ANKARA, Turkey – Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi met in Ankara to discuss water scarcity, oil, Turkey’s currency concerns, a new border crossing at Fishkhabur, and the re-opening of consulates in Mosul and Basra with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
“In the meeting, strengthening bilateral ties between the two countries, the topic of water, security, electricity, energy, economic, culture and conditions of the area were discussed,” read a statement from Abadi’s office.
Baghdad shut down the Kirkuk-Ceyhan oil pipeline that carried some 300,000 bpd to the Turkish port following the events of October 2017. The pipeline runs through the Kurdistan Region, and Abadi has said he is keen on exporting oil again, although the aging infrastructure may have to be completely repaired or replaced.
"Iraq is at the stage of analyzing offers. The Turkish side is keen on completing this pipeline to provide Turkey with Iraqi oil from Kirkuk. The current existing pipeline could be activated quickly to pump Iraqi oil from Kirkuk through Turkey. This will bolster cooperation between the two countries in this field,” Abadi said after the meeting in a press conference.
Abadi has previously hinted at its desire to open a new land crossing with Turkey — going so far as to build a highway from Diyarbakir to Mosul. The current crossing at Ibrahim Khalil is controlled by the KRG.
"Concerning the border crossing between the two countries in Fishkhabur, we are working on it. It is important for us for it to be a direct crossing, Abadi said.
He said technical delegations are meeting concerning the matter, which Erdogan confirmed.
"The crossing border will benefit both Iraq and our country. I believe necessary steps will be taken in this regard,” Erdogan said, adding that a "second crossing border" is of importance.
“Business between Turkey and Iraq was $11 billion in 2017. This is not enough,” stressed Erdogan.
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Abadi and Erdogan shake hands in Ankara on August 14, 2018. Photo: Prime Minister's Office
Water scarcity and the economy
Abadi arrived as Ankara grapples with a currency crisis, made worse by new US sanctions. It was his first visit since Erdogan was re-elected as president in June's snap election.
"Mr. Erdogan reiterated that Turkey will provide Iraq with its full share of water. There were discussions between the ministerial delegations as well today to stress on the same matter," said Abadi.
According to the UN, 80 percent of Iraqi water flows in from neighboring countries. Turkey has begun to construct some 22 dams in its southeast, including the Ilisu Dam on the Tigris.
"The biggest issues in Iraq are water and energy issues. We discussed in detail these regards and the relevant ministers are meeting," Erdogan confirmed.
Iraq is in a post-ISIS rebuilding phase, has yet to form a new government, and faces water scarcity and daily protests namely over jobs and oil revenue sharing with the oil-rich southern provinces.
“[I]n addition to the importance of relations between the two countries, strengthening them, rebuilding Iraq and Turkey committing to what it announced in the Kuwait conference,” added the statement from Abadi’s office.
Turkey promised during the Kuwait conference to extend $5 billion in lines of credit to help restore the war-torn country.
We are ready to work with the new government by developing our coordination in critical areas, especially security and economy,” said Erdogan.
The Turkish lira has lost 43 percent of its value compared to the US dollar so far in 2018.
"We are with Turkey in its monetary crisis. Through cooperation, we can overcome many of the challenges facing us,” said Abadi.
Abadi welcomed Turkey's plans to reopen consulates in Basra and Mosul.
“This will contribute to bolstering investment and social, cultural, and political ties between the two countries greatly,” he said.
Border security
Abadi revealed that Iraq's National Security Council has prepared a plan for the controlling Iraq-Turkey border.
Turkey regular targets PKK bases in the Qandil Mountains located in the northeast corner of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. They have threatened to push further, going so far as Makhmour and Shingal.
"In the security case, and the topic of controlling the border, our stance is clear in that we reject all assaults starting from Iraqi territory on the neighbor Turkey or any of Iraq's neighbors,” Abadi said.
Erdogan told Abadi he has expectations from Iraq regarding PKK.
Abadi reiterated that Iraq was committed to its constitution that prohibits aggression against neighboring countries.
"We denounce such aggression and stand against it," he said.
Erdogan affirmed both countries’ fight against “terrorism.”
The Iraqi PM was also due to visit Iran this week, but Tehran cancelled the trip on Sunday amid a diplomatic spat over US sanctions.
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