Türkiye expects Iraq to officially recognize PKK as terrorist organization: Turkish foreign minister

ISTANBUL (AA) – Türkiye expects Iraq to officially recognize PKK as a terrorist organization, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said on Tuesday.

Speaking at a joint press conference with his Iraqi counterpart Fuad Hussein in Iraq’s capital Baghdad, Fidan said: “We expect Iraq, out of friendship and brotherhood, to officially recognize PKK as a terrorist organization.

“We must not allow the PKK terrorist organization, which is a common enemy of Türkiye and Iraq, to poison our bilateral relations,” he added.

“We cannot accept PKK challenging the sovereignty of Iraq.”

Fidan said that territorial integrity, political unity, and sovereignty of Iraq are one of Türkiye’s priorities.

“Sinjar, Makhmour, Qandil, Sulaymaniyah, and many other Iraqi districts have been occupied by the PKK terror group.”

Türkiye supports Iraq’s fight against the PKK terrorist organization, Fidan said.

“We are ready to collaborate with Iraq in the fight against all forms of terrorist organizations, whether it’s the PKK or Daesh, regardless of their names.

“These groups, aiming to undermine Iraq’s territorial integrity and political unity, are targeting the stability and prosperity of our Iraqi brothers, and committing crimes against humanity,” he added.

Water issue in Iraq

Türkiye is closely following the water problem that Iraq is experiencing and approaching this issue from a humanitarian perspective, Fidan said.

Fidan said the region is going through the driest period in recent years.

“When it comes to water, cooperative and continuous dialogue mechanism which is based on scientific principles should be set up.”

Attacks on Quran

Fidan likened the ongoing attacks against the Holy Quran to the burning of books before World War II.

“The process started with the burnings of books and then turned into concentration camps.”

“Against this threat, as the Muslim world, we must struggle together,” he added.

Fidan reminded that the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) held an extraordinary meeting with the initiative of Fuad Hussein in July.

“As a result of our steps within OIC, the burning of the holy books has been recognized as a breach of international law as well as religious hatred by the UN.”

Islamophobic figures and groups in Northern Europe in recent months have repeatedly attempted to desecrate the Muslim holy book, drawing outrage from Muslim countries and the world.