Baghdad "astonished" by Putin's comments on Iraqi democracy
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
Baghdad, July 18, IRNA
Iran-Iraq-Statement
The Iraqi government on Tuesday criticized recent remarks of Russian President Vladimir Putin regarding the state of democracy in Iraq and said it was astonished by those remarks.
"The government of Iraq was astonished by the remarks. It ignores the sacrifice and unique courage shown by the Iraqis who turned out in large numbers to exercise their right to vote," said a statement from the office of Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki a copy of which was sent to IRNA.
At a joint news conference with US President George W Bush on Monday after the G8 summit in St Petersburg, Russia, Putin, obviously irked by a comment on the state of democracy in Russia by Bush, said "We of course don't want to have a democracy like the one in Iraq." The statement further said that Putin had belittled the importance of the democratic experience in Iraq.
"We'd like to remind Mr Putin that change in Iraq does not appeal to some in the region. Unfortunately, there are those who support terrorism which threatens this unique experience," said the statement.
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