Turkey becoming 'hostile state': Iraq PM

[talsor]

War of word between Turkey vs Maliki









BAGHDAD — Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki said on Friday that Turkey is becoming a "hostile state" in the region, accusing its premier of interfering in internal Iraqi affairs and of sectarianism.

"The latest statements of (Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip) Erdogan are another return to the process of interfering in Iraqi internal affairs and it confirms that Mr Erdogan is still living the illusion of regional hegemony," Maliki said in a statement posted on his website.
"It is regrettable that his statements have a sectarian dimension which he used to deny before but which have become clear, and are rejected by all Iraqis," Maliki said.
"Insisting on continuing these internal and regional policies will damage Turkey's interests and makes it a hostile state for all," he said.

After closed-door talks on Thursday with Massud Barzani, the president of the autonomous Kurdistan region in north Iraq, Erdogan stoked further tensions with Iraq by accusing Maliki of taking an "egocentric approach" in politics.

"The current prime minister's treatment toward his coalition partners, his egocentric approach within Iraqi politics... seriously concern Shiite groups, Mr Barzani and the Iraqiya group," the main Sunni-backed political bloc, Erdogan was quoted by local media as saying.
It is a new low for Iraq-Turkey ties, although relations have been tense for some time.
Earlier this year, Erdogan warned Maliki against fomenting sectarian tensions, which Maliki said "provoked all Iraqis," and the two countries called in each other's respective ambassadors to express their anger.

Sunni-majority Turkey and Shiite-majority Iraq have taken sharply different tacks on violence in Syria, an issue that has furthered sectarian tension and division between Sunni and Shiite states in the region.

In Syria, the regime of President Bashar al-Assad, a member of the minority Alawite sect which is an offshoot of Shiite Islam, is carrying out a bloody crackdown on a Sunni-led uprising against his rule in which thousands of people have been killed.

Erdogan has called for Assad to step down, while Maliki has said non-interference in Syria and opposition to arming either side in the conflict is in Iraq's best interest.
Turkey is one of Iraq's top trade partners, with bilateral trade between the two neighbours valued at $12 billion in 2011.

[alan131210]

What does Iran has to say about this ! Finally Sunnis and Shia at each others throats while Kurds grab a drink kick back and watch the show

[Kurdistano]

We Kurds should just be prepared when the time comes, lean back, chill and watch the show.

[alan131210]

22/04/2012 11:24

BAGHDAD, April 22 (AKnews) - The State of Law Coalition (SLC) led by Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki yesterday protested against the recent statements by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, adding that Iraq's Turkish ambassador should be summoned to Baghdad to be a given a message outlining the SLC's discontent.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed his concern about Maliki's policy to limit the powers of independent institutions and isolate his rivals from their posts. The Turkish PM believes this will increase the fighting between Sunnis, Shias and Kurds.

Maliki responded to Erdogan's comments and considered them a "blatant" interference in Iraq's internal affairs and the attempt of Turkey to extend its influence over the country.

maliki Erdogan's criticism is not the first of its kind, where he previously accused Maliki of similar charges. Baghdad however considered his remarks as interference in internal affairs.

SLC senior official Yassin Majid said during a press conference in Baghdad that Erdogan's comments raise "sectarian and national sedition" and they are a "blatant interference". "We reject them," he added.

"Erdogan is trying today to set himself [up as] a lawyer for the Iraqi people and the Foreign Ministry must summon the Turkish ambassador [to Baghdad] and deliver him a note of protest.

"Iraq has commercial exchange with Turkey that reached $12bn (13.9tr IQD). There are efforts to make it reach $20bn (23.3tr IQD). Erdogan's behavior may be worse than the ruling of generals that have ruled Turkey."

The economy and investment committee in the Iraqi Council of Representatives said it can redirect its commercial ties from Turkey to Southeast Asia if the former continues its interventions in Iraq's internal affairs.

Iraq is the second largest trading partner with Turkey after Germany. The volume of commercial exchange reached $12bn last year and 70 percent of that figure was with the Kurdistan Region, according to Kurdistan Regional Government Trade Minister Sinan Chalabai.

Maliki's critics say he seeks to impose control through his policy move. His supporters however say he is working within a legal framework.

By Mouhammed al-Tayyeb and Yazn al-Shummari

AKnews

[burnsss]

Maliki is visiting his masters in Iran wonder what they are plotting...?

[ideas]

It's very simple. Maliki became the PM of Iraq under clear conditions. He signed agreements that satisfied all sides. He has turned a blind eye to these agreements. The same agreements that paved the way to his premiership, and so by ignoring those agreements the position is no longer valid and non of you can logically defend him on that matter; if you can, please be my guest.

I doubt that the Turks have any love from any Kurd from Iraqi Kurdistan, and let me remind you, if we had access to sea and was surrounded by fools that are each more blood thirsty than the other then our politicians would not need to take advantage of the shia/sunni divide in the region and score points for the sake of their people. You have Basrah and your politicians still rush to Tehran when **** hits the fan, what would they do if they were in our situation? If maliki and co didn't have the idea of retaking Kurdistan in the near future in their mind they would not need to try and control the deals made in Kurdistan, by doing so they demonstrate their desire to one day be in control, and so only a fool would expect us to just seat back and watch.

[burnsss]

It's very simple. Maliki became the PM of Iraq under clear conditions. He signed agreements that satisfied all sides. He has turned a blind eye to these agreements. The same agreements that paved the way to his premiership, and so by ignoring those agreements the position is no longer valid and non of you can logically defend him on that matter; if you can, please be my guest.

I doubt that the Turks have any love from any Kurd from Iraqi Kurdistan, and let me remind you, if we had access to sea and was surrounded by fools that are each more blood thirsty than the other then our politicians would not need to take advantage of the shia/sunni divide in the region and score points for the sake of their people. You have Basrah and your politicians still rush to Tehran when **** hits the fan, what would they do if they were in our situation? If maliki and co didn't have the idea of retaking Kurdistan in the near future in their mind they would not need to try and control the deals made in Kurdistan, by doing so they demonstrate their desire to one day be in control, and so only a fool would expect us to just seat back and watch.

You are right heval. Our smart politician will not wait to the days Nouri al-Saddami invades kurdistan. The arabs are still dreaming of retaking kurdistan so we can be theirs and irans slaves but they can forget that.