Iraq and Turkey strengthen ties

BAGHDAD, Oct. 16 (UPI) -- Turkey and Iraq have signed a series of agreements that strengthen ties between the two Middle Eastern counties, the government of Turkey says.

The accords, ranging from fighting terrorism by the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) to energy cooperation, were completed Thursday during a visit to Iraq by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Today's Zaman reported Friday.

One of the agreements signed by the two countries would improve their joint effort to eliminate the PKK in northern Iraq.

Erdogan and Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki also announced plans to be co-chairmen of a joint cabinet meeting in December.

The English-language newspaper said Erdogan's government has been working hard to improve cooperation with its neighbors.

Two days before Erdogan visited Iraq, Turkey signed similar cooperative deals with Syria.