Iraqi Kurdistan’s Premier denies accusing foreign states pf supporting Kurdistan demonstrations

ARBIL / IraqiNews.com: North Iraq Kurdistan Region’s Prime Minister, Barham Saleh, has said on Sunday that “he can’t accuse foreign states with having been behind the demonstrations that took place in Kurdistan these days.”   Premier Saleh’s statement took place in a news conference he held in Arbil on Sunday evening, during which he announced the new budget of Kurdistan Region.    “I can’t accuse foreign states with having been behind the demonstrations that took place in Iraqi Kurdistan, and I can’t imagine that what happened in the Region had been part of a foreign conspiracy, supported by foreign hands,” Saleh said, adding that “what is happening in some areas of Kurdistan might be an expression of an existing problem in the whole region.”   Saleh also said that “there are certain issues and problems that need solutions, and I can claim that I and the ministers in the Region’s cabinet, have achieved certain important reforms, though that those reforms would not satisfy all the needs of the youth, necessitating that we must strive to respond with their ambitions, including justice, transparency and finding employment opportunities.”   “Those demonstrations represent a danger, towards which if we fail to interact, God forbid, this issue would lead to problems, we must keep away from,” he said, adding that “this is an opportunity to support and push forward the process of serious reforms and boosting the democratic progress in the country.” SKH(TI)/SR 571