ITF to open new offices in Turkey
In an effort to guarantee an electoral victory in January, Iraqi Turkmen are working on a database of Turkmen populations worldwide to boost their numbers in parliament. The Iraqi Turkmen Front is planning to open offices in various Turkish cities in line with this campaign
In an effort to boost support for Turkmen deputies in Iraq’s Jan. 16 general elections, Iraqi Turkmen leaders have decided to join forces to find and mobilize Turkmen populations worldwide.
A summit to unite Iraqi Turkmen and discuss ways to boost their numbers in parliament took place last week in Ankara. Iraqi Turkmen Front, or ITF, Chairman Sadettin Ergeç, Iraqi Turkmen Assembly President Yunus Bayraktar, Iraqi Turkmen Islamic Union Secretary-General Abbas Betyati, Iraqi Turkmen Justice Party Chairman Enver Bayraktar and other Turkmen deputies serving in the Iraqi parliament, along with chairs of Turkmen associations in Turkey, constituted the summit’s 23 participants.
“The leaders discussed their strategy for the January elections. They are planning to mobilize Turkmen voters around the globe to gain the maximum number of seats,” ITF Turkey representative Sadun Köprülü told the Hürriyet Daily News & Economic Review in an interview Sunday.
Turkmen are combining their power through the “One List” program, Köprülü said.
“The election campaign is speeding up while a database is in progress to show where Turkmen live and how they can cast their votes,” he added.
President Abdullah Gül also hosted an iftar, or fast-breaking dinner, for Turkmen leaders, underscoring Turkey’s wish to see Iraqi Turkmen working together.
Following two days of meetings and the iftar at Çankaya Palace, a joint declaration was released late Saturday. “Iraqi Turkmen are called on to actively join in the upcoming elections along with other ethnic groups in Iraq in order to contribute in the representation of their identity,” the statement read.
Participants also agreed to set up a coordination committee to plan joint campaigns.
In line with this effort, the ITF’s Turkey office is preparing to move its headquarters, currently in Ankara, to Istanbul, and the organization has started opening new branches in various districts, including İzmir, Antalya and Konya, where the Turkmen population is believed to be high, said Köprülü.
“We are working on a database showing where our voters live and how they can be mobilized,” he added. “We’ve gotten many calls so far, even from Van and Diyarbakır. They have told us about their household sizes and other details.”
Source: Hurriyet
URL: www.hurriyetdailynews.com/n.php?n=itc-to-open-new-offices-in-turkey-2009-09-06