ANKARA, November 5 (RIA Novosti) — Iraq wants to open a "new page" in relations with Turkey, leaving behind all tensions with the country, Iraqi Foreign Minister Ibrahim Jaafari said at a joint press conference with Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu.
"We want to open a new page in our relations with Turkey. Even if we had some friction — let it remain in the past," Jaafari said.
He added that Turkey could help Iraq in terms of national security.
"We are against the presence of foreign military in Iraq, but any other help from our friends would be welcome," he said.
With regard to oil trade "it is, under our constitution, under the responsibility of the central government of Iraq. And the issue with the sale of oil from the territory of Kurdish autonomy in Iraq will be solved according to the constitution," Jaafari stated.
In turn, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said that Turkey would continue to support Iraq and its territorial integrity, threatened by terrorist organizations. He stressed that it is necessary to develop a comprehensive strategy to fight terrorism.
In November 2013, Turkey and Iraqi Kurdistan autonomy agreed that the oil from the region would flow through Turkey to Europe. However, Iraq is against its autonomy's own decisions regarding petroleum resources located in the country's territory. Despite this, the leadership of the Kurdish autonomy began exporting oil through Turkey in May.
