Barzani: Baghdad rejecting dialogue pushes Kurdistan further away

“Kurdistan seeks talks in good faith grounded in mutual respect.”

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan 24) – The Chancellor of the Kurdistan Region Security Council (KRSC) on Thursday urged Baghdad not to reject dialogue with the Kurdistan Region in the aftermath of the historic independence referendum.

In a series of tweets, Masrour Barzani, the Chancellor of the KRSC, congratulated the people of the Kurdistan Region for victory in the independence referendum.

The Chancellor also called on Baghdad to engage in constructive dialogue with the Region.

“I congratulate the people of Kurdistan on the overwhelming victory in the referendum on independence. A new chapter is now upon us,” Barzani wrote.

The KRSC Chancellor noted that cooperation between the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) and the Federal Government of Iraq was important for future relations between the two.

“Baghdad must recognize that rejecting talks for a peaceful, managed settlement pushes Kurdistan further away,” adding the Iraqi Parliament’s statements on Wednesday were “provocative, unhelpful, and reckless.”

“This mentality smacks of antagonism against the people of Kurdistan. It is such statements and marginalization that led to the referendum,” Chancellor Barzani said.

Barzani expressed the Kurdistan Region’s readiness for dialogue with Baghdad, stating that “Kurdistan seeks talks in good faith grounded in mutual respect.”

On Sep. 25, the Kurdistan Region held a referendum on independence from Iraq.

The “Yes” vote won an overwhelming majority with 92.73 percent according to the Independent High Elections and Referendum Commission (IHERC), which announced the result of the poll on Wednesday afternoon.

 

Editing by Karzan Sulaivany