Promises made to Kurds must be fulfilled: Canadian MPs

Two Members of the Canadian Parliament on Thursday extended their support for the Kurdistan Region’s “democratic” process ahead of the historic independence referendum on Sep. 25.
kurdistan24.net

OTTAWA, Canada (Kurdistan 24) – Two Members of the Canadian Parliament on Thursday extended their support for the Kurdistan Region’s “democratic” process ahead of the historic independence referendum on Sep. 25.

The MPs spoke to Kurdistan 24 on the sidelines of a pro-independence rally in Ottawa, Canada, organized by The Greater Toronto Kurdish House and the Kurdish-Canadian Association of Ottawa.

Ziad Aboultaif, a Conservative party MP representing the Edmonton-Manning riding, said Canada “definitely always supports the freedom of people when they ask for it.”

“It is very important for the Kurds [who have been] waiting [for independence] for a long time to get to this point,” he stated.

Aboultaif also said the promises made to the Kurds within the past century need to be fulfilled.

“We support the process [of the referendum],” he added. “We support it to be peaceful, to be as easy as possible without having to leave any pieces for the future.”

 

Xavier Barsalou-Duval, a Bloc Québécois MP for the Pierre-Boucher—Les Patriotes—Verchères riding, said the Kurds deciding to exercise their right to self-determination through a referendum was a “very good thing.”

Barsalou-Duval highlighted the Kurds’ right “to choose if they want to be free or not,” adding that democracy and peace were important.

“I think every nation should have the right to decide if they want to be independent or if they want to stay as they are,” he said.

On the procedure of the independence referendum, the Canadian MP noted it was “a good process” and wished the Kurds good luck as they prepare to vote on Sep. 25.

 

Demonstrations and rallies have been held all across the world, as well as in the Kurdistan Region, ahead of the momentous referendum.

 

Editing by G.H. Renaud