Turkey suggest in Iraq to create one “joint operations center” to fight the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) and Baghdad responded “positively” at a meeting last weekan official of the Turkish Ministry of Defense said today Thursday.

High-ranking Turkish and Iraqi officials, including defense ministers, held talks last week in Baghdad to discuss security issues, including possible measures against the PKK, since Turkey warned for new military operations in the region.

“Iraq also considers (the PKK) a threat to the country. They approached positively our offer to establish a joint operations center and cooperate in the fight against terrorism,” the Turkish official told reporters.

During the meeting last week, the two sides also discussed preparations for a planned visit by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to Baghdadwhich is expected to take place after the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which ends in April.

The official stated that Ankara wants the joint operations center to be included in a broader strategy document that Erdogan wants to sign during his visit.

The PKK, designated a terrorist organization by Turkey, the United States and the European Union, took up arms against the Turkish state in 1984. More than 40,000 people have been killed during the uprising.