Turkey’s President Erdogan, Iraqi counterpart discuss Gaza war
Istanbul, Turkey - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Iraqi counterpart Abdul Latif Rashid discussed counterterrorism and Israel’s ongoing Gaza offensive during a meeting in Baghdad on Monday, according to Turkey’s Communications Directorate.
“The meeting addressed bilateral relations between Turkey and Iraq, Israel’s attacks on Gaza, regional and global issues, and the fight against terror,” the Communications Directorate said on X after the meeting that took place during Erdogan’s first official visit to Iraq in 13 years.
It also said Erdogan conveyed Ankara’s expectations from Iraq ‘regarding the fight against the terrorist organisation PKK’ and that the country must be cleared of ‘all forms of terror’.
In its nearly 40-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK - listed as a terrorist organisation by Turkey, the US, and the EU - has been responsible for the deaths of more than 40,000 people, including women, children, and infants.
PKK terrorists often hide out in northern Iraq, near the Turkish
borders, to plot attacks on Turkish soil.
Erdogan also highlighted the need for Muslim countries to work together to bring Israel’s ongoing attacks in Gaza to an end.
“Pointing out that efforts to stop Israeli oppression in Gaza continue, President Erdogan expressed that Muslim countries should act in unity during this process,” said the Communications Directorate.
Iraqi stability
Erdogan also underlined that stability in Iraq required the normalisation of relations between Iraq’s central administration and its northern Kurdish Regional Government (KRG).
He also stressed the need for its Turkmen community to ‘reach the status they deserve’, according to the statement.
“President Erdogan stated that the steps taken by Turkey and Iraq in cooperation in the coming period will also contribute to regional development and welfare,” the statement added.
During his one-day official visit, Erdogan also met with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-sudani in Baghdad. After Baghdad, the Turkish president will also be visiting Erbil, the capital of the Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) in northern Iraq.