Turkey, Iraq to deepen support against terror groups

ANKARA, Turkey – Turkey’s president has reaffirmed support for Iraq’s reconstruction following the end of the fight against the Islamic State group and said the two countries would deepen co-operation against terror groups.

Speaking at a joint news conference with Iraq’s newly elected president Thursday, Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Turkey would help Iraq rebuild areas harmed by the conflict and support the country’s infrastructure and development projects.

Turkey is uneasy over the outlawed Kurdish rebels’ presence in northern Iraq. Baghdad, meanwhile, is concerned by Turkish military offensives against the rebels on its territory.

Iraq’s President Barham Salih welcomed a Turkish decision to send special envoy to Iraq to discuss water shortages in the country, partly blamed on Turkey which has stopped up the Tigris and Euphrates rivers as it builds dams.