Turkish envoy holds several meetings in Iraq

By Haydar Karaalp

BAGHDAD (AA) – Turkey’s Deputy Foreign Minister on Wednesday held meetings on bilateral relations and regional developments with Iraqi officials in Iraq's capital and in the northern city of Erbil.

Sedat Onal met the head of the Iraqi National Security Council (INSC) Falih Alfayyadh and Iraqi envoy for Foreign Affairs Nizar Hayrullah to talk about bilateral relations, according to a statement from the press office of the INSC.

Turkey’s Ambassador to Iraq Fatih Yildiz said on Twitter Onal’s meeting with Iraqi officials “aims to develop our relations with Iraq.”

Onal also met Iraqi parliament’s Turkmen bloc lawmakers in Turkey’s Baghdad embassy.

Apart from the Baghdad meetings, Onal met separately with the Iraqi Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) Deputy Prime Minister Kubat Talabani and the Undersecretary of KRG Security Agency Mesrur Barzani in Erbil.

Onal also met the Iraqi Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) Deputy Prime Minister Kubat Talabani and the Undersecretary of KRG Security Agency Mesrur Barzani in Erbil.

Onal and Barzani discussed regional developments, bilateral relations and the process of establishing a new government in the KRG, according to a statement from Mesrur Barzani's press office.

Barzani expressed his wish to develop better relations with Turkey in all areas.

Onal and Talabani discussed the recent situation of disputed regions in Iraq and relations between Erbil and Baghdad, according to a statement from the website of the Prime Ministry of the KRG.

Talabani pointed out that KRG wants Turkish investors to play a greater role in the KRG.

* Writing by Gozde Bayar