Iraqiya refutes playing role in Iraq-Turkey's tense relations

[k98nights]

Iraqiya refutes playing role in Iraq-Turkey's tense relations

27/01/2012 12:09

BAGHDAD, Jan.27 (AKnews)- Iraqiya List has no links with the recent tensions between Baghdad and Ankara, said an Iraqiya deputy.

The relations between the two countries deteriorated after Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and his Turkish counterpart exchanges some remarks. Maliki accused Ankara of interfering in Iraqi internal affairs after his Turkish counterpart warned that a sectarian war is not unlikely in Iraq.

Head of Iraqiya List in the House of Representatives, Salman al-Jamili, told AKnews that his list does not "benefit from tense relations with Turkey at all and has no role in straining the ties."

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday told the deputies of his Development and Justice Party that he will not keep silence in case Baghdad provoked a sectarian war in Iraq.

Erdogan described Maliki's condemnation of his statements as "defamatory and inappropriate remarks… because the threat of outbreak of a sectarian war may lead to a catastrophe where Turkey may not recognize itself."

Iraqi PM labeled Ergodan's remarks as "provocative to all Iraqis" and once more warned Turkey against interfering in Iraqi affairs.

Iraq is now undergoing a critical phase as one of the major blocs, Iraqiya List, has boycotted sessions.

Iraqiya boycotted the sessions after Maliki refused the regional autonomy demands by Diyala and Salahaddin provincial councils, dominated by Iraqiya deputies.

Iraqiya accused Maliki of "unilateral" ruling. Saleh Mutlag ,an Iraqiya leader, described Maliki as a "dictator" which in the end cost his position as Maliki's deputy.

The court also issued an arrest order for another Iraqiya leader, Vice President Tareq Hashemi, on terrorism charges. Hashemi who has strong ties with Turkey, has fled to Kurdistan and denied the allegations. His demands for a trail in Kirkuk or Chamchamal were also turned down. Now he has called on Maliki, whom he accused of being behind his case, to step down, as a pre-condition for his trail in Baghdad.

Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said that Hashemi is welcomed in Turkey if he chose to travel there. This invitation while Hashemi has been issued travel ban enraged many Iraqis, including the Shiite political and governmental officials.

To resolve the new crisis, Iraqiya top leader, Allawi, proposed three options: creation of a new government after early elections, naming a new candidate for the PM post, or creation of a real partnership national government according to former political agreements which led to the constitution of the current government.

Iraqi President Jalal Talabani is also to chair a summit of the political leaders. However, due to the preconditions that each party imposes, it is not clear when or if the meeting will be held.

By Mohammed Tayyeb

http://www.aknews.com/en/aknews/4/286624/