Referendum delegation meets Iraqi Parliamentary Speaker, PMF Commander, former PM

BAGHDAD, Iraq (Kurdistan 24) – The Kurdistan Region's Referendum High Council's delegation is still holding meetings and negotiating independence with Iraqi officials in Baghdad, in hopes of reaching an agreement with the federal government.

On Wednesday, the delegation met with Iraqi Parliamentary Speaker Salim al-Jabouri. During the meeting, Jabouri told the delegation he "respects the demands of the people in the Kurdistan Region," and that the Iraqi Parliament would stay neutral on the subject, a member of the delegation told a Kurdistan 24 correspondent.

“Parliament will not take any measures against the Kurdistan Region. Parliament should remain neutral,” the member stated, reporting Jabouri’s comments.

The delegation members described the meeting with the Parliamentary Speaker as “very good and positive.” It was mentioned that Parliament would help in making the Erbil – Baghdad negotiations a "success."

The referendum delegation also met with Hadi al-Amiri, a senior commander of the Hashd al-Shaabi, known as the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF). Following the meeting, he told reporters, “it is impossible to raise arms against Peshmerga.”

He rejected rumors of possible clashes between the Kurdish Peshmerga and the PMF, claiming it is nothing more than "media propaganda."

“The Peshmerga serves the people. The Kurdish people and our brothers in the Kurdistan Region are part of the people in Iraq, and they will not separate from each other. It is therefore impossible to raise weapons against the Peshmerga forces,” al-Amri stated.

He welcomed the delegation’s visit to Baghdad, calling for a peaceful resolution of the dispute between the Erbil and Baghdad. The commander hopes both Erbil and Baghdad “are serious about addressing the issues between each other.”

The referendum delegation, which consists the representative from various parties in the Kurdistan Region, including Christians and Ezidis, also met with the former Prime Minister of Iraq and current Vice-President, Nouri al-Maliki.

In the meeting, Maliki stated that the issues between the KRG and the federal government of Iraq should be settled through peaceful dialogue, according to a Kurdistan 24 correspondent.

However, Maliki reiterated that he supports any steps that “is compliant with the Constitution of Iraq,” and called on parties to consult the constitution before making any decisions regarding independence.

Editing by G.H. Renaud