Erdogan receives President Barzani in Ankara

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan received Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani at his complex in Ankara, the Turkish presidency said on Wednesday. 

“President @RTErdogan received President Nechirvan Barzani of the Iraqi Kurdish Regional Government (IKRG) at the Presidential Complex,” Erdogan’s office said in a tweet.

Turkish presidency did not provide more information, but Barzani's office said in a statement later in the day that both leaders discussed bolstering of bilateral relations. 

"The meeting focused on bilateral relations of Turkey with Iraq and the Kurdistan Region, reaffirming the mutual willingness to further strengthen the important commercial and economic ties between the two sides," read the statement. 

"Discussions also highlighted other areas of joint partnership, the political status in Iraq and the latest regional developments," it added. 

The visit comes at a time when Iraqi and Kurdish political parties are in negotiations to elect a new Iraq president and cabinet. The visit also follows Turkey's announcement of a new military campaign against the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) and the People's Protection Units (YPG) in Iraq's Shingal and Makhmour towns, and Syria's Derik area.

Ankara and Erbil enjoy great economic relations, and most of the Kurdistan Region's crude oil is marketed through Turkey's pipelines.

Updated at 8:41