Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey, Mr. Ahmet Davutoğlu met with President of Iraqi Turkmen Front, Arshad al-Salihi and members of ITF Executive Board on December 6, 2013.

Speaking at the joint press conference held following the meeting, Foreign Minister Davutoğlu expressed his regret over the assassination attempt towards Mr. al-Salihi last week. Stressing that the security of Iraqi Turkmen community, their participation in political life and their economic welfare are one of the inseparable elements of Iraqi politics, Foreign Minister Davutoğlu underlined that Turkey always stands with Iraq in its fight against terrorism.

Emphasizing that Turkmens are not a minor or a temporary component in Iraq but an essential and a constitutive one, Foreign Minister Davutoğlu highlighted that it is very important for the unity and integrity of Iraq that Turkmens obtain their rightful share in the Iraqi system by protecting Turkmen language, and by using their rights concerning education and local administrations in the best way possible.