Barzani stated in a speech addressed to the regional parliament that the Kurdish administration was working to improve relations with Turkey, noting that better ties will benefit both sides. Economic relations will further develop as ties improve in other fields too, Barzani said. The Kurdish leader also warned against instability in the Kurdish region, saying efforts to that effect were unacceptable.
He also said in his speech that he will discuss political and economic relations with Turkish officials during his visit, emphasizing that the Kurds respect Turkey’s territorial integrity. “Turkey should also respect the Kurdistan region. In addition, we want to improve and strengthen relations between the two sides,” Barzani noted.
Barzani was recently officially invited to Turkey, a move underscoring the improvement in ties that were marred by deep tensions after the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003. The date of the visit has not yet been announced, though it is expected to take place soon. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said during a visit to Brazil on Saturday that Barzani could visit “any time.” According to Iraqi sources, speaking to Today’s Zaman on condition of anonymity, the visit will take place on June 2-5.
Plans for the visit are being made at a time when tensions are increasing in southeastern Anatolia, where the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) intensified attacks on Turkish security forces in recent weeks. The PKK, designated as a terrorist group by Turkey, the United States and the European Union, uses bases in northern Iraq as a launch pad for attacks on Turkey. Responding to the increased PKK activity, Turkish jet fighters attacked PKK targets in the Kurdish-run northern Iraq earlier this month, killing 19 PKK members.
