Referendum is unstoppable, national movement in Kurdistan: Kurdish Official

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan 24) – The Kurdistan Region would be far more committed to the fight against the Islamic State (IS) after the independence referendum, a Kurdish official said on Friday.

In an interview with Kurdistan 24, Hoshyar Zebari, the former Foreign and Finance Minister of Iraq and current member of the Kurdistan Region Referendum Council, stated the scheduled Sep. 25 vote would not be postponed despite opposition from Baghdad and neighboring countries.

“The referendum does not mean the end of the world,” Zebari said. “It is a simple democratic process for the people of Kurdistan to express their will, to decide their future.”

He explained a “Yes” majority vote in the referendum would not immediately lead to the declaration of an independent Kurdistan. Instead, a subject of long and serious negotiations with Baghdad, neighboring countries, and the international community would begin.

The Kurdish official noted the international reaction toward the Kurdistan Region’s referendum was expected and goes parallel with Kurdish expectations.

“We understand the misplaced concerns that [the referendum] might affect the fight against [IS],” Zebari continued. “The Kurdistan Region will be far more committed [in the battle against the militant group].”

He also said the referendum was not about drawing the borders of Kurdistan, but rather to hear what the people in the Region want.

“Some claim that this referendum might undermine the chances of Haider al-Abadi to become the Prime Minister of Iraq for the coming term,” the member of the Referendum Council said.

“Our answer to them is that you have no assurance that he will be elected again in the next Iraqi election, but nevertheless, we will help him if it’s required,” he added.

Zebari did not ignore the fact there has been increasing pressure on the Kurdish leadership to delay the vote but said it was too late, and the people should exercise their right.

He also mentioned there had been many attempts to persuade Kurdistan’s leadership to delay the referendum.

“We have told them it is too late as only a few days are away from the vote and people will exercise their right,” he said.

“[The referendum] has become a national movement in the [Kurdistan Region], and it is unstoppable,” Zebari concluded.

Editing by Karzan Sulaivany