Erdogan “betrays” Kosovo, threatens Kurds after independence referendum

The Kurdish people have governed their own autonomous region since the US invasion in 2003, after Saddam Hussein’s regime went down. They see this vote as a historic step towards their efforts to build a new state.

The Iraqi authorities say that the referendum is anti-constitutional, since it was held only within the Kurdish region.

Their efforts for independence have not troubled just Iraq, but also Turkey, which has always opposed the idea of an independent Kurdish state.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan threatened that the people in the region would starve if they didn’t stop trying to gain independence. He also made comparisons with Kosovo.

“Who supported the Kurdish referendum? Who recognized the results? Only Israel. Kosovo was recognized by 114 countries and they haven’t been able to form a state yet. What good will the recognition of Israel bring you? You have no knowledge about politics. You don’t know how the state is formed. As soon as we start sanctions and start closing oil valves, everything will be over. After trucks will stop entering Northern Iraq, people there will have nothing to eat”, Erdogan said.

Local Kurdish media claim that 90% of the people who voted were in favor of independence. Turkey and Iran as well have often raised their voice against the creation of a Kurdish state, using security fears as pretext.

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