President Abdullah Gül has voiced support of the government's initiative to engage in dialogue with the northern Iraki Kurdish leader Massoud Barzani, who said Wednesday he was sending a message of friendship to Turkey.

On a visit to Washington, the president of the Kurdish Regional Government, Barzani, referred to the problem of the Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK, saying that nobody had any interest in bloodshed and that both sides should work towards an end to the conflict.

"We try to have the best relations with our neighbors, this would be good for everyone," Barzani told a small group of Turkish reporters at a reception

He said Iraqi Kurdistan would be for all people, not only Kurds, but also Arabs, Turkmen and others. "We continue to work to strengthen our relations with Turkey and to seek solutions that will lead to peace and stability in our region," Qubad Talabany, the Kurdish Regional Government, or KRG, representative in Washington, told the Turkish Daily News. PKK terrorists have been launching attacks on Turkish targets from bases inside the region under KRG jurisdiction.

Turkey has long accused Iraqi Kurds of aiding the PKK,

but this year relations have improved and recently, leading Turkish and KRG officials have officially started formal talks. The government initative received support from the presidency.

Our problem is not a resolution of the terror problem in Basra… It is necessary to get the north, where the terrorist organization is based, involved. What will we gain from not talking to them? the president told a group of journalists at a Republic Day reception late Wednesday.

I believe and will say from the beginning that it is necessary to meet with all groups in Iraq, said Gül. Of course it is necessary to meet (with Barzani)." Gül noted that a new period had started with Iraq, which should be supported by everyone.

The recent attacks of the terrorist organization are a reflection of the uneasiness stemming from (Turkey's) cooperation with Iraq, said Gül.

He added he would also go to Iraq, but the date has not yet been scheduled.

Barzani meets Bush

Meanwhile earlier on Wednesday Barzani met with President George W. Bush at the White House. On Tuesday he had talks with Vice President Dick Cheney and Secretary of State

Condoleezza Rice.

In all these meetings the top issue was a pending U.S.-Iraqi security arrangement, but the PKK matter was also discussed, sources said.

Kurds grateful to US:

Bush said that despite some ongoing rifts with the Iraqi government he was confident that the security agreement would take effect soon. Barzani also fully backed the arrangement.

At their White House meeting Bush and Barzani praised each other.

"You've played a very instrumental part in the development of a free Iraq. And I thank you for your leadership, and I thank you for your personal friendship," Bush said.

"I am here to convey the gratitude of the Iraqi people in general and the people of Kurdistan in particular for the brave decision that you made to rid us of this dictatorship," Barzani said. "We are very grateful for all the brave souls, women and men in uniform who paid their dear lives in the process. And we are very grateful to the American people and to you, Mr. president, for these sacrifices."

On another visit three-and-a-half years ago, Barzani went to the White House in traditional warrior peshmerga outfit, but this time he was in business attire.