Baghdad Paper Says Turkmen Group Is Turkish Spy Front.  

12 October 2001, Volume  4, Number  33
Iraq Report

The Baghdad newspaper "Al-Iraq", which is aimed at the Kurdish population remaining
under Baghdad control, on 3 October claimed that a Turkmen society in Irbil, in the
KDP-controlled Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), is according to "sources...familiar
with Turkish activity and attempts to turn the Turkmen against the Kurds in Irbil points to
the formation of a so-called 'Iraqi Turks Cultural and Solidarity Society' known as 'Darnak'"
is actually a front for Turkish intelligence activity. 

"Al-Iraq" claims the "plan" was discovered when "Darnak" issued an appeal saying,
"Turkmens were an active element in the region, but they were exposed to injustice on
several occasions by their Kurdish brethren through armed attacks on their bases in 1966,
1998, and 2000." The Baghdad newspaper says that the purpose of the appeal is to provoke
differences between Kurds and Turkmens in Irbil "which is the aim of Turkish intelligence." 

While conflicts between the Kurds and the Turkmens have occurred at the times specified by
"Al-Iraq," they have been worked out between the parties concerned. What the Turkish
objective would be behind such provocations is unclear. (David Nissman) 
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