Ankara Reacts Against Kurdish Leaders’ Statements

Barzani, in a statement to the leftist Italian daily La Repubblica, said: "It constitutes 90 per cent of the victory for us that Turkey would not enter northern Iraq." He added, "We believe the promises of the United States, and we now want a federal Iraq". Barzani stated that the coalition forces would be in the position of occupier if they stayed in Iraq for an extended period.

Evaluating the latest developments, a high-ranking Turkish diplomat said that Talabani had behaved as an opportunist and that this attitude resulted from an inability to keep the culture of democracy in his mind. The same diplomat indicated that Turkey was just watching the developments not to cause for provocative actions and that nobody should try Turkey’s patience.

Meanwhile, indicating that the Iraq Turkmen Front (ITC) had been present among groups protesting the Iraqi opponents’ meeting held yesterday in Iraq, ITC international relations officer Mustafa Ziya said he had gone to Iraq to represent the Turkmens but had not participated in the meeting.

Retired U.S. Army Gen. Jay Garner, who will be head of a temporary government in Iraq, reportedly called Turkish Ambassador to Kuwait Cetiner Karahan regarding the existing situation. Garner was then briefed on the role of the Turkmens and the Turks in the rebuilding of the region.

Salih Boztas / Ankara / TURKEY