By IINA
Ankara : Turkish President Abdullah Gul and his Iraqi counterpart Jalal Talabani discussed ways to improve bilateral relations in the security, economic and energy fields in a big step to normalize their long-estranged ties. Talabani, who arrived here on his first visit to Ankara since his election to the post in 2005, was accorded a warm welcome. “I want to state with pleasure that during our talks we have seen that we have a joint vision both concerning Turkey-Iraq relations and concerning regional issues,” Gul told a joint press conference following his meeting with Talabani, Today’s Zaman reported. “We see terrorism as a common trouble for both countries,” Gul also said. “Iraq is one of the countries that can best understand our struggle against terrorism.” Relations between Turkey and Iraq have long been strained over the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) presence in northern Iraq.
Gul’s remarks that the PKK was seen as a common threat underlined that the two countries could work together against terrorism in the future.
Gul said no solution could be foreseen without the PKK first laying down arms unconditionally. “No country can tolerate an illegal armed organization targeting its nationals. Turkey, like any other state, will not tolerate any group carrying guns.” Talabani said for his part that the Iraqi constitution does not allow any armed organization on its soil and added that the issue of a political solution to the problem of terror was up to Turkey to sort out. He also noted that the Iraqi administration had asked the Iraqi Kurdish administration in northern Iraq to press the PKK either to end attacks on Turkey or leave their region. “Our aim is to build a lasting, solid strategic relationship,” Talabani said. “We will resolve our common problems through cooperation.”
Talabani said cooperation in the area of energy would further strengthen relations. “We want our relationship to be a model for good neighborly relations in the region. There is a strong and historical tie between the Turkish and Iraqi peoples. There are common disasters and interests between us. We will struggle together to remove these troubles,” Talabani said, speaking of building more pipelines between the two countries, which would help in concrete improvement of the bilateral relationship. Talabani’s entourage included Iraqi Finance Minister Baqir Jabr Al Zubaidi, Oil Minister Hussein Al Shahristani, Water Resources Minister Latif Rashid, Security Minister Shirvan AlVaeli and Industry Minister Fawzi Hariri.
Talabani’s first stop in the Ankara capital before meeting with Gul at the Çankaya Presidential Palace was the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of the Turkish Republic.
The visit by Talabani, which will last through today, is taking place within the context of “a working visit,” in line with the official invitation extended personally by President Abdullah Gul. Ankara states that the visit is more than simply “symbolic” as it will bring “a new acceleration in relations by opening a new page in Turkey-Iraq relations.”