‘Kirkuk tension could derail Iraqi transition process’

But there is no plan to revise the current policy on Iraq, according to Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul.

"Creation of an Iraq where all segments can make their voice heard, participate in restructuring activities and political processes; which is at peace with its neighbors and with the international community; preserves its territorial integrity and political unity continues to be the essence of our approach towards this country," Gul said in a statement in response to a formal question by an opposition lawmaker from the True Path Party (DYP).

A huge flow of Kurds into Kirkuk to reclaim lands which they said had been forcefully taken from them as part of an Arabization campaign during the Saddam Hussein regime is a source of concern in Ankara. The Turkish government has warned against attempts to change the demographic structure in the city ahead of elections slated for January and a population census next month in preparation for the polls.

Gul said Turkey has emphasized several times that "developments in Iraq have the potential to derail the political transition process in Iraq and that our region, already fed up with wars and instability, will not tolerate fresh problems."

Turkey has repeatedly said that rights of Turkmens, who share close ethnic ties with Turks, should be protected as Iraq is being restructured and given a fair share of the administration of the country, especially in northern provinces that are home to a sizable Turkmen population, most notably Kirkuk.

A U.S. operation earlier this month in a Turkmen town in northern Iraq, which the U.S. military said was targeting an insurgent cell there, drew an angry response from Ankara and Gul even warned cooperation with the United States could come to an end if the operation did not stop.

"Situation of Turkmens is naturally a matter of close concern for Turkey … We have been closely following developments in neighboring Iraq and their impacts on Turkmens and have been issuing necessary warnings in contacts with all concerned parties," Gul said.

Gul, currently in the United States to attend U.N. General Assembly meetings in New York, has said Turkey wanted more cooperation with the United States on matters concerning Iraq.

"Our sensitivities should be understood and given more attention," Gul said at the National Strategy Forum, a Chicago-based think tank, according to the Chicago Tribune. "We need consultations and close contacts."

"The United States should be in an effort to speed up the democratization process in Iraq," Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan told private ATV television. "The United States should be much more sensitive towards developments there."

Syrian route for trade with Iraq
The prime minister also said Turkey had no decision at the moment to stop doing business in Iraq in the face of increasing attacks and kidnappings against Turks operating there.

"At the moment, both the firms investing in Iraq and those circles following developments at a diplomatic level favor continuation of operations in Iraq," Erdogan said.

Attacks on Turks in Iraq have prompted Turkish authorities to seek ways to conduct trade more safely with the neighboring country. Yesterday, Transportation Minister Binali Yildirim said the government was planning to transport goods into Iraq through Syria but Turkish transporters called for a more extensive approach.

"A Syrian route cannot be sufficient to solve the matter. This must be resolved thoroughly," Cetin Nuhoglu, head of the International Transporters’ Association told reporters.

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