ANKARA FOCUSES ON INTERETHNIC SITUATION IN IRAQ

Encounter between turkmans and kurds in the Northern Iraq has aroused a resonance in Turkey.

AzerTAj’s Ankara-based correspondent reported, ethnic turkmans residing in Turkey had held Ankara a meeting of protest against US stance and Patriots Union of Kurdistan led by Jalal Talabani. Deputy Premier of Turkey, Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul has met with turkman’s representatives to exchange views on the last week clash in Northern Iraqi town of Tuzkhurmatu, express Turkish government’s position and the work being done on the matter.

US special envoy to Northern Iraq, colonel William Mawill arrived, August 25, in Tur-Khurmatu to meet with plenipotentiary of turkmans and kurds. The colonel has evaluated this event as a provocation and attempt to breach the peace. He urged all ethnic groups to be calm and self-restrained, and announced that the large-scale investigation is going on and that illicit weapons are being confiscated from the population.