Ankara: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan emphasized that Iraq’s stability and security are inseparable from Turkey’s own security and stability. This statement was made during Erdogan’s meeting with Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani in Ankara, as reported by the Turkish Presidency’s Communications Directorate.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, the meeting between Erdogan and Barzani focused on the relations between Turkey and Iraq, the cooperation with the Kurdistan region, and recent developments in the area. Erdogan highlighted Turkey’s commitment to achieving regional peace and stability and stressed the importance of keeping Iraq out of regional violence. He noted that Ankara is closely monitoring the Kurdistan Region of Iraq’s efforts in this regard.

Erdogan expressed his approval of the recent agreement between the Iraqi central government and the Kurdistan Regional Government concerning oil. He pointed out that an agreement on the “Development Road” project would benefit the e
ntire region. Erdogan also reiterated Ankara’s goal of ensuring the success of Operation “Turkey Without Terror” and emphasized the significance of the Kurdistan Regional Government’s support for the unity and territorial integrity of Syria.

The meeting was also attended by key Turkish officials, including the head of the National Intelligence Organization, Ibrahim Kalin, the head of the Presidential Communications Directorate, Burhaneddin Duran, and Akif Çagatay Kiliç, the President’s Advisor for Foreign and Security Policy.

The “Development Road” is a significant infrastructure project, consisting of a 1,200-kilometer land and railway route that connects Iraq to Turkey and its ports. It aims to facilitate the transportation of goods between Europe and the Gulf states and is one of the shortest routes linking the Arabian Gulf to Europe, thereby enhancing Turkey’s connectivity to the region.