“They discussed regional tensions and the persistent threat of terrorism. Both underscored the importance of preserving peace and stability in the region,” stated the Kurdistan Region Presidency.
Barzani arrived in Turkey on Thursday to attend the third Antalya Diplomatic Forum. In a Friday meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, they covered the topics of economic and trade cooperation.
The three-day forum hosts “heads of states and governments, ministers, diplomats, business leaders, academics, think-tankers, and youth and media representatives for an all-encompassing debate,” the conference website reads.
The theme of the third edition of the event is “Advancing Diplomacy in Times of Turmoil.”
Guler visited Erbil on February 6, holding meetings with senior Kurdish officials. Turkey has carried out multiple military operations in the Kurdistan Region against the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani and Turkish Defense Minister Yasar Guler discussed regional tensions on the sidelines of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum in Turkey.
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📽️: Turkish defense ministry pic.twitter.com/d6UcuxavfK
Ankara and Erbil enjoy good economic relations and most of the Kurdistan Region's crude oil was marketed through Turkey's pipelines before the flow of the oil was suspended nearly a year ago following a ruling by a Paris-based arbitration court.
After a series of talks between Erbil, Baghdad and Ankara, Turkey has expressed its readiness to resume the exports but the Iraqi and Kurdish governments are at odds regarding the financial entitlements of the International Oil Companies (IOCs).
