Turkey undertakes wide cooperation with Kurdistan Region, says Turkish Deputy PM

(IraqiNews.com) The Turkish Deputy Prime Minister, Bulent Arinc, stressed that “Turkey has good relations with Kurdistan Region of Iraq as Turkey has good ties with the region countries as a whole.”

The Kurdistan Region Prime Minister, Najervan Barzani is visiting Turkey currently where he met with the Foreign Minister, Ahmed Davutoglu and the Prime Minister, Rajab Tayib Erdogan.

Arinc said “The trade exchange size between Iraq and Turkey is up to $ 20 billion including $ 11 billion with Kurdistan,” noting “However, our relations with Kurdistan Region are not restricted to the trade, but we have mutual cooperation in the security sector and other fields.”

Concerning the peace negotiations being conducted between the Turkish government and Head of the Turkish Opposition, Abdulla Ocalan, the Turkish Deputy PM said “The Kurdistan Region President, Masoud Barzani took positive steps to end the armed struggle in preparation to adjust the peace among the sides in the country, hoping this support to continue by the Region.”