Ariz Abdullah made the remarks about the recent Turkey agreement with the Iraqi central government and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) to conduct operation against the PKK.

Turkey political and military movements in relation to Iraq, especially the city of Shingal in Ninawa province, have entered a new phase. Turkish Defense Minister, Hulusi Akar's visit to Baghdad and Erbil and consultations with Iraqi and Kurdish officials focusing on Shingal are a sign of the importance and sensitivity of this issue for Ankara, which hoped to reach an agreement with the Iraqi government and the Kurdistan Region to reduce what Ankara calls the threat of the PKK and its affiliated branches in Shingal. But the deal appears to have failed to address common concerns but with differing interests of the Iraqi Kurdish officials and Ankara, with both sides stressing that the PKK remains active in Shingal and the region. This issue is considered by some political observers as an excuse for Turkey to launch a military operation in Sinjar and establish a permanent military presence in the region and pursue its strategic projects.

According to Mr. Abdullah, Turkey is seeking to revive the Ottoman Empire and expand its territorial ambitions. A part of this expansionism will be in Iraq and the Arab countries. For this reason, the Turkish threat is not only aimed at the Kurdistan region, but also at Iran and the Arab countries, including Syria, Saudi Arabia and other countries in the region.

What follow are his full answers to KurdPress questions;

What is your assessment of the recent visit of Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar to Baghdad and Erbil at this time?

The Turkish Defense Minister is trying to put pressure on the Iraqi central government and the Kurdistan Regional Government to fight the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) or allow Turkey to wage this war on the Kurdish soil.

After the end of his visit to Iraq and his return to his country, the Turkish Defense Minister announced the existence of cooperation and coordination with Baghdad and Erbil against the PKK, and the PKKs presence in Shingal. Is there an agreement between the three parties in this regard?

I do not know the details. I do not believe that the Turkish project in this matter is the same as the Iraqi project, because the two countries have two different projects. What we do know is that the Kurdistan Workers' Party is not in Shingal. The force settled in the city is close to the PKK and they are Shingal residents. The force has no organizational ties to the PKK and has nothing to do with Turkey, and defended the city during the occupation of Shingal by the ISIS. At the same time, the Syrian Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD) cooperated with them. Therefore, the force based in Shingal is an Iraqi force, but it is clear that Turkey does not accept them. I do not believe that Iraq will allow the Turkish army to enter Shingal. This is not acceptable to Iraq. Turkish forces are present in Mosul, Dohuk, Ba'ashiqa and other parts of Erbil, but it is impossible for Iraq to allow the Turkish army to do so and enter Shingal.

In this regard, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced last Friday that "we will attack Sinjar overnight"; given that such operations are being carried out by Turkey in Syria and even in the Kurdish region of Iraq. It is possible? In the meantime, what happens to the sovereignty of Iraq when the president of a neighboring country easily announces the mobilization of his country's army and the occupation of the neighboring country?

If the situation is suitable for Turkey, it will launch such a campaign. It did the same in Syria and Libya, as well as in Azerbaijan and the Kurdistan Region. If it sees the situation as suitable, it will do the same for Shingal. Erdogan's strategy and tactics include reviving Mosul Welayat and re-occupying Iraqi Kurdistan. When Erdogan says 'we are entering Shingal', this is just a hint and the PKK is an excuse because his main goal is to reoccupy Mosul. Therefore, Erdogan's main goal is to occupy the Kurdistan قegion completely. Again, the war with the PKK and the Shingal issue is just an excuse. If Turkey can enter Shingal, it will no doubt easily control a large part of the provinces of Nineveh, Dohuk and Erbil.

As an observer and political expert familiar with the developments in the region, do you believe that there is the possibility of a Turkish ground attack on these areas?

As I mentioned, if the situation is right, such an attack will be carried out by Turkey, because Turkey's goal is to occupy the Kurdish region and annex it to this country. Turkey believes that Iraqi Kurdistan seceded from the country after World War I and has always called for taking it back. The Iraqi skies are now open to Turkey, and unfortunately the Iraqi government and the KRG allow air strikes. As for the ground attack, if the situation is right, like what we saw in Syria and the occupation of parts of this country by Turkey, this occupation will also take place in Iraq. We saw that Russia ignored Turkish invasion of Afrin, and when the Turkish Army Attacked Sari Kani, the US troops remained silent in front of Ankara, so even in the current situation. So if the situation is suitable for Turkey, it will launch an offensive in Shingal; but Turkey's reference to the PKK in Shingal is no more than an excuse, and Turkey intends to annex the Kurdish region to its territory.

Some in the Kurdistan Region accuse the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) of collaborating with Turkey, while Kafah Mahmoud, an adviser to the KDP Leader Masoud Barzani, predicted that Turkey would build a military base in Shingal. What is your assessment of these accusations and the statements of the advisor to the KDP leader? Can it be said that based on the information they have, Turkeyh can build a military base in Sinjar like Ba'ashiqa and with the cooperation of a Kurdish party?

Turkey is in coordination with the KDP. If Turkey can enter Shingal, it will certainly not retreat and annex the entire territory of the Kurdistan Region, because Turkey considers the Kurdistan Region and the province of Nineveh as part of its territory.

The question is, the Turkish military and the occupation of a part of northern Iraq would weaken the position of the Kurds and even the KDP? How will the KDP allow such a thing?

This question should be asked from the leaders of the party. The Turkish military would weaken the position of the Kurds and Iraq. Such a move would also weaken the position of Iran and Syria. If Turkey takes such a step, it is not only a threat to Iraq and the Kurdistan region, but also to Iran and Syria. What Turkey is doing in Syria is a big threat. Turkey seeks to revive the Ottoman Empire and territorial expansionism, and a part of this expansionism will be in Iraq and the Arab world. For this reason, the Turkish threat is not only aimed at the Kurdistan Region, but also at Iran and other Arab countries, including Syria, Saudi Arabia and other countries in the region.

Reporter's code: 50101