Sema
Iraq’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on Tuesday, officially informed the Turkish Ambassador in Baghdad, Anil Bora Inan, of its firm rejection of any interference in Sinjar, stressing that the issue is “a purely internal national matter.”
The ministry also delivered a formal protest over recent media statements made by Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, describing them as “interference in Iraq’s domestic affairs” and “a breach of diplomatic norms.”
The protest was conveyed during a meeting held at the Foreign Ministry headquarters in Baghdad, where the Undersecretary for Bilateral Relations, Ambassador Mohammed Hussein Bahr Al-Uloom, received the Turkish envoy following an interview Fidan gave to Turkey’s CNN on February 9.
In an official statement, Bahr Al-Uloom expressed Iraq’s dissatisfaction with the content of the remarks, warning that such statements could harm the friendly relations between the two neighboring countries.
He emphasized that Iraq is “a state of institutions with a well-established constitutional democratic system,” noting that Iraq’s political framework cannot be compared to other political systems that differ in structure and course.
On the issue of sovereignty, Bahr Al-Uloom affirmed that Sinjar, along with all Iraqi territories, remains “a purely internal national matter,” managed by the Iraqi state according to its legal mechanisms and national priorities. He reiterated Baghdad’s rejection of any external attempts to impose solutions or exploit such الملفات for political or military objectives.
For his part, Ambassador Inan sought to contain the situation, explaining that Minister Fidan’s statements had been “misunderstood due to an inaccurate translation.” He clarified that the minister’s comments were directed solely at elements of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) present in border regions, and were not intended as interference in Iraqi sovereignty or the rights of its citizens.
The Turkish ambassador reaffirmed Ankara’s commitment to a consistent policy that respects Iraq’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, stressing that Turkey does not interfere in the internal affairs of neighboring states.
The meeting concluded with Ambassador Inan pledging to convey Iraq’s official position and concerns to the Turkish leadership in Ankara, emphasizing Turkey’s desire to maintain strong bilateral relations and cooperation in the interests of both peoples, away from any diplomatic tensions.