TURKEY’S ERDOGAN PUSHES FOR RESET OF TIES WITH IRAQ
▶ President discusses ways to boost relations and enhance co-operation against Kurdish militants in rare visit
Iraq yesterday rolled out the red carpet for Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who held talks in Baghdad in an official visit that promises to boost co-operation between Baghdad and Ankara.
Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al Sudani, who received Mr Erdogan at Baghdad International Airport amid a 21-gun salute, hailed the visit as a “clear expression of the depth of the relationship between the two countries”.
In an official ceremony, a strategic framework agreement to boost co-operation in different fields, including security, energy and the economy, was signed.
“The signing of the framework agreement is a road map for a strategic and sustainable co-operation in all fields,” Mr Al Sudani said, adding that permanent joint committees will be established to oversee co-operation. Discussions
also focused on security co-operation and ways to deal with “the challenges of the presence of armed actors that could co-operate with terrorist groups,” Mr Al Sudani added, referring to the Kurdish militant group the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, known as the PKK.
The presence of the rebel group in the mountainous region of northern Iraq has been one of the contentious issues between the two counties.
Mr Al Sudani acknowledged that there are “soft spots that require more control and stability in the shared border areas”.
Mr Erdogan said he discussed the “joint steps the two countries could take against the terrorist [group] PKK” and welcomed Iraq’s designation of them as a banned group.
Before meeting Mr Al Sudani, Mr Erdogan held talks with the Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rashid.
The discussions focused on political, security and economic issues as well as ways to enhance trade, encourage investment opportunities and address water rights, according to Mr Rashid’s office.
Mr Rashid emphasised the necessity of “co-ordination to combat terrorism and ensure the common security of the two countries and the region”.
Referring to the PKK, he said that “Iraq rejects [the idea] that its territory is being used as a launching pad for aggressions or threats to neighbouring countries”.
“We also reject any attack or violation against Iraqi cities,” he said, stressing the necessity of respecting “Iraq’s sovereignty and national security”.
Turkey has carried out military operations inside Iraq attacking PKK fighters. Mr Erdogan told Mr 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”.
Mr Erdogan’s last visit to Iraq was in 2011, when he was Turkey’s prime minister.
During his one-day visit this time, he will also meet Kurdish officials in Erbil, the capital of the Kurdish region.
The two neighbouring countries will sign two agreements, Iraqi government spokesman Basim Al Awadi said.
One of these agreements will address a long-standing water-sharing dispute aimed at ensuring a steady flow to Iraq’s two main rivers, the Tigris and the Euphrates, Mr Al Awadi said.
That agreement will stipulate the establishment of a fund whereby Iraq will allocate a portion of its oil revenue to large-scale water and agriculture projects implemented by Turkish companies over a 10year period.
Mr Rashid emphasised Iraq’s demand for a “fair share” of water.
Mr Erdogan expressed his country’s “understanding of Iraq’s water needs, and its keenness to co-operate in this field”.
In another significant step, Mr Al Sudani and Mr Erdogan oversaw the signing of preliminary agreements between Iraq, Turkey, UAE and Qatar to co-operate in the $17 billion rail and road project linking Asia to Europe through Iraq’s under-construction Al Faw port on the Arabian Gulf coast.
The plan is known as the Dry Canal or Development Road.
The proposed road and rail link will run from southern Iraq to Turkey, where it will connect to rail and road networks in Europe.
Transport ministers of the UAE and Qatar joined the discussions and signed a four-nation agreement.
More than 20 preliminary agreements between Iraqi and Turkish institutions were also signed.