Turkey Warms To Federated Iraq

As you probably know, Turkey has long been a strong opponent of the federal model of a free Iraq, because they feared an autonomous (or semi-) Kurd sector would spark demands by its internal Kurdish population to secede and join Iraq, or else simply increase terrorism designed to achieve that end.

Or cause some other form of trouble. Who the hell knows. I sure don't.

Turkey seems to be growing more comfortable with the new Iraq:

Kurdish Iraqi leader Jalal Talabani, the strongest candidate for Iraq's presidency, said Ankara has by now changed its policy on Iraq and is supporting a federative system, reported private CNN-TÃœRK yesterday.

“Our Turkish brothers openly said they support federalism,� CNN-TÜRK quoted Talabani, leader of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), as saying while speaking on Kürtsat television. Talabani's remarks were referring to a meeting with Osman Korutürk, Turkey's special envoy to Iraq at the end of last month.

Following his meeting with Talabani in northern Iraq, Korutürk had said it was up to the Iraqis to decide whether or not there would be a federative system in the new era in Iraq. “What Turkey prioritizes is Iraq remaining whole,� he said.

Welcome to the party, pal!, Geraghty enthuses. And there's more at the link.

posted by Ace at 08:20 PM

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