Erdogan approves new ambassador to Iraq

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday approved the appointment of Anil Bora Inan as ambassador to Baghdad.

Inan was first named to the post by Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan in late April and Erdogan has now signed off on the appointment, according to Turkey’s official Gazette. 

Inan previously served as the deputy general director for relations with Iraq at the foreign ministry and held the position of Turkish consul general in Vancouver from 2015 to 2019. 

He is replacing Ali Riza Guney.

His appointment comes months after Erdogan’s rare visit to Iraq, which was followed by the signing of dozens of memoranda of understanding between the two countries, covering a range of issues, primarily security, energy and water. 

The agreements also included the Development Road, which spans Iraq from south to north, connecting the Persian Gulf with Turkey and significantly enhancing Iraq’s geopolitical role and generating economic gains for Baghdad. When completed, the project will also shorten the travel time between Asia and Europe. 

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani on Thursday ordered the oil ministry to start studying the prospect of exporting oil and gas through the project.