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Turkish PM Meets KRG Premier in Erbil

Masoud Barzani (L) meets Binali Yildirim in Erbil, Kurdistan Region, on Jan. 7.
Masoud Barzani (L) meets Binali Yildirim in Erbil, Kurdistan Region, on Jan. 7.

On Sunday, Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim met the Premier of Kurdistan Regional Government Nechirvan Barzani in Erbil to discuss a wide range of issues.

Yildirim is expected to discuss trade, investment and the war against the self-styled Islamic State terrorist group in the high-level meeting, Kurdistan24 reported.

The Turkish delegation, headed by Yildirim, includes the ministers of defense, education, energy and natural resources, economy, customs and trade.

The Turkish premier, who also met President Barzani later, is expected to hold a press conference following his meetings with Kurdish officials.

On Saturday, Yildirim and his accompanying delegates visited Baghdad and met with Iraqi officials. Late in the evening, he arrived in Erbil and was received by the Kurdish premier and other officials.

In Baghdad, Yildirim met with Iraqi President Fuad Masum, Parliament Speaker Salim al-Jibouri and members of some Iraqi political parties in Baghdad.

During the press conference, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said they discussed the presence of terrorist groups in Iraq and IS in Syria, and the importance of increasing coordination between Iraq and Turkey to eliminate terror threats.

“Our constitution does not allow any group to have activities against neighboring countries inside Iraq or to have bases in the country,” Abadi said.

Later, Abadi announced that Turkey has agreed to withdraw its troops from Bashiqa base and emphasized its respect for the sovereignty and integrity of Iraq.

 

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