Iraqi parliament demands withdrawal of Turkish troops

10/05/2016
BAGHDAD,— The Iraqi parliament, in a majority vote on Tuesday, rejected the extension of the mandate of Turkish troops in Iraq and called for a review of relations with Turkey.
The lawmakers also asked for the government of Iraq to file a complaint against Turkey at the United Nations and the UN Security Council. They want the government to formally describe Turkish troops as an “occupying” force.
The Iraqi Parliament also summoned Turkey’s Ambassador to Iraq, Faruk Kaymakci, to demand the withdrawal of Turkish troops deployed to northern Iraq, insisting those who approved a decision to allow Turkish forces into Iraq be brought to justice.

Following a debate, the Iraqi parliament voted unanimously for a seven-point action for the leave of Turkish troops from Iraqi land.

The decisions adopted by the parliament are as follows:
– The Iraqi government should call the Turkish Ambassador in and express the disturbance over the extension of the mandate regarding the presence of Turkish soldiers.
– The Iraqi government should take diplomatic and military precautions, and review the economic and commercial relations for the protection and defence of Iraqi lands.
– The Iraqi government should invite the United Nations, International Security Council and the Arab League to oppose the presence of Turkish troops on Iraqi land and ensure their leave.
– The Iraqi government should define the Turkish military forces on Iraqi land as an occupant force and undertake the required activities to clear these forces out.
– Iraq should review all its relations with Turkey.
– The Iraqi government should demand the prosecution of the relevant parties and structures that declare support to the presence of Turkish troops on Iraqi land
– The Iraqi government should demand the prosecution of the relevant parties and structures that declare support to the presence of Turkish troops on Iraqi land .
– The Iraqi parliament rejects Erdoğan’s statement on the independence of Iraq and considers it to be remarks that disintegrate the Iraqi constituents.
Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said his country does not want to enter into a military confrontation with Turkey as he reiterated calls for Turkish troops currently stationed in Iraq’s north to leave.
“The international coalition supports Iraq to reject the presence of Turkish troops on its soil,” Abadi said in a press conference on Tuesday evening.
There are 800 Turkish troops deployed in the Mosul and Shaqlawa regions, the move that sparked a crisis between Ankara and Baghdad. Turkey sent a contingent of an additional 150 forces and 25 tanks in December 2015 to bolster its military presence in the Bashiqa camp, an area that has seen recent fighting.
Iraqi leaders said in December 2015 that hundreds of Turkish troops had arrived without their knowledge or approval, calling it a violation of its sovereignty.
The Turkish troops are still present in Nineveh province, based at Camp Bashiq, 70 kilometres west of Iraqi Kurdistan capital of Erbil.
Turkey has 18 military and intelligence bases in Dohuk province in Iraq’s Kurdistan Region, According to independent Awene weekly.
On Saturday, the Turkish parliament voted to extend the army’s military mandates in both Iraq and Syria, where Turkish forces are trying to establish a 5,000 square kilometre safe zone along its border.
The mandate was first approved in October 2014, and was renewed for another year in September 2015. The new mandate will be in effect until October 30, 2017.
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