KRG’s decision on a referendum on independence is ‘irresponsible’, says Turkey’s PM
On Friday (June 9), Turkey’s Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım reacted against the decision of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) to hold a referendum – on September 25th – on independence and called it an ‘irresponsible’ move.
Giving statements to reporters after the Friday prayer, PM Yıldırım said, as Turkey they ‘want all Iraqis to live together as one nation’ and defined the decision of KRG as ‘another problem in the region.’
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkey has also given a statement on the question and referred to the decision of KRG as a ‘grave mistake’, adding that ‘territorial integrity and political unity of Iraq was a fundamental principle for Ankara.’
KRG’s decision also received reaction from Iraq and Iran, while USA had earlier stated that it is a move that could potentially interfere with the fight against ISIL in the region.
Following the announcement by KRG on June 7th on their decision, spokesperson of US State Department, Heather Nauert, had said the US ‘supports a unified, federal, stable and democratic Iraq.’
Germany’s FM Sigmar Gabriel also expressed concern over the decision and said: “We can only warn against one-sided steps on this issue. The unity of Iraq is on the line…Redrawing the lines of the state is not the right way and could exacerbate an already difficult and unstable situation, in Erbil as well as Baghdad.”