Erdoğan holds joint press conference with Iraqi Prime Minister Sudani

President and AKP Chairman Recep Tayyip Erdoğan met with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani at the Government Palace in Baghdad. During the meeting, 

The 4-way memorandum of understanding signed at the Government Palace in Baghdad took place under the auspices of President Erdoğan and Iraqi Prime Minister Sudani.

Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Abdulkadir Uraloğlu, Iraqi Minister of Transport Razzaq Muhaibis, Qatari Minister of Transport and Communications Jassim bin Saif Al Sulaiti, and UAE Minister of Energy and Infrastructure Suhail Mohammed Al Mazrouei were also present at the signing ceremony.

Following the signing ceremony, President Erdoğan held a joint press conference with Iraqi Prime Minister Sudani. 

Highlights from Erdoğan's remarks are as follows:

“We welcomed the declaration of the PKK as a banned organization in Iraq. We discussed the measures to be taken against the terrorist organization PKK. The presence of the PKK on Iraqi soil will be ended as soon as possible.

I believe that my visit and the agreements just signed will constitute a new turning point in Turkey-Iraq relations.

We have decided to establish joint permanent committees that will ensure the continuation and follow-up of technical negotiations in many areas such as security, counter-terrorism, economy, trade, energy, transport, environment, transboundary waters, health, and education.

We will continue to view our relations with Iraq through the lens of neighborhood law. We will continue to stand by Iraq. I believe this visit will lead to new beginnings.

We are conducting today's visit under the shadow of the humanitarian tragedy unfolding in Palestine. We are doing our best to stop the bloodshed in Gaza. The developments between Israel and Iran increase the risk of the war spreading and escalating, and furthermore, they overshadow the massacre in Palestine.

I discussed with my (Iraqi) counterparts the effects of the oppression Israel is inflicting in Palestine on our region, and we consulted on the joint steps we can take.

I would like to reiterate my suggestion to all relevant parties (Iran-Israel) to refrain from steps that would escalate tension.”

News Source: 12punto