Iraqi Turkmens Want Turkish Dictionary

Saatci said: "We urgently need Turkish publications. The Ministry of Culture, the Turkey Associations and Stocks Union and Ankara Trade Association promised 5,000 Turkish dictionaries each. We need more than that."

When the Baath Party came to the power in Iraq on January 24, 1970, some rights were given to minority groups. Taking advantage of the situtation, Turks opened 48 schools with Turkish education in predominantly Turkmen areas. Those developments were met with gratitude by Turkey. With an agreement reached between the two countries, Turkish culture centres were opened in Kirkuk. Thus, thousands of Kirkuk Turks had the opportunity to learn Turkish and the Turkish alphabet.