International experts confirmed Turkey's involvement in large-scale recruitment operations, and the transportation of Syrian fighters to participate in hostilities to support the national reconciliation government in Libya, while the Iraqi Foreign Ministry, yesterday, summoned the Turkish ambassador in Iraq, and delivered a strongly worded protest note.
The experts ’warning came after these fighters were recruited from the Syrian armed factions accused of serious human rights violations in Syria, and thousands of Syrians, including children under the age of 18, were sent to Libya via Turkey in recent months.
The United Nations working group on the issue of the use of mercenaries, in a statement issued yesterday, warned that relying on foreign actors contributes to escalating the conflict in Libya, undermining the prospects for a peaceful solution and casting tragic repercussions on the local population.
The team expressed concern about the use of mercenaries to fight in Libya, in violation of the arms embargo and mercenaries imposed by the United Nations Security Council, and in violation of the International Convention on the Use, Financing and Training of Mercenaries, which Libya has signed, calling on parties to the Libyan conflict to stop these violations.
He also expressed concern about the exploitation of these children, who come from a very weak social and economic situation, pointing out that the use of mercenaries is more disturbing in light of the current Covid-19 pandemic, and it shows a complete disregard for the health and safety of the civilian population in Libya who are not already prepared To face this health crisis.
This comes at a time when the Iraqi Foreign Ministry said, in a press statement issued yesterday, that "Iraq condemns in the strongest terms of condemnation and denunciation the resumption of Turkish forces, the day before yesterday, the violation of the sanctity of the country and its sovereignty by bombing and attacking targets within our international borders," and added: "We confirm our categorical rejection of these Violations that violate international charters and laws, and we stress the necessity of the Turkish side's commitment to stop the bombing and to withdraw its aggressor forces from the Iraqi lands that penetrated into it yesterday, and from its locations in Bashika camp and others. ”And she stressed that“ the Iraqi government confirms that Turkey was the cause of Increased insecurity in the common border region between us, as the peace initiative that it adopted with the PKK in 2013 caused many of the elements of this Turkish party to be resettled inside Iraqi territory, without approval or consultation with Iraq; "What called us to protest at the Security Council at that time."
She called on the Iraqi Ministry of Foreign Affairs to “stop such provocative acts and rejected violations”, demanding that the Turkish government “listen to the voice of wisdom and put an end to these attacks,” and indicated that “Iraq retains its legitimate rights to take all measures that would protect its sovereignty” And the safety of his people, including requesting the Security Council and regional and international organizations to fulfill their responsibility. ”
She pointed out that «the ministry summoned the Turkish ambassador in Iraq, two days ago, and delivered a memorandum protesting the previous violations committed by the Turkish aviation, and in accordance with professional diplomatic contexts, the ambassador is supposed to have transferred the memo to his government, and informed him of the content of the meeting», and said that «the mission of the ambassador It is the development of relationships, not vice versa, and we have explained to him the limits of his role before. ”
The Iraqi government holds Ankara responsible for increasing insecurity in the common border region.