Iraq's Path of Development Enters Turkey’s Deal to Eliminate the PKK
A technical delegation from Baghdad discusses in Ankara "timelines and points of terrestrial and railway linkage"
The security dialogue between Baghdad and Ankara regarding the dissolution of the Kurdistan Workers' Party has shifted to discuss the future of Iraq’s regional trade project known as the "Path of Development."
Starting on Tuesday, an Iraqi delegation led by the Prime Minister's Transportation Advisor, Nasser Al-Asadi, commenced a visit to Ankara to follow up on the implementation progress of the “Path of Development.” According to a statement from the Iraqi Embassy in Ankara, the delegation includes Safaa Jabar Nasser, the project director, along with other officials.
The security dialogue between Baghdad and Ankara regarding the dissolution of the Kurdistan Workers' Party has shifted to discuss the future of Iraq’s regional trade project known as the "Path of Development."
Starting on Tuesday, an Iraqi delegation led by the Prime Minister's Transportation Advisor, Nasser Al-Asadi, commenced a visit to Ankara to follow up on the implementation progress of the “Path of Development.” According to a statement from the Iraqi Embassy in Ankara, the delegation includes Safaa Jabar Nasser, the project director, along with other officials.
The statement noted that the Iraqi delegation would "follow up on the implementation progress of the Path of Development with Turkish officials and discuss the bilateral procedures and agreements to commence the establishment of linkage points between the two countries."
This comes as a continuation of previous meetings held in Baghdad and Ankara to discuss the latest updates and work completion stages.
Before his visit to Turkey, Al-Asadi, in statements made last Saturday, indicated that there are procedures and agreements with the Turkish side to start the construction of the road and linkage points. He further mentioned that the "Path of Development" project is scheduled to be completed by mid-2028, according to the planned program.
Upon the inauguration of the "Al-Faw Grand Port," the local road and rail networks will be directly utilized until the completion of the Path of Development and the road and rail route to the port, according to Al-Asadi. He added that "Iraqi committees hold monthly meetings in Baghdad and Ankara to agree on commencement of implementation and to define the linkage points."
Al-Asadi also mentioned that a Turkish delegation visited Al-Faw Port and reviewed the latest updates and work completion stages.
On February 2, Turkey’s Minister of Transport and Infrastructure, Abdul Qadir Ural Oghlu, held a meeting with his Iraqi counterpart, Razaq Al-Saadawi, in Ankara; to discuss the project’s updates.
Following the meeting, Ural stated that the most important issue between the two countries is the Path of Development, discussing its current status and the significant progress made by the Iraqi side in it.
Ural added that cargo transportation, which takes about 45 days from the Cape of Good Hope and about 35 days from the Red Sea, can be completed in 25 days using the "Path of Development." He continued, “We are working day and night, and we hope to see developments regarding the project's funding and tender within this year.”
In his part, Al-Saadawi clarified that the "Path of Development" project consists of three main pillars: Al-Faw Port, railways, and highways," pointing out that the main port is 85 percent complete, the railways 55 percent, and the highways 35 percent.
The Iraqi Minister added, "We agreed to open offices in both countries regarding this project, and we will discuss with Turkish companies the possibility of benefiting from their experiences in constructing roads and railway lines."
Furthermore, sources from the Turkish Ministry of Transportation stated that during the ministers' meeting, it was decided to conduct studies to facilitate truck transport between the countries.
The "Path of Development" project includes two parallel paths: a terrestrial route and a railway from the Gulf of Basra to Turkey, spanning 1200 kilometers within Iraq, which will be connected to the Turkish railway network.
With an investment budget of approximately 17 billion dollars, the project is to be completed in three phases, ending in 2028, 2033, and 2050, respectively.
During a meeting held in Baghdad on March 14, which was the second at the level of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Defense, heads of intelligence and security services, following the first meeting in Ankara on December 19, it was decided to form a joint committee between Turkey and Iraq in areas of counterterrorism, combatting the "Kurdistan Workers' Party" activities in northern Iraq, trade, agriculture, energy, water, health, and transportation.
The PKK Dilemma
Turkey aims to resolve the "Kurdistan Workers' Party" issue in northern Iraq and to establish a security belt, similar to what it does in Syria, with a depth ranging between 30 to 40 kilometers, to ensure severing the connection between the PKK in northern Iraq and the "Kurdish People's Protection Units" in northern Syria.
According to Turkish sources, Baghdad does not object to cooperating in eliminating the PKK threat, which is also classified as a banned organization posing a risk to Iraq, within a comprehensive framework encompassing water, energy, and the Path of Development issues, a matter that Ankara welcomes.
Both Turkish and Iraqi sides are working on preparing a strategic memorandum of understanding covering all these issues to be signed during President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's upcoming visit to Iraq in April.
This comes as a continuation of previous meetings held in Baghdad and Ankara to discuss the latest updates and work completion stages.
Before his visit to Turkey, Al-Asadi, in statements made last Saturday, indicated that there are procedures and agreements with the Turkish side to start the construction of the road and linkage points. He further mentioned that the "Path of Development" project is scheduled to be completed by mid-2028, according to the planned program.
Upon the inauguration of the "Al-Faw Grand Port," the local road and rail networks will be directly utilized until the completion of the Path of Development and the road and rail route to the port, according to Al-Asadi. He added that "Iraqi committees hold monthly meetings in Baghdad and Ankara to agree on commencement of implementation and to define the linkage points."
Al-Asadi also mentioned that a Turkish delegation visited Al-Faw Port and reviewed the latest updates and work completion stages.
On February 2, Turkey’s Minister of Transport and Infrastructure, Abdul Qadir Ural Oghlu, held a meeting with his Iraqi counterpart, Razaq Al-Saadawi, in Ankara; to discuss the project’s updates.
Following the meeting, Ural stated that the most important issue between the two countries is the Path of Development, discussing its current status and the significant progress made by the Iraqi side in it.
Ural added that cargo transportation, which takes about 45 days from the Cape of Good Hope and about 35 days from the Red Sea, can be completed in 25 days using the "Path of Development." He continued, “We are working day and night, and we hope to see developments regarding the project's funding and tender within this year.”
In his part, Al-Saadawi clarified that the "Path of Development" project consists of three main pillars: Al-Faw Port, railways, and highways," pointing out that the main port is 85 percent complete, the railways 55 percent, and the highways 35 percent.
The Iraqi Minister added, "We agreed to open offices in both countries regarding this project, and we will discuss with Turkish companies the possibility of benefiting from their experiences in constructing roads and railway lines."
Furthermore, sources from the Turkish Ministry of Transportation stated that during the ministers' meeting, it was decided to conduct studies to facilitate truck transport between the countries.
The "Path of Development" project includes two parallel paths: a terrestrial route and a railway from the Gulf of Basra to Turkey, spanning 1200 kilometers within Iraq, which will be connected to the Turkish railway network.
With an investment budget of approximately 17 billion dollars, the project is to be completed in three phases, ending in 2028, 2033, and 2050, respectively.
During a meeting held in Baghdad on March 14, which was the second at the level of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Defense, heads of intelligence and security services, following the first meeting in Ankara on December 19, it was decided to form a joint committee between Turkey and Iraq in areas of counterterrorism, combatting the "Kurdistan Workers' Party" activities in northern Iraq, trade, agriculture, energy, water, health, and transportation.
The PKK Dilemma
Turkey aims to resolve the "Kurdistan Workers' Party" issue in northern Iraq and to establish a security belt, similar to what it does in Syria, with a depth ranging between 30 to 40 kilometers, to ensure severing the connection between the PKK in northern Iraq and the "Kurdish People's Protection Units" in northern Syria.
According to Turkish sources, Baghdad does not object to cooperating in eliminating the PKK threat, which is also classified as a banned organization posing a risk to Iraq, within a comprehensive framework encompassing water, energy, and the Path of Development issues, a matter that Ankara welcomes.
Both Turkish and Iraqi sides are working on preparing a strategic memorandum of understanding covering all these issues to be signed during President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's upcoming visit to Iraq in April.
Translation:
Translated by AI
