Erdogan warns about PKK presence in northern Iraq

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned against the presence of PKK terrorists in northern Iraq’s Sinjar and Qandil areas on Wednesday.

Speaking to the media after his meeting with visiting Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al Abadi in capital Ankara, Erdogan said Turkey remains in solidarity with Baghdad.

"There is PKK presence in areas like Sinjar and Qandil. In these areas we are ready to continue common efforts and be in solidarity with Baghdad,” he said.

The PKK, which is listed as a terrorist organisation by Turkey, the US and EU, resumed its armed campaign against Turkey in July 2015. 

Since then, it has been responsible for the deaths of around 1,200 Turkish security personnel and civilians.

Erdogan also said Turkey was ready to give all support to Baghdad as it seeks to reopen a crude oil pipeline from the Kirkuk oilfields to Turkey, through which Iraq stopped sending oil in 2014.

Referring to his meeting with Abadi, Erdogan said they discussed what political, military and economic steps they could take after what he called the "illegitimate" Iraqi Kurdish Regional Government referendum last month.

Abadi meets Yildirim

Turkish Prime Minister Yildirim also met with Abadi in Ankara.

He urged the KRG to move in accordance with Iraq’s constitution and said Turkey will be in solidarity with central government of Iraq.

Yildirim also congratulated his Iraqi counterpart for their victory in the fight against Daesh.

On September 25, KRG-controlled areas and several disputed parts of the country voted on whether or not to declare independence from the Iraqi state.

According to poll results announced by the KRG, almost 93 percent of those who cast ballots voted in favor of independence.

But the referendum faced sharp opposition from most regional and international actors – including the US, Turkey and Iran, who warned the poll would distract from Iraq’s fight against terrorism and further destabilize the region.

On Wednesday, the KRG proposed to freeze its referendum and halt military operations.