CENTRAL NEWS
Since the beginning of 2019, a new door for diplomacy with Iraq and Turkey via the KDP opened. So far, the Iraqi president has visited Turkey on two different occasions for official talks with Foreign Affairs Minister, whilst Iraq was also visited twice.
At the same time, the President of the Kurdistan Region held meetings with officials in Baghdad and then in Istanbul. With four official visits in six months in Iraq, Turkeys fourth official visit was held between the Kurdistan Region.
The opening of diplomacy took place with the KDP on Turkey’s request. After the Iraqi elections, Iraqi President Berhem Salih officially visited Ankara on 3 January and held a session with Erdogan.
On 28 April, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu met with Iraqi Foreign Minister Muhammad Ali Al-Hekim, President Berhem Saleh, Prime Minister Adil Abdulmehdi and several government officials. Çavuşoğlu then went to Hewler and first met with Neçirvan Barzani, Mesrur Barzani and then Turkmen parties.
During the period in which diplomatic traffic intensified, Berhem Salih met with Erdoğan for the second time on May 28 in Ankara. Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu and MIT Undersecretary Hakan Fidan were also present at the meeting.
Çavuşoğlu was officially invited by Nechirvan Barzani to attend the oath ceremony on 10 June, and then met with Berhem Salih, Iraqi Parliament Speaker Muhammad Halbusi, Nechirvan Barzani, Mesrur Barzani, Mesut Barzani and Turkmen parties at Hewler.
Nechirvan Barzani met with government officials in Baghdad on 20 June and met with Erdogan in Istanbul on 21 June.
In South Kurdistan, Iraq and Turkey the negotiations made were held closed to the press.
Dirty Bargains Behind Closed Curtains
During the talks between the three sides, we have been informed that the development of economic relations, politics, border protection, operations on the Southern lands and many other issues were negotiated.
During Iraq and Turkey’s response to the request of the Regional Government, it has been disclosed that some requests and agreed on some issues between the parties. According to this;
Turkey will support the reconstruction of Mosul and the people living in Mosul.
Whereas Turkey will Consulate in Mosul
The border gate will open on the side of the Telafer.
The Syrian and Iraqi border will be protected jointly with the Iraqi government
A joint operation will be held in Sengal, Kandil and Maxmur
Joint Operation in Şengal, Kandil and Maxmur
Per Turkey’s requests, a joint operation will be held in Sengal, Kandil and Maxmur with the help of KDP.
Within the framework of these plans, the KDP has increased its pressure on the refugee camp Maxmur. Refugees living in the camp are not allowed to travel freely in the region.
Again, those who go to Hewler for hospital and vital needs are detained and abducted on the grounds that “their identity card has expired”.
It has been reported that the KDP has detained 6 people from Maxmur in Hewler in the last 15 days and that nothing has been communicated about the fate of these people.
Kurdistan Strategic Research Center
