Speaking yesterday after attending an opening ceremony of 84 schools, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan harshly rebuffed Kurdish leader Massoud Barzani's remarks that if Turkey intervenes in Kirkuk, then they would intervene in Iraq, saying that Barzani went too far again with this statement.
"I don't know whether he satisfies himself with these remarks, but the Turkish Republic doesn't need such satisfactions," he said. "They need to determine their place and position very well. Otherwise they will be hurt by their own remarks."
Erdogan stressed that northern Iraq, which has a border with Turkey, was making serious mistakes and that price of these could be high.
In related news, Iraqi President Jalal Talabani yesterday called Erdogan, saying that he was disappointed with Barzani's remarks and that he placed great importance on relations with Turkey.
For his part, Erdogan said that there was need to be careful, while making such statements. Talabani further stated that he shared his sensitivity.