AHMET D. & HOSYAR Z: : Foreign Minister Davutoğlu in Iraq “We set no limits to our relations and our cooperation”

 

worldaffairs – 12-11-2013 – Mr. Ahmet Davutoğlu, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey, in Iraq to which he paid an official visit, met with Hudayr Huzai, Deputy President of Iraq, Nuri El Maliki, Prime Minister of Iraq, Salih Mutlak, Deputy Prime Minister of Iraq and Hoşyar Zebari, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Iraq on November 10, 2013. At the meetings, views were exchanged on the relations between Turkey and Iraq as well as current regional and international issues.

At the joint press conference with his Iraqi counterpart, Foreign Minister Davutoğlu said that Turkey and Iraq act as two friendly countries which share common history and they will continue to do so in the future. Thanking Iraqi Foreign Minister Zebari for his support in overcoming the recent stagnation in bilateral relations, Foreign Minister Davutoğlu said “We set no limits to our relations and our cooperation”.

Foreign Minister Davutoğlu pointed out that Turkey felt the pain of every loss of life in terrorist attacks against Iraq in heart and is ready for any cooperation with Iraq on this issue. Noting that there is a wide range of cooperation potential in all fields, particularly transportation, energy, trade, culture, health and agriculture between the two countries, Foreign Minister Davutoğlu stated that in the forthcoming period, focus will be given to projects which will further integrate the two countries with each other by increasing the number of border gates and flights between the two countries and by strengthening and renewing the railways links. Emphasizing that they also had consultations regarding regional issues concerning both countries, particularly Syria, Foreign Minister Davutoğlu said that from now on, closer consultation mechanism on Syria will be carried out, and that the two countries will stand shoulder to shoulder against those who want to provoke sectarian and ethnic strife in the region.

Foreign Minister Davutoğlu said, “Our region has witnessed enough bloodshed. Henceforth, we have to work together towards peace and stability.”

Iraqi Foreign Minister Zebari stated that there was a standoff between the two countries recently, however now a new page has been opened in relations. Mentioning that, Turkey and Iraq have established very privileged relations, Iraqi Foreign Minister stressed that it was agreed to re-establish the political dialogue and to reactivate the High Level Strategic Cooperation Council. http://worldaffairsjournal.org/content/turkish-foreign-minister-iraq-%E2%80%9Cwe-set-no-limits-our-relations-and-our-cooperation%E2%80%9D?utm_source=World+Affairs+Newsletter&utm_campaign=493d353a47-WNN_11_11_2013&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_f83b38c5c7-493d353a47-294577397