UPDATES WITH NECHIRVAN BARZANI’S REMARKS, EDITS THROUGHOUT
By Esra Tekin
ISTANBUL (AA) — Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Iraqi counterpart Abdul Latif Rashid discussed counter-terrorism and Israel's ongoing Gaza offensive during a meeting in Baghdad on Monday, according to Türkiye's Communications Directorate.
"The meeting addressed bilateral relations between Türkiye and Iraq, Israel's attacks on Gaza, regional and global issues, and the fight against terror," the Communications Directorate said on X. This was Erdogan's first official visit to Iraq in 13 years.
The communications office said Erdogan conveyed Ankara's expectations from Iraq "regarding the fight against the terrorist organization PKK" and that the country must be cleared of "all forms of terror."
In its nearly 40-year terror campaign against Türkiye, the PKK — listed as a terrorist organization by Türkiye, 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.
- Muslim unity against 'Israeli oppression in Gaza'
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.
Israel has pounded the Gaza Strip since the cross-border attack by the Palestinian group Hamas on Oct. 7 last year, which Tel Aviv says killed nearly 1,200 people.
At least 34,151 Palestinians have since been killed, mostly women and children, besides causing mass destruction, displacement and severe shortages of necessities.
- Iraqi stability
Erdogan underlined that stability in Iraq required the normalization of relations between Iraq's central administration and its northern Kurdish Regional Government (KRG).
He 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 Türkiye 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 Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani in Baghdad.
Erdogan was accompanied by Türkiye's Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya, National Defense Minister Yasar Guler, Communications Director Fahrettin Altun, his chief adviser Akif Cagatay Kilic, and other ministers.
After Baghdad, he will also be visiting Erbil, the capital of the Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) in northern Iraq.
President of the Kurdish Regional Government Nechirvan Barzani expressed his happiness for hosting Erdogan in Erbil, saying: “I look forward to receiving President Erdogan in Erbil and discussing pressing issues, including peace, stability and economic development.”
Barzani said on X that Erdogan’s “historic visit” to Erbil and Baghdad comes at “sensitive time.”
“It highlights the strong political, economic and security relations" between Iraq, its Kurdish Regional Government and Türkiye, he added.