No need for Turkish troops if Baghdad ensures security in Mosul, at border: Turkish PM

ANKARA

Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu speaks to reporters at Ankara Esenboğa Airport before his flight to Bulgaria on Dec. 15, 2015. AA Photo

If the Iraqi administration ensures the security of Mosul and the Turkish-Iraqi border, then there would be no need for Turkish troops in the neighboring country, Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu said Dec. 15. 

“But until that day, Turkey will take own its measures as part of its national security. Nobody should seek out a negative meaning,” he said.

Turkey’s presence at the Bashiqa camp near Mosul does not pose a threat to Iraq, he said. 

Elaborating on Turkish troops’ withdrawal from Bashiqa on Dec. 14, the prime minister described the move of the soldiers as a “military arrangement” and added that Ankara would continue the arrangements if necessary. 

“We have shifted some forces due to the threat posed to our trainers based on intelligence. We have succeeded in getting a grip on the situation,” he said.

The prime minister accused “third actors” of making provocations to harm ties between Turkey and Iraq, without naming any countries.