Middle East
Left to right, former Kirkuk Governor Rakan al-Jabouri, Iraqi Turkmen Front leader Hasan Turan, Turkish FM Hakan Fidan, Sovereignty party spokesperson Khalid al-Mafrajiin meet in Ankara on March 5, 2025. Photo: MFATurkiye/X
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ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on Wednesday hosted senior officials from the Iraqi Turkmen Front and Sunni Arab officials from the northern Iraqi province of Kirkuk in Ankara, to discuss political and security developments in the region, as well as in Iraq and Kirkuk.
The delegation included head of the Iraqi Turkmen Front Hasan Turan, Kirkuk Provincial Council Member and former Kirkuk Governor Rakan al-Jubouri, and Sunni Arab Sovereignty Alliance member Khalid al-Mufraji.
According to a statement from Turan on Facebook, the discussions focused on “the latest political and security developments in Iraq and the region, especially in Kirkuk province” and “addressed ways to enhance cooperation between the two neighbors [Iraq and Turkey] to preserve the common interests of the two countries.”
The meeting also emphasized the importance of dialogue and consultations to maintain stability and support joint projects, added the statement.
Turan’s statement quoted Fidan as reaffirming Turkey's commitment to Iraq’s unity and stability, highlighting Ankara's dedication to addressing challenges and fostering stronger ties with Baghdad for the benefit of all Iraqi groups.
Of note, the Turkish Foreign Ministry shared a photo of the meeting but did not provide any further details about it.
The Iraqi Turkmen community, especially in Kirkuk, has long advocated for fair political representation and the rotation of governorship among the province’s largest ethnic groups: Arabs, Kurds, and Turkmen.
Turkey has long supported Turkmen rights in Iraq, and has actively worked to unify Sunni Arab politicians in Iraq, especially ahead of legislative elections.
Oil-rich Kirkuk is part of the disputed areas that come under Article 140 of the Iraqi Constitution, which aims to resolve the status of territories through a three-phase process: normalization (reversing Baath-era Arabization policies), a census to gather demographic data, and a referendum allowing residents to choose whether to remain under federal control or join the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG).
In 2019, the Iraqi Federal Supreme Court reaffirmed that the implementation of Article 140 remains mandatory. Despite this, the normalization phase remains incomplete, the census and referendum have not taken place, contributing to ongoing tensions over the governance of Kirkuk.
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