Iraqi Kurdish leader meets president, PM

Iraqi Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) President Massoud Barzani met Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım on Feb. 27 to discuss the struggle against the Islamic state of Iraq and the Levant (ISL) in Iraq and Syria, Turkey's support for the KRG in overcoming its economic crisis, the presence of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) in Iraq's Sinjar region, as well as energy issues.

His discussions with Yıldırım came after a meeting with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Feb. 26 with the participation of Turkish Energy Minister Berat Albayrak, National Intelligence Organization (MİT) head Hakan Fidan and Deputy Foreign Minister Ahmet Yıldız.

"During the meeting President Barzani and President Erdoğan spoke of the ongoing military operation against the terrorists of the Islamic State in the city of Mosul, where President Barzani reiterated his position of the importance of planning for the post-liberation of the city," a shortened English version of the statement from the KRG presidency said. 

Barzani's office said discussions included economic relations between Turkey and the KRG, political developments in the region, especially in Syria, and the results of the visit made by Yıldırım to the Iraqi Kurdish region.

Iraqi forces launched an operation to liberate Mosul of ISIL months ago, with the eastern bank of the city mostly freed of the jihadists last month and the liberation of the western bank kick-started this past week. 

"President Erdoğan stated that Turkey will continue to support the Kurdistan Region during these difficult times as the collective effort against the terrorists of the Islamic State continues," the statement said.

Political developments in the region and Syria, negotiations in Geneva, the impact of...