Iraqi parliament rejects Kurds’ independence poll
The Iraqi parliament yesterday rejected the Kurdish independence referendum scheduled to take place on September 25.
The decision gives authority to Iraq’s prime minister Haider Al Abadi to take all necessary measures to preserve Iraqi unity, parliamentary speaker Salim Al Jubouri said.
“The Iraqi parliament is keen to preserve Iraq’s unity, sovereignty and independence,” Mr Al Jubouri said.
“The issue of the Kurdish referendum, as well as the involvement of disputed areas such as Kirkuk, in the vote violates Iraq’s constitution.
“The parliament rejects the idea of a divided Iraq under any title or justification.”
Abdel Al Malik Husseini, Mr Al Jubouri’s spokesman, said that Baghdad would continue to hold talks with Erbil, the capital of the semi-autonomous Kurdistan region, to resolve the dispute.
“The majority of the Arab blocs, including Sunni and Shiite parties, as well as some of the Kurdish parties in the Iraqi government, reject Kurdistan’s planned independence vote,” Mr Husseini said.
Yesterday’s vote in the federal parliament was held after 80 legislators asked for the issue to be added to the day’s agenda.
“Kurdish lawmakers walked out of the session, but the decision to reject the referendum was passed by a majority,” said a member of parliament, Mohammed Al Karbouli.
Mr Al Abadi and other senior officials have repeatedly said that the referendum is a violation of Iraq’s constitution and have described it as “unilateral and unconstitutional”.
The US, Turkey and Iran have pressed the Kurds to delay the vote. They claim the referen-
When was Iraq so united that we should be worried about breaking its unity? MASOUD BARZANI Iraqi Kurdistan president
dum will distract from the fight against ISIL and prolong instability in the region.
Iran and Turkey fear that the vote will spark separatist movements among their Kurdish minorities.
But Iraqi Kurdistan president Masoud Barzani said: “When have we ever had stability and security in this region that we should be concerned about losing it?
“When was Iraq so united that we should be worried about breaking its unity? Those who are saying this are just looking for excuses to stop us.”
Despite mounting pressure, the Kurdistan region is determined to hold the vote in the three northern provinces – Erbil, Sulaymaniyah and Dohuk – where they have long enjoyed autonomy, and in other areas including Kirkuk, which Kurdish forces captured during the battle against ISIL. Kirkuk, which is home to Iraqi Arabs, Turkmens, Christians and Kurds, announced that the province would participate in Iraqi Kurdistan’s independence vote, although it is not part of the Kurdistan region.
Yesterday, Mr Barzani met Iraqi vice president Ayad Allawi in Erbil to discuss the vote.
Mr Allawi said the referendum would result in “civil war”.
He said that open dialogue and co-operation between Erbil and Baghdad’s central government must be a priority to avoid clashes.
Shortly after, Mr Barzani met Kirkuk’s governor, Negim Al Din Karim, and said: “Kirkuk should have a special status within the independent Kurdistan based on genuine partnership.
“Holding the referendum is a natural right for Kurdistan, and Kirkuk is not only for the Kurds. Only the people of Kirkuk can decide the future of Kirkuk. No one can impose any status in Kirkuk.”