Barzani's statements angered Turkey. 'This is a serious mistake,' says Erdoğan, warning Barzani that he can be crushed under his words afterwardsSERKAN DEMİRTAŞANKARA – Turkish Daily News
Turkey on Monday warned Massoud Barzani, the head of autonomous northern Iraq, against provoking Turkey's Kurdish-majority in the Southeast, saying, “The cost for them will be heavy.” The government reviewed the measures that can be taken against Barzani, including diplomatic and economic sanctions. Turkey's special envoy has been sent to Washington D.C. to discuss the issue with U.S. officials.
Barzani, in an interview with Al Arabiyah TV on Saturday, threatened Turkey not to interfere in Kirkuk. “There are 30 million Kurds in Turkey and we don't interfere there. If they [the Turks] interfere in Kirkuk over just thousands of Turkmen then we will take action for the 30 million Kurds in Turkey,” said Barzani.
The first reaction was given by Foreign Minister Abdullah Gül on Saturday in a telephone conversation with his U.S. counterpart Condoleezza Rice. However, a stronger reaction came from Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan before a weekly cabinet meeting when spoke to the reporters.
Erdoğan stressed that the Kurdish leaders in northern Iraq are making “a serious mistake” and warned them by saying, “A northern Iraq which neighbors Turkey is gravely wrong in the way it is currently acting and this could result in a very heavy cost for them afterwards.” Barzani has “overstepped the line,” he said, adding, “I advise them not to say words they cannot live up to and to know their place because they could be later crushed under those words.”

Sanctions are reviewed:
The Cabinet, during a weekly meeting, discussed the recent rift between Barzani and Ankara. The Turkish Daily News has learned that the government reviewed both diplomatic and economic sanctions that could be applied against Iraqi Kurdish groups.
A first decision is to put more pressure on the United States to urge Barzani. Turkey's special envoy, Ambassador Oğuz Çelikkol, will have talks in Washington D.C. with officials from the Pentagon and the State Department.
Turkey will raise the issue during an international Iraqi conference that will be held in Egypt on May 3-4. The Turkish diplomats, on the condition of anonymity, informed the TDN that Foreign Minister Abdullah Gül will attend the meeting where Iraq, its neighbors and five permanent members of U.N. Security Council and members of the most industrialized countries will gather. “We will express all our concerns and our ideas to normalize the region as well as a strong commitment to the territorial integrity of Iraq,” said the diplomats.

Closing Habur, stopping the investments?:
Asked about Turkey's reply to Barzani, Foreign Minister Abdullah Gül was quoted as saying, “You'll see what we'll do.” One of the possible sanctions that Turkey can take is closing Habur border gate, which is the main way for Iraqi Kurds to reach outside markets. Turkish Foreign Ministry officials say there are against closing the border saying, “That would hurt not only Kurds but Turks.” Turkish investors are showing great interest in doing business in northern Iraq in recent years.
Turkey's trade minister Kürşad Tüzmen, when asked about closing Habur, said that “Turkey will take the necessary measures when the right time comes.” Another possible sanction is to block official state institutions to invest in northern Iraq. Turkish Petroleum Corporation (TPAO) is already talking to his Iraqi counterpart for conducting joint projects in northern Iraq. Turkey's and Iraqi energy ministers gathered last month in Istanbul to explore what can be done together in the field of energy.

MGK will also discuss:
Barzani's remarks will also be discussed during tomorrow's National Security Council (MGK) meeting which will convene for the last time under the leadership of President Ahmet Necdet Sezer. According to diplomatic sources, the council will review all possible measures that can be taken and express its anger to Barzani in a press release after the council meeting.