N. Barzani calls for a Federal Democratic Parliamentary State in Iraq.

Turkey follows attentively the Kurdistan Democratic Party's (KDP) declaration on the constitutional proposal which consists of a "federal" system. A source close to the file stated that "all parts know each other's concerns and the KDP knows Turkey's red lines." The official indicated that "Turkey will not try to stop parts speaking about their ideas, but they won't let no one cross the red line. If there is a price to pay Turkey will pay it." The source did not answer whether the KDP proposals reached Turkish officials and stated that Turkey does not consider the conference in the United States as a major event. "I do not want to upgrade or downgrade their initiative. Turkey stands where she did before and watches very carefully" the source added.

The source also stated that Turkey "fully supports Iraqi integrity, respects people's decision received through democratic means, demands that the Iraqi Turkomans are not suppressed by the Iraqi Kurds and is determined not to permit any dangerous formation to take place in the region." Diplomatic sources stated that "Turkey does not welcome federative formations through her experiences, but respects people's decisions."

Kirkuk can not be left to Iraqi Kurds

Turkish diplomats reminded that the United States has not made a decision to set up an operation to strike Iraq yet, and that Turkey is against establishing a federation in Iraq and that to leave Kirkuk to Iraqi Kurdish in this federation.

According to observers in Washington, Iraqi Kurds are lobbying in order to have Kirkuk in the Kurdish Federal state. The KDP proposal also suggests Kirkuk to be the capital of the Kurdish "federation."

Diplomatic sources stated that, "Kirkuk can not be left to the control of one ethnic group. The Turkomans are the predominant group in Kirkuk. This is a subject to be discussed by Iraq, but Turkey will not welcome any attempt to leave Kirkuk to the Iraqi Kurds. The basic approach of Turkey to Iraq is simple: Turkey wants Iraqi integrity."

The key elements

The proposed a constitution where Iraq is divided into two federations and the Kurdish federation to have a special flag, national anthem, a capital city, courts independent from Bagdad and a parliament which will ratify international agreements. According to the KDP proposal, Kirkuk will be the capital and Turkoman will be the minority.
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