KRG PM VISITS TURKEY THROUGH HABUR BORDER CROSSING - AGENCY

Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani arrived in Turkey through Habur border crossing, Anadolu Agency reported on Friday (December 1).

The Agency said the KRG premier headed to Istanbul after he entered Turkey through Habur border crossing (Ibrahim Khalil border crossing in Kurdish] between the region and Turkey on Friday.

Barzani was headed to Istanbul by a special aircraft from Sirnak Serafettin Elci Airport, the agency added.

The aim of his visit remains unclear.

Relations between the KRG and Turkey had deteriorated after the Kurdistan Region held the independence referendum on September 25.

Turkey threatened economic sanctions and a military response to any security challenges posed by the referendum result in neighboring northern Iraq. They have maintained a drumbeat of opposition to the Kurdish vote and overall resulting situation.

KRG PM Barzani said that before the referendum was held in the region he asked to meet with Turkish officials several times, but Turkey refused the requests.