Tuesday, September 26, 2006
Talabani asks neighbours not to interfere in Iraq
Regional politics
In an interview to air on National Public Radio on Tuesday, Iraqi president Jalal Talabani said his patience was wearing thin with the interference in Iraq's internal affairs by Iran, Syria and Turkey. "We are asking them to stop interfering in our internal affairs and respect the sovereignty and independence of Iraq otherwise we will be obliged to say something," Talabani said in excerpts of the interview released on Monday.
Asked what Iraq would do if the interfering continues, Talabani said his people would respond in kind. "The Iraqi people will respond in the same way, we'll support the opposition of other countries, will try to make trouble for them as they are doing for us," he said. "We can do it in Iran, in Syria, in Turkey, but we are not doing it," Talabani said. "Our policy is not to interfere in the internal affairs of these countries and ask them and beg them not to interfere in our internal affairs because it creates chaos in the Middle East."
Asked what Iraq would do if the interfering continues, Talabani said his people would respond in kind. "The Iraqi people will respond in the same way, we'll support the opposition of other countries, will try to make trouble for them as they are doing for us," he said. "We can do it in Iran, in Syria, in Turkey, but we are not doing it," Talabani said. "Our policy is not to interfere in the internal affairs of these countries and ask them and beg them not to interfere in our internal affairs because it creates chaos in the Middle East."
Bush has also accused Syria and Iran of interfering in Iraqi affairs and pressed them to halt the flow of militants through their borders.
