Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki arrived in Ankara on Tuesday for a two-day official visit to hold security talks with the Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Maliki told reporters at Ankara's Esenboga airport that he will hold meetings with Turkish leaders to develop cooperation between the two countries on trade, economy and security.
Maliki is expected to meet with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and President Ahmet Necdet Sezer.
During meetings, Turkish leaders will convey their concerns to Maliki about the outlawed Kurdish Worker's Party (PKK), local media reported.
In early April, the Turkish government delivered a note of protest to Baghdad concerning the terrorist threat posed to Turkey by PKK rebels, who the Turkish said have found a safe haven in northern Iraq.
Just a day after its delivery, Turkey's National Security Council (MGK) indicated that Turkey may resort to military measures should it not receive a satisfactory response.
Just two days after an April-10 MGK meeting, Chief of General Staff Gen. Yasar Buyukanit publicly asked the government for approval to launch a military operation.
Eventually, more than six weeks after the delivery of the aforementioned note to Baghdad, the Iraqi government responded to it, expressing its readiness to cooperate with the Turkish government against PKK members who use northern Iraq as a base.
The fight between Turkish security forces and the PKK, which is listed as a terrorist organization by a majority of the international community, dates back to 1984 and has led to the killing of tens of thousands of both civilians and soldiers.
Source: Xinhua
|
Comment
Tell A Friend
Print Format
Save Article