Barzani arrives in Turkey

The president of Iraq's autonomous Kurdistan Region, Masoud Barzani, has arrived in Turkey on Wednesday.

The Iraqi Kurdish leader will pay his first visit to the National Intelligence Organization (MİT), where he is expected to meet with MİT Chief Hakan Fidan.

Barzani will meet with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan at 5:45 pm local time. After meeting Erdoğan, the Iraqi Kurdish leader will also meet with Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu at 8 pm local time.

The deployment of Turkish troops in Mosul's Bashiqa region will be a key discussion topic for the leaders.

Other regional issues will also be addressed during the meetings.

On December 5, Turkish troops reached Mosul's Bashiqa, located 12 kilometers northeast of the center, in routine training exercises as a part of the fight against Daesh. However, Iraq reacted to Turkey strongly over the deployment of Turkish troops in Mosul, and the country has urged Turkey to withdraw its forces from Bashiqa.

As a reaction to the Turkish deployment, the Baghdad City Council approved an embargo on Turkish exports to Iraq on December 9 in retaliation for the deployment of Turkish troops to Mosul.

"We are there to help the Iraqi government in the fight against Daesh. I think this issue is exaggerated " Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmuş said early Wednesday.