The Iraqi ambassador to Ankara was summoned to the Turkish Foreign Ministry where he received a note with response to a statement of Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki against Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Maliki accused Erdogan of interfering in Iraq and causing instability and threat of civil war in the region,1news.az reports.
Omer Celik, Executive Secretary of the ruling Justice and Development Party of Turkey, condemned Maliki’s statement as one of the most shortsighted in the history of the Middle East. Celik said that the Iraqi prime minister is striving for domination of his confession. He added that Turkey has no problems with Iraq, but has controversies with Maliki.
Iraqi Vice-President Tarik al-Hashimi expressed respect for Turkey. He expressed hope that Erdogan will contribute to resolution of the crisis in Iraq. Hashimi said that Maliki had blockaded his house with armored vehicles and tanks.
