Parliament: Kurds to withdraw from Iraqi political process if calls for dialogue ignored

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan 24) – The Kurdistan Region Parliament asked the Iraqi Prime Minister on Wednesday to stop using the language of threat and making unilateral decisions about the Region.

Kurdistan Parliament in a statement urged the Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi to resume the process of dialogue and adhere to the Constitution and to talk to the KRG instead of the media.

In his Tuesday press conference, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said his government has achieved more than expected by pushing Kurds back to 2003 borders. He vowed to continue his approach.

Iraqi PM added that his government is looking to secure a route to export Kirkuk oil by "taking action regarding borders." He is looking to assert federal control over Kurdistan Region international borders.

The parliament of Kurdistan warned against the further delay of negotiations.

“In order to avoid the language of threats and find feasible solutions between Erbil and Baghdad, efforts must concentrate on constructive dialogue and the Iraqi government shall avoid releasing media statements and unilateral interpretation of the constitution without considering the view of the Kurdistan Region,”  the statement said.

Kurdistan Parliament expressed its full support for the statements and efforts made by the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) in order to resolve the disputes with the Iraqi government.

The statement said the mutual understanding within the framework of the Constitution can only be obtained through a constructive dialogue, not through overlooking the requests of a portion of the population.

Kurdistan Parliament warned that if the legitimate rights of the people of the Kurdistan Region as mentioned in the Constitution are not respected and the Iraqi government rejects dialogue on the basis of the constitution, the option of withdrawing from the Iraqi political process is open.

“And Kurdistan’s parliament will strive to create unanimity in favor of this option. That is if the Iraqi government doesn’t give a chance to negotiations and mutual understanding within the framework of the constitution,” the statement concluded.

Iraq’s Federal Court ruled that interpretation of Article 1 of the constitution does not allow independence from any parts of the country, a decision the KRG said would respect as a basis for talks.

Editing by Sam A.