Tรผrkiye Demands Explanation from Kurdish Regional Governmentโฃ Affiliate Following Criticism of Nationalist Leader
ลIRNAK, Tรผrkiye – Tรผrkiye’s Foreign Ministry has formally โrequested an explanation from theโ Kurdistan democratic Party (KDP) leadership after a statement attributed โto a KDP-affiliated source reportedly targeted Devlet Bahรงeli, leader of the Nationalistโข Movement Party (MHP). Ankara is demanding immediate accountability for those responsible for the contentiousโฃ remarks, which officials characterized as damaging to โคbilateral โrelations.
The diplomatic dispute arises amid โฃheightened scrutiny followingโ a recent visit by KDP โPresident Masoud Barzani to Tรผrkiye’s โขsoutheastern ลฤฑrnak province. Barzani’s appearances, notably in the district of Cizre, garnered meaningful political and public โattention, and now, a statement linked to โฃtheโข KDP has triggered a formal protestโ from โคAnkara. Theโค incident underscores the delicate balanceโ Tรผrkiye maintains wiht โฃKurdish โpolitical actors, even as it navigates regional security concerns and domestic political dynamics.
Barzani’s visit included attendance at theโ “4th International Melaye Ciziri Symposium,” co-hosted by the ลฤฑrnak Governor’s Office, ลฤฑrnak University, and the โขCizre District Governor’s Office. He also โpaidโฃ respects at Cizre Asri Cemetery,visiting the mausoleum of Mem รปโค Zin and the grave of kurdish politician ลerafettin Elรงi.
Accompanying Barzani were ลฤฑrnak Governor Birol Ekici,โ DEM Party spokesperson Ayลegรผl Doฤan, DEM Partyโข ลฤฑrnak deputies Mehmetโข Zeki Irmez and Nevroz Uysal Aslan, โPresidential Chief Adviser Gรผlลen Orhan, Cizre Districtโข Governor Ahmet Vezir Baycar, and ลฤฑrnak Mayor Mehmet Yarka.
The Foreignโค Ministry emphasized the incompatibility โof theโ alleged statement with the principles of friendly โrelations and mutual respect, urging the KDPโ to promptly clarify โits origin and ensure โคthose responsible are held accountable. Simultaneously,โฃ Tรผrkiye’s Interior Ministry announced the โlaunch โคof an examinationโค into the security detail accompanying Barzani during his visit. The unfolding situationโฃ signals a potential strain in Tรผrkiye’s relationship with the KDP, a key regional playerโข in Iraqi Kurdistan.