Kirkuk's membership in Turkic world municipalities union sparks debate

KIRKUK, Iraq — Kirkuk has formally joined the Union of Turkic World Municipalities following a visit by provincial Governor Mohammed Sem'an Agha to Ankara, according to the union's vice president. Korşad Zorlu said the membership was finalized on Friday during a meeting in Karaman, Turkey, and is expected to expand cooperation between the city and local administrations in Turkic countries in services and economic affairs. The Kirkuk governorate said the membership would contribute to new projects and the city's development. Nesheshe Shahviz, deputy head of the provincial council, said the council was not aware of the details of the agreements and was waiting for the governor's return to carry out its oversight role. Raad Salih, head of the council's Finance and Economy Committee, stressed that what mattered was whether the agreements were implemented on the ground. A Kurdistan Democratic Party official, Kaveh Ahmed Fettah, rejected the membership, arguing that the city's constitutional status must be resolved under Article 140 before any such steps are taken.