Iraqi FM visits Turkey

Iraqi Foreign Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari arrived in Turkey on Wednesday to meet with Turkish officials in order to boost bilateral ties and coordinate efforts to fight terrorism.

Jaafari’s visit between Nov. 5 and 7 is at the invitation of Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu.

The Foreign Ministry issued a statement on Tuesday saying Turkey stands in solidarity with the Iraqi people and authorities in their fight against the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), which has overrun large swathes of northern and western Iraq.

“We will continue to decisively stand by Iraq in its struggle in the face of the painful tests it is facing,” the statement said, adding that Jaafari’s visit to Turkey is the “most visible evidence” of Turkey’s support for Iraq’s fight against terrorism, the improvement of the culture of democracy in Iraq and the restoration of Iraq’s status in the region.

Jaafari will be meeting with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Parliament Speaker Cemil Çiçek and Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu.