SOUTH KURDISTAN (IRAQ) MESOP FLASH : Senior Turkish official meets Barzani after strikes against PKK

30 July 2015 – A senior Turkish foreign minister has paid a snap visit to Erbil to hold talks with Kurdistan Region President Massoud Barzani after the Turkish army’s strikes on Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) targets in the region.Turkish Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Feridun Sinirlioglu went to Erbil early July 30 and met with KRG President Massoud Barzani, the Anadolu Agency reported.

Sinirlioglu was also scheduled to meet with KRG Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani. The visit comes amid the Turkish Air Forces’ continued attacks on PKK targets in northern Iraq. Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu had a phone conversation with Barzani July 25 right after the strikes began to ease the concerns of the Iraqi Kurdish leader. Barzani has reportedly asked Davutoglu and the PKK halt war and continue the peace process between Ankara and the party that began in 2012. Sinirlioglu informed Barzani about the reasons behind the strikes and Turkey’s fight against the Islamic State (IS). Iraq’s Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said his council of ministers views Turkish airstrikes in his country as “a dangerous escalation and a violation of Iraq’s sovereignty.” The Associated Press reported.