September 3, 2023. Posted by Balkan Periscope - Hellas
On Sunday,
the Turkish Foreign Minister, Hakan Fidan, addressed concerns about the
situation in Kirkuk, Iraq, calling on the Iraqi government to take action
regarding the presence of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), an organization
deemed adversarial by Ankara.
Fidan expressed deep apprehension over the state of affairs in Kirkuk, considering it the ancestral home of the Turkmen people, a significant and integral element of Iraq. He stressed the pivotal role Kirkuk plays in shaping Iraq's overall peace and stability, emphasizing it as a symbol of harmonious coexistence.
Recent days have witnessed demonstrations in Kirkuk, led by participants affiliated with various Arab and Turkmen political groups. These protesters have taken to blocking the primary road connecting the governorate to Erbil, in response to the Kurdistan Democratic Party's (KDP) decision to reopen its offices in Kirkuk. This move is part of a political agreement with the State Administration Coalition, a coalition comprising political forces and parties that form the current federal government, under the leadership of Mohammed Shia Al Sudani.
Saturday
evening marked the arrival of Kurdish demonstrators in Kirkuk, primarily in
areas inhabited by the Kurdish community. Their demands centered on reopening
the road and ending ongoing sit-ins. Unfortunately, these protests escalated
into gunfire, leading to casualties and injuries.
In response
to the heightened tensions and unrest in Kurdish areas, Iraqi security
authorities implemented a curfew in Kirkuk. The situation continues to evolve,
raising concerns about the broader implications for stability in the region.
Shafaq
News