(MENAFN) Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan met with Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rashid in Baghdad on Sunday as part of his official visit to Iraq, according to diplomatic sources.

Fidan’s visit also included separate meetings with Iraqi Parliament Speaker Mahmoud al-Mashhadani and President of the Supreme Judicial Council Faiq Zaidan, as well as other senior officials.

A statement from the Iraqi presidency said that President Rashid welcomed Fidan and his delegation at the Baghdad Palace, in the presence of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein. Discussions focused on strengthening relations between Türkiye and Iraq across multiple fields, alongside consultations on regional developments and efforts to promote security and stability.

The Iraqi president reaffirmed “Iraq’s commitment to an open-door policy, building partnerships, and fostering good-neighborly relations with regional and international partners.”

He also emphasized “the principles of respect for sovereignty and prioritizing common interests as foundations of Iraq’s national policy.”

Addressing the issue of shared water resources, Rashid called for “adopting a fair water-sharing policy that guarantees Iraq’s acquired rights in the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers, based on improved water management practices that help reduce waste and achieve sustainability.”

According to the statement, Fidan expressed Türkiye’s readiness to deepen cooperation and expand areas of joint work between the two countries. He urged “expanding joint collaboration opportunities in ways that serve both nations’ shared interests and enhance mutual coordination and communication.”

In addition to his meeting with the Iraqi president, Fidan held talks with Defense Minister Thabet Muhammad Saeed Riza Al-Abbas, al-Hashd al-Shaabi Chairperson Falih Alfayyadh, and Mehmet Seman Agaoglu, head of the Iraqi Turkmen Front, as part of his visit aimed at reinforcing Ankara-Baghdad ties.

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