Following the assignment of a Special Representative for Ashraf by EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton, Maliki’s government showed a hasty response in its Foreign Ministry Website.
“The Foreign Minister announced the Iraqi government’s negative view and protest to the European Commission’s request to assign a Special Representative for Camp New Iraq (Ashraf),” the Iraqi government announced in a disgraceful response.
In this hasty response, showing the fingerprints of Iranian regime’s elements, another despicable stance by the Iraqi government is seen in opposing UN and UNHCR calling on Maliki to set aside the deadline to close down Ashraf.
In his meeting with Baroness Ashton on September 22nd at the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York, Iraqi Foreign Minister went on to say his government is bound to close down Camp Ashraf by the end of the year.
Political analysts have described the Iraqi government’s interesting emphasis on being “bound” to “close down Camp Ashraf” as an obligation towards a foreign party, specifically the Iranian regime. These analysts also added the fact that Maliki forced Zebari to use his short meeting with Baroness Ashton in New York to bargain on international obligations about Ashraf is uncharacteristic, showing Maliki is under pressure from the Iranian regime on one hand, and increasing pressure from EU political leaders and MPs on the other.