Workshop on the Turkey-Iraq Relations

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As a continuation of the workshops organized under the cooperation of ORSAM and Al-Nahrain Research Centre operating under auspices of the Iraqi National Security Undersecretariat, a workshop on Turkey-Iraq relations was held on February 19, 2017 hosted by Al-Nahrain Research Centre in Baghdad. Iraqi bureaucrats, academicians, specialists and researchers also attended the workshop as well as the academicians, specialists and bureaucrats having gone to Iraq from Turkey. The workshop focused on the issues in the joint declaration issued after the Third High Level Strategic Cooperation Meeting which was held between Turkey and Iraq during the Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım's visit to Iraq on January 7, 2017. At the workshop, views were exchanged on concrete steps to be taken on the development of relations between Turkey and Iraq. In this context, the following topics were discussed at the workshop:

• Development of regional cooperation in the fields of security and intelligence, and cultural and social areas in the fight against DAESH and violent extremism towards comprehensive strategy
• Settlement of the problems between the two countries (the issue of the Bashiqa camp and the presence of the PKK in Iraq)
• Training of Iraqi security forces
• Fight against terrorism and opportunities for a political solution in Syria
• Opportunities for developing trade and investment between the two countries
• Customs and border gates
• Restructuring of areas liberated from DAESH and refugees
• Development of tourism and methods of cultural exchange
• Development of oil pipelines between the two countries
• Investment opportunities regarding oil and gas
• Development of (Basra – Istanbul) Railway Line
• Bilateral cooperation on water issue