Friday, March 30, 2007
Talabani invites Erdogan to send a delegation to carry out investigations in Kirkuk
Turkey, Iraq
(AINA) - Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Iraqi President Jalal Talabani discussed the controversial subject of Kirkuk during a meeting at the Arab League Summit in Riyadh, with Erdoğan seeming keen to accept Talabani's invitation to send a delegation to the oil-rich northern Iraqi city.
When Erdoğan explained to Talabani the discomfort that Turkey felt over events in Kirkuk, Talabani replied: "Is there a mistake that the Iraqis have made with regards to Kirkuk? Send a delegation, let them carry out investigations in Kirkuk. Let them look into whether the records of deeds have been erased. Let them carry out demographic studies. The base for these deeds is in Baghdad. Let Turkey's consulate in Mosul look into this." Erdoğan greeted Talabani's suggestion that a delegation be sent with pleasure, and has confirmed that Ankara will be "analyzing this and making a decision very soon."
During the Erdoğan-Talabani meeting, the Iraqi foreign minister and head of the Foreign Affairs Commission were also present. Erdoğan, who confirmed that his meeting with Talabani had gone well, had this to say: "Talabani told me 'We need Turkey. We cannot deny everything you have done for us. We have made some mistakes, but then, so have you.' They are particularly uncomfortable with the polemic that appears in the media. I reminded him that I had called him, as the prime minister of Turkey, while he was in the hospital."
Erdoğan also touched on Talabani's words regarding the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) terror presence in northern Iraq, noting that Talabani had said, "We are against anyone who is against Turkey." Erdoğan also underlined that Talabani had said he was pleased with Turkey's new petroleum laws.
When Erdoğan explained to Talabani the discomfort that Turkey felt over events in Kirkuk, Talabani replied: "Is there a mistake that the Iraqis have made with regards to Kirkuk? Send a delegation, let them carry out investigations in Kirkuk. Let them look into whether the records of deeds have been erased. Let them carry out demographic studies. The base for these deeds is in Baghdad. Let Turkey's consulate in Mosul look into this." Erdoğan greeted Talabani's suggestion that a delegation be sent with pleasure, and has confirmed that Ankara will be "analyzing this and making a decision very soon."
During the Erdoğan-Talabani meeting, the Iraqi foreign minister and head of the Foreign Affairs Commission were also present. Erdoğan, who confirmed that his meeting with Talabani had gone well, had this to say: "Talabani told me 'We need Turkey. We cannot deny everything you have done for us. We have made some mistakes, but then, so have you.' They are particularly uncomfortable with the polemic that appears in the media. I reminded him that I had called him, as the prime minister of Turkey, while he was in the hospital."
Erdoğan also touched on Talabani's words regarding the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) terror presence in northern Iraq, noting that Talabani had said, "We are against anyone who is against Turkey." Erdoğan also underlined that Talabani had said he was pleased with Turkey's new petroleum laws.
Labels: Jalal Talabani, Kirkuk, PKK, Tayyip Erdogan, Turkey
