President Barzani rejects US, UK, UN proposal to delay referendum

President of the Kurdistan Region Masoud Barzani on Friday said that the people of the Kurdistan Region have not received the alternative yet to the upcoming independence referendum scheduled for Sep. 25, stating the vote will be held on time.

AMEDI, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan 24) - President of the Kurdistan Region Masoud Barzani on Friday said that the people of the Kurdistan Region have not received the alternative yet to the upcoming independence referendum scheduled for Sep. 25, stating the vote will be held on time.

During his speech in the referendum rally held in Amedi in Duhok Province, Barzani emphasized that on Thursday, he had a meeting with the US, UK, and UN envoys in Duhok where they asked for the postponement of the vote.

He mentioned that the Kurdistan Region has not heard the alternative yet to delay the referendum, emphasizing that the vote will be held on time.

Barzani has repeatedly stated that there is no turning back on holding the referendum unless they receive a better alternative for achieving the independence of the Kurdistan Region.

"Don't get your self busy with the news that says the referendum will be postponed. Until now, the alternative date for the referendum has not been offered," Barzani continued. "We have heard many empty promises until now. The referendum will not be delayed."

"The people of the Kurdistan Region will give legitimacy to the referendum, not the outsiders," he added.

"Where is your call and support of democracy? Human Rights? We expected you to reward us with independence after Peshmerga destroyed Da'esh. Since they show opposition to that, we will not count for their speeches and decisions either," Barzani said in response to the countries that oppose the vote, using Arabic pejorative term for the Islamic State (IS).

He explained that independence is earned, not obtained as a gift from other countries.

 

Editing by Ava Homa