At a Glance

• Qubad Talabani and Ali Babacan met at the Slemani Strategic Forum to boost Kurdistan Region–Turkey cooperation.

• Both leaders reaffirmed their support for Turkey’s peace process.

Qubad Talabani and Ali Babacan, leader of Turkey’s Democracy and Progress Party (DEVA), discussed Turkey's peace process and ways to strengthen ties between the Kurdistan Region and Ankara on Thursday.

Key Statements and Focus Area

• Qubad Talabani’s Media Office stated that they highlighted “the importance of recent advancements in bilateral ties.”

• Both sides discussed relations between the Kurdistan Region and Turkey and the ongoing peace process in the country.

Talabani met Ali Babacan on the sidelines of the Slemani Strategic Forum, which commenced today.

They addressed “the progress of the peace process in Turkey and reaffirmed their full support for its success.”

Both parties also emphasized “the need for further efforts to strengthen cooperation across all sectors.”

FYI

The Slemani Strategic Forum opened on Thursday under the patronage of Kurdistan Region Deputy Prime Minister Qubad Talabani and the auspices of the Iraqi Presidency. 

The two-day summit brings together Iraqi, regional, and international officials, diplomats, and policy experts to examine Middle East stability, cross-border security coordination, and regional economic development.

Ali Babacan, a former Turkish economy minister who founded the opposition Democracy and Progress Party (DEVA) in 2020, arrived in the Kurdistan Region earlier this week. 

Prior to traveling to Slemani, he held separate meetings in Erbil on Tuesday with Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani and Prime Minister Masrour Barzani to discuss bilateral trade, regional security, and Turkey’s ongoing peace initiative.

The discussions coincide with the implementation phase of Turkey's peace process with the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). 

In August 2026, the Turkish parliament passed a legal framework bill outlining disarmament verification and social reintegration measures aimed at ending the decades-long conflict. 

Kurdish officials across Iraq have repeatedly expressed support for the initiative, noting its importance for broader regional stability and economic cooperation.

Dive Deeper: Handpicked Stories for You

Follow Channel8 for continuous updates:

Slemani Strategic Forum To Gather Global Leaders This Week

Qubad Talabani Briefs European Diplomats on PUK Government Withdrawal

Qubad Talabani Urges Kurdish Unity In Baghdad Over Budget Rights