Press TV- Turkeys top security body says an independence referendum planned by Iraqs semi-autonomousKurdistanregion directly threatens Turkish national security.
On Friday, Turkeys National Security Council held a meeting chaired by President Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara to discuss the referendum planned by the Iraqi Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG).
In a closing statement, the council said the KRGsinsistence on holding the vote on Monday despite warnings from Ankara, Baghdad, and the United Nations would have terrible consequences for the region.
The illegitimacy of the referendum and its being unacceptable were once again specified. It was strongly stressed that this step, which directly threatens Turkeys national security, was a grave mistake that threatens Iraqs political unity and territorial integrity as well as peace, security and stability of the region, the statement read.
Turkey, which is home to the largest Kurdish population in the region,fears that the Kurdistan plebiscite would embolden the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) in its push for autonomy in Turkeys southeastern areas.
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Iraqi Kurds fly Kurdish flags during a pro-independence rally in the city of Erbil on September 22, 2017. (Photo by AFP)[/caption]Turkey reserves its sovereign rights under international accords should the Kurdish referendum go ahead, the statement added, signaling an extension of military presence in Iraq.
Turkey reserves all options arising from bilateral and international agreements if the Kurdish regional referendum is held, it said.
The statement also renewed Ankaras call on the KRG to cancel the referendum when there is still time and expressed the Turkish governments readiness to mediate between the KRG and the Iraqi central government to settle their disagreements on a constitutional basis and through dialog.
Barzani delays presser on independence vote
Meanwhile, KRG President Masoud Barzani postponed a scheduled news conference on the controversial referendum from Saturday to Sunday.
The news conference will take place on Sunday, and the time and venue will be announced later, Barzanis office announced without elaborating.
All options on the table
The National Security Councils meeting was followed by a Turkish cabinet meeting that focused on countermeasures ahead of the Iraqi Kurdish vote.
Speaking after the cabinet meeting, Bekir Bozdag, the Turkish deputy prime minister and government spokesman, told reporters that all options were on the table as far as Ankaras response to the referendum was concerned.
It is not possible for us to accept the postponing of the referendum either. We demand a total cancellation, so that we wont have to impose sanctions,he said.
Earlier this week, Erdogan threatened to impose sanctions against the Iraqi Kurdistan over the independence vote.
PressTV-Turkey may impose bans on Iraqi Kurdistan if vote held
President Erdogan says Ankara may impose sanctions on the semi-autonomous Kurdistan Regional Government if it goes ahead with a planned independence referendum.
Since September 18, the Turkish army has been conducting tankdrillsnear the border with the Iraqi Kurdish region.
