Iraqi officials visit Turkey

Iraqi Deputy Chief of General Gen. Naseer al-Abadi Staff is set to visit Ankara next week at the invitation of his Turkish counterpart Gen. Ergin Saygun. Later this month, Iraqi Vice President Tariq Hashimi will visit Istanbul. Finally next month, officials of Iraq's State Oil Marketing Organization (SOMO) are set to meet with officials of the Turkish Petroleum Corporation (TPAO). The meetings reportedly will focus on why TPAO was not among 35 companies recently approved by Iraq's Oil Ministry to bid for tenders to develop oil and gas fields.