THE Kurdistan Regional Government denied that it had lost control of its border with Turkey just one month after its disputed referendum.
Authorities in Baghdad demanded control of border crossings with Turkey and Syria after the Kurds voted for independence last month.
The Iraqi government ruled the landmark September 25 ballot unconstitutional but Kurdish leaders said official discussions must now be held about securing the first ever Kurdish nation state.
Yesterday Binali Yildirim, prime minister of Turkey, told his AK Party that the border gate at Ibrahim al-Khalil had been “handed over to the central government” of Iraq.
Images of the Iraqi flag flying at the site were also shown to Reuters news agency by a member of that country’s border police.
However, Kurdish government official Hoshyar Zebari said reports that it had lost control of the crossing were “baseless” and that talks to give Iraq “oversight” continue.
Meanwhile, Iraqi armed forces said a delegation had been sent out to “determine the military and security requirements” for assuming authority at border crossings with Turkey and Syria.
The development follows an operation to regain control of disputed areas taken by Kurdish Peshmerga forces three years ago as they pushed Daesh from northern Iraq.
Special forces, police and soldiers have been involved in the push over the past fortnight, with an unconfirmed number killed in clashes.
Kurdish leaders urged Iraq to begin a ceasefire last week, offering to put the referendum result on hold. However, Iraqi prime minister Haider al-Abadi said the outcome must be annulled instead.
Official talks between the two sides held over the weekend failed to resolve the deadlock.
Meanwhile, Kurdish president Masoud Barzani will leave office today after more than 15 years in his post.
However, he will continue as a Peshmerga.
Border control is of strategic importance, not only for security but also the economy — an oil pipeline into Turkey is used to export crude, which is the region’s principal source of income.
Despite an overwhelming Yes vote in favour of independence, the Kurds have found little international support.
More than 92 per cent of people backed constitutional change against a backdrop of military success and regional autonomy that followed years of brutal oppression.
As well as opposition from neighbouring nations, criticism has been levelled from Washington and Moscow, amongst others.
Foreign powers had urged Barzani’s administration to abandon the poll, citing fears over regional stability and internal peace.
Meanwhile, embers of Scotland’s Kurdish community will come together tonight to mark World Kobane Day at a special event in Glasgow city centre.
The date commemorates the third anniversary of the victory by Kurdish units over Daesh in the Syrian city of the same name.
Supported by airstrikes from a US-backed coalition, the gruelling offensive lasted more than 130 days.
Organised by the Scottish Solidarity with Kurdistan (SSK) organisation, which raises awareness of Kurdish issues, the Glasgow event will be addressed by Lord Provost Eva Bolander and include a short film, Kurdish dancing and photography from the city.
Open to members of the public, entry costs £5 and all monies raised will be donated to the Scottish School Project, which aims to build an educational facility in Kobane, where much of the local infrastructure was destroyed.
The SSK has previously organised Kurdish new year and Halabja memorial events to promote links between cultures and remember the thousands of civilians killed in a chemical gas attack by Saddam Hussein’s Ba’athist regime in 1988.
The gathering will begin at the offices of Unite the Union on Glasgow’s West Regent Street at 7pm.
Attendees are invited to raise their voices “in support of peace and freedom”.
Activist Roza Salih, one of the co-founders of the the SSK,
said: “We hope the people of Scotland show solidarity on the anniversary of Kobane Day
where YPG [People’s Protection Units] and YPJ [Women’s Protection Units] protected the world and resisted darkness.”
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