Baghdad – IA
Today, Thursday, the Iraqi News Agency (INA) publishes the text of the joint final statement regarding the meeting of the security mechanism between Iraq and Turkey.
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The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated in a statement received by the Iraqi News Agency (INA), that “Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Fuad Hussein met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Turkish Republic Hakan Fidan in Baghdad on March 14, 2024, accompanied by the Minister of Defense, the National Security Advisor, and the head of the Popular Mobilization Forces.” The Minister of Interior of the Kurdistan Region and the Deputy Minister of the Intelligence Service from the Iraqi side, and the Minister of Defense, Head of the Intelligence Service and Deputy Minister of the Interior from the Turkish side.”
She explained, “These discussions are a continuation of the discussions that the two countries held in Ankara on December 19, 2023, where the two sides discussed their common position that will be adopted in the face of regional developments and various challenges in the bilateral fields. They also discussed the ongoing preparations for the upcoming visit of the President of the Turkish Republic, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, to Baghdad.” After the blessed month of Ramadan, and the work that this requires with the utmost capabilities to prepare for this historic visit and make it successful, which it is hoped will be a qualitative shift in the relations between the two friendly neighboring countries.”
She added, “It was decided during the meetings to intensify work to adopt a memorandum of understanding, in order to create the structural framework in various aspects of relations between the two countries, and thus establish regular communication mechanisms. The two sides also agreed, through the memorandum of understanding that they will prepare, to create a strategic framework for relations, where the authorities will work The two countries in a coordinated manner, at regular intervals, and with a results-oriented approach.”
She continued, “In this context, it was decided to establish joint permanent committees that work exclusively in the fields of combating terrorism, trade, agriculture, energy, water, health, and transportation. During the meetings, the importance attached to Iraq’s political unity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity was emphasized.”
The two sides stressed, according to the statement, that “the PKK organization represents a security threat to both Turkey and Iraq, and it is certain that the presence of this organization on Iraqi territory represents a violation of the Iraqi constitution.” Turkey welcomed the decision taken by the Iraqi National Security Council to consider the PKK a banned organization in Iraq. The two sides consulted on the measures to be taken against the organization and its banned extensions that target Turkey through the use of Iraqi lands.
The statement pointed out that “the two sides discussed the serious challenges that the region is going through, especially the war and genocide in Gaza, and ways to support the Palestinian cause were discussed. In conclusion, the two sides agreed to continue meetings and communications on these issues within the relevant frameworks between the two countries.”
