Babacan: "It's important to improve dialogue with all groups in Iraq"

Foreign Minister Ali Babacan yesterday met with his New Zealander counterpart Winston Peters, on an official visit to Turkey. Afterwards, he told a press conference, "As you know, we have a general policy of improving our dialogue and relations with all groups in Iraq." Peters added, "However, some different views and different approaches concerning the terrorist organization PKK were in question, particularly related to the administration in northern Iraq. Nevertheless, in the coming period, you can expect an increase in different contacts with the administration in Iraq's north at different levels. This is important for both sides in regards to the struggle against the terrorist organization and in regards to our economic relations on energy issues with Iraq in general." In related news, Murat Ozcelik, Turkey's special representative to Iraq, will visit Baghdad on May 4 and is expected to meet with Kurdistan Regional Government Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani. Turkey's concerns over the terrorist PKK and economic issues such as Turkish businessmen's activities in northern Iraq, oil and natural gas tenders will be discussed at the meeting.