustafa's Moscow Again, Iraq's known oil reserves [strengthened]. And that would not Barzani was quoted as disclosing residence on Tuesday. True, are estimated to be 143.1 billion be good for Turkey, the United while in Moscow on Tuesday, "We Russia's dealings with the "moun- barrels with at least the same esti- States, or anybody in the region. are satisfied with Gazprom Neft's tain Kurds" of northern Iraq go mated to lie in unexplored regions Same side of history work in the [Kurdistan] region. back in time and 60 years ago it of the country. Iraq may at some ndeed, if Iraq unravels, the New agreements have been rea- was already suffused with politics point outstrip Saudi Arabia, which debris is bound to fall far and ched with his Russian company in of the most intriguing kind. There, has reserves of 296.5 billion bar- wide. The US and Russia have a recent days." national interests intersected with rels. Suffice to say, Iraq's stability I common interest in preventing the However, playing Baghdad against regional politics, while the geopo- impacts on the world oil market. country's fragmentation. But in the Erbil or vice versa isn't in the litical maneuverings of great Also, the tsunami of Shi'ite empo- prevailing power dynamic in the Russian interest. Putin telephoned powers imparted much drama to werment draws inspiration from region, Moscow's capacity to do Maliki recently for a second time the goings-on. Iraq. something about it is, arguably, in the past two months and proba- Massoud Barzani's visit signifies But the Russian and American better than Washington's. bly kept the latter informed that Moscow is playing a high- interests and priorities also Russia has developed warm ties Moscow's intentions in fostering stakes game. Aside, the great unre- diverge. Washington is obsessive with Prime Minister Nouri al- ties with Barzani. Weaning Barzani solved Kurdish national question, about the Iraqi government's proxi- Maliki's government in Baghdad away from Turkey's embrace will at least half a dozen templates mity with Tehran. Washington nur- and hopes to steer through (despite be one key Russian objective and overlap - Iraq and Syria's fragmen- tured Barzani through the Saddam robust US opposition) a US$4 bil- Maliki would appreciate it. tation, Turkey's "neo- Hussein era but at the same time, lion arms deal that the Iraqi leader Both Moscow and Baghdad would Ottomanism", Iran's surge as regio- has not reconciled with its current negotiated during his visit to view with extreme disquiet nal power, the "Arab Spring", the loss of influence in Baghdad, Moscow in October. Indeed, Turkey's grandiose visions of offe- United States' waning regional which is critical to its ability to Lukoil of Russia is doing roaring ring itself as an "energy hub" influence and of course post- influence a range of regional business with Baghdad, having connecting the Middle East with Soviet Russia's "return" to the issues, especially in the Persian secured lucrative terms for develo- Europe, especially the recent Middle East. Gulf region. ping the West Qurna 2 megafield in reports that Turkey is planning to Barzani's arrival in Moscow coin- The US ambassador Francis southern Iraq, where two-thirds of construct a new gas pipeline from cides with a defining moment in Ricciardone in Ankara recently Iraq's known oil reserves lie. Kurdistan for feeding the proposed Iraq's history. Kurdish nationalism waved the red flag at Turkey's dal- After a meeting with Barzani in Nabucco pipeline supplying gas to is rising to a crescendo, drawing liance with Kurdistan. He said: Moscow on Tuesday, Russia's western Europe. inspiration from the Arab Spring. energy leviathan Gazprom said, ➩ The regional autonomy of Iraqi Turkey and Iraq have no choice However, the bottom line is

58 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Özeti ➩ that Russia would be loathe to mic viability as a separate entity deploy the US missile defense sys- violence erupting in the period see the fragmentation of Iraq, as its independent of Baghdad's control tem. The Turkish strategy has all ahead. implications could be very serious depends solely on its access to the along been to cultivate Barzani and Barzani is skating on thin ice and for the security of the Trans- world energy market. his family, which has vast business he seems to realize that his Turkish Caucasus. Equally, Russia would Besides, there is also a congruence interests especially in exporting oil waltz may soon become untenable. restrain Barzani from getting of interests here between Ankara from Kurdistan, based on the cal- He has annoyed Tehran, Baghdad involved with the Turkish shenani- and Barzani. Ankara is in need of culus that incrementally Barzani and Damascus. Meanwhile, while gans in Syria. Barzani told the the relatively cheap oil supplies would be work with Ankara on in Moscow, Barzani could witness Russian media that he would focus from Kurdistan to meet its growing regional security issues. that Russia has moved to the center on possible ways to solve the requirements of energy. In 2011 On the contrary, Barzani's bonho- stage on an intra-Syrian political Syrian conflict. Turkey met 60% of its gas require- mie with the Turks has never gone dialogue. The meeting of the ments through imports from Iran An untenable waltz down well with the Kurdish "pesh- Russia-Arab Forum took place in and around 20% from Russia. In merga". Also, Syrian Kurds resent Moscow on Wednesday. Ë hat works to Moscow's addition, the US Energy his interference. The recent illness advantage is the great trust Ambassador M K Bhadrakumar Information Administration esti- of Jalal Talabani (Iraqi president deficit between Barzani and was a career diplomat in the W mates that Turkey has been impor- and the leader of the rival People's Ankara, which is a legacy of the Indian Foreign Service. His assi- ting about half of its crude oil from Union of Kurdistan) has introdu- violent history of the region and gnments included the Soviet Iran. ced new uncertainties. Tehran and cannot easily be wished away. On Union, South Korea, Sri Lanka, But Turkey's relations with Russia Ankara may end up sponsoring the the contrary, only Turkey can offer Germany, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Iran have become problematic rival Kurdish groups and there is a a vital lifeline to Kurdistan, which Uzbekistan, Kuwait and Turkey. lately following its decision to strong possibility of intra-Kurdish is land-locked and whose econo-

February 25, 2013

2011, when he ordered the arrest of his Sunni Vice President Tareq al-Hashemi, who Iraq says Turkey rejects took refuge in Kurdistan before fleeing to Turkey. GAS LICENSE DELAY Kurd export pipelines Iraqi Kurdistan halted oil exports through the Baghdad-controlled Iraq-Turkey Ahmed Rasheed / Reuters pipeline in December in a dispute over pay- ments to oil companies operating in the AGHDAD - Turkey has told Iraq it will autonomous region. reject any extension of oil and gas pipelinesB from Kurdistan without the appro- In early January, Kurdistan began expor- val of the Baghdad government, Iraq's oil ting crude oil directly to world markets minister Abdul Kareem Luaibi was quoted through Turkey, further angering Baghdad, as saying by the state media network on which threatened action against the region Monday. and foreign oil companies working there to Iraq's Arab-led central government and stop "illegal" crude exports. the Kurdistan regional government (KRG), A broad energy partnership between run by ethnic Kurds, are in a long-running Turkey and Iraqi Kurdistan ranging from dispute over how to exploit the country's exploration to export has been in the works crude reserves and divide the revenues. since last year. Baghdad says it alone has the authority Iraqi Kurdish Minister for Natural Amid uncertainty over the detail and to control export of the world's fourth lar- Resources Hawrami speaks during a news timing of the deal, Turkey's energy watch- gest oil reserves, while the Kurds say their conference in Arbil (Azad Lashkari dog EPDK on Friday again delayed a deci- right to do so is enshrined in Iraq's federal Reuters, / February 7, 2013) sion on whether to award a license for constitution, drawn up following the U.S.- Turkish firm Siyah Kalem to import gas led invasion of 2003. from Kurdistan. Resource-hungry Turkey has heavily "Turkey has officially informed Iraq it Siyah Kalem had sought extra time from courted Iraqi Kurds, straining ties with the rejects extending oil and gas export pipe- Turkey's Energy Market Regulatory Iraqi central government. lines from the Kurdistan region to pass Authority (EPDK) for its application due to through Turkey without approval from fede- Prime Minister Nuri al Maliki's media difficulties in reaching agreement with the ral government," the network quoted the advisor Ali al-Moussawi said Turkey's rejec- northern Iraqi administration. It was given minister as saying. tion of the pipeline would help enhance until the end of 2013. bilateral relations between Ankara and The Turkish energy ministry declined to Turkish officials initially indicated that Baghdad, which have deteriorated over the comment on the statement. they thought a purchase agreement signed past year. Kurdistan's Minister for Natural with the KRG was legally sufficient to allow "The government welcomes Turkey's Resources Ashti Hawrami said earlier this imports into Turkey. But officials later move, which will significantly help to stabi- month the autonomous region was pressing confirmed any such agreement would need lize the region and also strengthen relations I ahead with plans to build its own oil export to be approved by Baghdad. between central government and Kurdish pipeline to Turkey, despite objections from region,"" Ali al-Moussawi added. the United States, which fears the project could lead to the break-up of Iraq. Ankara has been locked in a war of words with Maliki, a Shi'ite, since December

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

February 26, 2013 Kurdish rebel leader warns of disaster if no Turkey peace By Daren Butler - Reuters Hundreds of Turkish STANBUL: Emerging briefly from soli- nationalists march Itary confinement in his island prison on February 24, near Istanbul, Kurdish militant leader 2013 on Istiklal Abdullah Ocalan said Turkey could Avenue to protest at become as troubled as Syria or Iraq if it the resumption of does not take steps to end his group's peace talks with decades-old insurgency. Kurd rebels, saying A paunchy and greying Ocalan, cut they sullied the off from the world since his capture in memory of soldiers 1999, told a delegation of pro-Kurdish killed in the near MPs visiting him at the weekend of his three-decade con- plans to end a 28-year conflict that has flict. AFP PHOTO killed 40,000 people. /OZAN KOSE Ocalan has been negotiating the out- lines of a peace deal with Turkey's government from his cell since he inter- tabilised Turkey and stunted develop- Kurdish New Year on March 21 and, in vened to end a hunger strike by jailed ment in its mainly Kurdish southeast. a first step, the PKK may release some Kurdish militants last year. It is a remarkable change of fortune 16 Turkish captives it is holding by this With a Turkish intelligence official for a man dubbed "baby killer" and weekend, according to media reports. listening in the background, he spoke "monster of Imrali" by nationalists and Such details were not discussed in for two hours on Saturday about reviled by most Turks, who hold him Saturday's meeting. Turkey, the changing Middle East and responsible for 28 years of bloodshed. The plan would then see the with- his political beliefs, relishing attention CRITICAL WEEKS AHEAD drawal of several thousand PKK fighters he has long been denied. For the three visiting Peace and from Turkey to their bases in northern "We must establish a new democra- Democracy Party (BDP) deputies, he cut Iraq before their ultimate disarmament tic republic in line with the new world a very different figure. Wearing a grey in exchange for reforms boosting the and the new Middle East. The Kurdish cardigan, grey corduroy trousers and rights of a Kurdish minority which problem can only be solved with white sport shoes, the moustachioed makes up around 20 percent of a popu- Turkey's democratisation," the 63-year- Ocalan was "very polite and addressed lation of 76 million. old Ocalan said, his words relayed to everybody respectfully", Tan said. Erdogan's government has presen- Reuters by parliamentarian Altan Tan. For 14 years, Ocalan has had little ted to parliament a penal code reform "If it is not solved, these problems in contact with the outside world besides which could lead to the release of many Turkey will deepen... God forbid, we will newspapers delivered to his cell. His Kurdish activists jailed over alleged PKK end up like Iraq or Syria," Tan related lawyers have been denied access to him ties. Among other reforms, Kurdish him as saying, calling for a new consti- for 1-1/2 years but his brother has been politicians seek Kurdish language edu- tution and democratic reforms to avoid allowed occasional visits. cation and a constitution boosting such a "disaster". He also has contact with several equality. Ocalan's Kurdistan Workers Party other inmates sent to join him in 2009. Only a few people have been privy to (PKK) took up arms in 1984 with the More recently, he was given access to details of the negotiations between aim of carving out a Kurdish state, but television. Ocalan and Turkey's intelligence has since moderated its goal to auto- Ocalan views efforts to draft a new agency, the MIT. MP Pervin Buldan said nomy. It is designated a terrorist group constitution for Turkey as an opportu- they had to wait for the arrival of MIT by Turkey, the United States and nity to secure the devolutionary reforms officials before starting Saturday's European Union. long demanded by his group. talks. Turkish forces clashed with PKK His draft peace plan has been sent to Ocalan had been talking with an MIT fighters last month, killing four of the the BDP and the PKK leadership in nor- official when they were taken in to meet rebels after they killed a police officer in thern Iraq and Europe. The leader of the him and they shook hands before begin- the province of Mardin. BDP, which received the "road map" on ning their talks, Buldan said. The Turkish military has continued Tuesday, said all sides needed to res- She gave Ocalan a pen and Muslim attacks on PKK forces in southeast pond swiftly. prayer beads as a present. The third Turkey and northern Iraq in recent "The next two or three weeks will be deputy, leftist film-maker Sirri Sureyya weeks and Prime Minister Tayyip very critical for the process," BDP leader Onder, gave him a parliamentary report Erdogan has said the military opera- Selahattin Demirtas told reporters late on coup investigations. tions will continue until the PKK lay on Monday, saying the government now Conveying her excitement ahead of down their arms. needed to take "practical, concrete, the talks, Buldan had described the Turkish warplanes bombed PKK tar- confidence-building steps". visit in a message on Twitter as "the gets in northern Iraq on Feb. 20 and "This is not a process that can be most meaningful, important and valua- Kurdish media said military operations put on Mr. Ocalan's shoulders alone. ble of my life". targeting the militants were conducted Above all the government, but also all "We spoke for around two hours. As in southeast Turkey near the border groups in favour of peace and solution, we left he signed on an empty piece of with Iraq this week. society and the public must give strong paper in my hand: 'With my love and Yet Ankara will need the help of support for the process," he said. respect, Abdullah Ocalan'". I Ocalan to end a conflict which has des- Ocalan could call a ceasefire at the

60 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Özeti February 25, 2013

Kurdish peace process will start after PKK militants leave Turkey, PM Erdoğan says ISTANBUL - Hürriyet government officials’ recently launched talks with Öcalan to convince the PKK mem- urkey’s peace process will effectively bers to disarm. The Feb. 23 visit was the begin after armed militants from the second after BDP MP Ayla Akat Ata and Toutlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) independent deputy Ahmet Türk visited the leave Turkey, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip PKK leader on Jan. 3. Erdoğan has said in the wake of the second BDP co-chair Selahattin Demirtaş is parliamentarian visit to PKK leader expected to reveal Öcalan’s messages to the Abdullah Öcalan. public today during his speech at the BDP’s “This process will de facto begin after parliamentary group meeting, while terrorists go to a second country from the Erdoğan is also expected to make his first border,” Erdoğan said. Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip comments on the content of the Feb. 23 mee- “Then there’s Makhmour Camp, this Erdogan. REUTERS photo ting. issue should be resolved after discussions At the same time, the National Security with the United Nations because that camp determined to maintain the momentum. Council (MGK), which brings together the is effectively an incubation center [for the “Unless we take that risk, we cannot come to country’s top civilian and military leaders, PKK]. And there’s Kandil Mountain [where a conclusion. If other active layers of society will hold a regular bimonthly meeting the PKK has its main bases] on the other share this risk with us – the media is very during which the ongoing “peace process” side. This is an issue we have to resolve with important here – our progress will speed is likely to be discussed at length. the northern Iraqi administration. But all of up.” CHP rebuffs Öcalan’s expression those are the steps that will be taken after Suggesting that the recent peace process of ‘captives’ [the PKK militants] in Turkey leave our should be defined as the “resolution pro- Separately, main opposition Republican country,” Erdoğan said. cess” instead of the “İmralı process” – in a People’s Party (CHP) Deputy Chair Faruk Erdoğan’s remarks, which were origi- reference to İmralı island, where Öcalan is Loğoğlu rebuffed yesterday Öcalan’s deci- nally delivered to journalists on board a serving a life sentence – Erdoğan said Kurds sion to describe the detained suspects in the plane en route from Dubai to Ankara late living in both eastern and western Turkey Kurdistan Communities Union (KCK) case Feb. 24, were reported a day after by supported the process. as “captives.” Anatolia news agency in Q&A format. “The state has captives in its hands. So The premier reiterated assurances that BDP meeting does the PKK. The PKK has to treat its cap- military operations would not be conducted Meanwhile, the Peace and Democracy tives very well. I hope they will rejoin their against PKK militants during their withdra- Party’s (BDP) Parliamentary Group families in the shortest time,” Öcalan said in wal from Turkish soil. “The previous mis- Administrative Board met yesterday at the a letter read out by Buldan following their takes will not be made. We will take neces- party headquarters for a briefing by BDP Feb. 23 visit. sary precautions,” Erdoğan said, tacitly Deputy Parliamentary Group Chair Pervin “Turkey has no captives in its hands. referring to the military operations in 1999 Buldan, Istanbul deputy Sırrı Süreyya There are people who committed crimes, that killed over 500 PKK militants as they Önder and Diyarbakır deputy Altan Tan who are involved in terror crimes or armed were withdrawing from Turkey after a call about their Feb. 23 trip to see Öcalan. terror activities,” Loğoğlu said during a from Öcalan following his capture. The three traveled to İmralı after the press conference in Parliament. Though launching the new process government permitted their visit as part of The KCK is the alleged urban wing of means taking risks, Erdoğan said they were the resolution process which involves Ë the PKK.

ment par les autorités turques de pourparlers de paix avec la rébellion, en Turquie: Öcalan évoque décembre. la libération de M. Öcalan a qualifié cette rencontre avec les députés de "pas historique". prisonniers par le PKK "Nous vivons un processus historique. Toutes les parties doivent agir avec beau- coup d'attention et de sensibilité pendant ce processus", a ajouté le leader ISTANBUL, 23 février 2013 (AFP) rebelle. Il n'a pas en revanche donné de détails sur les modalités de l'éventuelle libéra- LE CHEF EMPRISONNÉ des rebelles kurdes de Turquie, Abdullah Öcalan, tion des personnes détenues par le PKK, et notamment s'il envisageait un a dit samedi espérer une libération prochaine des prisonniers détenus par échange de prisonniers avec lÉtat turc. son organisation, dans un communiqué lu par une députée kurde au retour d'une rencontre samedi avec le dirigeant dans sa prison. Mme Buldan, qui était accompagnée à Imrali par deux autres députés du BDP, a indiqué que son parti donnerait "en temps voulu" davantage d'explications sur "LÉtat (turc) détient des prisonniers de guerre. Le PKK (Parti des travailleurs du la teneur des entretiens de la délégation avec M. Öcalan. Kurdistan) a aussi des prisonniers de guerre. Le PKK doit se comporter correc- tement avec ces prisonniers, j'espère qu'ils retrouveront leurs familles au plus Le PKK détient, selon les médias turcs, plus d'une vingtaine de personnes -- vite", a affirmé M. Öcalan dans cette déclaration lue par la députée Pervin pour la plupart des fonctionnaires-- enlevées dans le sud-est anatolien, peuplé Buldan. en majorité de kurdes et principal théâtre des affrontements avec l'armée. Mme Buldan, la vice-présidente du Parti pour la paix et la démocratie (BDP), la Cette deuxième visite était attendue depuis plusieurs semaines comme un signe principale formation kurde de Turquie, a lu ce communiqué devant des journa- de la poursuite des pourparlers, après le meurtre à Paris le 9 janvier de trois mili- listes à Istanbul, au retour d'une visite à M. Öcalan sur l'île-prison d'Imrali (nord- tantes du PKK, qui avait fait craindre un abandon de ces négociations. ouest), où celui-ci purge une peine de prison à vie Le déplacement a été autorisé jeudi par le ministère de la Justice. Il s'agissait de la deuxième visite d'élus kurdes au chef du PKK depuis le lance- Une première délégation s'était rendue à Imrali le 3 janvier. I

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

LE FIGARO mercredi 27 février 2013

I

>*rj

"V,

Homs, le 11 février. Le quartier de Baba Amr, c de la révolte, est aujourd'hui totalement dévasté et déserté par

la plupart de ses habitants, sarkis kassarjian/afp À Homs, la révolte se fige dans une fausse torpeur

Un an après l'écrasement GIORGES MALBRUNOT . EWVOYE SPfiflAL A HOM^fSYRE) de Baba Amr, les deux

tiers de la ville sont

repassés sous le contrôle e matin-là, la route Damas-Homs

est quasi déserte, une fois franchi le de l'armée syrienne. barrage de l'armée régulière à

Qaboun - une banlieue rebelle à la

sortie de la capitale, régulièrement Profitant du calme relatif,

bombardée par l'aviation, comme en témoignent les bâtiments en rui¬ des familles y retournent. nes de part et d'autre de l'autoroute. Même déso¬ lation quelques kilomètres plus loin à Duma et Mais la réconciliation Adra. Puis la voie, longue de 160 kilomètres, s'éti¬ re dans le désert, et les barrages disparaissent. Sauf reste un vain mot. à hauteur de la ville d'al-Nabk, à partir de laquelle,

les rebelles ont attaqué l'armée et coupé l'autorou¬

te quelques jours plus tôt. La cité, et ses minarets

que l'on aperçoit sur la droite, est entre les mains TURQUIE des insurgés. A" Yabroud, au contraire, une trêve a

été conclue entre les rebelles qui gèrent la ville et

l'armée qui se tient à distance. « Vous allez être

surpris en arrivant à Homs, la ville est plus calme

que Damas », lance Randa, notre voisine dans le Hama SYRIE taxi.. Celui-ci dépasse un camion en route pour

Tartous, le port sur la Méditerranée qui approvi¬ -J-' sionne Damas et l'intérieur du pays. Quelques ra¬

res autobus et des Mercedes noires d'agents de la J police secrète foncent vers Homs. Sur le terre- ® Damas >3 plein central, les portraits de Bachar el-Assad sont

toujours là. Le régime tient à garder le contrôle de

cet axe stratégique reliant Damas au pays alaouite, JORDANIE son bastion.

Un an après avoir essuyé les pires bombarde¬

ments de la révolte, la vie à Homs a repris son

cours. Au moins les deux tiers des quartiers sont

repassés sous le contrôle de l'armée. Les magasins gime les appellent «les lionnes d'Assad». Elles

et les administrations sont ouverts. Contrairement font partie de la nouvelle « Armée de défense natio¬

à Damas, l'ancienne « capitale de la révolution » nale » que le régime cherche à bâtir en structurant

n'est pas en état de siège, même si de temps à autre ses milices. « Ce sont desfilles ou des mères de mar¬

des bombardements s'y font entendre. Aux barra¬ tyrs », glisse l'une d'elles. Elles sont en grande

ges, les soldats ne paraissent pas nerveux. L'un des majorité alaouites, la confession du président.

check points est même tenu par des jeunes filles en Provocation contre les insurgés sunnites ou défi au

armes, boudinées dans leur tenue léopard, les che¬ machisme oriental ? Sans doute un peu des deux.

veux ramassés sous leur béret. Les partisans du ré- Le bureau du gouverneur est situé peu après leur

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

barrage, sur la rue Palmyre. Ahmed Mounir Mo¬ On a tous perdu. hammed, un ancien militaire, s'est installé dans le bâtiment normalement dédié aux services techni¬ Tout le monde ques de la ville. Le jour de notre visite, il y préside une réunion ouverte à 300 notables et opposants est affaibli. de la province de Homs, dans le cadre du pro¬ Alors un dialogue, gramme de « réconciliation nationale » mis en

placepar le régime: De la poudre aux yeux pour les avec ou sans rebelles armés, qui refusent d'y participer. Mais aussi, sans doute, une tentative de renouer un tissu conditions, social déchiré par deux ans de violences meurtriè¬ res. « Même si cette réconciliation n'a que dix chan¬ peu importe, ces sur cent de réussir, nous devons tout faire pour

arrêter la destruction de notre pays », affirme mais il faut sauver

l'évêque grec catholique Michel Naaman. « Le la Syrie père naaman monde doit nous aider, mais sans livrer d'armes, ni

au gouvernement, ni aux rebelles », insiste ce Sy¬ quartier repassé sous contrôle loyaliste,la raffine¬ rien formé à la Sorbonne. rie est de nouveau opérationnelle. Profitant du La réunion, qui a duré cinq heures, a été houleu¬ calme de ces derniers mois, des centaines de fa¬ se, surtout lorsqu'on a évoqué les prisonniers. Six milles sont rentrées chez elles: D'autres d'Alep ou cents ont été libérés, selon le gouverneur. Mais il de Deir ez-Zor, où les combats font rage, sont en resterait encore plus de 1 500 sous les verrous. même venues se réfugier à Homs. Ahmed Mounir Mohammed assure qu'il est en contact avec des chefs de groupes armés. Ces der¬ Les environs aux mains des rebelles niers rnois, quelques-uns auraient même accepté On en rencontre quelques-unes rue al-Karama, la de déposer les armes pour rejoindre le programme principale artère de Baba Amr, où un immense de réconciliation, mais ils ne représentent qu'une portrait d'Assad cache un immeuble en ruines. Des goutte d'eau dans l'océan. « La réunion n'apas été tapis et des vêtements pendent aux balcons d'habi¬ trèsfructueuse », nous affirme le lendemain le mi¬ tations éventrées. Une femme voilée attend, avec nistre de la Réconciliation, Ali Haïdar, dans son sa fille dans une poussette. Mais les langues ont du bureau à Damas. « Les gouverneurs représentent mal à se délier et les apparences sont trompeuses. l'État, c'est ça le problème, reconnaît cette person¬ Dès que l'on s'enfonce dans les ruelles, le spectacle nalité non membre du parti Baas au pouvoir. Les rappelle la destruction de Berlin, après la Seconde opposants ont besoin de voir d'autres gens en face Guerre mondiale. « Si le calme règne aujourd'hui, d'eux quand on leur parle de réconciliation. » c'estparce que l'armée apurifié tous ces secteurs des

La vieille ville toujours assiégée terroristes », se réjouit une jeune alaouite. Entre la minorité du président et les sunnites, la haine de¬ À Homs, entre 3 000 et 4 000 rebelles restent assié¬ meure. Dans un de leurs quartiers, les alaouites. gés dans la vieille ville. Impossible de s'approcher n'ont pas hésité à ouvrir un « souk sunnite » où de leurs quartiers de Khaldiya et Hamidiya. Parmi l'on retrouve à bons prix les objets volés par les mi¬ eux figurent des civils, dont 80 chrétiens qui ne liciens prorégime dans les seeteurs favorables aux peuvent s'échapper que par les cavités souterraines insurgés. À Hamra, le voisinage de la mosquée dont Homs est truffée. « J'en suis sorti en mai avec Omar Abdelaziz reste sous très haute surveillance une chemise et un pantalon », se souvient le père depuis qu'une voiture piégée a explosé. « Cefut une Naaman. À l'intérieur, la situation humanitaire se¬ grande surprisepour nous », lâche Samira, qui vou¬ rait catastrophique. La dernière fois qu'une aide ali¬ lait croire à une cohabitation relancée. La veille, mentaire et médicale leur est parvenue, c'était il y a Amer, son mari est rentré en urgence de Damas, bientôt quatre mois. L'armée a massivement bom¬ paniqué par un appel téléphonique. « Un homme bardé les environs de Khaldiya pour eh faire une m'a appelé pour me dire qu'il occupait avec quatre zone tampon et, ces dernières semaines, elle a en¬ autres combattants maferme à 5 km de Homs. R m'a . core renforcé son étau autour des insurgés. Quitte à dit que si jamais je prévenais l'armée, ils feraient susciter la colère des familles de rebelles du quartier sauter ma maison. C'est quoi cette révolution ? », se martyr de Baba Amr, relogées dans celui d'al-Wa- lamente cet employé de banque. her, à l'ouest de Homs. «La situationy est explosive, Les rebelles, qui tiennent les villes voisines de une étincelle suffirait pour que le feu reparte », pré¬ Rastan et Talbisseh, ont besoin de telles bases ar¬ vient un de ses habitants, gorgé de rancoeur. Après rière pour espérer reprendre Homs. Entre eux et le l'écrasement de Baba Amr, il y a un an, beaucoup de régime, tout dialogue paraît impossible. « Oui, rebelles ont quitté Homs, mais d'autres ont rejoint . mais Rastan et Talbisseh sont des cas spéciaux, mi¬ un groupe armé, ici même ou autour d'une ville ga¬ nimise le gouverneur. Ailleurs, comme à Talkalakh gnée à l'insurrection. près de la.frontière libanaise, la trêve fonctionne. Dans son bureau, sous l'inévitable portrait du Mais Rastan compte beaucoup d'officiers qui ontfui raïs, le gouverneur insiste sur les réunions qu'il or¬ l'armée. Ils sont irrécupérables. » Il faut avoir la foi ganise entre jeunes sunnites de Baba Amr ou d'In- du charbonnier pour croire avec le père Naaman chaat et leurs voisins alaouites d'Akrama. Pour qu'une « brise d'espoir » s'est levée depuis que quels résultats ? Même si la population est fatiguée Moaz al-Khatib, le président de la Coalition natio¬ par deux ans de conflit, la confiance n'existe plus. nale, principal groupe d'opposition, a appelé à des Alors « parfois les rebelles sortent de leurs caches négociations avec le régime afin de stopper les pour attaquer les positions de l'armée ou des bâti¬ tueries. «On a tous perdu. Tout le monde est affai¬ ments gouvernementaux », regrette Samira, une bli, constate avec amertume le père Naaman. Alors chrétienne du quartier d'al-Mahatta. « Nos voisins un dialogue, avec ou sans conditions, peu importe, musulmans sontpour l'opposition, ajoute cette den¬ mais ilfaut sauver la Syrie. » Une population à ge¬ tiste, mais nous ne parlons pas de politique avec noux. Des rebelles farouchement hostiles à des né¬ eux. » La station d'essence, non loin de chez elle, gociations avec un régime qui ne paraît pas, lui ne connaît pas de fùes .d'attente, contrairement à non plus, décidé à céder. À Homs, le calme trom¬ celles de Damas. Située sur le périphérique dans un peur risque de ne pas durer.

63 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dent.ro de la Prensa-Basin Ôzeti

Observateur 28 février 2013 - n° 2521

LaCIA m'a trompé

Il y a dix ans, le secrétaire d'Etat américain prononçait à l'ONU son discours sur les armes de destruction massive en Irak. A l'occasion de la publication de son livre "J'ai eu de la chance" aux Editions Odile Jacob, il revient sur cet épisode et sur la politique étrangère de son pays

UN ENTRETIEN EXCLUSIF AVEC COLIN POWELL

Le Nouvel Observateur LeSfévrier2003, vous Non, pas vraiment. J'étais déçu mais je ne paniquais

avezprononcéà l'ONUvotre « célèbre » discours Colin Powell pas : la CIA allait m'aider. Je suis allé au siège de surles armes dedestructionmassiveenlrak, J'AI EU DEIA CHANCE l'Agence, et grâce aux informations fournies par son dans lequelvous énonciezdes «preuves » qui, Ml 1 1 l)\M ILS flH'K BflNMK [UN\ l A Vil patron, George Tenet, j'ai pu bâtir le discours. Remar¬ FI DAW I TM KCKT 1)1' U ADIRSHIP pourlaplupart, sesont révélées inexactes. Dix quez que j'yai mis moins d'éléments controversés que

ansplus tard, vous écrivezdans votrenouveau le président, Condi Rice ou Rumsfeld avaient déjàuti¬

livre que cediscours restera une «tache» lisés publiquement et à plusieurs reprises. Le bureau

dansvotrecarrièreetquevousvoussouvenez de Cheney, parexemple, insistaitpour que je parle des

deceSfévrieraussi «profondément» quedujour liens supposés entre Saddam HusseinetAl-Qaida, que

devotrenaissance. Pourquoi ? le vice-présidentavaitsouventévoqués. Mais, comme

Colin Poivell H est très dur d'oublier un tel moment les éléments n'étaient pas probants, je ne l'ai pas fait.

surtout quand on vous en parle chaque jour pendant J'ai égalementtrès peu parlé du programme nucléaire.

dixans ! Depuisquej'aidécouvertqu'ungrand nombre Maissurlereste aussi, le chimique etle

d'informations que l'on m'avait fournies étaient biologique, les «preuves» étaientfausses.

inexactes, je ne cesse de me demander : qu'aurais-je Oui, mais ce n'était pas un mensonge délibéré de ma

dû faire pour éviter cela ? Pour ma défense, je dirais part Je croyais àce que je disais. Toutle monde, le pré¬

que je n'ai eu que trois jours pour préparer cette pré¬ sident, les membres du gouvernement et le Congrèsy

sentation et que nous avions un très grand nombre de croyaient. Le président m'a choisi parce que j'étais le

documents à analyser. plus crédible vis-à-vis de la communauté internatio¬

Pourquoiseulement troisjours ? nale, mais, encore une fois, je ne faisais que trans¬

Le problème était le suivant : le président Bush m'a mettre ce que les seize agences de renseignement

demandé de présenter nos preuves à l'ONU à partir disaient, Etje pense que si vous aviez été à maplace et

d'un texte rédigé par un conseiller du vice-président que vous aviez vu les documents que l'on m'a présen¬

Cheney. Or, quand j'ai demandé aux services de ren¬ tés vous auriez cru à tout cela, vous aussi.

seignement des éléments concrets pour étayer cer¬ Evidemment je pensais que la CIA avait vérifié ses

tainespartiesdece document, ils m'ontrépondu qu'ils informations. Aussi, quand, quelques semaines plus

n'avaientjamais vu ces informations-là ! Il fallait donc tard, l'Agence nous a dit que IV information » sur les

repartir de zéro et écrire un autre discours. J'ai dit au laboratoires biologiques ambulants venait d'Alle¬

président que j'avais besoin de plus de trois jours, magne et qu'aucun agent américain n'avait interrogé

mais il m'a répondu qu'il avait déjà annoncé au la source principale de ce canular, j'ai été stupéfait.

monde ladate de ce discours à l'ONU, qu'il ne pouvait George Tenet, lepatron de la CIA, vous avait-tldit

pas la reculer. que lesAllemandsl'avaientprévenudumanque

Lefaitqueletexteécritparlebureaudu defiabilité de cettesource ?

vice-présidentétaitsiétrangene vous a-t-ilpas Non et je ne sais toujours pas ce qu'il savait en réalité.

alerté?Nevousêtes-vouspasdit:onessaie Plus tard, il est apparu qu'un certain nombre de per¬

dememanipuler? sonnes dans les services de renseignement étaient au

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

£2: PAGES RÉALISÉES PAR FRANÇOISABMANET ET GILLESANQUETIL

moyens pour le faire, les Etats-Unis sont la nation I «nécessaire». f' Lesecondmandatd'Obamavientdecommencer, V quelestsonproblèmenuméro unenpolitique étrangère? Notre situation internationale est celle-ci : depuis là fin de l'URSS, il n'y a plus de puissance équivalente à la nôtre qui veuille nous attaquer. Les deux seules nations ayant lapopulation etle potentiel économique de rivaliser avec les Etats-Unis sont la Chine et l'Inde. Mais aucun des deux Etats n'a la moindre intention

d'être notre ennemie. 1 Mêmepas la Chine ? Bien sûr que non, les Chinois possèdent 2 000 mil¬

« < liards de notre dette ! Comment voudraient-ils faire exploser tout cela ? Us vont moderniser leur armée, uv Vu tout faire pour protéger les îles qu'ils considèrent être les leurs, mais ils n'ont aucun intérêt à devenir notre \V ennemi. Il y a des questions internationales comme la Corée du Nord, laSyrie ou l'Iran. Ce sont des problèmes

sérieux, mais aucun ne représente une menace pour lasurvie des Etats-Unis et son système démocratique, comme ce futle cas de l'Union soviétique. Cela neveut pas dire qu'il faut les ignorer. Ils affectent nos alliés et

amis. Et ils peuvent dégénérer en guerre comme au Mali ouen Syrie. Mais aujourd'hui les Américains sont UNITED concentrés sur les problèmes internes des Etats-Unis, le chômage et le déficit budgétaire surtout. Nous devons donc faire ce que nous pouvons pour aidernos alliés, mais le président sera très réticent à engager COLIN POWELL militairement notre pays dans des conflits régionaux. courant de cette alerte des Allemands etd'autres mises (ci-dessus [ors de son en garde. Us ont dit : « Nous sommes allés voir Tenet Ycompris enlran ? « célèbre » discours à Laposition de laMaison-Blancheestque.danscedos- mais il ne voulaitpas nous écouter. » Est-ce vrai ? Je ne l'ONU, le 5 février 7.003) sier, aucun président ne peut renoncer à une option, sais pas. En tout cas, lors de ma présentation à l'ONU, e été chef d'état-major des armées américaines quelle qu'elle soit. Ma conviction personnelle est qu'il je voulais qu'il soit à mes côtés, que la présence du de 1989 à 1993 et y a des solutions diplomatiques au problème iranien. patronde la CIA signifie au monde que ce que je disais secrétaire d'Etat de 2001 Je suis un vieux soldat qui a vu ce que le containment reflétait ses conclusions. Dix ans plus tard, Tenet n'a à 2005. Il vient de publier (politique d'endiguement) et la dissuasion peuvent toujours pas reconnu que celles-ci étaient fausses ! Pas (avec Tony Koltz) chez accomplir. Les Iraniens n'ont pas encore d'arme une fois, il a expliqué pourquoi ses services avaient Odile Jacob un nouveau écrit, parexemple, que SaddamHussein avaitdes cen¬ livre : « J'ai eu de la nucléaire et, même s'ils en avaient, leur nombre serait chance. Mes conseils poui très inférieur à la force atomique disponible de l'autre taines de tonnes d'armes chimiques, « dont laplupart réussir dans la vie et dans côté. Donc, je continue de penser que, même dans le avaient étéfabriquées l'annéepassée » alors qu'il n'en l'exercice du leadership » cas de l'Iran, la dissuasion marche. D'ailleurs, regardez possédait pas un gramme ! ce qu'a dit Ahmadinejad cet automne : pourquoi vou- Bya quelques années, vous avezditqu'une commission du Congres devraitenquêtersur drais-je d'une arme atomique alors qu'en face ils enont des dizaines de milliers ? tout cela. Après l'extraordinairecarrièrequia étéla vôtre, Passons à un autre sujet, voulez-vous ? quesouhaitez-vous que l'on retiennedevotre Dans votrelivre, vous dites que les Etats-Unis sonttoujours la nation « nécessaire », que action? Que j'aibienservimon pays. Que j'aitravaillé àdestrai¬ voulez-vous dire ? L'anciermesecrétaired'EtatMadeleineAlbrightutilise tés qui ont éliminé de grandes quantités d'armes

l'adjectif « indispensable ». Je suis d'accord avec elle, nucléaires ! Je voudrais que l'on n'oublie pas que j'ai toujours essayé d'éviter des guerres ettoujours préféré mais « nécessaire » est un terme plus soft, moins arro¬ gant. Quand il y a un problème dans le monde, au la diplomatie pour régler les problèmes. Je pense que l'on se souviendrade moi àpropos d'une doctrine mili¬ Moyen-Orient ou en Asie, on se tourne toujours vers les Etats-Unis. Prenez la Libye. C'était une bonne idée taire qui porte mon nom. Et puis je suis devenu le pre- de laisser les Français et les Britanniques lancer l'opé¬ mier chef d'état-major noir et le premier secrétaire d'Etat noirdes Etats-Unis. Malheureusement, on n'ou¬ ration militaire. Mais auriez-vous pu la mener à bien blierapaslediscoursàrONU, qui occuperaunegrande sans les Etats-Unis, leurs avions ravitailleurs, leurs missiles ? Je ne crois pas. Quand nos alliés veulent place dans ma nécrologie... entreprendre quelque chose et n'ont pas tous les Propos recueillis à Washingtonpar VINCENTJAUVERT

65 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Özeti February 24, 2013 diplomats have said he slipped into a coma shortly after the stroke happened, or was Doctor says Iraqi president otherwise gravely incapacitated. Talabani is overweight and has undergone speaking after stroke several medical procedures in recent years, including heart surgery in 2008 and knee By ADAM SCHRECK, Associated Press replacement surgery last year.

AGHDAD— Iraqi President Jalal On Feb. 18, Talabani's office issued a state- Talabani is able to speak and unders- ment saying the president continues to res- tandB people around him as he recovers from pond well to therapy. Two presidential offi- a stroke he suffered in December, a doctor cials reached Sunday declined to comment, responsible for his medical care said saying that Karim is the only person autho- Sunday. rized to discuss Talabani's condition. In an interview, Dr. Najmaldin Karim des- The Iraqi presidency is a largely ceremonial cribed the improvement in the president's role, with the prime minister acting as the health as encouraging. Karim is a neurosur- head of government. But Talabani is seen by geon who is also governor of the Iraqi pro- many Iraqis as something of a unifying sta- vince of Kirkuk. He oversees Talabani's "We'll have to just take it one day at a time," tesman, and he has at times played an medical care when he is in Iraq, although he said. important role in mediating disputes the president is currently in Germany for The 79-year-old Talabani was rushed to a among the country's ethnic and sectarian treatment. hospital late on Dec. 17 after suffering a factions. "He's improving. He's talking. He's conver- stroke. Few specific details have been relea- Talabani became ill at a particularly crucial sing. He understands when he's spoken to. sed about his health, fueling intense specu- moment in Iraqi politics. His stroke occur- It's a good development," Karim said. lation about the seriousness of his condition red while he was trying to calm an ongoing "We're very encouraged and excited by and his ability to continue with his job. He dispute between the central government this." was flown to a Berlin area hospital for fur- and Iraq's Kurdish ethnic minority, from ther treatment shortly after his condition which he hails. Meanwhile, tens of thou- Karim said he is in daily contact with was stabilized. Talabani's German medical team. He is sands of Sunni Muslims have been rallying hopeful Talabani will be able to return to No images of Talabani have been released for nearly two months against the Shiite-led Iraq, but acknowledged that any decision since he fell ill, and he has not been heard government, increasing sectarian tensions rests with the doctors treating him in from personally. nearly a decade after the U.S.-led invasion. Europe. Some Iraqi officials and Baghdad-based

February 27, 2013 urged them to take up arms. Al Qaeda-linked militants Backers of Syrian rebels appear to be regrouping in Anbar's caves and valleys, with some moving into Syria to join endanger Iraq: Iraqi minister the fight against Assad, whose SUADAD AL-SALHY /REUTERS Alawite sect springs from Shi'ite Islam. AGHDAD (Reuters) - Turkish Scores of Iraqi Shi'ite mili- and Qatari support for tants are also fighting in Syria SyrianB insurgents is tantamount alongside forces loyal to Assad, to a declaration of war against who is backed by Shi'ite Iran. Iraq, which will suffer from the Amiri, whose Badr fallout of an increasingly secta- Organisation laid down its wea- rian conflict next door, an Iraqi pons in 2004, said he was Shi'ite politician said. against militias, criticizing the Hadi al-Amiri, transport recent formation of a new Shi'ite minister and head of the for- militia named al-Mukhtar Army. merly armed Badr Some people in Baghdad's Organisation, said Sunni southwestern district of Jihad Muslim Turkey and Qatar had have received death threat lea- stymied all efforts to resolve Reuters - Hadi al-Amiri, an Iraqi member of parliament flets signed by al-Mukhtar the Syrian conflict peacefully. and head of a Shi'ite militia Army telling them to leave the Iraq is calmer than in the mixed Sunni-Shi'ite neighbo- communal bloodletting that kil- many Sunni militants are figh- weapons will reach Iraqi chests rhood. led tens of thousands in 2006- ting, including the Qaeda- for sure." "Using militias again is a 2007, but the war in neighbo- approved Nusra Front, which Sectarian-tinged unrest has big mistake," Amiri said. "If we ring Syria is straining its preca- has links to al Qaeda in Iraq. been on the rise in Iraq. Tens of (Shi'ites) form militia and they rious sectarian balance. "Presenting money and thousands of Iraqi Sunnis have (Sunnis) form militia, then Iraq Amiri accused Ankara and weapons to al Qaeda (in Syria) staged protests against Prime will be lost." Doha, which support the oppo- by Qatar and Turkey is a decla- Minister Nuri al-Maliki's Shi'ite- KURDISH-SHI'ITE sition to Syrian President ration of armed action against led government in their wes- ALLIANCE Bashar al-Assad, of arming Iraq," Amiri told Reuters in an tern stronghold of Anbar bor- Turning to the Baghdad ➤ jihadi groups in Syria, where interview this week. "These dering Syria, and al Qaeda has government's dispute

66 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Özeti ➤ with autonomous Kurds over this deep strategic alliance. enshrined in Iraq's federal since U.S. troops withdrew a land and oil rights in the north, Technical problems have to be constitution, drawn up after the year ago. Amiri said this should not fixed based on the constitution U.S.-led invasion of 2003. "Frankly, we are in the fede- undermine traditional ties bet- and the oil and gas law," he New legislation to govern ral government and the prime ween Shi'ites and Kurds who declared. the world's fourth largest oil minister is serious about this were both oppressed under Baghdad says it alone has reserves has been caught up issue," Amiri said. "He won't former strongman Saddam the authority to control Iraqi oil for years in a struggle over how make a concession ... he is a Hussein. exports, while the Kurds say to share power between Iraq's stubborn and won't bargain". I "This has nothing to do with their right to export from their Sunni, Shi'ite and Kurdish fac- autonomous northern region is tions, which has intensified

February 28, 2013 Another Problem in Syria: How Do Kurds Fit In? A major Kurdish group opens talks with the leading Syrian opposition groups. Will this pave the way to a unified Syria after Assad?

By Jonathan Krohn www.theatlantic.com

ith the war in Syria about to enter its third year, many oppo- Syrian Kurds hold flags and portraits of jailed Kurdistan Workers sition leaders are looking toward the future of a unified Syria Party (PKK) leader Abdullah Ocalan during a protest in Derik, afterW the fall of the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. One Hasakah on November 1, 2012. (Thaier Al-Sudani/Reuters) of the biggest questions facing a post-Assad Syria is what will become of the residents of western Kurdistan (commonly called Whether or not the PYD joining the Coalition would mean any "Rojava")--which comprises much of northern Syria--once the war American aid would go to Rojava as well as the front lines remains to is over? Long persecuted under the Assad regime, Syrian Kurds be seen. have spent the war protecting their own land rather than taking the Before any such alliance can be brokered, however, Muslim battle directly to the government in Damascus. This has put them at insists that Arab leaders recognize the legitimacy of the Kurds. odds with some opposition leaders who see the Kurds' actions as "We are not satisfied with the language used by the Syrian helpful to the Assad regime. National Council [a member group of the Coalition] and we are Now, however, Salih Muslim, the leader of the biggest Syrian trying to help the Syrian National Coalition to avoid the same mis- Kurdish Party, the Democratic Union Party (PYD), has opened up takes...Our priority is that we get a recognition for our existence in the possibility that people of Rojava might join the struggle of their the constitution or at least written on a paper as a Kurdish people fellow Syrians and work toward a more unified transfer of power in and as a part of the Syrian people." post-Assad Syria. This isn't the first time that members of the opposition have met Muslim met with leaders of the Syrian National Coalition on with Kurdish leaders. Last summer leaders of the Syrian National Wednesday in Cairo to discuss joining the umbrella organization of Council met with the President of the Kurdistan Regional opposition groups. Government in Iraq, Mossoud Barzani, the Turkish Foreign The PYD is the most powerful political party in Rojava but has so Minister, and members of the Kurdish National Council. The PYD far abstained from allying with opposition forces. While it is openly did not attend those negotiations. opposed to Assad's Ba'athist regime--which stripped many Kurds of In terms of military cooperation, Muslim points out that the Arab their rights--and supports his downfall, some Kurds also fought leaders have already brokered a deal with the PYD regarding the libe- against various opposition groups. A handful of well-trained militia ration of cities with mixed populations of Kurds and Arabs. But this have, for the most part, been successful in keeping both sides of the doesn't mean that an arrangement with the Coalition would see conflict out of Rojava, but not without opposition forces labeling Kurdish militias in Damascus: "Kurdish fighters won't go to them as sympathizers of Assad. Damascus to fight," Muslim said, quipping, "If each fighter liberated The negotiations on Wednesday seemed both amicable and pro- his city, Syria would be liberated by now." ductive compared to this mixed past. "The meeting was to [get to] Negotiations between Syrian Arabs and Kurds are a long way know each other better," said Muslim in an interview with Radio from over, but if Cairo is any indication, there is a place in Syria for Sawa afterwards, adding that the goals of the meeting were for, discussion between the nations' two biggest ethnic groups as they "[President of the Syrian National Coalition] Moaz al-Khateib to lis- both work toward the goal of a unified Syria. ten to us, to listen to what we say directly, who we are, and who we "[W]e are away from drawing new borders in Syria or between us represent." or the Arabs," said Muslim when asked about the possibility of an These meetings come as much of the anti-Assad Coalition (exclu- autonomous zone for Kurds in Syria like the one in Iraq, "[W]e didn't ding the Syrian National Council) has reversed their initial plan to demand the partition now or in the past." boycott the Friends of Syria conference, which started Thursday. The Whether or not a deal can be reached before the end of the conference will include an appearance by Secretary of State John conflict remains to be seen. I Kerry, who announced an increase in aid to opposition forces.

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

SentâSS&ibirae February 26,2013

Iran talks breed faint hopes

many), chaired by the European Union "prepared a good and updated offer for ALMATY, KAZAKHSTAN foreign policy chief, Catherine Ashton the talks which we believe is balanced want Iran to obey Security Council and a fair basis for constructive talks" As nuclear negotiations resolutions ordering it to suspend en¬ and that is "also responsive to Iranian resume, world powers richment and open itself up fully to ideas." I.A;E.A. inspectors, to ensure that there He and other Western diplomats re¬

temper their expectations is no effort to build a nuclear weapon. . fused to detail the offer before it is To press Iran to comply, the Security presented to the Iranians, but one se¬ Council, the United States and the Euro¬ nior diplomat called the offer "substan¬ BY STEVEN ERLANGER pean Union have created an increas¬ tial and serious" and said that recent

Talks between Iran and six world ingly painful set of economic sanctions news reports that suggested only some

powers over its nuclear program resume on Iran, as part of a dual-track strategy: loosening in sanctions regarding gold

here on Tuesday after a break of eight negotiations and sanctions. Iran has for sales "do not reflect the full offer." He months, but there is a general atmos¬ its part insisted that as a precondition said the offer "is not a Big Bang deal, phere of gloom about their prospects for for serious negotiations, the world more an agreement on a package of con¬ success, even if narrowly defined. should lift all the sanctions and recog¬ fidence-building measures."

Since the last talks in Moscow in June, nize Iran's "right to enrich" as a signa¬ "Our main concern is the enrichment

Iran has continued to increase its stock¬ tory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation over 5 percent," which brings uranium pile of uranium enriched to 20 percent, Treaty. closer to becoming bomb grade, he said. has begun to install a new generation of The negotiations have been tedious, ' * Iran has a great deal to gain by enga¬ centrifuges and has not yet completed diplomats say, with Iran appearing to ging," he said. "Once the international an agreement on inspection of suspect them to be playing for time. The six had community has the assurances it needs, military sites with the International asked for a resumption of these talks as sanctions will start to be lifted." Atomic Energy Agency, a deal original¬ early as December, but Iran rejected Another Western diplomat said that

ly advertised as all but done last May. dates and sites before finally suggesting the offer had been updated to account

With presidential elections in Iran and agreeing upon Almaty. The choice for the new enrichment Iran has done in scheduled for June, senior Western dip¬ pleased Western diplomats for its sym¬ the eight months since Moscow. There, lomats involved with these talks, ex¬ bolic value, since Kazakhstan, when it the offer was described as "stop, shut, pressed skepticism that its chief negoti¬ became independent of the Soviet Un¬ ship" demanding that Iran stop en¬ ator, Saeed Jalili, would be willing to ion, freely relinquished the nuclear richment of uranium to 20 percent pur¬ make compromises that could be por¬ weapons it inherited from Moscow. ity, shut the Fordow underground en¬

trayed as weakness at home. richment facility that is heavily Mr. Jalili is the personal representa¬ A senior American official protected deep inside a mountain, and tive of Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah ship abroad its stockpile of 20 percent acknowledged that Iran's Ali Khamenei, considered the dominant enriched uranium to be turned into nu¬ presidential elections in June voice on the nuclear issue. Ayatollah clear fuel. Khamenei has recently expressed con¬ "may constrain their political In response, the six said in Moscow tinued mistrust of the United States and space." that they would reciprocate initially by its intentions, saying that he would not lifting some sanctions, including on allow the kind of bilateral talks between . parts for American civilian aircraft that

Washington and Tehran that most ana¬ American officials are holding up Ka¬ Iran has long sought, and provide fuel lysts think would be key to any resolu¬ zakhstan, one of the world's largest pro¬ for an Iranian nuclear reactor.

tion. ducers1 of uranium and a maker of nucle¬ . The sanctions have hurt the Iranian At the same time, Iran has taken some ar fuel, as an example to Iran of the economy, especially the sanctions on oil of its stockpile of 20 percent enriched benefits of peaceful nuclear energy and exports, which make up a large part of uranium and converted it into reactor compliance with the I.A.E.A. the economy. French officials say that fuel, which cannot easily be turned back President Nursultan Nazarbayev of Iran's annual economic output has fallen

again. The conversion means that the Kazakhstan appealed to Tehran in an by 8 percent because of the sanctions,

amount possessed by Iran that would be essay in The New York Times in March that inflation is very high officially at

necessary to create a bomb is higher, re¬ 2012 to abandon what he suggested was 27. 4 percent in 2012 but unofficially ducing the sense of urgency among the its pursuit of nuclear power status. "Ka¬ much higher and that the value of the six powers, and Israel, that Iran is close zakhstan's experience shows that na¬ Iranian currency, the rial, has dropped to bomb-making capability. tions can reap huge benefits from turn¬ by about half over the past year. But the total Iranian stockpile of 20 ing their backs on nuclear weapons," he While Iranian officials insist that their

percent enriched uranium has nonethe¬ wrote. economy is resilient, a senior American

less grown since November from 135 While expectations are low, the six official said: "They're beginning to feel

kilograms to 167 kilograms, or from 298 hope to leave here with some mo¬ the pressure of the sanctions." to 368 pounds, according to the most re¬ mentum and concrete Iranian willing¬ As for Iran's presidential elections in cent I.A.E.A. report closer to, if still ness to engage in what all have agreed June, the American official acknowl¬ significantly below, the 240 or 250 kilo¬ should be a reciprocal and step-by-step edged that the vote "may constrain grams many experts consider neces¬ process of lifting sanctions in return for their political space" but said that the sary, once enriched further, to produce a Iranian actions to comply. nuclear negotiations had their own

nuclear weapon. "Iran needs to understand that there pace, which the six would like to acceler¬ Iran denies that its nuclear program is an urgent need to make concrete and ate. "We all understand that when it has any military aim. The six world tangible progress" in these talks, said comes to the nuclear file, the key de: powers the so-called P5+1 group (the Michael Mann, the spokesman for Ms. cisions are in the hands of the supreme five permanent members of the United Ashton. leader," the official said. "And he is not

Nations Security Council, plus Ger He said that the six have together going to change."

68 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Özeti FEBRUARY 27, 2013

“To have a really self-sustaining industry, No End in Sight for they need either a solid agreement with Baghdad on pipeline access or an inde- pendent pipeline,” Mills said. The KRG has Iraq Oil Dispute been discussing developing plans to build a pipeline to export Kurdistan oil through http://www.al-monitor.com Turkey, though Mills questions the likeli- By: Roxana Saberi for Al-Monitor. hood of an agreement taking shape any time soon. RBIL — Nechirvan Barzani, prime min- The clash over oil is part of a larger feud ister of the Kurdistan Regional between Kurdistan and Iraq’s Shiite Government of Iraq, is criticizing Arab–led administration over land and BaghdadE for threatening to cancel the con- autonomy. “[The oil dispute] is just a front tracts of companies operating in the coun- to a more existential contest over federal- try’s southern oil fields if they refuse to ism, land, and authority,” said an American stop dealing separately with the Kurds. oil investor who has worked in Iraq and spoke on condition of anonymity. “I think “Instead of warning companies to choose the oil issue is a symptom and not a cause. between the KRG or Baghdad, it’s in Iraq’s So long as it is going to represent itself as interest to cooperate more and ... for the Nechirvan Barzani, prime minister of a democracy, Iraq cannot be governed as a KRG and Baghdad to sit down and find a the Kurdistan Regional Government of unitary, centralized state. There is no way solution,” Barzani told Al-Monitor in an Sunnis and Kurds would willingly subject exclusive interview. Iraq (photo by Roxana Saberi) themselves to that level of centralized Shiite control.” His comments are likely to add fuel to the the constitution of Iraq.” dispute simmering between the KRG and Late last year, both the Kurds and Baghdad the central government in Baghdad, which Amir said Kurdistan should submit all its oil deployed troops to a disputed area along argues that the semiautonomous Kurdistan contracts to Iraq’s Oil Ministry for approval Kurdistan’s southern boundary. In recent Region has no legal authority to export oil and claimed that at present only one-third weeks, the area has been shaken by a wave or sign agreements for development. The of the KRG’s oil revenues are being trans- of bombings, including a suicide attack Kurds, however, maintain that Iraq’s consti- ferred to the central government. “There is that killed at least 15 people in the oil-rich tution gives them the right to do so. They no record of what is happening to the city of Kirkuk. have already signed contracts with a num- [other] two-thirds of production, where the ber of multinational companies, including revenues are going, what prices the oil is Despite the standoff, Kurdistan’s prime Chevron, ExxonMobil, and Gazprom. In sold at,” he said. minister doesn’t expect the conflict to esca- January, Iraqi Oil Minister Abdul Kareem late into war. “Maybe there will be tensions Luaibi ordered ExxonMobil to decide Earlier in February, a dispute over pay- sometimes, problems everywhere, but war, between Kurdistan and southern Iraq. ments to oil companies working in Kurdistan prompted the Iraqi parliament to I don’t think so,” Barzani said. “We both are not stupid, so war, no. I don’t expect it.” “This approach for Baghdad to tell indefinitely postpone a vote on the nation- ExxonMobil to choose between Kurdistan al budget. Some lawmakers called for cut- Mills, the consultant, agreed that open con- and Iraq, in our view, is a very wrong ting Kurdistan’s share of the budget from flict is unlikely. “[It] would be disastrous for approach, because... that oil belongs to all 17% to no more than 12%. The Kurds say both sides,” he said. “It would embolden of Iraq,” Barzani said. “Those companies they are entitled to 17% of the federal Sunnis in western and northern Iraq who that now deal with the KRG are aware of our budget, which is financed largely through are opposed to the Baghdad government right in the Iraqi constitution. That’s why the sale of crude oil, including from and would invite intervention by Turkey they came to the KRG.” Kurdistan. They claim that they already receive much less than that. and Iran.” Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, howev- Baghdad can’t afford to fight the Kurds er, has argued that the Kurds’ oil policy “Our 17%, after subtracting the budget for right now, according to Governor Mawlood, threatens to splinter the country’s fragile the Iraqi president’s office, the Ministry of because it has its hands full with possible federal state by tempting its other oil-rich Defense, the Ministry of Interior ... in fact is spillover from neighboring Syria. He regions to also strike independent deals. 11.5% of the total budget of Iraq,” Nawzad believes that if Syrian President Bashar al- This dispute, along with broader security Hani Mawlood, the governor of Erbil Assad falls, Sunni Muslims there will come concerns, has undermined Baghdad’s drive province, told Al-Monitor. He added that to power and could incite Iraq’s Sunnis to to boost oil production, now averaging the Kurdistan Region relies on this revenue rise up against the Shiite-led government. around 3 million barrels per day (bpd), to to pay wages for civil servants and other more than 8 million bpd by 2017. operating expenses. “So the competition is between Shiites and Sunnis in Baghdad, not the Kurds,” asserted “If you have one part of the country produc- Tensions were already on the rise before Mawlood. “We don’t take part in that. ing and exporting and selling the oil, then the budget battle. In December, Kurdistan [Maliki] needs the support of Kurds Basra, the southern part, will do the same, had stopped exporting oil through a feder- because he wants to stay prime minister. So and the other governorates will do the al pipeline and instead began transporting he needs the votes of Kurds for this posi- same, and this will have no government it by truck across the border with Turkey. tion, but he is making a mistake.” N planning,” said Abdullah al-Amir, the princi- These exports are modest, some 10,000 to pal personal advisor to Hussein al- 20,000 bpd, according to Robin Mills, head Shahristani, Iraq’s deputy prime minister of consulting at Dubai-based Manaar Roxana Saberi is an Iranian-American for energy affairs, in an interview with Al- Energy. This means Kurdistan has a long journalist and author of Between Two Monitor. “There will be no [central] govern- way to go to achieve Prime Minister Worlds: My Life and Captivity in Iran. ment revenues because each governorate Barzani’s goal of exporting around half a will do whatever it wants. This is against million barrels a day by the end of this year and 1 million a day by 2014.

69 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Özeti FEBRUARY 27, 2013

Construction of Disputed Turkish Dam Continues By SUSANNE GÜSTEN

LISU, TURKEY — Mahmut Dundar rai- sed a remote control toward a flat-screen The 15th century tomb of Zeynel Bey, a prince of the Ak Koyunlu dynasty. The Imonitor suspended from the ceiling of his Ilisu reservoir will flood more than 30,000 hectares of land, or 74,000 acres, sub- office beside the Tigris River in southeast merging parts of the historical town of Hasankeyf. Susanne Gusten Turkey. “These are live,” he said, as he toggled between images of men and machines swar- Trucks and earth movers hauled loads of impede work on the dam. ming over a dozen different building sites of limestone, basalt and clay onto the rising “The ruling does not even remotely have the Ilisu Dam project. body of the dam, which is to attain a height anything to do with stopping the project,” he The feed goes to the prime minister’s of 141 meters, or 460 feet, when complete. said. “It is merely about applying the envi- office in Ankara, Mr. Dundar, general mana- The crest of the dam will be 2.3 kilometers ronmental impact assessment regulations, ger of the project, said last week. “The long, with a volume of 24 million cubic which we are now doing anyway.” prime minister can watch every point of meters of earth and rock. The state hydraulic works authority has construction 24 hours a day, minute by One-third of that is done, Mr. Dundar lodged an objection to the ruling, asking for minute, so he is informed of our progress at said, with the rest scheduled to be finished clarification of certain terms, he said. “But all times. He has set the target for comple- within the year. “Meanwhile, construction in any case,” he added, “the final judgment tion for 2014, and we mean to make that of the spillway and the power plant are will definitely not stop the project.” date.” going ahead according to plan,” he added. Mr. Altinok, the lawyer, said he was not About 1,450 workers are laboring If the project stays on track, the Ilisu surprised that construction was continuing around the clock to complete the Ilisu Dam, Dam will begin to impound water next year. six weeks after the court ruling. “That is the one of the most controversial public works Filling the reservoir could take anywhere way of justice in Turkey,” he said. “We are projects in recent history, by the middle of from 5 to 11 months, Mr. Dundar said, accustomed to court rulings against large next year. That would be exactly five years depending on the season in which it is projects not being implemented.” after European lenders pulled out of the €1.1 begun. “We think the reservoir will be filled The Ilisu project has long inflamed pas- billion, or $1.5 billion, project in July 2009, in 2015,” he added. sions in Turkey and beyond. Concerns about citing concerns about environmental The project appeared to hit a snag last its environmental, cultural and social impact impact, resettlement policies and the des- month when Turkey’s highest administra- forced companies and financial backers truction of cultural treasures. Undeterred, tive court ruled that a decree issued by from Germany, Austria and Switzerland to Ankara quickly raised domestic financing Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan last pull out of the project under pressure from and resumed work in 2010. year to accelerate work on the dam was in public campaigns in 2009. “We have now completed 53 percent of part null and void. With a capacity of 11 billion cubic the project, and we will complete the rest on The court declared invalid that part of meters of water, the Ilisu reservoir will flood time,” said Mr. Dundar, who is also regional the decree that declared all infrastructure more than 30,000 hectares of land, or director of the state hydraulic works. “We projects connected to the dam to be exempt 74,000 acres, submerging parts of the histo- have no funding problems whatsoever, we from environmental impact assessment rical town of Hasankeyf upstream, as well work day and night, and all relevant agen- requirements on the grounds that plans for as uncharted archaeological sites along the cies are in constant coordination.” the dam were drawn up before the relevant Tigris. The waters will displace 199 settle- On the construction site, about 40 kilo- law came into effect in 1993. Opponents of ments, affecting 55,000 people, according to meters, or 25 miles, from the Syrian border the project were jubilant and staged a rally a report drawn up in 2008 by international and 70 kilometers from Iraq, the roar of in Ankara, calling for the Ilisu construction experts acting on behalf of European machinery drowned out the rushing waters site to be shut down. export-credit agencies. of the Tigris, which has been diverted from Emre Baturay Altinok, the lawyer who Scientists are at work in Hasankeyf to its natural bed to flow through three diver- lodged the complaint on behalf of environ- prepare for the removal of cultural monu- sion tunnels and emerge roiling and foa- mentalists, said by telephone from Ankara ments to a safe location across the Tigris ming into a new concrete basin. this month: “It is unlawful to continue work and to fortify higher parts of the ancient The surrounding mountain ridges bris- on the project without environmental impact town that will not be submerged, Mr. tled with military sentry posts and surveil- assessments. The construction site must be Dundar said. lance equipment guarding the construction closed and sealed.” A new town on a mountainside across Mr. Dundar disagreed with that interpre- the river from Hasankeyf is nearing comple- site against the Kurdish rebels roaming the III area. tation of the ruling, which he said would not tion and should be ready for

70 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Özeti

III resettlement of the town’s population boring village of Karabayir, whose agricul- development of the region, among the poo- before the water begins to rise. tural land was nationalized to build the new rest in Turkey. “We have seen 18 dams Resettlement has been completed in the village of Ilisu. built in this region already,” he said. “Do village of Ilisu near the dam site, where Like most settlements affected by the you see a rise in the standard of living villagers were moved to a new settlement dam, his village has not applied for reset- anywhere around here?” at the end of 2010. tlement by the state. In Ilisu, Mr. Dundar said that “every Villagers interviewed in Ilisu this Besides Ilisu and Hasankeyf, only one project has unwanted side effects.” Yet the month were unenthusiastic about their new other village has signed up for resettle- Ilisu Dam is essential to the development homes, despite the running water in ment, Mr. Dundar confirmed. “It is up to of the country and the welfare of its people, modern kitchens and bathrooms and com- the free will and democratic wishes of the he argued. “Our country needs energy, and munal amenities such as a playground and villagers,” he said. “We want to build we are trying to meet that need,” he said. a meeting room. modern settlements for them. But we can Ilisu’s 1,200-megawatt hydroelectric “It was better in our old village,” a only do it for those who want it.” power plant is designed to produce nearly 4 woman who gave her name as Zekine said. This is what opponents of the dam have billion kilowatt hours of energy per year, “Our fields and orchards were there. They feared all along, said Arif Arslan, president worth an annual $400 million, according to are all gone now.” of the Friends of Hasankeyf Association in project managers. Many villagers complained about the Batman, who has been monitoring the Ilisu “Our country’s weakest spot is its loss of their farmland. “Most people here project for 20 years. dependency on energy imports,” Finance work on the dam construction site now, but “It will be just like when the Batman Minister Mehmet Simsek said at the ope- once that wraps up, there will be no place dam was built and 20,000 villagers were ning of Ilisu’s diversion tunnels last year. to work,” said Mehmet, a young man who displaced” in the 1990s, Mr. Arslan said in To partly overcome that dependency, he did not give his family name. “I preferred a recent interview. “Villagers will move to added, “This jumbo project is of the utmost our old village, because we had our the city with their cash compensations, the strategic and economic importance to our orchards and our vines and could always money will run out, and they will end up country.” make a living if we worked hard.” leading miserable lives in the slums.” “We were farmers, now we are wor- Mr. Arslan is skeptical that the Ilisu kers,” said Osman Demir, from the neigh- project will contribute to the welfare and

28 February 2013

BDP delegation travels to northern Iraq to meet Kurdish officials TODAYS ZAMAN.COM, İSTANBUL BDP co-chairpersons delegation from the pro-Kurdish Peace Selahattin Demirtaş (R), and Democracy Party (BDP) including Gülten Kışanak (L) and Athe party's co-chairpersons traveled over- independent deputy night to the northern Iraqi city of Ahmet Türk are seen in Suleymaniyah, arriving Thursday to meet İstanbul’s Atatürk with Kurdish officials. Airport before their BDP Co-chairpersons Selahattin Demirtaş and Gültan Kışanak, BDP departure to the north- Diyarbakır deputy Altan Tan and indepen- ern Iraqi city of dent Kurdish deputies Aysel Tuğluk and Suleymaniyah. Ahmet Türk were among the delegation that flew to Suleymaniyah to meet with Kurdish government and the PKK to the terrorist ters on his "roadmap" for a solution to be officials from the Kurdistan Regional organization in Kandil Mountains. delivered to the BDP, PKK commanders in Government (KRG), which governs the Demirtaş also criticized recent military Kandil and senior PKK leaders in Europe. semi-autonomous Kurdish region in northern operations carried out by Turkish security The PKK, listed as a terrorist organiza- Iraq. forces against PKK targets in the Kandil tion by Turkey and much of the international Speaking to reporters before their depar- Mountains. community, has waged a bloody campaign ture at İstanbul's Atatürk Airport, Demirtaş “It is a contradiction to talk about peace for self-rule in predominantly Kurdish sou- said the delegation could also visit Arbil. and carry out operations at the same time,” theast Anatolia since 1984. More than 40,000 people, including civilians and secu- Asked whether the delegation would he argued. rity forces, have been killed in clashes with also travel to Kandil -- where the terrorist Tan, Önder and another BDP deputy, the terrorist group. PKK is headquartered in northern Iraq -- to Pervin Buldan, met with Öcalan over the deliver a letter from Öcalan, Demirtaş said, weekend on İmralı Island, where he is jailed, Öcalan, imprisoned on İmralı, south of “No, we already sent the letter.” to discuss the negotiations. At those talks, İstanbul in the Sea of Marmara, since his capture in 1999, has significant influence Reports said on Wednesday that BDP the PKK leader signaled the terrorist group among PKK members and supporters. The deputy Sırrı Süreyya Önder delivered Öca- may declare a cease-fire and release sol- Turkish state believes that talks with the ter- lan's letter on his "roadmap" for the success diers and state employees it is holding, rorist leader may result in a timetable for the of the current peace talks between the according to a statement read by the politi- cians. Öcalan reportedly penned three let- withdrawal of PKK terrorists from Turkey and

71 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Özeti Ankara autorise Les députés n'ont pas fait de déclaration à leur départ. Il s'agit de la deuxième visite d'élus kurdes au chef emprisonné du Parti des tra- une visite de députés vailleurs du Kurdistan (PKK) depuis le lancement par les autorités turques de pourparlers de paix avec la rébellion, en décembre. kurdes à Öcalan en prison Le déplacement a été autorisé jeudi par le ministère de la Justice. ISTANBUL, 23 février 2013 (AFP) Cette visite était attendue depuis plusieurs semaines comme un signe de la poursuite des pourparlers, après le meurtre à Paris le 9 janvier de trois militantes UNE DÉLÉGATION de trois députés kurdes a pris la mer samedi à Istanbul du PKK, qui avait fait craindre un abandon de ces négociations. pour rendre visite au chef des rebelles kurdes Abdullah Öcalan sur son île- Une première délégation s'était rendue à Imrali le 3 janvier. prison d'Imrali (nord-ouest) dans le cadre de discussions de paix, a rap- porté l'agence de presse Anatolie. Les médias turcs estimaient samedi qu'Öcalan pourrait transmettre à la direction du PKK, par le truchement des députés, un appel à cesser le feu, première Les trois élus du Parti pour la paix et la démocratie (BDP), la principale forma- étape vers un éventuel désarmement de l'organisation au printemps. tion kurde de Turquie, ont embarqué à bord d'un navire des garde-côtes pour se I rendre à Imrali, une petite île de la mer de Marmara où Öcalan purge une peine Une précédente tentative de négociation avec le PKK en 2009 avait échoué. de prison à vie, selon Anatolie.

25 février 2013 Reprise des négociations entre le pouvoir turc et le PKK Par Guillaume Perrier - membres de cette organisation Istanbul, correspondance terroriste devaient quitter la Turquie", a-t-il ajouté. Une e navire turc utilisé pour éventualité rejetée par le com- rallier l'île d'Imrali a repris mandement militaire, à Ldu service. Samedi 23 février, il Kandil, dans le nord de l'Irak, a mis le cap vers l'île où est que l'armée turque continue de enfermé depuis 1999 Abdullah bombarder régulièrement. Öcalan, le chef du Parti des tra- Selon la déclaration lue par vailleurs du Kurdistan (PKK), Mme Buldan, Abdullah Öcalan condamné à la réclusion à per- a fait part de son souhait de pétuité. A bord, avaient pris voir libérer les otages turcs place trois députés du Parti détenus par le PKK : "L'Etat et pour la paix et la démocratie le PKK ont tous deux des pri- (BDP), la vitrine légale de la sonniers. Le PKK doit bien rébellion kurde, désignés pour traiter les siens, et j'espère rencontrer pour la deuxième qu'ils pourront retrouver leur fois "Apo" dans sa cellule. famille." Un officier de police Après six heures et un sous-préfet sont prison- Les trois députés du BDP qui ont pu rendre visite à Abdullah d'entretien, les émissaires sont niers depuis dix-huit mois. Ocalan, le leader kurde du PKK détenu dans la prison d'Imrali, repartis satisfaits. Les pour- le 23 février. Les trois députés du BDP qui ont pu rendre visite parlers de paix pour mettre fin LA QUESTION SYRIENNE, à Abdullah Ocalan, le leader kurde du PKK détenu dans la à une guerre de trente ans PRINCIPAL SUJET DE prison d'Imrali, le 23 février. | AFP/OZAN KOSE entre l'Etat turc et le PKK LITIGE constituent "une étape histo- Le devenir de ces négocia- mouvement kurde craint que Mais si la question apparaît rique", a rapporté la députée tions reste incertain. Le gou- ne se répète le scénario de rarement dans les discours Pervin Buldan, au retour de la vernement est tiraillé entre la 2009 : 34 militants désarmés officiels, c'est bien la situation délégation. Les négociations nécessité de parvenir à un s'étaient rendus aux autorités de la Syrie voisine qui consti- peuvent se poursuivre, après compromis et l'impopularité turques, à la frontière avec tue le principal sujet de litige avoir été interrompues le 9 jan- du processus d'Imrali. Une l'Irak. Certains avaient été entre le gouvernement turc et vier par le brutal assassinat de majorité de Turcs est hostile à emprisonnés. le PKK, a laissé entendre la trois militantes du mouvement toute discussion avec le "chef Cette fois, des signaux posi- députée du BDP Ayla Akat Ata. kurde, à Paris. terroriste". Ce week-end, dans tifs ont été envoyés par le pou- Ankara réclame le désarme- Selon la presse turque, les plusieurs villes du pays, des voir. Dix militants, dont six ment des Forces de défense du trois députés ont rapporté de la manifestants nationalistes maires, accusés d'appartenir à peuple (YPG), la milice du prison d'Imrali la "feuille de turcs ont réclamé "du respect l'Union des communautés du Parti de l'Union démocratique route" d'Öcalan. Mais le pre- pour les martyrs". "Suspendez Kurdistan (KCK), une adminis- (PYD), la branche syrienne du mier ministre Recep Tayyip Imrali ! Pendez ce bâtard tration fantôme mise sur pied PKK, qui a pris le contrôle Erdogan a déclaré attendre, en d'Öcalan !", scandait l'extrême dans les régions kurdes, ont été d'une partie de la région kurde premier lieu, que la guérilla droite, samedi, à Istanbul. libérés. Et, à Ankara, le de Syrie et qui, sur le terrain, marxiste insurgée contre l'Etat Plus tôt dans la semaine, Parlement s'apprête à voter s'oppose violemment aux turc dépose les armes sans des élus du BDP avaient été une série de réformes judi- rebelles islamistes. I conditions. "Nous avons dit à attaqués dans la petite ville de ciaires qui assouplirait la loi plusieurs reprises que les Sinop, sur la mer Noire. Le antiterroriste.

72 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Özeti 27 FEVRIER 2013

ils peuvent aller», a-t-il déclaré mardi soir à la presse. Durant ses dix années au Turquie: Les rebelles pouvoir, Recep Tayyip Erdogan a mis en oeuvre des réformes pour promouvoir les droits culturels des Kurdes. Mais la kurdes quitteraient le pays classe politique kurde souhaite des réformes plus importantes avec une nou- en août velle Constitution qui permette une plus Avec Reuters l'importance du calendrier évoqué dans la grande égalité entre Turcs et Kurdes et le presse et dit qu'aucune décision n'avait développement de l'enseignement en e dirigeant kurde emprisonné été prise. Idris Baluken a déclaré à langue kurde. Abdullah Öcalan envisagerait le retrait Reuters qu'Abdullah Öcalan avait exposé Le PKK a pris les armes en 1984 dans le Lde ses combattants de Turquie avant la ses idées dans le document et demandé but de parvenir à la création d'un Etat mi-août, aux termes d'un projet d'accord au BDP et au PKK d'exprimer leur avis kurde. Il a ensuite revu ses objectifs à la de paix envoyé à la direction de son parti dans les deux prochaines semaines. baisse pour revendiquer une certaine et à des hommes politiques kurdes. «Abdullah Öcalan souhaite juger de la autonomie. Le PKK est considéré comme Emprisonné depuis son arrestation en sincérité du gouvernement», a-t-il dit. une organisation terroriste par la 1999, Abdullah Öcalan négocie avec le «Nous souhaitons que les discussions Turquie, les Etats-Unis et l'Union euro- gouvernement turc les grandes lignes aboutissent mais politiquement parlant, péenne. Selahattin Demirtas, chef du d'un accord pour mettre fin au conflit nous n'avons pas beaucoup progressé.» BDP, a déclaré qu'un cessez-le-feu tacite entre les Kurdes et l'Etat turc, qui a fait Le gouvernement turc, de son côté, devra était d'ores et déjà respecté, le nombre 40.000 morts depuis 1984. mettre en oeuvre des réformes pour déve- d'attaques ayant diminué depuis le début Selon le projet d'accord, auquel le Parti lopper les droits des 15 millions de des négociations. Le PKK a pourtant fait des travailleurs du Kurdistan (PKK) doit Kurdes. La minorité kurde représente état mercredi de la mort de quatre mili- répondre dans un délai de deux environ 20% des 76 millions de Turcs. tants tués mardi par des frappes semaines, la guérilla kurde observerait aériennes turques dans le nord de l'Irak. un cessez-le-feu officiel à partir du 21 DES LIBÉRATIONS DE PRISONNIERS Parmi les mesures envisagées pour faire mars, date du Nouvel an kurde, rappor- ENVISAGÉES avancer le processus de paix, figure la tent mercredi les journaux Sabah et Star, Abdullah Öcalan, souligne la presse, pro- libération d'une dizaine de représentants proches du gouvernement. Le retrait des poserait le maintien d'un Etat turc uni- des forces de sécurité turques capturés combattants du PKK serait achevé le 15 taire. Il ne demanderait pas d'autonomie par le PKK. Mais, a dit un des comman- août, 29e anniversaire du conflit, ajou- pour les Kurdes. dants du PKK, Duran Kalkan, ces libéra- tent-ils. Ces informations n'ont pu être tions dépendront des mesures prises par confirmées. Le PKK avait déjà démenti de Le Premier ministre turc, Recep Tayyip la Turquie. «Il ne faut pas s'attendre à ce telles affirmations. Erdogan, a souligné qu'«aucune réclama- tion visant à mettre à mal notre unité que nous prenions ces mesures de Un parlementaire du parti pro-kurde BDP nationale» n'était acceptable. «S'ils dépo- manière unilatérale», dit-il dans une (Parti paix et démocratie) qui a reçu le sent les armes et quittent notre pays, il y interview à l'agence de presse Firat, liée projet d'accord de paix mardi a relativisé a beaucoup d'endroits dans le monde où au PKK. N

Formation d'un bataillon de 150 femmes kurdes

BEYROUTH, 23 février 2013 (AFP)

LES KURDES DE SYRIE ont récemment formé dans la province d'Alep (nord) leur premier bataillon de femmes, avec environ 150 recrues, a annoncé l'Observatoire syrien des droits de l'Homme (OSDH), relevant le rôle grandissant des femmes dans les combats en Syrie. Cette annonce intervient quelques jours après la conclusion d'un accord entre les rebelles et les milices kurdes pour cesser leurs combats meurtriers. "Les comités populaires kurdes ont formé un bataillon composé de quelques 150 femmes, baptisé le bataillon de Rokan", en référence à une combattante kurde, a indiqué l'Observatoire syrien des droits de l'Homme (OSDH), en diffu- sant une photo montrant des femmes en treillis en rang devant leur chef. du nord syrien, près de la frontière, et dénoncé une mesure "dirigée contre" "C'est le premier bataillon de femmes qui combat avec les rebelles, les forces Ankara. du régime et les milices kurdes", a souligné Rami Abdel Rahmane, directeur de l'OSDH. En janvier, les forces du régime syrien avaient créé la première unité féminine des Forces de défense nationale, une force paramilitaire qui compte 450 com- Le Parti de l'Union démocratique kurde (PYD), la branche syrienne du Parti des battantes engagée pour lutter contre la rébellion. travailleurs du Kurdistan (PKK, rebelles kurdes de Turquie), est "dirigée par une femme, Asia Abdallah", a rappelé M. Abdel Rahmane. Les militants anti-régime ont pour leur part diffusé des photos montrant des femmes combattant avec les rebelles, et dans la province de Damas, la rébel- "Les femmes se battent sur tous les fronts maintenant" et "jouent un rôle majeur lion a une femme pour porte-parole, Samara a-Quwatli. dans les combats en Syrie", a-t-il insisté. Dans la ville côtière de Lattaquié, une militante jointe par l'AFP via internet a Les deux millions de Kurdes de Syrie, qui vivent pour la plupart dans le nord et déclaré que des femmes, moins soumises aux contrôles des barrages du le nord-est du pays, ont longtemps cherché à rester à l'écart du conflit, même si régime, transportaient souvent des armes, de la nourriture et des médicaments les rebelles les ont accusés de faire le jeu du régime. pour les rebelles. I La Turquie avait aussi accusé Damas d'avoir "confié" au PYD plusieurs zones

73 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Özeti 27 FEVRIER 2013

Turquie

EnLe Turquie, vrai la minorité défi kurde estdes à la traîne Kurdes de l’économie La est minorité économique est à la traîne de l’économie turque. Le fossé entre l’ouest et le sud-est ne cesse de se creuser

Boris Mabillard vendre les bêtes à vil prix, nous n’avons langue dans les écoles conditionne le fort pas touché de compensation. Depuis, sans taux d’échec de nos élèves.» Le faible ur le parvis de la mosquée, en réfection, économies, nous nous battons pour sur- niveau de qualification des Kurdes con- la terrasse ne désemplit pas, même en vivre», explique Feman, le père. Son stitue à l’échelle régionale un obstacle au Ssemaine. Une centaine d’hommes, presque épouse ne s’est jamais vraiment habituée à développement économique. tous dans la force de l’âge, tuent le temps la vie urbaine: «Ici, je ne fais rien. Chaque assis sur des tabourets rudimentaires. «Ils année, nous retournons à Goman cueillir La mairie a mis en place une petite struc- sont désœuvrés, sans emploi», explique un les pommes et les amandes. J’y resterais ture pour assister les élèves, dans un homme emmitouflé dans une gabardine bien, mais c’est impossible sans le retour appartement transformé au deuxième étage rapiécée. A Diyarbakir, la grande ville du de la paix.» Perda, 18 ans, et Fidan, 17 ans, d’un immeuble vétuste sans chauffage cen- sud-est de la Turquie, le taux de chômage sont nées à la maison, à Diyarbakir, où la tral. Gül (rose, en turc) y donne des cours varierait selon les quartiers entre 25 et 60%, famille s’est installée, dans le quartier de de rattrapage et d’appui en mathématiques: contre une moyenne nationale de 8,2%. Le Sur, le cœur historique de la ville, ceint de «Les élèves viennent surtout pour préparer miracle économique turc n’a pas produit ses murailles en basalte. Elles n’imaginent pas l’examen de fin de scolarité qui leur ouvre effets ici: alors que le PNB par habitant à retourner au village. Elles rêvent de ville, les portes de l’université, un examen Istanbul est supérieur à celui de la Pologne, voudraient étudier, travailler, avoir une unique pour tout le pays.» Fidan et Perda à Diyarbakir, il chute au niveau de celui de voiture, une vie moderne. Bastion de la sont parmi les plus assidues. Elles viennent l’Inde. résistance nationaliste kurde, Sur est aussi en fin de journée, les week-ends et durant un chef-lieu de la misère. Quelque 100 000 les vacances. «A la maison, nous n’avons Un pays, deux mondes. Le clivage est géo- habitants vivent là, dont une majorité de pas la place pour faire nos devoirs ou graphique – l’ouest prospère, le sud-est déplacés. réviser», explique Perda, qui prépare stagne – mais aussi ethnique: les 12 l’examen final. Gül se presse contre le provinces les plus pauvres du pays sont «On m’a proposé un travail, dans le bâti- poêle à bois: «Au moins, il fait plus chaud celles où les Kurdes sont majoritaires. ment, mais c’est loin et mal payé, 600 ici que dans la plupart des maisons, mais Alors que le gouvernement a ouvert des livres turques [environ 310 francs] par que faire contre la faim qui tiraille certains négociations de paix avec les rebelles du mois. Le prix du bus pour m’y rendre de nos élèves?» Parti des travailleurs du Kurdistan (PKK), avalerait une bonne partie du salaire.» En les difficultés socio-économiques des attendant, Feman travaille comme jour- ttentats, violences et instabilité ont tenu régions kurdes constitueront un défi de nalier, selon la demande aléatoire: «Nous les investisseurs privés éloignés des taille. Faute de le relever, Ankara pourrait avons assez à manger. Tous les dix jours, Azones kurdes. Pour Sah ismail Bedirhanoglu, voir capoter ses efforts pour résoudre le nous avons même un peu de viande.» Mais président de l’Association de l’industrie et problème kurde. pour les vêtements et le chauffage, c’est du commerce pour le sud-est anatolien une autre paire de manches. (Günsiad), les mesures incitatives pour sti- Les murs sont glabres, peints à la chaux, muler l’économie et attirer les entrepreneurs un canapé-lit, quelques tapis et couvertures bdullah Demirbas, maire de n’ont pas suffi: «Le fossé entre l’ouest et constituent le seul mobilier. Les repas sont l’arrondissement de Sur, issu du Parti l’est du pays ne cesse d’augmenter.» Sah - pris là, mais, le soir, la pièce se mue en Apour la paix et la démocratie (BDP, nationa- ismail Bedirhanoglu se démène avec des chambre à coucher, le père et la mère la liste kurde), déplore les conditions socio- entrepreneurs pour sortir la région du partagent avec trois de leurs enfants. Fidan économiques de la ville: «La mairie n’a pas marasme. Mais leurs projets se heurtent aux et sa sœur Perda dorment dans l’autre les moyens de lutter contre le chômage et la réticences du gouvernement: «Equipements chambre, qu’elles partagent à cinq avec le pauvreté. Le problème est régional, sinon et infrastructures manquent, l’Etat investit reste de la fratrie. Comme des centaines de national. Et lié à la politique gouvernemen- peu et trop tard. Malgré son retard de déve- milliers de paysans, la famille a été forcée tale à l’égard des Kurdes.» Les maires, élus, loppement, notre région ne fait pas partie par l’armée de quitter son village. C’était jouissent de prérogatives limitées, alors que des priorités du gouvernement. Il semble au milieu des années 1990, le gouverne- les gouverneurs de province, appointés par même y avoir une politique délibérée ment avait mis en place une politique de la le gouvernement, gèrent la justice, la police, d’étranglement économique.» terre brûlée pour lutter contre les rebelles la santé, l’enseignement et l’aménagement du PKK: vider les campagnes isolées pour du territoire. Cette double gouvernance res- Abdullah Demirbas et Sahismail couper l’organisation de ses éventuels sup- treint la marge de manœuvre des autorités Bedirhanoglu insistent: la guerre doit cess- ports parmi la population rurale. Trois locales. Le budget de ces dernières dépend er et le processus de paix impliquer l’octroi mille villages ont ainsi été détruits, et leurs en outre des recettes fiscales locales, de droits pour les Kurdes, dont celui essen- habitants contraints de fuir. Un exode a d’autant réduites lorsque l’activité écono- tiel de pouvoir suivre une scolarité dans suivi, qui draina près de 3 millions de mique est anémique. leur langue, et une autonomie relative qui paysans vers les villes. Les conséquences donne aux élus la liberté d’encadrer le subsistent aujourd’hui, le tissu économique Abdullah Demirbas risque 493 années de développement de leur région. Mais pour urbain n’ayant pu absorber les nouveaux prison pour ses liens supposés avec le PKK l’instant, rien dans l’attitude du gouverne- arrivants. et pour avoir promu l’usage de la langue ment ne laisse penser qu’il soit prêt à kurde. Un engagement qu’il considère effectuer un aggiornamento de sa politique H «En quittant Goman, notre village, j’ai dû comme essentiel: «L’interdiction de notre à l’égard de la minorité kurde.

74 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Özeti February 27, 2013

The P.K.K. has abandoned its pre- vious demands for independence but Will Turkey continues to seek equal rights for Kurds within the Turkish state. Make Peace Mr. Erdogan meanwhile dramatically underlined his own good intentions by tel- With the ling his parliamentary colleagues he was prepared to drink poison if it meant achie- ving peace. Kurds? There are reports that the P.K.K. is By HARVEY MORRIS - LONDON preparing to release 16 Turkish prisoners, Turkish nationalists marched on possibly as early as this weekend, as part here is growing optimism that a cease- Sunday to protest the peace talks. of the peace moves. fire in Turkey’s three-decade war with Mr. Ocalan has sought the backing of TKurdish guerrillas will be declared to coin- P.K.K. exiles in Europe for the peace ini- most wanted man. cide with the Kurdish New Year in three tiative, as well as that of guerrilla fighters In their latest visit, last weekend, they weeks. based in the north of Iraq. accompanied a delegation of Kurdish Under a draft plan reported on Duran Kalkan, a senior P.K.K. com- legislators from the Peace and Democracy Wednesday, the rebel Kurdistan Workers’ mander based in Iraq, said this week that Party, or B.D.P. Party, or P.K.K., would lay down its arms he is open to the idea of a prisoner release. Selahattin Demirtas, the B.D.P. co- on March 21 and withdraw its forces from “However, nobody should expect us to chairman, said this week that there was Turkish territory by August. make a unilateral move.” already a de facto ceasefire. The P.K.K. The potential for a breakthrough in In what appeared to be a positive res- was not carrying out armed action and the ending the conflict, which has claimed ponse to the peace moves, he told the Turkish army was not conducting signifi- 40,000 lives since 1984, came when the Kurdish Firatnews: “If everybody does cant military operations against the government of Prime Minister Recep what is required to do, I can say on behalf rebels. Tayyip Erdogan opened talks late last of the P.K.K. that the Kurdish armed He quoted a letter from Mr. Ocalan in year with Abdullah Ocalan, the P.K.K.’s movement will never pose an obstacle to which he expressed the belief that the pro- jailed leader. the democratization of Turkey and the cess would lead to an eventual resolution Intelligence agents made a series of solution of the Kurdish question.” visits to the prison island of Imrali near of the Kurdish issue. “Neither we nor the Istanbul to negotiate with the former state can abandon that process,” he quo- guerrilla chief, who was once Turkey’s ted the letter as saying.

"Talks over oil company payments have reached a dead-end," said spokesman for the Kurdish parliamentary bloc Muayad al-Tayeb, describing Baghdad's posture as a tactic to scare off oil companies Iraq budget that have been tempted north by better security and better contract terms. stalemate deepens over "Oil companies need to be paid and we are not prepared to bargain on payments," he added. BAGHDAD |Kurd February 27, 2013oil by Ahmed payments Rasheed(Reuters) The deadlock could postpone major infrastructure projects and pay- ments to regional authorities in the OPEC producer, whose state cof- fers are filled almost entirely by the proceeds of crude exports. AN IMPASSE over Iraq's budget deepened on Wednesday after meetings between the country's oil minister and his Kurdish coun- A Shi'ite lawmaker from Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki's State of Law terpart failed to resolve a dispute about payment for oil companies coalition said the Kurds were not entitled to compensation because operating in the autonomous north. they had not contributed their fair share to national exports. Iraq's cabinet approved the $118.6 billion budget in October, but "They have been halting oil exports for months and now they want infighting between Shi'ite, Sunni and Kurdish factions has scuttled payment: that's not acceptable," Abbas al-Bayati said. attempts by lawmakers to pass the draft legislation in parliament. Kurdish crude used to be shipped to world markets through a A Kurdish delegation headed by the region's minister for natural Baghdad-controlled pipeline to Turkey, but exports via that channel resources, Ashti Hawrami, left Baghdad empty-handed on dried up last year as result of the payment row. Wednesday following "tense" meetings with Iraqi oil minister Abdul A year after the last U.S. troops withdrew, Iraq's economy is impro- Kareem Luabi that dragged on for around five hours. ving and should grow 9 percent this year as oil production expands, The budget standoff is the latest sign of a long-running row between according to central bank projections. the central government and the Kurdistan region over how to exploit However, it still needs investment in everything from infrastructure the world's fourth largest oil reserves and divide the revenues. to transport to rebuild the economy, and key oil and investment laws Kurdistan says it is owed more than 4 trillion Iraqi dinars, or $3.5 bil- languish in parliament because of political turmoil. lion to cover the costs accumulated by oil companies operating there "It's difficult to reach an agreement because Baghdad is dealing with over the past three years, but Baghdad rejects those contracts as ille- this as a political issue ratherG than a technical one," said Kurdish law- gal and has allocated just 750 billion Iraqi dinars ($644.33 million). maker Farhad Atroshi.

75 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Özeti February 28, 2013 Kurdish rebel leader airs frustrations in Turkey peace process By Ayla Jean Yackley The publication of such a statement of position by Ocalan ISTANBUL / Reuters - will certainly anger some in From his island prison, Kurdish Turkey. There is a strong rebel leader Abdullah Ocalan conservative opposition to any- has accused the fighters he thing approaching a public role commands of hampering his for someone accused by efforts to end a decades-old Ankara of indiscriminate kil- conflict and warned the Turkish lings and of threatening the fun- government against any daments of the Turkish state. attempt to dictate terms. The pro-Kurdish Peace and In the transcript of a week- Democracy Party (BDP) has end meeting between Ocalan denied leaking the transcript, in and Kurdish politicians publi- which Ocalan talks in detail shed in Milliyet daily and about a withdrawal of fighters confirmed by a party to the from Turkish territory, the talks, Ocalan offered a first release of prisoners linked to public insight into his role and the PKK and constitutional A flag with the portrait of jailed PKK leader Ocalan is seen in apparent frustrations in a frail reform. front of the entrance of the Information Centre of Kurdistan in peace process. The leader of the PKK, Paris (Christian Hartmann Reuters, REUTERS / February 28, 2013) Ocalan, captured by Turkish considered a terrorist organiza- special forces in Kenya in 1999, tion by Turkey, the United States ting, traveled to Brussels to BDP lawmakers met Ocalan expressed impatience with the and the European Union, also deliver a second letter to lea- at the weekend and his plan was Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) betrayed unease about the ding PKK figures in Europe, handed over to the party on military command based in the intentions of the ruling AK Party source of much of the financing Tuesday. It contained a three- Qandil mountains of northern and warned against any attempt of the group, part solution to the conflict, Iraq, suggesting they were less to impose a solution on its The missions had the tacit including a ceasefire, withdra- than enthusiastic about peace terms. approval of Prime Minister wal of PKK fighters from Turkey efforts. "I hope the AKP does not Tayyip Erdogan's government, and their disarmament before "Even the PKK does not misunderstand us. If they which has renewed efforts to reintegrating some 7,000 rebels understand me. They see me misunderstand there will be resolve a conflict that has clai- into society. like an older brother and father. disaster. If the AKP tries to dic- med more than 40,000 lives He suggested the planned I share their worries," he said. tate to us, we will not accept," since 1984, held back Turkey's withdrawal of PKK fighters from "Qandil is pessimistic, it would he said. economy and damaged its Turkish territory would require be good if they get over it." The leaked transcript human rights record. parliamentary action. "I'm angry with them," appeared on the same day that Ocalan's leaked comments "It will not be a unilateral Ocalan said, voicing opposition BDP lawmakers were delivering may cast a shadow over a pro- withdrawal. The withdrawal will to their "war system" or stra- Ocalan's peace plan to the PKK cess that, according to surveys, be a decision by parliament. It tegy. in Iraq and Europe, setting out has tentative public support. does not happen just by the Ocalan, 63, has been kept his proposals for a rebel cease- Ocalan, serving a life sen- prime minister saying, 'They largely in virtual solitary confi- fire and withdrawal from Turkey tence on the island of Imrali will withdraw and we will not nement for most of the last to end a 28-year conflict. near Istanbul since a death sen- interfere,'" he said. decade and allowed a television BDP co-chairs Selahattin tence was commuted, has been He also warned of greater set only recently. Demirtas and Gultan Kisanak holding talks with Turkish intel- conflict unless all prisoners lin- There was no comment from were in a group that flew to the ligence officials since last ked to the PKK are released. the government on the publica- city of Sulaimaniyah in Iraqi October with the aim of ending "There will be no need for tion of the transcript, which is Kurdistan before meeting the negotiations to end the insur- house arrest or an amnesty. We reminiscent of the 2011 leaking PKK leadership, based in gency. will all be free," he said. "If I am of recordings of previous talks remote mountains bordering The PKK had originally successful there will be no pri- between the state and Ocalan's Turkey and Iran, media reports fought for an independent soners left... If this does not hap- Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) said. homeland in the Turkish sou- pen there will be a people's war militants in Oslo. That leak hel- PKK IN EUROPE theast but is now demanding with 50,000 people." N ped derail efforts at that time to Pervin Buldan, one of the broad autonomy within Turkey. resolve the conflict. lawmakers at the Ocalan mee-

Gen. Hamid Tabatabaei was "martyred" during an engineering assi- Iran reports death of gnment. It was the third reported killing of a ranking officer in the area, home to Revolutionary Guards officer mostly people of the Kurdish ethnic group. Members of the Guards have TEHRAN, Iran (AP) - February 24, 2013 - Associated Press in the past fought Kurdish opposition groups in the area.

An Iranian semi-official news agency is reporting that a comman- In recent years the Guards have attacked several bases of the armed der of the powerful Revolutionary Guards has been killed in the Kurdish group known as the PEJAK, which has been occasionally invol- ved in armed clashes with Iranian forces. The rebels say they are figh- country's Kurdish northwest. H ting for greater rights for their minority community. The Sunday report by Fars quotes a statement by the Guards as saying

76 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Özeti 28 February 2013 UNCERTAINTY WITH PEACE PROCESS Negotiations with imprisoned leader of Kurdish rebels raise many questions By Azad Amin established on the outdated prin- The Kurdish Globe ciples of Ittihad-i Terakki or Committe of Union and Progress, Talks between Ocalan (Yeni Safak, 25 February). and MIT cannot resolve These optimistic views is not con- the Kurdish national fined solely to a handful of writ- question ers whether Turks or Kurds. It is common among the liberal mind- here are concentrated talks ed intelligentsia in Turkey. Ultra and discussions among the Turkish nationalists and the main TTurkish media regarding the so- opposition party, Republic called 'peace process' between People's Party, CHP, fiercely Turkish state and PKK's impriso- opposing the ongoing talks with ned leader Abdullah Ocalan. For Ocalan mainly due to the fact that some time the AKP-led Turkish if the AKP government is suc- Turkish nationalists could misread the legal opinion as pro- government through Turkish cessful in ending the conflict, PKK feeling, a diplomat said. PRESS PHOTO Intelligence Agency (MIT) has they fear this will prolong AKP begun talking with Ocalan in Turkish political establishment and groups, and the other People's Party in Turkish politics for some may open new opportunities to Council led by Democratic Union order to stop PKK's military war- time to come. fare in Turkey and get PKK's Kurdish national movement to Party, known as PYD. PYD is guerrillas back to Kurdistan raise the issue back to its right known for its close association This so-called peace process place. with PKK. region of Iraq. The negotiations however has to be critically ana- or rather the secretive talks bet- lyzed within the framework of ween MIT and Ocalan have been The Kurdish national question is a While KNC demands federal sta- Kurdish national question and question of nationality and sover- tus of Syrian Kurds in post-Assad classified as the initiation of a solution of that question. Failing 'peace process'. eignty. It is a political question period, PYD demands basic cul- to approach the issue through that refers to legitimate national tural and individual rights for national perspective has potential For so many, including the edito- rights of the Kurds over their ter- Syrian Kurds within a democratic to deviate from the essence of the rial of this issue by Bashdar ritory and sovereignty. The Syria. PYD formulates its argu- Kurdish national question and Ismael, the so-called peace Kurdish national question is not ment similar to PKK under the consequently not lead to an process is a very necessary and about democratization of Turkey banner of 'democratic autonomy'. appropriate solution. good step that has potential to but the property rights of the PYD's autonomy however does resolve the Kurdish question in Kurds over their geography and not demarcate Syrian Kurdistan Talks between MIT and Ocalan Turkey. For Bashdar 'The Imrali the natural resources over it. border and does not include any towards the solution of an peace process in Turkey has creat- Without the Kurds having their sovereign rights for the Kurds. In decades old conflict has nothing ed an environment, support base sovereign rights and entitlement other words PYD's policy for to do with the Kurdish national and sense of expectancy that has over the territory, the Kurdish Syrian Kurds is to reduce the question but it is about the exis- never been seen before'. Bashdar national question cannot and will national question of Syrian Kurds tence of PKK and its problem optimistically argues that a new not be resolved. The Iraqi experi- to minority rights. with the Turkish political estab- Turkey can be built by writing a ence indicates this very clearly. lishment. What is at the stake is new constitution: 'A new constitu- Turkey's main concern for Syria not the Kurdish national issue but tion that recognizes the Kurds and The so-called peace process and is to prevent disintegration of the the problematic existence and enshrines their rights, including a the talks between Ocalan and country into its national and reli- survival of PKK as an organiza- level of autonomy, is of para- MIT does not in any way refers to gious components and to prevent tion spread throughout Turkey, mount importance.' such principles and thus reduces the Syrian Kurds to have their Middle East and Europe. It is also the Kurdish national question to a own sovereign status similar to a personal question of Abdullah A similar argument is put forward minority question. the Iraqi Kurds. Formation of Ocalan and improving his prison by Abdulkadir Selvi in his col- another federal Kurdish political conditions and his possible free- umn at Yeni Safak on Monday. It is also imperative to underline establishment may jeopardize dom. Selvi is not only a Turkish jour- the timing of the talks, which is AKP led Turkish government pol- Indeed ending the conflict will nalist but also a close adviser of taking place in a sensitive period icy for resolving the Kurdish open new doors for the discussion Turkish Prime Minister Recep in the Middle East and in Iraq par- national question within the para- on the Kurdish question from a Tayyip Erdogan. In that sense his ticularly. Political chaos and civil digm of minority question, in new perspective. The three vision and ideas regarding the war in Syria has potential to disin- other words integrating and decades of conflict between PKK process is crucial. Selvi like tegrate Syria into national and assimilating the Kurds into the and Turkish security forces in Bashdar argued that this process, religious components thus poten- political establishment through reality hijacked the Kurdish ques- if it is crowned with a parallel tial for Syrian Kurds to establish a granting basic individual rights tion from its true essence and process of writing a new constitu- Kurdish political entity similar rather than collective and national diminished Kurdish nation- tion, definition of a new identity Iraqi Kurdistan. There are two rights. al/democratic liberation struggle and moral values can lead to the main currents in Syrian to a security and terror paradigm. construction of a new Turkey and Kurdistan, one led by Kurdish In this sense Turkey will be suc- End of conflict and legalization of liquidation of old Turkey that was National Council composed of cessful in resolving the Kurdish PKK and its integration into the various Kurdish political parties question without jeopardizing

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

the political establishment that between Turkey and Kurdistan on the one hand to integrate the ongoing talks will resolve the is based on 'one nation, one flag, Regional government both enti- northern Kurds (Kurdistan of Kurdish national question then one state'. Successful talks ties may face each other in Syria Turkey) into Turkish political sys- KRG makes a historical mistake between Ocalan and MIT or and Syrian Kurdistan mainly tem in a voluntary way through and digs its own grave. But if it between Turkey and PKK para- because their policies contradict PKK and on the other hand to pre- approaches the issue in a prag- doxically means controlling and each other. While KRG pursues a vent the Syrian Kurds to establish matic way to end the PKK's con- manipulating political develop- federal system in post-Assad their own sovereign political flict with Turkey, it must follow a ment in Syrian Kurdistan by regime, Turkey aspires for a cen- regime either by a federal struc- very delicate policy. KRG's main Turkey through PKK and PYD. tralized political regime for post- ture or independence. concern and concentration should Because PYD is nothing but a Assad regime. The best instru- not be about the Kurds in Turkey proxy organization of PKK and ment that Turkey has in its hand is Here comes a critical question of at this stage but the Syrian follows its footsteps, Turkey the PYD because it pursues a KRG in this process. KRG Kurdistan because the destiny of through PKK and PYD will try to political objective albeit in a dif- expressed its good intention in the Kurds in Kurdistan will be affect the Kurdish politics in ferent political jargon. this so-called peace process and determined by how the Syrian Syria. outlined that it is ready to take political development may The talks between PKK and part towards a peaceful solution. evolve. Ë Despite the good relations Turkey thus have two intentions: If KRG really believes that the

February 26, 2013

the law under which the Kurdish politicians had Assyrians’ former vernacular. Will the Turkish been convicted. That decision came into force government help, or hinder? on February 7. This seems quite positive. But while Turkey Turkey’s Further movement can be seen in the realm works through becoming more accepting of of religion. The government announced the lif- non-Turkish languages and cultures internally, it ting of the ban on mosque sermons in lan- continues to promote pan-Turkism abroad. One guages other than Turkish—now Kurdish and element of this policy is the protection of other language Arabic speakers are allowed to hear sermons Turkic languages. they can understand. (Any Muslim congregation Consider the Crimean Tatars. The Tatars fluent only some fourth tongue is still out of were among the peoples devastated by politics luck.) Oddly, Turkey’s Religious Affairs Stalin—the entire community was hastily depor- Directorate head Mehmet Görmez denied that ted in May 1944, with an estimated 45% dying By: Paul Kujawsky such a ban had existed: “The representatives of in exile. Today some 250,000 Tatars again live religion can preach with comfort in the lan- in the Crimean Penninsula, now part of urkey seems to be loosening its harsh guage understood by the people coming into Ukraine. But only 15 schools offer instruction in policies on non-Turkish languages, the mosque, especially in rural areas. It is sad the Tatar language. Turkey is providing support T while also casting itself as the patron to treat such an ongoing practice as if it just for the revival of Tatar. Safure Kadzhametova, and protector of other Turkic languages. This is appeared today.” head of the Maarifchi Association of Crimean not all good news. And in the area of criminal procedure, on Tatar Educators and a Deputy of the Crimean Turkey has long been touchy about national January 25 the Turkish Parliament enacted a Parliament, said: “After our schools are establi- identity. The ideological primacy of revision to the Criminal Code permitting Kurdish shed and our education system has started “Turkishness” versus the rights of ethnic minori- defendants to defend themselves in their functioning, we want to switch to the Latin ties is a long-standing, sometimes violent, mother tongue. The first use of the law is in the alphabet and unite with the Turkish World.” conflict in Turkish society and politics. The infa- ongoing trial of members of the Kurdistan The “Turkish World” Turkey is creating is mous Article 301 of the Turkish Criminal Code, Communities’ Union, founded by Kurdish terro- one it would inevitably dominate, because of its making it a crime to “insult the Turkish nation” rist leader Abdullah Öcalan and considered by superior economic and military strength. Look (before its 2008 amendment, article 301 prohi- Turkey to be a front organization for the banned where this hegemony is headed. The creation bited “insulting Turkishness”), is used to harass, terrorist group the PKK. of a Turkic-speaking free trade zone has for example, journalists who label the mass Because the Kurds are the dominant mino- begun. Recently there was a meeting of the murder of Armenians in 1915 a genocide. rity, Kurdish issues dominate Turkish language heads of state agencies responsible for the Since language is intimately bound up with politics. But changing demographics may bring diaspora affairs of the members of the ethnic identity, Turkey has suppressed the new issues to the fore. Cooperation Council of Turkic-speaking coun- Kurdish language in order to suppress Kurdish For example, despite the long history of tries (an organization created in 2009 and nationalism. The Kurds, who were promised Greek-Turkish hostility, the Greek economy has consisting of Turkey, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, their own state after World War I, are the lar- crashed so thoroughly that Greeks—most with Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan). gest ethnic minority in Turkey. Kurdish nationa- family roots in Turkey—are moving to Turkey. And on January 23, Turkey, Azerbaijan, lism terrifies Turkey, which has responded by Istanbul Greek Orthodox Patriarch Kyrgyzstan and Mongolia formed the Armed suppressing Kurdish culture, including the lan- Bartholomew notes: “Although Prime Minister Forces of Turkic States. guage. But the situation may be changing. (Recep Tayyip Erdoğan) invites (the Greeks of Maybe these Turkic initiatives will amount The change may be in part the result of Istanbul origin), it is not easy for them to return. to something, and maybe they won't. And of outside pressure. On January 22, the European But I wish they would return. In Athens, there is course, Turkic countries drawing closer together Court of Human Rights fined Turkey for viola- a federation for those who are of Istanbul ori- under Turkey’s leadership isn’t necessarily alar- ting the European Declaration of Human gin. This federation demands the return of their ming. It depends on the character of the Rights. The court considered that Turkey had citizenship from the Turkish government.” nations involved, and the character of the insti- violated the free expression rights of politicians Depending on the size of the influx, Turkey may tutions they’re creating. Unfortunately, Turkey is who were fined and imprisoned for campai- need to formulate or reformulate a Greek lan- far down the road of Islamism, while none of its gning in the Kurdish language. guage policy. Turkic partners is a liberal democracy. For this On the other hand, the Human Rights A smaller Orthodox Christian group, the reason, Turkey’s turn to the east is worrisome, court’s judgment had something of the charac- Assyrians, is trickling back from Europe. The even as its internal language policies become I ter of shooting a dead horse. Turkey’s children all speak German; there is interest in more liberal. Constitutional Court had already struck down the community in reviving Aramaic, the

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

lieraib^vS^Sribune Thursday, February 28, 2013

Turkeys foray into sionofthearea. Today, by contrast, Turkish Airlines offers daily flights to Sulaymaniyah and Erbil inside the Kurdistan Regional Gov¬ ernment (K.R.G.) in northern Iraq, and Iraqi Kurds take vacations in Antalya, a the Fertile Crescent Turkish resort city on the Mediter¬ ranean. Mosul, a Sunni-majority province in

would help boost Iraq's stability and im¬ northern Iraq, is also pivoting toward prove political ties with Syria and Iran. Ankara. Turkey currently provides safe TURKEYl Soner Cagaptay But the Arab rebellions have haven to Tariq al-Hashimi, Iraq's Sunni Ankara's un¬ rendered these designs obsolete. At vice president, whose arrest warrant declared policy first Ankara provided the Assad regime has become a rallying cause for many with friendly advice to stop killing civil¬ Sunnis. At the same time, historic links for a post-Assad The biggest open secret in Ankara is ians. But the Damascus regime re¬ between Mosul and Turkey, dating back that Turkey detests Iran, which it sees Mideast is a fused, and Turkey's stance flipped in to the Ottoman Empire, are being resur¬ as undermining its interests in Syria and cordon sanitaire August 2011: Ankara went from being rected: When I last visited Gaziantep, a Iraq. Turkish leaders will not admit this Assad's friendly neighbor to his chief city in southern Turkey, my hotel was across the publicly, for their country desperately northern Fertile heeds Iranian natural gas and oil to con¬ adversary. Turkey started providing full of Arab businessmen from Mosul. tinue its phenomenal economic growth. safe haven to the Syrian opposition, Before the Syrian uprising began, a Crescent. But Ankara increasingly regards and, according to media reports, even similar development was taking place both Iraq and Syria as arenas for proxy arming the rebels. in Aleppo, another Fertile Crescent city conflict with Iran; in the former, Turkey This policy has cast Ankara and that enjoyed deep commercial ties with backs the Sunni Arabs and Kurds Tehran, Assad's patron, as chief rivals in Turkey under the Ottoman Empire. against the central government in Syria. And this, in turn, has exacerbated Located only 26 miles from the border, Baghdad under Shiite Prime Minister competition in Iraq, where Ankara sup¬ Aleppo had become a focal point of Turk¬ Nuri Kamal al-Maliki, seen by Turkey ported Ayad Allawi's secular Iraqiya ish businesses in northern Syria, and

as an Iranian puppet; in the latter, An¬ bloc in the run-up to the 2010 elections, there is no doubt that the strong support kara supports the rebels against the poisoning relations with Maliki. the Turks have provided to the rebels in Tehran-backed Assad regime. In the aftermath of Maliki's re¬ northern Syria will increase Turkey's in¬ Turkey has answered Iran's challenge election, Ankara has favored closer fluence in the city after the end of the by building influence in the northern contacts among Sunni Arabs and Kurds Assad regime (it is no accident that the parts of both Iraq and Syria. This sig¬ in northern Iraq. Turkey's trade largest contiguous rebel-controlled nals the rise of a yet-undeclared Turkish volume with northern Iraq has climbed areas in Syria are around Aleppo). policy in the Middle East: Anticipating to $8 billion per year compared to only The missing part of Turkey's pro¬ the decentralization of post-Assad Syr¬ $2 billion with the southern portion of spective influence in the northern Fer¬ ia, and hoping to take advantage of the country, and Ankara is seeking lu¬ ule Crescent were the Syrian Kurds Iraq's autonomous Kurdish north, Tur¬ crative oil deals with Iraqi Kurds. until Turkey announced peace talks with key is carving out a cordon sanitaire In short, for all practical purposes, the Kurdistan Workers Party (P.K.K.). across the northern Fertile Crescent, northern Iraq has become part of the This group, which has waged a war building influence in the Kurdish popu¬ Turkish sphere of influence. This is es¬ against Turkey for over three decades, lation as well as in large commercial is also known to be the best-organized centers such as Aleppo and Mosul. pecially surprising considering that movement among the Syrian Kurds. When Turkey moved to foster closer only a few years ago Turkish hostility Ankara hopes that peace talks with ties with its Muslim neighbors about a toward Iraqi Kurdish leaders seemed the P.K.K. will help heal the bad blood decade ago, it hoped that such relations ready to boil over into an outright inva- with Syrian Kurds. Indeed, Turkey has reworked its Middle East policy: It.now views the Kurds as the foundation ofits zone of influence across the northern

Fertile Crescent. Yet not all is rosy for Turkey. The peace talks with the P.K.K. could go awry, driving P.K.K. rejectionists into the arms of Iran or even Baghdad. There is also an emerging threat in allowing radical fighters into northern Syria This is a dangerous game, for once the Assad regime falls, Turkey might find itself i- ... H**" with ajihadist problem in its newly ac¬ »".r^*_ quired sphere ofinfluence.

soner cagaftay is director ofthe Turkish Research Program at the Washington In¬ stitutefor Near East Policy and the au¬ "K thor of "Turkey Rising: 21st Century's

First Muslim Power." r

HUSSEIN MALLA/THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

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

France, Février 2013 Arménie

44 Les Kurdes ont besoin de vérité

ff et dejustice

Rusen Werdi, chargée de l'information et du bureau des droits de l'Homme

à l'Institut kurde de Paris, livre son analyse sur la situation actuelle.

En outre, Ôcalan a demandé à ses troupes de prendre - V rang auprès de l'opposition syrienne de manière plus

prononcée. Ce qui ne plaît pas du tout au régime syrien, * r* qui avait préféré laisser la gestion du Kurdistan syrien

aux partis kurdes et notamment à celui proche du PKK.

Les négociations en cours ne le satisfont donc pas du tout.

ûu'attendez-vous des autorités françaises aujourd'hui?

Qu'elles répondent rapidement à certaines questions.

Les Kurdes ont besoin de vérité et de justice. Comment

quelqu'un placé sous surveillance policière peut-il être

atteint si facilement, par exemple? On doit savoir s'il y 4 S a eu un manque à ce niveau-là, car la presse turque va manipuler la diaspora kurde. J'entends déjà des voix dire

qu'on ne peut pas agir ainsi sans l'aval des Français. Ces -» «informations» doivent être écartées.

© L'avenir des négociations turco-kurdes est-il compromis?

Manifestation à Paris. "Demandez à n'importe quel Kurde dans la rue et surtout Que ce soit Ôcalan ou l'AKP, les deux camps souhaitent

auxjeunes s'ils veulent l'indépendance, ils répondront oui!" que le processus de paix ne capote pas. Le printemps

arabe est là, le Kurdistan irakien existe depuis belle France-Arménie : Trois hypothèses ressortent sur l'identité des lurette et son rayonnement est des plus importants auprès des assassins de ces trois femmes. Quelles sont-elles? Kurdes. Le gouvernement turc est bien conscient qu'il sera Rusen Werdi : La première possibilité d'un règlement de obligé de donner ses droits aux Kurdes, car la génération à comptes interne entre Kurdes - évoquée surtout par la presse' venir peut être beaucoup plus radicale. Demandez à n'importe turque, d'ailleurs - est à écarter. On a appris que Sakîne Cansiz quel Kurde dans la rue et surtout aux jeunes s'ils veulent l'indé¬ s'était rendue sur les bases du PKK au Kurdistan irakien, il y pendance, ils répondront oui! a quelques mois, et je vous assure que l'éliminer là-bas serait

passé comme une lettre à la poste. Elle était sur la même ligne OueJ sentiment prédomine dans la diaspora kurde aujourd'hui? qu'Ôcalan et était surtout là ces dernières années pour porter La population en a vraiment assez de cette guerre qui a fait le Mouvement des femmes kurdes en Europe. Elle était plutôt 45 000 morts, dont beaucoup sont des civils. Les Kurdes dans discrète et n'avait pas d'influence sur les mouvements d'argent leur ensemble sont pour une solution politique, mais refusent entre l'Europe et le Kurdistan. Certes, le PKK a déjà exprimé ce de donner un chèque en blanc aux autorités turques. Ils veulent genre de violences sur le territoire européen, mais c'était il y a une reconnaissance politique et collective de leur identité, tout au moins vingt ans. en sachant qu'ils ne vont pas l'obtenir facilement. Quant au

PKK, il n'abandonnera pas les armes sans garantie. Deuxième possibilité ?

La deuxième possibilité, évidemment, est qu'il s'agisse d'ex¬ Les Arméniens ont publié des communiqués de soutien, et cer¬ trémistes turcs. On sait que les Turcs ont l'expérience, y com¬ tains ont même pris place à vos côtés lors de la manifestation du pris en Europe, d'agir de cette manière. Dans les années 80, samedi 12 janvier. Qu'en pensez-vous? par exemple, des assassinats politiques visant des personna¬ Le soutien des Arméniens est très important pour les Kurdes. lités arméniennes ont eu lieu. Les assassins ont été recueillis J'ai moi-même vu à travers les réseaux sociaux des photos mon¬ en Turquie et protégés par l'Etat turc. Alors évidemment, on trant des drapeaux arméniens flotter au côté des drapeaux parle très facilement de cet Etat profond qui agit impunément kurdes. Celles-ci ont été les plus re-tweetées parmi les Kurdes. depuis de nombreuses années en Turquie. Ce qui profite à cet Le dialogue a toujours existé avec la communauté arménienne. Etat profond, c'est la déstabilisation de la région et notamment Hélas, nous avons un destin commun, même si celui des Armé¬ de la Turquie. niens a été bien plus tragique. Les Kurdes, qui sont les seuls

à résister en nombre en Turquie, se rendent compte au quoti¬ On évoque également une piste iranienne ou syrienne... dien des difficultés vécues par les Arméniens dans ce pays. Plus L'Iran a déjà commis des crimes sur le sol européen à rencontre l'Histoire va parler, plus ils vont se rendre compte de l'ampleur de responsables politiques kurdes, comme le président du Parti de cette tragédie qu'a été le Génocide. démocratique du Kurdistan d'Iran, Abdulrahman Ghassemlou,

en 1989 à Vienne et certains de ses successeurs en 1992 à Berlin. Propos recueillis par MJM

80 Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Özeti 26 February 2013

Tony Blair says Iraq would be far worse today under Saddam Hussein Former prime minister argues in a BBC Newsnight special that Britain still has a profound role to play in the Middle East

Shiv Malik The Guardian

ony Blair has admitted that life in Iraq today is not what he had hopedT it would be and the country is still facing "big problems". But he defended the war, saying that failing to remove Saddam Hussein would have entailed far worse conse- quences for the country.

Speaking to the BBC's Newsnight before the 10th anniversary of the invasion, he said: "There are still ter- rorist activities that are killing … innocent people for no good reason, but [Iraq's] economy is growing very strongly, it's got huge amount of oil Tony Blair addressing troops as he arrives in Basra for a surprise visit in 2004 revenue but, no, there are still big to British soldiers in Iraq. Photograph: Stefan Rousseau/PA problems."

Blair added that the price of the inva- Kirsty Wark, as part of a one-hour is going to be very arduous and diffi- sion that saw the death of at least special broadcast on Tuesday night. cult. But I think we are making a mis- 100,000 civilians and 179 British sol- take, a profound error if we think we diers was "very, very high" but "So when you say 'do you think of the can stay out of that struggle because implored people to ask what would loss of life since 2003', of course I do, we are going to be affected by it have happened had Saddam not been you would have to be inhumane not whether we like it or not." deposed. to, but think of what would have hap- pened if he had been left there." Former Liberal Democrat leader Sir Asked whether he minded if "people Menzies Campbell MP said: "Tony call you a liar, some people call you a "In a sense what I try to persuade Blair's defensiveness over Iraq is eas- war criminal, protesters follow you, people of now is to understand how ily understood. it's difficult to walk down the street complex and difficult a decision it in a country", he replied: "It really was because I think if we don't "But the fact remains that he made doesn't matter whether it's taken its understand we won't take the right two cardinal errors. First by allying toll on me." decision about what I think will be a himself too closely to the policies of series of these types of problems that George W Bush and second by ignor- Blair added that he had "long since will arise over the next few years. ing the fact that Bush's objective of given up trying to persuade people it regime change was contrary to the was the right decision". "You've got one in Syria right now, Charter of the United Nations and you've got one in Iran to come, the illegal. "If we hadn't removed Saddam from issue is how do you make the world a power just think, for example, what safer place?" "Ten years on, it is almost impossible would be happening if these Arab to find anyone in this country or even revolutions were continuing now and Blair insisted that there was still a in the United States who is willing to Saddam, who's probably 20 times as long conflict ahead and that Britain support the military action against bad as Assad in Syria, was trying to could not avoid getting involved. Saddam Hussein." suppress an uprising in Iraq. Think of the consequences of leaving that "We are in the middle of this strug- regime in power," he told presenter gle, it is going to take a generation, it

81