A historic visit could lead to improvements

An Indian resident of Abu Dhabi offers some suggestions to help India live up to its branding as "a nation that has arrived" by the US president, citing as examples the services and laws of the UAE.

Regarding US and India a defining partnership this century (November 8): I was thinking of the various landmark improvements that could come along with this visit after India was branded "a nation that has arrived" by the US president Barack Obama.
Yes, after a period of recession, India is coming out as a nation of importance. The UAE is also confidently emerging with economic and administrative capabilities as a regional leader of significance.
There are a few concrete steps India could take to improve its services. Air India could become more efficient and upgrade its quality in order to compete with other airlines. Exit surveys of passengers could be taken to update traveller information and improve the quality of service.
Universities such as the Indian Institutes of Technology and the All India Institute of Medical Sciences could also extend its branches to the UAE. Indian residents and international students could thus compete with each other without having to leave the Emirates. There could also be schools and universities in India teaching Arabic, Islamic studies and Islamic arts.
Such basics requirements - economically viable and punctual transportation, increased educational facilities, and a safe and secure working environment - are but some improvements that would capture the spirit of Mr Obama's remarks.
I am thankful that I work in the UAE, where all my interests are well protected. I look forward to the add-ons that could further materialise from this historic visit.
Ramesh Menon, Abu Dhabi
 
An alternative view on Kurds
I read the letter of Shamal Karim: Kurds deserve their freedom, November 22, with a lot of disappointment.
For many years, people saw on TV and read in the newspapers that the Kurds supported Iran in the Iran-Iraq war. Accordingly, Saddam Hussein,the Iraqi president at that time, did everything to punish the Kurds, destroying Kurdish villages and attacking Kurdish peasants with chemical weapons .
Turkey on the other hand acted in a humanitarian way. It supported the anti-Iraq coalition during the Gulf War in order to protect Iraqi Kurds from Saddam Hussein's revenge, while most states and organisations agreed not to recognise an independent Kurdish state.
When we look at history, we can easily observe that Kurds established the Rebublic of Mahabad in Iran, a short-lived Kurdish government that sought Kurdish autonomy within the limits of the Iranian state in 1946. One year later, the Iranian Shah crushed this embryonic state.
Similarly, the same Kurds acted in northern Iraq against Iraqi governments in 1919 to 1923 and in 1932, but were crushed every time.
If Kurdistan is a nation that exists in the dreams of the Kurds and the Kurds are the largest national group without a country, this reality cannot be connected to any right or wrong politics of the Turks.
As long as some Kurds, who inhabit parts of Turkey, Iran and Iraq, support the PKK (which is regarded as a terrorist organisation), respond any negotiation proposal violently, announce guerilla wars against modern and secular governments, provoke military forces, it obvious that that the basic right of a human being to live in peace and prosperity will be no more than a dream.
The Kurds in Turkey today speak their own language, have their own TV channels and representatives in government. Nevertheless, the dream of having their own separate, independent Kurdish state within the soils of modern and secular Turkey would be unacceptable and unrealistic.
Gaye Caglayan, Dubai
 
Mavi Marmara film is anticipated
As an Italian-born college professor who lives in the US, I was delighted to read about the upcoming Turkish movie about the Mavi Marmara massacre Turkish film takes revenge on Gaza aid-ship attack (November 23).
It was a tragedy that shocked and moved me deeply, and I am looking forward to seeing the film.
Dr Massimo Mandolini-Pesaresi, MissionViejo, California
 
Ireland photo is too much blarney
I viewed with disappointment Irish government teeters on the brink (November 23) and the photograph you used to portray the country and its people.
Yes, I agree that Ireland is in trouble and has a few lean years ahead. But the people of Ireland are not reacting in the way your picture depicts they are. The Irish people generally are very angry with what has happened to their country but there has been very little unrest and protest.
The picture you used shows a group of protesters in front of the Irish government offices clashing with the police. This picture is not the Irish people as a whole and is in fact 20 Sinn Fein protesters. A picture is said to speak a thousand words so journalists have a responsibility to report the truth. Misleading pictures like this can damage a country's reputation.
Sinead Keogh, Dubai