Politics

Barzani: Kurdistan independence an internal issue, nothing to do with Iran, Turkey

President Barzani called on the Turkish authority to release the pro-Kurdish leader of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) Selahattin Demirtas, claiming it will be in the interest of peace process in the country.

Sangar Ali 2017/02/24 13:17

kurdistan Masoud Barzani Kurdistan Iraq Independence Turkey Syria

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan24) – Kurdish independence has nothing to do with Tehran and Ankara, but is an internal debate with Baghdad, said President of the Kurdistan Region Masoud Barzani on Thursday.

The Kurdish right to hold a referendum on self-determination is “a natural, god-given right of the people in Kurdistan,” said Barzani in an interview with the German Newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung.

“This is an internal issue between us [Kurdistan Region] and Baghdad, which has nothing to do with Iran and Turkey,” Barzani said, stating the referendum does not contradict the principles of democracy and human rights.

"We do not need permission from anyone," he added.

Moreover, Barzani mentioned that the official borders of Iraq and Syria have lost their significance.

“How can we speak of Iraq or Syria as states? The paradox is that many politicians know it, but do not acknowledge the realities of the region. They do not want to admit that the official boundaries are nothing more than history.”

He also noted that the days of Iraq as “a country with a strong central government is over. It is about self-determination.”

In the past years, President Barzani has called on holding a referendum on the Kurdistan Region self-determination. He believes that the people of the Kurdistan Region have the right to decide on their future whether they want to remain as part of Iraq or secede.

In another part of the interview, Barzani called on Turkish authorities to release the pro-Kurdish leader of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) Selahattin Demirtas, adding that it will be in the interest of the peace process.

Demirtas along with 11 HDP members of parliament were arrested on Nov. 4, 2016, accused of having links with the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) which is designated as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the European Union, and the United States.

Demirtas has vehemently denied the charges and has called his detention "unlawful."

Editing by Ava Homa