ANKARA, Dec 24 (AFP) - Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharazi is expected in Ankara later Friday on a surprise visit for talks on the situation in their joint neighbour Iraq and bilateral ties, a Turkish diplomat said.
Kharazi, who is on a regional tour covering Syria and Lebanon, is scheduled to meet Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer and his counterpart Abdullah Gul during his stay in Ankara.
"The talks are expected to focus on Iraq, bilateral ties as well as regional issues," the diplomat said.
Ahead of the January 30 polls in Iraq, both Turkey and Iran have called for the participation of all ethnic groups in the elections and in the furure administration of the war-torn country.
The two countries are also concerned over any moves by the Kurds in northern Iraq towards greater autonomy which they fear might fan unrest among their own Kurdish minorities.
On the bilateral front, Tehran and Ankara have recently bolstered cooperation on security issues after trading accusation that each side was sheltering eacxh others' opponents.
But relations have been affected by a series of bitter trade disputes.
Iranian President Mohammad Khatami postponed a visit to Turkey in September after Iran's conservative-controlled parliament approved a bill giving lawmakers veto power over two major contracts signed with Turkish companies.
12/24/2004 09:07 GMT - AFP