§ Mr. EdwardsTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the Government's policy in relation to Kurdish self-determination. [84428]
§ Ms QuinWe fully respect the territorial integrity of all the regional states with sizeable kurdish populations (ie Turkey, Iraq, Iran and Syria).
With relation to Turkey, we have repeatedly urged the Turkish Government to address the social and economic problems of south-east Turkey, in order to bring an end to conflict in the region. We believe that, by addressing the aspirations of the local population, including the Kurdish population, the Turkish authorities can bring about a peaceful resolution of the conflict.
In Iraq, we are committed to supporting peace and stability in northern Iraq, and are one of the co-sponsors of the Kurdish reconciliation process there. We wish to see autonomy (not independence) for the Iraqi Kurds. The Kurds have made clear that this is what they want.