In an interview with Al Babeliya TV, Iraqi MP Ahmad Al Massari discussed the upcoming visit to Baghdad by Ahmadinejad and many other issues.
Question: How do you explain the silence of the government and the parliament regarding Iran’s maneuvers near Iraq’s borders? Is there a security agreement that allows such measures?
Iraqi MP Ahmad Al Massari from the Iraqiya slate: There is no security agreement between Iraq and Iran to carry out maneuvers near our mutual borders and I think the government has no right to remain silent on this issue. Regarding the parliament, however, you are aware that the parliament is now in Eid holidays and it will resume session immediately afterwards. The parliament will take a stance in this regard and we will not accept this measure and we will not accept any aggression against Iraq’s borders, be it our aerial or ground borders. We will question any maneuvers near Iraq’s borders because such measures might even threaten Iraq’s borders, and we call on the government to take a stance and question Iran’s diplomatic system to explain the reason behind these maneuvers and say was there any agreement between Iraq and Iraq for these maneuvers?
Question: The Iraqi people, various political parties and NGOs, academicians and tribal sheikhs are rejecting Ahmadinejad’s visit to Iraq, especially after it was specified that there is a security agreement to be signed. What is your position on this visit and the news regarding a security agreement, that with a country that is accused of international terrorism?
Ahmad Al Massari: In fact, the trip by Iran’s president to Iraq, we said is an undesirable trip. The reason is that Iran’s stance towards the events in Syria and also Iran’s interferences in Iraq’s affairs, meaning obvious political interferences by the neighboring Iran, and clear interventions regarding what is taking place in Syria today.
For this very subject we say the visit by Iran’s president to Iraq is unpleasant until Iran changes its position regarding its meddling in Iraq and the events in Syria.
Question: Various MPs emphasized that Iraq abides by Iran’s demands due to the existence of various political circles. With these political and paramilitary groups that act in Iran’s interests, how can Iraq stop Iran’s interferences?
Ahmad Al Massari: Iran’s interference in Iraq is very obvious. Therefore, we see that all patriotic movements reject these meddling. I believe Iraqis must know they must solve all their problems on their own without the existence of foreign intervention.