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Crisis on live broadcast: President Erdoğan asked 'Wasn't it five agreements?', Iraqi minister hesitated to sign

Iraqi Minister of Transport Razzaq Muhibis Al-Saadawi, known for his proximity to Iran, initially refused to sign the Development Road agreement alongside AKP Chairman and President Erdoğan.

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AKP Chairman and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan attended a signing ceremony for agreements in various fields following private and inter-delegation meetings with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' Al-Sudani at the Presidential Complex. During the ceremony, Iraqi Minister of Transport Razzaq Muhibis Al-Saadawi did not initially sign the transport agreement to be signed within the scope of the Development Road Project.

A brief crisis was observed during the agreement signing ceremony held after the meetings between Erdoğan and Iraqi Prime Minister Al-Sudani in Ankara. The Iraqi Minister of Transport did not want to sign the transport agreement between the two countries at first.

During the crisis that occurred at the live-broadcast signing ceremony, Erdoğan asked, "Wasn't it five agreements?" The crisis was resolved with the intervention of Iraqi Prime Minister Al-Sudani, and the agreement was signed. 

Following the hesitation of the Iraqi minister during the live-broadcast signing ceremony, President Erdoğan remarked, "Wasn't it five agreements?", after which Minister of Foreign Affairs Hakan Fidan also approached the stage.

Allegedly, a brief consultation took place between Iraqi Prime Minister Al-Sudani and the Iraqi ministers during this time, and the signing process was subsequently completed. Two transport agreements were signed by Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Abdulkadir Uraloğlu and Iraqi Minister of Transport Razzaq Muhibis Al-Saadawi.

Uraloğlu: We have signed the agreements that will strengthen our cooperation

Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Abdulkadir Uraloğlu made the following statement on his social media account after the signing ceremony: "In the presence of our President Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Iraqi Prime Minister Mr. Mohammed Shia' Al-Sudani, we signed the agreements that will strengthen our cooperation within the scope of the Development Road Project with Iraqi Minister of Transport Mr. Razzaq Muhibis Al-Saadawi. We are opening the doors to a new era that will further advance transport connections between our countries. We are determinedly advancing the Development Road Project in line with our shared vision that will contribute to the prosperity and stability of our region."