Kirkuk Governor: We Will Support Every Step That Will Install Peace In Iraq

KIRKUK - Kirkuk Governor Abdurrahman Mustafa, speaking about Turkey's sending soldiers to Iraq, pointed out that they would support every kind of step that would install peace in Iraq.
Speaking to A.A correspondent, Mustafa recalled that this mission was given to him after U.S. operation against Iraq, stating that they overcame most of the problems after he was appointed to this mission.
Mustafa said they solved the security problem, stating that policemen were at work all around the city, and noted that the governor's office and the municipality did their best to give services after solution of security problem.
Mustafa said the facilities were inadequate and that everybody should be patient. He said medicine was sold to citizens with 50 percent discount, stating that medicine would be given free of charge to poor patients.
Speaking about assignment of Turkish Armed Forces in Iraq, Mustafa said they would like Turkish soldiers to come in case the United States and its allies decide for it. He said they would support every kind of positive step that would install peace. He said those steps pleased them.
Kirkuk Parliament Speaker Tahsin Kahya said they could not even give Turkmen names to their children during the ruling of Saddam Hussein, stating that they exerted efforts to get their cultural and social rights, and that Turkmens entered City Parliament with six representatives.
Kahya said they conveyed to the United States and the United Nations that rights given to them during the new formation were not much, and that their target was to get assignment in the new system. Kahya said they wanted to set up television channel, publish newspaper, and give education in their mother tongue to express themselves. He said all the Turkmens in Kirkuk gathered within the body of Iraqi Turkmen Front in this respect.
Kahya said coming of Turkish soldiers upon the request of the United States would be very good, noting that they needed help of all of their neighbors in re-building of Iraq.
He said rebuilding and security were very important, adding that, ''we need help of Turkey. Security and tranquility in Baghdad are very important. Things should be settled in Baghdad. We don't want attacks like it had been done to the U.N. building.''
Kirkuk Deputy Governor Irfan Kerkuk in his part said they wanted Turkish soldiers to be assigned as peace forces in Iraq.
(AY-AÖ) 21.08.2003