Erdogan to travel to Iraq before April ends

Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) – The Turkish Deputy Foreign Minister, Ahmet Yildiz, said that the Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, is scheduled to visit Iraq before the end of April.

In a statement to Anadolu Agency, Yildiz said that Erdogan’s last trip to Baghdad took place in 2012 during his tenure as prime minister.

During his visit to Iraq, Yildiz mentioned that he would be reviewing relations and holding talks with officials at the Iraqi Foreign Ministry.

“We will prepare for our president’s visit and the ministerial meeting that will take place in the future,” the Turkish official said.

Yildiz elaborated that the Development Road project and its associated projects are crucial to the growth of the economy.

The Turkish diplomat added that both countries are keen to complete this strategic project, whose advantages will outweigh the expenses when completed.

Iraq and Turkey agreed last month to accelerate the construction of Iraq’s strategic project, the Development Road, due to its importance in serving the region and the world.

The agreement took place during a visit by a Turkish delegation to the southern Iraqi governorate of Basra, where they discussed with Iraqi officials the details of the project and reviewed projects related to the Al-Faw Grand Port, according to a statement released by the Iraqi Transport Ministry.

The Iraqi Minister of Transport, Razzaq Muhaibas Al-Saadawi, agreed with the Turkish Minister of Transport, Abdulkadir Uraloglu, to establish offices in both Baghdad and Ankara to oversee the progress made in the Development Road project.

The value of the project is estimated at $17 billion. It will connect the Al-Faw Grand Port in southern Iraq to the border with Turkey by extending a railway and road network.

The project is expected to turn the country into a transit center by shortening the travel time between Asia and Europe in an attempt to compete with Egypt’s Suez Canal.