Resolution of the ongoing crises in Iraq and Syria cannot be secured by military means alone and requires political effort and reconciliation in societies long divided by years of turmoil and instability, Iraqi Vice President Nouri Maliki.
Maliki made this known on Tuesday during talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“I believe that the crises in Iraq and Syria cannot be resolved by military means alone, a political effort is necessary, as well as the regulations that would put an end to disagreements among various groups of our society, which had existed for the past 14 years since the fall of the regime in Baghdad,” Maliki said.
The vice president thanked Russia for supporting Iraq in its fight against terror.
“At the time when we were subjected to a fierce massive attack with political goals as well as consequences to [the situation] the region and the international situation, I mean the fight against terrorism, Russia took an honorable, honest position and agreed to accelerate the supply of weapons, on the purchase of which we had agreed earlier,” Maliki noted.
Iraq has been in a state of instability since the 2003 invasion of the US-led coalition that overthrew then-President Saddam Hussein.
In 2014, the new wave of violence in Iraq erupted when the Islamic State terror group, banned in Russia, launched a full-scale offensive in the northern and western parts of the country, seizing vast territories.
Similarly, Syria has plunged into turmoil since 2011 as the site of violent conflict among the government, armed opposition, and terrorist groups.