BAGHDAD - Vice President Taha Yasin Ramadan of Iraq said on Sunday that a possible attack on Iraq would not be beneficial for Turkey, and added that Turkey should not become a tool in such an attack.
Addressing Turkish journalists who came to Baghdad as the guest of the Turkey-Iraq Friendship Association, Ramadan claimed, ''the United States has been targeting to divide many countries. Turkey can be separated like Iraq soon in line with the United States' interests. An attack on Iraq will be beginning stage of an attack on Turkey in the future. Turkey should give priority to its own benefits, and should not give complimentary service to the United States.''
Ramadan noted that Turkey and Iraq shared a common religion and history as two neighboring countries.
He refrained from responding a question about Iraq's attitude in case of Turkey's participation in a possible operation against Iraq.
Referring to the issue of Northern Iraq, Ramadan said, ''we reject presence of any other force in our territories. All Iraqi Kurds and Arabs will fight against foreign forces. I hope that Turkey would not make any mistake. We will consider any intervention from any country a direct attack on Iraq.''
When asked whether or not they were ready for such an operation, Ramadan said, ''Iraqi people have already been resisting against the United States, and protecting their territories. If the United States strikes back, it will be their end. Because, they will face with all Arab world and friends of Iraq this time.''