Iraqi Oil Minister: Kirkuk Belongs to Iraq
Sunday, November 07 2004 @ 10:12 PM Central Standard Time
Iraqi Oil Minister Thamir Ghadban said that Kirkuk's future would be inside Iraq.
In Ankara for the 15th round of the Joint Economic Board Meeting between Turkey and Iraq, Ghadban spoke of latest developments to Zaman. Expressing that Kirkuk was one of the key points in Iraq, Ghadban said, "Kirkuk belongs to Iraq. It is the only way for the future and interest of both Iraq and Kirkuk." Ghadban pointed out that Kurdish, Turkmen and Arabic societies in the city had to work together to live in a peace and congruity. Remarking that Turkey was a trustful neighbor, the guest minister recorded that Turkey's access to European Union (EU) would advantage Iraq, too. Ghadban said that Turkish Petroleum Cooperation (TPAO) had applied them to make explorations and went on to say: "We have several months to prepare oil fields and legal regulations. I think that we will make a brilliant cooperation with TPAO in the future.
Anadolu Agency: 11/2/2004
ANKARA - Turkish Deputy Chief of General Staff Gen. Ilker Basbug denied on Tuesday press reports that Turkey had reached an agreement with U.S. authorities regarding Kirkuk.
Basbug, in a press briefing today in Ankara, said, ''however, we naturally discuss the future of Kirkuk with every official we meet, particularly the U.S. officials.''
Noting that Turkey wanted the energy resources in Iraq to be equally and fairly used by all Iraqi people, Basbug said that Kirkuk, which was a ground for 12 percent of Iraqi oil, had a particular importance in this context.
Drawing attention that Kirkuk's history and Turkmens in the region should also be taken into consideration, Basbug noted that this matter could not only be assessed ''as a domestic affair'' of Iraq.
Stating that ''any wrong decision might cause an internal clash or a civil war in Iraq'', Basbug stressed that it was also an assessment of U.S. officials and NATO intelligence sources.
Basbug said, ''if a civil war erupts in Iraq, it would probably affect Turkey. Therefore, Kirkuk is very important. Kirkuk should be granted special status, and it should be protected.''
-KIRKUK IS A STATE POLICY-
Referring to speculative press reports about operation plans regarding Kirkuk, Basbug said, ''it is our task to coordinate and prevent any unfavorable development regarding Kirkuk. So it is our duty to make plans against every possibility. Kirkuk is a State policy, and therefore, a decision (on this matter) is made by a common view of all institutions.''
(BRC-MS) 02.11.2004
would not be the first time.
Norther cyprus has copper mines which the turkish government "liberated".
Thank you for the information and links.