ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - A prominent Kurdish official and the former chief of staff of the Iraqi army believes opening a border crossing gate between Iraq and Turkey and that closing the Ibrahim Khalil crossing is “impossible” because the Kurdish dominant YPG in Syria has rejected to “coordinate” with them.
“According to our information, the People’s Protection Units (YPG) has refused it and they have not coordinated with [Iraq and Turkey],” said Babakir Zebari, who is in charge of the Peshmerga forces in Duhok and west Tigris front, describing the recent situation in the region between, Turkey, Iraq, the Kurdistan Region and Iran as “very complex.”
The YPG has not yet denied or confirmed the claim.
Zebari added that the idea of opening a new border crossing between Baghdad and Ankara dates back to the former Iraqi Baathist regime era and that this plan will “not easily be implemented.”
“It is not that easy for Turkey to open a door coming from Syria to Iraq. I think it is very hard, it is impossible.”
“This is an old plan. During Saddam’s time, they tried to build a bridge in Sahela and they even constructed some pillars. But back then Mr. President [Masoud Barzani] rejected it, and thus, the Peshmerga stood against it.”
“At that time the Iraqi army wanted to reach Qaraula,” he said, referring to the village of Qaraula on the Kurdistan Region-Turkey border.
“They want to repeat the same idea, but now [Iraq] has to come from Kaske. Back then it was 10 to 12 kilometers to build the bridge. Now it has become very long for them. According to our knowledge, Turkey has asked Iraq to do their part until they reach Qaraula and then they will build the bridge.”
He explained it cannot be done because to do so, they must “breach Peshmerga positions.”
“Therefore I find it impossible to happen.”
Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim has already said that they want to open a new border crossing gate with Iraq in response to the referendum the Kurditan Region held for independence on September 25 despite mounting pressures from them and other countries.
“We have proposed opening the new Ovakoy gate, west of the currently used Habur gate, to Baghdad and we are expecting their support. We will be happy to discuss this with (Iraqi Prime Minister Haider) al-Abadi,” Yildirim said.
The Spokesperson of the Turkish Presidency Ibrahim Kalin said last week that Ankara considers closing its borders with the Kurdistan Region gradually in coordination with the Iraqi central government and Iran in response to the Kurdistan Region’s independence referendum.
In the wake of the independence referendum, Baghdad took a set of punitive measures against the Region, mainly the deployment of troops to disputed or Kurdistan areas, notably Kirkuk, a flight ban to and from the Kurdistan Region and border closure which was enforced by Iran on Sunday per Baghdad's request.
Trade between Iran and the Kurdistan Region ceased on Sunday morning after Iran closed the three official border crossings, according to Kurdish officials.
Samal Abdulrahman, head of Kurdistan’s customs department, told Rudaw that Iran has closed the Parwezkhan, Haji Omaran, and Bashmakh crossings.
But Bahram Qasemi, spokesperson for the Iranian Ministry for Foreign Affairs, however, told reporters that Tehran has not taken any new measures against Erbil since September 24 regarding the entry points to and from the Kurdistan Region.
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