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Russia tempers Erdogan's threats against Iraqi Kurdistan

Major Russian interests in Iraqi Kurdistan’s energy sector are seen as having a bearing on Turkey’s threatening response to the Kurdish independence referendum.
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ANKARA, Turkey — After Iraqi Kurds voted for independence Sept. 25, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan threatened to “starve” them into submission by cutting the Kirkuk-Ceyhan oil pipeline and closing the border. He even threatened to send troops into Iraqi Kurdistan. But by the end of the week, all Turkey appeared to have done was to stop Turkish airliners from flying to northern Iraq.

Some journalists who went to the presidential palace for Erdogan’s meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin the evening of Sept. 28 planned to ask the Turkish leader about the difference between his threats and delivery. They were disappointed. Erdogan did not take any questions. He closed the press conference as soon as he and Putin completed their statements about the talks.

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