Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer met with Iranian President Mohammed Khatami last week in Tehran in an attempt to strengthen ties between the two countries. The two leaders proved to be of a mind regarding one issue in particular: curbing any move towards Kurdish autonomy in the event of a change of power in neighboring Iraq. Both countries have significant Kurdish populations, and both have records of severe repression of Kurdish political and cultural rights. Sezer and Khatami agreed to oppose the emergence of an independent Kurdish state should the current regime in Baghdad be brought down by U.S.-led military action. The decision reflects their shared concern that such a development would fuel Kurdish independence and cultural sovereignty movements within their own borders.
