A new page opens in Turkey-Iraq relations

Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu arrived in Baghdad yesterday for a two-day visit including talks with Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and his Iraqi counterpart Hoshyar Zebari, as well as several other top officials and political leaders in Baghdad and visits to the Shiite holy cities of Najaf and Karbala. Holding a joint press conference in Baghdad yesterday, Davutoglu and Zebari confirmed that a new page has now been opened in relations between Turkey and Iraq. "There are no limits to relations and cooperation between Turkey and Iraq. Too much blood has been shed in our region. From now onwards, we have to cooperate for peace and stability," Davutoglu noted. "We see the political structure embracing all ethnic groups and all sects as a disincentive for Sunni-Shiite clashes. Iraq is a little Middle East. If sectarian peace could be established in Iraq, it would mean peace for the whole region. These developments between Turkey, Iran and Iraq will avert the scenario of sectarian clashes," Davutoglu told reporters, adding, "Therefore, timing is important." Davutoglu said the bilateral visits between Turkey and Iraq were planned to break the period of silence between the two countries and added that the plans also included a possible visit by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan to Baghdad.