Hakim said during a joint press conference in Baghdad with his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu that the security of the borders between Iraq and Turkey should be preserved.

The Turkish FM arrived in Baghdad on Sunday morning, where he was welcomed by Hakim, NRT reported.

During their meeting, they discussed bilateral relations and trade between Iraq and Turkey, according to Hakim. The issue of water was also discussed.

“Our soil must not be used against Turkey. We strongly reject attacks on Turkey from Iraq,” Hakim said in the press conference.

Cavusoglu said during the press conference that he would also visit Basra and the Kurdistan Region.

He added that Turkey would open consulates in Kirkuk and Najaf after Ankara receives permission from Iraq.

Cavusoglu further said that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan would visit Iraq towards the end of this year.

"President Erdogan will visit Iraq to hold 4th High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council meeting towards the end of this year," Daily Sabah quoted Cavusoglu as saying during the press conference.

At an international donors’ conference in Kuwait city last year, Cavusoglu announced that Turkey was pledging $5 billion in loans and investment for the reconstruction of Iraq following its devastating three-year war with Islamic State (IS).

Reporter’s code: 50101