Iraqi Kurd official says Turk PM would be welcomed in Iraq

Erdogan's visit to Iraqi capital of Baghdad has pleased Iraqi Kurds, Barzani told on Saturday at a press conference in Erbil province of Iraq, Turkey's CNNTurk reported.

"We don't have a program to meet Erdogan yet. But we'll be glad if there is (such a meeting). We greet Erdogan very warmly," Barzani said. Â

Erdogan is expected to visit Iraqi capital of Baghdad next week to meet Iraqi officials, according to recent reports. However the date of the visit has not been made public because of security concerns.   Â

A trilateral meeting was earlier reported to be held between Erdogan, Nechirvan Barzani and Iraqi PM Nuri al-Maliki in Baghdad.

Turkish prime minister is also expected to meet Iraqi President Jalal Talabani during his visit.

Barzani said he hoped Erdogan's visit would lead a new era for relations between Turkey and Iraq, adding they, as Iraqi Kurds, wanted good relations to be established between the two countries.

Erdogan is expected to discuss several key issues with Iraqi officials, including the continuing raids by Turkey against the outlawed separatist PKK, who hides out along its mountainous border with northern Iraq, and economic agreements between the two countries.

Turkey, provided with intelligence on PKK movements in Iraq by the U.S., has stepped up military action against the PKK since December, carrying out several air strikes and a week-long ground incursion into northern Iraq in February, where more than 2,000 PKK separatists take refuge.Â

Ankara has also begun to establish a dialogue mechanism with the Kurdish administration of northern Iraq, an important shift in Turkey's foreign policy as a part of its intensified fight against the separatist PKK on both diplomatic and military fronts.Â

The PKK is listed as a terrorist group by much of the international community including the U.S. and the EU.Â