Iraqi PM urges Turkish forces "to fully withdraw from Iraq"

Several subjects were discussed including Iraqi forces’ advance in Rammadi city (in Anbar Province) and the Turkish forces deployment in Iraq.

BAGHDAD, Iraq (K24) – Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi stated in a session of Council Ministers on Tuesday that Turkey should completely pull its forces from northern Iraq.

On Tuesday, the Iraqi Prime Minister's media office released a statement revealing that the Iraqi Council of Ministers held a meeting led by al-Abadi. In the meeting, they discussed several subjects including Iraqi forces’ advance in Rammadi city (in Anbar Province) and the Turkish forces deployment in Iraq.

The ministers discussed the deployment of Turkish forces in Bashik town located in northern Iraq stating that Turkey should respond to the request of Iraq "to fully withdraw its forces in the country and respect the national sovereignty of Iraq."

In the meeting, they also discussed Iraq's request to the United Nations Security Council to urge Turkey to respect the sovereignty of Iraq and immediately pull its forces from the country's territory as well as taking necessary legal measures to ensure that the violation will not re-occur.

The council also noted that necessary measures should be taken "to confront the risks expected due to significantly lower oil revenues, despite an increase in oil production and exports," the statement read.

During the meeting, the senior economic advisors team were asked to provide economic measures to tackle the impact of federal budget decline for 2016 on the economy of Iraq.

The Council of Ministers commented on establishing Dhi Qar Oil Company and Basra Oil Company, the request was given to the Iraqi Oil Ministry to prepare full proposals to be discussed in the coming session of the Council of Ministers.