SULAIMANI, Kurdistan Region — Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Prime Minister Masrour Barzani made a visit to Ankara on Tuesday, where he met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Their talks included the resumption of oil exports from the Kurdistan Region, according to a KRG statement.
KRG Prime Minister Masrour Barzani kicked off his Ankara visit on Tuesday with a meeting with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan. According to a KRG statement, their discussions centered on recent regional developments and strategies to enhance trade, investment, and energy sector cooperation between Turkey and the Kurdistan Region.
“In the meeting, the discussions centered on strengthening bilateral relations, recent developments in Iraq, regional dynamics, and the situation in Syria” read the statement.
“The two leaders also emphasized the importance of resolving outstanding issues between Erbil and Baghdad based on constitutional principles, alongside efforts to facilitate the resumption of oil exports from the Kurdistan Region.”
In a post on X, PM Barzani expressed his pleasure in meeting Turkish President Erdogan, noting that they discussed ways to enhance dialogue and address developments in the Middle East, including Syria.
I am pleased to meet with President @RTErdogan in Ankara today. We discussed ways to promote dialogue and a common understanding to navigate through the developments in the Middle East, including in Syria -mb. pic.twitter.com/dUvs0r4iyO
— Masrour Barzani (@masrourbarzani) January 7, 2025
Reflecting on Syria, both sides stressed the significance of Syria’s security and stability, underlining the need to protect the rights and interests of its diverse populations.
President @RTErdogan received Prime Minister Masrour Barzani of the Iraqi Kurdish Regional Government (IKRG) at the Presidential Complex. pic.twitter.com/TikqKxsizy
— Presidency of the Republic of Türkiye (@trpresidency) January 7, 2025
For its part, the Turkish Presidency’s Directorate of Communications also issued a statement on President Erdogan’s meeting with PM Barzani, highlighting Erdogan’s emphasis on advancing key initiatives, particularly the Development Road Project, to bolster the region’s stability and foster economic prosperity.
