Independent Kurdistan requires unity

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan24) – During an interview on Saturday, the Iraqi president said that holding a referendum does not mean Kurdistan Region will be immediately independent.

Fuad Masum, the Iraqi President, told Kurdistan24 in a broadcasted interview that holding a referendum means considering the opinion of the people and not an immediate split.

Masum gave the example of Scotland and Cubic where a referendum was held but they did not announce statehood.

“No one is on board with declaring independence using violent means, preparations have to be made for this matter especially in resolving the internal issues in the Kurdistan Region,” he stated.

Masum said that for declaring independence, “the Kurdistan Region needs to consider the position of regional powers, before the idea of an independent state is boycotted by everyone.”

Regarding the reforms announced by the Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, Masum said, “Abadi has started his reform package unilaterally without taking into consideration anyone’s opinion on the matter, and this has weakened his efforts.”

Additionally, Masum revealed that he tried to convince the Kurdistan Region political parties to return to Baghdad. “The MPs' real front is in the parliament; it is better if they return,” he added.

The Kurdistan Region MPs in the Iraqi parliament decided to return to Baghdad to attend an Iraqi parliament session and complete the quorum on May 29.

Following the return of the Kurdish MPs to Baghdad, a Parliament session was held during which Abadi and 167 other MPs were present.

Before the session, the Kurdish MPs met with the UN convoy to Iraq and Abadi.

According to Tariq Gardy, a Kurdish MP, the meeting was “to ensure that the demands of the Kurdistan Region are met, and the promises given to the Kurds by the Iraqi MP are pledged.”

 
Editing by Karzan Sulaivany and Ava Homa
(Kamaran Omar conducted the interview in Baghdad)