Antalya: The 5th meeting of the Trkiye-Iraq High-Level Security Mechanism is set to be held on Sunday in Trkiye's southern Antalya province as part of the 4th Antalya Diplomacy Forum. The meeting will be co-chaired by Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and his Iraqi counterpart Fuad Hussein, with participation from representatives of both countries' foreign ministries, defense departments, and intelligence agencies.

According to Anadolu Agency, the meeting is expected to focus on reinforcing the existing mutual understanding between Trkiye and Iraq in the field of security, particularly in combating the PKK terrorist organization, through additional concrete steps. Discussions will likely include a review of Iraq's practical implementation of its decision to designate the PKK as a "banned organization" and reiterate Trkiye's ultimate expectation that Iraq formally declare it a 'terrorist organization.'

The implications of the PKK's jailed ringleader Abdullah Ocalan's call for the terror group's dissolution in Iraq and the broader region are also expected to be addressed at the meeting. Ocalan, on February 27, called for the dissolution of the PKK and all groups under it, urging an end to its terror campaign. The PKK, a terrorist group responsible for taking approximately 40,000 lives in its four-decade campaign against Trkiye, often hides out in Iraq to plot terrorist attacks on Trkiye.

Trkiye is also expected to reiterate its demand for concrete steps against the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO), the group behind the 2016 defeated coup attempt, and its presence in Iraq, especially its so-called schools. The meeting is also anticipated to reaffirm Trkiye's determination to jointly combat the Daesh (ISIS) terror group and highlight the importance of regional cooperation under the principle of 'regional solutions to regional problems.'

Finally, the meeting will evaluate opportunities to enhance coordination and cooperation between the two neighboring countries, especially in light of current developments in Syria and Israel's ongoing aggression in the region.