President Barzani responds UN Security Council's concern regarding Kurdistan's Referendum

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan 24) – The Kurdistan Region President stated on Friday that the independence referendum will not affect the war against terror and reiterated KRG's willingness to engage in a serious dialogue with Baghdad after Sep. 25.

The Kurdistan Region President Masoud Barzani, addressing a massive crowd on the last day of the referendum campaign, said that postponing the independence referendum is no longer a decision that the political parties can take, but it is in the hands of people.

Responding to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), Barzani emphasized on the Kurdistan Region’s commitment to the continuation of the fight against terror.

“On behalf of the people of Kurdistan Region and the Peshmerga forces, we further insist on the war against Daesh [Arabic acronym for Islamic State (IS)] and we will have a tougher war on terror,” Barzani stated.

Regarding the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the Kurdistan Region, Barzani said that they are our brothers and guests, urging the people to respect and protect them.

"IDPs do not have a problem in the Kurdistan Region but in Falluja, Tikrit and in Baghdad. They shall be allowed to return home,” Barzani said.

The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on Thursday voiced concerns over the Sep. 25 referendum in the Kurdistan Region, claiming it would destabilize the region.

“Council members note that the planned referendum is scheduled to be held while counter-IS operations — in which Kurdish forces have played a critical role — are ongoing, and could detract from efforts to ensure the safe, voluntary return of over 3 million refugees and internally displaced persons,” the UNSC statement said.

Speaking about the pressures on the Region to postpone the independence referendum and having a dialogue with the Iraqi side, Barzani stated that we will not go back to a failed experiment.

Editing by Ava Homa