KRG hopes to 'restore relations' with new Turkish gov't
KRG spokesperson Safeen Dizayee, who is also chief of staff to the prime minister, told reporters Erbil will seek to mend ties with Ankara on the trip.
“We believe that this is a good step for Turkey's official relations with the Kurdistan Regional Government to be mended, and to give people hope that the political relations we used to have will be strengthened," Dizayee told Rudaw from Ankara.
He added that they hope to reach a stage where bilateral relations will surpass just economic and energy ties, "so that we can restore our relations based on politics and mutual interests."
Barzani's last official visit to neighboring Turkey was in April 2017. He has not been to Turkey since diplomatic relations hit a low point, following the Kurdistan Region's independence referendum in October 2017, which Turkey opposed.
Describing PM Barzani’s attendance as “meaningful,” Dizayee said the visit is a “good step” for the future of their relations.
Barzani might meet with Erdogan individually, but his attendance in the oath-taking ceremony is “very important,” he added.
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10.45 p.m.
President Erdogan has announced his new cabinet.
Among the top appointments is Berat Albayrak, Erdogan's son-in-law, who has been made finance minister. The Turkish lira lost 2.4 percent in value on the news to trade at 4.68 lira to the dollar.
Army chief-of-staff General Hulusi Akar has joined the government as defense minister.
Mevlut Cavusoglu meanwhile will stay on as foreign minister.
Here is the full list of appointments:
Presidential aid: Fuat Oktay
Justice minister: Abdülhamit Gül
Family and social affairs minister: Zehra Zümrüt Selçuk
Foreign minister: Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu
Energy and natural resources minister: Fatih Dönmez
Sport and youth minister: Mehmet Kasapoğlu
Treasury and finance minister: Berat Albayrak
Interior minister: Süleyman Soylu
Culture and tourism minister: Mehmet Ersoy
Education minister: Ziya Selçuk
Defense minister: Hulusi Akar
Health minister: Fahrettin Koca
Industry and technology minister: Mustafa Varank
Agriculture minister: Bekir Pakdemirli
Trade minister: Ruhsar Pekcan
Transport minister: Cahit Turan
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6.40 p.m.
Inauguration ceremony of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan
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5.20 p.m.
Erdogan takes oath of office to become Turkey's first president under new system of government. Photo: AA
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4.40 p.m.
Turkey's new parliament has been sworn in.
The oath ceremony is taking place at the Turkish parliament, formally the Grand National Assembly. The new cabinet is being announced and 600 MPs are officially taking office.
President Erdogan will be inaugurated later at the presidential complex in Ankara where he will be escorted by cavalry and welcomed by an Ottoman style military parade.
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1:15 p.m.
Kurdistan's prime minister arrives in Ankara
The Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government, Nechirvan Barzani, arrived in Ankara just after 1 p.m.
Barzani was officially invited to attend Monday's events. His last official visit to neighboring Turkey was in April 2017.
He is accompanied by KRG spokesperson Safeen Dizayee who is also chief of staff to the prime minister.
'Thank you, much appreciated,' KRG PM Nechirvan Barzani hurriedly tells reporters while being whisked through security and into a waiting car at Ankara's airport on July, 9, 2018. Video: Rudaw TV.
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12:16 p.m.
President, MPs, cabinet to be sworn into new government
ANKARA, Turkey — Turkey’s presidential system will go into effect on Monday when the parliament swears in incumbent President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, granting him greater executive powers.
The transition will be conducted in a special ceremony to be attended by 22 presidents, 28 government leaders, heads of state, and parliamentarians from around the world and 10,000 people, according to state media, Anadolu Agency.
Nechirvan Barzani, the prime minister of the neighboring Kurdistan Region, is also invited. It is Barzani’s first visit since April 2017 and after Kurdistan’s independence referendum in September 2017 that was opposed by Turkey.
The oath ceremony will take place at 4:30 p.m. at the Turkish parliament, formally the Grand National Assembly. The new cabinet will be announced and 600 MPs will officially take office.
Erdogan will then go to Anitkabir, the memorial tomb and mausoleum of the founder of Turkey, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk.
His inauguration will be followed at the presidential complex in Ankara where he will be escorted by cavalry and welcomed by an Ottoman style military parade.
A dinner will be served later which will be followed by a press conference from Erdogan.
Turkey held parliamentary and presidential election on June 24. Erdogan won 52 percent of the vote and his Justice and Development Party (AKP) won 295 seats.
