Iraqi President cancels US trip to address Kurdistan referendum concerns

Iraqi President Fuad Masum canceled his trip to the United States and will instead remain in Iraq to address the Kurdistan Region’s upcoming independence referendum.

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan 24) – Iraqi President Fuad Masum canceled his trip to the United States and will instead remain in Iraq to address the Kurdistan Region’s upcoming independence referendum, a representative for his office said on Monday.

The Iraqi President, himself a Kurd, was heading to the US to speak at the United Nations General Assembly this week in New York.

However, according to an email sent out from a representative for his office, Masum decided to remain in Iraq ahead of the Kurdistan Region’s upcoming vote which allegedly “threatened the stability” of the country.

The Iraqi Embassy in Washington, DC confirmed Masum’s withdrawal but did not provide any further comments on the matter.

Earlier in the day, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi formally called for the suspension of the independence referendum, leading to the Iraqi Supreme Court ordering the event to be postponed.

Iraqi officials, including Abadi, have questioned the legality of the vote and claim its legitimacy must be addressed.

The court said the Kurdistan referendum should be suspended “until it examines the complaints it has received over this plebiscite being unconstitutional.”

Despite the Supreme Court’s ruling, the Kurdistan Region’s leadership, including President Masoud Barzani, have insisted the vote will proceed as scheduled on Sep. 25.

Although a majority “yes” vote in the referendum would not mean immediate secession from Iraq, President Barzani hopes strong support will strengthen the Kurds’ hand in future negotiations with Baghdad.

Meanwhile, the United Kingdom’s Defense Minister visited Erbil, the capital of the Kurdistan Region, on Monday and tried to persuade President Barzani to postpone the vote.

Amid objections of the timing of the referendum from the US, the UK, and Iraq, as well as neighboring countries Turkey, Iran, the Kurdish leadership has agreed the vote will go on.

 

Editing by Ava Homa