Turkmen Reform Party Marks Kurdistan Region Independence Referendum Anniversary

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) — The Turkmen Reform Party on Thursday marked the ninth anniversary of the Kurdistan Region independence referendum, describing the decision to hold the vote as a significant historical achievement and an expression of national sovereignty for all communities in the Kurdistan Region.

In a statement, the party said the referendum represented a pivotal moment in the political history of the people of Kurdistan, adding that it was held under the leadership of President Masoud Barzani despite numerous internal and external challenges.

The party said the referendum became a shared national achievement for the Region’s diverse communities and social groups.

“Through this democratic exercise, the people of Kurdistan, encompassing all their components, communicated their aspiration for independence to the global community,” the statement said.

The party described the referendum as a national imperative reflecting the will of the majority of the people of Kurdistan. It attributed the vote to what it described as Baghdad’s violations of several provisions of Iraq’s permanent constitution and disputes with the Kurdistan Region over financial, administrative, military, and legal issues.

The Turkmen Reform Party also pointed to what it called unstable conditions in Iraq and the wider region, saying the circumstances require solidarity and a unified position among Kurdish political parties.

The party called on all political factions to coordinate their efforts to accelerate the formation of the new Kurdistan Region cabinet, protect national interests, and safeguard the constitutional framework of the Kurdistan Region.

It concluded by congratulating the people of Kurdistan on the referendum anniversary and honoring the memory of those who died in the struggle for Kurdistan’s liberation, as well as the sacrifices of those who fought for freedom.