BAGHDAD - Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Thursday, "we are thankful for support of the Iraqi government and the regional administration in north of Iraq on the issue of PKK terrorism."
Erdogan and his Iraqi counterpart Nuri al-Maliki held a press conference following their tete-a-tete meeting in Baghdad on Thursday.
"Separatist terrorist organization PKK is an enemy of not only Turkey but Iraq as well," Erdogan stressed.
"As Turkey, we have always supported the territorial integrity and political union of Iraq and will continue to do so," Erdogan said.
"With the establishment of a high level Strategic Cooperation Council, relevant ministries will work on a joint future for both Turkey and Iraq," Erdogan said.
"The meeting of the high level strategic cooperation council which al-Maliki and I co-chaired on Thursday is an indication of our will to carry Turkish-Iraqi relations to the highest level possible," Erdogan said.
"The meetings that will take place as part of the strategic cooperation council will contribute to our historical and cultural relations with Iraq," Erdogan stressed.
"We plan to improve our relations with Iraq in the areas of politics, security, defense, energy, economy, culture and water sources," Erdogan said.
"We hope to carry our trade volume with Iraq to 25 billion USD in the next 3-4 years," Erdogan said.
Touching on PKK terrorism, Erdogan said that "PKK terror is a threat to our common future. We thank for the support extended by my brother al-Maliki and the regional administration in north of Iraq on the PKK issue," Erdogan said.
Calling on the international community, Erdogan said that "global peace would not be possible unless peace, order and stability in Iraq are maintained. We must all support our Iraqi brothers and sisters in the rebuilding of Iraq. The future of Iraq is the future of the region itself."
"The people of Iraq will always find Turkey on their side in overcoming difficulties and problems," Erdogan said.
(SOL-MS)
(POL)