Barzani: It’s Time for Independent Kurdistan

[The Englishman]

Barzani: It’s Time for Independent Kurdistan

Kurdistan Region President emphasized that statehood should be through peaceful means 

 

 Basnews English

 02/05/2017 - 16:25

Kurdistan

 

 

 

ERBIL — Kurdistan Region President Masoud Barzani has reiterated his stance on declaring independence from Iraq, saying it is time for Kurdistan’s statehood to happen through peaceful talks.

"It is time for the Kurds to declare independence. But we want to peacefully leave Iraq through dialogue and negotiation,” Barzani said in an interview with Le Figaro paper published on May 2nd.

He argued that despite efforts they have been making for nearly one century to preserve the unity of Iraq, Kurds were rewarded with massacres and destruction of their homes only. “4,500 villages were destroyed and chemical weapons used [against Kurds],” the Kurdish president said, reminding of over 10,000 people from his family who were killed by former Iraqi governments.

Concerning the regional balance, Barzani insists that an independent Kurdistan will not trigger further problems for neighboring countries, but it rather helps the stability in the region, therefore, he hoped the new president will France support Kurdistan’s independence or at least does not oppose it.

Asked about Kirkuk and the future of this oil-rich province in northern Iraq, Barzani reiterated that Kirkuk is an integral part of Kurdistan and Erbil is insisting on holding referendum there to allow its people, including the Kurds, Arabs, Turkmens, to decide on their future.

However, Barzani warned that Kurdish forces will protect the people if any military or political faction attempts to put pressure on them in Kirkuk.

Commenting on the ongoing war on Islamic State (IS) especially in Mosul, Barzani believes that defeating the extremist group is not necessarily the end of crisis as the organization could reemerge with other names. “Daesh will continue to be a threat unless the causes [which have led to its emergence] are eradicated.”

Barzani also suggests the US-led coalition to remain in the country for a while even after the liberation of Mosul as the northern province and its governance in the post-IS era is a heated debated between locals and the Iraqi government.

[10 YEARS LATER]

" peaceful means " - by negotiating ( probably a decade long event when dealing with Iraq )

[The Englishman]

Russia Ready to Send Representative to Kurdistan Referendum

 

 

 Basnews English

 21/05/2017 - 17:01

Kurdistan

 

 

 

ERBIL— Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG)'s representative to Russia stated on Sunday that Moscow has agreed to send a representative to oversee Kurdistan Region's referendum on independence from Iraq.

Khoshawi Mala Ibrahim said a member of the Security Council of Russian Federation informed him about Russia's willingness to send a deputy to oversee the imminent process which will be held in 2017.

He thought Kurds need foreign countries' support to the same extent they need internal support for running the process.

Ibrahim believed senior Kurdistan Region officials' visit to the US and Jordan are "vital to upgrade the Kurdistan Region's power balance."

At the sidelines of the  World Economic Forum on the Middle East and North Kurdistan Region President Masoud Barzani met with Arab leaders in Jordan and discussed with them Kurdistan's appeal for referendum.

Meanwhile the Chancellor for Kurdistan Region Security Council Masrour Barzani headed to the US to shore up further support for referendum as well as Peshmerga forces.

[ChuckFinley]

Russians are trying to move in. USA has been there and Trump is all over the ME right now.  My bet is on Trump.  

[10 YEARS LATER]

3 hours ago, ChuckFinley said:

Russians are trying to move in. USA has been there and Trump is all over the ME right now.  My bet is on Trump.  

 

It must really chafe the hide of IVAN after so many decades of influence over Iraq - Now comes the TRUMPNADO thundering into the M.E. and taking over.

 

I'd like to think in due course ( Trumps' current M.E. trip is a great beginning ), we can say unequivocally - THE USA IS BACK AND WE MEAN BUSINESS - THESE COLORS DON'T RUN !     

Edited May 21, 2017 by 10 YEARS LATER

[ChuckFinley]

18 minutes ago, 10 YEARS LATER said:

 

It must really chafe the hide of IVAN after so many decades of influence over Iraq - Now comes the TRUMPNADO thundering into the M.E. and taking over.

 

I'd like to think in due course ( Trumps' current M.E. trip is a great beginning ), we can say unequivocally - THE USA IS BACK AND WE MEAN BUSINESS - THESE COLORS DON'T RUN !     

Great Post. 10YL. 

[10 YEARS LATER]

1 hour ago, ChuckFinley said:

Great Post. 10YL. 

 

Thank you CF