Sheikh Al-Khazaali confirms his rejection of the so-called Iraqi-Turkish memorandum of agreement that was recently signed.

The General Secretary of the Asa’ib Ahl al-Haq, His Eminence Sheikh Qais Khazali, received today (Friday) in his office in Baghdad, the representative of the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Ali Riza Kunay, and the accompanying delegation, which included the new Turkish Ambassador to Iraq, Mr. Anil Bora Yunan.
A statement issued by Sheikh Al-Khazaali’s media office stated that His Eminence is in dire need of trust between its initiator, and that the work is sufficient, and that it is activated militarily by Turkey in Iraq, and that all of it be under the supervision of the Iraqi forces, to be able to impose sovereignty over it.
His Eminence clearly stated his rejection of the so-called Iraqi-Turkish Memorandum of Agreement, which was recently signed, as it does not achieve a radical solution to the outstanding issues between the two countries.
His Eminence stressed the need to develop a comprehensive and serious roadmap to discuss the withdrawal of Turkish forces, as a fundamental step to build bridges of trust and achieve Iraqi sovereignty. He also spoke to the Turkish delegation about the real capabilities of the Iraqi forces in controlling the borders through the experiences that took place on the Syrian border after the victory over the terrorist ISIS gangs, stressing that these successful Iraqi experiences can be repeated on the borders between the two countries, in cooperation with the Turkish forces after their withdrawal from Iraq.
For his part, Mr. Kunay expressed his country’s interest in strengthening relations with Iraq at all levels, and stressed that Turkey seeks to reach consensual solutions that preserve the interests of the two countries and enhance bilateral cooperation in various fields, including security.