Turkey is willing to cooperate with Iraq in the industrial sphere and “build a huge industrial city” in Kirkuk, said Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad al-Jalabi.
Jalabi, fresh from a visit to Ankara, made the remarks following a meeting with the ministers of industry, oil, commerce and water resources.
The oil-rich northern city of Kirkuk is home to a sizeable Turkish ethnic community known in Iraq as Turkmen.
Jalabi was positive about his Ankara visit, saying Turkish authorities were prepared to expand economic cooperation with the country.
However, he said, as part of a caretaker government the implementation of the understanding he had with Ankara should be left for the new government to implement.
He said the Turks were ready to open a new border crossing point as the current one via the Kurdish northern town of Zakho could no longer handled the upsurge in the flow of goods and travelers between the countries.
Jalabi said Turkey has also promised to reschedule the debts Iraq owes it which he said amounted to $1.4 billion.
Source: Azzaman
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