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Established in 2006 as a Community of Reality

Welcome to the Neno's Place!

Neno's Place Established in 2006 as a Community of Reality


Neno

I can be reached by phone or text 8am-7pm cst 972-768-9772 or, once joining the board I can be reached by a (PM) Private Message.

Established in 2006 as a Community of Reality

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Established in 2006 as a Community of Reality

Many Topics Including The Oldest Dinar Community. Copyright © 2006-2020


    Turkish Presidential Candidate: Iraq’s Sovereignty Must be Preserved

    Rocky
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    Turkish Presidential Candidate: Iraq’s Sovereignty Must be Preserved Empty Turkish Presidential Candidate: Iraq’s Sovereignty Must be Preserved

    Post by Rocky Wed 06 Aug 2014, 7:10 am

    Turkish Presidential Candidate: Iraq’s Sovereignty Must be Preserved





    Tuesday, 05 August, 2014



    ANKARA, Turkey – Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu is the joint candidate of the centrist People’s Republican Party (CHP) and the right-wing Peoples Nationalist Movement (MHP) in Turkey’s presidential elections next Sunday. In an interview with Rudaw he said his chances of winning against expected frontrunner Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who is eyeing the presidency after exhausting his terms as prime minister, are “pretty good.” He accused Erdogan’s ruling party of trying to maintain a stranglehold over Turkish politics, and exercising a botched foreign policy. The 71-year-old Ihsanoglu, one of three candidates, also explained his views about the Kurdish language and the peace process with the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). Regarding the Kurdistan Region’s plans for independence, he said that Iraq’s “sovereignty should be preserved at any price.” Here is an edited transcript of the interview:

    Rudaw: You are running against a powerful contestant in this election. How do you see your chances of becoming the next president?

    Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu: I think I have pretty good chances. We elect a president within the framework of our parliamentary system, a president who will eventually preserve our people’s unity. This is why I think the president should be independent and embrace everyone in the diverse political spectrum and represent our common social contract. I was nominated by the two fundamental parties in parliament, which have different views of the world. And of course, overall 13 political parties declared to publicly support me in the election.

    The candidate whom you referred to as a powerful candidate is attempting to keep the post of president within and under the strict influence of one party and lead the country towards an authoritarian presidential system. Our people are against the idea of the country being ruled by one man alone. I’m sure of that and this is why I have trust in my people.

    Rudaw: You were campaigning softly. Will you remain this way even if you are elected?

    Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu: Our citizens are very tired of constant chaos and mayhem. People suffer from their daily troubles. Politicians should work to solve these issues. People need comfort and safety. I will remain as soft even as president, and work with everyone to ensure the comfort and wellbeing of our people.

    Rudaw: If elected president, how will your relations be with Recep Tayyip Erdogan?

    Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu: As a president, of course I will have normal relations with the prime minister for the good of the people. I have known Mr. Prime Minister for years. Don’t forget that I really believe in the impartiality of the president and will remain so even afterwards. This is mine and the nation’s government.

    Rudaw: If you do not advance into the second round of the election, whom would you suggest your supporters vote for?

    Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu: I wish Mr. (Selahattin) Demirtas all the success. I contacted him in the beginning of the campaign and wished him luck. He is very civic. People should decide for themselves whom they want to vote for. If Mr. Demirtas does not reach the second round of elections, I’m sure his followers will vote for me, because I have no doubts that these voters are against the idea that the country should be ruled by one man alone. People will vote for a candidate who respects democracy and human rights. I have trust in them.

    Rudaw: The ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) started the “Kurdish opening,” which in many ways still continues. Erdogan said he would continue with the issue even as president. What is your approach in regard to this issue?

    Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu: I have said in the past that I support peace. What we call peace is basically this: the two sides (AKP and PKK) have no trust in each other and are constantly on alert against one another. We need a sustainable peace, which has the backing of the nation and the parliament. Peace with shortcomings should not be called peace. I intend to make use of the post of president for a sustainable foundation of the process.

    Rudaw: Your comment about the Kurdish language, in which you said that “Kurdish is not a language of science,” was met with criticism in some Kurdish circles. Why is Kurdish not a language of science? Couldn’t Kurdish children go to Kurdish schools?

    Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu: This is one of my comments that were misinterpreted. What I wanted to say was that if we go back in history, those societies that have produced science have also tried to make their language more scientific at the same time. There was a time when Persian, Arabic, Turkish and Kurdish entered the West from the East, but then again in our age Western languages managed to become languages of science. Unfortunately, Kurdish suffers from this problem in our time — and so does the Turkish language, despite all the efforts to turn Turkish into a scientific language. What I mean is that there is a long road to walk in order for a language to become scientific. But hopefully, we will get there. On the other hand, of course studying in Kurdish is possible. Language cannot advance only through speaking, but it should be used in writing and reading. This is why, in order for all this to happen, children should be able to go to their schools in their mother tongue. Still, we should not forget that Turkey is the homeland and Turkish is the official language.

    Rudaw: There is currently chaos in the Middle East. How do you assess Turkish foreign policy in this regard?

    Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu: As you see, many countries in our neighborhood and elsewhere in the Middle East have been drawn into aimless wars. Our foreign policy has not been managed properly and the consequences have not been taken into account. This is a real threat. Foreign policy should not be conducted like domestic politics. Mistakes are not acceptable in foreign policy. We should work in line with our national interests, but also make sure that other nations’ interests are not harmed, and this I think can lead to peace.

    Rudaw: The Kurdistan Region is preparing for independence. What is your standpoint?

    Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu: Unfortunately, ethnic and religious deception has become a policy in Iraq, where many people have lost their lives as a result. I think sovereignty should be preserved at any price.

    Rudaw: If elected president, how will your relations be with Kurdistan President Massoud Barzani?

    Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu: Our national foreign policy says: “Peace at home, peace in the world,” and this 

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