While in Ankara, Hakim also attended meetings held at several think tanks. Hakim was in İstanbul on Wednesday to speak with both President Abdullah Gül and Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu.
Gül’s meeting with Hakim was an opportunity for the president to once more express that Turkey has been keeping an equal distance from all segments of Iraqi society, the Anatolia news agency reported, citing sources from the president’s office. In line with this stance, Turkey attaches great importance to engaging in dialogue with all segments of its neighboring country, Gül told Hakim.
Iraq has entered a critical period with its upcoming elections, Gül said, expressing confidence that Iraq will emerge from these elections stronger than before.
For his part, voicing pleasure over Turkey’s constant support for Iraq, Hakim cited the recent postings of Turkey’s new consul-generals in Mosul and Basra as a sign of the importance attached by Turkey to Iraq. Turkey has so far played a constructive role in Iraq and Iraq wants to see a continuation of this role, Hakim also said. Earlier on Wednesday, following talks with Hakim, Davutoğlu underlined the significance of the upcoming Parliamentary elections scheduled for January, 2010, in Iraq.
