The Economist: Turkey, Armenia, Iraq and the Kurds

By David Edenden

A long and informative article from the Economist on the "Armenian Genocide" resolution in the US Congress and Turkish vote to invade Iraqi Kurdistan. Like Macedonians in Greece, Kurds in Turkey have also been subjected to "Denying Ethnicity" ( Macedonians) (Kurds). Below are a few weasel words about current Turkish policy towards its Kurdish minority. It makes you want to spit!

Turkey and America |
Unearthing the past, endangering the future |
Economist.com: Oct. 18, 2007

"If Turkey wants to fulfill its dreams of being a regional power and an inspiring example of how Islam and democracy can co-exist, it must make peace with all its citizens, including its Kurds. And it should find a way to face up to its past. It could do worse than seek inspiration from Ataturk who, as Mr Akcam noted in a recent book, once called the Armenian tragedy “a shameful act”."

Turkey vs The Kurds: One More Time

By David Edenden

If you want to know why the Turkish Kurdish group, the PKK, has been able to sustain an insurgency for over 20 years, this article will not be helpful. It does not even mention that Turkish Kurds have been the object of a sustained assault on their language an culture for over 100 years. Nice. Where is Samantha Power when you need her.

Turkey Resolves to Give Go-Ahead for Raids in Iraq -
New York Times:
By SEBNEM ARSU and SABRINA TAVERNISE

"ISTANBUL, Oct. 17 — Turkey’s Parliament voted overwhelmingly on Wednesday to authorize sending troops into northern Iraq to confront Kurdish rebels in hide-outs there, sending an angry message to the Baghdad government and its Washington sponsor. But Turkey, a member of NATO, made it clear that it would not immediately carry out the resolution."

US Salute toMacedonian Soldiers

A salute to our gallant allies in Iraq:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
RELEASE No. 20061005-03
Oct. 5, 2006

Iraqis graduate from Macedonian SF boot camp
Multi-National Division – Baghdad PAO

By Spc. C. Terrell Turner
1st BCT PAO, 4th Inf. Div.

CAMP TAJI, Iraq – Iraqi army soldiers from 1st Platoon, 5th Special Troops Company, 3rd Brigade, 9th Iraqi Army Division, graduated from the Macedonian-led basic combat training course Sunday at Camp Taji.

The course was designed by the Macedonian Special Forces Regiment, which is attached to 1st Battalion, 66th Armor Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, to supplement the training the soldiers received in basic training and to allow them to better execute their daily missions alongside the Macedonian soldiers.

“For more than 16 days, we assisted the Macedonians in providing the Iraqi soldiers with additional combat training, to include marksmanship training, two ranges, a shoot house, structure clearing procedures and first aid,” said Sgt. 1st Class Russell Coughenour, noncommissioned officer-in-charge, 3rd Bde, 9th IAD Military Transition Team. “We also focused on basic discipline and noncommissioned officer development during the training.”

Six MTT members and 28 Macedonian soldiers trained the platoon of 52 Iraqi soldiers from start to finish. The platoon will return to its area of operations to conduct military operations.

“It was fabulous,” said Coughenour. “They were a refined crew by the time they were done. They’re just a super bunch of guys.”

The training came to fruition after the Macedonian SF Regt. conducted an assessment of the Iraqi forces during some initial missions.

“Our job is to assist and advise the Iraqis,” said Capt. Zoran Ivanov, contingent commander, Macedonian SF Regt. “The training will allow them to be more confident and proficient in their training.”

The Iraqis seemed to appreciate the additional instruction.

“The training was tough, but good,” said Pvt. Ali, an infantryman with 5th STC, in his second year of service in the new Iraqi army. “I learned some new skills and they taught us things like self-confidence, duty, loyalty, respect and discipline.”

The soldiers are the first to go through the training, but not the last, Ivanov noted. Two more cycles of training are scheduled, which will mean 150 Iraqi soldiers will have gone through the additional training.

“I feel good that I graduated from this course, and I hope I will be able to fight the terrorists,” said Spc. Adel, infantryman, 5th STC. “I want my nation to be at peace.”

Ivanov said he recognized an almost instant change in the soldiers after they completed the training.

“They will go back to their units and begin going on missions after this,” he said. “The soldiers displayed lots of effort. They want to learn. At the end of the training, the difference was obvious. The ‘Scorpions’ of 5th Special Troops Company are completely different soldiers.”

The next graduating class is scheduled for late October.

Two US Soldiers "On Macedonians!"

Tanker Brothers - Two Soldiers In The War On Terror:

"'Blagodaram, Macedonia!' Brat"

Macedonians Teaching Iraqis All They Know

By David Edenden

Nice article about Macedonian soldiers training Iraqis as part of "Operation Iraqi Freedom from the "Official Website of Multi-National Force - Iraq"

raq - Iraqis graduate from Macedonian SF boot camp:
Multi-National Force -

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
RELEASE No. 20061005-03
Oct. 5, 2006

Iraqis graduate from Macedonian SF boot camp
Multi-National Division – Baghdad PAO

By Spc. C. Terrell Turner
1st BCT PAO, 4th Inf. Div.

CAMP TAJI, Iraq – Iraqi army soldiers from 1st Platoon, 5th Special Troops Company, 3rd Brigade, 9th Iraqi Army Division, graduated from the Macedonian-led basic combat training course Sunday at Camp Taji.

The course was designed by the Macedonian Special Forces Regiment, which is attached to 1st Battalion, 66th Armor Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, to supplement the training the soldiers received in basic training and to allow them to better execute their daily missions alongside the Macedonian soldiers.

“For more than 16 days, we assisted the Macedonians in providing the Iraqi soldiers with additional combat training, to include marksmanship training, two ranges, a shoot house, structure clearing procedures and first aid,” said Sgt. 1st Class Russell Coughenour, noncommissioned officer-in-charge, 3rd Bde, 9th IAD Military Transition Team. “We also focused on basic discipline and noncommissioned officer development during the training.”

Six MTT members and 28 Macedonian soldiers trained the platoon of 52 Iraqi soldiers from start to finish. The platoon will return to its area of operations to conduct military operations.

“It was fabulous,” said Coughenour. “They were a refined crew by the time they were done. They’re just a super bunch of guys.”

The training came to fruition after the Macedonian SF Regt. conducted an assessment of the Iraqi forces during some initial missions.

“Our job is to assist and advise the Iraqis,” said Capt. Zoran Ivanov, contingent commander, Macedonian SF Regt. “The training will allow them to be more confident and proficient in their training.”

The Iraqis seemed to appreciate the additional instruction.

“The training was tough, but good,” said Pvt. Ali, an infantryman with 5th STC, in his second year of service in the new Iraqi army. “I learned some new skills and they taught us things like self-confidence, duty, loyalty, respect and discipline.”

The soldiers are the first to go through the training, but not the last, Ivanov noted. Two more cycles of training are scheduled, which will mean 150 Iraqi soldiers will have gone through the additional training.

“I feel good that I graduated from this course, and I hope I will be able to fight the terrorists,” said Spc. Adel, infantryman, 5th STC. “I want my nation to be at peace.”

Ivanov said he recognized an almost instant change in the soldiers after they completed the training.

“They will go back to their units and begin going on missions after this,” he said. “The soldiers displayed lots of effort. They want to learn. At the end of the training, the difference was obvious. The ‘Scorpions’ of 5th Special Troops Company are completely different soldiers.”

The next graduating class is scheduled for late October.

Debra Cagan's "Faux Pas" Helps Macedonia

By David Edenden

A minor controversy regarding statements made by Debra Cagan, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Coalition Affairs (here) (here) has helped publicized Macedonia's assistance to the US in its War on Terror in Iraq. (here). Greece has decided to skip this war, which helped Macedonia gain recognition from the US (here).

Thirty percent of visits to this site, for the last two days, has come from searches for "Debra Cagan". With the exception of "Wonkette", this minor controversy has managed to evade the main stream media.

Macedonian Soldiers to Soldier on in Iraq!

DM Elenovski met US Department of State officials
Macedonian Information Agency

DM Elenovski met US Department of State officials

---

Skopje, July 16 (MIA) - The current situation in Iraq and the achieved progress of the Republic of Macedonia in this period were the topics of discussion between the Macedonian Defence Minister Lazar Elenovski and Lawrence Butler, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Near East Affairs and Debra Cagan, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defence for Coalition Affairs.

At the meeting they exchanged views on participation of the Macedonian troops in Operation Iraqi Freedom since 2003 contributing in stabilisation and democratisation of the country.

Minister Elenovski emphasised that the Republic of Macedonia will continue to participate in Operation Iraqi Freedom and together with the US will share the values, which are the real path to build and spread them throughout the world.

- The US will continue to support the Republic of Macedonia in integration to NATO. This is the position of the US Government and people which is unchanged and will not be changed additionally because based on mutual democratic values which we share as people and states are directed towards the same goal and at the same time we share the challenges and problems, Macedonian DM Elenovski said after the meeting.

He said that US support is one of the most important which is necessary for us especially prior to the NATO Summit in Bucharest next year. This will probably result in invitation for membership of the Republic of Macedonia to NATO, Elenovski said.

Butler, expressing gratitude for the Macedonian contribution for the peace and stability in Iraq, pointed out that the US will remain in close contacts until the operation in Iraq lasts.

- Macedonian troops in Iraq proved very well and the impression is very positive, Butler said.

Answering the journalist question he informed that he travels with his colleagues from Pentagon in a regular consultation with their partners because they consider that it is very important to inform the countries on latest political moves of their government.

Butler and Cagan will visit Tirana on Tuesday, on Wedensday they will visit Sarajevo, in Sofia are expected to arrive on Friday and on Monday they will be in Mongolia.

The US delegation led by Butler and Cagan will meet with members of the parliament Vladimir Gjorcev and Ruzdi Matoshi. sk/fd/13:20

Condi to Antonio: Next Year in Nato!

US supports Macedonia's NATO bid (SETimes.com)
16/07/2007

The US wants to see NATO offer member ship to Macedonia next year, but emphasises that certain key reforms must take place beforehand.

By Zoran Nikolovski for Southeast European Times in Skopje – 16/07/07

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice thanked Macedonian Foreign Minister Antonio Milososki for his country's military co-operation. [Getty Images]

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice expressed support for Macedonia's NATO bid during a meeting last week in Washington with Macedonian Foreign Minister Antonio Milososki. They also discussed the Kosovo situation, and Macedonia's military contributions to Iraq and Afghanistan, according to US State Department spokesman Sean McCormack.

"We have US support concerning the Adriatic Charter, and we expressed our confidence that together with the other partner countries, Macedonia has the capacity to meet the criteria and be a serious and well-prepared candidate for NATO membership, ready to accept an invitation at the Bucharest summit next year," Milososki said after the July 11th meeting.

In Washington, he met with Deputy Secretary of Defence Gordon R. England, National Security Council Director for Southeast Europe Burt Brown and US lawmakers and NGO representatives.

Although they vowed support for Macedonia's NATO bid, many officials underlined that key reforms must take place. To become a member of NATO, Macedonia must strengthen judicial reforms, fight corruption and maintain its image of a multiethnic society and functional democracy.

Milososki said the government is prepared to give it's all and demonstrate results needed to convince all Alliance members.

Concerning Kosovo's status, Milososki said he was pleased that Macedonia's position corresponded to that of the United States. "As a neighbouring country, we prefer a final status for Kosovo without intending to interfere, instead of maintaining the status quo, which is not a solution whatsoever," Milososki said. The process for Kosovo's status should not circumvent Belgrade, however. The EU should be encouraged to offer a clearer European perspective for the whole region, he said.

The visit also promoted the newly established Friendship Group in the US Congress. The group will help strengthen ties and inform the US public and lawmakers regarding Macedonia-related issues.

"The United States needed 15 years after the independence of Macedonia to recognise Macedonia's constitutional name. Today, it has been accepted by 170 UN member countries. I hope the rest will do the same," Democrat Bill Pascrell said at the group promotion event during a Capitol Hill reception organised by the Macedonian embassy in Washington.