Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq (cabinet.gov.krd) - Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani met Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on the sideline of the Atlantic Council Summit in Istanbul.

President Erdogan extended his condolences to Prime Minister Barzani for the death of five Peshmerga fighters during last week’s Turkish air strike against the bases of the Kurdistan Workers Party, PKK, in Mount Sinjar.

He stressed that the base of Peshmerga forces was mistakenly targeted, expressing his concern for this incidence.

In the meantime, he said the PKK presence in and around Mount Sinjar is unacceptable, stressing the need for all the sides to cooperate for PKK’s evacuation from these areas.

Prime Minister Barzani expressed his concern over the incidence in Sinjar, stating it should not recur. He, meantime, stressed the need for the PKK to leave these areas.

On bilateral relations, the two leaders expressed both sides willingness to further develop their relations. The Turkish President expressed his country’s growing interest in its relations with the Kurdistan Region, which he commended its prevailing security and stability.

The two sides also discussed the latest developments in the military operation to liberate the city of Mosul, relations with Baghdad and the issue of the internally displaced Iraqis and refugees in the Kurdistan Region, as well as other regional developments.