Kurdistan Security Chief office rejects ex-Iraqi ambassador's allegations

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan24) – The Office of the Kurdistan Region Security Council (KRSC) Chancellor on Saturday rejected allegations made by former Iraqi Ambassador Lukman Faily about the US stance on Kurdistan’s independence referendum.

Some Iraqi news outlets recently quoted Faily’s speech regarding the recent meeting between KRSC Chancellor Masrour Barzani and US officials in Washington, DC.

According to Faily, the US had frankly expressed its stance against a Kurdistan independence referendum which is planned to be held in 2017.

A statement from Chancellor Barzani’s office highlighted that in the meetings, the US administration supported the demands of the Kurdistan Region.

Additionally, both sides agreed issues between Erbil and Baghdad should be addressed through peaceful dialogue.

“The former Iraqi Ambassador was neither at the meetings nor aware of the content of the meetings,” the KRSC statement read. “[Faily] is not a US assistant to comment on behalf of the US.”

The report also emphasized the US administration has official media channels to announce its stance, and so far, no such comments have been made.

“The topic of referendum and independence is related to the demand of our people, and the final decision in this regard will be made by the people of Kurdistan,” the statement concluded.

Senior Kurdish officials including President Masoud Barzani have pushed the case for a referendum forward, stating the international community will hear what the people of Kurdistan want.

Kurdish officials have repeatedly complained that Baghdad does not treat the Kurdistan Region as a real partner, but rather as a guest.

Recently, a high-ranking Kurdish delegation led by Chancellor Barzani visited Washington, DC and met with many US officials including National Security Advisor H.R. McMaster.

The delegation also met Senior Advisor Jared Kushner, Homeland Security Advisor Tom Bossert, and Sen. John McCain, Chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee.

Editing by Karzan Sulaivany