Tunis:Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Faleh al-Zaidi emphasized the need for a comprehensive agreement on water issues with Turkey and urged progress on the Development Road project during a meeting on Saturday.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, al-Zaidi met with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and his delegation, who delivered greetings from Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Fidan also congratulated Iraq on completing its cabinet formation and assuming the presidency of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).

The discussions focused on strengthening bilateral relations, particularly in water resource management, and the activation of existing agreements between the two nations. Al-Zaidi reiterated Iraq’s dedication to fostering strong economic ties with Turkey and called for Turkish investment in Iraq, promising government support to facilitate such ventures.

Security issues were also addressed, with both countries agreeing on the need for a joint operations room to tackle security challenges. The meeting explored other sectors for cooperation, including industry and trade, aiming to benefit the people of both nations.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan highlighted Ankara’s commitment to enhancing bilateral cooperation and emphasized the importance of implementing agreements, particularly concerning the strategic Development Road project, which is seen as vital for economic and trade integration in the region.