The text of the interview follows.
Al-Monitor: A while ago, you proposed an Iraqi initiative for Syria. What has been the regional and international reaction to this initiative?
Maliki: Yes, we put forward an initiative, and it was based on a previous initiative we had discussed at the [2012] Arab League summit in Baghdad. We presented it to some delegations as well as to the UN envoy to Syria at the time, former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan. We then incorporated some changes into the most recent initiative, addressing what has happened during the recent period.
We discussed it in a meeting between the president, prime minister and speaker of parliament, and with the heads of [parliamentary] blocs. Everyone agreed to adopt the initiative, so it became Iraq's initiative for a solution to the Syrian crisis. The parliamentary delegation took the initiative with them to Turkey and Iran, and confirmed that they had received it positively, knowing that these two countries are influential in the crisis.
The US side then informed us that they wanted to know the details and implementation mechanisms, because they believe that we have come close to a common understanding, and there is a possibility that [the US] will adopt it. Recently, the government's Foreign Policy Committee — which includes a number of ministers — studied the initiative, and a decision was made about the need to adopt it in international forums, in the hope of reaching a political solution to the crisis.
Our position, which rejects intervention in the internal affairs of Syria and does not support either side of the conflict — neither the regime nor the armed opposition — and our support for the rights of the Syrian people to freedom and democracy, removed from international intervention — this is what has enabled us to put forth such a balanced initiative. Furthermore, Iraq's neutral position and the fact that we made early efforts to address this situation earned us more credibility.
We truly hope that a peaceful solution will be reached to save what remains of Syria. And we certainly will be the first to benefit from this. On the other hand, if the conflict and tragedies continue and extremism increases, we will be the first to be affected.
Maliki: Terrorism ‘Directly Related’ to Syria | Iraq Business News http://t.co/AhNkasexpW
Terrorism in Iraq is directly related to Al-Malik's incompetence, corruption and failure to deliver. There is only one realistic option for him, step down and let the better candidates run the country.
Do not point your one finger to others as your other four fingers are pointing at you. Do fool others, Iraq have never been ruled by democracy but a strong dictator from the time 400 B.C.