Iraq’s Foreign Ministry summons the Ambassador of Turkey

Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) Iraq’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the Ambassador of the Republic of Turkey to Iraq, Ali Reza Konay, against the continuous violations of the Turkish army, including the recent large-scale military operation, which affected the areas of Metina, Zab, Afashin, and Bassian in northern Iraq.

The ministry handed the Turkish ambassador a strong protest and requested an end to provocative acts and unacceptable violations.

Iraq has the legal right to take the necessary and appropriate measures in accordance with the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations and the rules of international law in the face of such hostile and unilateral acts, which take place without coordination of the Iraqi government.

“The use of Article 51 of the Charter of the United Nations in cases of aggression by Turkish forces is not based on legal grounds, as the aforementioned article does not allow the violation of the sovereignty of an independent country,” said in a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The statement went on further mentioning: “Here we recall that the presence of most elements of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) in northern Iraq came as a result of an agreement between the Turkish government and the aforementioned party, coinciding with Iraq’s rejection and protest of what we see as the export of an internal Turkish challenge to the territory of Iraq.”

While the Iraqi Cabinet, which held its regular meeting on Tuesday, did not issue any reaction about the recent developments, Sadrist leader Muqtada al-Sadr mentioned that launching the attack came without right and without pretext. 

“Iraq is a fully sovereign state and will not accept aggression and destabilization of security in its lands and will not accept aggression against neighboring and brotherly and friendly countries,” said Al Sadr via a tweet.