Turkey hosts Iraqi, Syrian officials

ISTANBUL, Turkey, Sept. 17 (UPI) -- The security situation in Iraq and its relations with its neighbors affect the entire state of affairs in the Middle East, the Turkish foreign minister said.

Ankara hosted Iraqi and Syrian officials in an effort to ease tensions that developed in the wake of a series of coordinated bombings in Baghdad on Aug. 19. Baghdad said Baath Party loyalists in Syria were behind the attacks, though Damascus denies any allegations it was linked to the bombings.

Both countries pulled their respective ambassadors in the wake of the attack as bilateral relations soured.

Ahmet Davutoglu, the Turkish foreign minister, said once the developments coming out of Iraq and Turkey spread to the region, the Middle East will take its rightful place in the global community, Turkish daily Today's Zaman reports.

"Iraq is a brotherly country for Turkey. Iraq's stability is the stability of Turkey. Iraq's welfare is the welfare of Turkey. And, Iraq's security is the security of Turkey," he added.

Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem relayed a message from Syrian President Bashar Assad, who said he appreciated the Turkish effort to "overcome the current fabricated crisis with Iraq," the officials Syrian Arab News Agency reports.

The ministerial meeting took place Thursday behind closed doors.