Barzani: Referendum is for a democratic, pluralistic Kurdistan
President of the Kurdistan Region Masoud Barzani on Monday affirmed that an independent Kurdistan would be a democratic and pluralistic state, which will embrace and represent the different ethnic and religious minorities living in the Kurdistan Region.
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan 24) – President of the Kurdistan Region Masoud Barzani on Monday affirmed that an independent Kurdistan would be a democratic and pluralistic state, which will embrace and represent the different ethnic and religious minorities living in the Kurdistan Region.
“We will not create an exclusively Kurdish nation-state. Its citizenry will be democratic, pluralistic and diverse,” Barzani highlighted, stating the state would not be a ‘Kurdish' one but rather ‘Kurdistani.’
The President’s speech was given as he met with women, students, and youth groups in Erbil to discuss the upcoming referendum on independence for the Kurdistan Region, the underlying factors driving the decision to hold the vote and the Region's future.
Major parties in the Kurdistan Region agreed to hold a referendum to decide whether to separate from the rest of Iraq on Sep 25, a move that the senior Kurdish officials say there is no turning back from despite opposition from Baghdad, neighboring countries, and the US.
“The Kurdistan Referendum Delegation in Baghdad is not renegotiating outstanding issues, like our partnership with Iraq or budget shares. They are negotiating a post-referendum accord,” Barzani emphasized.
Saadi Pira, a member of the delegation on Sunday also told Kurdistan 24 they were not discussing any trades or agreements with Baghdad to delay the vote, but rather develop a framework for future relations between both parties following the referendum.
During the meeting, Barzani explained that those opposed to the timing of the referendum have no alternatives nor guarantees to provide the people of the Kurdistan Region.
“Since 2012, we have said partnerships in Iraq have failed, and that if not fixed, we would take legal measures toward self-determination,” Barzani added, referring to previous warnings given to Baghdad ahead of the referendum.
Independence for Kurdistan has been a long-awaited dream for almost every Kurd around the world. Over the past years, Kurdish officials have repeatedly complained Baghdad has violated the Constitution of Iraq and treats the people of the Kurdistan Region as second-class citizens.
Editing by G.H. Renaud