Türkiye and Iraq announce phased handover of Başika-Zilikan compound

In a joint statement issued by Türkiye and Iraq, the Turkish side said it would begin taking the necessary steps for the phased handover of the Başika-Zilikan compound to the Iraqi Federal Government. The parties decided to activate the Joint Security Coordination Committee to oversee the process of ending the PKK’s presence in Sinjar.

Türkiye and Iraq issued a joint press statement on the implementation of the agreement reached by the two countries’ leaders on September 23. The statement said the Turkish side would begin taking the necessary steps for the phased handover of the Başika-Zilikan compound in northern Iraq to the Iraqi Federal Government, in line with the leaders’ agreement.

The joint statement emphasized that the Turkish and Iraqi authorities had reaffirmed their shared commitment to continuing the Iraqi authorities’ “commendable” steps to date toward fully establishing state authority in Sinjar and ending the presence of members of the PKK terrorist organization.

Joint Security Coordination Committee to become operational

The parties decided to activate the previously agreed Joint Security Coordination Committee to jointly confirm and oversee progress in the process launched in Sinjar to completely end the PKK’s presence.

September agreement between the leaders

On September 23, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan met with Iraqi Prime Minister Ali ez-Zeydi in New York during the UN General Assembly. Euronews reported that, following the meeting, it was announced that Türkiye would gradually hand over to the Iraqi Federal Government the Başika-Zilikan compound, where Türkiye has been present since 2015, in line with the agreed mechanism and timetable and depending on Iraq’s progress in the security field. The agreement also covered the full establishment of Iraqi state authority in Sinjar.

Photo: AA

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