Iraq pursues ties with its neighbors

Violence in Iraq is at its lowest level in four years.

BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) — For years, security concerns and political suspicions kept the leaders of Iraq’s neighbors away. But on Thursday, Iraq’s prime minister picked up a VIP — his Turkish counterpart — at the airport, in a diplomatic victory for a country torn by violence just a year ago.

In another advance, Kuwait announced it will soon name its first ambassador to Iraq since Saddam Hussein’s troops invaded the country in 1990, a major step in healing the painful past between the two countries.

But diplomatic progress remains uneven for Iraq, where security gains are fragile and efforts to reconcile factions after years of war and mistrust often stumble. Earlier this week, Iraq said Jordanian King Abdullah II had postponed a visit, and no clear explanation was given.

Iraq has pursued ties with its neighbors more effectively in recent months because the violence that swept the country, prompting a U.S. troop surge, is now at its lowest level in four years.

On a visit to Washington, British Defense Minister Des Browne said Iraq was heading in the right direction in the fight against militants but said it would take longer to achieve success in Afghanistan.

“We have seen a change for the better” in Iraq over the last six months, Browne said. “I have no doubt it will be a longer haul” in Afghanistan, where coalition troops are fighting a resurgent Taliban.

Iraq, which has the world’s third-largest known crude oil reserves, is also benefiting from a drop in pipeline attacks and the sharp rise in global oil prices. The government said Thursday that next year’s budget will focus more on economic development than security, which currently consumes nearly one-fifth of state funds.

Turkey is seen as key to economic growth. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan was the first Turkish leader to visit Iraq in nearly 20 years, and Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki warmly greeted him at Baghdad’s airport. The exact timing of Erdogan’s visit was not announced, reflecting deep concern about security.

The ties between the two countries still show fault lines. Turkey has expressed frustration over Iraq’s perceived reluctance or inability to hunt Kurdish rebels who conduct hit-and-run attacks on Turkish targets from bases in northern Iraq.

Backed by U.S. intelligence, Turkey launched a cross-border ground offensive against the PKK rebel group in February. The brief campaign triggered protests from Iraq, although Erdogan said Iraq has cooperated with Turkish military operations on Iraqi soil.

“The PKK is a terrorist organization, which is not only Turkey’s enemy but Iraq’s as well,” Erdogan said. “We will not allow such attempts to poison relations in the region or between the two countries.”

For his part, al-Maliki said he was pleased to greet the leader of a strategic neighbor with both a strong economy and a reputation as a mediator. Turkey is currently hosting a negotiation process between longtime enemies Israel and Syria.

Erdogan’s visit reflected an Iraqi security situation that has improved more rapidly than many expected, partly because of the U.S. troop surge and alliances between Sunni leaders and American forces.

Iraq is becoming increasingly bold in talks with Washington on an agreement that will govern the status of American troops in the country, and it now has time and confidence to reach out to other countries rather than lurch from one political and military crisis to the next.