Turkey’s National Defense Minister Hulusi Akar along with the country’s chief of General Staff, arrived in the Iraqi capital for an official visit, the National Defense Ministry announced Monday.
The Turkish delegation led by Akar was welcomed with a military ceremony by Akar’s Iraqi counterpart Jouma Anad before delegation discussions and meetings take place.
During Akar’s meeting with Iraq’s Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi, joint issues of interest and boosting military cooperation between the two countries were discussed. Akar said, “Turkish Armed Forces is ready to support the Iraqi army in the fields of counter-terrorism, training, and consultancy,” according to the Iraqi Prime Ministry press office.
Iraqi President Barham Salih also received Akar at the Presidential Palace. Salih stated that they do not accept “the attacks targeting the independence of Iraq,” Hawar News Agency reports.
Turkish Minister Akar reportedly left Baghdad to visit Erbil (Hewler), the capital city in Kurdistan Region in Iraq late Monday night, according to Hawar News Agency.
Akar will reportedly meet a delegation from the Kurdistan Regional Government in Erbil.
