Turkey Rejects Distortions of Fidan’s Iraq Statements
In an official statement, the ministry clarified that Fidan’s remarks, delivered during a televised interview, had been removed from their broader context. Ministry spokesperson Oncu Keceli addressed the issue directly, stating: “It appears that certain statements made by H.E. Hakan Fidan, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Türkiye, during an interview on a television channel on 9 February 2026 have been distorted by some media outlets in Iraq,” the statement said.
The ministry stressed that relations between Türkiye and Iraq are built on structured, constructive, and mutually beneficial cooperation spanning numerous sectors, with particular emphasis on joint efforts to combat terrorism and safeguard security. According to the statement, Ankara seeks not only to preserve this collaboration but to deepen it further in the coming period.
“The statements made by Minister Fidan in the aforementioned interview, based on this understanding of cooperation, are intended to draw attention to the threat posed to Iraq’s territorial integrity and security by the PKK terrorist organization, which has established itself in parts of Iraqi territory, particularly in Sinjar, Makhmur, and Qandil,” it added.
The ministry explained that within this framework, Fidan underscored Türkiye’s resolve to eliminate the presence of the PKK from Iraqi soil—similar to efforts undertaken in Syria—and emphasized the importance of maintaining and reinforcing coordination with Iraqi authorities on this matter.
“We therefore reject the distortion of Minister Fidan’s statements by certain circles, taken out of context and portrayed as interference in Iraq’s internal affairs,” the statement said.
Concluding its remarks, Ankara reiterated its clear support for Iraq’s unity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, reaffirming that its approach is grounded in cooperation rather than interference.
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