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Turkey extends peace initiative to northern Iraq
When 12 soldiers were killed in a PKK raid on the Dağlıca border post in 2007, negative implications were huge for both Turkish-Iraqi relations and within Turkey, as the attack worsened tensions between Turks and Kurds in Turkey. However, Turkish diplomacy successfully transformed a probable crisis into an opportunity and developed ties with northern Iraq.
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»» Click here to see more photos When the PKK attacked the Dağlıca border post in 2007, killing 12 soldiers, the negative implications were huge for Turkish-Iraqi relations, with the two countries coming to the brink of the war. However, Turkish diplomacy successfully transformed a probable crisis into an opportunity and developed ties with northern Iraq |
Almost exactly two years after the times of high tension, Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu paid a landmark visit to Arbil on Friday, the capital of the semi-autonomous Kurdish region, smashing Turkish foreign policy taboo. The minister officially launched a Turkish consulate in the northern Iraqi province of Mosul and announced the consulate in Arbil is to be opened soon. Before Arbil, Davutoğlu -- accompanied by a large delegation of 80 businessmen, 20 reporters and ministers -- had talks with top officials in Basra and opened a Turkish consulate there.
Iraqi Kurdish leader Massoud Barzani warmly welcomed Davutoğlu, praised Turkey's foreign policy vision and efforts to address the Kurdish problem through democratic reform, and said the PKK should either change or face massive pressure from the Kurds. Davutoğlu upholds that Barzani's warm welcome reflects the northern Iraqi Kurds' affinity with Turkey. This welcome is a concrete sign of a change in atmosphere in northern Iraq.
The friendly atmosphere is not only affecting the ties with northern Iraq; indeed Turkey has already taken steps to establish a strategic cooperation with the central government in Baghdad. When Davutoğlu phoned Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, saying, “I am on your lands so I wanted to say hello,” Maliki responded by saying, “These are your lands as well.”
»» Click here to read "[NEWS ANALYSIS] Towards a new era in ties with northern Iraq by Bülent Keneş"
»» Click here to read "Barzani: PKK will change or face rejection by Kurds"
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