Kadhimi, Erdogan talk ‘boosting relations’ in Ankara

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi arrived in Ankara on Thursday, discussing boosting relations in trade, reconstruction and the “fight against terror” with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, in his first visit to the country since taking office in May. 

Kadhimi said that “Turkey is an important country” with which Iraq has "very good historical relations” in a joint press conference in Ankara.

“We as two neighbouring countries are determined to boost our relations in all fields,” Erdogan told reporters during the presser. “We are ready to make all efforts for the reconstruction of Iraq.”

Swathes of Iraq were severely damaged when the Islamic State (ISIS) attacked in 2014. The main oil pipeline that exported Kirkuk’s oil to Turkey’s Ceyhan port was also damaged. It is yet to be repaired. 

“We want to complete the repair of Kirkuk-Ceyhan oil pipeline - which was destroyed by Daesh - so that Kirkuk oil can be marketed to the world as soon as possible at higher levels,” said Erdogan, using the Arabic acronym for ISIS. 

Turkish companies “make up an important part of companies in Iraq. We rely on them in reconstruction of destroyed areas,” Kadhimi said. 

Trade between the two countries has hovered around $10 billion in recent years. Erdogan has said multiple times that he wants to double the figure, saying on Thursday he said he believes this increase can be done “smoothly.”

Erdogan and Kadhimi also talked about the fight against “terrorist organisations.”

Erdogan said they both “decided to continue our fight against our common enemies - Daesh, PKK and FETO [Fethullah Gulen’s Service Movement] terrorist organisations.”

He added that the recent tensions between the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) and Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) in the Kurdistan Region’s Duhok province are “clear evidence that it is a threat to Iraqi security.” 

Turkey regards the PKK as a terrorist organisation. The group has struggled for the rights for Kurds in Turkey for decades.  

Turkey began fresh air and ground military operations in the Kurdistan Region and disputed territories in mid-June, with the stated aim of removing suspected PKK targets from the area. The ground operation, Claw-Tiger, concluded in September.

Numerous civilians have been killed in the operations. 

Without naming any specific groups, Kadhimi said that he condemns “any action that threatens Turkey or any threat sourcing from Iraqi soil against Turkey’s national security” – echoing a statement from Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein on Wednesday. 

Hussein met with Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu on Wednesday ahead of Kadhimi’s visit. 

“The Iraqi constitution doesn’t allow an organization to operate inside Iraq and attack other countries from Iraq. We are committed to the Iraqi constitution, any activity against our neighbours and Turkey is against Iraq’s principles,” he said in a press conference.