President of Iraq: We look forward to distinguished relations with Türkiye

Iraq – Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rashid expressed yesterday, Sunday, his country’s aspiration for “distinguished relations with neighboring Turkey at various levels,” on the eve of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s visit to Baghdad on Monday.

The Iraqi presidency said, in a statement, that President Rashid received the Turkish Ambassador, Ali Reza Konai, at the Peace Palace in Baghdad yesterday, Sunday, and they reviewed the ongoing arrangements for President Erdogan’s visit.

The presidency explained, “During the meeting, emphasis was placed on developing bilateral relations and enhancing aspects of cooperation and coordination between the two countries, in a way that serves the common interests of the two friendly peoples.”

Rashid stressed “the importance of strengthening relations and cooperation between Baghdad and Ankara, and enhancing joint action at the international and regional levels to consolidate security, stability and peace in the region.”

He stressed that “Iraq is looking forward to distinguished relations with neighboring Türkiye at various levels.”

For his part, Ambassador Konai expressed Turkey’s endeavor to “strengthen cooperation and mutual coordination to reach common understandings on issues between the two countries and regional issues,” according to the statement.

Earlier on Sunday, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said that President Erdogan will visit Baghdad and the city of Erbil (north) and meet with both his Iraqi counterpart Rashid and Prime Minister Muhammad Shia al-Sudani.

He added that more than 20 agreements will be signed with Iraq during President Erdogan’s visit.

Fidan expressed his belief that Turkish-Iraqi relations will be an important example in the region, especially with the implementation of the “Development Road” project, to which President Erdogan attaches great importance.

This project is a land and railway road extending from Iraq to Turkey and its ports, with a length of 1,200 kilometers inside Iraq, and aims to transport goods between Europe and the Gulf countries.

Anatolia