IRBIL (AA) - August 5, 2012 - Turkmens reacted fiercely against the Iraqi government's note given to Turkey after Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu visited the city of Kirkuk in north of Iraq recently.
A Turkmen deputy of the regional administration in north of Iraq, Serdil Tahsin defined the note as unacceptable while lawyer Aydin Maruf Selim, a member of the Executive Board of the Turkmen Front, condemned the Prime Minister of Iraq, Nuri al-Maliki.
"Maliki's attitude can not be accepted. When Americans arrive, they can visit all corners of Iraq. However, when a Turkish minister comes, the Iraqi government assumes a certain stance. This is unacceptable," Tahsin noted.
"A Turkish minister's visit to Kirkuk carries great meaning for us. It was highly important for us to see Davutoglu visit Kirkuk as the first Turkish minister there in 75 years. Kirkuk waited for this for a long time. This was an important visit for the regional administration and the Turkmens. His visit was a source of joy," Tahsin underlined.
"Seemingly, Maliki tries to create a crisis at every opportunity due to Turkey's stance on Syria. Maliki's act is beyond the boundaries of friendship and courtesy. Maliki is not doing anything good for Turkey and the regional administration. His attitude is wrong. His note to Turkey was unacceptable," Tahsin stated.
Condeming Maliki, Maruf Selim argued that the Maliki administration was acting based on sects.
"Mr. Davutoglu visited Mosul in the past. However, Maliki did not give a reaction at the time. Why did Maliki act the way he did after Davutoglu visited Kirkuk? The Maliki government is against Turkey's stance on Syria. While the whole world wants Assad to go, our prime minister supports Bashar al-Assad by conducting politics based on sects. Maliki accused Turkey for the Tariq Hashemi incident and for attempts to overthrow him. Maliki is taking wrong steps. It was wrong for him to give a note to Turkey. We condemn his attitude on Turkey," Selim said.
