Reposting
JULY 2011 Interview with the Secretary General of the only officially registered political party of the Iraqi Turkmens, Baba Gurgur Movement in Syria: Our party only conducts projects on Iraqi Turkmens and the members within the party are all Iraqi Turkmens. The conditions in Iraq are very difficult now and it is very difficult for us to go to Iraq. Therefore, we are now in Syria. We defend the rights of Kirkuk and the Turkmens. Our aim is to explain the situation of Kirkuk to whole world and the Arab region.
INTERVIEW WITH THE SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE BABA GURGUR MOVEMENT, EKREM SALMAN
Ekrem Salman, the Secretary General of the Baba Gurgur Movement shared his views on the latest situation in Iraq, Kirkuk problem and the problem on the Turkmen. Being active in Syria, Salman indicated that because the Syrian government is against Kirkuk’s being a Kurdish city, it supports them.
ORSAM: Mr. Salman, could you introduce yourself, please?
Ekrem SALMAN: I was born in Kirkuk. I completed my university education in Syria on political science. After I completed my university education, I returned back to Iraq. However, I returned back to Syria in 2004. Now, I am the Secretary General of the only officially registered political party of the Iraqi Turkmens, Baba Gurgur Movement in Syria. Our party only conducts projects on Iraqi Turkmens and the members within the party are all Iraqi Turkmens. The conditions in Iraq are very difficult now and it is very difficult for us to go to Iraq. Therefore, we are now in Syria. We defend the rights of Kirkuk and the Turkmens. Our aim is to explain the situation of Kirkuk to whole world and the Arab region.
ORSAM: When and how was the Gurgur Movement formed?
Ekrem SALMAN: It was established in 2007. It is an officially registered party in Syria. Its centre is located in Damascus. Although Baba Gurgur Movement is located in Syria, it is an Iraqi party. It is a party dealing exclusively with the problems of the Turkmens.
ORSAM: What projects has your party conducted for Iraq and the Turkmens? Could you tell us, please?
Ekrem SALMAN: First of all, we try to help the Iraqi Turkmens living in Syria. We deal with their problems. Moreover, we try to express the situation in Kirkuk and reveal the truth to both the Syrian and Iraqi Arab parties. The Syrian parties as well as the government support us on our problems. Especially, the opinion of Syria on Kirkuk is parallel to ours. We, and the Syrian government, will not accept Kirkuk’s being a Kurdish city. Hence, we can find support on the issue of Kirkuk.
ORSAM: Do you have the information regarding the number of the Iraqi Turkmens living in Syria?
Ekrem SALMAN: In Syria, there are three hundred Turkmen families. However, since there are certain problems in Syria now, some families returned back to Baghdad. Of course, I cannot tell that all these three hundred families are a part of the Baba Gurgur Movement, yet a great majority of them support our party.
ORSAM: What is the stance of the Syrian regime towards you, how do they perceive the Baba Gurgur Movement and the Iraqi Turkmens?
Ekrem SALMAN: The attitude of the Syrian regime towards us is quite positive. They gave us residence and opened their doors. Our children go to the schools for free, and we can benefit from the medical service. The Syrian government, when we have a problem, support us on many grounds. Not only has the government, the Syrian nation help us as well. Because we are Turkmen, we are adored everywhere.
ORSAM: Why does the Syrian regime support you this much?
Ekrem SALMAN: Of course the people from Kirkuk are very important in Syria. The ideas and targets of the Kurdish on Kirkuk are quite obvious. They want Kirkuk to be apart from Iraq. If this happens, it will be very detrimental for Syria. When Kirkuk is gotten under the control of the Kurdish, there are the Syrian Kurds, Turkish Kurds and Iran Kurds. Therefore, it will be a situation that no country would be favouring. This is what we try to explain to the Arab countries. Furthermore, we aim to tell the United Nations that let Kirkuk remain in Iraq, this is very important for Turkey as well as Syria.
ORSAM: Do you consider entering the elections in Iraq?
Ekrem SALMAN: No. We are against the annexation of Iraq. As long as the USA stays in Iraq, we will not enter the elections.
ORSAM: What if the USA leaves Iraq?
Ekrem SALMAN: This is different, then we may enter. Now, since the USA remains in Iraq, the parties act according to the demands of the USA. The USA came here to annex and divide Iraq and benefit from the sources of Iraq.
ORSAM: In Syria not only the Turkmens but about one and half million Iraqis that fled to the country especially after 2003 as refugees live in Syria. Sometimes we read in the news that the condition of the Iraqi refugees in Syria is quite bad.
Ekrem SALMAN: No, neither we, the Turkmens, nor the Arab, Shi’a, Sunni Iraqi have a problem in Syria. Syria observes the Turkmens, Kurdish, and Arabs with the same level. It never applies discrimination between the groups. However, as we are Turkmens, there is special support for us. Whatever we want, the Syrian government tries to help us. However, the important point for us is that it helps us on the matter of Kirkuk, because the issue of Kirkuk is quite crucial.
ORSAM: As the Iraqis living in Syria, how do you observe the developments taking place in Iraq? What is the situation in Iraq and what kind of a future can we expect for Iraq?
Ekrem SALMAN: There is no government in Iraq now, everyone knows that. The current government consists of the people from the USA. So as to make them do anything they want, the USA placed his own people into the government. But this is not good for Iraq. These people came to Iraq to divide it. Now, the only thing that exists is the USA, now in Iraq, parties in line with the USA thinking operate. However, the nation is suppressed and oppressed. The nation is hungry and unsecure. There is no electricity, water and no need is met. The nation in mixed up.
ORSAM: What will happen in Iraq?
Ekrem SALMAN: The situation in Iraq will not improve unless USA leaves. Iraq can be re-established by the Iraqis only after the USA goes back. This is not the first time that Iraq was annexed, throughout history it had been annexed thirteen times. However, after each annexation, it got more powerful and ended up with a better situation. Now, it is a lesson for the Iraqis. The USA came and annexed Iraq. It divided as Sunni, Shi’a, Turkmen and Kurd. So as to divide the nation, it strived hard to create hostile environment between the groups. Let it be a lesson for the Iraqi nation. The USA will not leave Iraq easily. They will not leave unless they are compelled by force. However, the situation will change when the Iraqis will not be able to tolerate anymore.
ORSAM: Do you mean that there may be an armed struggle with the USA?
Ekrem SALMAN: Otherwise, there is no end. The nation will do anything out of hunger and thirsty. The nation should do whatever it wants. The USA does not have strength or patience anymore in Iraq. The USA has recorded so many casualties in Iraq. A lot of Iraqis consider that when the USA leaves “the situation in Iraq will improve” and expect the USA to leave.
ORSAM: The situation of the Iraqi Turkmens was not good after 2003. However, in the last elections, the Iraqi Turkmen Front has become more favourable. How do observe the Iraqi Turkmens as a Turkmen living abroad?
Ekrem SALMAN: History records. History does not stop. The involvement of the Turkmens in the political process is good according to us. The Turkmens have always opposed annexation. However, this time with the annexation of Iraq by the USA has become successful. However, there was no Turkmen opposing the USA annexation. Not even one Turkmen struggled with the USA. Now, this government will end and leave, but history records. The Turkmens should not have involved in these. The Turkmens have been affected severely from the annexation of Iraq, and they did not have any gains. They even lost the things they used to have during the previous regime. The situation is worsening day by day. The Kurdish parties annexed Kirkuk with the support of Israel and the USA. In Kirkuk, they catch and kill the Turkmens. They want to send the Turkmens away from Kirkuk and to replace the Turkmens in Kirkuk; they bring the Kurds from Iran, Syria and Europe. The aim of this is to alter the identity of Kirkuk.
ORSAM: What can be done for the Turkmens? What do you think, what should the Turkmens do?
Ekrem SALMAN: Now it is not the time, the time passed. One should have started to act from the very first day. The Iraqi Turkmen Front has strived hard for 8 years and started to act with these parties. We told them 8 years ago not to join them, let it go and stay wherever you are, but no one listened. When they join, they cannot gain anything, either. For eight years, in other words since the annexation of Iraq, lots of things have been taken from the Turkmens, yet nothing was given back. Even if there is a minister in the government, there is nothing to do. If there are 10 parliamentarians, what can they do for the Turkmens? What did they do for the Turkmens? However, nothing is done. Day by day, everything is taken from the hands of the Turkmens and given to the Kurds.
ORSAM: As a Iraqi Turkmen, how do you evaluate the policy of Turkey?
Ekrem SALMAN: To be honest, I do not find it good. We know the sympathy of Turkey for the Turkmens. However, I do not know why she is not treating us like she treats everyone else. I do not understand why she does not observe us as she does to others.
ORSAM: How does Turkey observe?
Ekrem SALMAN: Now, Turkey calls for Syrian regime not to use violence against the public. However, she remains silent to what is done to the Turkmens. In Kirkuk, we are oppressed more than in Syria. Why does not she defend us? People think about that. But I know and trust Turkey. Turkey has a project. At last, the Turkmens will be protected, and they will get in line with what they deserve. But this will happen in the long run. One needs to be patient. However, people do not see like that. The Turkmen public wants Turkey to oppose the Kurds, they want her to take an action. But we know that politics is different. The politicians may understand that, it is difficult to explain this to people. At this point, we need to do something.
ORSAM: Consequently, what are your expectations from Turkey?
Ekrem SALMAN: What we want from Turkey is that she should take the Kirkuk issue seriously. She needs to observe the aims of the Kurdish parties. The Turkmens do not have owners, they do not have anyone. There is only Allah and Turkey. There are five hundred thousand Turkmens in Kirkuk now. Before, there were more, this number decreases each passing day. I want Turkey to protect our identity, language and nation.
ORSAM: Thank you.
17 July 2011
Ekrem Salman, the Secretary General of the Baba Gurgur Movement shared his views on the latest situation in Iraq, Kirkuk problem and the problem on the Turkmen. Being active in Syria, Salman indicated that because the Syrian government is against Kirkuk’s being a Kurdish city, it supports them.
ORSAM: Mr. Salman, could you introduce yourself, please?
Ekrem SALMAN: I was born in Kirkuk. I completed my university education in Syria on political science. After I completed my university education, I returned back to Iraq. However, I returned back to Syria in 2004. Now, I am the Secretary General of the only officially registered political party of the Iraqi Turkmens, Baba Gurgur Movement in Syria. Our party only conducts projects on Iraqi Turkmens and the members within the party are all Iraqi Turkmens. The conditions in Iraq are very difficult now and it is very difficult for us to go to Iraq. Therefore, we are now in Syria. We defend the rights of Kirkuk and the Turkmens. Our aim is to explain the situation of Kirkuk to whole world and the Arab region.
ORSAM: When and how was the Gurgur Movement formed?
Ekrem SALMAN: It was established in 2007. It is an officially registered party in Syria. Its centre is located in Damascus. Although Baba Gurgur Movement is located in Syria, it is an Iraqi party. It is a party dealing exclusively with the problems of the Turkmens.
ORSAM: What projects has your party conducted for Iraq and the Turkmens? Could you tell us, please?
Ekrem SALMAN: First of all, we try to help the Iraqi Turkmens living in Syria. We deal with their problems. Moreover, we try to express the situation in Kirkuk and reveal the truth to both the Syrian and Iraqi Arab parties. The Syrian parties as well as the government support us on our problems. Especially, the opinion of Syria on Kirkuk is parallel to ours. We, and the Syrian government, will not accept Kirkuk’s being a Kurdish city. Hence, we can find support on the issue of Kirkuk.
ORSAM: Do you have the information regarding the number of the Iraqi Turkmens living in Syria?
Ekrem SALMAN: In Syria, there are three hundred Turkmen families. However, since there are certain problems in Syria now, some families returned back to Baghdad. Of course, I cannot tell that all these three hundred families are a part of the Baba Gurgur Movement, yet a great majority of them support our party.
ORSAM: What is the stance of the Syrian regime towards you, how do they perceive the Baba Gurgur Movement and the Iraqi Turkmens?
Ekrem SALMAN: The attitude of the Syrian regime towards us is quite positive. They gave us residence and opened their doors. Our children go to the schools for free, and we can benefit from the medical service. The Syrian government, when we have a problem, support us on many grounds. Not only has the government, the Syrian nation help us as well. Because we are Turkmen, we are adored everywhere.
ORSAM: Why does the Syrian regime support you this much?
Ekrem SALMAN: Of course the people from Kirkuk are very important in Syria. The ideas and targets of the Kurdish on Kirkuk are quite obvious. They want Kirkuk to be apart from Iraq. If this happens, it will be very detrimental for Syria. When Kirkuk is gotten under the control of the Kurdish, there are the Syrian Kurds, Turkish Kurds and Iran Kurds. Therefore, it will be a situation that no country would be favouring. This is what we try to explain to the Arab countries. Furthermore, we aim to tell the United Nations that let Kirkuk remain in Iraq, this is very important for Turkey as well as Syria.
ORSAM: Do you consider entering the elections in Iraq?
Ekrem SALMAN: No. We are against the annexation of Iraq. As long as the USA stays in Iraq, we will not enter the elections.
ORSAM: What if the USA leaves Iraq?
Ekrem SALMAN: This is different, then we may enter. Now, since the USA remains in Iraq, the parties act according to the demands of the USA. The USA came here to annex and divide Iraq and benefit from the sources of Iraq.
ORSAM: In Syria not only the Turkmens but about one and half million Iraqis that fled to the country especially after 2003 as refugees live in Syria. Sometimes we read in the news that the condition of the Iraqi refugees in Syria is quite bad.
Ekrem SALMAN: No, neither we, the Turkmens, nor the Arab, Shi’a, Sunni Iraqi have a problem in Syria. Syria observes the Turkmens, Kurdish, and Arabs with the same level. It never applies discrimination between the groups. However, as we are Turkmens, there is special support for us. Whatever we want, the Syrian government tries to help us. However, the important point for us is that it helps us on the matter of Kirkuk, because the issue of Kirkuk is quite crucial.
ORSAM: As the Iraqis living in Syria, how do you observe the developments taking place in Iraq? What is the situation in Iraq and what kind of a future can we expect for Iraq?
Ekrem SALMAN: There is no government in Iraq now, everyone knows that. The current government consists of the people from the USA. So as to make them do anything they want, the USA placed his own people into the government. But this is not good for Iraq. These people came to Iraq to divide it. Now, the only thing that exists is the USA, now in Iraq, parties in line with the USA thinking operate. However, the nation is suppressed and oppressed. The nation is hungry and unsecure. There is no electricity, water and no need is met. The nation in mixed up.
ORSAM: What will happen in Iraq?
Ekrem SALMAN: The situation in Iraq will not improve unless USA leaves. Iraq can be re-established by the Iraqis only after the USA goes back. This is not the first time that Iraq was annexed, throughout history it had been annexed thirteen times. However, after each annexation, it got more powerful and ended up with a better situation. Now, it is a lesson for the Iraqis. The USA came and annexed Iraq. It divided as Sunni, Shi’a, Turkmen and Kurd. So as to divide the nation, it strived hard to create hostile environment between the groups. Let it be a lesson for the Iraqi nation. The USA will not leave Iraq easily. They will not leave unless they are compelled by force. However, the situation will change when the Iraqis will not be able to tolerate anymore.
ORSAM: Do you mean that there may be an armed struggle with the USA?
Ekrem SALMAN: Otherwise, there is no end. The nation will do anything out of hunger and thirsty. The nation should do whatever it wants. The USA does not have strength or patience anymore in Iraq. The USA has recorded so many casualties in Iraq. A lot of Iraqis consider that when the USA leaves “the situation in Iraq will improve” and expect the USA to leave.
ORSAM: The situation of the Iraqi Turkmens was not good after 2003. However, in the last elections, the Iraqi Turkmen Front has become more favourable. How do observe the Iraqi Turkmens as a Turkmen living abroad?
Ekrem SALMAN: History records. History does not stop. The involvement of the Turkmens in the political process is good according to us. The Turkmens have always opposed annexation. However, this time with the annexation of Iraq by the USA has become successful. However, there was no Turkmen opposing the USA annexation. Not even one Turkmen struggled with the USA. Now, this government will end and leave, but history records. The Turkmens should not have involved in these. The Turkmens have been affected severely from the annexation of Iraq, and they did not have any gains. They even lost the things they used to have during the previous regime. The situation is worsening day by day. The Kurdish parties annexed Kirkuk with the support of Israel and the USA. In Kirkuk, they catch and kill the Turkmens. They want to send the Turkmens away from Kirkuk and to replace the Turkmens in Kirkuk; they bring the Kurds from Iran, Syria and Europe. The aim of this is to alter the identity of Kirkuk.
ORSAM: What can be done for the Turkmens? What do you think, what should the Turkmens do?
Ekrem SALMAN: Now it is not the time, the time passed. One should have started to act from the very first day. The Iraqi Turkmen Front has strived hard for 8 years and started to act with these parties. We told them 8 years ago not to join them, let it go and stay wherever you are, but no one listened. When they join, they cannot gain anything, either. For eight years, in other words since the annexation of Iraq, lots of things have been taken from the Turkmens, yet nothing was given back. Even if there is a minister in the government, there is nothing to do. If there are 10 parliamentarians, what can they do for the Turkmens? What did they do for the Turkmens? However, nothing is done. Day by day, everything is taken from the hands of the Turkmens and given to the Kurds.
ORSAM: As a Iraqi Turkmen, how do you evaluate the policy of Turkey?
Ekrem SALMAN: To be honest, I do not find it good. We know the sympathy of Turkey for the Turkmens. However, I do not know why she is not treating us like she treats everyone else. I do not understand why she does not observe us as she does to others.
ORSAM: How does Turkey observe?
Ekrem SALMAN: Now, Turkey calls for Syrian regime not to use violence against the public. However, she remains silent to what is done to the Turkmens. In Kirkuk, we are oppressed more than in Syria. Why does not she defend us? People think about that. But I know and trust Turkey. Turkey has a project. At last, the Turkmens will be protected, and they will get in line with what they deserve. But this will happen in the long run. One needs to be patient. However, people do not see like that. The Turkmen public wants Turkey to oppose the Kurds, they want her to take an action. But we know that politics is different. The politicians may understand that, it is difficult to explain this to people. At this point, we need to do something.
ORSAM: Consequently, what are your expectations from Turkey?
Ekrem SALMAN: What we want from Turkey is that she should take the Kirkuk issue seriously. She needs to observe the aims of the Kurdish parties. The Turkmens do not have owners, they do not have anyone. There is only Allah and Turkey. There are five hundred thousand Turkmens in Kirkuk now. Before, there were more, this number decreases each passing day. I want Turkey to protect our identity, language and nation.
ORSAM: Thank you.
17 July 2011
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