US Ambassador
Wilson: Kirkuk's Future Will be Decided by Iraqis, Not Others
Turkish Huriyet Jan 17, 2007
Speaking about the northern Iraqi (Southern Kurdistan) city of Kirkuk, Ross
Wilson, the US Ambassador to Turkey, has noted the sensitivities felt by Ankara
on the subject of the city's status, saying "According to our views, the shaping
of Kirkuk's future must take place in a way which strengthens the stability of
the region."
Wilson yesterday visited the party offices of Zeki Sezer, the head of the
Democratic Left Party, where he offered his condolences on the death of former
party head Bulent Ecevit. Responding to a reporter's question about whether the
US interpreted recent comments by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan as an
attempt by Ankara to interfere in Kirkuk, Wilson said "The future of Kirkuk is
one which the Iraqi people have to decide upon. It is natural that the US,
Turkey, and other countries would have opinions on Kirkuk, but in the end, it is
Iraq which will be making the choices."
