Masrour Barzani: Process toward independence has already begun

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan24) – The Chancellor of the Kurdistan Region Security Council (KRSC) Masrour Barzani on Wednesday discussed Kurdish independence in a supportive gathering for the referendum organized by the Kurdistan Student Union (KSU).

Directly addressing the topic with students, Barzani expressed confidence that a majority of people in Kurdistan would vote for an independent Kurdish state.

“The question will be very simple: Do you support an independent Kurdistan,” Barzani said.

He also reiterated the referendum would include all factions within the Kurdistan Region.

“It is not a vote exclusively reserved for Kurds,” he stated. “All ethnic and religious groups who enjoy living within the Kurdistan Region should have a voice.”

Barzani addressed concerns regarding the process following the outcome of the referendum. “Some may wonder what will happen after the referendum,” he said.

“The process toward independence has already begun, and there is no turning back,” he noted before reaffirming the referendum will take place this year.

“This issue has been discussed with many countries, including neighboring ones. We are committing to consulting with them on the best way to move forward with this referendum,” Barzani said.

He mentioned it was also necessary for the people of Kurdistan to believe in independence and work together to achieve this goal.

“We should not be governed by others who have not treated us fairly,” he stated. “The right to self-determination is an internationally recognized right and our natural right.”

He mentioned that the Kurdistan Region President Masoud Barzani discussed this issue with all Kurdish parties and formed an all-party committee to supervise the referendum process.

“Some have said this is not the time to request independence. Others claim Kurds have enough rights already guaranteed,” Barzani said.

Barzani noted it falls on Kurds and no one else to decide on their future in the region. “We have to be recognized as equals to other nations,” he affirmed. “We will not accept having less rights than others.”

He criticized former Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki for discriminating against Kurds and cutting Kurdish employees’ wages.

“Unless we have an independent nation, we will not have all our rights guaranteed and protected,” he said.

“Right now, we are part of a country [Iraq] which suffers from external interference at the hands of other nations,” Barzani added.

“Baghdad can choose not to be independent, but we will fight for our independence,” the KRSC Chancellor affirmed.

Referring to the genocide and chemical attacks carried out by Saddam Hussein’s regime, Barzani called on the international community to understand Kurds’ aim for independence.

“We are not redrawing the borders of the Kurdistan Region with neighboring countries. We only want to change the relationship between Erbil and Baghdad,” Barzani stated.

“We hope to have good relations with all parts of Iraq and live peacefully with all neighboring nations including Iran, Turkey, and Syria,” he concluded.

Editing by Karzan Sulaivany