Turkish President Recep Erdogan continues his provocative statements against Greece and other countries contiguous with Turkey. Following his statements about Turks reluctantly accepting the current internationally recognised borders and respecting other countries’ geographical borders with “a heavy heart”, Erdogan made a clear reference to the second largest city of Greece, Thessaloniki, saying that modern Turkey’s founder, Mustafa Kemal was born in the northern city of Greece. “We should not forget that the lands where leading figures that founded our state were born and raised we left outside the borders of our new state. You know where and what I am referring to”, Erdogan said. His speech came in response to Haider al-Abadi, Iraq’s PM, who refused the presence of Turkish military in operations to retake Mosul from terrorist ISIS fighters. Erdogan wanted his troops to be part of the forces to enter Mosul, as Turkey believes the city, which was part of the Ottoman empire, is a part of its sphere of influence. “Some ignoramuses ask us ‘what do you have to do with Iraq’. These geographical areas are part of our soul”, Erdogan said in a speech. “Even if this fact lies heavy on our hearts, we respect the borders of all countries”, Erdogan lamented.