Iraqi PM call on Turkey to end military presence in N. Iraq
(MENAFN - Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)) BAGHDAD, April 28 (KUNA) -- Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdulmahdi on Monday called on the Turkish government to end its military presence in northern Iraq, build bilateral relations based on common interests and promote trade and investment.
"We want to develop relations and increase cooperation with Turkey in all fields and to resolve the outstanding issues between the two countries in the interest of the two neighboring peoples," a government statement quoted Abdulmahdi as saying during a meeting with Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu.
He reiterated that Iraq does not want to stand at one side against another, but builds excellent and balanced relations of cooperation with all the neighboring countries.
Iraq's Prime Minister called for resolving all outstanding issues directly between the Iraqi and Turkish governments, and to sign agreements on water, oil and security, and to end the issue of the presence of Turkish troops in the area of Bashiqa.
The Turkish foreign minister delivered a letter from President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, which included an official invitation for Abdulmahdi to visit Turkey.
He expressed hope that all outstanding issues between the two countries will be solved in a friendly and bilateral manner.
The Turkish minister arrived in Baghdad on an official visit, which would take him to Basra, Irbil and Kirkuk. (end) ahh.aa
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