Kurdistan President, Iraqi PM discuss latest developments in IS fight

The President of the Kurdistan Region Masoud Barzani on Wednesday discussed several topics including the latest developments in the Islamic State (IS) war with Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi.

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan24) – In a phone call on Saturday, the President of the Kurdistan Region Masoud Barzani discussed several topics including the latest developments in the Islamic State (IS) war with Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi.

The statement released by the office of the Iraqi PM did not reveal whether the two leaders discussed President Barzani’s decision to hold an independence referendum later this year.

However, the report mentioned both sides had discussed the political, economic, and security situation in the country.

The discussions included the Mosul military offensive against IS, the victories achieved, and coordination between the military factions to liberate the remaining parts of Iraq from the insurgent group.

Both leaders also emphasized unity between Iraqi and Kurdish forces in the battle against IS to avoid any impact on the victories as the troops reach the final stages of securing liberated areas.

In a meeting on Wednesday, chaired by President Barzani, the political parties in the Kurdistan Region decided to hold an independence referendum on Sep. 25, 2017.

“It is a great achievement for all the political parties that participated in the meeting to be part of a historic decision,” the President said in a letter.

“Through a referendum, the people of Kurdistan will make their voices heard around the world,” he added.

Kurdish officials repeatedly mention that Kurds in the Kurdistan Region have been deprived of their rights and suffered oppression since the establishment of Iraq in 1920.

“The people of the Kurdistan Region have the right to decide on their future,” President Barzani had previously mentioned.

 

Editing by Karzan Sulaivany