KRG Deputy Prime Minister Qubad Talabani received Turkish Ambassador to Baghdad Anil Bora Inan on Thursday to discuss the peace process in Turkey, relations between the Kurdistan Region and Baghdad, and Turkey’s restrictions on Sulaymaniyah International Airport.

According to an official statement, Talabani described the PKK’s disarmament process as a historic step and said he “hoped that the next steps of the peace process would be successful.”

He stressed the Kurdistan Regional Government’s support for the process and expressed the Region’s readiness to provide any assistance needed to ensure its success.

The issue of Turkey’s airspace ban on Sulaymaniyah International Airport was also raised, with Talabani urging Turkey to reopen its airspace to flights to the airport. Turkey initially closed its airspace to the airport on April 3, 2023, and has extended the ban multiple times since.

Regarding relations with Baghdad, Talabani characterized the recent agreement on resolving the salary issue and oil exports as “an important step toward strengthening ties.”

He added that the Kurdistan Region aims to resolve all issues with Baghdad within the framework of the constitution.

For his part, the Turkish ambassador welcomed the agreement and expressed hope that relations between Erbil and Baghdad would continue to progress.