ANKARA - Jalal Talabani, the leader of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), said on Thursday that Turkmens would be the sixth member of the Iraqi Chairmanship Council.
Talabani made a statement following his meeting with Iraqi Turkmen Front (ITC) official Mustafa Ramazan.
Pointing out that talks with Turkmens would continue, Talabani said they were passing through a critical period, and that they relations between the Kurds and Turkmens should be strengthened. He said all of them were Iraqis, and that they fought for a democratic, federal and united Iraq. He said central government should cover all the Iraqis.
Ramazan in his part said they have been fighting together with Talabani in the past 10 years against Iraqi dictatorship, stating that Talabani cooperated with Turkmens both in Sulaymaniyah and in Irbil and that he expended political support to Turkmens.
Ramazan said they condemned the demonstration of some groups in Ankara against Talabani, and that they at the same time condemned the incident in which Turkish flag was set on fire in Iraq.
Ramazan said Talabani also respected Turkish flag, stating that they condemned every kind of action which aimed to disrupt Kurdish-Turkmen friendship.
Responding to a question, Ramazan said Talabani expended continuous support for inclusion of Turkmens in chairmanship council, and that he believed they would take place in the council soon.
Talabani said they in principle defended Turkmen's being the sixth member of the Chairmanship Council, yet that this process has not been completed. He said they would provide representation of Turkmens in every level.
Responding to a question, Talabani said action against Iraq was against the Iraqi leadership, stating that they were expecting formation of Iraqi federation within 24 hours.
Talabani said daily life was calm in Northern Iraq despite the action against Iraq.
(AY-AÖ) 20.03.2003