UPDATE 2 - Turkish president, officials from Kurdish Regional Government discuss counterterrorism

UPDATES WITH INFO REGARDING ERDOGAN’S MEETING WITH OFFICIALS; CHANGES HEADLINE, LEDE, EDITS THROUGHOUT

By Esra Tekin and Kaan Bozdogan

ISTANBUL (AA) - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on late Monday met Kurdish Regional Government’s (KRG) President Nechirvan Barzani and Prime Minister Masrour Barzani in Erbil and discussed counterterrorism as well as regional and global issues, Türkiye's Communications Directorate said.

Erdogan arrived in the KRG capital after a day-long visit to Baghdad where he held talks with Iraqi counterpart Abdul Latif Rashid and Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani.

He was welcomed by Nechirvan Barzani with an official ceremony at the Erbil airport.

Erdogan said it was pleasing to see Iraq moving away from violence day by day, and that the time has come to remove the PKK issue from the agenda.

Türkiye attaches importance to the unity in the fight against terrorism, the president said, expressing determination to take it to the next level.

The communications office said President Erdogan mentioned that comprehensive legal texts were signed with Iraq, and this cooperation perspective also includes the KRG region.

The Turkish leader said agreements signed in Baghdad, along with the announced Development Road project, will serve the welfare and peace of all of Iraq.

He stressed that the administrations in Baghdad and Erbil need to establish a healthy dialogue and working relationship, without allowing intervention by third parties.

Expressing Ankara’s desire to advance its commercial relations with the Erbil, Erdogan highlighted the importance of opening the Ovakoy-Faysh Khabur Border Gate as soon as possible and initiating vehicle crossings at the Derecik-Zeti Border Gate.

President Erdogan also expressed his belief that the rights and interests of the Turkmen people in the region, particularly in terms of political representation, will be protected.

The Turkish president also received Kurdistan Democratic Party's leader Masoud Barzani during the visit.