Main opposition leader's Iraq visit ‘not to complain about AKP’

ANKARA

Kılıçdaroğlu is expected to hold a meeting with al-Maliki in Baghdad. DHA photo

The aim of an upcoming visit by main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu to Baghdad is to ease the highly tense relations between the countries, a senior party executive said Aug. 12. He added that they had no intention of complaining about the foreign policy of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) while there, even though the latter well deserved such complaints.

Holding a press conference to inform journalists in detail about the five-day visit, which is scheduled to kick off Aug. 20, deputy party chair Faruk Loğoğlu said they would exchange views with Iraqi officials to ease the tension in relations.

“We are not going to Iraq to complain about the Justice and Development Party, although it deserves it due to the Iraq policy it has followed,” Loğoğlu said. Kılıçdaroğlu is expected to hold a meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki Aug. 21 in Baghdad.

The neighboring country’s disputed province of Kirkuk and the Shiite holy city of Najaf are also on the itinerary for Kılıçdaroğlu’s Iraq visit, which will last until Aug. 24.

Last week, CHP deputy chair Gürsel Tekin had announced that Arbil ruled by Masoud Barzani, was also expected to be a destination on Kılıçdaroğlu’s itinerary. Arbil is not on final itinerary of the visit. He said this was not because of a particular preference by the CHP itself, as the central government in Baghdad had drafted the itinerary.