ANKARA
Prime Minister Necirvan Barzani of the regional administration in north of Iraq is visiting Turkey while the tension between Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri-El Maliki and Kurds is growing following the summit in Irbil on April 29.
Necirvan is known to be a leader that attaches special importance to relations with Turkey.
Barzani, who pays his first visit abroad to Turkey since his appointment as prime minister on March 7, stresses the importance of improvement of commercial and political relations between Turkey and regional administration.
Necirvan Barzani, who is the son-in-law and also the nephew of Massoud Barzani, leader of the regional administration in north of Iraq, also serves as deputy chairman of Iraqi Kurdistan Democratic Party. He previously was the prime minister of the administration between 2006-2009.
Veysel Ayhan, associate prof. dr. from International Relations Department of Abant Izzet Baysal University, said, "Necirvan Barzani believes there is a deep and strategic historical background between Turkey and Kurds in the north of Iraq and it would lead to a much more closer political cooperation. Consequently, Necirvan wants to be more closer with Turkey. Furthermore, his close friends discuss the thesis of 'political integration'. As long as the Maliki government pushes the Kurds out of the game, efforts which aim to make such theses real, would increase."
(Reporting by Ogun Duru)
