1 00:00:02,250 --> 00:00:07,480 [Music] 2 00:00:13,719 --> 00:00:17,719 three I 3 00:00:36,079 --> 00:00:40,440 welcome to Sputnik orbiting the world 4 00:00:38,120 --> 00:00:42,239 with me George Galloway and me Joseph 5 00:00:40,440 --> 00:00:45,399 Hyatt standing in for gadri who is on 6 00:00:42,239 --> 00:00:47,719 holiday kobani is not Stalingrad nothing 7 00:00:45,399 --> 00:00:49,960 is like Stalingrad but the Syrian 8 00:00:47,719 --> 00:00:52,440 Kurdish city of kabani is certainly 9 00:00:49,960 --> 00:00:55,079 writing its name into the history books 10 00:00:52,440 --> 00:00:57,879 just yards from the Turkish border the 11 00:00:55,079 --> 00:01:01,320 city is being half overrun by the 12 00:00:57,879 --> 00:01:03,079 Savages of Isis but every street in 13 00:01:01,320 --> 00:01:05,960 every house is being contested by the 14 00:01:03,079 --> 00:01:07,439 young Kurdistan fighters of the ypg 15 00:01:05,960 --> 00:01:10,360 which is the youth section of the local 16 00:01:07,439 --> 00:01:12,600 chapter of the pkk the Kurdistan Workers 17 00:01:10,360 --> 00:01:15,960 Party listed bizarrely as a terrorist 18 00:01:12,600 --> 00:01:18,840 organization by both the US and EU who 19 00:01:15,960 --> 00:01:21,040 now back the Kurds of course the pkk in 20 00:01:18,840 --> 00:01:23,280 the fight against Isis the fighters are 21 00:01:21,040 --> 00:01:25,200 young left and a huge number of them are 22 00:01:23,280 --> 00:01:27,200 women it would be the stuff of a 23 00:01:25,200 --> 00:01:30,079 Hollywood movie if it were not for the 24 00:01:27,200 --> 00:01:32,159 nightmare of the actuality captured 25 00:01:30,079 --> 00:01:35,399 Fighters being beheaded their eyes 26 00:01:32,159 --> 00:01:38,759 gouged out women being raped by the oh 27 00:01:35,399 --> 00:01:41,119 so holy Warriors of the Isis 80-year-old 28 00:01:38,759 --> 00:01:43,560 men have had their heads cut off in 29 00:01:41,119 --> 00:01:46,280 front of their families children and 30 00:01:43,560 --> 00:01:48,719 grandchildren sometimes this story moves 31 00:01:46,280 --> 00:01:51,439 beyond words at least any words that I 32 00:01:48,719 --> 00:01:54,200 can find joining us now is a man of many 33 00:01:51,439 --> 00:01:58,079 words and good ones too Kurdish activist 34 00:01:54,200 --> 00:02:01,520 and writer mmed axoy mmed you've got 35 00:01:58,079 --> 00:02:04,240 your ear to the ground uh in and around 36 00:02:01,520 --> 00:02:06,399 kobani what's the military situation 37 00:02:04,240 --> 00:02:08,399 first of all there on the ground in the 38 00:02:06,399 --> 00:02:11,720 city now well the most recent 39 00:02:08,399 --> 00:02:14,200 information is that uh the ypg and ypj 40 00:02:11,720 --> 00:02:18,680 the women section of the Defense Forces 41 00:02:14,200 --> 00:02:21,599 have taken back 85% of uh the city um 42 00:02:18,680 --> 00:02:24,120 and Sali Muslim has stated that 43 00:02:21,599 --> 00:02:26,160 Liberation is very near for kobani so 44 00:02:24,120 --> 00:02:28,440 positive things are happening um on the 45 00:02:26,160 --> 00:02:31,519 East and Southern fronts um Isis have 46 00:02:28,440 --> 00:02:34,000 been pushed back to almost outside uh 47 00:02:31,519 --> 00:02:37,239 the city they only control some of the 48 00:02:34,000 --> 00:02:38,920 villages that are attached to kobani um 49 00:02:37,239 --> 00:02:42,480 and some uh some neighborhoods on the 50 00:02:38,920 --> 00:02:44,599 outskirts of the city uh so I think that 51 00:02:42,480 --> 00:02:47,159 over the next few days Isis will be 52 00:02:44,599 --> 00:02:49,360 pushed back even further and hopefully 53 00:02:47,159 --> 00:02:51,680 uh we'll we'll leave C money is is that 54 00:02:49,360 --> 00:02:54,000 possible is a is a victory possible and 55 00:02:51,680 --> 00:02:55,840 a and a defeat for Isis possible and if 56 00:02:54,000 --> 00:02:58,000 so what would be the implications of 57 00:02:55,840 --> 00:03:00,599 that what would happen next well I think 58 00:02:58,000 --> 00:03:02,640 the Coalition forces have changed attack 59 00:03:00,599 --> 00:03:04,879 um after seeing that uh that kobani 60 00:03:02,640 --> 00:03:08,080 isn't falling um they waited for 2 3 61 00:03:04,879 --> 00:03:11,280 weeks car said it wasn't part of their 62 00:03:08,080 --> 00:03:14,080 strategy to avoid it falling I think 63 00:03:11,280 --> 00:03:16,720 with the with the Turkish States uh uh 64 00:03:14,080 --> 00:03:18,680 approach to kobani um and being a NATO 65 00:03:16,720 --> 00:03:21,239 member being part of the Coalition the 66 00:03:18,680 --> 00:03:22,840 Coalition wanted kobani to fall but when 67 00:03:21,239 --> 00:03:24,480 it didn't fall and when International 68 00:03:22,840 --> 00:03:26,760 public opinion swung in favor of the 69 00:03:24,480 --> 00:03:29,000 Kurds and kobani um they had to take 70 00:03:26,760 --> 00:03:30,760 steps so now uh just yesterday the 71 00:03:29,000 --> 00:03:34,159 Kurdistan Regional government uh 72 00:03:30,760 --> 00:03:36,799 Parliament uh uh accepted a motion to uh 73 00:03:34,159 --> 00:03:38,360 recognize the cantons of rojava kobani 74 00:03:36,799 --> 00:03:39,959 being one of them which wouldn't have 75 00:03:38,360 --> 00:03:42,280 happened without the Americans giving 76 00:03:39,959 --> 00:03:44,159 the go-ahead um also Isis are being 77 00:03:42,280 --> 00:03:47,239 defeated in certain parts of Iraq 78 00:03:44,159 --> 00:03:49,959 certain Sunni um tribes have uh taken 79 00:03:47,239 --> 00:03:52,000 begun to rise up against them exactly uh 80 00:03:49,959 --> 00:03:55,200 so I think Isis are being pushed back on 81 00:03:52,000 --> 00:03:57,000 all fronts um and you can see this uh in 82 00:03:55,200 --> 00:03:58,799 in the reflection of this in kobani as 83 00:03:57,000 --> 00:04:01,079 well uh what will this mean this will 84 00:03:58,799 --> 00:04:04,200 mean that other forces other powers need 85 00:04:01,079 --> 00:04:06,120 to fill in that vacuum in rojava in 86 00:04:04,200 --> 00:04:07,920 kobani the Kurds already have an 87 00:04:06,120 --> 00:04:09,920 Administration they have people they 88 00:04:07,920 --> 00:04:11,959 have Fighters um and the same needs to 89 00:04:09,920 --> 00:04:17,280 happen in in other parts in raka in 90 00:04:11,959 --> 00:04:18,919 Rabia in Tad um so uh Arab uh tribes um 91 00:04:17,280 --> 00:04:20,440 the other ethnic groups in the region 92 00:04:18,919 --> 00:04:22,079 the other religious groups need to fill 93 00:04:20,440 --> 00:04:23,880 in that power vacuum well we'll talk 94 00:04:22,079 --> 00:04:27,360 about the Arabs in a minute I want to 95 00:04:23,880 --> 00:04:30,680 talk about the Turkish position first it 96 00:04:27,360 --> 00:04:34,880 was I would assume a matter 97 00:04:30,680 --> 00:04:38,639 of Shame consternation certainly uh or 98 00:04:34,880 --> 00:04:42,560 for turkey's friends and allies in NATO 99 00:04:38,639 --> 00:04:46,280 to see a huge Turkish military force at 100 00:04:42,560 --> 00:04:48,120 the fence on the border able to see if 101 00:04:46,280 --> 00:04:50,080 they had field glasses at least the 102 00:04:48,120 --> 00:04:52,560 beheadings and the 103 00:04:50,080 --> 00:04:55,199 murders uh but not being prepared to 104 00:04:52,560 --> 00:04:57,479 lift a finger and worse not being 105 00:04:55,199 --> 00:04:59,919 allowed to uh not being prepared to 106 00:04:57,479 --> 00:05:03,080 allow the gate to be open so that 107 00:04:59,919 --> 00:05:06,960 Turkish Kurds could enter and come to 108 00:05:03,080 --> 00:05:11,520 the side of their Brethren and sisters 109 00:05:06,960 --> 00:05:13,800 uh fighting there uh but the impact 110 00:05:11,520 --> 00:05:16,280 amongst the Kurdish public opinion in 111 00:05:13,800 --> 00:05:18,880 turkey has been dramatic and it now 112 00:05:16,280 --> 00:05:21,639 endangers the peace process between the 113 00:05:18,880 --> 00:05:23,280 pkk and the erdogan government tell us 114 00:05:21,639 --> 00:05:25,880 about that 115 00:05:23,280 --> 00:05:27,840 well this the position of the Turkish 116 00:05:25,880 --> 00:05:30,240 government uh the erdogan government for 117 00:05:27,840 --> 00:05:32,120 two years has been one of supporting 118 00:05:30,240 --> 00:05:34,440 uh the fundamentalist extremist groups 119 00:05:32,120 --> 00:05:36,039 in Syria against the Assad regime they 120 00:05:34,440 --> 00:05:38,319 expected the Assad regime to fall very 121 00:05:36,039 --> 00:05:41,520 quickly the Kurds who have been who were 122 00:05:38,319 --> 00:05:44,240 fighting the Assad regime since 2004 did 123 00:05:41,520 --> 00:05:46,440 not take active active arms against 124 00:05:44,240 --> 00:05:48,880 Assad instead they they built up their 125 00:05:46,440 --> 00:05:50,400 own administrations Turkey were very 126 00:05:48,880 --> 00:05:52,800 afraid of this because they thought it 127 00:05:50,400 --> 00:05:55,520 would reflect badly according to them on 128 00:05:52,800 --> 00:05:57,880 the Kurds of Turkey um so they were 129 00:05:55,520 --> 00:05:59,680 supporting first the al-nusra front 130 00:05:57,880 --> 00:06:02,520 which then is alqaeda affiliate 131 00:05:59,680 --> 00:06:06,080 affiliate which Isis broke off of um and 132 00:06:02,520 --> 00:06:07,599 obviously UK EU us governments were also 133 00:06:06,080 --> 00:06:10,759 supporting the free Syrian Army and the 134 00:06:07,599 --> 00:06:13,080 Syrian National Coalition um against 135 00:06:10,759 --> 00:06:15,479 Assad so all the arms that were provided 136 00:06:13,080 --> 00:06:18,039 by these forces went into the went to 137 00:06:15,479 --> 00:06:20,240 into the hands of these extremist forces 138 00:06:18,039 --> 00:06:22,800 um the Kurds meanwhile refused to take a 139 00:06:20,240 --> 00:06:24,759 part in this uh because one it didn't 140 00:06:22,800 --> 00:06:26,199 recognize Kurdish Administration it 141 00:06:24,759 --> 00:06:29,360 didn't recognize Kurdish rights and 142 00:06:26,199 --> 00:06:30,560 autonomy in Northern Syria um so over 143 00:06:29,360 --> 00:06:32,199 the last two years the Kurds have been 144 00:06:30,560 --> 00:06:34,400 putting up a fight the International 145 00:06:32,199 --> 00:06:36,720 Community media turn a blind eye to it 146 00:06:34,400 --> 00:06:38,560 turkey was funding letting these groups 147 00:06:36,720 --> 00:06:40,560 through their borders but in the last 148 00:06:38,560 --> 00:06:43,280 two three months the international media 149 00:06:40,560 --> 00:06:46,080 has taken paid attention to it uh but 150 00:06:43,280 --> 00:06:49,039 turkey hasn't changed its T um first it 151 00:06:46,080 --> 00:06:51,080 said we've got 49 hostages um who were 152 00:06:49,039 --> 00:06:53,639 taken that was their excuse then they 153 00:06:51,080 --> 00:06:56,280 got them back then they got them back in 154 00:06:53,639 --> 00:06:58,280 uh return for the release of about 180 155 00:06:56,280 --> 00:07:00,080 Isis members apparently who were being 156 00:06:58,280 --> 00:07:02,720 held by turkey 157 00:07:00,080 --> 00:07:04,199 um so Turkey were actually negotiating 158 00:07:02,720 --> 00:07:07,199 with a terrorist 159 00:07:04,199 --> 00:07:09,319 organization um and then uh after this 160 00:07:07,199 --> 00:07:11,280 excuse was taken away they still refused 161 00:07:09,319 --> 00:07:13,319 as you said to let the people across the 162 00:07:11,280 --> 00:07:15,639 border um because the Kurds wanted a 163 00:07:13,319 --> 00:07:19,440 corridor to be opened well that's they 164 00:07:15,639 --> 00:07:22,199 they want uh Turkish occupation of the 165 00:07:19,440 --> 00:07:24,599 north of Syria what they call a buffer 166 00:07:22,199 --> 00:07:27,400 zone what anyone else would call an 167 00:07:24,599 --> 00:07:29,560 occupation presumably the Kurds have no 168 00:07:27,400 --> 00:07:30,759 interest in agreeing to that no they 169 00:07:29,560 --> 00:07:34,000 want a buffal Zone and they want a no 170 00:07:30,759 --> 00:07:36,800 fly zone do Isis have any planes no why 171 00:07:34,000 --> 00:07:39,479 do they want a no fly zone against Assad 172 00:07:36,800 --> 00:07:42,720 turkey and especially the AKP regime 173 00:07:39,479 --> 00:07:45,639 have banked on a Sunni Corridor being 174 00:07:42,720 --> 00:07:47,599 open through Syria going through Iraq 175 00:07:45,639 --> 00:07:49,960 and the rest of the region they want a 176 00:07:47,599 --> 00:07:53,479 Sunni dominated 177 00:07:49,960 --> 00:07:56,440 sectarian uh divide in the region to 178 00:07:53,479 --> 00:07:59,759 serve their own Neo ottoman purposes or 179 00:07:56,440 --> 00:08:01,400 or ideology um their paradigm the way 180 00:07:59,759 --> 00:08:04,599 they see the Middle East is through this 181 00:08:01,400 --> 00:08:06,120 new otoman prism um and the fall of 182 00:08:04,599 --> 00:08:08,879 Assad was going to make this possible 183 00:08:06,120 --> 00:08:11,400 for them but it's worked out exactly in 184 00:08:08,879 --> 00:08:14,440 the opposite direction D dulu was 185 00:08:11,400 --> 00:08:16,720 regularly saying in a matter of weeks 186 00:08:14,440 --> 00:08:20,000 Bashar will fall and of course three and 187 00:08:16,720 --> 00:08:22,400 a bit years on now he's not Fallen he's 188 00:08:20,000 --> 00:08:25,479 not going to fall at least in those 189 00:08:22,400 --> 00:08:29,039 parts of Syria that he and the regime 190 00:08:25,479 --> 00:08:34,399 currently hold let's talk about the uh 191 00:08:29,039 --> 00:08:38,120 the popularity or otherwise of erdogan's 192 00:08:34,399 --> 00:08:42,560 line the alevi people are against it the 193 00:08:38,120 --> 00:08:44,839 Kurdish people are against it the left 194 00:08:42,560 --> 00:08:47,880 such as it is now in Turkey is against 195 00:08:44,839 --> 00:08:50,720 it one imagines that those elements 196 00:08:47,880 --> 00:08:55,480 inside the armed forces that don't like 197 00:08:50,720 --> 00:08:57,920 erdogan don't much fancy a war in Syria 198 00:08:55,480 --> 00:09:00,720 if I'm right about that then the erdogan 199 00:08:57,920 --> 00:09:03,800 position is quite precarious only has 200 00:09:00,720 --> 00:09:05,240 it's a good score 47% but it's not a 201 00:09:03,800 --> 00:09:08,200 majority and it's certainly not an 202 00:09:05,240 --> 00:09:10,360 overwhelming majority no and also 203 00:09:08,200 --> 00:09:14,880 International forces are also against it 204 00:09:10,360 --> 00:09:17,640 now America um the France uh the UK are 205 00:09:14,880 --> 00:09:19,560 starting to uh accept a future with 206 00:09:17,640 --> 00:09:21,680 Assad rather than without Assad and this 207 00:09:19,560 --> 00:09:24,160 is the most this is the key I think 208 00:09:21,680 --> 00:09:27,519 apart from internal opposition external 209 00:09:24,160 --> 00:09:30,600 opposition has swung uh against erogan 210 00:09:27,519 --> 00:09:32,600 as well um Within turkey as with the 211 00:09:30,600 --> 00:09:35,279 gizi protests as with the recent 212 00:09:32,600 --> 00:09:36,959 protests for kobani there's a very very 213 00:09:35,279 --> 00:09:38,640 strong opposition against the erdogan 214 00:09:36,959 --> 00:09:41,399 regime which is becoming ever more 215 00:09:38,640 --> 00:09:43,160 authoritarian um in its policies as well 216 00:09:41,399 --> 00:09:48,040 just the other day they passed the new 217 00:09:43,160 --> 00:09:50,880 bill um extending the police's um uh 218 00:09:48,040 --> 00:09:53,200 kind of Rights in in what they can do 219 00:09:50,880 --> 00:09:56,600 when against protests let's talk about 220 00:09:53,200 --> 00:09:59,399 the Arabs then quickly the situation in 221 00:09:56,600 --> 00:10:02,200 Iraq there's a new prime minister he's 222 00:09:59,399 --> 00:10:06,040 walked a different game from al- Malaki 223 00:10:02,200 --> 00:10:09,399 so far he hasn't really delivered one uh 224 00:10:06,040 --> 00:10:13,000 the image of the Central State in 225 00:10:09,399 --> 00:10:16,079 Baghdad is heavily tarnished by recent 226 00:10:13,000 --> 00:10:20,120 years you say that there are now some 227 00:10:16,079 --> 00:10:22,480 signs of the Sunni tribes in the west of 228 00:10:20,120 --> 00:10:24,279 Iraq in the north and west of Iraq 229 00:10:22,480 --> 00:10:26,920 beginning to turn against Isis tell us 230 00:10:24,279 --> 00:10:29,560 something about that that's new well uh 231 00:10:26,920 --> 00:10:31,320 from what I've read from the media um uh 232 00:10:29,560 --> 00:10:33,320 uh three or four tribes have come 233 00:10:31,320 --> 00:10:37,480 together one very important tribe in 234 00:10:33,320 --> 00:10:41,000 deror I think uh in in that region um 235 00:10:37,480 --> 00:10:43,240 has started fighting Isis um on on the 236 00:10:41,000 --> 00:10:45,959 ground on ground level um I think it's 237 00:10:43,240 --> 00:10:48,959 very important that these tribes come 238 00:10:45,959 --> 00:10:50,839 out um and and unite um and have a 239 00:10:48,959 --> 00:10:53,920 strong government behind them to fight 240 00:10:50,839 --> 00:10:55,480 extremist forces like Isis because uh 241 00:10:53,920 --> 00:10:57,600 that's the only way that as I said they 242 00:10:55,480 --> 00:10:59,720 can fill in that power vacuum otherwise 243 00:10:57,600 --> 00:11:01,399 forces like Isis which have fighers from 244 00:10:59,720 --> 00:11:04,320 all over the world I call them 245 00:11:01,399 --> 00:11:07,120 International hitmen for finance Capital 246 00:11:04,320 --> 00:11:10,120 um will continue kind of borrowing into 247 00:11:07,120 --> 00:11:12,320 that uh into into the region if the 248 00:11:10,120 --> 00:11:14,519 local people if the tribes there don't 249 00:11:12,320 --> 00:11:17,720 put up a strong stand this can only 250 00:11:14,519 --> 00:11:20,120 happen though if things aren't done 251 00:11:17,720 --> 00:11:24,519 along for example ethnic or religious 252 00:11:20,120 --> 00:11:27,000 lines um a sectarian war or uh uh kind 253 00:11:24,519 --> 00:11:29,040 of taking sides on a sectarian or ethnic 254 00:11:27,000 --> 00:11:30,959 uh along those divides will only lead to 255 00:11:29,040 --> 00:11:33,800 more conflict in the future so you know 256 00:11:30,959 --> 00:11:36,920 conflicts with Shia Muslims especially 257 00:11:33,800 --> 00:11:38,560 um the Kurds The Turk men um uh the 258 00:11:36,920 --> 00:11:40,959 Assyrians uh in that region the 259 00:11:38,560 --> 00:11:43,079 Christians all have the right to live in 260 00:11:40,959 --> 00:11:45,560 that region and they have to unite 261 00:11:43,079 --> 00:11:47,560 against in this case a common enemy like 262 00:11:45,560 --> 00:11:49,639 Isis Joseph you were very interested in 263 00:11:47,560 --> 00:11:52,200 the youthfulness and of course the high 264 00:11:49,639 --> 00:11:53,720 female component of this great battle in 265 00:11:52,200 --> 00:11:55,040 kobani weren't you ABS they're very 266 00:11:53,720 --> 00:11:57,040 impressive Force aren't they but the 267 00:11:55,040 --> 00:11:58,519 question is if there is a victory for 268 00:11:57,040 --> 00:12:00,000 them do you think it will change the 269 00:11:58,519 --> 00:12:01,680 circumstance that 270 00:12:00,000 --> 00:12:03,160 definitely um the reason why there are 271 00:12:01,680 --> 00:12:05,360 so many young people and so many women 272 00:12:03,160 --> 00:12:06,639 involved is because of the ideological 273 00:12:05,360 --> 00:12:08,839 standpoint of the of the Kurdish 274 00:12:06,639 --> 00:12:12,760 movement um they believe in a gender 275 00:12:08,839 --> 00:12:15,760 equal uh secular uh Democratic and 276 00:12:12,760 --> 00:12:17,279 communitarian society and system um the 277 00:12:15,760 --> 00:12:19,440 reason why these people find their 278 00:12:17,279 --> 00:12:21,480 future in this system is because it's 279 00:12:19,440 --> 00:12:24,240 not drawn along gender lines it's not 280 00:12:21,480 --> 00:12:27,399 drawn along ethnic or religious lines 281 00:12:24,240 --> 00:12:29,240 and this uh the the administrations in 282 00:12:27,399 --> 00:12:32,079 rojava in Northern Syria including 283 00:12:29,240 --> 00:12:33,720 kobani um will bring about a change will 284 00:12:32,079 --> 00:12:36,040 spread this change across the region 285 00:12:33,720 --> 00:12:38,519 people see their future in this system 286 00:12:36,040 --> 00:12:41,279 in this Administration which accepts the 287 00:12:38,519 --> 00:12:43,600 a uh the the Armenians um the Assyrians 288 00:12:41,279 --> 00:12:46,000 the Arabs living uh there which gives 289 00:12:43,600 --> 00:12:47,639 them the power to uh decide on their own 290 00:12:46,000 --> 00:12:50,959 fate decide on their own future and it's 291 00:12:47,639 --> 00:12:54,680 localized power uh it's it's a it's uh 292 00:12:50,959 --> 00:12:58,000 the um uh the penicillin if you will for 293 00:12:54,680 --> 00:13:01,519 uh Nation statism uh for patriarchy uh 294 00:12:58,000 --> 00:13:02,720 for uh Finance Capital uh industrialism 295 00:13:01,519 --> 00:13:06,240 which is killing the killing the 296 00:13:02,720 --> 00:13:08,360 environment and the ecological uh health 297 00:13:06,240 --> 00:13:10,760 of the of the region really so I think 298 00:13:08,360 --> 00:13:12,160 that a victory for kobani a victory for 299 00:13:10,760 --> 00:13:13,760 Northern Syria for the Kurds and the 300 00:13:12,160 --> 00:13:15,279 other ethnic groups there will mean a 301 00:13:13,760 --> 00:13:18,079 victory for the rest of the Middle East 302 00:13:15,279 --> 00:13:21,959 in a nutshell cuz we only got time for a 303 00:13:18,079 --> 00:13:24,639 nutshell chances of pkk being taken off 304 00:13:21,959 --> 00:13:26,000 the terror list now well this is the 305 00:13:24,639 --> 00:13:28,760 only way that there's going to be a 306 00:13:26,000 --> 00:13:31,240 solution in Turkey um we liken it a 307 00:13:28,760 --> 00:13:35,560 little bit to thec and to Nelson Mandela 308 00:13:31,240 --> 00:13:37,760 situation um if the EU if the UK uh if 309 00:13:35,560 --> 00:13:39,600 the US want peace in Turkey if they want 310 00:13:37,760 --> 00:13:41,440 the war to end for there to be stability 311 00:13:39,600 --> 00:13:43,680 there not just in Turkey but in Iran 312 00:13:41,440 --> 00:13:45,399 Iraq and Syria then the pkk need to be 313 00:13:43,680 --> 00:13:47,360 taken off the terrorist list which will 314 00:13:45,399 --> 00:13:48,639 also strengthen the hand of the Turkish 315 00:13:47,360 --> 00:13:50,519 State and the Turkish government because 316 00:13:48,639 --> 00:13:52,040 then they won't be in negotiation with a 317 00:13:50,519 --> 00:13:54,320 group that's on the terrorist list and 318 00:13:52,040 --> 00:13:57,360 it will also help us Kurdish activists 319 00:13:54,320 --> 00:13:59,160 openly do more activism to help uh 320 00:13:57,360 --> 00:14:01,079 democracy in the region as well because 321 00:13:59,160 --> 00:14:03,000 now we're criminalized whenever we try 322 00:14:01,079 --> 00:14:05,399 to help the pkk or the Kurdish movement 323 00:14:03,000 --> 00:14:08,279 in general um so it's a win-win 324 00:14:05,399 --> 00:14:10,399 situation if the pkk are Dlisted M 325 00:14:08,279 --> 00:14:12,440 thanks for joining us on the Sputnik 326 00:14:10,399 --> 00:14:15,360 coming up after the break an interview 327 00:14:12,440 --> 00:14:17,639 with Dennis Halliday formerly a big wig 328 00:14:15,360 --> 00:14:19,880 with the United Nations gatri and I 329 00:14:17,639 --> 00:14:24,000 caught him in London when he was passing 330 00:14:19,880 --> 00:14:24,000 through just last week 331 00:14:34,240 --> 00:14:39,120 welcome back to Sputnik Dennis Halliday 332 00:14:37,000 --> 00:14:42,320 is one of the most noble men I've ever 333 00:14:39,120 --> 00:14:44,480 known an Irish man he spent decades in 334 00:14:42,320 --> 00:14:47,240 the United Nations reaching the Dizzy 335 00:14:44,480 --> 00:14:49,839 Heights of assistant Secretary General 336 00:14:47,240 --> 00:14:52,720 he was posted to Iraq during the oil for 337 00:14:49,839 --> 00:14:55,839 food program to avert a catastrophe in 338 00:14:52,720 --> 00:14:58,680 which an Iraqi child was dying every 6 339 00:14:55,839 --> 00:15:00,920 minutes of every day and night through 340 00:14:58,680 --> 00:15:03,639 San itions Dennis took a good look 341 00:15:00,920 --> 00:15:06,000 around he did everything that he could 342 00:15:03,639 --> 00:15:09,120 before deciding he couldn't take it 343 00:15:06,000 --> 00:15:11,040 anymore it would not be done in his name 344 00:15:09,120 --> 00:15:14,199 and he walked becoming one of the few 345 00:15:11,040 --> 00:15:18,079 men in public life to voluntarily walk 346 00:15:14,199 --> 00:15:20,320 away from a position of such importance 347 00:15:18,079 --> 00:15:22,440 gatri and I caught up with Dennis 348 00:15:20,320 --> 00:15:25,079 Halliday when he passed through London 349 00:15:22,440 --> 00:15:28,120 just last week and I started out by 350 00:15:25,079 --> 00:15:31,000 asking him do we really have a United 351 00:15:28,120 --> 00:15:33,480 Nations anymore it has a big building 352 00:15:31,000 --> 00:15:35,639 even bigger budgets but it might as well 353 00:15:33,480 --> 00:15:37,880 not be there for all the good that it's 354 00:15:35,639 --> 00:15:39,720 doing yes I hate to admit that of course 355 00:15:37,880 --> 00:15:41,880 I have to agree with that but let me 356 00:15:39,720 --> 00:15:43,759 just say there are two United Nations 357 00:15:41,880 --> 00:15:47,000 United Nations of the member states this 358 00:15:43,759 --> 00:15:49,079 is a States organized paid for managed 359 00:15:47,000 --> 00:15:51,839 function the Secretary General and the 360 00:15:49,079 --> 00:15:55,079 staff is actually the second part of the 361 00:15:51,839 --> 00:15:56,880 equation the states in my view uh in 362 00:15:55,079 --> 00:15:59,480 terms of the real issues the peace 363 00:15:56,880 --> 00:16:01,600 security well-being human rights working 364 00:15:59,480 --> 00:16:03,040 through the security Council have failed 365 00:16:01,600 --> 00:16:06,800 in fact they're showing signs I would 366 00:16:03,040 --> 00:16:10,040 say of corruption and that's the tragedy 367 00:16:06,800 --> 00:16:13,199 well the let's deal with the core of the 368 00:16:10,040 --> 00:16:16,079 problem we have a situation now where 369 00:16:13,199 --> 00:16:18,639 three out of the five permanent members 370 00:16:16,079 --> 00:16:21,519 are now repeatedly declaring war on 371 00:16:18,639 --> 00:16:24,000 other states without now even putting 372 00:16:21,519 --> 00:16:26,600 the matter before the security Council 373 00:16:24,000 --> 00:16:30,720 never mind taking its agreement or 374 00:16:26,600 --> 00:16:32,759 Ascent uh to these uh policies yet these 375 00:16:30,720 --> 00:16:35,319 five permanent members have a veto 376 00:16:32,759 --> 00:16:37,240 Forever on whether or not the security 377 00:16:35,319 --> 00:16:39,920 Council should be refashioned remodeled 378 00:16:37,240 --> 00:16:41,839 reformed or even abolished well this is 379 00:16:39,920 --> 00:16:46,399 our problem we now have member states 380 00:16:41,839 --> 00:16:48,079 who are not uh taking uh proper what's 381 00:16:46,399 --> 00:16:50,199 the word attention not paying proper 382 00:16:48,079 --> 00:16:52,880 attention to the to the Charter the 383 00:16:50,199 --> 00:16:55,639 charter makes it very clear in chapter 7 384 00:16:52,880 --> 00:16:57,519 aggressive Warfare acts of aggression 385 00:16:55,639 --> 00:16:59,440 going to war preemptive strikes whatever 386 00:16:57,519 --> 00:17:01,319 it's called nowadays is is totally in 387 00:16:59,440 --> 00:17:03,360 violation of international law in 388 00:17:01,319 --> 00:17:05,919 violation of the charter in violation of 389 00:17:03,360 --> 00:17:09,000 the membership and as veto members of 390 00:17:05,919 --> 00:17:11,240 the five veto powers for them to break 391 00:17:09,000 --> 00:17:13,280 these laws for them to go to war without 392 00:17:11,240 --> 00:17:15,839 endorsement of the Security Council is 393 00:17:13,280 --> 00:17:17,280 doubly dangerous and doubly undermining 394 00:17:15,839 --> 00:17:19,640 of the whole organization and the 395 00:17:17,280 --> 00:17:21,600 purpose of the organization particularly 396 00:17:19,640 --> 00:17:24,439 as I said before in the security Council 397 00:17:21,600 --> 00:17:26,480 which is so fundamental to World Peace 398 00:17:24,439 --> 00:17:28,960 where we do not have representation we 399 00:17:26,480 --> 00:17:31,160 do not have democracy if you can believe 400 00:17:28,960 --> 00:17:33,000 that we've allowed these five veto 401 00:17:31,160 --> 00:17:35,559 Powers the so-called Victors of the 402 00:17:33,000 --> 00:17:37,840 second world world war to stay in power 403 00:17:35,559 --> 00:17:39,919 to control the essential part of this 404 00:17:37,840 --> 00:17:42,640 organization well that's a problem but 405 00:17:39,919 --> 00:17:45,039 an an even bigger problem is where any 406 00:17:42,640 --> 00:17:47,400 number of members of the permanent five 407 00:17:45,039 --> 00:17:48,720 I've cited three United States Britain 408 00:17:47,400 --> 00:17:51,160 and France because they have been 409 00:17:48,720 --> 00:17:55,880 repeatedly doing it are doing it right 410 00:17:51,160 --> 00:17:58,200 now uh in Syria and arguably in Iraq 411 00:17:55,880 --> 00:18:00,600 decide that if they can't get out from 412 00:17:58,200 --> 00:18:02,760 under The veto power of the other 413 00:18:00,600 --> 00:18:04,600 members of the permanent five well 414 00:18:02,760 --> 00:18:07,159 they'll just go and do what they want 415 00:18:04,600 --> 00:18:09,440 anyway yeah this is what underlines I 416 00:18:07,159 --> 00:18:11,240 think most the failure of the council 417 00:18:09,440 --> 00:18:13,200 and the corruption of the council that 418 00:18:11,240 --> 00:18:15,200 you have member states who are veto 419 00:18:13,200 --> 00:18:18,039 member states permanent member states 420 00:18:15,200 --> 00:18:19,720 and have been since 1945 are willing now 421 00:18:18,039 --> 00:18:21,960 to corrupt the this Charter and go 422 00:18:19,720 --> 00:18:24,280 behind the regulations of the charter 423 00:18:21,960 --> 00:18:26,360 which prevent any form of warfare 424 00:18:24,280 --> 00:18:29,400 whether it's Wars of aggression 425 00:18:26,360 --> 00:18:31,360 genocidal or whatever happen without 426 00:18:29,400 --> 00:18:33,600 permission of the member states as per 427 00:18:31,360 --> 00:18:35,799 the charter as per the other 428 00:18:33,600 --> 00:18:39,120 arrangements that the security Council 429 00:18:35,799 --> 00:18:41,120 functions within uh to me this is the 430 00:18:39,120 --> 00:18:43,320 end of the value added of the security 431 00:18:41,120 --> 00:18:44,919 Council because you what example does 432 00:18:43,320 --> 00:18:47,320 that set for the other countries SP 433 00:18:44,919 --> 00:18:49,000 smaller countries who want to aggress 434 00:18:47,320 --> 00:18:53,159 against a neighbor who want to take on 435 00:18:49,000 --> 00:18:55,960 some issue who want to take on some uh 436 00:18:53,159 --> 00:18:58,120 aggressive role I mean if the leadership 437 00:18:55,960 --> 00:19:00,400 and those held most responsible do not 438 00:18:58,120 --> 00:19:02,120 respect the Charter why should anybody 439 00:19:00,400 --> 00:19:04,520 else well let's take one of those 440 00:19:02,120 --> 00:19:07,240 smaller countries Israel which came into 441 00:19:04,520 --> 00:19:10,400 being as the result of a decision of the 442 00:19:07,240 --> 00:19:11,960 United Nations in just the last few 443 00:19:10,400 --> 00:19:17,159 months 444 00:19:11,960 --> 00:19:20,720 has broken the uh Charter has broken 445 00:19:17,159 --> 00:19:23,559 extant Security Council resolutions has 446 00:19:20,720 --> 00:19:26,640 killed United Nations personnel has 447 00:19:23,559 --> 00:19:30,640 destroyed United Nations facilities in 448 00:19:26,640 --> 00:19:32,120 Gaza in fact over and over again and yet 449 00:19:30,640 --> 00:19:34,880 at the next meeting of the United 450 00:19:32,120 --> 00:19:37,720 Nations can walk up the red carpet as a 451 00:19:34,880 --> 00:19:39,840 Pua member State no one threatens them 452 00:19:37,720 --> 00:19:42,320 with expulsion no one threatens them 453 00:19:39,840 --> 00:19:45,039 with suspension or any sanction of any 454 00:19:42,320 --> 00:19:47,480 kind how can that happen it happens 455 00:19:45,039 --> 00:19:50,559 unfortunately because the United States 456 00:19:47,480 --> 00:19:52,320 gives blind support to Israel there's no 457 00:19:50,559 --> 00:19:55,280 capacity in Congress or in the White 458 00:19:52,320 --> 00:19:57,400 House to correct or punish or hold back 459 00:19:55,280 --> 00:19:59,360 Israel for the internal domestic 460 00:19:57,400 --> 00:20:03,280 politics of the United States 461 00:19:59,360 --> 00:20:05,640 is uh held by the uh lobbies financed by 462 00:20:03,280 --> 00:20:07,360 Israel often with American money as a 463 00:20:05,640 --> 00:20:10,159 matter of fact so the Americans are 464 00:20:07,360 --> 00:20:12,120 afraid to do deal with Israel as Israel 465 00:20:10,159 --> 00:20:13,960 should be dealt with because Israel is 466 00:20:12,120 --> 00:20:16,240 as you said in violation of um just 467 00:20:13,960 --> 00:20:18,320 about every International Convention the 468 00:20:16,240 --> 00:20:20,480 charter itself so we they go in there 469 00:20:18,320 --> 00:20:23,679 and they kill 450 children for example 470 00:20:20,480 --> 00:20:26,000 recently in Gaza and do we get uh does 471 00:20:23,679 --> 00:20:28,400 the world stop no does the UN pay real 472 00:20:26,000 --> 00:20:30,360 attention no some wishy-washy statement 473 00:20:28,400 --> 00:20:32,600 comes out saying regrettably this and 474 00:20:30,360 --> 00:20:35,760 that and whatever and the U in Gaza 475 00:20:32,600 --> 00:20:37,960 itself the UN the UN agency has been 476 00:20:35,760 --> 00:20:40,480 educating and feeding and supporting 477 00:20:37,960 --> 00:20:42,320 these thousands of refugees for some 40 478 00:20:40,480 --> 00:20:43,840 years so the UN is actually being 479 00:20:42,320 --> 00:20:46,440 attacked the schools were bombed by 480 00:20:43,840 --> 00:20:48,440 Israel and again Israel walks free and 481 00:20:46,440 --> 00:20:49,880 it's all because Washington and Britain 482 00:20:48,440 --> 00:20:52,679 to a certain extent and maybe some other 483 00:20:49,880 --> 00:20:55,000 Europeans are afraid to deal with Israel 484 00:20:52,679 --> 00:20:56,720 because of the confusion and the history 485 00:20:55,000 --> 00:20:59,360 of the Jewish people the Jewish State 486 00:20:56,720 --> 00:21:00,760 the Holocaust all of that complexity 487 00:20:59,360 --> 00:21:02,559 but they can't face the reality that 488 00:21:00,760 --> 00:21:06,240 Zionism is something that's got to be 489 00:21:02,559 --> 00:21:08,919 dealt with Let's uh go back to the issue 490 00:21:06,240 --> 00:21:10,600 of structure how can you have a security 491 00:21:08,919 --> 00:21:13,120 Council where some of the world's 492 00:21:10,600 --> 00:21:15,600 biggest countries indeed its second 493 00:21:13,120 --> 00:21:17,919 biggest country is not in the permanent 494 00:21:15,600 --> 00:21:21,400 5 it's permanently locked out of the 495 00:21:17,919 --> 00:21:24,159 permanent 5 how can Germany the greatest 496 00:21:21,400 --> 00:21:26,520 economy in Europe not be in the security 497 00:21:24,159 --> 00:21:29,279 Council Brazil the greatest country in 498 00:21:26,520 --> 00:21:32,600 Latin America locked out permanently of 499 00:21:29,279 --> 00:21:35,440 the security Council surely these kind 500 00:21:32,600 --> 00:21:36,760 of Demands uh now need to be raised that 501 00:21:35,440 --> 00:21:38,640 if you're going to have a security 502 00:21:36,760 --> 00:21:41,039 Council if you're going to have any 503 00:21:38,640 --> 00:21:43,760 permanence uh a permanent five it'll 504 00:21:41,039 --> 00:21:45,559 need be the permanent 10 well you see as 505 00:21:43,760 --> 00:21:48,159 you know better than I probably the 506 00:21:45,559 --> 00:21:51,279 Stranglehold of the five permanent me 507 00:21:48,159 --> 00:21:54,000 Members goes back to Yola when Roosevelt 508 00:21:51,279 --> 00:21:55,679 Stalin and Churchill met and decided 509 00:21:54,000 --> 00:21:57,320 given the failure of the league they 510 00:21:55,679 --> 00:21:59,720 were going to sort out the future have 511 00:21:57,320 --> 00:22:01,760 United Nations which they would control 512 00:21:59,720 --> 00:22:04,600 and that by adding France as a gesture 513 00:22:01,760 --> 00:22:07,960 to um the goal and by adding 514 00:22:04,600 --> 00:22:09,799 China uh they created this five veto 515 00:22:07,960 --> 00:22:11,640 power permanent seat for themselves and 516 00:22:09,799 --> 00:22:13,240 they're still still in business if you 517 00:22:11,640 --> 00:22:14,279 speak they're still controlling the UN 518 00:22:13,240 --> 00:22:15,840 the brick countries that you've 519 00:22:14,279 --> 00:22:17,799 mentioned other large countries are not 520 00:22:15,840 --> 00:22:20,240 represented the north south balance is 521 00:22:17,799 --> 00:22:21,840 just not there there is no democracy it 522 00:22:20,240 --> 00:22:23,360 sounds like Revolution when you talk 523 00:22:21,840 --> 00:22:26,000 about democracy in the context of the 524 00:22:23,360 --> 00:22:27,720 security Council but the South needs to 525 00:22:26,000 --> 00:22:29,520 be represented on a permanent basis or 526 00:22:27,720 --> 00:22:30,679 at least with the same strength I mean I 527 00:22:29,520 --> 00:22:32,279 have a suggestion for that if you want 528 00:22:30,679 --> 00:22:33,480 to get into it tell us how can we solve 529 00:22:32,279 --> 00:22:35,320 this yeah I believe what we have to do 530 00:22:33,480 --> 00:22:37,679 is to abolish the present five we have 531 00:22:35,320 --> 00:22:40,159 to have Regional seats in the security 532 00:22:37,679 --> 00:22:42,960 Council so North America would have one 533 00:22:40,159 --> 00:22:44,640 permanent seat Canada the United States 534 00:22:42,960 --> 00:22:46,480 Mexico would have to decide who sits on 535 00:22:44,640 --> 00:22:48,799 that seat and when one of them speak 536 00:22:46,480 --> 00:22:50,640 when the country sitting speaks that 537 00:22:48,799 --> 00:22:52,720 country will represent the three Latin 538 00:22:50,640 --> 00:22:54,520 America would have one seat maybe Costa 539 00:22:52,720 --> 00:22:57,080 Rica would be selected to sit on that 540 00:22:54,520 --> 00:22:58,919 seat but when Costa Rica spoke she would 541 00:22:57,080 --> 00:23:00,960 speak for the whole of Latin America and 542 00:22:58,919 --> 00:23:02,520 so on for sub Sahara Africa North Africa 543 00:23:00,960 --> 00:23:05,919 the Middle East you could visualize a 544 00:23:02,520 --> 00:23:08,440 very different body with some democracy 545 00:23:05,919 --> 00:23:09,840 at work and representation no veto power 546 00:23:08,440 --> 00:23:12,159 and I think we'd find very different 547 00:23:09,840 --> 00:23:14,720 decisions and these wars of aggression 548 00:23:12,159 --> 00:23:17,120 that we undertake uh would simply in my 549 00:23:14,720 --> 00:23:19,120 view be be changed that would not happen 550 00:23:17,120 --> 00:23:21,600 I don't believe we need that desperately 551 00:23:19,120 --> 00:23:23,799 and it's it's not on the cards because 552 00:23:21,600 --> 00:23:27,039 the the change of the security Council 553 00:23:23,799 --> 00:23:29,200 and its makeup is uh built into the into 554 00:23:27,039 --> 00:23:31,440 the charter and only the member states 555 00:23:29,200 --> 00:23:33,880 the permanent member states can change 556 00:23:31,440 --> 00:23:36,520 the charter so they very very 557 00:23:33,880 --> 00:23:39,559 tily it up to serve their own interests 558 00:23:36,520 --> 00:23:42,600 it's quite extraordinary Dennis H I 559 00:23:39,559 --> 00:23:42,600 salute you thank 560 00:23:43,279 --> 00:23:47,919 you and now it's your turn to tell us 561 00:23:45,840 --> 00:23:50,279 what you think through the portals of 562 00:23:47,919 --> 00:23:52,159 social media what's rattling Joseph well 563 00:23:50,279 --> 00:23:54,000 so on the question of the United Nations 564 00:23:52,159 --> 00:23:55,760 and the state of its Security Council 565 00:23:54,000 --> 00:23:57,159 Neil barington says it's become a 566 00:23:55,760 --> 00:23:59,279 totally irrelevant toothless 567 00:23:57,159 --> 00:24:01,480 organization very rarely does it ever 568 00:23:59,279 --> 00:24:03,640 get close to what it should do well I'm 569 00:24:01,480 --> 00:24:05,840 afraid that there's no arguing with that 570 00:24:03,640 --> 00:24:07,640 Dennis Halliday couldn't really argue 571 00:24:05,840 --> 00:24:09,000 against it he would probably say it's 572 00:24:07,640 --> 00:24:12,360 better that we have it than that we 573 00:24:09,000 --> 00:24:15,120 don't I think it's encouraging a massive 574 00:24:12,360 --> 00:24:17,799 illusion that we have some kind of world 575 00:24:15,120 --> 00:24:20,679 Authority when in truth we don't and 576 00:24:17,799 --> 00:24:23,640 Shan sibon says bring back Kofi Kofi 577 00:24:20,679 --> 00:24:27,080 Anan was a better man than Banky moon or 578 00:24:23,640 --> 00:24:29,320 donkey Moon as some people call him uh 579 00:24:27,080 --> 00:24:31,320 but he had some terrible shortcomings 580 00:24:29,320 --> 00:24:33,399 too quite a lot going on on this 581 00:24:31,320 --> 00:24:36,360 question of turkey and on the border 582 00:24:33,399 --> 00:24:38,200 with obviously situation in kobani uh on 583 00:24:36,360 --> 00:24:40,320 the question of Will President erdogan 584 00:24:38,200 --> 00:24:43,480 let the Turkish Kurds across the border 585 00:24:40,320 --> 00:24:45,440 to help defend the city of kabani uh Ino 586 00:24:43,480 --> 00:24:47,399 Lobo says the Turkish government has 587 00:24:45,440 --> 00:24:50,000 automaic dreams the annihilation of 588 00:24:47,399 --> 00:24:52,120 innocence is inconsequential to them 589 00:24:50,000 --> 00:24:54,200 well they they have they're hoist on 590 00:24:52,120 --> 00:24:56,399 this terrible petard that anything which 591 00:24:54,200 --> 00:24:58,360 strengthens the Kurds their 592 00:24:56,399 --> 00:25:01,440 self-determination their self-organized 593 00:24:58,360 --> 00:25:04,240 ization their military strength is seen 594 00:25:01,440 --> 00:25:06,640 by him as a dagger at the heart of the 595 00:25:04,240 --> 00:25:09,559 Ottoman the Neo ottoman state that he's 596 00:25:06,640 --> 00:25:11,880 trying to create Virginia H disagrees he 597 00:25:09,559 --> 00:25:13,600 says why would he Isis are armed to the 598 00:25:11,880 --> 00:25:15,600 teeth and are organized the Kurds in 599 00:25:13,600 --> 00:25:16,799 Turkey need to CM down I don't think I 600 00:25:15,600 --> 00:25:18,159 would if my loved ones were in trouble 601 00:25:16,799 --> 00:25:20,240 like that well no and of course the 602 00:25:18,159 --> 00:25:23,399 reason Isis are armed to the teeth is 603 00:25:20,240 --> 00:25:25,640 erdogan's fault as well as the fault of 604 00:25:23,399 --> 00:25:28,080 some other governments in that region 605 00:25:25,640 --> 00:25:31,760 all those uh weapons which armed them to 606 00:25:28,080 --> 00:25:33,559 the teeth crossed his border with his 607 00:25:31,760 --> 00:25:35,840 connivance that's all we've got time for 608 00:25:33,559 --> 00:25:37,520 for today sir which alas means that's 609 00:25:35,840 --> 00:25:40,520 the end of the show don't forget to 610 00:25:37,520 --> 00:25:42,360 tweet us it's rtor Sputnik on Twitter 611 00:25:40,520 --> 00:25:44,760 and of course on Facebook it's Sputnik 612 00:25:42,360 --> 00:25:47,640 on Russia today but for me Joseph height 613 00:25:44,760 --> 00:25:51,000 it's goodbye and for me George Gallow 614 00:25:47,640 --> 00:25:51,000 it's been marvelous 615 00:25:58,559 --> 00:26:01,559 oh