Common point of US-Iran-Turkey is united Iraq after elections
’The outcome of March 7 elections will be a compass to designate Iraq’s political direction. Turkey, however, will be more active by opening two more consulates regardless whoever wins,’ a diplomat close to President Abdullah Gül told Hürriyet Daily News
War-torn Iraq is voting Sunday to elect new parliament under the shadow of bloody attacks at polling stations and checkpoints. All key players such as the U.S., Iran, Turkey and other neighboring states keep their eyes on the events as Iraqis try to heal their wounds and form a new democratic government.
Although the U.S. and Iran have long been rival powers in the region, unity and stability of Iraq do serve for their common interests in the post-war era, according to Joost Hilterman of the Brussels-based International Crisis Group, or ICG.
“Iran and the U.S. have interest in Iraqi political process going forward. Both are mediating Iraqi factions,” Hilterman said. “Violence easily escalates in anywhere a political situation is uncertain.”
Election results may not reflect preferences of Ankara, Washington or Tehran, Hilterman said. “The U.S. has invested a lot in the Maliki-led government and so the continuation is preferred. But we may get an entirely new situation.”
Consequently, the U.S. invasion served for Iranian interests. Its archenemy Saddam Hussein was ousted and Shiite leaders who don’t support any sanctions on Iran came to power. “Iran’s influence is extensive. No doubt, Iran is all over in Iraq,” Hilterman indicated after releasing a report days before the elections.
Analysts are seeking an answer to what will happen in the aftermath of the elections.
“It will take months to form new government,” ICG report says. “I hope the U.S. doesn’t follow their irresponsible invasion with irresponsible departure,” Hilterman said, recalling that Washington has not much energy to keep control and stability across the country despite the US will continue to control Iraqi airspace until 2012 at request.
“Federalism has long been on the agenda. But there is no agreement for what kind of federalism,” he said.
Having hosted leaders of all Iraqi groups prior to elections, Turkey seems to be a balancing actor after the U.S. withdrawal.
“Turkey is very important neighbor following sincere and well-intended policies although others are regretfully looking for only their own interests,” Ömer Merani, the envoy of Kurdistan Regional Government, or KGR, to Ankara, told the Daily News.
Sending 46 monitors and calling for “fair and transparent elections,” Ankara released a statement saying, “It is vital to reach a political consensus and to make successful the efforts of stabilization and democratization.”
Turkey is sensitive to keep balances among different ethnicities, a diplomat close to President Abdullah Gül said. “Turkey has no hidden agenda. That’s why all groups trust us,” the source said.
“The outcome of March 7 elections will be a compass to designate Iraq’s political direction. Turkey, however, will be more active by opening two more consulates regardless whoever wins,” he said.
Ankara is planning to open two consulates in Kirkuk and Arbil, thereby increasing its diplomatic missions to five including Baghdad, Basra and Mosul.
Turkomans and Kirkuk
Turkmen voters split, according to ICG report. All Turkomans don’t vote for ITC while Shia Turkomans are embedded in Shia Islamist parties.
Though Ankara said, “Turkomans are our relatives and we are interested in their faith and situation of Kirkuk,” Hilterman said, ”Shiite Turkomans don’t want Turkish protection. Only secular and Sunni Turkomans are relevant to Turkey.”
The ICG analyst said the recently established ties between Ankara and the Regional Kurdish Administration, or KRG, has eased tension in Kirkuk. Kurdish tribes from time to time expressed their will to be annexed to Turkey and U.S. withdrawal and the worries about increasing Iranian influence have made this idea more repeated.
But Sadun Köprülü, from Iraqi Turkmen Front, or ITC, claims the opposite. “Massive attacks such as car bombs have decreased but kidnappings and murders have still been terrorizing people. Thousands of Turkomans have moved abroad because of security concerns.”
As a result of both Arabification policy of Saddam and Kurdish immigrants in the post-war era, Turkomans lost their majority in Kirkuk and currently make up one-third the population, Köprülü says.
Turkomans set a goal of 16 seats out of 225 in the parliament though only nine deputies were elected. Some 17 ITC candidates are running for office while some 100 Turkomen are included in other lists, according to Köprülü. “We have been running for offices on various tickets because we aim to win more seats this time.”
Source :Hurriyet Daily News
URL: www.hurriyetdailynews.com/n.php?n=common-point-of-us-iran-turkey-is-united-iraq-after-elections-2010-03-05