“Turkey should convince Iran to leave Iraq alone '

Iraqi vice president urges Turkey to pressure Iran against interfering in the internal affairs of Iraq, pointing to Turkey’s role in Tehran’s nuclear course. He also expects concrete measures from other countries for his case

Iraq’s exiled Sunni leader, Tariq al-Hashemi, has urged international and regional countries to take tangible measures to stop the judicial process launched against him by the Shiite Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, ahead of the first hearing set for May 3. He particularly focused on Turkey, asking it to try to pressure Iran against interfering in the internal affairs of Iraq.

“I expect tangible measures. Steps should be taken to stop this illegal judicial process. Everyone should admit this is a strategically important case,” al-Hashemi said in an interview in northern Iraq, where he has been hosted by Iraqi Kurdish leaders following Maliki’s attempt to arrest him for his alleged links to terrorist acts. The move, which came only days after American troops withdrew from Iraq, ignited the Sunni-Shiite tension in Iraq and exposed Iranian influence in Iraq’s fragile political landscape.

Although al-Hashemi did not detail the tangible measures that could be taken, he hinted that Turkey could potentially impose pressure on Iran, as the latter needs Turkish support over its controversial nuclear program. “I am expecting a change in Iran’s policies. I think Iran is very much in need of Turkey. Turkey is the only mediator over its nuclear case,” he said.

“Turkey should convince Iran to leave Iraq alone and to not interfere in Iraq’s internal affairs. No one is trying to make conditions more difficult for Iran, but it should be aware of Iraq’s sovereignty and respect Iraq’s dignity,” al-Hashemi said.

Expressing thanks for the support he has received from Turkey so far, al-Hashemi underlined that this support was not lent just because he was a Sunni politician, but because Turkey wanted a stable Iraq in which all different political groups can coexist. “The support Turkey gives is not for nothing. Turkey would also defend al-Maliki if he faced similar injustice,” he stated. “I hope that Turkey and other regional countries will take this issue within the frame of respect for the Office of the Vice President and legal values, rather than as my personal problem.”

The role Americans played in the eruption of the Sunni-Shiite crisis is also significant, al-Hashemi suggested, criticizing Washington for turning Iraqis adrift and for not accomplishing the mission it launched.


/Hurriyet Daily News/