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Iraqi Kurdish Leader Visits Turkey
The leader of an Iraqi Kurdish faction visited Turkey Thursday for the first time in a year, a sign of improving relations between two key allies the United States is counting on for help in any war against Iraq. Tensions between Turkey and Massoud Barzani's Kurdistan Democratic Party had risen of late as the threat of war hangs over the region. Turkey fears that any conflict could lead to the breakup of Iraq, with Kurds in the north declaring independence. That could inspire Turkey's own restive Kurdish minority. Turkey insists that Iraqi Kurds not be left in control of the oil fields in the north if there is a conflict. Barzani's faction wants control over those areas should the regime of Saddam Hussein be ousted. Barzani met with Turkish Foreign Ministry officials Thursday. "Both sides realize our relations need to be improved," Barzani told journalists after the meetings. Relations between Iraqi Kurds and Turkey should be based on "friendship and cooperation," he added. It was Barzani's first visit in more than a year, although other top KDP officials have visited during that time. Northern Iraq is an autonomous area controlled by Barzani's KDP and a rival group, the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan. Sniff, sniff, I smell a deal in the works Posted by: Steve 2003-01-09 |
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