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Muhammed Seman Ağa, head of the Iraqi Turkmen Front (ITC) and governor of Kirkuk, has been appointed state minister in the Iraqi government, becoming the first figure raised within the ITC to hold a cabinet post. In an interview with Anadolu Agency (AA) in Baghdad, Ağa said the appointment began with a proposal from Prime Minister Ali al-Zeydi.

Ağa said the new ministry would speak for all of Iraq's ethnic and political groups, serve every province and help develop Iraq-Turkey relations. Ağa also said another Turkmen will take over the Kirkuk governorship when he leaves the post.

Plans for Iraq-Turkey cooperation

Ağa said that as an Iraqi Turkmen minister, Ağa would contribute to the development of relations between Turkey and Iraq, working with other Iraqi ministers on shared issues including the Development Road Project, water, energy, trade and security.

Ağa said Prime Minister Zeydi would assign responsibility for important files, and expressed the belief and hope that, over the next four years, a Turkmen minister can make significant contributions to the country and to the people living on these lands.

Key takeaways

• Muhammed Seman Ağa, ITC head and Kirkuk governor, has been named state minister in the Iraqi government.
• Ağa is the first figure raised within the ITC to hold a cabinet post; the process began with a proposal from Prime Minister Ali al-Zeydi.
• The Kirkuk governorship will stay Turkmen for a few more months before passing to Arabs, with the provincial council set to meet within days to pick a Turkmen successor.
• Ağa pledged to represent all Turkmen parties and ethnic groups and to work with other ministers on Iraq-Turkey issues including the Development Road Project.