I would like to inform the people of Kurdistan and Iraq that the formation of the Dijle Operations Command [a military command recently formed covering Kirkuk, Diyala and Salahaddin provinces] by the Iraqi government will lead to more instability, and will not help the implementation of Article140 of the Iraqi Constitution. The intentions, the aims, the formation, and the actions of this Command are against the Kurdish people, the political process, co-existence and the process of normalizing the situation in the disputed areas.

I have been waiting for some time to see the result of the promises, made to the Iraqi President by Iraqi authorities, to call off the formation of the Dijle Operations Command. We in the Kurdistan Region have not resorted to any course of action other than patiently waiting for this issues to be resolved through dialogue.

However, it is now clear that there is no commitment to keeping those promises and to resolve issues peacefully. I want to reassure the people of Iraq, and especially the people of Kurdistan, that after consultation with the Iraqi President and other concerned parties, we will make our position clear and take appropriate steps against this unconstitutional action and any actions designed to impose unconstitutional arrangements in the disputed areas.