Turkish Consul: Slemani Visa Center is worthy of city and our country
At a Glance
- The Turkish Consul General officially inaugurated the Turkish Visa Application Center in Slemani.
- Topcu praised the facility as a vital pillar for strengthening bilateral relations.
- He stressed that despite past conflicts or changing circumstances, the center never halted its operations and remains dedicated to serving citizens.
Erman Topcu, Turkish Consul General in the Kurdistan Region, emphasized that the newly opened visa application center "is worthy of both the city of Slemani and our country," highlighting it as a pillar for deeper bilateral cooperation.
Key Statements and Focus Area
- The Turkish Consul General stated that, "As always in their speeches, both our Honorable President and our Honorable Foreign Minister reiterate that, especially in the current situation our region is going through, we have no choice but to take ownership of our region and resolve our problems ourselves."
- The Consul General emphasized that, fundamentally, the core mission of the visa center is to strengthen bilateral relations.
Attending the official inauguration ceremony of the Turkish Visa Application Center on Sunday, Consul General Topcu noted that he arrived from Erbil alongside a comprehensive trade delegation to engage in pivotal discussions with the Slemani Chamber of Commerce aimed at expanding commercial ties.
He stressed that regardless of past challenges or shifting circumstances, the visa center in Slemani "has never distanced itself or halted its operations to serve the citizens."
Topcu said that while it is not the facility's initial launch, today's official opening introduces a new model for the visa center.
The Consul General underlined that past conflicts brought difficult and negative impacts, stating, "I hope we never see those days again."
"This is my first time seeing our visa center in Slemani, but seeing it now, it is a center that is worthy of both the city of Slemani and our country," he added.
He further expressed his gratitude to Deputy Prime Minister Talabani for organizing the visit and providing key assistance.
FYI
The newly opened facility transitions to an upgraded, highly accessible operational model within the Slemani Governorate, replacing previous frameworks to deliver efficient, secure travel processing and commercial documentation.
The transition comes following last year's landmark resolution of aviation sanctions on the Jalal Talabani International Airport (formerly Slemani International Airport).
Following a restrictive ban initially enacted by Ankara in April 2023 over regional security allegations, Turkish authorities officially fully lifted airspace restrictions on October 9, 2025.
This breakthrough clears the path for Turkish Airlines to resume direct commercial flights between Istanbul and Slemani, vastly normalizing trade, tourism, and travel across the region.
During today’s opening ceremony, Deputy Prime Minister Talabani thanked the Turkish Consul and recalled a promise made by the diplomat during their first meeting to visit Slemani and strengthen bilateral relations at all levels.
Talabani highlighted that even during severe travel barriers, the highest volume of Turkish transit originated from the province via alternative hubs, making the new office a vital service and facilitation for local citizens.
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Talabani Welcomes Turkish Consul Following Slemani Visa Center Opening
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