Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein received Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and his accompanying delegation on Sunday at the Foreign Ministry headquarters in Baghdad, where both sides discussed ways to strengthen bilateral relations and address key regional and strategic issues.
The talks focused on expanding cooperation across a wide range of sectors—including water management, economy, energy, transportation, and security—as well as on recent regional developments of mutual concern.
Strategic Understanding of Water and Cross-Sector Cooperation
In a joint press conference following the meeting, Minister Fuad Hussein described the visit as “highly significant,” highlighting that discussions on the critical water file led to a new understanding reflected in a strategic framework document, the first of its kind between Iraq and Turkey.
Hussein explained that the agreement was the result of comprehensive negotiations held recently in Ankara, where the concept of a formal accord was first proposed. He added that 26 memoranda of understanding between the two nations—covering water, health, education, culture, energy, transportation, and security—have been reviewed and referred to relevant institutions for implementation.
The discussions also touched on the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), with Baghdad expressing its intention to reach a final arrangement regarding the group’s activities.
Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein received his Turkish counterpart, Hakan Fidan, in Baghdad on Sunday, with the pair announcing a bilateral agreement to address Iraq’s longstanding water woes and discussing an ongoing peace process with the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) pic.twitter.com/5KVs26bAGH
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Turkey Hails “Historic Depth” of Ties
For his part, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan emphasized the deep historical and human ties linking the two peoples and reaffirmed Ankara’s commitment to following up on the agreements signed during President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s historic visit to Iraq last year.
Fidan underscored the significance of the new water agreement, expected to be signed later in the day in the presence of Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, calling it “the first of its kind” between the two neighbors. He explained that the water discussions proceed along two tracks: improving joint management of shared water resources and advancing Iraq’s water and irrigation infrastructure, praising the Iraqi government’s ongoing reforms in that field.
PKK, Syria, and Regional Stability
Addressing the PKK issue, Fidan welcomed the group’s announcement of its dissolution and end of armed activity inside Turkey, calling it an important development. He stressed, however, that the organization’s armed presence in Iraq, Syria, and Iran must also come to an end.
Fidan also highlighted Turkey’s commitment to supporting stability in Syria, reiterating President Erdoğan’s vision that “the region’s nations are capable of resolving their own issues without external intervention,” given their shared resources and interests in maintaining peace.
Concluding the press conference, Minister Fidan expressed his hope that Iraq’s upcoming November 11 elections will yield positive outcomes for the Iraqi people. He reaffirmed Turkey’s firm support—both governmental and popular—for Iraq’s security, stability, and prosperity.
Source: Al-Manar Website
