ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on Thursday held meetings with a number of political parties in Erbil, discussing his country’s ties with the Kurdistan Region.
Fidan arrived in Baghdad on Tuesday for the first time since becoming foreign minister, holding a meeting with Iraq’s top officials. He arrived in Erbil early Thursday and conducted several meetings with the Kurdistan Region’s officials and political parties.
During his meeting with Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani and Prime Minister Masrour Barzani, Fidan discussed a range of topics, including bilateral relations and the Region’s oil exports.
Masoud Barzani, leader of the Kurdistan Region’s ruling Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), received Fidan in Pirmam.
“They exchanged ideas about the political situation in Iraq and the region, and bilateral relations,” read a statement by Barzani’s office.
Ankara and the KDP enjoy strong diplomatic ties.
The Turkish minister said in Baghdad on Tuesday that the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) has “invaded” Sulaimani province, calling on the Iraqi government to recognize the group as a terrorist organization.
Sulaimani province is controlled by the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK).
When Rudaw asked Iraqi foreign ministry spokesperson Ahmed al-Sahaf about how Baghdad would respond to Ankara’s demand, he evaded the question.
Fidan also met with Qubad Talabani, deputy prime minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government and a senior PUK official, in Erbil.
Both officials talked about Erbil and Ankara relations, the removal of the flight ban on Sulaimani and several other issues, said Talabani in a Facebook post.
Turkey has banned flights with Sulaimani International Airport due to alleged activities of PKK in the airport.
Salahaddin Bahaaddin, leader of the Kurdistan Islamic Union, said in a statement that he and Fidan discussed issues between Erbil, Baghdad and Ankara during a meeting in Erbil. He “called for a diplomatic and peaceful resolution.”
The Turkish minister also met with officials from the Iraqi Turkmen Front in Erbil.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan met with officials from the Iraqi Turkmen Front in Erbil on Thursday
— Rudaw English (@RudawEnglish) August 24, 2023
📸: Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs pic.twitter.com/U2vaCeQDCH
