Region | Iraq
Turkish prime minister arrives in Iraq
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey arrives in Iraq for talks with his counterpart. He was welcomed at Baghdad airport by Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki.
- AP
- Published: 13:06 July 10, 2008
Baghdad: Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday pledged to strengthen security and economic ties with Iraq and urged the region to do more to help the Baghdad government rebuild after years of war.
Erdogan, the first Turkish leader to visit Iraq since the US-led invasion in 2003, said both Baghdad and Ankara wanted to form a "security area that would eliminate terrorist threats between the two countries".
Relations have often been strained by Kurdish PKK rebels who use northern Iraq to launch attacks into neighbouring Turkey.
"With regards to the terrorism of the PKK, we received support from the Iraqi government ... and the regional Kurdistan government in northern Iraq," Erdogan said.
The Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), which wants to establish an ethnic homeland in southeast Turkey, uses parts of northern Iraq as a base to stage attacks inside Turkey.
The two leaders signed an agreement to form a council for "strategic cooperation", although it was not immediately clear if any joint measures had been agreed to tackle the PKK.
"This is a historic visit ... The time is right for Turkey and Iraq to have developed relations," Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki said at the news conference with Erdogan.
Erdogan's trip is another sign the region is starting to re-engage with Iraq, where violence is at a four-year low.
"We must all help our Iraqi brothers with the reconstruction of Iraq," Erdogan said. "I say to our neighbouring friends in the region, the future of Iraq is our future. We must increase our support."
Turkey's operations in Iraq's largely autonomous Kurdistan region often draw protests from Baghdad. Ankara for its part has been highly critical of Baghdad's failure to deal with the several thousands of guerrillas holed up in the north.
Iraqi officials say the government has taken some measures, while noting it has major security challenges elsewhere. Turkey's military launched a big ground offensive against the PKK inside northern Iraq in February, prompting concern in Washington about regional instability.
Maliki said he hoped Turkish firms would play a major role in rebuilding Iraq after decades of war and sanctions.
"Our success in challenging terror and outlaws has allowed us to move to the reconstruction and investment phase," he said.
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