Iraq calls on Turkey to respect sovereignty

BAGHDAD - Anatolia News Agency

An Iraqi government spokesman has said Turkey should not allow Iraq’s fugitive Sunni leader Tariq al-Hashemi to come between the two countries, and urged that the Syrian regime should be changed.

In an interview, Ali al-Dabbagh called on the Turkish government to respect Iraq’s sovereignty, and said the Iraqi people respected Turkey’s experiences. “Turkish executives should maintain these good relations and should not let anyone [al-Hashimi] harm relations with the Iraqi people … The Tariq al-Hashimi case is a legal one, not political. Therefore, he should stand trial bravely,” he said. Al-Dabbagh argued that Turkish authorities should be careful about their remarks on Iraq.

He also sent a message to the Syrian administration that it was not possible for Syria to continue being ruled by one-party or one politician. “The administrative style and method should be completely changed in Syria.” Iraq stands by Syrian people and is ready to undertake any responsibility in that process, he said.