ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq - Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara on Tuesday, discussing a variety of topics, including bilateral ties and regional developments, mainly the situation in Syria.

“We discussed ways to promote dialogue and a common understanding to navigate through the developments in the Middle East, including in Syria,” wrote Prime Minister Barzani on X.

Iraq’s latest developments, resolving Erbil-Baghdad outstanding issues, and “removing the obstacles preventing the resumption of Kurdistan Region’s oil exports,” were highlighted during the meeting, according to a statement from the prime minister’s office.

The Kurdistan Region’s oil exports have been halted since March 2023 after Ankara lost a case against Baghdad in a Paris-based arbitration court. Erbil and Baghdad reached an agreement to resume Kurdish oil exports in April 2023, but the process has been hampered since, initially due to Ankara stating that the pipeline was in need of repairs after a devastating earthquake months earlier, and later due to the inability of both governments to reach an agreement with the international oil companies (IOCs) on fiscal terms.

“Regarding the situation in Syria, both sides agreed on the need to maintain peace, security and the rights of all communities in the country,” the statement added.

The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) has been engaged in daily clashes with Turkey and its affiliated rebel groups in northeast Syria since the start of the ex-rebel groups’ campaign in late November, resulting in hundreds of casualties and leading to the displacement of thousands of civilians.

Erdogan stated that “in light of the developments in Syria, Turkey attaches importance to preserving the stability and security of Iraq and is making efforts to prevent the developments in Syria from causing new instabilities in the region,” according to a statement from the Turkish Presidency.

Turkey considers the People’s Protection Units (YPG), the backbone of the SDF, to be inextricably linked to its domestic foe, the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) - an armed group that has fought for increased Kurdish rights in Turkey for decades, and is designated a terrorist organization by Ankara.

“There are no terrorist organizations or affiliated elements in the future of the new Syria,” the statement cited Erdogan as saying.

Kurdistan Region officials have been in contact with Washington, Ankara, and Damascus to ensure Kurdish rights are preserved in the new political landscape of Syria.

The Kurdish premier arrived in Ankara on Tuesday morning, received by Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan. The two discussed enhancing Ankara-Erbil relations, as well as the latest developments in Iraq and the region.

Prime Minister Barzani last visited Turkey in June 2023.