ERBIL, Iraq
The president of Iraq’s autonomous Kurdish region on Wednesday welcomed Turkey joining the anti-Daesh coalition.
"The struggle against Daesh will be more active and reach its goal with Turkey's joining," Masoud Barzani said in a written statement following a meeting with Turkish Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Feridun Sinirlioglu in Erbil.
The visit came amid Turkish airstrikes against Daesh in Syria as well as raids on Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) terrorist group positions in Turkey and northern Iraq. Turkey has also opened its southern Incirlik base for coalition air operations against the extremists in Syria.
Referring to the airstrikes on the PKK, Barzani called on the sides to return to the “solution process” initiated in 2012 to seek an end to a 30-year conflict in Turkey’s southeast.
Sinirlioglu said Turkey had agreed to join the U.S.-led coalition against Daesh to defeat the group and so “refugees are able to return to their homes”.
He added that Turkey was open to finding a political solution with the PKK that was “suitable for democratic principles”.
