First step for Sinjar cutting PKK salaries

Not too long ago, it was only three months ago when Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi issued harsh statements against Turkey. During Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım's recent visit to Iraq, al-Abadi was constructive and is expected to visit Turkey in March or April. 

Why did al-Abadi elevate the tension at that period? "The tension between Nouri al-Maliki and al-Abadi was designed over Turkey. Al-Maliki orchestrated this. Al-Maliki has a group from al-Hashd al-Shaabi. Turkey opposes this. Al-Abadi knows of this situation but he is not very powerful in the parliament."

The PM's visit was aimed at eliminating Iraq's concerns and removing the perception that Turkey would invade Iraq. Iran that regards Iraq as its backyard is fueling the animosity toward Turkey. Iran has camps in Iraq used by al-Hashd al-Shaabi but Turkey's camp set up against the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) and the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) are shown as preparation for Iraq's invasion. 

To remove this perception, PM Yıldırım especially highlighted words such as "territorial integrity of Iraq and friendly settlement."

For the joint statement, Iraq is reported to have suggested the phrase, "Bashiqa is an Iraqi camp." This phrase was not objected to to show that Turkey respects Iraq's territorial integrity; however, there is no date set for withdrawal from Bashiqa. 

According to cabinet ministers who accompanied Yıldırım on the trip, "A perception has been formed in the Iraqi administration that the force we have deployed at the Turkish border town Silopi was to be used in the invasion of Iraq. We emphasized the territorial integrity of Iraq. This deployment, we explained, was for terror elements; that we were there for PKK and...