Barzani satisfied with Turkish visit
Barzani satisfied with Turkish visit
Kurdistan Region President Masoud Barzani ended his visit to Turkey saying he was satisfied by the trip, the first since 2004.
In particular President Barzani was very pleased with his meeting with business people. He said that strengthening economic and trade relations will benefit the people of both sides and can contribute to improved political relations and ease tensions.
“We see Turkey as a gateway for us to Europe and the wider world, just as we believe that the Kurdistan Region can also become a gateway for Turkey to the rest of Iraq and further south to the Gulf countries,” commented the President.
“We have an attractive and business-friendly investment law in the Kurdistan Region, and we are further prepared to provide any more support that is needed to Turkish companies. The Kurdistan Region offers great economic potential. I see a bright future in our relations and cooperation with Turkey and there are big opportunities before us,” added the President.
Some 60percent of the foreign companies operating in the Kurdistan Region are Turkish. The Turkish flagship airliner – Turkish Airlines - is in talks to start direct flights from Istanbul to Erbil. Several Turkish banks are planning to open their branches in the Kurdistan Region.
On security issues, President Barzani said that he is against violence and all sides should instead pursue peaceful means. He called on all parties to be supportive and respond positively to the Turkish government’s “opening policy” towards the Kurdish community in Turkey. .
“Of course, we are very saddened when a Turkish citizen, be it a Turk or Kurd, is killed. The Turkish opening initiative [towards the Turkish Kurds] is a significant and helpful policy which we strongly support. However, I reiterate that violence and military means will not get us anywhere; only peaceful means can succeed. I also believe that unemployment or poor economic conditions are usually some of the contributing factors behind the emergence and spread of terrorism, not only in Turkey but elsewhere too. Improving living standards and economic conditions are more effectual than pursuing military means,” further added the President, reiterating that military means and violence are futile and only peaceful means will succeed in quelling violence and hostilities.
In particular President Barzani was very pleased with his meeting with business people. He said that strengthening economic and trade relations will benefit the people of both sides and can contribute to improved political relations and ease tensions.
“We see Turkey as a gateway for us to Europe and the wider world, just as we believe that the Kurdistan Region can also become a gateway for Turkey to the rest of Iraq and further south to the Gulf countries,” commented the President.
“We have an attractive and business-friendly investment law in the Kurdistan Region, and we are further prepared to provide any more support that is needed to Turkish companies. The Kurdistan Region offers great economic potential. I see a bright future in our relations and cooperation with Turkey and there are big opportunities before us,” added the President.
Some 60percent of the foreign companies operating in the Kurdistan Region are Turkish. The Turkish flagship airliner – Turkish Airlines - is in talks to start direct flights from Istanbul to Erbil. Several Turkish banks are planning to open their branches in the Kurdistan Region.
On security issues, President Barzani said that he is against violence and all sides should instead pursue peaceful means. He called on all parties to be supportive and respond positively to the Turkish government’s “opening policy” towards the Kurdish community in Turkey. .
“Of course, we are very saddened when a Turkish citizen, be it a Turk or Kurd, is killed. The Turkish opening initiative [towards the Turkish Kurds] is a significant and helpful policy which we strongly support. However, I reiterate that violence and military means will not get us anywhere; only peaceful means can succeed. I also believe that unemployment or poor economic conditions are usually some of the contributing factors behind the emergence and spread of terrorism, not only in Turkey but elsewhere too. Improving living standards and economic conditions are more effectual than pursuing military means,” further added the President, reiterating that military means and violence are futile and only peaceful means will succeed in quelling violence and hostilities.
