Barzani: ‘Iraq a failed enterprise’

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan24) – The Kurdistan Region President Masoud Barzani said that an independent Kurdistan will resolve all outstanding problems in the region.

In an interview with Sky News Arabia, President Barzani said, “There is no benefit in postponing the matter [delaying the declaration of independent Kurdistan], and there is nothing left we did not do in order to preserve the unity of Iraq.” 

He also pointed to the inability of Iraq to uphold its promises. “The Iraqi Constitution’s guarantee to maintain the unity of Iraq must be recalled. The Iraqi government did not comply with the constitution, and there have been dozens of examples.” Barzani stated.

In regards to an independent Kurdistan, Barzani said that it is the demand of every single Kurd. “We expect and call upon the international community to recognize the Kurdish state,” he said.

“In its [Iraq’s] initial period from 1922 to 2003 it was a failed and destructive enterprise, and it has proven to be a failure after 2003 as well,” Barzani added. 

"Why do we insist on a failed experiment or a failed formula...is it realistic to go back to fighting again, or should we settle down and live together as brothers and stabilize the region,” Barzani said.

According to Barzani, the independence of the Kurdistan Region will solve all unsettled problems with Iraq.

“Everybody is saying that they support the unity of Iraq, we [Kurds] have labored for the unity of Iraq as well, but we are not responsible for the fragmentation of Iraq; Iraq is partitioned de facto,” Barzani concluded.

Reporting by Baxtiyar Goran

Editing by Karzan Sulaivany