Cablegate: Turkey/Iraq: Second Turkish Foreign Ministry
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
271000Z Oct 05
UNCLAS ANKARA 006463
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL IZ TU
SUBJECT: TURKEY/IRAQ: SECOND TURKISH FOREIGN MINISTRY
PRESS STATEMENT ON IRAQ REFERENDUM
REF: ANKARA 06325
1. The Turkish Foreign Ministry published the following
press statement on October 27 with reference to the Iraqi
constitutional referendum. A previous statement was
published October 17 (reftel). This statement emphasizes the
importance of free and fair elections in December and the
international community's responsibility in this regard.
It also mentions the new Iraqi government's priority task of
amending the constitution to remove "flaws and deficiencies."
Turkey will once again facilitate Iraqi citizens in Turkey
being able to vote in December. Informal embassy translation
follows.
2. Begin text.
The Iraq Independent Election Commission yesterday officially
announced that the new constitution was accepted as a result
of the referendum held on October 15, 2005.
The views of our country regarding the constitutional process
and referendum were expressed in our previous statements.
We welcome the fact that an important stage of a political
process has been reached with the aim of Iraq's transition to
a democratic structure while preserving the country's
territorial integrity and political unity.
At the stage that has been reached, and for this process to
proceed in the desired direction, the general elections that
will be held across the country in December are important.
For the balances represented by all layers of Iraqi society
to be appropriately reflected in the new parliament, it is
extremely important that these elections be held in a fair,
transparent way and that there be no manipulation.
It appears that one of the priorities of the new parliament
to be elected is to correct the flaws and deficiencies in the
new Iraqi constitution that was adopted through the October
15 referendum and realize those amendments that would make
this constitution a document which guarantees the unity and
integrity of the country and which is sincerely supported by
all sectors of society.
On this occasion, we reiterate our view that, for the
elections to be held as described above, the international
community has an important duty and we confirm that we will
continue to provide our support to our brothers in
neighboring Iraq -- which has been seeking peace, stability
and democracy -- in every possible area.
In the context of this understanding and as a result of the
request conveyed by the Interim Iraqi Government asking that
Iraqis living in Turkey be able to vote as they did during
the January 30, 2005 elections, we have decided to make the
necessary arrangements to provide such an opportunity to
Iraqis living in our country.
End Text.
MCELDOWNEY