Turkish Visa Application Centre Opened in Sulaymaniyah

PUKMEDIA

Deputy PM Qubad Talabani and Turkish CG Arman Topçu inaugurating the Turkish Visa Issuance Centre in Sulaymaniyah.

In the presence of Qubad Talabani, Deputy Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Region, the Turkish Visa Application Centre was inaugurated in Sulaymaniyah on Sunday. Turkish Airlines will operate four flights a week between Istanbul and Jalal Talabani International Airport, with daily flights expected to begin by the end of the year.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Talabani said: “Sulaymaniyah is a city for all nations and communities in Iraq and the wider region. Today, we are taking another step towards strengthening stability in Kurdistan and advancing Sulaymaniyah’s political, economic, cultural and academic development.”

He added: “While tourists from Sulaymaniyah have faced tensions and obstacles, many people have continued to travel to Türkiye daily through the airports of Erbil, Kirkuk and Baghdad. Therefore, the opening of the Turkish Visa Application Centre in Sulaymaniyah is an important service and facility for the city’s residents.”

Talabani also encouraged local traders to strengthen their engagement with the Turkish market and called on the local authorities to support Turkish companies and facilitate their activities in the city.

“This is only the beginning, and I hope traders will strengthen their cooperation and view Türkiye as a major market for their products,” he said, calling on them to benefit from Türkiye's experience.

“I also call on the local government to give special attention to Turkish companies and facilitate their work, in order to convey Sulaymaniyah’s message of openness to neighbouring countries and the wider world,” he added.

In response to questions from journalists, Talabani said relations between the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) and the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) were continuing, with several issues requiring joint negotiations.

He said talks on the formation of a new Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) would continue.

Regarding financial issues, Talabani said: “We are in constant contact with the federal government to prepare the budget bill and resolve outstanding financial issues, in order to secure the Kurdistan Region’s financial entitlements and end the crisis and delays in the payment of salaries.”

The Deputy Prime Minister also said the Kurdistan Region attaches importance to its relations with Türkiye, particularly in Sulaymaniyah province, and would work to facilitate greater engagement and attract Turkish businesspeople and investors to the city.

He added: “We reiterate our full support for the peace process in Türkiye and encourage all parties to help make it a success. This is a golden opportunity, and peace should prevail everywhere. No obstacles should be allowed to hinder the success of the peace process.”

Meanwhile, Arman Topçu, Consul General of Türkiye in the Kurdistan Region, thanked the Kurdistan Region Deputy Prime Minister for his efforts during the opening of the Turkish Visa Issuance Centre in Sulaymaniyah.

Topçu also highlighted the role of the late President Mam Jalal in promoting relations between Iraq and Türkiye.

He added: “We have no choice but to resolve our problems, and there are no obstacles to improving and strengthening our relations.”

It is noteworthy that Turkish Airlines currently operates four flights a week between Istanbul and Jalal Talabani International Airport. The airline is expected to increase the service to daily flights from 14 December.



PUKMEDIA