President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan welcomed the Iraqi delegation with an official ceremony in Ankara. The delegation included senior political, security, and economic officials.
After the inter-delegation talks, a joint statement was released. The statement emphasized that the meetings took place in an atmosphere of mutual trust and good neighborliness.
Strategic Cooperation Meeting in Baghdad
The parties agreed to hold the fifth meeting of the High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council in Baghdad. The exact date of the meeting will be determined later. They also agreed to complete the ratification processes of existing agreements and sign documents in new areas of cooperation.
Development Road and Energy Cooperation
A joint will was declared to implement the Development Road project, seen as critical for regional stability and prosperity, as soon as possible. The intention was expressed to conclude a comprehensive energy cooperation agreement to strengthen energy security.
Other areas of cooperation included water management, trade, agriculture, regional connectivity, transport, defense industry, investment, and education.
Emphasis on Security and Counterterrorism
On security, it was reaffirmed that protecting the sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity of regional states would contribute to broad stability. President Erdoğan expressed appreciation for the Iraqi government's support for Turkey's efforts to combat terrorism.
The leaders discussed joint counterterrorism measures, paying special attention to armed groups that threaten both countries' security. The Iraqi side stressed the importance of bilateral cooperation and joint security coordination in eliminating cross-border threats.
Regional Issues and Syria
During the talks, satisfaction was expressed over the overlapping positions on regional issues, particularly the developments in Palestine. The two capitals decided to maintain close coordination on these matters.
On Syria, they agreed to support the country's unity, territorial integrity, and sovereignty, and to promote inclusive governance.
The parties decided to organize a series of joint events and reciprocal visits on the occasion of the centenary of Turkey-Iraq diplomatic relations, to be celebrated next year.
