Ankara, Baghdad agree on road map to improve ties

Senior Turkish and Iraqi authorities have underscored that bilateral cooperation in the fields of trade, investment and transportation through a common strategic vision will bring about regional prosperity and security during a high-level meeting in the Turkish capital.

They have agreed on a road map to be coordinated and implemented by the two sides' foreign ministries to this end.

Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein and Defense Minister Thabet Al-Abbasi held talks with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and Defense Minister Yaşar Güler on Dec. 19.

A six-article joint declaration was issued after the meetings in which military and intelligence officials also participated. It informed that the two delegations held detailed consultations about bilateral and regional issues, particularly on the fight against terrorism, security and water.

"As a result of these meetings, the two sides agreed to further improve the relations in all fields and run them in a comprehensive and institutional manner. They have expressed their joint political will to this end," the declaration read.

The importance of Iraq's political unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity has been expressed jointly by the two sides, which have also raised — in the framework of the bilateral security cooperation — the threats by the PKK to the region.

The diplomatic sources underlined the fact that the Iraqi side wants the PKK to be cleared from its territory. The Turkish side reiterated its readiness to provide all kinds of support to Iraq in the fight against this terror group.

 Strategic vision needed

"The parties underlined that regional security, stability and prosperity will be possible through progress in cooperation...