NO:137 - 31 July 2008, Press Release Regarding the Meeting of the Representatives of the Kirkuk Provincial Council NO:136 - 30 July 2008, Press Release Regarding the Fourth Round of the Indirect Peace Talks Between Syria and Israel Under the Auspices of Turkey NO:135 - 29 July 2008, Press Release Regarding the Abhorrent Terrorist Attacks on 25 and 26 July in Bangalore and Ahmedabad, India NO:133 - 28 July 2008, Terror Attack in the Iraqi City of Kirkuk on 28 July. NO:132 - 25 July 2008, Press Release Regarding the Decision of the Two Leaders in Cyprus To Start Negotiations on September 3, 2008 NO:130 - 22 July 2008, Turkey Welcomes the Arrest of the Bosnian Serb War Criminal Radovan Karadzic By Serbian Authorities NO:128 - 16 July 2008, Press Release Regarding the Visit of National Security Advisor of the Republic of India M.K. Narayanan (Unofficial Translation) NO:127 - 16 July 2008, Press Release Regarding the Visit of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran Manouchehr Mottaki (Unofficial Translation) NO:126 - 16 July 2008, Press Release Regarding the Visit of the Chairman of the African Union Commission Jean Ping to Turkey (Unofficial Translation) NO:125 - 15 July 2008, Press Release Regarding Turkey's Pledge for Kosovo at the Kosovo Donors’ Conference (Unofficial Translation) No:124 - 11 July 2008, Press Release Regarding the Establishment of the National Unity Government Among the Lebanese Groups in Doha. NO:122 - 9 July 2008, Press Release Regarding the Abhorrent Armed Attack in front of the USA Consulate General in Istanbul (Unofficial Translation) NO:121 - 8 July 2008, Press Release Regarding the Heinous Terrorist Attacks in Islamabad (Unofficial Translation) NO:120 - 4 July 2008, Press Release Regarding the Official Visit of the Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Babacan To Malaysia for D-8 Summit NO:119 - 3 July 2008, Press Release Regarding the Third Round of the Indirect Peace Talks Between Syria and Israel Under the Auspices of Turkey (Unofficial Translation)
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  5. NO:137 - 31 July 2008, Press Release Regarding the Meeting of the Representatives of the Kirkuk Provincial Council
NO:137 - 31 July 2008, Press Release Regarding the Meeting of the Representatives of the Kirkuk Provincial Council

The Iraqi Council of Representatives are currently working on legislation that is also closely related to Kirkuk. The tension created in Kirkuk in connection with this legislation in the last few days are followed with grave concern.



Furthermore the representatives of the Kurdish Alliance at the Kirkuk Provincial Council demanded in a press conference today that Kirkuk be annexed to the local administration in the north of Iraq. Certain local and regional TV channels in Iraq in their broadcasts in this connection claimed that Turkey would raise no objections to such a move.



Turkey has always been supportive of political consensus solutions which, she believes, will help the Iraqi society to live in harmony. In addition, Turkey has also advocated that Kirkuk should be given a special status, where all its segments are represented in a fair and balanced manner within the unity of Iraq. There is no change in this policy and there will never be.



On the other hand, we continue to carefully monitor the groups that cause tension, as well as their attempts of fait accompli in Kirkuk. It is obvious that the present situation will not serve the interests of any party, including those who cause the current problems. Turkey calls on all the parties in Kirkuk in particular and in Iraq in general to opt for dialogue and reconciliation. Our efforts to establish peace and stability in Iraq will continue in coordination and consultation with all our Iraqi brothers.