Turkey And Iraq To Forge Economic Partnership

Turkey and Iraq to forge economic partnership

08/03/2008 19h26

"Our main goal with this visit is to have a strategic, prolonged relationship with Turkey on all levels: economic, trade, oil, political, culture, everything," Talabani told business leaders.

"I can assure you that you have all kinds of support facilities in Iraq, both in Iraqi Kurdistan (and) in the south, in Baghdad," he said on his first trip to Turkey as head of state.

His remarks came a day after Talabani and Turkish President Abdullah Gul vowed to take measures against rebels from Turkey's Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), following a week-long ground incursion by Ankara into northern Iraq.

"I'm sure you understand that the Iraqi people regard the Turks as a people and a country of brothers," Talabani said, as the two countries looked to bury the hatchet after weeks of tension.

He also cited "progress" in Iraq's economy, saying his finance minister Bayan Jabr Solagh had "in his hand more than 25 billion dollars (16.2 billion euros) for investment and for strategic projects."

During a lunch reception given by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan in his honour, Talabani suggested the creation of a cross-border office for cooperation which would also extend to the fight against the "calamity" of terror attacks, the news agency Anatolia reported.

Erdogan's remarks underlined the spirit of warmth the pair were seeking to convey, the Turkish leader calling for a new beginning in the two countries' relationship while insisting that "Turkey has always acted towards Iraq with feelings of friendship and brotherhood."

"I think that we are in a position today to demonstrate the necessary political will to open a new chapter in Turkish-Iraqi relations," he said.