Iraqi, Turkish Foreign Ministers emphasize importance of economic partnership


Dec 19, 2023. Posted by  Balkan Periscope - Hellas

 

During the meeting, both sides emphasized the importance of strengthening economic ties and exchanging security and intelligence information to combat terrorism, a reference to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).


Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein on Tuesday met with Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan to discuss bilateral relations between the two countries and ways to strengthen cooperation at all levels.

During the meeting, both sides emphasized the importance of strengthening economic ties and exchanging security and intelligence information to combat terrorism, a reference to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).

The meeting comes as earlier on March 21, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammad Shia’ Al-Sudani arrived in Turkey and met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara.

The leaders discussed the water crisis in Iraq as Erdogan agreed to double the release of Tigris River’s downstream flows for one month.

Iraq heavily relies on its twin Tigris and Euphrates Rivers for water supply. Sourced from Turkey, Iraq has continuously criticized its neighbor for restricting the water flow through upstream damming. 

Another pressing issue between the two countries is the stoppage of Kurdish oil exports to Turkey’s Ceyhan Port.

Halted since March, the stoppage has devastating economic repercussions for the autonomous Kurdish region. This followed an adverse ruling by the Paris-based International Chamber of Commerce’s International Court of Arbitration, where Iraq scored a victory over Turkey and its import of Kurdish oil, with the court deeming the sales illegal.

Rounds of trilateral talks among Turkey, Iraq, and the Kurdistan Region have thus far achieved no significant breakthroughs, as neither Turkey nor Iraq seems willing to offer concessions for an export resumption.

Kurdistan24

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