“The two leaders shared their wish that Eid al-Adha may bring peace, serenity and abundance to the Islamic world and the entire humanity,” said the Turkish presidency in a tweet.
The Kurdistan Region Presidency said in a statement that Erdogan also “congratulated Kurdistan Region and wished it success” in the phone call.
Both sides wished that the Eid would bring joy for everyone, read the statement, adding that both leaders also discussed “boosting cooperation and Turkey’s relations with Iraq and the Kurdistan Region.”
The four-day Islamic feast began on Wednesday. Muslims exchange greetings during the Eid.
Turkey and the Kurdistan Region enjoy strong economic relations.
President Barzani was among world leaders who attended Erdogan’s inauguration ceremony following his victory in the May general elections.
The Kurdish leader was also among first leaders who visited Erdogan and affected areas after devastating quakes hit the country. Kurdistan Region teams played a key role in the initial response to the earthquakes.
The Region’s Prime Minister Masrour Barzani met with Erdogan in Ankara on June 20, discussing bilateral relations.
Turkey stopped the flow of Kurdistan Region’s oil through the Iraq-Turkey pipeline since a Paris arbitration court ruling on March 23 ruled in favor of Baghdad against Ankara, saying the latter had breached a 1973 pipeline agreement and allowed the Region to begin independent oil exports in 2014, to the ire of Iraq.
Around 400,000 barrels of day were being exported by Erbil through Ankara, in addition to some 75,000 barrels of Kirkuk oil daily through the same pipeline.
Despite an agreement between Erbil and Baghdad over the exportation of the Kurdish oil, Turkey refuses to resume the flow of oil through the Iraq-Turkey pipeline, citing alleged damage to pipelines.
Several meetings have been held between the Iraqi and Turkish sides, and more meetings are expected to be held in a near future.
The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) is heavily reliant on oil revenues and an inability to sell its crude has severely impacted its economy.
