Turkish-Iranian détente coming under fire
Arab countries are criticizing growing cooperation between Iran and Turkey on a number of regional files.
This
cooperation is impinging on the sovereignty of Arab states.
Assistant
Secretary-General of the Arab League Hossam Zaki said Turkey is following in
Iran's footsteps as far as its hostility to the Arabs is concerned.
He
referred to an Arab League resolution on March 4 in which the Arab countries
denounced Turkish interference in Arab affairs, especially in Libya, Syria and
Iraq.
He
said the Arab League condemns interference by both Iran and Turkey in Arab
affairs.
Neither
the Iranians nor the Turks act as good neighbors, Zaki said. This has to come
to an end.
Iranian
Foreign Minister Javad Zarif visited Turkey recently and held a press briefing
with his Turkish counterpart Mevlüt
Çavuşoğlu. He declared his country's support to the Tripoli-based
Government of National Accord (GNA).
The
GNA, he said, is capable of ending the war in Libya in its favor.
He
added that his country shares Turkey's view on means of ending the wars in both
Libya and Yemen.
Ankara
came under fire for violating Iraqi sovereignty by launching an operation
against the Kurds in northern Iraq.
The
Iraqi Foreign Ministry summoned the Turkish ambassador in Baghdad and handed
him an official protest against the Turkish incursion into Iraq.
Secretary-General
of the Arab League Ahmed Abul Gheit said the Turkish incursion is a violation
against Iraqi sovereignty. This incursion, he said, is happening the absence of
coordination with the Iraqi government.
This
shows that Turkey does not care about international law or its relations with
its neighboring countries, Abul Gheit said.
