Kurdistan Parliament rejects Iraqi government's sanctions

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan 24) – The Kurdistan Region Parliament on Saturday responded to the decisions of the Iraqi parliament and government sanctions to punish the Region for holding the independence referendum.

In an extraordinary session held on Saturday, the Kurdistan Parliament in a unanimous vote rejected the Iraqi Parliament and government’s decisions "against the people of the Kurdistan Region.”

Parliament congratulated the people of Kurdistan Region for the successful referendum, stating that the decision to hold a referendum was compatible with the United Nations Charter and Iraqi constitution and the principle of the right to self-determination.

Kurdistan Parliament endorsed the decisions made by the Kurdistan Council of Ministers to reject the sanctions by the Iraqi parliament and government, asking the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) to adhere to laws and decisions of the Kurdistan Region Parliament.

"The rulings of the Iraqi Council of Representatives will never be implemented in the Kurdistan Region because according to the Article 121 of the Iraqi Constitution it requires an endorsement by the Kurdistan Parliament,” the parliament said.

Kurdistan parliament added that the Iraqi Parliament’s sanctions are illegal since they violate the federal and democratic principles guaranteed in the constitution.

Kurdistan parliament called upon the international community to have a firm position on Iraq's collective punishment and punitive measures against the people of the Kurdistan Region.

Parliament urged the international community and the neighboring countries to respect the decision of people of Kurdistan, stating that “The parliament assures them that referendum is not a threat to the security of any country. On the contrary, Kurdistan Region has always been a factor of stability in the region."

"Kurdistan Parliament refuses any military options by the Iraqi government in Kurdistani areas outside of the KRG administration, authorizing the Commander in Chief of the Peshmerga forces to do whatever is needed to keep security and stability in those areas," the statement concluded.