The Turkish government has agreed a plan of action in case Kurdish leaders in Iraq press ahead with a controversial vote to create an independent state, a Turkish deputy prime minister said on Saturday.
"We have discussed all options in event that a referendum takes place and that it doesn't. Turkey takes this matter seriously and will act to protect its national security interests," Bekir Bozdağ told reporters.
Iraqi Kurdistan authorities have called the vote for September 25, drawing international criticism.
Turkey, which has a significant Kurdish population, has demanded that the referendum be cancelled. Bekir Bozdağ said Iraqi Kurds still had time to change their mind, citing lack of support for the vote among the region’s ethnic Turkmen and Arab residents.
