Turkey OK with UN Kirkuk report
Güncelleme Tarihi:
Hürriyet Daily News
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Mayıs 08, 2009 00:00
ANKARA - The Foreign Ministry comments on a new United Nations report that has been presented to Iraqi authorities, with spokesman Burak Özügergin saying it 'could contribute to a solution' to the political process underway in Iraq
A long-awaited United Nations report presented Wednesday to Iraqi authorities that proposes several options for the oil-rich northern Iraqi city of Kirkuk is compatible with Turkey’s views, the Foreign Ministry said yesterday.
"We believe the report could contribute to a solution to the problems on this issue," Foreign Ministry spokesman Burak Özügergin told reporters at a weekly press conference.
The U.N. held consultations with Turkey during its preparatory phase before submitting the report to Iraqi officials, Özügergin said.
The contents of the 500-page document have not yet been announced to the public and the U.N. has provided only general details about the report, including the four options proposed for Kirkuk, each of which would require political accommodation among the Kurds, Turkmen and Sunni and Shiite Arabs competing for power, reported the New York Times.
Presented to Iraqi authorities
"The report has been presented to Iraqi authorities. I don’t know what their reactions will be, but in the end, there is a political process underway in Iraq. É This report concerns a part of that process," said Özügergin. He said Turkey was interested in various phrases of the report because the country is doing its best to help the process proceed in a healthy way.
In response to a question about the recent visit to Turkey by anti-U.S. Iraqi Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, the ministry spokesman said al-Sadr’s meeting with Turkish officials took place in a positive atmosphere. "We are meeting with every group [in Iraq]," Özügergin said. "Why are we holding such talks? Because we believe they can contribute to the maintenance of peace and stability in Iraq."
Asked about the criticism that could be leveled at the visit by outsiders, Özügergin said al-Sadr’s trip was closely followed and warmly welcomed by the international community, which considered it an event that could contribute to the political process in Iraq.
According to the Council on Foreign Relations, al-Sadr was virtually unknown before Saddam Hussein's government collapsed in 2003. Al-Sadr has since emerged as one of the most important Shiite leaders in the country and has led a series of uprisings against coalition, Iraqi and rival Shiite forces.
His militia, known as the Mahdi Army, is bolstered by a base of predominantly poor urban Shiites.
Commenting on the recent proposal by French President Nicolas Sarkozy, who has been critical of Turkey’s attempts to enter the European Union, to establish an area of cooperation with Ankara as an alternative to EU membership, Özügergin reiterated Turkey’s position and stressed that EU membership continued to be a strategic objective for the country.
Reform process goes on
"Different ideas are floated by some leaders in Europe from time to time, but this neither affects our determination nor prevents us from doing our job," he said. "We continue to proceed on our path. The reform process is continuing."
Turkey’s new foreign minister, Ahmet Davutoğlu, attended part of the press briefing and was introduced to the members of the press pool covering the ministry.
Asked about the Cyprus issue, Özügergin said there was no change in the opinions of the Turkish side regarding a comprehensive solution to the decades-old dispute.
"Negotiations are continuing. We are standing behind this process, and standing side-by-side with the Turkish Cypriots," he said, adding that though there had been some signs that the United States would assign a special envoy for the island, no such appointment had been made thus far.
"We believe the report could contribute to a solution to the problems on this issue," Foreign Ministry spokesman Burak Özügergin told reporters at a weekly press conference.
The U.N. held consultations with Turkey during its preparatory phase before submitting the report to Iraqi officials, Özügergin said.
The contents of the 500-page document have not yet been announced to the public and the U.N. has provided only general details about the report, including the four options proposed for Kirkuk, each of which would require political accommodation among the Kurds, Turkmen and Sunni and Shiite Arabs competing for power, reported the New York Times.
Presented to Iraqi authorities
"The report has been presented to Iraqi authorities. I don’t know what their reactions will be, but in the end, there is a political process underway in Iraq. É This report concerns a part of that process," said Özügergin. He said Turkey was interested in various phrases of the report because the country is doing its best to help the process proceed in a healthy way.
In response to a question about the recent visit to Turkey by anti-U.S. Iraqi Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, the ministry spokesman said al-Sadr’s meeting with Turkish officials took place in a positive atmosphere. "We are meeting with every group [in Iraq]," Özügergin said. "Why are we holding such talks? Because we believe they can contribute to the maintenance of peace and stability in Iraq."
Asked about the criticism that could be leveled at the visit by outsiders, Özügergin said al-Sadr’s trip was closely followed and warmly welcomed by the international community, which considered it an event that could contribute to the political process in Iraq.
According to the Council on Foreign Relations, al-Sadr was virtually unknown before Saddam Hussein's government collapsed in 2003. Al-Sadr has since emerged as one of the most important Shiite leaders in the country and has led a series of uprisings against coalition, Iraqi and rival Shiite forces.
His militia, known as the Mahdi Army, is bolstered by a base of predominantly poor urban Shiites.
Commenting on the recent proposal by French President Nicolas Sarkozy, who has been critical of Turkey’s attempts to enter the European Union, to establish an area of cooperation with Ankara as an alternative to EU membership, Özügergin reiterated Turkey’s position and stressed that EU membership continued to be a strategic objective for the country.
Reform process goes on
"Different ideas are floated by some leaders in Europe from time to time, but this neither affects our determination nor prevents us from doing our job," he said. "We continue to proceed on our path. The reform process is continuing."
Turkey’s new foreign minister, Ahmet Davutoğlu, attended part of the press briefing and was introduced to the members of the press pool covering the ministry.
Asked about the Cyprus issue, Özügergin said there was no change in the opinions of the Turkish side regarding a comprehensive solution to the decades-old dispute.
"Negotiations are continuing. We are standing behind this process, and standing side-by-side with the Turkish Cypriots," he said, adding that though there had been some signs that the United States would assign a special envoy for the island, no such appointment had been made thus far.