UPDATE - Iraqi prime minister to visit Ankara Wednesday

ADDS IRAQI PM’s REMARKS; CHANGES HEADLINE, SPOT; EDITS THROUGHOUT

By Jeyhun Aliyev and Haydar Karaalp

ANKARA/BAGHDAD (AA) - Iraqi Prime Minister Adil Abdul-Mahdi is scheduled to pay an official visit to Turkey on Wednesday, according to the Turkish presidency.

In a statement, the presidency on Tuesday said that Abdul-Mahdi’s upcoming visit was upon the direct invitation of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

“Steps to be taken for the reconstruction of Iraq and for enhanced Turkey-Iraq cooperation, especially in the trade and energy fields, will be discussed during the visit,” the statement read.

Erdogan and Abdul-Mahdi also hope to exchange views on several regional and international issues of concern to both countries.

Abdul-Mahdi recently told reporters in Baghdad that, “along with security issues, we have a strong partnership with Turkey vis-à-vis developments in Syria, the situation in Sinjar and the issue of shared borders.”

“We also have vital economic relations with Turkey,” he added, stressing the importance of Turkish investment in Iraq.

* Writing by Cagatay Zontur