WORLD
Turkey: Independence poll for northern Iraq a 'mistake'
Baku, June 9, AZERTAC
The decision by the Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) in Iraq to hold an independence referendum later this year is a “grave mistake”, the Turkish Foreign Ministry said Friday, according to Anadolu Agency.
Reacting to KRG President Masoud Barzani’s announcement that a vote would be held on Sept. 25, the Foreign Ministry said Iraq’s territorial integrity should be protected.
“We think that this would be a grave mistake,” the ministry said in a statement on Wednesday’s declaration. “Protection of the territorial integrity and political unity of Iraq is one of the basic principles of Turkey's Iraq policy.”
Also commenting on the decision, Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said in a statement, “Our opinion is loud and clear. We want the integrity of Iraq soil. We want all Iraqis to live together, under one government”.
“We have enough issues to deal with, and we believe creating a new one is wrong and an irresponsible decision”, he added.