During his meeting with Akar .. Al-Kazemi affirms the rejection of any targeting of Turkey from Iraq

Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kazemi received in his office this evening, Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar, who is visiting the country at the head of a military delegation.

During the meeting, Al-Kazemi expressed Iraq's rejection of "any threat or terrorist activity" targeting Turkey from Iraqi territories, and called for activating the agreements previously approved between the two countries during his recent visit to Ankara.

For his part, Akar expressed the Turkish army's readiness to provide support and advice in the areas of combating terrorism, training and joint exercises.

The Turkish Defense Minister arrived in Baghdad earlier today at the head of a military delegation on a visit that had not been announced in advance, and upon his arrival met his Iraqi counterpart, Jumah Inad.

Iraqi government sources said that Akar arrived Monday morning, accompanied by Chief of Staff Yasar Guler, on a two-day official visit.

She indicated that the Turkish delegation would meet the President of the Republic, Barham Salih, Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kazemi, Minister of Defense Jumah Inad and Iraqi Minister of Interior Osman Ghanmi, to discuss a number of files of common interest, most notably the fight against "terrorism."

Prime Minister @MAKadhimi receives Turkish Defense Minister Mr. Hulusi Akar and his accompanying delegation, and the meeting witnessed discussing issues of common interest, strengthening military cooperation between Iraq and Turkey within the framework of general cooperation, and establishing the principle of respecting the sovereignty of Iraq on all its lands.

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- Media Office of the Prime Minister (@IraqiPMO) January 18, 2021

The same sources confirmed that the Turkish Defense Minister and his accompanying delegation are expected to head to the Kurdistan region on Tuesday, to hold meetings with officials there.

Akar's visit to Iraq comes after a visit by the Iraqi prime minister to Ankara last month, followed by a visit by Iraqi Defense Minister Jumah Inad, where he met with Turkish officials and visited a number of Turkish military factories.