Gul Warns Reckless Behavior in Kerkuk Must End

November 25, 2004 admin-dominor

Turkish Foreign Minister, Abdullah Gul told conference in attendees Sharm Al-Sheikh, Egypt yesterday: "We have seen oppression applied in some Iraqi cities to change the demographic structure. These activities that will damage the goal of structuring an independent and united Iraq should be abandoned immediately." Gul also expressed Turkey’s concerns about Kirkuk and the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) in a meeting with US Secretary of State Colin L. Powell. Powell said the US has been negotiating with all the groups on this issue and that it is urging them to end activities that harm the ultimate goal. Powell agreed that all the relevant parties must remain committed to this effort.

The Iraq Conference ended yesterday with a joint declaration. The most striking part of the bulletin was a reference to United Nations (UN) Security Council resolution 1546. According to articles 2 and 4 of the declaration, occupying forces are supposed to leave Iraq after the political transformation has been completed in the country. The declaration also says the summit of Iraq’s neighboring countries initiated by Turkey serves the best interests of the Iraqi people and the region and that dialogue is the key to resolving the issues in Iraq. Regarding the Iraqi election, the declaration signifies that the UN will send more observers to the elections. It asserts that a meeting should be held among all anti-terrorist groups prior to the elections in January. The insurgence was not clearly condemned in the declaration.

Arab League Secretary-General Amr Musa spoke at the Conference to ask for a national reconciliation meeting and a ceasefire in Iraq. Bahrain presented a proposal to host a meeting attended by all the Iraqi groups, but Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari said that although they appreciate the offer, it would be more appropriate for such a meeting to be held in Iraq. Zebari announced at a press conference held after the Conference that postponement of the election is impossible.