Barzani: Kurdistan serious on holding referendum

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan24) – Kurdistan Region is serious about holding a referendum in order to meet the demand of people in the Region, said President Barzani on Friday.

Since Iraq is failing to cope with its political and financial turmoil, Kurdistan Region plans to host an independence referendum.

“Kurdish referendum is a serious topic. We will keep up the efforts until we achieve this Kurdish demand,” Barzani told BBC on Friday.

Referendum has been one of the most discussed topics in the Kurdistan Region. Kurdish officials believe Kurds have the right to decide their future whether they want to remain as part of Iraq or become an independent country.

Barzani mentioned that Kurds have passed through bitter experiences in the past since the establishment of Iraq as a state following the WWI.

He stated that Kurds are not responsible for the breakup of Iraq. “We [Kurds] have tried to keep Iraq together, but it’s the other who broke it up,” said Barzani, indirectly accusing Baghdad officials.

President Barzani also noted that Kurds do not want to be part of the chaos and problems that have surrounded Iraq from all sides.

He previously stated that Baghdad government neither shares power nor believes in real partnership.

“I call for a serious dialogue between Erbil and Baghdad to reach a new solution. If partnership cannot be achieved, let us be brothers and good neighbors,” Barzani said in a statement on May 16, on the 100th anniversary of the Sykes-Picot agreement that created today’s Middle East.

Iraq is suffering from a severe political and financial crisis. Baghdad has failed to make reforms, and protesters stormed the governmental buildings last month, including parliament and ministerial building in Baghdad.

Reporting by Mewan Dolamari
Editing by Ava Homa