Turkiye, Iraq sign MoU on military, security and counter-terrorism cooperation

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on military, security and counter-terrorism cooperation with Iraq.This came in a joint press conference Thursday with his Iraqi counterpart Fuad Hussein, who is currently visiting Turkey, following the fourth meeting of the high-level security mechanism between the two countries.Fidan explained that the MoU between Turkey and Iraq on military, security and counter-terrorism cooperation was signed by the defense ministers of the two countries, stressing that it has historical importance.He expressed his belief that the joint coordination and training centers stipulated in the agreement will take cooperation to a higher level, noting the importance of strengthening the unity of understanding with tangible steps on the ground regarding combating terrorism.For his part, the Iraqi Foreign Minister described the MoU (on military, security and counter-terrorism cooperation) as the first of its kind in the history of the two countries.He said that the meeting discussed activating the 27 agreements signed on Apr. 22 in various economic, commercial, energy, water, culture, tourism, health, transportation, agriculture, education, youth, sports and social security fields.He added that committees have been formed in all these fields, and will begin their work after completing the study of the agreements and memoranda of understanding signed between the two countries, noting that coordination between the two countries was discussed to confront organized crime, immigration, drug smuggling and illegal trade, in addition to cross-border organizations, of course.Hussein expressed his happiness at starting to discuss the entry visa agreement to exempt citizens of the two countries from entry visas, which will lead to activating economic, commercial, investment and tourism activity and the work of Turkish companies in Iraq.In the same context, Turkey and Iraq decided to establish two joint centers for security coordination and training and cooperation with the aim of combating terrorism.Diplomatic sources said Thursday, that Turkey and Iraq decided to establish a joint center for security coordination in Baghdad, and a joint center for training and cooperation in Bashiqa city, northern Iraq.