Iraqi Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) President Massoud Barzani threw himself into the fire by not calling off the Sept. 25 independence referendum, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said, according to Hurriyet Daily.
Erdogan: Barzani has thrown himself into the fire
STEPANAKERT, SEPTEMBER 29, ARTSAKHPRESS: “The Barzani administration has thrown itself into the fire. This fire will only slightly touch us but it will seriously hurt some people,” Erdogan said in address to Police Academy graduates on Sept. 28.
Turkey opposed the referendum and Erdogan harshened his language against the Barzani administration after it refused to cancel the vote despite calls from regional and global powers.
“You are leading the Northern Iraq Regional Government. You have got money, oil, everything. So what does he [Barzani] say? He wants to be independent. You have a 350-kilometer border with us. Have you discussed this issue with us?” Erdogan said.
“Have you discussed it with Iran? No. With the Iraqi federal state? No. Is Syria in agreement with it? No. So why did you take such a step? Ruling a state needs different skills than being a tribal leader,” he added.
