To be realist is rational !

Ilnur cevik is a Turkish Journalist and Buisnessman. In his recent column in The New Anatolia;he puts forward ideas that
can be helpful for decreasing tensions in Kurdish-Turkish relation.
It is rightly expected from Mr.Ilnur Cevik to have a new approach to Kurdish cause in the North as well, because without realizing, and accepting the issue there, nice words about the South could be taken as a deception.
The following essay is a realitsic approach by above mentioned writer
Syinqella

Tension in Kirkuk, tension in Ankara
Ilnur Cevik
ilnurcevik@yahoo.com
24 January 2007
Kirkuk is a hot potato these days not only in the Turkish capital but also in Hwelêr, the capital of the Kurdish regional government of Iraq.The Turkish Parliament discussed the future of Kirkuk as well as the general situation in Iraq in a secret session on Tuesday.Parliament also discussed the issue last Thursday in a general debate that showed how some people in Turkey do not know the realities of Iraq as well as displaying the chauvinist nationalist sentiments that have gripped our society these days.The opposition clearly showed it knows nothing about the realities of Iraq or the Kurdish north and is being misled by a disinformation campaign based on exaggerations on Kirkuk.In Hewlêr meanwhile, the Kurds have held a series of meetings on Turkey's attitude on Kirkuk and the rising tensions with Ankara. The Kurdish regional parliament, which is now on recess, will meet in an extraordinary session today to discuss what they call "Turkish interference in the internal affairs of Iraq."Turkey feels it has a duty to defend the rights of the Turkmen minority in Iraq. It is unfortunate that the Turkmens have been marginalized in Iraq because of internal divisions.In Hewlêr and Kirkuk they are a huge minority who can demand rights and privileges. If the Turkmens played their cards right they could command a leading role not only in the Kurdish political process but also in Baghdad. But unfortunately they are bitterly divided because of the mistaken policies of past Turkish governments and thus they are suffering from divisions and discord. They have been seriously weakened and thus have been sidelined in the Iraqi political process, which is extremely unhealthy. You simply cannot write them off and disregard their rights even if conditions have marginalized their position in Iraq.The Turkmens are a reality and their rights have to be respected not only as a minority but as partners in the Kurdish political process as well as in Baghdad. If this is done then the solution to the Kirkuk issue can be facilitated.The Turkmens do not have a strong voice in Iraq. It is unfortunate that some Turkmens are trying to win Turkey's backing by exaggerating their plight. They are making some false claims of Kurdish intransigence which is only creating deeper tensions between them and the Kurds.Last week a Turkmen political party leader appeared on Turkish TV and claimed the Kurds had banned the use of the Turkmen language in Hewlêr. This is absolutely false and yet many people in Turkey believed this claim, which only deepened Turkish anger against the Kurds… The Turkmens have to realize that such exaggerated claims are only hurting their cause and their real hardships and sufferings are being shadowed by these claims.Let everyone talk about the realities and the truth. Kirkuk is a province where Kurds are a majority. Turkmens of the province are also a sizeable minority who should be the partners of the Kurds. Any solution that does not appease the Turkmens and the Kurds is no solution…Instead of sowing new tensions on Kirkuk we should seek ways to defuse the explosive atmosphere between Turkey and the region. This cannot be done when Ankara and Hewlêr are trading accusations and counter-accusations.