“Turkey plays a sincere, neutral and noble role in removing differences among different Iraqi groups. Turkey is important for resolving the problems which Iraq faces today,” said Hashimi during a dinner hosted by Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu in Ankara.
Hashimi is in Turkey to attend the Organization of the Islamic Conference’s (OIC) Economic and Commercial Cooperation Permanent Committee (ISEDAK) meeting. Delivering brief remarks during the dinner, Davutoğlu said he was very happy to see Turkey’s friend, Hashimi, in Turkey again and that his country is as interested in Iraq’s problems as its own.
Davutoğlu stressed that Turkey had concerns over the six months of political stalemate in Iraq, adding that Turkey believed the Iraqis will find the best way to form a government.
Following the March 7 parliamentary elections in Iraq, the country’s political groups have failed to form a government. Turkey says it would like to see a broad-based government that represents all aspects of Iraqi society. Davutoglu has held several rounds of post-election talks with Hashimi over the past few months.
Davutoğlu added that Turkey always stood by Iraq and was ready to support it whenever there is a need. Hashimi said all political groups welcomed Turkey’s role in the country. By contrast, several politicians, including Kurdish politicians, have dismissed Turkey’s role, claiming the country’s intervention in Iraq’s internal affairs was “disruptive.”
