Erdoğan: All airspace and land borders with KRG to be closed

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan warned on Thursday that all airspace and land borders with the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) would soon be closed.

“The referendum is a cause but not the result. The result is what happens next. It is not over yet. It just started. Iran on one side, Turkey on the north, Iraq on the south, Syria on the west. What are you going to do? Where will you go? How will you get out? All airspaces will close. Soon the borders will be closed,” Erdoğan said.

“Our region is experiencing a difficult period, and the key to this period has become to divide, split and admınister. This tactic was used once prior. Despite my objections to the north of Syria, the cantons of terror are trying to form plan of this dark project,” he added.

The president said that dirty games being played in the Middle East aimed to negatively impact Turkey.

“The aim of the divisive game being played in Syria and Iraq is to cause disintegration and ethnic and sectarian separation to surround Turkey from the south. This encirclement is not just our physical boundaries. I am talking about a big game that includes our country,” Erdoğan said.

“The obstacle to the bloody scenario targeting our region is undoubtedly Turkey. The success of this game is linked to the failure of Turkey. A strong Turkey means a peaceful and stable region,” he added.

Erdoğan said that Turkey would continue to take countermeasures against terrorist organizations.

“We are fighting all terrorist organizations. We will continue to do so until there is not one terrorist left on these lands,” he said.

A number of suspects in last year’s plot to assassinate Turkey’s president on Wednesday were given lengthy jail terms, including aggravated life sentences, by a Turkish court. Erdoğan commented on the verdicts.

“Court decisions were issued regarding some defendants in the July 15 cases. We will continue to take steps against those who want to divide this nation,” Erdoğan said.