Iraqi Foreign Ministry summons Turkish Ambassador over Erdogan statements

The Iraqi Foreign Ministry summoned Turkish Ambassador in Baghdad Faruk Kaymakcı to express rejection of recent "provocative" statements by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, a source at the ministry said on Thursday.

The source said the ambassador was handed over a strong-worded memo in rejection of Erdogan's recent statements as well as the presence of Turkish forces in the Bashiqa region of Iraq without the Iraqi government approval.

On Tuesday, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al Abadi strictly responded to Erdogan's statements saying that "we will liberate our lands by the resolve of our men not via Skype," referring to Erdogan's appearance on Skype after the botched military coup in Turkey on July 15.

The Iraqi government has repeatedly called on Turkey to observe good-neighboring relations and pull out its troops which entered Bashiqa region on December 3, 2015 without the Iraqi government permission.

Abadi has warned Turkey that its adventure in Mosul can end up into a regional confrontation.

In December, the Arab League condemned the Turkish forces scooping into Iraq, urging it to fully withdraw.

Source: MENA