All Iraqis want terrorist attacks against Turkey to end: Hashimi

Hashimi, who visited Turkey to discuss the fight against the terror organization PKK, met the President Abdullah Gul and officials from the Turkish Foreign Ministry in Ankara.

Hashimi will meet Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan in Istanbul on Sunday. Â

"We discussed with President Gul issues such as security, economy, and bilateral political relations. We are conducting beneficial meetings. We must take urgent measures for our economies. Economic works will contribute to the interests of both Turkey and Iraq," the Iraqi vice president was quoted by Anatolian Agency as telling to reporters at Istanbul's Ataturk International Airport.

"So far, all meetings on the issue were fruitful and very positive," he said when asked about concrete steps to be jointly taken by Turkey and Iraq against the PKK in northern Iraq.

"Everyone in Iraq, including Turkmens, Arabs and Kurds, are concerned with these cross-border terrorist attacks against Turkey. All Iraqis want terrorist attacks on Turkey to end," Hashimi added.

Tariq al-Hashimi's visit comes ahead of Iraq Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's visit scheduled next week.

Turkey has started to hold direct contacts with the regional administration, withdrawing its position to reject dialogue with Irbil who was accused by Ankara of supporting PKK.

 

U.S., Turkish and Iraqi officials in November agreed to form a joint committee to combat the PKK after holding three-way talks in Baghdad as part of efforts to boost cooperation against the terrorists.

 

Turkey, provided with intelligence by the United States, has stepped up its campaign to crackdown on the PKK both inside Turkey and in northern Iraq, after the terror organization increased its attacks on Turkish soldiers, as well as civilians.

 

The diplomatic contacts between Turkey and Iraq are expected to be intensified in the near term. Iraq's Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari is also expected to pay a visit to Ankara