ISTANBUL - Iraqi Turkmen Front (ITF) Chairman Faruk Abdullah Abdurrahman said on Friday that Turkmens had always voiced that a federation would harm Iraq's integrity.
Abdurrahman, who came from Cairo to Istanbul, told reporters that restoring Iraq's integrity was the most important thing at the moment.
ITF Chairman Abdurrahman said that he met with Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher and Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa during his visit to Egypt and informed them about developments in Iraq.
Abdurrahman noted that he asked Egyptian officials to help Iraq end the untranquil situation within its territory.
ITF Chairman Abdurrahman quoted Maher and Moussa as saying that they would extend every kind of help for Iraq's integrity and co-existence of Arabs, Kurds and Turks under one roof.
Expressing sorrow over recent developments in Kirkuk, Abdurrahman said that the march was a march of peace in which people wanted to stress that Kirkuk should remain within Iraq's territory.
Abdurrahman noted that they were very sad that the march was ruined by some terrorists, bullets were shot, about eight Arabs and Turkmens died, and 26 people were injured.
He was sure that every effort would be exerted to restore tranquility there, Abdurrahman said.
Abdurrahman stated that Iraqi Turkmen Front had always voiced that a federation would harm Iraq's integrity.
Their sole demand was that neighboring countries should help Iraq ensure tranquility within its territory, Abdurrahman pointed out.
Abdurrahman will proceed to Ankara later in the day.
(BRC-AÖ) 02.01.2004