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Turkey's Erdogan says Iraq sees need to eliminate Kurdish PKK militia

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan stated in remarks published on Tuesday he thought Iraq saw the need to remove the Kurdish PKK militia and had the will to do so, adding Ankara desired Baghdad's assistance because battle.

Erdogan was speaking after talks in Baghdad and Erbil on Monday, the first go to by a Turkish leader to Iraq considering that 2011, following years of stress as Ankara carried out cross-border attacks on PKK militants based in northern Iraq.

Ties between the neighbours are getting in a brand-new phase, Erdogan said, after they accepted work together versus militants, enhance financial relations by means of a new passage and think about Iraq's. requirements for access to limited water.

Speaking with press reporters on his flight back from Iraq, Erdogan. said Turkey's fight with terrorism would continue in line with. worldwide law, and included he intended to see concrete outcomes of. Baghdad identifying the PKK a banned organisation last month.

The PKK, designated a terrorist group by Turkey, the U.S. and the European Union, used up arms against the Turkish state. in 1984. More than 40,000 individuals have actually been eliminated in the. revolt since then.

The dispute was long fought generally in rural areas of. southeastern Turkey however is now more focused on the mountains of. northern Iraq's mountainous, semi-autonomous Kurdistan region.

One would hope that our neighbours put the needed position. forward against the risks directed at us from their lands, and. we continue this fight collectively, Erdogan said, according to a. text of the in-flight comments released by his workplace.

Eliminating this threat is likewise to the advantage of Iraq. I. think they see this truth and they will now present a will. for this problem to be gotten rid of, he said, including he likewise discussed. steps versus the PKK during talks in Erbil.

In the future Tuesday, Turkish Defence Minister Yasar Guler said. Turkey and Iraq had agreed on forming a joint armed force. operations centre, a problem the two sides have long been. talking about over Ankara's cross-border raids, and included Ankara. and Baghdad would collaborate on what we can do.

Then, the responsibilities of the joint operations centre. will be figured out. In the meantime, the two sides have just taken the. decision on its development, Guler was cited by broadcaster NTV. as telling reporters in parliament.

Inquired about Iraq's requirements for access to water, Erdogan stated. Turkey was not a country with abundant water resources and also. needed to manage its own requirements. He stated strategies considering. altering climate conditions are needed for the sustainable use. of water.

For that reason, we require to take mindful steps. With examinations. to be kept in that direction, it may be possible to find common. ground, he stated.

On Monday, the 2 countries agreed to a strategic framework. contract supervising security, trade and energy along with a. 10-year deal on the management of water resources that would. take Iraqi needs into account.

(source: Reuters)