Iraqi Presidency: Turkish operations breach Iraqi sovereignty and threat National Security

BAGDAD, April 19 (YPA) – The Iraqi Presidency on Tuesday issued a statement on the recent Turkish military operation inside Iraqi territory, stressing that this operation breaches Iraqi sovereignty and threat National Security.

“The Presidency of the Republic is following with great concern the ongoing Turkish military operations within the Iraqi borders in Kurdistan region, and considers them a violation of Iraqi sovereignty and a threat to Iraqi national security”, said the spokesman for the Presidency of the Republic in a statement.

The spokesman added ,”the repetition of Turkish military operations inside the Iraqi borders in Kurdistan region and without coordination with the Iraqi federal government despite previous calls to stop them and hold talks and coordination around them is unacceptable.”

He noted that “at a time when we emphasize strengthening positive relations with Turkey on the basis of common interests, and resolving security issues through prior joint cooperation and coordination, but unilateral security practices in addressing outstanding security issues are unacceptable, and Iraqi sovereignty must be respected”.

He continued, “the decision of the official Iraqi state and its unified foreign policy is based on Iraq’s refusal to make its land a field of conflicts, an arena to settle score or violating its sovereignty and threatening its security and internal stability,

The spokesman affirmed that “Iraq refuses to be a starting point for aggression and threats against any of its neighbors.”

E.M