Iraqi FM on Kurdistan Referendum: Nobody intends to use the military option

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan 24) – The Federal Government of Iraq is in dialogue with the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) to postpone the Sep. 25 referendum on independence, an Iraqi official said on Thursday.

“Nobody has the intention to use the military option,” Iraqi Foreign Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari told Kurdistan 24 in New York. “The Federal Government of Iraq will put forward its best efforts to reach an agreement with the Kurdistan Regional Government to delay the referendum.”

Kurdish officials have insisted on holding the vote, stating Iraqi officials don’t believe in a real partnership and have turned Baghdad into a ‘sectarian government’ in addition to their violation of multiple articles in the Constitution of Iraq.

“Holding a referendum will not be in the interest of Kurds. We want to resolve our disputes and tensions through dialogue. We never want to use the military option,” al-Jaafari added.

Top officials in Erbil and Baghdad both agree that unresolved issues between the two should be addressed through negotiation and peaceful means, stating that the people of Iraq and the Kurdistan Region have ‘suffered enough,’ and that they do not wish for more conflicts to arise.

A delegation from the council for the Kurdistan Region's Referendum will lead another visit to Baghdad this week to discuss the outstanding concerns, namely Monday's vote.

The international community, including the US, UK, and neighboring countries, has called on the Kurdish leadership to delay the referendum. Kurds, in return, have demanded a guaranteed alternative for independence as a prerequisite to postponing the vote.

Editing by G.H. Renaud