Kurdistan News: Only Israel supports Kurdistan Referendum says Iraqi Prime Minister

Baghdad (IraqiNews.com)  Kurdistan News: Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi has said that only Israel supports Iraqi Kurdistan Region’s independence vote, stressing that the planned poll is unacceptable at anytime.

“No state supports Kurdistan’s independence except for Israel. Some Kurdish power believe that Tel Aviv enjoys influence in the United States to back the referendum, but the Israeli lobby there is busy with its own affairs,” Abadi was quoted saying during a meeting late Tuesday with reporters and political analysts in Baghdad. “The referendum’s timing is not suitable, in fact, it is not at anytime,” he stated.

Kurdistan News

Kurdistan Region slated a vote on independence from the central government in Baghdad for September 25th, and has, since then, defied calls from Baghdad to postpone the measure. Baghdad’s government has warned against the move repeatedly, with Abadi warning lately of an army intervention if a “yes” vote results in violence.

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.

Israel’s government has openly voiced its support for the poll, while the United Nations, the United States, and regional powers Iran and Turkey, have asked to cancel it.

During the Tuesday meeting, Abadi said he predicts a “major detente” within hous concerning the referendum crisis, urging in the same time to adhere to “dialogue” and eye “common interests” to resolve the dispute.