Turkey’s Erdogan lands in Baghdad on visit to boost bilateral relations

Iraq on Monday rolled out the red carpet for Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who began an official visit that holds the promise of boosting co-operation between Baghdad and Ankara.

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al Sudani received Mr Erdogan at Baghdad International Airport as a 21-gun salute rang out.

Before meeting with Mr Al Sudani, Mr Erdogan held talks with the Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rashid.

The discussions focused on political, security and economic issues and ways to enhance trade, encourage investment opportunities and the issue of water rights, according to a statement from Mr Rashid’s office.

The Iraqi President stressed the need for “co-ordination to combat terrorism and ensure the common security of the two countries and the region”, the statement said.

Referring to the Kurdish militant group the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, known as the PKK, which has launched attacks against Turkey from bases in northern Iraq, he said that “Iraq rejects [the idea] that its territory is being used as a launching pad for aggressions or threats to neighbouring countries”.

“We also reject any attack or violation against Iraqi cities,” he said, stressing the necessity of respecting “Iraq’s sovereignty and national security”. Turkey has carried out military operations inside Iraq targeting PKK fighters.

In a statement from Mr Erdogan’s office, he told his Iraqi counterpart that Turkey “had expectations of Iraq regarding the fight against the terrorist organisation PKK, and that Iraq must be rid of all forms of terrorism”.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, left, and Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al Sudani shake hands in Baghdad, Iraq. AP

Mr Erdogan’s last visit to Iraq was in 2011, when he was Turkey’s prime minister. During his one-day visit this time, he will meet Kurdish officials in Erbil, the capital of the Kurdish region.

The two neighbouring countries will sign two agreements, Iraqi government spokesman Basim Al Awadi told state TV on Sunday.

One will concern a long-standing water-sharing dispute that the parties hope will guarantee a steady flow to Iraq’s two main rivers, the Tigris and the Euphrates, Mr Al Awadi said.

That agreement will stipulate establishing a fund in which Iraq will divert some of its oil revenue to mega water and agriculture projects to be carried by Turkish companies in a 10-year plan.

Mr Rashid demanded Iraq receive a “fair share” of water. Mr Erdogan expressed his country’s “understanding of Iraq’s water needs, and its keenness to co-operate in this field”, the statement said.

The second will be a framework agreement, he said without elaborating, adding that both agreements will be signed by Mr Al Sudani and Mr Erdogan.

More than 20 memorandums of understandings will be signed between Iraqi and Turkish institutions, he added.

“The visit will be a very significant starting point in Iraqi-Turkish relations, and it will mark the beginning of resolving issues between Iraq and Turkey,” he added.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, left, shake hands with Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rashid. AP

The two sides will also discuss the $17 billion rail and road project linking Asia to Europe through Iraq’s under-construction Al Faw port on the Arabian Gulf coast, he said.

The plan is known as the Dry Canal or Development Road. The proposed road and rail link will run from southern Iraq to Turkey, where it will connect to rail and road networks in Europe.

Transport ministers of United Arab Emirates and Qatar are expected to attend the discussion on the Development Road ahead of what may become a quadripartite agreement, Mr Al Awadi added.

“The four parties are the actual entities that will construct the Development Road,” he said.

Mr Erdogan and Mr Al Sudani will also discuss the issue of PKK which has been fighting since early 1980s to gain greater autonomy for the Kurdish people.

“There will be a comprehensive agreement between Iraq and Turkey to face the security challenges in a way that benefits both countries,” Mr Al Awadi said without elaborating.

A group of PKK (Worker’s Party of Kurdistan) soldiers in the mountains of northern Iraq. Reuters

Last month, a Turkish delegation held talks in Baghdad. During the meeting, Ankara asked for greater co-operation in its fight against the PKK ahead of a military operation this summer, according to Iraqi officials.

The two sides hailed the talks as “productive” and Turkey welcomed Iraq’s move to designate the PKK as a “banned organisation”.

“After that Iraqi designation they are considered guests and refugees therefore they don’t have the right to hold weapons inside Iraq,” he said.

The conflict between the Turkish army and the rebel group, known as the PKK, escalated in the 1990s, when Turkey launched several ground operations in northern Iraq following the 1991 Gulf War.

Since then, Ankara has launched several military operations in Iraq against the group. These operations have been expanded in recent years in northern Iraq, with ground troops supported by artillery and air strikes.

The two sides hailed the talks as “productive” and Turkey welcomed Iraq’s move to designate the PKK as a banned organisation.

The PKK is designated as a terrorist group by the US and the EU. It took up arms against the Turkish state in 1984. More than 40,000 people have been killed in the insurgency.