Unity and economic reform, independence prerequisites

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (K24) – On Sunday, A civil activist in Washington said that unity and economics have to be discussed when considering self-determination for the Kurdistan Region.

In an interview with K24, Abdulsalam Madani said a referendum will be much more powerful after creating solidarity among Kurdish parties. 

He added that creating an independent state without resolving internal issues might add to the previous burdens, especially if some of the countries in the region tend to make waves.

“Sometimes we think that the mere independence will resolve all our problems,” Madani said. 

He mentioned that when the Saddam Hussein regime was toppled in 2003, people expected a great leap toward a democracy with all the issues resolved immediately. But that never happened.

Nevertheless, Madani said now is the best opportunity for the Region to declare independence although having a specific direction is necessary.

Madani underlined that until now all the efforts to keep a united Iraq have failed. Iraq is now heading to an unclear future, and the Kurdistan Region shouldn’t drown in this uncertainty.

On Jan. 27, President of the Kurdistan regional Government (KRG) Masoud Barzani and the Kurdish Political Parties established a committee to make preparations for a Kurdish referendum.

Reporting by Gulala Khaled
Editing by Karzan Sulaivany and Ava Homa