Turkey warns demographic change in Mosul 'quite risky'


Ankara has warned that any change made in Mosul's demography could lead to serious problems such as sectarian conflicts. Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım cautioned countries on Sunday that a possible change in Mosul's demography may lead to "serious circumstances" in the Iraqi city. "Mosul belongs to the people of Mosul. Do not let outsiders in and ruin the original demographic fabric of the city, which might lead to a new civil war. We are following the situation attentively," he said. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım slammed the Iraqi government Monday over the recent Bashiqa spat, saying that Iraq should mind its own business rather than lecturing Turkey on its military strategy in the Northern Iraqi city of Bashiqa.Speaking at an event held at Istanbul Technical University, Yıldırım said that Iraq should become a proper state before speaking about Turkey's military presence in Bashiqa. "You shall first protect your citizens, prevent them from dying and know how to be a state. Then you [can] talk about Turkey," Yıldırım asserted.Yıldırım also said that there are dozens of countries whose troops are currently operating in Iraq, underscoring: "While there are, unfortunately, many countries operating there with no physical or emotional ties to the region, the [Iraqi] government keeps silent."Adding that Turkish troops are in Northern Iraq only for counter terror operations against Daish, Yıldırım asserted that there is no hidden agenda for the Turkish presence there, calling the Iraqi government's criticism of Turkey "unacceptable."In addition, the head of Foreign Relations for the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Felah Mustafa said that the KRG has watched the events unfolding with astonishment and is left speechless by the Iraqi government's stance.PKK readies for Mosul operationThe PKK is preparing to play an active role in the Mosul operation according to the former Nineveh governor and the terrorist organization is now believed to have formed a force of 4,500 that is expected to take part in the operation to liberate Mosul, Atheel al-Nujaifi asserted.According to an article in Sabah daily, Nujaifi said that the PKK has been preparing for the operation, stressing that removing Turkish military presence from the region would have negative impacts on the postoperative period in Mosul.Baghdad complained about the Dec. 4 deployment of troops to Mosul's vicinity, calling it a violation of Iraqi sovereignty and insisting that Turkey withdraw its forces.Turkey said that 150 soldiers and up to 25 tanks were stationed in Bashiqa to protect Turkish servicemen training Iraqi volunteers to fight Daish. The training mission had reportedly been in operation since March 2015 and was not assigned to combat duties.Soldiers were sent to Bashiqa at the request of Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi.Last week, Turkey condemned a decision by Iraqi Parliament to remove the Bashiqa camp.Turkey's Foreign Ministry summoned their Iraqi ambassador to Ankara on Wednesday in response to the controversial decision.Iraqis in UK call on Turkey to take action in MosulIraqis living in the U.K. gathered outside Turkey's London embassy to back efforts to liberate the city of Mosul from Daish.A group of about 30 people carrying Turkish flags called on Turkey to intervene directly in an offensive to retake the city from Daish.Mosul and its surrounding regions have been under Daish occupation since 2014. A joint operation by many countries, led by the U.S., is expected in the upcoming weeks."We are here to demonstrate our support for Turkey's stance and will intervene in the crisis in Mosul," said Rabee al-Hafidh, who is from the Protect Mosul movement which organized Sunday's demonstration."This role is vacant and has to be filled by a power that has the will and the capability to do that. Turkey's intervention and protection of Mosul is crucial," he added.Conditions in the Daish-held province were very poor and life had come to a standstill, he told Anadolu Agency. "People are skeptical about what's going to happen. They expect something dramatic is going to befall the city but they have no idea how to get out of the situation," al-Hafidh said. "The only hope for the people of Mosul is Turkey," he added.