The deep-rooted, multifaceted relations that exist between Turkey and Germany are preparing the grounds for economic cooperation between the two countries in Iraq. Thusly, the Baghdad Railway, which is marking its 100th year, forms the historical basis of cooperation between Iraq, Turkey and Germany. From transportation to electrical infrastructure, from drinking water and wastewater infrastructure to highway, railroad and airport construction, Turkey and Germany are getting ready to cooperate in rebuilding Iraq’s infrastructure. And cooperation between the two countries isn’t limited to Iraq -- there is also the prospect of their cooperation in the Gulf countries through Iraq. Also, there is talk of cooperation in bringing petrol and natural gas through Iraq-Turkey to the European Union. In this way it is possible that Iraqi-Turkish-German cooperation in the field of energy will be based on the Nabucco project to bring eastern natural gas through Turkey to the West.The Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEİK) organized a meeting on Dec. 10 under the title “Turkish-German Cooperation in Iraq.” The decision was made for the meeting to be reconvened every year and for the second meeting to be held in Baghdad. Making presentations at the meeting were Iraqi Transportation Minister Ammer Abdul Jabbar Ismael, Iraqi Electricity Minister Kareem Waheed, Turkish Foreign Ministry Deputy Undersecretary Hakkı Akil, Turkey’s special envoy to Iraq Murat Özçelik, German Ambassador in Baghdad Paul Freiherr von Maltzahn, German Ambassador in Ankara Eckart Cuntz and Turkish Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges (TOBB) and DEİK head M. Rıfat Hisarcıklıoğlu, and private sector Turkish and German executives with operations in various sectors in Iraq.
In the 1980s, when Germany was the number two source country for imports to Iraq, exporting the equivalent of nearly 4 billion euros. In 2009, Germany’s exports to Iraq have fallen to 442 million euros. Particularly in the fields of energy, hospital construction and telecommunications, German firms are active in Iraq today, with Siemens playing an important leadership role in this regard.
The border relationship between Turkey and Iraq and the blood ties on both sides of the border are the basis of the closeness between the two countries. Turkey’s maintaining an equal distance from all political, ethnic and denominational groups in Iraq and embracing the Iraqi people as one whole and the rehabilitation of victims of terrorism in Turkey has had a deeply positive effect on Iraq. Despite the war, Turkey did not withdraw its presence from Iraq; it did not close down its embassy or lower its flag. In 2003, even amidst the United States’ military intervention, there were around 70 Turkish companies active in Iraq. In 2009 Turkey’s trade volume with Iraq took a huge leap, climbing to the neighborhood of $5 billion. Turkish contractors have completed $7 billion of work in Iraq. In 2009 the cost of railroad freight between the two countries fell by 50 percent. Following the establishment of the Turkey-Iraq High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council, the goal has been set for trade between the two nations to reach $20 billion and for mutual visa requirements to be abolished.
General elections will be held in Iraq on March 7. It is expected that a more stable, safer Iraq will emerge following the polls. The work of Turkish and German private sector firms with a history of cooperation could be a new model of cooperation for the Middle East.
