PUK representative: We promised Ankara

PUK (Patriotic Union of Kurdistan)Ankara(Turkey) Representative Shazad Saib told
Istanbul based daily 2000'de Yeni Gundem, (New Agenda in 2000) that they did not make
any agreement with Ankara in regard to PKK (Workers Party of Kurdistan). He previously
said that they had promised Turkey not to allow PKK in the area.

Kemal Avci, Eyyup Demir / Ankara
Ozgar Politika

PUK leader Jalal Talabani and KDP (Kurdistan Democratic Party)leader Barzani stopped
the bloody clashes with Washington Agreement, which was signed in 1998. Each one of the
parties declared a government of their own. The peace discussions are lacked because of
disagreement on the critical issues. Balance of powers constantly shifting because of power
clashes between two organizations. The region lives tense moments again. We talked to
PUK's representative in Ankara, Shazad Saib, about future of the region, the relations with
Turkey and clashes between PUK and PKK.

A few days ago, some clashes took place between PKK and PUK. To be correct, PKK
officials said that PUK attacked them. Can you open this issue?

We informed PKK two years ago. We do not want their fighters to enter our areas because
every government has its own area that it controls. We have same thing. Look, let me tell
you another interesting point. Turkey threatened Syria, and Syria forced PKK out. We are
not in a strong position. We are very poor. We can not resist Turkey. We have faced many
problems. In October 1997, more than 200 of our fighters died as a result of bombardment
by the Turkish war planes. They always told us that "PKK forces are with you." We would
like PKK to leave our area. It is more than a year, PKK have never entered our area. We told
Turkey that we do not want to fight with PKK. Turkey is saying that PKK is in Kandil. This
year, we created a buffer zone in the area. This buffer zone was for safety not to fight PKK.

PKK sources are saying that the attacks started after Jalal Talabani's visit to Ankara. They
are saying that Talabani is obeying Ankara government's orders?

This is true because we also heard from Duran Kalkan and Cemil Bayik on MEDYA TV.
They are claiming that Mam (Kurdish word for uncle) Jalal made agreements in Ankara and
implemented the conditions once he returned home. No, Mam Jalal did not make any war
agreement. PKK is not in our area to fight. They are in Kandil. We promised Ankara that
will not allow them (PKK) to come close to us.

You are saying PKK attacked us. PKK is saying the opposite and calling for dialog. Also,
there are some concrete steps that taken by PKK in regard to peace…

If they come to our areas, we will attack them. PKK does not have the right to come to our
areas.

Can issues be solved with dialog and without guns?

We have a conflict. PKK has problem with Turkey not us. We do not want them to carry the
issue to here. Abdullah Ocalan is saying that they want cultural rights and "Democratic
Republic". What is their business here, in Karadagh? What they have to do with us? We do
not want PKK to enter our areas. We do not have any problem if they want to stay in
Kandil. Thanks god that the war is stopped. We promised Turkey that we will not allow
PKK to enter our area.

Did this clash create a discomfort in your party?

Of course, it did. We do not want to fight. Our people also felt discomfort not just us. We
want Kurds to live in peace and happiness in all corners of Kurdistan.

It is reported that a high ranking PUK delegation is in Ankara?

No, that isn't an official visit. Some of our friends came to Istanbul for visit but they did not
conduct any official meetings.

How is your relationship with HADEP (People's Democratic Party) and other parties?

Now, it is not in high category. We are planning to create a relationship with HADEP and
other parties in Turkey. However, we have not practically implemented this.

Turkey's attack on the Biradost region resulted in deaths of 45 civilians and many more
injured. What was your reaction?

We say all the time that Turkey should not enter with its military to the region. However, the
region that was bombarded is not under our control (KDP). The issue is between Turkey and
PKK. We protested the situation. We can not do anything else. Iraq is an area where
everybody attacks.

You have been working in Turkey for six years. How did you find Turkey?

Turkey is a liberal country. It has a different location among Middle Eastern countries. It has
a little more democratic institutions when compared to many other countries in the region.
For example, a newspaper comes out, then they close it but it reopens again… This does not
happen in every country. Some of the rights are partially abused but it is still a liberal
country. Turkey has a political freedom.

Saib, as you know, many decisions were taken during Washington Agreement but these
decisions are not being implemented. How would you analyze this?

Washington Agreement was signed in September 1996. There is a cease-fire between PUK
and KDP. The war climate have been changed. We have an "Coordination Commission".
Currently, we have relationship with KDP in many areas. However, we do not have a
political agreement with them. The reason is that KDP is not ready for this. They want this
to continue like this and they govern Kurdistan by themselves. They even tell us 'little
brother'. This is not possible. We do not accept this. With this attitude, KDP shows that they
do not want to share power. Of course, this does not create a basis for solutions.

You have discussed the issues of customs, taxes, elections, and economy with KDP.
Commissions were formed to help people to return to their villages. What is status of
activities in this regard?

The discussions on the issues of election and customs did not reach a conclusion. They want
their argument be accepted all the times. We do not accept this. Therefore, the discussions
did not reach a conclusion.

We had a concept for return to the villages. However, later they did not want the
commission. Majority of the villagers returned to their village with their own resources. In
1991, when Iraq regime was in our area, this issue came out. However, returning
to the villages was accelerated after UN (United Nations) took the administrative duties in
the region. When the region was protected by UN, many corrections took place. A good
program was set up and now people are back in their villages.

There are two governments in the region. What kinds of issue two governments create?

Both government conduct their own businesses by running their administrative, judiciary
and security duties. UN has many reports about both governments. These reports show that
both governments are doing good job in Iraqi Kurdistan.

Are you telling the current two government system does not create any issues?

No, not exactly. As I said before, there are some problems in the political arena. There are
some issues which have been continuing since 1994. However, peace is also continuing on
the side. There are issues between two governments but there are solutions too. We are in
contact with KDP in may areas. The issues that we do not agree are the political ones.

In your opinion which government have better success and be recognized in the international
arena?

I can not comment on luck. Both governments are governing anyway. We are in favor of
governing equally. The people that lives in Iraq Kurdistan want this. UN also does not want
a government to influence the other government. We agree with the UN. We are in favor of
peace, democracy and brotherhood in Kurdistan.

You said that you want democracy. Despite all the issues, is there an opportunity that the
democracy will be permanent in the region?

Yes, it exists. People can organize and bring their reactions to the public. There are
newspapers that publish in different languages. People can criticize and show their reaction
when issues arise. When we think all of this, we can say that there is path to democracy.

Lately, there is a relationship between KDP and Iraq regime. Is this make you
uncomfortable?

That is right. We know that there is a direct dialog. Saddam Huseyin killed its own people as
well as Kurdish people. He used chemical weapons on Kurds and killed thousands of Kurds.
He also fought with Iran and occupied Kuwait. It is time that the policy of attack to end in
Iraq. Our relationship with Iraq is not that good. According to the news we received, Iraq
is preparing to attack us. Currently, Iraq has 45,000 soldiers stationed in PUK area.

Does KDP's close ties with Iraq has anything to do with your relationship with Iraq?

Of course, KDP's relationship with Iraq does not have good intend. It creates issues between
us and them. Now, there is a cease-fire and peaceful climate. We can not predict how long
this will continue.

Biography of Shazad Said

PUK Ankara representative Shazad Said became involved with politics by joining KDP at
age of 22. He took various responsibilities within KDP. Then, he joined PUK. He worked in
various newspapers and then left Kurdistan for Europe. He has been representative of PUK
in Ankara for last 6 years. Previously, the represented PUK in Lebanon, Syria and
Europe. Said speaks English, Arabic, and Sorani and Kurmanci dialects of Kurdish.
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The Kurdistan Observer
www.kurdistanobserver.com

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