Joint statement from Türkiye and Iraq. ''Steps will be taken for the transfer of Bashika-Zilikan''

In the Türkiye-Iraq joint press release published by the Presidential Directorate of Communications, new decisions taken within the scope of security cooperation between the two countries were shared with the public.

In the statement, it was reminded of the agreement reached by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Zeydi on September 23, 2026, and it was stated that the common will to continue the steps taken by the Iraqi authorities to fully establish state authority in Sinjar and end the presence of PKK elements in the region was confirmed.

BAŞIKA-ZİLİKAN'S TAKEOVER PROCESS BEGINS

In the joint statement, it was stated that Türkiye will take action to fulfill its obligations regarding the transfer of the Bashiqa-Zilikan military compound in Iraq.

The statement said, "The Turkish side declares that it will begin to take its responsibilities towards the gradual transfer of the Bashiqa-Zilikan campus to the Iraqi Federal Government, in accordance with the agreement reached at the leadership level."

JOINT SECURITY COORDINATION COMMITTEE WILL BE ACTIVE

Türkiye and Iraq also decided to take a new step in order to jointly monitor the progress of the process towards completely ending the existence of the PKK in Sinjar.

In this context, it was decided to activate the Joint Security Coordination Committee, which was previously agreed upon. The committee will function to jointly confirm and supervise the progress of the process that started in Sinjar by the two countries.

AN AGREEMENT WAS REACHED ON 23 SEPTEMBER

In their meeting in New York on September 23, President Erdoğan and Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Zeydi agreed to fully establish Iraqi state authority in Sinjar and end the presence of banned foreign armed elements in the region.

In the joint statement released after the meeting, it was announced that Turkish forces would gradually transfer the Bashiqa-Zilikan campus to the Iraqi Federal Government in line with the determined mechanism and schedule, depending on the progress made by Iraq in the field of security.

With the new statement, Türkiye officially announced that it would initiate steps towards the implementation of the agreement in question.