Iraqi Kurdish referendum to have diplomatic, economic consequences: Turkish PM

KIRŞEHİR

Turkey's steps in response to the Iraqi Kurdish independence referendum will have diplomatic, political, economic and security dimensions, Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım said on Sept. 23.

"The steps will be taken in close cooperation with Iraq, Iran and other neighbouring countries. These measures will have diplomatic, political, economic and security dimensions," Yıldırım told reporters in the central Anatolian province of Kırşehir.
  
Asked if a cross-border operation was among the options, Yıldırım said: "Naturally, it is a question of timing as to when security, economic and security options are implemented. Developing conditions will determine that."

He also blasted the referendum as "adventurism" that puts Turkey at risk.  

"With our 80 million citizens and the 780,000 square kilometers of our homeland, we will never tolerate any adventurism for our country's security or the welfare of our nation," Yıldırım said.

Calling the referendum the "wrong decision," he added: "As a neighboring country, Turkey has given the necessary warning in a friendly way since the beginning. But we see that these warnings have not been heeded."  

The premier went on to say that the referendum will definitely have a price but those who took the decision will pay it, not the innocent.