Iraq officially designates PKK as banned group, strengthening regional security cooperation with Türkiye

With Iraqi – Turkish joint statement, Iraq has officially designates PKK as banned group, enhancing regional security cooperation with Türkiye

Following a historic “Security Mechanism Meeting” in Baghdad, Turkish and Iraqi authorities issued a joint statement reaffirming their resolve to make sure President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s historic visit to Iraq is a success.

Hakan Fidan, the foreign minister, met in Baghdad with the delegations of Iraq’s deputy prime minister and foreign minister, Fuad Huseyin.

Following the “Türkiye-Iraq Security Mechanism Meeting,” the parties published a joint statement in which they addressed coordinating measures to guarantee President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s planned visit to Iraq, which is scheduled to take place after Ramadan.

In addition to stressing the importance of the visit, the statement also emphasized how committed all parties are to working together to make sure it goes well.

The talks also covered a wide variety of bilateral and regional concerns, with an emphasis on creating a framework for frequent contact between the two countries by building structural elements in disparate areas.

A Joint Permanent Committees agreement was made, with the only objective of promoting collaboration in the fields of energy, commerce, transportation, health, water, and agriculture as well as counterterrorism.

Reiterating their opposition to PKK and seeing it as a security concern to both Türkiye and Iraq, both parties emphasized the significance of Iraq’s political unity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity.

A noteworthy development in the two countries’ continuing cooperation was noted in the joint statement: Iraq’s National Security Council has designated the PKK as an organization that is prohibited from operating inside its borders. Subsequent talks also focused on the need for coordinated measures to counter the dangers presented by PKK and its affiliates conducting operations inside Iraq.

The parties discussed issues of security as well as regional issues. They especially expressed support for the Palestinian cause in the face of rising tensions and the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza.

Reaffirming their mutual will to improve bilateral relations and efficiently handle problems, both parties committed to continuing frequent and uninterrupted contact within the parameters of the existing communication structures.

The PKK’s categorization as a “banned organization” and the Iraqi government’s identification of it as a “common threat” represents a major advancement in bilateral collaboration to address mutual security issues.

Source: Anadolu Agency