"Turkey's policies in Iraq are quite clear and ethical. Nobody can question Turkey's goodwill," Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu said regarding deployment of Turkish troops in Bashiqa Camp in Iraq.
Davutoğlu said that deployment of Turkish troops in the Mosul area, which is not a threat against territorial integrity of Iraq, plays an important role in the fight against terrorism.
He also emphasized the significant role and perpetual efforts of Turkey in the fight against Daesh and the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).
"We have acted responsibility while we are choosing our words and making moves for continuity of amity between Iraq and Turkey. However, there are some countries which try to ruin the relationship between Baghdad and Ankara," he said.
The Turkish PM also said that he discussed the issue with US Vice President Joe Biden, and added that he was planning to meet his Iraqi counterpart, Haider al-Abadi, as soon as possible.
Turkish-Iraqi relations recently experienced a flare-up of tension when Ankara deployed a battalion military in early December to Bashiqa camp near Mosul city. The battalion was intended to replace its contingent there in training Peshmerga and national mobilization forces.
Baghdad demanded immediate withdrawal of Turkish soldiers and threatened military action against Turkish troops in the camp, but Ankara insisted on a diplomatic solution and sent top officials to Baghdad last week.
After the two countries reached a new agreement, Turkey's army is moving to a northern area from the camp.
Prime Minister Davutoğlu previously said that Turkey transferred its troops to northern Iraq from the town of Bashiqa, 20 km from Mosul, as part of a new military arrangement.
“Our military unit will continue to remain there for military training. Our troops have not been deployed there as combat troops, but rather for a training mission," Davutoğlu said on Monday.
