Erdogan, who is also the leader of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) said in his party’s meeting on Tuesday that the Kurdish plan for a referendum “deeply distressed us. It is a threat to the territorial integrity of Iraq and is a wrong step.”
Erdogan said any steps towards this question has to be “through consultation."
He said it is not only Kurds living in northern Iraq, but also Arabs and Turkmen.
“Arabs in Mosul and Turkmen and in Kirkuk live together with Kurds,” Erdogan said, reiterating that what Kurds are moving to “is not for anyone’s benefit.”
He said his country’s stance is clear on the process as the Turkish Foreign Ministry issued a statement following the declaration of the Kurdish referendum date.
The Turkish Foreign Ministry has described the referendum decision as a “grave mistake.”
Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim also said over the weekend that holding the referendum is irresponsible, and that the region had enough problems.
"We believe that this decision is wrong and lacks responsibility....it will be followed by problems," said Yildirm.
However, Nechirvan Barzani prime minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) had said earlier that the reaction from the neighboring countries and some members of the international community to the Kurdish referendum to be held on September 25 were normal.
