Erdogan announces a turning point in relations with Iraq, talks and agreements on workers and water
Shafaq News / Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stressed, on Monday, the need to strengthen relations with Iraq in all fields, considering that the signing of today’s agreements with Iraq is a new page and a starting point for the future of the two countries, while revealing the signing of an agreement with Iraq to consider pkk a terrorist organization in order to combat and eliminate it, he said.
Erdogan said, in the press conference with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani, in Baghdad, that he “respondered to the invitation of my dear Sudanese brother, and it is fortunate to be in Baghdad, and the Iraqi brothers made us feel at home,” noting that “Iraq is a neighboring country and we count its strategic calculation, and we want to be with them on a permanent understanding, and that the agreements we have convinced with them will be a new page in Turkish-Iraqi relations.”
He added that “Iraq is a neighboring country with which we have many common denominals, and we have the political will to push the relations of Iraq and Turkey forward,” stressing that “the memos that occurred represent a turning point in our relations with Iraq.”
“We will provide the necessary coordination to ensure the full implementation of the agreements signed with Iraq,” Erdogan continued, noting that he discussed “with the Prime Minister cooperation in the security and counter-terrorism files, and we are ready to provide support to the Iraqi government in the fight against terrorism.”
He pointed out that “the volume of trade exchange between Iraq and Turkey increased to 20 billion dollars, and we are determined to participate in the path of development to achieve trade development, as well as we established a Turkish-Iraqi committee to solve the water problem on a scientific and rational basis.”
Erdogan pointed out that “an agreement was signed with Iraq to consider pkk a terrorist organization in order to combat and eliminate it permanently, because of the danger it poses to our country and the region, and Iraq expressed its readiness to do so.”
“We discussed the effects of Zionist repression in Gaza and consulted on joint steps to calm the situation, and we are supportive of the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital,” the Turkish president continued.
The Turkish president concluded by saying: “I will visit Erbil after Baghdad to discuss joint relations, and I thank Prime Minister Mohammed Shiaa Al-Sudani for their hospitality.”
Earlier in the day, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammad Shiaa al-Sudani and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan sponsored in Baghdad the signing ceremony of a four-way memorandum of understanding between Iraq, Turkey, Qatar and the UAE.
According to a statement received by Shafaq News, the memorandum aims to joint cooperation on the strategic (development road project), in the presence of members of the Turkish and Iraqi delegations, including ministers and advisers.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan arrived in the capital Baghdad on Monday for a visit in 13 years, and Erdogan will also visit Erbil, the capital of the Kurdistan Region, after concluding his meetings with Iraqi officials in Baghdad.
Erdogan was received at Baghdad International Airport by Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammad Shiaa of Sudan.