Iraqi PM: ‘Kurds do not want independence’

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan24) – The Prime Minister of Iraq on Monday stated the Kurdistan Region President would visit Baghdad in the coming days.

Haider al-Abadi, the Iraqi PM, said in a press conference that Masoud Barzani, the Kurdistan Region President, would visit Baghdad in the next few days to discuss several topics, especially the upcoming Mosul operation.

President Barzani’s visit had been planned several months ago, Abadi said. According to the Iraqi PM, the disputes between Erbil and Baghdad will be part of the discussions as well.

Regarding the independence of Kurdistan, PM Abadi added the international community supports a unified Iraq, claiming Kurds do not want to succeed from Iraq.

“If you do not want to succeed from Iraq, then what is the purpose of holding a referendum,” Abadi stated, asking the Kurdistan Region leadership.

President Barzani, in his recent visit to France, said independence had been the most important subject discussed with all European officials.

“No country is against Kurdistan independence, but there might be differences on the timeline of declaring independence,” President Barzani added.

In late August, a delegation of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) led by Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani visited Baghdad and met with different Iraqi officials.

PM Barzani met with Abadi, among other Iraqi figures, to discuss the independence referendum with political parties in Baghdad.

Fuad Hussein, the Kurdistan Regional Presidency (KRP) Chief of Staff previously told Kurdistan24 the KRG had informed Baghdad of their desire for independence.

“The KRG officially presented the Kurdistan independence project to the parties in Baghdad, and they have good understanding of the matter,” he stated.

“Some consider independence as a natural right of the people of Kurdistan,” Hussein concluded.

Editing by Karzan Sulaivany