Ankara should understand that military operation in Iraq "will even more destabilize the region"October 18, 2007 - 16:36 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Turkey's intention of to conduct a counter-terror operation in Iraq stirs anxiety, First Deputy Chair of the Russian State Duma Committee for Foreign Affairs Leonid Slutsky said.According to Slutsky, political and military leadership in Ankara should understand that a military operation in northern Iraq "will even more destabilize the region." Turkey is playing an important role in southern Europe and, as Slutsky believes, if it resorts to exacerbating the conflict, it will face a dilemma: it can either stop assisting the U.S. military operation in Iraq or freeze all political contacts with United States. Moreover, Slutsky reminded, the Turkey-U.S. relations were spoiled by the decision of the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee to recognize the Armenian Genocide in the Ottoman Empire. "Starting from March 2003, when Iraq was struck by the U.S. and UK Armed Forces and their allies, the situation in Iraq and around it has been developing under the worst scenario. Ideas have been heard recently to divide Iraq into three parts, and, probably, it is the final goal of the operation in Iraq. There are no convincing proofs that Iraq was producing, storing or, moreover, using prohibited weapons," Slutsky emphasized, IA Regnum reports. On October 17, the Turkish parliament approved the government's bill on a 1-year cross-border operation in northern Iraq. Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | Welcome to CaseKey 2024. Byblos Bank Armenia firmly stands by future innovators Strategic business cases, invaluable experience, innovative approaches and more than 25 events are in store for the participants of CaseKey 2024. Macron honors Charles Aznavour on 100th anniversary French President Emmanuel Macron has paid tribute to the memory of French-Armenian crooner Charles Aznavour. Blinken says U.S. reviewing a number of aid requests from Armenia He said the U.S. is reviewing the requests to determine what more it can do to increase its assistance to Armenia. At least 2 CSTO members participated in preparing 44-day war against Armenia – PM Nikol Pashinyan has declared that at least two CSTO member countries participated in preparations for the 44-day war against Armenia. |