Iraqi govt signals desire for strategic relationship with Turkey

Iraqi government spokesman Ali al Dabbagh this week called Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's upcoming visit to Iraq "highly significant." In an interview with The Times of London published Monday, Dabbagh stated that Erdogan will meet his Iraqi counterpart Nouri al-Maliki and President Jalal Talabani during his forthcoming stay, whose dates were unspecified. "We are looking to have a strategic relationship with Turkey," Dabbagh added.