The visit of al-Jaafari, a senior representative of the Shiite-led group Iraqi National Alliance, which ranked third in the elections, came days after incumbent Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki’s government spokesperson Ali al-Dabbagh visited Ankara to discuss Iraq’s political stalemate and convey messages from al-Maliki.
Davutoğlu has had several talks with representatives from Iraqi political groups, most notably from the cross-sectarian al-Iraqiyya bloc of former Prime Minister Iyad Allawi, since the Iraqi parliamentary elections in March.
Following his meeting with Davutoğlu, al-Jaafari also met with the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) chairperson for external affairs, Ömer Çelik, on Tuesday, where Çelik said they have decided to work in closer cooperation with the Iraqi politician’s bloc. Speaking to reporters after his meeting with al-Jaafari, Çelik said he stressed Turkey’s goal to urgently establish a stable, broad-based, embracing and inclusive government that is based on democratic principles and the rule of law.
Al-Jaafari was also expected to meet with President Abdullah Gül later on Tuesday.
