Middle East
Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani (right) meets Turkish Consul General to Erbil Erman Topcu (left). Photo: Kurdistan Region Presidency
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani on Monday met with Turkish Consul General to Erbil Erman Topcu to discuss bilateral relations, regional tensions, and cross-border movement following flight bans in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region.
“The two parties discussed recent developments in the Middle East, as well as the flow of traffic between the Kurdistan Region and Türkiye following the closure of airports in both Iraq and the Kurdistan Region,” read a statement from Kurdistan Region Presidency.
Barzani expressed gratitude to Turkish authorities for facilitating the return of travelers from the Kurdistan Region and Iraq through border crossings, the statement added. Barzani particularly praised Topcu and his team for their efforts.
Iraq and some other regional countries closed their airspace when Israel launched airstrikes in Iran on June 13. Only Iraq's Basra airport remains operational.
Topcu reaffirmed Turkey’s willingness to provide all necessary support to travelers at border crossings and praised Kurdistan Region authorities for “making all necessary preparations,” the statement said.
Turkey and the Kurdistan Region enjoy strong economic relations.
Every year, a significant number of people from the Kurdistan Region and Iraq visit Turkey for tourism purposes. Last year, both countries lifted visa restrictions for people aged under 15 and those over 50.
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