Turkish Diplomatic Delegation Pays a Visit to Northern Iraq

Iraq Kurdistan Democratic Party (IKDP) Turkey representative Sefin Dizai, in a statement to Zaman during a recent visit to Turkey, said that according to a May 2002 procurement agreement with the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, such diplomatic delegations were supposed to visit northern Iraq; however, to date no delegation had showed up in the region. Dizai said: "We want a Turkish delegation to come to the region and make inspections on the spot. It’s the right time."

Initial report: No security in Baghdad

Meanwhile, the first official information via diplomatic channels has reached Ankara from Baghdad 76 days after the start of hostilities in the country. Turkish Ambassador to Iraq Osman Paksut declared that adequate security had not yet been established in the city. Filing his first report from Baghdad at the beginning of the week, Paksut said: "Security is not adequate. The situation is not stable enough for investment."

Salih Boztas / Ankara / TURKEY