'Kirkuk will not implement Iraqi parliament’s decision on Kurdistan flag'

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan24) – Kirkuk will not abide by the decision to remove Kurdistan flag, according to the Head of Kirkuk Provincial Council.

Rebwar Talabani in a press conference on Saturday said that Kirkuk would not implement the decision approved by the Iraqi parliament against Council’s motion to raise Kurdistan flag over government buildings in Kirkuk province.

Parliament of Iraq on Saturday decided to bring down the flag of Kurdistan on all state buildings in the Kirkuk Province, according to a Kurdistan24 correspondent.

In an assembly that all Kurdish MPs had boycotted, a majority vote agreed to remove the Kurdistan flag in Kirkuk, reversing the decision recently approved by the Kirkuk Provincial Council.

Iraqi government stressed only the flag of Iraq should be hoisted but Talabani told reporters that all components of Kirkuk province have voted in favor of the decision to raise Kurdistan flag and have been supporting the decision.

He added that having only one flag would be denying the diversity of the province while under the Kurdistan flag more than two million Arabs have been sheltered and protected.

Talabani extended his appreciation to some Arab and Turkmen members of the Kirkuk Provincial Council for voting in favor of Kurdistan flag.

“It is impossible that we preserve the Kurdistan flag in Kirkuk because the decision is constitutional,” Talabani said, stating that Kurdistan flag belongs to all components of province Kirkuk, including Arabs, Turkmen, and Assyrians.

Editing by Ava Homa