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