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ANKARA - Iraqi Prime Minister Ibrahim Jaafari is
expected here on a two-day visit on May 20-21,
barring any last-minute obstacles, a Turkish foreign
ministry official said Wednesday.
"During the visit, the two sides will review
bilateral ties and exchange views on fields and
projects the two countries can cooperate on
concerning the reconstruction of Iraq," foreign
ministry spokesman Namik Tan told a press
conference.
Jaafari will be accompanied by several ministers,
including minister of oil Ibrahim Bahr al-Ulum and
water resources minister Latif Rashid, a statement
said.
Details of his itinerary were not immediately
available.
Jaafari wanted to travel to Turkey last month for a
meeting of foreign ministers of countries
neighboring Iraq, but political wrangling over his
cabinet's line-up forced him to stay in Baghdad.
Turkey supports the post-war political process in
Iraq, but has several concerns that it sees directly
linked to its own security.
Ankara is particularly uneasy that separatist
Turkish Kurd rebels who went into hiding in the
mountains of northern Iraq prior to the US-led
invasion are increasingly infiltrating Turkey to
engage in anti-government violence.
It is frustrated that no action has so far been
taken against the rebels, considered as terrorists
by both Turkey and the United States.
Tan said the struggle against militants of the
outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) in northern
Iraq would be discussed during Jaafari's visit.
Ankara is also worried about the future of the
oil-rich city of Kirkuk, claimed by Iraqi Kurds as
well as Turkmens, an Iraqi minority of Turkish
descent.
05/18/2005 09:42 GMT
www.turkishpress.com
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