Kurds should not make unilateral decision on referendum: Iraqi government

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan24) - The federal government of Iraq on Friday stated that Kurds in the Iraqi Kurdistan Region should not make a unilateral decision to hold a referendum for an independent Kurdistan.

The federal government highlighted the need for Baghdad's involvement in the Kurdish resolution to hold a referendum on independence on Sep. 25, 2017, spokesperson of Iraqi Prime Minister Saad al-Hadithi told the state-sponsored media.

"Any decision on the future of Iraq must take into account the constitutional provisions. It is an Iraqi decision and does not concern one party only," Hadithi said.

"Any decision on this matter must be made in consultation with other parties as well as taking into account national consensus."

"All Iraqis must have their say about the future of their homeland, and no party can determine its fate in isolation from others," he added.

The spokesperson also mentioned that the Constitution provides a legal and political reference point establishing the relationship between the federal government and the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.

Kurds have long-awaited to create their aspirational dream of an independent Kurdish state. Kurds are believed to be the largest stateless nation in the world, estimated to be over 40 million.

In a meeting on Wednesday chaired by the Kurdistan Region President Masoud Barzani, political parties in Kurdistan elected to hold an independence referendum on Sep. 25, 2017.

“It is a significant achievement for all the political parties that participated in the meeting to be part of a historic decision. The people of Kurdistan, through a referendum, will make their voice heard in the world,” President Barzani said in a letter.

Barzani hoped that the decision to hold the independence referendum would inspire unity, stating that “people desire peaceful means, to achieve [independence] without violence... We want to have the best relations and understanding in this regard with Baghdad, neighboring countries, and regional countries [on the independence referendum]."

Editing by G.H. Renaud