Gul says Turkey to help maintaining stability in Iraq

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: Turkish President Abdullah Gul said on Monday that his country exerts efforts to maintain economic, security, and political stability in Iraq, noting that signing an economic agreement with President Jalal Talabani would boost relations between the two countries. Speaking at a joint press conference held in Baghdad after his meeting with Talabani, with whom he signed the joint economic agreement, Gul said “signing the economic agreement represents a starting of fostering relations between the two countries and a greater future cooperation.” Gul called for greater cooperation from leaders in the semi-autonomous Kurdish region in northern Iraq. Gul’s visit is the first by a Turkish head of state to neighboring Iraq in 33 years. The last was by Fahri Koruturk in 1976. SH (P)/SR 1