UPDATED: Kurdistan referendum committee to visit Baghdad, other countries

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan24) - The Kurdistan Region Referendum Committee on Saturday formed a few delegations to discuss independence referendum with Baghdad, neighboring and Western countries in the near future.

The President of the Kurdistan Region Masoud Barzani met with the committee members and they formed a few delegations, a source from the committee told Kurdistan24.

One of the delegations would meet with Gorran and Kurdistan Islamic Group (KIG), the Kurdish parties that so far are not part of the referendum committee. They will also discuss referendum with Baghdad, Iran, and Turkey officials. 

Another delegation would visit the UK and the US to discuss the independence referendum with the officials.

Khalil Ibrahim, a member of the referendum committee in a press conference told reporters that the delegations will also visit Brussels to discuss the referendum with the EU.

The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) plans to hold the referendum on Sep. 25, 2017.

According to the committee’s statement, the members expressed their abidance by the date set for the referendum in the Kurdistan Region and the disputed territories, resolving political issues in the Kurdistan Region and improving the living condition of people.

They also decided to make practical steps and prepare referendum from all aspects, including the body of the referendum high council and local committees.

In another part of the meeting, they mentioned that the KRG with the Independent High Electoral and Referendum Commission (IHERC) would provide all the needs of the referendum process.

Kurdish senior officials have stated that they would engage in peaceful dialogue with Baghdad and neighboring countries regarding the referendum, indicating the birth of a Kurdish independent state will bring stability to the region.

"The people of the Kurdistan Region have the right to decide on their future," President Barzani emphasizes.

Editing by Ava Homa