Appeal

March 11, 2003

Appeal

To: The Turkish Parliament

Prevent a Turkish invasion of Iraqi Kurdistan!

Recently it was known that the Turkish government has decided to invade Iraqi Kurdistan if a war against Iraq breaks out. This has given rise to uneasiness in Iraqi Kurdistan as well as in the whole region.

The Kurdish political parties in Iraqi Kurdistan have already protested sharply against these invasion plans. The last few days there have been several demonstrations in Iraqi Kurdistan (in the cities of Suleimania, Erbil, Akre, among others) owing to the threat of Turkish invasion. On March 3rd Swedish television showed that more than half a million people demonstrated in the city of Erbil in Iraqi Kurdistan against Turkey's plans of occupying Iraqi Kurdistan. It was the biggest demonstration in the history of the city of Erbil. On March 4th other big demonstrations have taken place.

There have also been many manifestations in European capitals against these plans during the latest weeks.

Our opinion is that a Turkish invasion of Iraqi Kurdistan violates international law, no country has the right to occupy another country. Moreover, such an action contributes to increasing instability and diminishes possibilities for peace in the region.

Therefore we urge the Turkish Parliament to swiftly act to prevent a Turkish invasion of Iraqi Kurdistan.

Sweden, Stockholm, March 11 th, 2003

Maria Wetterstrand,
Party spokesperson and Member of Swedish Parliament (Green Party)

Ulla Hoffmann,
Party chairman and Member of Swedish Parliament (Left Party)

Inger Nordlander,
Member of Swedish Parliament (Social Democrat)

Lotta Nilsson Hedström,
Member of Swedish Parliament (Green Party)

Mats Einarsson,
Member of Swedish Parliament (Left Party)

Maurico Rojas,
Member of Swedish Parliament (Liberal Party)

Gunnar Goude,
Member of Swedish Parliament (Green Party)

Elina Linna,
Member of Swedish Parliament (Left Party)

Mona Jönsson,
Member of Swedish Parliament (Green Party)

Jonas Sjöstedt,
Member of European Parliament (Left Party)

Karin Thorborg,
Member of Swedish Parliament (Left Party)

Ingegerd Saarinen,
Member of Swedish Parliament (Green Party)

Lars Ångström,
Member of Swedish Parliament (Green Party)

Kalle Larsson,
Member of Swedish Parliament (Left Party)

Ulf Holm,
Member of Swedish Parliament (Green Party)

Mikael Johansson,
Member of Swedish Parliament (Green Party)

Gunilla Wahlin,
Member of Swedish Parliament (Left Party)

Rolf Olsson,
Member of Swedish Parliament (Left Party)

Sten Lundström,
Member of Swedish Parliament (Left Party)

Claes Roxbergh,
Member of Swedish Parliament (Green Party)

Leif Björnlod,
Member of Swedish Parliament (Green Party)

Lennart Gustavsson,
Member of Swedish Parliament (Left Party)

Camilla Sköld Jansson,
Member of Swedish Parliament (Left Party)

Carina Moberg,
Member of Swedish Parliament (Social Democrat)

Sven Erik Sjöstrand,
Member of Swedish Parliament (Left Party)

Luciano Astudillo,
Member of Swedish Parliament (Social Democrat)

Lars Bäckström,
Member of Swedish Parliament (Left Party)

Ulrik Lindgren,
Member of Swedish Parliament (Christian Democrat)

Rosita Runegrund,
Member of Swedish Parliament (Christian Democrat)

Anders Wiklund,
Member of Swedish Parliament (Left Party)

Erik Ullenhag,
Member of Swedish Parliament (Liberal Party)

Kjell-Erik Karlsson,
Member of Swedish Parliament (Left Party)

Helena Hillar Rosenqvist,
Party Parliamentary Group Leader, Member of Swedish Parliament (Green Party)

Inger Schörling,
Member of European Parliament (Green Party)

Rossana Dinamarca,
Member of Swedish Parliament (Left Party)

Maria Hassan,
Member of Swedish Parliament (Social Democrat)

Peter Pedersen,
Member of Swedish Parliament (Left Party)

Yvonne Ruwaida,
Member of Swedish Parliament (Green Party)

Jabar Amin,
Member of Party Board (Green Party)

Gudrun Schyman,
Former Party chairman and Member of Swedish Parliament (Left Party)

20-03-2003