|
Iraqi Vice President Says Aims at Civilized State Structure |
18 April 2012Iraq's Vice President Tareq al-Hashemi has said that he aimed at a civilized state structure.
Replying to questions of AA correspondent, Hashemi claimed that the lawsuit filed against him was a political one and he would not stand trial in Iraqi capital of Baghdad. Hashemi said he believed that a fair trial would not be held in the capital.
Witnesses' statements against him have been obtained by means of torture, he said and adding that one of his bodyguards was tortured and killed.
Hashemi said that he could not receive a fair trial in Baghdad, because the courts have been controlled by Maliki, he said.
He said he has offered to stand trial in Kirkuk, but the government refused it.
"The case filed against me was a political one since the beginning. Thus its solution had to be political. President, prime minister and parliament speaker should come together and find a political solution to it," he said.
When asked whether or not he considered a change in political and social structure in Iraq, Hashemi said that change that had started in Iraq had not been completed yet and the country would keep changing.
"We will support continuation of this transformation," he said and adding that but they thought there must be compliance with the constitution.
Hashemi said that they wanted to come to the political power by means of democratic struggle.
Replying to a question on political and diplomatic relations between Turkey and Iraq, Iraqi vice president said that Turkish government, people and media should not trust news reports of Iraqi official media.
Upon a question, Hashemi said "I am a victim of terror. I had decided to seek my rights through peaceful ways when I became secretary general of the Iraqi Islamic Party in 2004. That's why I refused to be with armed resistance groups against the United States. I am on the side of peaceful methods."
Responding to a question, Hashemi said that he would like to thank Turkish state, government and people for their assistance, stating that Turkey was a very important country for the region.
Hashemi said that Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan was like a brother to him.
Regarding his visit to Turkey, he said that he aimed to exchange views on political developments in Iraq and the region with Turkish officials, stating that Qatar and Saudi Arabia wanted to be close to policies of Turkey. Hashemi said he informed Erdogan and Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu on this matter.
Hashemi said that he aimed at a civilized state structure at equal distance to all Iraqi people.
Regarding (Massoud) Barzani's visit to Turkey, Hashemi said that Barzani would visit Turkey on Wednesday to discuss issues of Kurds.
Replying to a question, Hashemi said that Iraq people could live together without making discrimination in race, religion and sect.
|
18 April 2012
A.A.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
LATEST NEWS
FROM MIDDLE EAST |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
MOST VISITED NEWS (DAILY) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
