Turcomen Front: Kirkuk Is A City Of Iraq And A Symbol Of National Identity

ANKARA (A.A) - 12.06.2002 - Discussions pertaining to the demands of Northern Iraqi Kurdish groups for establishment of a federation, and inclusion of Kirkuk to this federation, continue.
A high-ranking official from Turcomen Front Turkey Representation told the A.A correspondent that the views pointed out in a conference entitled, ''Iraqi Kurds: Key of Stability in Iraq'', which was held in Global Peace Center in Washington, upset the whole Turks in the world, not only the Turcomens.
The official harshly critized the statements of Alan Makovsky, the U.S. Representatives Assembly International Relations Committee consultant, regarded with inclusion of Kirkuk to the Kurdish region in federation structure.
The official said they found strange the statement of Makovsky as if Kirkuk had been donated, and asked if someone could come and donate New York to somebody else.
Pointing out that at least 1000-year old Turcomen history lied under Kirkuk, and that more than 600,000 Turcomen lived on this territory, the official said Kirkuk was a city of Iraq and a symbol of national identity. The official said Kirkuk was not an issue that is open to discussion or bargaining.
The official said Kirkuk has an owner and that nobody has the right to donate the city, stressing that they were ready to die by fighting at the doors of the city rather than being exposed to a massacre.
Noting that the agenda of the conference should particularly focus on Iraq and democracy, the official said some plans were underway on Iraq, and pointed out that oil reserves in Kirkuk were the reasons of this.
The official said Turkey closely covered the issue, noting that Ankara showed its sensitivity in this respect.
The official said they welcomed the statements made on the issue from various diplomatic canals, and noted that they would have contacts in Foreign Ministry today.
Turkey, which adopted the policy to preserve Iraq's territorial integrity, made statements in various platforms and said it supported inclusion of all ethnical and religios groups in future of Iraq, and that it would respect to the decision that would be taken by Iraqi people.
Meanwhile, it was reported that regional administrator of the party Necirvan Barzani, the nephew of Kurdish Democratic Party (KDP), will pay a visit to Ankara soon.