The conflict in Iraq has highlighted the benefits for Turkey in accepting a stable Kurdistan

EU foreign ministers held a meeting on 15 August 2014 over the issue of providing military support to Kurdish forces operating in Iraq. Marianna Charountaki writes on the role of Turkey in the conflict, which not only shares a border with Iraq and Syria, but also has a large Kurdish population. She notes that relations between Turkey and the Kurdistan Regional Government in Iraq have improved over recent years and that the current conflict underlines the potential benefits for Turkey in accepting a stable Kurdistan.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Turkey’s presidential election offers a key opportunity for the Kurdish minority to exert pressure on the Turkish government http://www.europeansources.info/record/turkeys-presidential-election-offers-a-key-opportunity-for-the-kurdish-minority-to-exert-pressure-on-the-turkish-government/

ESO: Background information: Support for Kurdish autonomy is support for energy security http://www.europeansources.info/record/support-for-kurdish-autonomy-is-support-for-energy-security/

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