'Military action a must against KRG occupation'

Masoud Barzani, the leader of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) who held an illegitimate referendum on Sept. 25, expanded the autonomous region delegated by the 2005 Iraqi constitution by 80 percent in 13 years.

During this period, Kirkuk, Mosul, Tuzhurmatu, Diyala, and Sinjar among other parts of the region were occupied by the 1,500 Peshmerga.

The United States, which occupied Iraq in 2003, declared the green line on Mar. 8, 2004 ranging from Erbil, Sulaymaniyah and Duhok, in line with the provisional law number 53.

The green line, which is called the Kurdish Federative Region, grew by 80 percent after the last 13 years of violations and occupations. Approximately 35 percent of this ratio is after Daesh.

Over 1,500 settlements, including Kirkuk, Mosul, Tuzhurmatu, Diyala, Mandali, Zab, Dibis, Celavla, Hanekin, Karatepe, Sinjar, Kifre, Zummar, Rabia, Kersi, Iyaziye and Shimal were occupied by Peshmerga forces.

"The occupation of about 50,000 square kilometers outside the area allocated to the Barzani administration in 2004 could be a reason for military intervention," said Kirkuk Foundation President Erşad Hürmüzlü.

Hürzümlu pointed out that Turkey and Iraq had legal rights for military intervention. Iraq’s borders were outlined by the Ankara Agreement signed by Turkey in 1926, said the former presidential advisor Hürzümlu.

"Turkey formalized the Brussels line drawn in 1924 with an agreement with the Iraqi government in 1926. However, the Sept. 25 referendum and the state prepared to be declared in the region are disregarding this agreement. Turkey has the right to intervene in north Iraq on the grounds of a threat to itself,” said Hürzümlü.

“Turkey has the right to do so unilaterally with the Iraqi government, and international law recognizes this right of Turkey’s. Turkey has this right. The border Treaty of Friendship and Neighborly Relations between Iraq and Turkey confirmed in 1946 has been sabotaged by Barzani,” he added.

Hürmüzlü pointed out that the area allocated to the Peshmerga by the U.S. official Paul Bremer is an invasion and an attempt to divide the country. He said that the constitution prepared by Peter Galbraith for the illegitimate KRG state has prepared the legal ground for occupation by using "disputed territories."

Hürmüzlü said that the reinstatement of rights in Iraq based on the 1957 population census is outlined in the current constitution in Iraq, and stated that 34 percent of the country's Kurdish population had been presented.

Recalling that the Iraqi state should intervene in this illegal formation, Hürmüzlü said, "There are enough provisions in the current constitution."

The Barzani-PKK alliance covers the entire 331 kilometer border between Turkey and Iraq. Turkey and Iraq are expected to take control of these regions immediately.