KDP Turkey declares support for Kurdistan Region's independence

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan24) - Kurdistan Democratic Party - Turkey (PDK-T) on Thursday declared its support for a referendum on the independence of the Kurdistan Region from Iraq announced to take place in September.

In a written statement to Kurdistan24, the PDK-T called the decision to hold the referendum "a historic step."

A meeting on Wednesday chaired by the Kurdistan Region President Masoud Barzani leading political parties decided to hold the independence referendum on September 25, 2017.

"We hope the Kurdish nation will, with a clear voice, determine its future and give the civilized world the good news of the independence of Kurdistan," said the statement by the party's spokesperson Rojhat Amedi.

"Peace in the Middle East is tied to the solution of the Kurdish Question and the statehood of Kurdistan. In the renewal of the region, the keystone for Kurdistan has been laid down as allies of the Kurdish state pledge support," said Amedi.

The PDK-T praised President Barzani's efforts for the creation of a Kurdish state, underscoring diplomatic steps he took at the international level to that end.

PDK-T, which is aligned with President Barzani's ruling Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) of the Kurdistan Region, was registered with Turkey's Interior Ministry in 2014.

It is the first political party that has expressed support from Turkey.

The biggest pro-Kurdish party, Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) has not commented on the referendum.

There has also been no comment from President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, his ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and the ministry of foreign affairs.

Editing by Ava Homa