Erbil, Baghdad agreed to resume Kurdistan Region oil exports, says Iraqi spox

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – Iraqi Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Fuad Hussein on Friday told CNN Turk that “Erbil and Baghdad have agreed to resume oil exports from the Kurdistan Region.”

"The Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) has become a problem for the Kurdistan Region, Iraq, and Turkey," Hussein stated, adding that the Iraqi government should not permit the PKK to remain on its territory.

According to the Iraqi Foreign Minister, the PKK has political parties and civil society organizations in Iraq, but the situation is different in Turkey, so they have become a problem.

Concerning the tensions between Turkey and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), Hussein stated that relations between the PUK and Turkey were once good, but they are now deteriorating. “The problems between the PUK and Turkey should be resolved.”

Iraq's Foreign Minister also noted that the development road project will be of great importance to Iraq and Turkey and will provide a direct link between the two countries.

Regarding the Turkish President’s visit to Iraq in April he said that they would “welcome Recep Tayyip Erdogan in April.”

He also revealed that a top Iraqi government delegation will visit Ankara next month to discuss the PKK, water issues, and bilateral relations.

The Iraqi official visited Turkey on Thursday to attend the Antalya Diplomacy Forum, which is an annual conference on international diplomacy that has been held in Antalya, Turkey since 2021.