Baghdad: Speaker of the House of Representatives Mahmoud Al-Mashhadani emphasized Iraq’s firm stance against any external interference that could affect its territories, underscoring the importance of respecting Iraq’s sovereignty, national security, and independence. During his meeting with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Al-Mashhadani highlighted Iraq’s aspirations to establish advanced relations with Turkey grounded in mutual respect and stressed the necessity of implementing previously signed memoranda of understanding to benefit both the Iraqi and Turkish peoples.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, the meeting included discussions on enhancing bilateral relations and developing cooperation mechanisms across various fields. The two officials also deliberated on regional and international developments, emphasizing the importance of supporting efforts to reduce tensions, halt escalation, and adopt constructive dialogue to resolve outstanding issues, thereby contributing to international peace and security.

Al-Mashhadani reiterated the importance of continued joint efforts and regional cooperation to address any threats, aiming for security and stability both regionally and internationally. Concerning developments in Syria, he expressed hope that the new administration would work towards protecting national and religious diversity, ensuring peace, prosperity, and political participation for all Syrian communities, thus enhancing societal harmony and development.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan reaffirmed Turkey’s commitment to supporting Iraq’s stability and security. He highlighted the strong bilateral relations and Turkey’s eagerness to enhance cooperation in economic, trade, investment, water, and environmental sectors, expressing optimism about expanding economic ties to new levels.