The head of the National State Forces Alliance, Ammar al-Hakim, described the development road project as: "A promising opportunity for Iraq, Turkey and all countries of the region." The alliance stated in a statement: "Al-Hakim met in his office this evening with the official of the Iraq file in the Turkish Foreign Ministry, Ali Reza Guney, accompanied by Anil Bora Inan, the Turkish ambassador to Baghdad." Al-Hakim stressed, during the meeting, the depth of the relationship between Iraq and Turkey and the importance of strengthening commonalities and starting from them in intertwining mutual interests and unifying positions towards regional and international issues. He also stressed the importance of economic integration with Turkey, stating: "The development road project represents a promising opportunity for Baghdad, Ankara and all countries of the region and the world because it represents a meeting point between the East and the West." Al-Hakim stressed at the same time the preservation of Iraq's so vereignty and the importance of the presence of the sovereignty feature in all bilateral agreements concluded between the two sides, calling for the implementation of the water management agreement and increasing water flows and releases. He stressed the need to stop the unjust war in Gaza, calling for a unified Islamic position, holding the international community responsible for stopping the Israeli killing machine against the defenceless people. Source: National Iraqi News Agency