UNAMI urges Kurdistan, Iraq to hold negotiations over independence referendum

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan24) – The Special Representative and Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Iraq (UNAMI) on Monday urged Erbil and Baghdad to hold dialogues regarding the upcoming independence referendum.

Jan Kubis the Special Representative and Head of the UNAMI in a speech at the United Nations Security Council said that the Kurdistan Region is determined to proceed with the independence referendum, urging Baghdad and Erbil to pursue negotiations.

Kubis referred to Kurdistan Region’s delegation visit to the Europe on July 11, where the Region’s President Masoud Barzani reiterated the determination of the Kurdistan Region to hold the planned independence referendum.

“Such an important issue ought not to be pursued without an understanding between the federal government and that of the Kurdistan Regional Government,” Kubis said.

Kubis urged Kurdistan Region and Iraq to enter into negotiations without further delay, in the spirit of genuine partnership and based on the Constitution.

He called upon both parties to urgently "find common ground and a roadmap to address this [referendum] and other critical topics, notably implementation of Article 140 of the Constitution on disputed territories, budgetary issues, oil and revenue sharing, and other areas and principles that determine the relations between the federal government and the Kurdistan Regional Government.”

In relation to Mosul operation, Kubis thanked Iraqi forces, Hashd al-Shaabi and the Peshmerga forces for the liberation of Mosul, stating that “The historic liberation should not conceal the fact that the road ahead is extremely challenging.”

He added that reclaiming other areas under Islamic State (IS) control in parts of Nineveh and Anbar governorates and Hawija in Kirkuk governorate will not be easy.

Editing by Ava Homa