Turkey is aimed at expanding cooperation with Iraq in the field of security, including the creation of a joint operational center. This was stated by the Minister of National Defense of Turkey Yashar Guler.
The head of the department expressed satisfaction with the fact that during his recent visit to Baghdad, the Iraq government took an important step, officially banning the RSC and for the first time recognizing it with a terrorist organization.
“When we arrived in Baghdad, the Iraqi government at the same time banned (RSC) and first recognized it with a terrorist organization. It pleases us. I hope we will interact in the future. We will create a joint operational center,” Guller said during a visit to the province Kazakhmanmarash in southern Turkey.
The Minister emphasized Turkey’s determination to continue the decisive struggle with a terrorist threat.
He expressed regret due to the fact that the Iraq authorities for four decades did not want to recognize the RSC and a terrorist organization and ban the activities of the group in the country. “We have been fighting the terrorist organization of the RSC for 40 years, but, unfortunately, during these 40 years the Iraqi government could not call them a terrorist organization or ban them,” he said.
The Minister emphasized the positive position of the Kurdish regional administration of Iraq (Territory) in the issue of counteracting terrorism. At the same time, he emphasized that the cooperation of Ankara and the administration of Erbil went beyond the fight against terrorism.
“It is planned to create commissions on energy, agriculture, livestock, water resources and other regions, and we will continue our efforts to achieve progress in all these areas through mutual cooperation,” the head of the department said.
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Guleler emphasized the importance of the implementation of the project “Roads of Development”, which connects the Persian Gulf region with Europe through Turkey.