|
Ankara finalizes
preparations to host 2 Iraqi Sunni Arab leaders,
Tarik al-Hashimi and Saleh Mutlak, following visit
of Shiite Iraqi PM al-Jaafari
Back-to-back visits of Iraqi heavyweights show
Ankara's fears of a possible outbreak of a sectarian
war in neighboring Iraq that could lead to country's
division, as well as its aim to enable creation of
govt of national unity
Anti-US radical Shiite cleric al-Sadr is also
expected to visit Turkey, a move likely to make
Washington uneasy
Amidst fears of a possible outbreak of a sectarian
war in neighboring Iraq that could lead to country's
division, back-to-back visits of heavyweights of
various Iraqi ethnic and religious groups have been
organized to encourage the creation of a united
government.
Ankara has finalized the last preparations to host
two Iraqi Sunni Arab leaders, Tarik al-Hashimi, the
leader of Iraqi Islamic Party, and Saleh Mutlak of
the Iraqi Front for National Dialogue.
Apart from the expected visits of Sunni leaders,
Ankara is also expected to host the radical Shiite
cleric Muqtada al-Sadr but the exact date for his
visit has yet to be set. The back-to-back visits of
Sunni leaders and a Shiite cleric will follow the
visit of Iraqi Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari;
events that show Turkey's willingness to be in close
contact with all Iraqi ethnic and religious groups.
According to our sources, the Turkish government has
invited anti-U.S. radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr
to Ankara for talks to urge unity among Iraqis amid
efforts to contain violence in Iraq. The invitation
to al-Sadr, whose Mehdi militia has been accused of
involvement in violence against Sunnis, also
followed another controversial invitation by the
Turkish government to militant group Hamas'
political leader Khaled Mashaal.
The expected visit of al-Sadr is likely to make the
U.S. administration uneasy, but Turkish officials
express their decisiveness to go ahead with such
contacts.
"In a move to justify Turkey's position in
controversial back-to-back visits, Turkey is
determined to be in close contact with all of Iraq's
ethnic and religious groups," said Ankara's Special
Representative to Iraq, Oguz Celikkol, on Thursday.
Celikkol stated that although Ankara wasn't directly
involved in the causes of the conflicts in Iraq, it
is always negatively affected by the consequences
and said, "Turkey wants to see a democratic,
pluralist Iraq at peace not only within its own
boundaries but also with its neighbors."
Celikkol, on a visit to Iraq last week, also met
with Iraqi President Jalal Talabani, Kurdistan
Democratic Party (KDP) leader and Kurdistan regionl
President Massoud Barzani and leaders of other
religious and ethnic groups and also gave them
similar messages, the source said.
A Turkish source stressed last week that the fragile
situation makes it necessary for Turkey to use all
means possible to convince major ethnic and
religious groups to refrain from conflict, to work
together to reach an agreement on a national unity
government and succeed in consolidating national
unity by using constitutional amendments.
www.thenewanatolian.com
Top |
® 