Referendum in Northern Iraq starts and Turkey releases a warning statement

The Kurdish Regional Government in Iraq has started the referendum this morning. Voting he independence referendum began at 8.00, which many countries, especially Turkey, does not see as legitimate. Turkey is very uncomfortable with the force majeure situationa and has already passed a the mandate to send Turkish Armed Forces troops to Syria and Iraq, in case of need. Following the referendum, Turkey will put the decisions taken in the NSC into effect.

In the meantime Turkey’s Foreign Ministry has made a statement this morning about the referendum in northern Iraq. The statement said the referendum to be held today is null and void as far as its result is concerned. We will not recognize this initiative, which lacks all kinds of legal grounds and legitimacy in terms of international law and Iraqi constitution. “

The statement also said:

“We once again emphasize that we will take all the precautions originating from international law and the authority granted by the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TBMM) in case some radical elements and terrorists who want to exploit the environment that will arise in the period following the referendum attempt to take action against our national security and against any threat to occur in the region towards our national security.”