The State Department made a statement on the decision to hold a referendum on independence on September 25, 2017 in Iraqi Kurdistan.

In the written statement made by the ministry, it was stated that the opinions and concerns about the independence referendum were shared with the Iraqi Government and IKBY and the leading members of the international community.

“In this context, we emphasized that the referendum on independence will not be in the interest of Iraq, especially IKBY, and that in the current period when critical developments in the region are taking place, there will be negative consequences which will increase the instability,” said in the statement.

“We think it will be a desperate mistake”

It is stated that the preservation of the territorial integrity and political unity of Iraq is one of the basic principles of Turkiye's Iraqi policy and that this principle is among the preconditions of lasting stability, peace, security and prosperity in the region.

“The most important issue in front of Iraq, which is seen as a major step forward in the fight Daesh and which is expected to be successful soon in this struggle, is the deep human, political, economic and social destruction caused the formation of Daesh.” (ILKHA)