Maliki renews invitation to Turkish firms to work in Iraq, participate in its construction

Baghdad (NINA) – Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki renewed his invitation to Turkish firms to work in Iraq and participate in its construction process, stressing the importance to increase trade volume between both countries, and that the sphere of cooperation is wide open in this field.

In his meeting Turkey's Prime Minister, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, and the delegation accompanying him, on Monday, Mar. 28, Maliki called for holding bilateral meeting to reach common understanding and agreements to expand cooperation in all fields, stressing the necessity to activate agreements reached between the two.

He went on saying, "We work toward increase cooperation between Iraq and Turkey because of strong historic ties between them, we can draw the direction of this relation, and we see it moving upward."

Pointing out to the changing in the region, Maliki said, "The region's current on going changes requires from us more mutual cooperation understanding and a respect to the peoples' wish and their political and services requirements not on the base of interference in their affairs."

For his part, Turkey's Prime Minister stressed the importance to consolidate mutual cooperation between Iraq and Turkey on all levels, and the necessity to activate works of the high cooperation committee, as well as mutual agreements and memos of understanding, calling on Iraq to join quadruple agreement that includes Turkey, Syrian, Jordan and Lebanon.

He pointed out that Iraq has become a workshop wishing that Turkish firms participate in Iraq's construction process, whether alone or jointly with Iraqi firms.

Erdoğan called for facilitating travel between the two countries by lifting official travel measures.

In the meeting, both sides discussed issues of common interest and means to develop bilateral relations, as well as the region's developments.

After the meeting Maliki and Erdoğan gave a summary to the press clarifying the agreements reached between them related to developing bilateral relations and expand trade between both countries, especially in the sectors of food stuff, energy and cooperation in combating terrorism, represented by PKK and Qaeda.
Earlier in the day, Maliki received Erdoğan, and the delegation accompanying him, at Baghdad International Airport. / End.