25 October 2017•Update: 26 October 2017
By Fatih Hafiz Mehmet and Ali Abo Rezeg
ANKARA
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned against the presence of PKK terrorists in northern Iraq’s Sinjar and Qandil areas Wednesday.
Speaking to the media after his meeting with visiting Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi in capital Ankara, Erdogan said Turkey remains in solidarity with Baghdad.
"There is PKK presence in areas like Sinjar and Qandil. In these areas we are ready to continue common efforts and be in solidarity [with Baghdad],” he said.
The PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and EU -- resumed its armed campaign against Turkey in July 2015. Since then, it has been responsible for the deaths of around 1,200 Turkish security personnel and civilians.
Erdogan said the Iraqi central government has cleared all except 15-20 percent of the country from the Daesh terror group.
"I believe the remaining Daesh will also be cleared," he said.
Erdogan said he expressed Turkey's grievances, during the meeting, over the recent illegitimate referendum in northern Iraq's Kurdish Regional Government (KRG).
Illegitimate KRG referendum
"We always said that we support Iraq's territorial integrity and we will continue doing so," he said.
Despite Turkey's warnings, the referendum was held and therefore Turkey had to impose some sanctions against the Erbil-based KRG, he added.
Erdogan said meetings with Iraq and Iran had yielded positive results.
Speaking about the Kirkuk operation, al-Abadi said that Iraqi forces deployed in different regions of Iraq are defending the people.
“Our instructions for Iraqi forces were clear enough and focused on not entering any armed clash and avoiding bloodshed as much as possible,”
Addressing Erdogan, al-Abadi went on to affirm that there is a joint responsibility for accomplishing stability in the whole region.
“We suggested [in our visit] a project that would bring stability to the region through real economic development,” he said.
Tension has steadily mounted between Baghdad and Erbil since Sept. 25, when Iraqis in KRG-held areas -- and in several disputed areas -- voted on whether or not to declare independence from the central government.
According to results announced by the KRG, almost 93 percent of registered voters cast ballots in favor of independence.
The illegitimate referendum was heavily criticized by most regional and international actors, with many warning it would distract from Iraq’s ongoing fight against terrorism and further destabilize the already volatile region.
Last week, government forces moved into several parts of the country disputed between Baghdad and Erbil, including the oil-rich Kirkuk province.
On Wednesday, the KRG -- fearing more military escalations by Baghdad -- offered to “freeze” the results of last month’s unconstitutional poll, halt all military activity, and enter into dialogue with the central government.
