Iraqi prime minister arrived in capital Ankara on Wednesday amid tensions between the Iraqi central government and northern Iraq's Kurdish Regional Government (KRG).

Kanal24 reports citing Daily Sabah that Haidar-al Abadi will meet President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and then Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım.

The leaders will likely discuss ways to enhance cooperation in order to contribute to regional peace, stability and safety.

Another topic expected to be on the agenda is progress after Irbil-based KRG's illegitimate referendum and the steps that can be taken mutually in this regard.

Turkey had forged close ties to the KRG, but had urged them not to hold the vote, warning of consequences that would isolate the region. It closed its airspace to flights to and from the northern Iraq and said it was considering closing its border to the region as further reprisal.

Neighboring Iran is also deeply opposed to the referendum, in which more than 90 percent voted for independence.

On Sept. 25, the KRG-controlled areas – and several disputed parts of the country – voted on whether or not to declare independence from the Iraqi state.

According to poll results announced by the KRG, almost 93 percent of those who cast ballots voted in favor of independence.

The illegitimate referendum faced sharp opposition from most regional and international actors, including the U.S., Turkey and Iran, who warned the poll would distract from Iraq's fight against terrorism and further destabilize the region.

The KRG late Tuesday offered to "freeze" the referendum results, offering an "immediate ceasefire" to open dialogue with Baghdad. Abadi has not yet made clear his position.

However, Eu Minister Ömer Çelik, indicated a freeze would not be enough to satisfy his government. He demanded the results be fully "withdrawn."

Iraqi forces supported by pro-government militias last week took over the oil-rich and ethnically mixed province of Kirkuk and other areas which were controlled by KRG's peshmerga forces outside the autonomous region, amid instances of heavy clashes.