Turkish ambassador boosts ties in Kirkuk amid preparations for Iraqi local election

By Ali Makram Ghareeb

KIRKUK, Iraq (AA) - Ankara’s Ambassador to Baghdad Ali Riza Guney visited Kirkuk in Iraq on Wednesday to discuss bilateral trade and economic matters.

Guney, who visited the Kirkuk Governorate building, met Governor Rakan Said al-Jubouri.

Guney in a statement said his visit coincided with the eve of local elections and acknowledged the intense political agenda in Kirkuk.

Wishing the elections to be beneficial for Kirkuk and the entire Iraqi population, Guney said he observed a competitive election process conducted in Kirkuk democratically and maturely.

Emphasizing that his main goal is to enhance commercial, economic, human and educational relations between Türkiye and the Kirkuk province, Guney said: "In the meeting with Governor Cuburi, we agreed particularly on starting the necessary efforts to increase the number of Maarif Schools here and to establish a Turkish university in the near future in the field of education."

*Writing by Alperen Aktas in Istanbul