Barzani: Time to discuss postponing the referendum has passed
On Saturday, President Barzani declared that the decision to hold the referendum on independence for the Kurdistan Region rests in the hands of people and will be held on time.
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan 24) – On Saturday, President Barzani declared that the decision to hold the referendum on independence for the Kurdistan Region rests in the hands of people and will be held on time.
On Saturday, President of the Kurdistan Region Masoud Barzani received a French diplomatic delegation headed by Ambassador Bruno Aubert, the ambassador of France to Iraq.
During the meeting, both sides discussed several topics, including strengthening bilateral ties between Erbil and Paris, and the Kurdistan Region’s referendum on Sep. 25.
“President Barzani made reference to the importance of the relations between France and Kurdistan and how France has historically been supportive of the cause of the people of Kurdistan… Barzani stated he would eternally keep in his memory the assistance that has been provided historically by France,” the Kurdistan Region Presidency media office read.
Aubert noted that the French government “is not, in any way against the right of the people of Kurdistan to cast their votes in the referendum for independence.” However, he added that the government of France “objects to the timing of the referendum.”
Barzani affirmed it is “too late to discuss the postponement of the referendum” as voting for the Kurdistan Region's Diaspora has already begun and that the decision to hold the vote is no longer in the hands of the political parties but the people.
The Kurdish President also noted that the referendum is a “peaceful and democratic exercise of the people's right” to decide whether they want to remain part of Iraq or secede.
He emphasized that the vote will not affect global efforts in the fight against the Islamic State (IS).
The French delegation also met with the Chancellor of the Kurdistan Region Security Council (KRSC), Masrour Barzani, in Erbil.
During the meeting, Ambassador Aubert praised the Kurdistan Region for receiving and hosting 1.8 million refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs), according to KRSC press office.
Aubert reiterated that France would never stand against the exercise of democracy, but is only concerned about the timing of the referendum.
The Kurdish Chancellor praised France's support to the Kurdistan Region during critical times. Nevertheless, he laid out the reasons behind the Kurdistan Region's decision to go down the path of self-determination, stating the region has put forward all its best efforts in developing a successful partnership with Baghdad but to no avail.
“Now, the people of the Kurdistan Region demand to exercise their right peacefully, in a democratic manner that does not contradict international laws,” the Kurdish Chief Security said according to the statement.
He added that negotiations with Baghdad would continue after the referendum took place and hoped France, as an ally to the Kurdistan Region, would use its diplomatic gravitas to support the will of the Kurdistan Region’s people.
An independent state of Kurdistan has been the long-awaited dream of over 40 million stateless Kurds around the world. Senior Kurdish officials have repeatedly indicated that Baghdad has a sectarian and discriminatory style of governing which treats the people of the Kurdistan Region as second-class citizens.
Editing by G.H. Renaud