Türkiye hopes Development Road Project with Iraq will be implemented soon: Parliament speaker

Ankara's terror-free initiative will have positive impact across region, says Numan Kurtulmus

Türkiye’s parliament speaker voiced hope Tuesday that the Development Road Project linking Iraq with Türkiye would become fully operational as soon as possible. "I hope the Development Road Project will become an active, visible and fully implemented project with all its components as soon as possible," Numan Kurtulmus told a joint news conference in the capital Ankara with Haibat al-Halbousi, his visiting Iraqi counterpart. "The Development Road Project is a very important project that will ensure connectivity in the fullest sense and, in the coming period, contribute to the development of Iraq and the region, as well as Türkiye's development," he said. "Through this project, Asia and Europe will be connected via Iraq and Türkiye, and the Asian and European economies will become integrated with one another." The strategic trade corridor will stretch about 1,200 kilometers (745.65 miles) from Iraq’s Grand Faw Port through Türkiye and into Europe, according to Turkish officials. Kurtulmus also said the two sides had once again reaffirmed their full support for all steps to be taken under the project and exchanged views on ways to accelerate the process. "We believe both countries will achieve significant gains within the framework of the win-win principle," he said. Kurtulmus stressed that the benefits will go beyond economic gains, saying the project would also connect peoples, cultures, and cities across the region. "It will mean bringing together the parts of our region that have become separated, which makes it an exceptionally valuable project," he added.   ‘Terror-Free Türkiye approach will have an impact across the entire region’ Kurtulmus also said Türkiye's efforts to eliminate terrorism would have an impact beyond the country's borders. "We hope that the Terror-Free Türkiye approach will have an impact across the entire region and that our Iraqi brothers and sisters will also be rid of terrorism as soon as possible," he said. "The preparations for armed and militia groups in Iraq to hand over their weapons to the Iraqi central government starting next month are also very important," he added.