Presence of Foreign Military in Iraqi Kurdistan to Worsen Crisis in Region

The presence of any foreign military bases in Iraqi Kurdistan will not help solve the crisis, Iraqi Kurdistan Parliament Speaker Yusuf Mohammed Sadiq said.

SULAYMANIYAH (Iraq) (Sputnik) – The presence of any foreign military bases, especially Turkish or Iranian, in Iraqi Kurdistan will not help solve the crisis in the region and only make the situation worse, Iraqi Kurdistan Parliament Speaker Yusuf Mohammed Sadiq said.

“We in Kurdistan welcome any help in the fight against terror from any country, whether it be political help, military, or military-technical help. But the presence of military bases from whatever country, especially from Iran or Turkey, cannot help solve the crisis in the region, but just the opposite only worsen it,” Sadiq told RIA Novosti in an interview.

In regard to Turkish military presence in Iraq, Sadiq said he had no information that military bases had been deployed in Kurdistan or Iraq.

“If they’re located in Iraq, then that issue needs to be handled by the central government of Iraq. If they are in Kurdistan, then in accordance with the Constitution of Kurdistan, then the right to foreign military presence in the territory belongs to the [Kurdish] parliament,” Sadiq said.

Last fall, Turkish forces entered Iraqi Kurdistan. According to Turkish statements, this was done in agreement with the political forces in Iraq or the autonomous region. Baghdad has denied it invited the Turks into Iraq.