Iraqi government summons Turkish ambassador over ongoing Turkish violations of Iraqi sovereignty

BAGHDAD / ANKARA — The Iraqi Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the Turkish Ambassador in Baghdad to express its strong condemnation of the presence of Turkish Defense Minister Khlusi Akar in Iraqi territory without coordination or prior approval by the concerned authorities and for his meeting with Turkish forces that are illegally stationed inside Iraqi territory.

The Ministry also condemned the statements of the Turkish Interior Minister regarding Turkey’s intention to establish a new permanent military base in northern Iraq.

A statement issued by the Ministry indicated that the Iraqi government rejects the continuous violations of Iraqi sovereignty by the Turkish military forces. “Continuing with such an approach by Turkey is not consistent with friendly relations and neighborliness.”

Minister Akar inspected Turkish military bases in northern Iraq accompanied by Chief of General Staff Yaşar Güler and Commander of Turkish Forces in the region Ümit Dündar.

In related news, academics and media professionals from five Arab countries issued a statement warning of the increased Turkish interference in Arab affairs and demanded a clear position from the Arab League on the recent Turkish attacks on the border areas in northern Iraq.

The statement called for the necessity of an urgent meeting of the Arab League Council to stop the Turkish attacks and take a decisive stance on those Turkish ambitions.

The statement also called on the United Nations and the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to act and stop the Turkish operations and interference in the affairs of Arab countries.

Among the signatories of this statement were head of the Bethnahrain Patriotic Union in Iraq Yusuf Yaqoub Matti and human rights and political activist from Lebanon Hamo Moskovian.