Iraq, U.N. reiterate opposition to Kurdistan independence
UN Special Representative Jan Kubis. File photo.
Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) Iraq and the United Nations have reasserted their disapproval of a referendum on Kurdistan independence from Iraq as the autonomous region stands two days from a highly divisive poll.
Meeting in Baghdad, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi and U.N. representative in Iraq, Jan Kubis reiterated their opposition to the vote slated for Monday, reaffirming their eagerness to preserve Iraqi territorial unity.
Kubis highlighted the “United Nation’s clear stance on rejecting the referendum, and the importance of dialogue (as means to end the political crisis)” Abadi’s office said in a statement on Saturday. He also pointed to an “international consensus reflected in the UN Security Council’s statement which expressed its opposition to the unilateral, regionally destabilizing referendum,” Kubis was quoted saying by the PM’s office.
Abadi, on his part, stressed again on the “unconstitutionality” of the planned referendum, saying that priority should be given to the war on Islamic State militancy and the “liberation of Iraqi territories”.
In a statement on Thursday, the UNSC warned of a “potentially destabilizing impact” from the Kurdish vote, adding that the process ““could detract from efforts to ensure the safe, voluntary return of over three million refugees and internally displaced persons,” in Iraq.
Kurdish authorities have recurrently expressed determination to proceed with the vote, saying futile negotiations with Baghdad on matters of dispute left no other choice for the region but to seek secession. Besides Baghdad and the United Nations, the referendum has also drawn disapproval from regional and world powers, most notably the United States, Iran and Turkey.
Kurdistan Independence
Kurdistan gained actual autonomous governance based on the 2005 constitution, but is still considered a part of Iraq. The region was created in 1970 based on an agreement with the Iraqi government, ending years of conflicts.
Baghdad and Erbil have for long disputed sovereignty over a number of regions, most notably the oil-rich province of Kirkuk, besides contending over petroleum exports’ revenues from those regions.