Finance Minister of Turkey, Mehmet Şimşek, Thursday attended a ceremony to inaugurate the launch Arbil by Turkish Airlines (THY, for its acronym in Turkish) of direct flights between the northern Iraqi town of Istanbul. "We've been brothers for a thousand years. No one can stop that," Şimşek said during the ceremony, speaking in Kurdish. Not surprisingly, the Turkish Minister of Finance is himself a Turk of Kurdish origin, born into a modest family Kurdish southeastern city of Batman.
Şimşek stressed again during the ceremony the Turkish government's interest in supporting the autonomous Kurdish administration in northern Iraq and to develop with it at the highest level of both economic and political ties. "I bring the greetings of our Prime Minister (Erdogan)," continued the Minister Şimşek in Kurdish. "It is crucial for us to develop and live in peace."
Şimşek The minister's visit to northern Iraq not only had great economic significance but also political. Until a few years ago, it was unthinkable that a Turkish minister spoke in Kurdish in an official ceremony. But the north of Iraq, once one of the most contentious borders of Turkey, is becoming increasingly a bridge with which to develop ties cultural, political and economic developments in the region.
A good example is the spot where the ceremony of inauguration of flights between Istanbul and Arbil, Irbil International Airport, whose construction was undertaken by the Turkish company Cengiz and was opened two weeks ago by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, during the official visit to northern Iraq. Also the Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu recently visited the Kurdish region of Iraq.
"The Turkish Airlines flight to Arbil are the physical manifestation of the ties between the hearts of the Turks and Iraqis. We hope These flights make a major contribution to trade, investment and cooperation between our peoples, "continued the Minister Şimşek during the ceremony in Kurdish." We've been brothers for a thousand years. No one can stop that, "he said.
A good example is the spot where the ceremony of inauguration of flights between Istanbul and Arbil, Irbil International Airport, whose construction was undertaken by the Turkish company Cengiz and was opened two weeks ago by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, during the official visit to northern Iraq. Also the Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu recently visited the Kurdish region of Iraq.
"The Turkish Airlines flight to Arbil are the physical manifestation of the ties between the hearts of the Turks and Iraqis. We hope These flights make a major contribution to trade, investment and cooperation between our peoples, "continued the Minister Şimşek during the ceremony in Kurdish." We've been brothers for a thousand years. No one can stop that, "he said.
Under the agreement, the company Turkish Airlines operate direct flights from Istanbul to Arbil on Tuesdays and Saturdays, and from Arbil to Istanbul on Wednesdays and Sundays.
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