Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (R) shakes hands with Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi during a press conference in Ankara, Turkey, on Aug. 14, 2018. Turkey is set to reopen soon its consulates in Mosul and Basra in Iraq, Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Tuesday. (Xinhua/Mustafa Kaya)
ANKARA, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- Turkey is set to reopen soon its consulates in Mosul and Basra in Iraq, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Tuesday.
"We are set to activate again our consulate generals in Mosul and Basra, and this will happen in a short time," Erdogan said during a joint conference with his Iraqi counterpart Haider al-Abadi in Ankara, adding that plans were also underway to open a second border gate between Iraq and Turkey.
"This will benefit both countries," pointed out the Turkish leader who furthermore expressed support for Iraq in combatting the Islamic Sate (IS) and "all other terror groups."
"Turkey is ready to give any support when it comes to meeting the steps for the needs of the people in Iraq," he indicated.
Abadi hailed the opening of a new border gate with Turkey as a symbol of improving ties and this new gate would improve bilateral trade.
Turkey closed its consulate in Mosul four years ago, after it was seized and its employees held hostage by the IS. The hostages were freed in September 2014 after a three-month ordeal.
Turkey evacuated the Basra consulate also in 2014 for security reasons.
Abadi's visit to Ankara comes amid a bitter row between Erdogan and his U.S. counterpart Donald Trump. The United States imposed punitive sanctions on Turkey as part of an ongoing rift over the detention of an American pastor.
