A panel discussion titled "Kirkuk 2007," organized by the Global Strategy Institute at the Ankara Hilton Hotel, brought together representatives of Iraq's political, religious, and ethnic communities to examine the city's present situation and long-term status.
Several Iraqi officials stressed that the question of Kirkuk belongs to all Iraqis, not only its residents. Deputy Chairman of the Iraqi National Dialogue Front Hamit El Mutlak said the entire Iraqi population should have a voice in determining the city's fate. A lawmaker from the Iraqi Virtue Party warned that instability in Kirkuk would ripple across the whole country, while a representative of the Iraq Islamic Party called for the views of neighboring states to be considered alongside those of Iraqi groups.
Republican People's Party Deputy Chairman Onur Oymen outlined Türkiye's concerns, noting that roughly 40 percent of Iraq's oil reserves lie in Kirkuk and that the city therefore warrants close attention. He argued that a UN peacekeeping force should be deployed in Iraq and that Türkiye stands ready to support the establishment of democracy there.
Historical summary. TurkishPress restated this wire report, first published in January 2007, in its own words.