Iraq’s PM calls on Turkish companies to share in reconstruc?tion process

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com – Iraq’s Prime Minister, Nouri al-Maliki, has discussed with his visiting Turkish Counterpart, Receb Tayyip Erdogan, on Monday the development of joint relations between both countries in political, economic and trade fields. Maliki, during his reception of Erdogan, who started an official visit for Iraq on Monday, leading a high-level official delegation, renewed call for Turkish companies to work in Iraq and contribute in the process of building and reconstruction in the country. Erdogan, on his part, has called on Iraq to join the 4-country agreement, comprising Turkey, Syria, Lebanon and Jordan, according to a statement by Maliki’s office, copy of which was received by IraqiNews.com news agency. Maliki also said during the meeting that Iraq “strives to boost cooperation between Iraq and Turkey, stemming from their strong historic relations, which we can draw a new trend for these relations.” Pointing out to the current developments in the Region, Maliki said that “they demand us to exert further efforts for cooperation and understanding, based on respect of the will of peoples, their political and services prerequisites, and not on the basis of interference in their internal affairs.” Erdogan, on his part, reiterated necessity for boosting joint cooperation between Iraq and Turkey on all levels, and necessity to boost the activity of the high-level cooperation committee and memorandums-of-understanding (MOUs) between both countries. The statement pointed out that both sides had reconfirmed after their meeting, necessity to develop bilateral relations in the fields of foodstuff and energy, as well as agreement on cooperation in “fighting terrorism and terrorist organizations, represented by the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) and al-Qaeda Organization.”  SKH / RT 377