Turkish Envoy Says Kirkuk Should Not Cause New Conflicts In Iraq

UNITED NATIONS - A senior Turkish envoy said on Thursday that Kirkuk should not cause new conflicts in Iraq.
Baki Ilkin, Turkey's permanent representative to the United Nations (UN), said that Kirkuk should not create new conflicts in Iraq.
"The status of Kirkuk, which is a small example of rich ethnic diversity in Iraq, should not cause new clashes in Iraq," Ilkin said during a meeting on Iraq at the UN Security Council in New York.
Ilkin said that Turkey, as Iraq's neighbor, underlined great importance to boosting stability and security in Iraq.
The envoy said that Turkey had good and equal relations with all segments of the Iraqi society, and its only message was good will and cooperation.
Ilkin said Turkey welcomed Iraq's progress towards an atmosphere of permanent security and stability at the end of long years of war and chaos.
The elections held in Iraq at the end of January strengthened the democratic process in Iraq, Ilkin said.
"Iraq made a good beginning to the year 2009, and we believe this year will be an important one for shaping up Iraq's future," he said.
Ilkin enumerated the problems that needed to be solved in Iraq as reviewing the constitution in a way that would unite the Iraqis; determining disputable administrative borders, particularly the status of Kirkuk in a way that would help preservation of Iraq's unity and territorial integrity; and handing over mission of ensuring security to the Iraqi security forces after withdrawal of the multinational force from Iraq.
The permanent representative said that the Iraqis should solve their problems through compromise.
Also, Ilkin underlined the importance Turkey attached to cooperation with Iraq in fight against terrorism, said that the terrorist organization PKK had used the north of Iraq as a tool for cross-border terrorist attacks.
Ilkin said that the presence of the terrorist organization in the north of Iraq was posing a threat for also the Iraqi people.
The permanent representative said that Turkey was pleased to see that both the local administrators and central government of Iraq were making more cooperation in fight against terrorism.
Ilkin said that Turkey was also expecting concrete and more efficient results from the trilateral mechanism set up with Iraq and the United States for countering the terrorist organization PKK.
The incidents in Iraq were not only a regional problem, but also had reflections outside the region, he also said.
Ilkin said that Turkey was extending strong support for the democratic process in Iraq, and was ready to do everything it could to support and assist Iraq in this sense.
(BRC-AY)
(DIP)