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).
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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