content tagged with Turkey-Iraq relations

In the press conference held following the meeting, President Erdoğan and Iraqi PM Abadi said that they discussed regional issues.

Iraqi Ambassador to Turkey Al-Alawi has declared that Turkey’s soldiers will withdraw from Bashiqa camp after Mosul operation is completed. Ministry of National Defense Işık said, “Presence of Turkish soldiers in Bashiqa, Mosul is not arbitrary but a necessity”.

As to Turkey’s deployment to Iraqi border, Iraqi PM Haider Abadi has said “We do not want to fight Turkey. God forbid, even if we engage in war with them, the Turks will pay a heavy price. Whenever a country fights a neighboring country, there will be no winner, both will end up losing,"

“Erdoğan says that the Kurds in Iraq were exposed to assimilation. Well then, have you yourself granted the Kurds in Turkey their martial and political rights” Iraqi Prime Minister al Abadi has stated and added that they did not allow Turkish soldiers on Iraqi lands.

Iraqi PM Abadi has responded to President Erdoğan, who said Turkish troops won’t leave Bashiqa, on Twitter: We will liberate our land through the determination of our men and not by video calls”.

PM Davutoğlu said, “We did what needed to be done” as to TSK soldiers being withdrawn from Mosul.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Bilgiç stated they haven’t retracted soldiers of Turkey dispatched to Bashiqa training camp for now.

Baykal said, "If we have brotherly relations with Iraq, Iraq will behave more responsibly on the issue of exporting terrorism; it will feel the need to behave like a good neighbour."