Iran, Turkey warn against 'repercussions' of independence vote

Chief of Staff of Iranian Armed Forces Major General Mohammad Baqeri and his Turkish counterpart General Hulusi Akar warned against the "repercussions" of the scheduled Iraqi Kurds' independence referendum.

In a telephone conversation on Thursday, the top generals raised concerns that the referendum would have negative impacts on the interests of regional people, Xinhua news agency reported.

According to Tasnim news agency, such a move would be dangerous for regional security, peace and stability, Baqeri and Akar stressed.

Both sides urged the Iraqis to unanimously oppose the referendum and prevent plots to divide their country. They also discussed ways to enhance cooperation between the two countries' armed forces.

Baqeri has said that any changes in the political geography of Iraq, given the imminent independence referendum of Iraq's autonomous Kurdish region, can start tensions and conflicts inside and outside Iraq.

Iran's political and military officials have announced their opposition to the Iraqi Kurds' referendum, saying that the stable, secure and unified Iraq will help the country's progress.

On June 7, Iraq's autonomous Kurdish region announced that it had planned to hold a referendum on independence on September 25 to decide whether or not to secede from Iraq.

--IANS

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