WASHINGTON D.C. - U.S. President George W. Bush's Adviser for Iraq Zalmay Khalilzad said on Saturday that they supported inclusion of Turkmen in the chairmanship council, which was elected during the meeting of Iraqi opposition groups in Salahhaddin town of Iraq, as soon as possible.
Responding questions of the A.A correspondent, Khalilzad said that the United States supported inclusion of Turkmen in the chairmanship council as soon as possible.
Replying a question about the post-era after Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein, Khalilzad said that the United States had been defending protection of rights of all ethnic groups in a democratic Iraq from the very beginning.
He stressed that Iraqi people would take a decision about the new regime.
Responding a question about relations between Turkey and Kurdish groups in northern Iraq, Khalilzad said that the United States attributed importance to territorial integrity of Iraq. He stressed that the United States was opposed to a Kurdish state in the region.
Noting that the United States appreciated Turkey as an ally and friendly country, Khalilzad said that a free Iraq would be beneficial to all regional countries.
Khalilzad pointed out that the United States was opposed to any unilateral military intervention in northern Iraq.
Referring to the recent tension in the region, Khalilzad said that they hoped Turks and Kurds would resolve their problems through dialogue.
Referring to the demonstration in northern Iraq in which Turkish flags were set on fire, Khalilzad said that they were extremely unfortunate incidents.
Recalling that both Patriotic Union of Iraqi Kurdistan (PUK) leader Jalal Talabani and Iraqi Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) leader Massoud Barzani condemned those demonstrations, and they had said that they wanted to establish good relations with Turkey, Khalilzad said that Turkey had expended great efforts for Iraqi people and provided Iraqi refugees with shelter following the Gulf War.
(UK-MS) 08.03.2003