A delegation from the Iraqi Turkmen Front (ITF) visited Turkey and had important talks Dec. 5-6. ITF President Arshad al-Salihi and members of its executive board met with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu.
As they are a direct target of violence in Iraq, the Turkmen had their spirits lifted with the ITF delegation's visit to Turkey. The fact that it was the first time an ITF delegation had met with Erdoğan since 2006 especially increased the importance of the visit for Turkmen. Statements made by Erdoğan after receiving the ITF delegation were noteworthy in terms of how they put an emphasis on the significant role of Turkmen in Turkey's Iraq policy. Besides, as the visit was paid during a period when relations between Turkey and Iraq's central government are growing better and cooperation is being established between Turkey and Iraq's Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), it was highlighted that the Turkmen are a part of Turkey's Iraq policy.
The ITF delegation, meeting with Erdoğan in İstanbul on Dec. 5, talked to Davutoğlu in his office in Ankara the following day. During the talks with Erdoğan and Davutoğlu, common issues for Turkey and the Turkmen came to the fore. In terms of Turkey's Iraq and Turkmen policy in this context, it is possible to list the following points:
-Turkey sees Turkmen as a founding and primary component of Iraq's demography.
-For Turkey, Turkmen are a symbol of partnership with Iraq.
-Turkmen are an integral part of Turkey's Iraq policy.
-The security of the Turkmen, their participation in political life and their prosperity also make them an indispensable part of Turkey's Iraq policy.
-Turkmen being able to preserve their language and exercise their rights regarding education and local administration as best as they can, and having the share in the government of Iraq they deserve would improve the unity and integrity of Iraq.
-Turkmen are the cornerstone of Iraq's political and territorial integrity.
-Turkmen are a factor in Turkey's relations with both Iraq's central government and with the KRG.
-Turkmen are a unifying element of Iraq.
-The recognition of Turkmen rights on the basis of equal citizenship would serve as a model for other groups of Iraq as well.
Turkey developed such a policy by taking Iraq's political and territorial integrity into consideration, as Turkey's Iraq policy has been restructured since 2003. In this regard, Turkey's policy toward Turkmen also serves to strengthen Iraq's political and territorial integrity. Turkey suggests and supports the idea of Turkmen playing an active role in political life both in Iraq's central government and the KRG. Furthermore, since the Turkmens' active participation in politics would strengthen the restructured state system and political structure in Iraq, this corresponds with the priorities in Turkey's Iraq policy. Thus, as Turkey openly supports the Turkmen, it also points out the balance in its Iraq policy.
Looking at this from the perspective of the Turkmen, it seems that their trust in Turkey is being restored. Erdoğan's meeting with the ITF delegation after almost seven years is a very important move in particular. The aforesaid visit might be considered a response to news from Turkmen media that suggested from time to time that the Kurds are preferred over Turkmen by Turkey due to its developing relations with the KRG.
Turkey, on the other hand, is pursuing a policy that does not prefer any group to another one in Iraq. Nevertheless, it was clearly put forward through these visits and statements that the Turkmen would have the biggest advantage if there actually was a privileged position. However, it is possible to suggest that Turkey's way of supporting the Turkmen is by encouraging them to act in unison among themselves. In this respect, the fact that al-Salihi and the ITF delegation were received by Erdoğan and Davutoğlu before the Iraqi general elections — which are supposed to be held on April 30, 2014 — can be interpreted as Turkey showing support for Salihi and the ITF.
