This will create significant economic revenue not only for this company, but also for Turkey. Yet, more importantly, this development has political implications.At this point, we need to give a short technical briefing. The revenues from the oil production in northern Iraq are not transferred directly to the regional Kurdish government in northern Iraq. Revenues from all oil production efforts within the borders of Iraq are collected in a pool, from which the regional Kurdish government in northern Iraq gets 17 percent. Thus, oil production in northern Iraq has only an indirect effect on the region.
There are virtually untouched rich and high-quality oil reserves in northern Iraq. There were attempts to produce oil from these reserves in the past, but it has only now become possible to do this, and the world's attention has become fixed on this region.
Those who designed the Middle East according to oil interests after the collapse of the Ottoman Empire took great pains to keep Turkey away from this oil. Last week a corporation with a majority of its shares belonging to a Turkish company managed to get close to the oil of the Middle East, from which Turkey has been banished for 90 years. This development is not only economically and politically significant, it is also symbolically important.
Even if we insist on not accepting this truth, northern Iraq is located within our natural borders. It is a region that is developing and changing continually with the 17 percent budget allocated from the central government. Arbil is the center of this region. While the old Arbil, located around the Arbil Castle, still carries deep traces of the past, the city generally resembles a giant construction site. With its wide streets, modern conference halls and new hotels it is likely to be the shining star of the region in the near future.
The people living inside the historic castle were given houses in other parts of the city in order to clear out the castle. Soon renovation work will start in this area, which is under UNESCO protection. There is an interesting museum inside the castle where carpets, rugs and caps from various Kurdish clans in the region are on display. It also contains wooden tools used in agriculture. In other words, the Kurds in the region will need years to create an urban civilization.
While our red lines prevent us from acting, Norway, South Korea, China, Russia and the US, which do not have such boundaries, are exerting great efforts to grab a share from the economic development in the region. Nevertheless, the shelves of the markets are full of Turkish goods produced in cities close to the border. The local people have a positive stance toward Turkey. Abdullah Gül and Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in particular are phenomenal leaders for them.
Whether northern Iraq will become an independent state is dependent on Turkey. If Turkey continues to turn a blind eye to this region, it is obvious that an independent state will emerge in the long run. However, if Turkey comes to terms with its natural geography and if it provides protection for it, it can prevent this. Thus, the Kurds who are oppressed by all the states in the region and who need a protector will no longer seek forces that are external to the region.
In sum, oil production in northern Iraq by Genel Enerji, largely owned by the Çukurova Group, is important in that it is the beginning of a new process. Turkey is facing its own natural hinterland.
