ANKARA Ñ Iraq and Turkey have concluded an agreement to expand border security cooperation making possible increased exchanges between the two countries.   

Officials said the two countries have drafted a plan to increase border traffic in 2009. They said this would include the opening of two crossings along the Iraqi-Turkish border.

"The plan reflected Iraq's decision to increase security cooperation with Turkey," an official said.

Turkish Transportation Minister Binali Yildirim said the new border crossings were meant to reduce traffic at the only border station between Iraq and Turkey.

Yildirim, who discussed the plan during the visit of his Iraqi counterpart to Ankara, said the Habour crossing could no longer handle the increased flow of people and goods between the two countries.

In 2008, Iraq and Turkey significantly increased trade as part of an effort to improve diplomatic and security relations.

Bilateral trade reached nearly $5 billion last year and was envisioned to double by 2010.

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