Turkey’s Foreign Minister has welcomed Wednesday’s appointment of Jalal
Talabani as the President of Iraq, saying that Turkey has always had a high
regard for the Kurdish politician.
Speaking while on a visit to the United Arab Emirates Wednesday, Foreign
Minister Abdullah Gul said that Talabani, leader of the Patriotic Union of
Kurdistan, was one of the politicians in Iraq on whom Turkey places the
greatest importance.
“Talabani is an experienced politician,” Gul said. “He is someone who values
Iraq’s integrity. Therefore I congratulate him.”
Gul dismissed suggestions that Talabani would use his new role to try and
strengthen the position of Iraqi Kurds, who Ankara fears may try and establish
a separate Kurdish state in the north of the country.
“Everyone is an Iraqi before all,” the Foreign Minister said. “I am confident
that everybody’s Iraqi identity will be strengthened and the unity of the
country will be strengthened. The primary objective of the head of state
should definitely be to preserve the unity and integrity of his country.”