TO THE INTERNATIONAL PUBLIC OPINION !..

We expect that the war in Iraq will be brought to an end as soon as possible in such a way that will not lead to a chaotic environment which will not affect the peace, stability and securtiy of the region negatively and cause more killings. We do not want another war and crisis in the Middle East.

The territorial integrity of Iraq, its political unity and sovereignty should be preserved in any case. We wish that the Iraqi people will have peace as soon as possible, determine their future in a free way and have their own place in the civilized international arena.

The Turkish public opinion wishes that a democratic regime, in which all the ethnic groups will be represented on the basis of equality, will be established and the Iraqi people will have complete control over their own country and natural resources.

The new balances that will be formed in Iraq should not be of the character that will threaten the the neighbours of the country, distrupt the peace which we wish to be established in the region and lead to crises. We expect that the war will end with a political resolution and attach importance that a hand of aid will be offered to the Iraqi people. At this stage, its is of urgency that the humanitarian aid should be conveyed to the Iraqi people efficiently as well as the the restructuring of Iraq in the post war period.

We support the UN Security Council’s Resolution No. 1472 which was approved on 28 March 2003 and we require the food-for-oil program to be maintained.

Our public opnion support the democratization process of Iraq. When Iraq starts to make porgress on the way to democracy, the country which will support him most  as a reliable partner in the region will be Turkey and the Turkish public opinion.

Todayat the stage reached,  it should not be overlooked that, although its influnce has decreased, the United Nations is the main international organization charged with maintaing the peace.

That is why, we think that the United Nations should assume a leading and determining role in the strengthening of stabiltiy and peace in Iraq and the Middle east, conveying the humanitarian aid to the Iraqi people in need and restructuring of Iraq.

We deem it beneficial to underline once more the sensitivity of the Turkish public opnion on the issues of Mosul and Kirkük; the position of these cities within the territorial integrity and political unity of Iraq and these regions should not be allowed to  be handed over  to the supervision of any ethnic group.

We believe that it is essential that the unique dynamics of the region should be taken into consideration in the political formations and restrucing in the Middle East. There is no chance of succes for the formulas which are imposed from the outside without taking into consideration the specialities of the region.

The prolonging of war might result in negative devleopments on the international political and economic atmosphere. It is also our wish that this war will not turn into a conflict of  civilizations and religions, will not incite anti-Western trends in the Islamic world and stregthen the terorist foci.

Although the international community has formed a joint front against terrorism with a broad participation after the events of September 11 and dispalyed solidarity, we are concerned that this war will weaken this common front and solidarity.

We deem it beneficial to emphasize that KADEK, the extention of the PKK which has been included in “the list of terrorist organizations” of the European Union has currently almost 5 thousand armed cadres in the organization camps of the northern Iraq and they pose a threat not only for Turkey and the countries in the region but also threaten the public order of the European countries.

We expect that the international public opnion will reveive with understanding the sensitivity and concerns resulting from the bitter experineces Turkey has had in the recent past concerning terrorism and the preservation of the territorial integrity of Iraq.

Peace and Democracy Platform