UPDATE - Türkiye, Iraq gear up for President Erdogan’s 'historic visit' to Baghdad

ADDS DETAILS

By Faruk Zorlu and Alperen Aktas

Türkiye and Iraq are gearing up for Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's visit to the capital Baghdad after the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, signifying a pivotal moment in their bilateral relations.

Both countries confirmed that all efforts will be made for the success of President Erdogan's "historic” visit to Iraq, according to a joint statement released Thursday.

The statement was released after a security meeting Thursday in Baghdad between Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and his Iraqi counterpart Fuad Hussein along with their delegations.

Türkiye expressed satisfaction with the Iraqi National Security Council’s decision to designate the PKK terrorist group a banned organization in Iraq, the statement said.

Both sides also engaged in discussions on the measures to be taken against the organization and its affiliates that target Türkiye using Iraqi territory.

The joint statement underscored the continuation of dialogue initiated during previous meetings in Ankara in December last. year.

During the meetings, it was also agreed to intensify efforts towards drafting a memorandum of understanding to establish a structural framework in various spheres of relations between the two countries, aiming to establish regular contact mechanisms, it added.

Turkish National Defense Minister Yasar Guler, the head of the National Intelligence Organization (MIT), Ibrahim Kalin, and Deputy Minister of Interior Munir Karaloglu were among the Turkish delegation.

- Establishment of joint committees

The two sides also decided to establish joint committees to work in the fields of counter-terrorism, trade, agriculture, energy, water, health and transportation, aiming to bolster bilateral relations, the statement said.

Both parties underscored the importance of Iraq's political unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity, it said.

Additionally, they emphasized the threat posed by the PKK terror group to the security of both nations, highlighting that the presence of this group in Iraqi territory constitutes a violation of Iraq's constitution, it added.

The parties exchanged views on regional challenges, including the "massacre amounting to genocide" in Gaza, and strongly affirmed their support for the Palestinian cause, it said.

In a security-oriented meeting held between Türkiye and Iraq in December, Iraq described the PKK terrorist group as a "common threat" and for the first time defined it as a "banned organization."