PKK's presence in Sinjar a threat to regional security, Iraqi deputy says
A member of Iraq's parliament and leader of the Iraqi Turkmen Front (ITF) Erşat Salihi has said that the PKK terrorist organization's presence in Sinjar is a threat to regional security.
"The PKK's attacks on Turkmens have a strategic objective. However, their presence in our region is not only a threat to the Turkmens, but a threat to regional security," Erşat Salihi said, speaking at conference titled "Mosul Offensive, Iraq's Future and the Turkmens" that was organized by the Middle East Strategies Research Center (ORSAM) in Ankara on Dec. 15.
Salihi also said that even though there are legitimizing efforts, the PKK is still a terrorist organization. He added that the PKK is as dangerous as the Iranian Marxist political–militant organization, the People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (MEK).
"The recent legitimizing effort does not change the fact that the PKK is a terrorist organization. They are as dangerous as the MEK. We insist on the removal of the PKK from Iraq like we insisted on the removal of MEK from Iraq."
Commenting on the of the Mosul offensive, Salihi said the operation has lost its momentum and was expected to continue at least for 2-3 months. Salihi also added that so far around 130,000 people have fled from Mosul due to the ongoing operation.
Salihi underlined that the formation of the forces that will liberate the Turkmen populated city of Tal Afar from Daesh is the most important dimension of the Mosul offensive. Salihi said that they expressed their concern to Iraqi Prime Minister Haydar el-Abadi in this matter.
Like Salihi, Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani said late Thursday that the PKK needs to retreat from the northern Iraqi region of Sinjar.
"It is not acceptable for them to stay in Sinjar, under the guise of protecting the Yazidi people," Barzani said. "Our Syrian Kurdish brothers helped us with Sinjar and we thanked them. But the PKK should not stay there. They are the source of destabilization in the region."
Barzani went on to say that the people of Sinjar are unable to go back to their homes because of the PKK.
"The PKK's attacks on Turkmens have a strategic objective. However, their presence in our region is not only a threat to the Turkmens, but a threat to regional security," Erşat Salihi said, speaking at conference titled "Mosul Offensive, Iraq's Future and the Turkmens" that was organized by the Middle East Strategies Research Center (ORSAM) in Ankara on Dec. 15.
Salihi also said that even though there are legitimizing efforts, the PKK is still a terrorist organization. He added that the PKK is as dangerous as the Iranian Marxist political–militant organization, the People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (MEK).
"The recent legitimizing effort does not change the fact that the PKK is a terrorist organization. They are as dangerous as the MEK. We insist on the removal of the PKK from Iraq like we insisted on the removal of MEK from Iraq."
Commenting on the of the Mosul offensive, Salihi said the operation has lost its momentum and was expected to continue at least for 2-3 months. Salihi also added that so far around 130,000 people have fled from Mosul due to the ongoing operation.
Salihi underlined that the formation of the forces that will liberate the Turkmen populated city of Tal Afar from Daesh is the most important dimension of the Mosul offensive. Salihi said that they expressed their concern to Iraqi Prime Minister Haydar el-Abadi in this matter.
Like Salihi, Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani said late Thursday that the PKK needs to retreat from the northern Iraqi region of Sinjar.
"It is not acceptable for them to stay in Sinjar, under the guise of protecting the Yazidi people," Barzani said. "Our Syrian Kurdish brothers helped us with Sinjar and we thanked them. But the PKK should not stay there. They are the source of destabilization in the region."
Barzani went on to say that the people of Sinjar are unable to go back to their homes because of the PKK.