Sultan-Like Self-Importance: 'No One Can Object to Turkish Presence in Iraq'

No one has the right to object to the presence of Turkish troops in Iraq as it guarantees stability, Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus said Wednesday.

ANKARA (Sputnik) — On Tuesday, the Iraqi parliament adopted a resolution voicing a protest against the Turkish military presence in the town of Bashiqa, located about 19 miles northeast of Mosul. The lawmakers demanded the Iraqi authorities to take necessary legal and diplomatic measures, including a review of the economic relations between the two countries. Ankara has condemned the resolution.

"We are ready to cooperate with the Iraqi government regarding the Bashiqa. However, we would not let this to be turned into an issue to debate. Our base in Iraq is the element of stability and no one can object to Turkish presence in Iraq. Our soldiers are there with the consent of the northern Iraq's [Kurdish autonomy] administration," Kurtulmus said as quoted by CNN Turk broadcaster.

On December 4, Turkey deployed about 150 troops and 25 tanks to northern Iraq reportedly to help national forces to reclaim the city of Mosul from Daesh jihadists, prohibited in Russia and many other countries.

Following the deployment, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider Abadi demanded the withdrawal of the Turkish troops sent into the Bashiqa camp without Baghdad’s approval.