Turkish- Iraqi relations

The Turkish foreign minister Ismael Cim has stressed his country's determination to develop trade relations with Iraq, noting that his country has taken a decisive decision to open a second border gate with Iraq.

In a TV program broadcast by the TRT2 official TV channel on Friday, Cim added that Turkey views this matter from the perspective of the Turkish interests, rather than what has been claimed by certain sides, in saying that the US imposes its views on Turkey and interferes in its affairs.

As for Turkish- Russian relations, Cim said that Turkey and Russia are two big countries in the region and they have natural and constructive competition among them, noting that Russia sees in Turkey under the current President Vladimir Putin a country of an effective role in Asia and the Caspian area. He expressed his hope of establishing a new base of relations in the relations and joint cooperation between the two countries.

Cim stressed that Turkey adopts two main objectives: joining the EU membership and to become of a key position in the central Asia region.