Head of the National Intelligence Organization İbrahim Kalın met with Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) leader Mesut Barzani in Erbil, the capital of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRG).
According to a written statement from the KDP, during the meeting held at Barzani's residence in the Pirmam district, the parties exchanged views on recent developments in the region and current issues affecting security and stability. They reaffirmed the importance of strengthening relations and coordination in various fields between the KRG, Iraq, and Turkey, the statement said.
Before his Erbil visit, Kalın had intensive contacts in Kirkuk and Baghdad. In Kirkuk, he visited the historic Kirkuk Castle and then met with Turkmen officials at the Iraqi Turkmen Front (ITC) headquarters. He later met with Kirkuk Governor Muhammed Seman Ağa at the governorate.
In Baghdad, Kalın met with Iraqi President Nizar Amedi, Speaker of Parliament Heybet Halbusi, Supreme Judicial Council President Faiq Zaidan, National Security Adviser Basim al-Bedri, Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein, as well as National Wisdom Movement leader Ammar al-Hakim, Sovereignty Alliance leader Khamis al-Khanjar, and Progress Party Chairman Mohamed al-Halbusi. The main agenda of the meetings was strengthening security and intelligence cooperation between Turkey and Iraq.