President Barzani Meets Turkish Prime Minister and Foreign Minister in Ankara
Ankara, Turkey (KRP.org) – Kurdistan Region President Masoud Barzani met with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu in Ankara today to discuss ways to expand and enhance bilateral economic and political relations between Turkey and the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.
Prime Minister Erdoğan talked about the hardships that Iraqi Kurds suffered in the past and how he volunteered to help Iraqi Kurdish refugees who fled to Turkey’s border areas in 1991.
The President and the Turkish Prime Minister also talked about the future of these bilateral relations and ways to create strategic and long-term relations for the benefit of both sides. They also discussed political developments in Iraq and the Kurdish role in the formation of the next government in Baghdad.
Earlier in the day President Barzani met with the Turkish Foreign Minister Davutoğlu and the two later held a press conference.The Turkish Foreign Minister stated that Turkey views its relations with Iraq and especially with the Kurdistan Region as important and it wants greater economic integration with the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.
“We are pleased with the improvement in our relations. We would like to develop strategic cooperation on energy and trade. Turkish Airlines is planning to starts direct flights to Erbil as soon as possible. Turkish trade and agriculture Banks are considering opening their branches in the Kurdistan Region,” said Foreign Minister Davutoğlu adding that unfortunately some people are trying to impede these efforts.
President Barzani said he is also pleased with the improvement in relations with Turkey and paid tribute to Foreign Minister Davutoğlu for his role.
“Your visit to Erbil last year was a turning point in our relations that kick started a major change in our bilateral relations for the better. I am pleased to visit Turkey today and this visit, as a complement to your visit, will no doubt help develop strong and friendly relations between us. We see a promising and auspicious future in these relations,” said President Barzani, adding that Turkey is a major country in the region.
President Barzani added: “We are ready for all kinds of cooperation to further enhance our relations. We have many interests in common with Turkey. Turkey is a gateway for us to Europe as we are a gateway for Turkey to Iraq and the Gulf countries. I would also like to thank the Turkish Prime Minister and his government for their ‘democratic opening’ policy inside Turkey and we strongly support it.”
“I would also like to say that we are all very saddened when a Turk or Kurd is killed. We send our condolences to the families of the victims of the recent tragic incidents.”
Answering a question on security issues along the border, President Barzani said “we do not see Turkey’s security as separate from our own. We are against the continuation of violence and we will expend all efforts to end this deplorable situation.”
On weather the Kurds will incorporate Kirkuk to the Kurdistan Region by force, the President said that the Iraqi Constitution specifies a roadmap for resolution of the status of Kirkuk through Article-140. “We have not called for any other solutions outside what the Constitution calls for. We believe that if Article-140 is implemented, the issue of Kirkuk will be resolved,” said the President.
Tagged in: Investment, KRG, Kurdistan, Kurdistan Region of Iraq, Masoud Barzani, Turkey
