Iraqi Kurdish Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani says his administration will work to take further measures to prevent the PKK from using bases in northern Iraq against Turkey.

Barzani, the prime minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government, told Turkish reporters at the Capitol Hill in Washinbgton that his administration was determined to prevent the KRG region from being used in attacks against Turkey.

He said they attached great importance to their meeting with Turkish officials on May 1 and expressed hope that contabts would continue.

"Turkey's demand --asking our territory not to be used against Turkey-- is a just and righteous one," said Barzani.

Barzani said they expected Kirkuk issue to be resolved in line with the related article of the Iraqi constitution on referendum and UN to make new suggestions on the issue.

The referendum on Kirkuk which was opposed by Turkey and was scheduled to take place on December 2007 according to Iraqi constitution, was postponed for 6 months with a proposal by the UN.

Answering a question as to whether the Kurds wanted the referendum to take place in June, he said, "the important thing is seeing progress in the region. The timing of the referendum is not a big issue."