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Ucar · 12-12-2007, 08:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Khan_Han

You try desperately hard not to recognize Turkey's right to certain oil reserves in Mosul and Kirkuk, despite the fact that such reserves were under the sole ownership of His Imperial Majesty, Sultan Abdul Hamid Khan. Turkey for decades has been receiving royalties from BP, Exon Mobil and all the other companies which exploit Iraqi petrol! This is because Iraq recognized the fact that Turkey had a legitimate claim to these reserves through the exiled Sultans estate. Do your research on these reserves and you shall see what I mean. It is only now that the Kurdish leadership wants to renege on these agreements and stop paying the royalties that Turkey started to show its teeth.

Here's an alternative look on Turkey's right to petroleum reserves in Mosul and Krikuk. Quoting from renowned acedemiciam Baskin Oran :

Quote:

1) The dept in question results from Article 14 of the Turkish-English-Iraqi agreement dated June 5th, 1926. Accoridngly Iraq would pay 10% of his petroleoum income to Turkey.

Iraq starts to pay these 10% immediately, and these incomes are indicated under the Budget until 1951 when the debt would end, as, "Income from Mosul petroleum according to agreement". There is no payment in 1952 and 53. In 1954, apparently Iraq is warned about past payments ans there is a significant transfer. In 1955 there is no payment, and this is shown in the budget as "estimated income"

After that there is no payment, until 1959. In that year this returns to the budget as "income", and continues until 1986 with no payment, and the statement "income".

Here's the deal : After 1955 there is no payment, because at thsi date, Adnan Menderes -as the founder of the Baghdad Pact- stops accepting these payments as a favor for his friend Nuri Sait Pasha. The reason why this returns in 1959 budget is because the coup d'etat of General Kazim kills the Pasha. Menderes is angered by this and the payment is placed in the budget again. However, this time Kasim refuses to pay.

The reason for its removal in 1986 again a favor. This time the favor is done by Turgut Ozal who wants to improve trade with Iraq.

Conclusions : This debt is not there because Iraq has not paid it, it is there beceause we could not collect it. Secondly, it is a trivial amount of money. The whole debt according to Ulugbay's calculations is 5,5 Pound Sterling, recevied part is 3,5 Pound Sterling and the ramiander is 2 million Pound Sterling. Since England has left the gold standard in 1931, the debt in consumer index prices amounts to 28-30 million pounds sterling (2003 prices)

2) Now to the "Mosul is a part of Misak-ı Milli" claim. Thsi claim that repeatedly comes out is a motto of expansionists in Turkey. Here's its legal ground : The first article of Misak-ı Milli states that the land under Ottoman Army rule as of 30 October 1918 is a part of "indispensable boundaries". At that moment, half the Mosul area is under Ottoman, and half is under British control. The British invasion, despite the 25th article is 15 days afetr Mondros.

Here some issues need to be mentioned : Firstly, Ataturk has comprehended Misak-ı Milli very adequately. He has refrained from acquiring Mosul, whereas we are not doing so. Secondly, it is us Turks who claim "Land this and that is a part of Misak-ı Milli". Although Turkey claims this, it is not binding for any other country. You can not claim "This land belongs to me as a part of my Misak-ı Milli, you need to hand it over"; you would be the laughing stock of everyone. Consequently, Batum is also a part of Misak-ı Milli. Should another country come up and say Kars-Aradhan is a part of my Misak-ı Milli, will we turn them over ?

Secondly, this, combined with the Mosul petroleum income debt creates a strange atmosphere. Does "Realizations of economic aims through military means" have another meaning other than 19th century's classicl definition of emperialism"?

I think that sums up our claims to Mosul-Kirkuk petroleum and land. I do not think further words are necessary. All errors in translation are mine.