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Iraq and Turkey are considering economic and security agreements that would improve the often strained ties between the two neighbours, the foreign ministers of both countries said Tuesday.

Baghdad and Ankara have been on edge, with drought-stricken Iraq accusing Turkey of cutting off water and Turkey accusing Iraq of failing to do enough to stop attacks by the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party, known as PKK.

Both countries, though, have a vested interest in improving ties because of their shared trade, oil and security concerns.

High on the list of discussions Tuesday in Baghdad between Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari and his visiting Turkish counterpart, Ahmet Davutoglu, was tripling trade between the two countries.

Davutoglu said they would like to increase trade between the two from $7 billion this year to $20 billion by the end of 2010.

“We want Iraq to be our partner in the region,” he told reporters after the meeting.
Part of that partnership would focus on the sharing of intelligence on potential threats both countries face.
“The terrorism problem is a serious one and we discussed this matter in detail,” Zebari said. “The goal is to increase co-operation.”

Zebari said the two countries are considering establishing a joint operation centre in Iraq’s Kurdish north to share intelligence on the PKK, which Turkey and the U.S. consider a terrorist organization.

The PKK frequently launches attacks against Turkey from its bases in northern Iraq.

Zebari said he reiterated to Davutoglu that Baghdad was committed to stopping the attacks. In turn, Davutoglu said Turkey would release more water down the Euphrates River to relieve shortages that are threatening agriculture and other industries in Iraq.

Iraq blames Turkey as well as Iran and Syria for building dams and reservoirs that cause water shortages that have been compounded by drought conditions in Iraq.

“We have been given promises that Turkey wishes to help Iraq pass this crisis,” Zebari said.
Turkey also has provided medical care to the hundreds of Iraqis injured in insurgent attacks in recent days near the northern city of Mosul, which the U.S. military has called the last urban stronghold of al-Qaida in Iraq.

Iraqi police and medical officials on Tuesday raised the death toll to at least 34 dead and more than 150 wounded in a double truck bombing that struck a village just east of Mosul. The U.S. military has said at least 35 were confirmed dead, while Qusai Abbas al-Shabaki, who represents the Shabak minority on the provincial council, said 43 died.

Many of the dead were killed when the Monday morning explosions either flattened or damaged close to 60 houses in the village of Khazna, said Hussein Ahmed Salih, the village mayor.

The village has a population of some 3,000 people who are nearly all Shabak, a small, mostly Shiite ethnic group with their own distinct language and belief system.

The Iraqi government has responded to the recent attacks by tightening security at checkpoints and mosques, and stepping up searches.

But the attacks have raised concern over the ability of Iraq’s security forces to safeguard the population as U.S. forces wind down their operation in advance of the pullout of combat troops by Aug. 31, 2010.

“Our security troops have increased the number on the streets,” said Iraqi army Capt. Majid Kadhim.

 ”Yesterday there were security violations. God willing, our forces are ready to safeguard people.”

Source: Sinan Salaheddin, The Associated Press
URL: ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/090811/world/ml_iraq_97