Erdogan warns Biden of Iraq sectarian clashes

Turkish PM Erdogan and U.S. Vice President Joe Biden discussed the turmoil in Iraq in a phone call late Jan. 5. Erdogan warned efforts expended so far to protect Iraq’s territorial integrity and stability would become meaningless if Iraq drifted away from democratic culture.

The White House said regional issues including political developments in Iraq had been discussed in the phone conversation between Biden and Erdogan.

“Following up on their conversation during the vice president’s trip to Turkey in December, the two leaders agreed on the need to advance security, support the rule of law and encourage democracy in the region.

They agreed our two governments would remain in regular contact on these issues,” diplomatic sources told AP reporters. Following the phone conversation, Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu met with U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Francis Ricciardone yesterday.

The Iraqi issue, which was discussed during the phone conversation between Erdogan and Biden, was on the meeting’s agenda. In a visit to Turkey last December, Biden met with Turkey’s premier and discussed possible developments in Iraq after withdrawal of the U.S.

As Ankara warned Biden over a power vacuum in Iraq, the U.S. side guaranteed political stability in the meeting, diplomatic sources said.

Turkey is concerned over the developments in Iraqi politics, however, after U.S. withdrawal as its neighboring country faces a sectarian clash.

Ankara urges Washington to refrain from indulging the Shiite Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki.