Turkish president says two leaders mentioned steps the 2 nations might take in opposition to the PKK armed group.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has met Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani in Baghdad for talks on safety, financial and vitality cooperation.
In a joint information convention on Monday, Erdogan mentioned the 2 leaders mentioned steps the 2 nations might take in opposition to the armed group the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) and welcomed Iraq’s designation of the PKK as a banned group.
Erdogan mentioned he had shared his sturdy perception that the PKK’s presence in Iraqi territory would finish as quickly as potential. The Turkish president mentioned that cooperation on safety and the combat in opposition to “terrorism” was probably the most essential agenda objects throughout his conferences in Iraq.
The PKK, which has fought a decades-long riot in opposition to the Turkish state and is taken into account a “terrorist” group by Ankara and its Western allies, has a presence in northern Iraq.
Since 2019, Turkey has performed a collection of cross-border operations in northern Iraq in opposition to the PKK dubbed “Claw”.
Al-Sudani mentioned Turkey and Iraq mentioned safety cooperation and agreed to cope with the problem of non-state armed actors that might cooperate with “terrorist” teams.
The two sides signed a strategic framework settlement to supervise safety, vitality and financial cooperation in addition to a 10-year settlement on administration of water assets that ensures Iraq will get its fair proportion, the Iraqi prime minister added.
During Erdogan’s go to, the Turkish president and Iraqi premier additionally witnessed the signing of a preliminary settlement by associated ministers of the nations to cooperate on a $17bn Development Road undertaking.
Erdogan additionally mentioned within the press convention that Ankara eyes widening mutual commerce – and cooperation in vitality, well being and tourism – with Iraq.
The Iraqi prime minister mentioned 24 memorandums of understanding had been signed throughout Erdogan’s one-day go to.
“I believe that my visit and agreements just signed will constitute a new turning point in Turkey-Iraq relations,” Erdogan mentioned within the press convention.
Meeting with Rashid
The Turkish chief earlier met with Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rashid in Baghdad. He instructed Rashid that Turkey “had expectations of Iraq regarding the fight against the terrorist organisation PKK, and that Iraq must be rid of all forms of terrorism”, based on his workplace.
Erdogan’s journey comes amid hovering regional tensions, fuelled by Israel’s battle on Gaza and a confrontation between Israel and Iran.
The Turkish president reiterated his name for all related events to chorus from escalating tensions within the Middle East.
Bilateral commerce between Turkey and Iraq was value $19.9bn in 2023, down from $24.2bn in 2022, based on official Turkish information.
In the primary three months of 2024, Turkish exports to Iraq rose by 24.5 %, whereas imports fell by 46.2 %.
After conferences in Baghdad, Erdogan was set to journey to Erbil, the provincial capital of the semi-autonomous Kurdish area of northern Iraq, for talks with Iraqi Kurdish officers with commerce and safety excessive on the agenda.
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