Turkish Defense Minister Yasar Guler announced on Wednesday that Ankara and Baghdad are heading to sign a strategic agreement for the first time in many years.

This came in a press statement made by the minister before the meeting of the parliamentary bloc of the ruling Justice and Development Party, regarding the upcoming visit of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to Iraq.

Guler said, "Activities related to combating terrorism continue. We have prepared our plans and are continuing to work."

He added, "President (Erdogan) heads to Iraq on Monday. We will sign a strategic agreement for the first time in many years."

He continued, "Our Iraqi friends used a phrase close to labeling the PKK a terrorist."

In response to a journalist's question about the intention to establish a 30-km-deep buffer zone on the Turkish-Iraqi border, the minister said, "The buffer zone has actually been established, but there are some things that we must accomplish, and we are working to accomplish them."