Turkey, Iran and Iraq vow for stability in region
By Kamila Aliyeva
Turkey, Iran and Iraq are making joint efforts to establish stability in the region.
This was stated by Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim, Turkish media outlets reported on October 26.
These countries’ priorities include regional stability and the fight against terrorism, according to the prime minister.
Touching upon the situation around Kurdish Autonomy in Iraq, Yildirim noted that it was initially clear that the referendum was not in the interests of Erbil.
Earlier, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that Ankara, Baghdad and Tehran have achieved serious success in the north of Iraq.
Despite the fact that neighboring countries urged Erbil to postpone the referendum on independence, the head of the Kurdish autonomy did not attach particular importance to these appeals, according to the Turkish leader.
Erdogan once again reconfirmed that Turkey stands for the integrity of Iraq.
The Kurdish Regional Government’s (KRG) held a controversial independence referendum in northern Iraq, including areas disputed between Erbil and Baghdad, on September 25. Election authorities in Kurdistan announced that the independence referendum passed with 92 percent support.
Along with Iraq, Iran and Turkey - countries with Kurdish minorities - have all denounced the referendum as a threat to the stability of a region already beset by conflict, while the United States has expressed similar disquiet.
Even before the official results were released, the parliament in Baghdad adopted a package of measures in response to the unconstitutional move of Erbil.
The MPs demanded the government to send Iraqi troops to the disputed areas under the control of the Kurds, close the border terminals that go beyond the control of the federal government, return oil fields under the jurisdiction of the Oil Ministry, close foreign diplomatic missions in Erbil.
Kurds are the fourth-largest ethnic group in the Middle East although they have never obtained a permanent nation state. In Iraq they make up an estimated 15-20 percent of the population of 37 million. Kurds acquired autonomy following the 1991 Gulf War.
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Kamila Aliyeva is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Kami_Aliyeva
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