‘FRENCH DIPLOMATIC OFFICE TO KURDISTAN’ TO OPEN IN NORTHERN IRAQ IN JANUARY
By Hakob Chakrian

AZG Armenian Daily
03/11/2006

Jalal Talabani, President of Iraq, is going to lave for Paris for two
days’ official visit. It is envisaged that he will meet with French
President Jacques Chirac, French Foreign Minister Fillippe Douste
Blazy and Speaker of the French Parliament within the framework of the
official visit. Dwelling on the visit of Talabani, Hurriyet wrote in
its November 1 issue that after the adoption of the bill criminalizing
denial of the Armenian Genocide, France is going to take the second
step that may cause Turkey concern.

The question is that France is ready to open a diplomatic office of
Kurdistan in Erbil city, Northern Iraq. The French Foreign Ministry
stated in its official web site that "in the beginning of the coming
year, in Erbil (Kurdistan), the opening ceremony of the embassy’s
office will take place."

We wonder why does Turkey feel insecure? Is it because the "embassy
office" becomes the diplomatic office of France to Kurdistan? In other
words, by opening the above office, France recognizes "Kurdistan"
that has been shaped in the North of Iraq.

Probably, that’s why it wasn’t accidental when Hurriyet turned
to the speaker of the French Foreign Ministry with the request to
explain the situation. In response, the French FM Speaker stated
that "France, just like Turkey, supports the territorial integrity
of Iraq. We have an embassy in Baghdad. Anyway, we are going to open
"the embassy office" in Erbil city, Northern Iraq, that is going to
function under the control of the French Embassy to Iraq."

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress