Baghdad: Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan will pay an official visit to Baghdad tomorrow, Sunday, to meet with senior Iraqi officials to discuss bilateral relations and regional issues.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, Fidan will hold meetings with Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rashid, Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, Speaker of the House of Representatives Mahmoud al-Mashhadani, Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein, and other officials.

The discussions will focus on strengthening bilateral relations between Turkey and Iraq, alongside addressing current regional developments. Minister Fidan is expected to emphasize the importance of advancing relations with Iraq through a positive agenda and within an institutional framework. He will also highlight Turkey’s support for maintaining stability and security in Iraq, stressing its significance for the entire region.

Fidan will convey Turkey’s backing of Iraq’s efforts to prevent external conflicts, such as those involving Israel and Syria, from affecting Iraq negatively. He aims to promote constructive dialogue between Iraq and Syria, emphasizing the shared benefits for both countries and the broader region.

The Turkish Foreign Minister will express satisfaction with the progress in security and counter-terrorism cooperation, noting Iraq’s stance on the PKK as a banned organization. Fidan will advocate for its official inclusion on Iraq’s terrorist list and its complete eradication from Iraqi territories.

In economic discussions, Fidan will underline Turkey’s strategic interest in the “Development Road” project and address the need to remove obstacles to bilateral trade. He will stress the importance of ensuring the safety of the Turkmens, who serve as a humanitarian bridge between the two nations.

Turkey and Iraq enjoy deep-rooted historical ties, with Iraq being a key trade partner for Turkey, boasting a trade volume of $20 billion. Recent developments have seen enhanced cooperation across various sectors.