Monday, September 19, 2016

Iraq: Turkish troops presence hampers Mosul liberation

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said on Sunday that the presence of the Turkish troops near the Iraqi northern city of Mosul is hampering the efforts to free the major stronghold of ISIS in the city.


 
"What I want to confirm is that the presence of the Turkish forces on the Iraqi territories is hampering our efforts to eliminate Daesh (IS group)," Abadi told reporters at a press conference in Baghdad.

"If Turkey is serious in fighting Daesh, then they have to withdraw its forces from Iraq," Abadi said, adding "but Turkey is not willing to end its military presence, and is ignoring the principle of violating the sovereignty of Iraq as an independent country."

Earlier, Iraq said Turkish forces had entered Iraqi territory without the knowledge of Baghdad, which viewed their presence as a "hostile act."

  • However, the Turkish government said that withdrawing Turkish troops from Iraq is out of the question and the Turkish soldiers are in Iraq as part of a training mission.

The deployment of the Turkish troops in Iraq, however, has caused a row between Turkey and Iraq as the latter claimed the presence of Turkish troops to the camp was violation of the country's sovereignty.

However, Abadi said Iraq has no problem with the people and the government of Turkey, "but we have problem with the (Turkish) mentality that deals with the relations between the two countries."

"Turkey has to know that Iraq, as neighboring country, wants to hold ties built on common interests, but sending those troops (in northern Iraq) is poisoning the relations between the two countries," Abadi said.
 [Xinhua/china.org.cn]
19/9/16

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