The Iraqi parliament passed a law establishing a federal structure for the country, drawing support from Shiite and Kurdish lawmakers while facing firm opposition from Sunni Arab blocs. Sunni leaders argued the measure could effectively partition Iraq, leaving their communities in oil-poor regions while Shiites and Kurds control resource-rich territories.
The vote raised concerns in Ankara, which has been reassessing its Iraq policy over the past two years. Türkiye's leaders also monitored statements by US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice during her Iraq visits, in which she argued that federalism could actually reinforce the country's territorial integrity rather than undermine it.
A bipartisan US study group led by former Secretary of State James Baker was preparing a report on Iraq policy at the time. Among the options reportedly under consideration was a move toward a looser central government structure, stopping short of a full US withdrawal from the region.
Kurdish political factions in northern Iraq played a significant role in advancing the federalism legislation, and the possibility of Iranian influence on the process was also being weighed. Analysts noted that the challenges posed by instability in Iraq extend well beyond Türkiye's immediate border concerns and require a broader regional perspective.
Historical summary. TurkishPress restated this wire report, first published in October 2006, in its own words.