Turkey Welcomes Invitation Of Turkmens To The Meeting Of Iraqi Opposition In The United States

ANKARA - Turkey on Wednesday welcomed invitation of Turkmens to the new meeting of the Iraqi opposition in the United States.
Foreign Ministry Deputy Spokesman Huseyin Dirioz, who addressed a weekly news conference, pointed out that they welcomed the invitation.
Pointing out that Turkey supported taking of decision, regarding re-structuring of Iraq's future by all the sections, within the framework of political process, Dirioz said, ''to this end, consideration of rights of Turkmens, who are the third biggest population in Iraq, has importance for Turkey.''
When asked how would be the point of view of Ankara toward a federation in Northern Iraq in which Turkmens will also be represented, Dirioz said, ''Turkey supports preservation of Iraq's territorial integrity and political unity.''
The United States who earlier brought together the Iraqi opposition groups in Washington D.C. for a coordination meeting, re-convened them in New York, and this time invited Turkmens.
Turkmen Front Washington Representative Orhan Ketene will join the meeting in New York on behalf of the Turkmens. U.S. Department of State Undersecretary Marc Grossman will head the meeting.
Observers in Washington stated that the U.S. President George Bush for the first time mentioned Turkmens while speaking about Iraqi opposition in a speech he delivered in the United Nations last Thursday, and noted that importance of Turkmens increased in the recent period with the efforts of Turkey.
Iraqi Turkmens, mainly populated in Kerkuk region, also want to have the right to speak in future of Iraq.