PM submits motion on Iraq, Syria to Turkish parliament

ANKARA

The Prime Ministry submitted a motion in the parliament on Friday to allow the extension of the Turkish state’s authority to launch cross-border military operations in northern Iraq and Syria for another year.

The motion -- submitted by Premier Binali Yildirim's Justice and Development (AK) Party government -- had previously allowed the Turkish military to carry out cross-border operations from Oct. 2, 2016, until Oct. 31, 2017.

The motion stated that Turkey attaches great importance to the protection of Iraq's territorial integrity, national unity and stability.

It added: "However, the existence of PKK and Daesh in Iraq, poses a direct threat to regional peace, stability and the security of our country."

The parliament will hold an extraordinary session on Saturday to debate the extension of the military mandate.

Speaking to journalists in the parliament, Parliament Speaker Ismail Kahraman said the motion is in Turkey's interest.

"The issue is a national issue...This is an important situation because of the conjuncture [in the region]," Kahraman said.

Kahraman added President Recep Tayyip Erdogan would take his place in the general assembly during the session.

The main opposition, Republican People's Party (CHP), on Friday said it would back the motion.

Earlier, the opposition Nationalist Movement Party's (MHP) parliamentary deputy group chairman told Anadolu Agency his party will support the move.

The decision to hold the parliamentary session came after the Kurdish Regional Government in Iraq refused to cancel the regional independence referendum slated for Sept. 25.

The non-binding referendum will see residents of Kurdish-controlled areas of northern Iraq vote on full independence from Baghdad.

The U.S. and UN have also spoken out against the poll, saying it would distract from operations against Daesh and lead to greater regional instability.

Baghdad has threatened to intervene militarily if the vote results in violence. KRG President Masoud Barzani has said a Yes vote would not initiate a declaration of independence but would lead to negotiations with the Iraqi government.

More than 1,200 people, including security force personnel and civilians, have lost their lives since the PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S., and EU -- resumed its decades-old armed campaign in July 2015.

At least 319 people have lost their lives in Daesh terror attacks in Turkey, where the terror organization has targeted civilians in suicide bomb, rocket and gun attacks.