Talabani issues sharp reaction to Jaferi's Ankara visit
Güncelleme Tarihi:
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Mart 01, 2006 10:13
With Iraqi Prime Minister Ibrahim Jaferi on his way yesterday to Ankara for an official visit with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul, a surprising statement was issued out of Baghdad from President Jelal Talabani, who said Jaferi's visit to Turkey had not been cleared by the Iraqi government.
President Talabani, who is Kurdish, criticized the actions of Jaferi, who is Shiite, saying "The fact that Jaferi would visit Turkey without informing the Iraqi authority has created surprise in the capital, and this visit is in conflict with the consitution which is currently being implemented." Talabani, who underlined that none of the other important offices that make up the new Iraqi government were informed of Jaferi's trip to Ankara, said that any treaties or agreements signed by Jaferi in Ankara would "have no meaning or value."
On landing at Ankara's Esenboga Airport, Jaferi was greeted by Turkish Energy Minister Hilmi Guler, as well as by the Turkish representative of the Iraqi Turkmen front, Ahmet Muratli. With a crowded delegation that included the new Iraqi Deputy PM, Ahmet Celebi, as well as Transportation Minister Selam El Maliki and others, Prime Minister Jaferi went first to the Prime Ministerial residences to have lunch with Prime Minister Erdogan. FM Abdullah Gul was also present at this lunch. In the evening, Jaferi was accepted by President Ahmet Necdet Sezer at the Cankaya Presidential Palace in Ankara.
On landing at Ankara's Esenboga Airport, Jaferi was greeted by Turkish Energy Minister Hilmi Guler, as well as by the Turkish representative of the Iraqi Turkmen front, Ahmet Muratli. With a crowded delegation that included the new Iraqi Deputy PM, Ahmet Celebi, as well as Transportation Minister Selam El Maliki and others, Prime Minister Jaferi went first to the Prime Ministerial residences to have lunch with Prime Minister Erdogan. FM Abdullah Gul was also present at this lunch. In the evening, Jaferi was accepted by President Ahmet Necdet Sezer at the Cankaya Presidential Palace in Ankara.