Middle East
Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani (left) and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (right) in a meeting in Ankara on June 20, 2023. Photo: Masrour Barzani/X
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani arrived in Ankara to meet top officials including President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday.
“The development of bilateral relations and the latest developments in the general situation in Iraq and the region, especially the developments in Syria, will be discussed in the meetings,” the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) announced in a statement.
The meeting with Erdogan is set to take place at the Presidential Complex in Ankara at 2 pm, as listed on Erdogan's official schedule published on the Turkish presidency's website.
Barzani will also meet Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and several senior officials during the visit, according to the KRG.
Prime Minister @masrourbarzani is in Turkey for a one-day visit to discuss the recent developments in Syria, efforts to restart oil exports from the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, and deepening bilateral trade/investment.
— Aziz Ahmad (@azizkahmad) January 7, 2025
The delegation includes: Minister @RayberAhmed, Minister…
Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) media also reported that discussions will cover Turkey-Kurdistan Region relations, the Region’s oil exports, and broader regional issues.
Turkey stopped the flow of Kurdistan Region’s oil through the Iraq-Turkey pipeline since a Paris arbitration court ruling on March 23, 2023, ruled in favor of Baghdad against Ankara, saying the latter had breached a 1973 pipeline agreement by allowing the Erbil to begin independent oil exports in 2014.
Around 400,000 barrels a day were being exported by Erbil through Ankara, in addition to some 75,000 barrels of Kirkuk oil daily through the same pipeline.
In November, the Iraqi government approved a proposal to amend articles from the federal budget to authorize compensation to companies operating in the Kurdistan Region for oil production and transportation costs, setting the rate at $16 per barrel. The proposal - yet to be finalized by parliament - aims to resume oil exports from the Region.
Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein later said that the Region’s oil exports could resume in weeks if the Iraqi parliament passes an amendment proposed by the federal government. The amendment has not been passed yet and it is unclear when exports will resume.
Turkey and the Kurdistan Region enjoy strong economic relations.
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