"The words of the Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki about the country's desire to strengthen relations with Turkey do not seem convincing to us. This is al-Maliki's peculiar manoeuvre," Davutoglu said.

According to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Government of Iraq should first of all democratise the regime in the country and create the necessary conditions for the peaceful coexistence of all ethnic groups.



A statement released last week on Al-Maliki's official website quoted him as sayingIraqapproved the political rapprochement withTurkey, based on the total benefit, mutual respect and good neighbourly relations.



It wasIraq's first such friendly announcement addressed toTurkeyin the last few months.



Relations betweenTurkeyandIraqhave been tense for more than a year. Earlier, Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki saidTurkeywas turning into an enemy to all states in the region due to its attempts 'to dominate it' and 'to intervene in the affairs of its neighbours'.



In response, Erdogan saidIraqshould sort out its internal affairs and then accuse the neighbouring country of hostility.



Tensions between the two countries are also enhanced byTurkey's energy cooperation with the Kurdish autonomous region ofIraq. The Turkish side has in recent months, stated it was not going to refuse to cooperate with the Iraqi Kurdish autonomy in the field of oil and gas.



Soran Ali