Putin speaks with Erdogan, Rouhani about Kurdistan referendum

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday called his Turkish and Iranian counterparts to discuss the Kurdistan Region’s independence referendum.

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan 24) – Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday called his Turkish and Iranian counterparts to discuss the Kurdistan Region’s independence referendum, a Kremlin spokesperson said.

According to Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, President Putin talked to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Iranian counterpart Hassan Rouhani in separate phone calls about the vote in the Kurdistan Region.

“This issue was discussed during telephone conversations,” Peskov told reporters on Tuesday without providing further details.

The spokesperson explained that Russia’s position regarding Kurdistan’s referendum and ambitions of statehood “has not changed,” adding Moscow wants a unified Iraq.

“We still believe that maintaining [the] territorial and political integrity of the state is extremely important for maintaining stability and security in the region, and for setting acute problems that are plentiful in the region,” Peskov stated.

Turkish presidential sources said Putin and Erdogan stressed the importance of “the territorial integrity of Iraq and Syria” in their phone conversation on Monday.

The Russian President is expected to arrive in Turkey on Sep. 28 to hold bilateral discussions with Erdogan on events in Iraq and neighboring Syria.

Russia has yet to release a public statement following the Kurdistan Region’s historic independence vote but continues to stress the importance of Iraq’s territorial integrity.

On Monday, millions of Kurds flocked to polling stations in excitement to cast their votes and decide if they wanted to remain a part of Iraq or secede as an independent state.

The plebiscite defied opposition from Iraq, the United States, the United Kingdom, Turkey, and Iran who complained it would destabilize the region.

Ballots are currently being counted, and the final result of the referendum is expected to be announced on Wednesday.

 

Editing by Ava Homa