Kurdistan to hold independence referendum on Sep. 25

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan24) – In a meeting on Wednesday chaired by the Kurdistan Region President Masoud Barzani, the political parties in Kurdistan decided to hold an independence referendum on Sep. 25, 2017.

According to a statement released after the meeting, the political parties participating in the meeting agreed on four main points.

The independence referendum is to be held in all the areas of the Kurdistan Region, including the "disputed territories" between the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) and the Iraqi government.

The political parties will strive for reactivating the parliament and resolving political issues to create national consensus, the statement said.

The meeting emphasized on making efforts to improve the living condition of the people and resolve the economic issues facing public employees at the Kurdistan Region.

The parties decided on creating a high-level referendum committee to be overseen by the Kurdistan Region President Masoud Barzani, the statement said, urging the political parties to select their representatives to the committee by June 12.

The parties also agreed on holding Parliamentary and Presidential elections on Nov. 6, 2017.

Following the meeting, Chancellor of the Kurdistan Region Security Council Masrour Barzani in a tweet said, “Today is a historic day for Kurdistan. The referendum date is set. On September 25, the people of Kurdistan will determine their future.”

Fifteen political parties in the Kurdistan Region, representing various components of the Region, expressed their views at the meeting.

Gorran [Change] Movement and Islamic Group of Kurdistan-Iraq refused to participate in the meeting, stating that the priority should be given to resolving political deadlocks and reactivating Kurdistan parliament before discussing independence referendum.

Editing by Ava Homa