Parliamentary power: Kurds did not provide a convincing justification for non-commitment to pay oil money

[tigergorzow]

Jabouri, UN envoy to Iraq discuss Kurdistan referendum

September 13 2017 12:22 PM

Salim al-Jabouri

 

 

Iraqi Parliament Speaker Salim al-Jabouri has discussed with Jan Kubis, the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Iraq, a number of issues in the Iraqi arena, including Kurdistan Region’s independence referendum slated for September 25th, a statement revealed Wednesday.  

Jabouri media office said in a statement that the parliament speaker discussed the most significant developments in the domestic and regional arenas.

The two officials have tackled parliament’s efforts in passing laws and supporting national reconciliation, facilitating the provision of relief to displaced persons and measures assisting their return to districts recently liberated from ISIS terrorists, according to the statement.     
Moreover, Jabouri lauded the UN role in urging the international community to support Iraq in its war on terrorism and the reconstruction of liberated districts. 

Kubis said that the UN is ready to play any role that can bear fruit in Iraq.

He added that the international community supports the country in its fight against ISIS, hailing the Iraqi security forces victory over the terrorist group.  

 

http://www.thebaghdadpost.com/en/story/16860/Jabouri-UN-envoy-to-Iraq-discuss-Kurdistan-referendum

[tigergorzow]

Arab League's Ministerial Council rejects Kurdistan referendum

September 13 2017 12:37 PM

Breaking

Arab League’s Ministerial Council has anonymously rejected Kurdistan Region’s independence referendum slated for September 25th, media reports revealed Wednesday. 

On Tuesday, Kurdistan Region’s President Masoud Barzani vowed to press ahead with a referendum on Kurdish independence despite a vote by Iraq’s Parliament to reject the move.

Earlier the parliament in Baghdad authorized the prime minister to “take all measures” to preserve Iraq’s unity. 

Kurdish lawmakers walked out of the session before the vote and issued statements rejecting the decision.

 

http://www.thebaghdadpost.com/en/story/16863/Arab-League-s-Ministerial-Council-rejects-Kurdistan-referendum

[tigergorzow]

Iranian official tries to dissuade Kurdistan from holding referendum

September 13 2017 11:40 AM

Kurdistan referendum looming

Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Ali Shamkhani has warned that a referendum on the independence of Iraq’s semi-autonomous Kurdistan region will divide Kurdish groups and political parties, Iranian media reported Tuesday.

“Holding a referendum in the [Iraqi] Kurdistan region can exacerbate the existing divisions among Kurdish parties and groups,” Shamkhani said.

He added that the independence referendum would result in the loss of numerous and effective opportunities and potentialities of the Kurds in Iraq.

With regard to the negative impacts of the independence vote on Iraq’s security, Shamkhani said at a time when Iraq is getting close to the final phase of its fight against terrorists, certain “injudicious measures can increase the risk of the emergence of new conflicts and regenerate insecurity.”

These statements come after well-informed Kurdish sources revealed that Qassem Suleimani, commander of the Quds force of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) arrived in the city of Sulaymaniyah in Kurdistan Region in a secret and unannounced visit.

Suleimani met with leaders in the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), headed by Jalal Talabani, to discuss Kurdistan Region’s independence referendum and dissuade them from holding it, they added.

Iran has recurrently expressed its rejection of Kurdistan’s

 

http://www.thebaghdadpost.com/en/story/16858/Iranian-official-tries-to-dissuade-Kurdistan-from-holding-referendum

[King Bean]

Baghdad has been grinding their heels into Kurdistan for decades. Did they think it was going to last forever? That the Kurds would keep taking it? The US broke from Britain in much the same way. Oppressive taxing, little support, beaten like a weak puppy. The Kurds have way more going for them. And I think once the Sunni's see a Kurdish success, they will follow suit. Baghdad should be worried. Now it's too late.

                                                                                   

[tigergorzow]

Trump's envoy arrives in Sulaymaniyah, meets Talabani's spouse

September 13 2017 04:35 PM

Breaking

 

 

US Special Envoy for the Global Coalition to Counter ISIS Brett McGurk arrived in Sulaymaniyah in Kurdistan region and meet with Jalal Talaban's spouse Hero Ibrahim Ahmed, media reports said on Wednesday.

Kurdistan Regional Government is planning to hold an independence referendum on September 25.

 

http://www.thebaghdadpost.com/en/story/16874/Trump-s-envoy-arrives-in-Sulaymaniyah-meets-Talabani-s-spouse

[tigergorzow]

Barzani: Kurdish independence referendum on schedule

September 13 2017 03:23 PM

Barzani: Kurdish independence referendum on schedule

 

 

Head of the Iraqi Kurdistan Region Massoud Barzani pledged to press ahead with a referendum on the independence of the region on September 25, despite a nay-vote by the Iraqi parliament, Al Arabiya reported pn Wednesday.

Barzani said that Erbil considered the decision of the Iraqi parliament as non-binding.

 

On Tuesday Kurdish deputies withdrew from the Iraqi parliament after it rejected the referendum vote.

 

Iraqi parliament speaker, Salim Juburi, said that the decision reflects the keenness of the House of Representatives on the unity of Iraq and the people of Iraq.

 

He stressed that the parliament is “obliging the Prime Minister to take all measures that preserve the unity of Iraq and start a serious dialogue to address outstanding issues between Baghdad and the region.”

 

On June 7, Kurdish parties announced that the independence referendum will be conducted on September 25. 

 

http://www.thebaghdadpost.com/en/story/16871/Barzani-Kurdish-independence-referendum-on-schedule

[tigergorzow]

Israel’s Netanyahu: Statehood “Legitimate” Right of Kurds

 

Basnews English

13/09/2017 - 02:52

Kurdistan

 

 

 

ERBIL — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been showing his country’s support to a future independent state of Kurdistan.

In an official statement on Tuesday, Netanyahu said that Israel supports the establishment of an independent state for Kurds in the Middle East.

The statement comes as the Kurdistan Region is preparing for a referendum on its secession from Iraq.

The top Israeli official previously in mid August told dozens of US congressmen that Israel is in favour of Kurdistan’s independence. His supportive remarks were followed by the ones of the country's Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked who said earlier this week that an independent state of Kurdistan would benefit Israel, the US, and Western countries.

“Israel [and] the Western countries have a major interest in the establishment of the state of Kurdistan,” Shaked said.

“I think that the time has come for the US to support the process [of an independent Kurdistan],” she continued. 

Concerning the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), Netanyahu said, "Israel rejects the PKK and considers it a terrorist organization, as opposed to Turkey, which supports the terror organization Hamas. While Israel rejects terror in any form, it supports the legitimate efforts of the Kurdish people to attain a state of its own.”

 

http://www.basnews.com/index.php/en/news/kurdistan/377570

[tigergorzow]

KIU Agrees to Attend Parliament Sessions upon Its Reactivation: Spokesperson

 

Basnews English

13/09/2017 - 15:34

Kurdistan

 

 

 

ERBIL — The Kurdistan Islamic Union (KIU) has decided to take part in reactivation of Kurdistan Region parliament which has been suspended for political disputes since late 2015.

Following a meeting between his party’s leadership with a delegation from the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), KIU Spokesperson Hadi Ali told reporters that they have mutual understanding with the KDP over the issues pertaining to the parliament.

He confirmed that KIU lawmakers will attend parliamentary sessions once it is decided to reconvene.

Ali also called on the Change Movement (Gorran) and the Kurdistan Islamic Group (KIG) to participate in the efforts and send their MPs to the sessions.

Kurdish political parties have recently stepped up efforts to reactivate the parliament all together after breaking their prolonged political impasses. The parliament is expected to reconvene on 14th or 15th September.

 

http://www.basnews.com/index.php/en/news/kurdistan/377707

[10 YEARS LATER]

Mouths, they be running - nothings accomplished, and it's on to the next round. Baghdad is wise to what the Kurds are doing. Did the Kurds overplay their hand ? Independent Kurdistan someday-

[DinarThug]

CNN. Broadcasting With The Parliament Bimbo's In Limbo !

 

 

 

(by don961)

The oil agreement is in limbo .. The postponement of government plans to develop production in the region because of the referendum

 

Baghdad - Fadia Hikmat 

"There are outstanding problems between the governments of the Kurdistan region and the government of Baghdad," said the head of the parliamentary oil and energy committee, Erez Abdullah. 

Abdullah said in a statement to the «Journal» that "successive governments in the region and Baghdad did not reach a real agreement for the export of oil according to the mechanisms and plans are calculated and according to calculations of imports of financial hard currency, indicating that it is necessary to enact a new law to regulate the relationship carries a political consensus between the Government Baghdad and the provincial government towards secession. " 

The head of the committee, "The agreement on the allocation of 17% of the federal budget goes to the region has not been implemented, and then the Kurdistan region has the right to export its oil if not paid the accumulated dues of the province of Baghdad, which does not give the 17% of the region because of export these shipments in a way Unofficial". 

He pointed out the need to legislate a new law for the oil agreement between the governments of the center and the Kurdistan region, stressing that there are no signs of an oil agreement between the governments of the center and the region as we approach the end of the year. He expressed the hope that. 

"The federal government in Baghdad has forced the region to sell and export oil without reference," said oil expert Ribwar Khans. 

Khans said in a statement to the «Journal» that "the share of the region of the federal budget of 17% and since 2014 so far the government of Baghdad has failed to pay the share of the region, noting that the export of oil by the latter forced because of the failure of the Baghdad government to give the share of the region and The latter was forced to seek other sources of income, including agreement with foreign companies to market crude oil from the region. " 

He added that "the government of the region is open to serious dialogue between them and Baghdad to resolve the outstanding problems between the parties, including the Peshmerga and the oil agreement and others, and the problem of displaced people who increased the original census of the region, which is a heavy economic burden on him. 

He pointed out that "the sale of crude oil by the provincial government does not reach the proportion of the budget of 17% and then can not cover even the salaries of employees, noting that the parties to reach an oil agreement to ensure the rights of the region in the first place." 

DNO, the Norwegian oil and gas company, has signed a contract with Exxon Mobil to participate in the exploration work in the area of Baasikp exploration in the Kurdistan region.

According to the contract, DNO will have the rights to manage drilling and exploration in the licensed exploration area in the Baasheqa field, which owns 40% of the value of the shares, by acquiring half of ExxonMobil's assets in the field. ExxonMobil will hold 40% of the shares. 20% of the shares while the regional government will receive 20% of the interest rate. 

Until KRG's approval, DNO will begin drilling an exploratory well in the field during the first half of 2018, followed by drilling a second exploratory well into separate construction equipment. 

The area of 324 km2 is located 60 km west of Erbil and 20 km east of Mosul. ExxonMobil, the US oil and gas company, had previously conducted extensive geological and structural studies of the field and installed drilling equipment before work was interrupted because of security in the region. 

Ba'asyika's licensed area contains two large undeveloped exploration areas, which are expected to contain several important oil reserves according to seismic and chalk tests. 

DNO currently supervises two other licensed plots in the region, one in the Tawki and Fishkhabour fields, each producing 110,000 barrels per day and the other in the Beninan and Bastura heavy oil fields, which are now under development and expansion. With three operating drilling facilities, DNO is the most active drilling company among international oil companies operating in the Kurdistan region

link

[Laid Back]

The Kurds are using the referendum as political leverage.

 

The Kurdistan region depends, like the rest of the oil -producing countries, as part of Iraq, on the oil revenues, where the oil forms the main element in the Iraqi state revenues needed to cover public spending (17% of this revenue allocated to the region, and that dependence on oil has disadvantages that oil is depleting and non – renewable resource, and here must find alternative sources of income for adoption in the future when this resource run out .
The economy of the region is weak and serviceable and the production suffers structural imbalances, as a developed and flexible production system (agricultural and industrial) is not available represented by purchasing capabilities that increase the pressures of demand which means the domestic production is unable to meet the domestic demand of imported goods to meet demand, and put strong pressure on the balance of payments, thus increasing dependence on the outside.

 

I don't see the referendum happening..

 

Go Iraq United 

Go Rv

 

 

[NextYear]

Why don't they just confiscate Maliki's bank account(s) and pay the Kurds already.  They probably could pay the Kurds for a few years with that. 

Edited September 14, 2017 by NextYear

[yota691]

The United Nations calls on Baghdad and Erbil to adopt dialogue in resolving differences and outstanding issues

 

 Since 2017-09-14 at 10:31 (Baghdad time)

 

 

Baghdad Mawazine News

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Thursday called on the federal government in Iraq and the Kurdistan region to adopt dialogue in resolving differences and outstanding issues between them.

"Iraq is at a very sensitive stage and so far it has not liberated its territory from the grip of a terrorist organization," Gutierrez told reporters at a UN headquarters. "We are also concerned about the lack of a program in Iraq to meet the demands of the components."

On the referendum to be held on September 25, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, "I call Arbil and Baghdad to dialogue in order to solve the problems between them."

[yota691]

Kurdish delegation negotiating in Baghdad soon

14/9/2017 12:00 am      Baghdad / Sabah   is scheduled to arrive in Baghdad soon Kurdish delegation negotiator to discuss the postponement of the referendum of Kurdistan with increasing domestic and international rejection of him. At a time when the Council of Ministers of the Arab League unanimously on Wednesday on a draft resolution supporting the unity of Iraq and stand against plans to divide it and rejected the move of the Kurdistan region to hold a referendum, "solo" of secession, suspended a spokesman for the Prime Minister that the government is moving according to constitutional frameworks to address the issue of the referendum on the resolution The House of Representatives on the rejection of the referendum and the authorization of Prime Minister Dr. Haider Abadi to take what is necessary to protect the unity of Iraq.  Salahuddin province joined its sister Diyala yesterday in a vote to reject the referendum on its territory, while the Warka parliamentary list announced that it would resort to the voice of "international" to reject the inclusion of the Nineveh Plain referendum. In turn, the Kurdish Movement for Change rejected the language of threat and imposition of fait accompli launched by the President of the region Massoud Barzani from Kirkuk on Tuesday, while called for the Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq to move peacefully to reject the referendum.  In the meantime, Washington demanded yesterday to postpone the referendum, while the postponement of the session of the parliament of Kurdistan to Friday.

[yota691]

US official: Kurdistan referendum puts the region in a state of tension

14/9/2017 12:00 am  Translation / Anis al - Saffar                                          was this summer full of events, and in the Middle East in particular. It began with the Qatari quarrel on June 5, and soon followed by the change in the Saudi throne series. The violence and protests over the security measures taken at Al-Haram Al-Sharif in Jerusalem followed. In Iraq, the cities of Mosul and Tal Afar were liberated, and the Syrian-backed Syrian Defense Forces succeeded in advancing towards the city of Raqqa, declared by the "capital" of its alleged state.    Yemen has slipped further into the human disaster, with 600,000 cases of cholera, not to mention the specter of imminent famine.  In Morocco, protests sparked by the killing of a fish vendor last fall have been sparked by police.  Trump, for its part, stopped military aid to Egypt worth 300 million dollars, citing concerns about the geopolitical and human rights aspects. In Turkey, extensive clearance continued. Future consequences , along with all that there was another story could entail serious consequences for future, but they have not received more than passing attention. During the summer, some of the Kurds are preparing to hold a referendum on independence set for them on September 25. The spark, launched three decades ago, was the infamous Anfal campaign that took place in the last months of the Iran-Iraq war (1980-1988) in which Saddam's dictator killed nearly 100,000 Kurds.  Human Rights Watch says. Among the victims were five thousand civilians who died of a terrible death when Iraqi forces dropped mustard and nerve agents called "Sarin" on the town of Halabja.  Three years later, the Kurds were forced out of Iraq in a wave of mass exodus towards Turkey when they rose up against Saddam in the wake of the US-led coalition ousting the Iraqi army from Kuwait.  In response, US President George W. Bush ordered a no-fly zone to prevent Iraqi aircraft from entering the 36th parallel to protect the Kurds. These tragic events were only the most blatant and horrific in the bloody relationship between the former regime and the Iraqi Kurds, because violence was a routine feature that permeated all efforts aimed at weakening the Kurds and suppressing their national aspirations. On the other hand, the dictator Saddam launched a campaign of Arabization wanted to change the demographic situation in areas where the Kurds represent the majority of the population.  The Kirkuk region has long been a diverse population consisting of Kurds, Arabs and Turkomans. US and British aircraft patrolled the no-fly zone in northern Iraq (as well as another area in the south) until March 2003 when the overthrow of the dictatorial regime was launched and then became part of the disputed areas.  During the 12 years between the wars of Iraq, the Kurds managed to establish a territory for themselves within the state.  In 1992, the Kurdistan National Assembly (KRG) established the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) in Erbil, Suleimaniya and Dohuk.  When the three Kurdish provinces became an "autonomous region" formally following political arrangements. Privileges of Kurdish Leaders The KRG enjoyed similar advantages and characteristics before the events. It has a parliament, a presidency, ministries and an army. But with the overthrow of the Saddam regime by the Americans, Kurdish independence seemed closer to the incarnation.  But the situation of the region was also advantageous, for example, Iraqi Kurdish leaders were enjoying all the privileges without having to bear the full responsibilities dictated by the actual government office, Massoud Barzani, head of the Kurdistan Regional Government can credit himself for all the achievements and gains achieved by his government, But at the same time he has a ready excuse for the central government in Baghdad that he can blame whenever things get worse. The situation in the region also enabled the Kurds to build Kurdistan with money they receive from the central government, stressing along the line that they will not be a party involved in the fragmentation of Iraq. However, this arrangement also has a range and limits, the Iraqi leadership in Baghdad has a consistent design, as envisaged by the Kurds, to adhere to the unity of Iraq according to the Constitution. According to the federal budgets applied in Iraq, the Kurds are supposed to receive 17 percent of government imports, but officials in Arbil claim that Baghdad is constantly deceiving the Kurds and does not give them their share of the revenues stipulated by the Constitution, while the Kurds do not give the oil until the money comes.  This financial wrath angered the Kurdish and Arab sides and make the Kurds ignore the agreements with Baghdad according to what suits them. A good example of this is the decision of the Kurds to sell oil independently of the Iraqi government, at one time during 2014, the dispute over the sale of the Kurdistan Regional Oil Oil border that made Vice President Joe Biden intervene.  US officials helped the parties reach an agreement in December 2015, but this agreement soon faltered, making the Kurds sell oil without approval from Baghdad. At that time the occupation was "calling" for areas in more than one province.  In addition to mutual frustration and mutual accusations between the two parties there is a fact that the Kurdish youth generation in particular do not know anything about their Iraqi brothers and does not collect them from the participants few.  Even their myths are Kurdish myths, not tales of Iraqi exploits.  US Opposition  Between Kurdistan Regional Government and Baghdad Government The United States is under Trump's administration, which is opposed to the timing set for the referendum, and is pressing hard (if not futilely) for Barzani to delay it.  This position is in line with Washington's policy in this regard over the past decade or so of leaving time to the hope that the solution will come on its own. The political class in the United States has a fondness for the Kurds, but it hates the idea of Kurdish independence.   The dialectical arguments underlying US rejection begin with the economy of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), which is unlikely to succeed. There are also difficulties related to the issue of Kirkuk, which the Iraqi government has refused to give up.  Then there are the Turkish and Iranian objections and Baghdad's rejection of the idea and the American commitment to the unity of Iraq. Game Edge of the Abyss These allegations often come amid an atmosphere of exclusion, with some commentators and analysts arguing that all Barzani is trying to do is playing the brinkmanship game with his opponents (Barzani and his KDP face fierce rivals and opponents) and Baghdad with a view to a better deal. Consequently, they argue that the referendum will not take place, and even if it does, it will not mean much. It is clear that some believe that everything that happens in the Middle East does not go beyond the limits of the bargaining market.  Whatever the motives of America to oppose the timing of the Kurdish referendum is true, it remains lacking a certain amount of imagination and realism. Even if Barzani's goal was to play a form of maneuver to gain pressure on Baghdad over his government's share of revenues, and assuming he did not really intend to secede from Iraq, the drop in oil prices has revealed the emptiness of Arbil's claims about building a vibrant, vibrant economy . The Turks oppose the independence of the Kurdistan region because they are worried that Syria's response will also be sought, especially as the Turks are currently engaged in a battle with the separatist Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), which they regard as a terrorist group.  At the same time, Turkey is one of the biggest beneficiaries of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG). Barzani and his Kurdistan Democratic Party have close ties to Turkey's ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP). The Kurds hope Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's recognition of Kurds' national rights will not affect their aspirations for statehood.  This hope may be justified or not, but apart from that it is difficult to imagine that the Turkish army invaded Iraq to extinguish the candle of Kurdish independence there. One example of this is what the Turks have done in Syria and what reveals the limited capabilities of an army that has seemed much less spectacular than many of NATO's second largest army had expected. Hence, the real problem that the Kurds will face is Baghdad and Tehran. The Iranians are opposed to the referendum for reasons similar to those of the Turks, as they also have a segment of the Kurds restless under the domination of the Persian political and cultural system. Rejecting the positions but the Iranians have the means and the capacity to cause harm Erd beyond what the Turks and for this reason , officials in Arbil feel indignant on the United States , urging them to postpone the referendum because they see it as an encouragement to the Iranians to continue to threaten the Kurds. The American position in their view is puzzling, because Trump is supposed to try to reduce Tehran's influence rather than empower it. However, the most difficult and difficult contract for the Kurds is the opposition of the Iraqi leadership. Last Friday, Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi warned the Kurds not to enter what he called the "dark tunnel", which indicates that the friendly divorce that the Kurds want will not end with good results. It is also clear that Abbadi is worried that this will be a precedent and then others will follow suit.  Of all this, it seems that Iraq will not give his people or the Americans a break to take a breath. As soon as the danger of "calling", which threatened the existence of Iraq and its fate, began to decline until the Kurds revealed that their chances of secession had flared. The media may ignore the importance of this, but the referendum must be stopped.  Stephen Cook of the Council on Foreign Relations

[yota691]

Barzani meets with representatives of the superpowers and the United Nations

By Rudao 10 minutes ago

Barzani meets with representatives of the superpowers and the United Nations

Ruudao - Erbil The

President of the Kurdistan Region, Massoud Barzani, met Thursday with representatives of the United States of America, Britain, France, Germany and the United Nations. 

Continued..

[yota691]

In the presence of the US ambassador .. Nechirvan Barzani discusses with MacGorek referendum Kurdistan

In the policy of  September 14, 2017 on the presence of the US ambassador .. Nechirvan Barzani, looking with Makkurk referendum Kurdistan closed 53 visits

 

 

Erbil / SNG 
Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) President Nechirvan Barzani met Thursday with US President Bill McCurryk's envoy. 
A source familiar with the "sng", "The meeting focuses on the referendum on the independence of Kurdistan, scheduled for September 25."

"The meeting was attended by US Ambassador to Iraq Douglas Seelman and a number of officials from both sides," he said. 
The United States has been leading an intense diplomatic movement for several days to discourage the Kurds from moving ahead with a referendum on independence from Iraq. 
The Kurdistan Regional Government is seeking to hold a referendum on the secession of the region from Iraq on September 25, despite the widespread popular and governmental and international rejection of it.

[yota691]

US newspaper reveals secret deal ... Barzani intends to transfer 200,000 Jews to the region !!

14-09-2017 02:22 PM

Readers

 

Baghdad News -

 

 

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - A secret agreement between Kurdish President Massoud Barzani and Israel provides for the transfer of 200,000 Kurdish Jews from Israel to the region after the independence referendum, a US newspaper reported on Thursday.

 
The newspaper 'al-monitor', said several media outlets of Turkey confirmed today, that the President of the Kurdistan region Massoud Barzani, reached a secret agreement with the Israeli government, which includes the transfer of Israeli Jews of Kurdish origin - a group of about 200 thousand people - from Israel To the Kurdistan Regional Government after the referendum on independence on 25 September.

 
The pro-government Turkish newspapers, including Yini Akit and Aksm, have published stories on their websites attributed to a magazine called Israel Kurd, which claims to be based in the Kurdistan region, that "Israel will return the Kurds living in Israel to northern Iraq if Independence of Kurdistan.

 
Commenting on this, the newspaper Yini Turkish class, said that "the provincial government has promoted the attraction of 200,000 Kurdish Jews to the Kurdistan of Iraq."

Massoud Barzani, who received support from Israel only during the referendum process, intends to strengthen his hand with the help of Kurdish Jews of prominent Jewish origin in Israel. The dramatic story came in the wake of another Turkish media attack on Israel.

"The PKK, which has been fighting Turkey for independence since 1984 and is considered a terrorist organization by the United States and the European Union, is not a terrorist organization," said former deputy chief of staff of the Israel Defense Forces, Yehiel Golan, at a Washington research center on September 10.

The Islamic media in Turkey agreed that "the statements of the Golan in support of independent Kurdistan constitute a Zionist support for the PKK." 

Of course, the Turks are not the only ones who have an oblique understanding of Jewish and Israeli actions and motives. The Iraqi Kurds themselves have strange notions about Israeli support for their independence.

As we approached September 25, many Iraqi Kurds expressed their hope that "statements by Israeli officials in support of the independent Kurdistan region augur well for their supposed state."

Iraqi Kurds believe that, "given Israel's strength within the US policy lobbies," Israeli support for the independence of Kurdistan means essentially US support for the independence of the Kurds. "

Some Iraqi Kurds believe that if Israel and the US are with Kurdistan, who can stand against them? But many people in Iraqi Kurdistan and around the region are not only ignoring the fact that the United States opposes the independence of the Kurdistan Regional Government from Iraq, but also that Americans are concerned that The independence referendum may upset the regional balance.

Washington has refrained from criticizing Barzani's September 25 referendum so as not to offend its allies, the Kurdish Peshmerga, who make up an effective battle against a preacher.

"The Kurdish people share the same values with the West," Israeli Justice Minister Aylet Shakid said Tuesday. Expressed its open support for the independence of the Kurdistan Region from Iraq, saying that "it is in the interest of his country and the West as a whole."

 

The referendum scheduled for January 25 will take place in the provinces of Kurdistan as well as the disputed areas between Arbil and Baghdad, especially Kirkuk, according to officials in the region.

[yota691]

Barzani meets with representatives of the superpowers and the United Nations

Editorial Date: 2017/9/14 14:59 • 44 times read

(Arbil: Euphrates News) The President of the Kurdistan region, Massoud Barzani, on Thursday, with representatives of the United States of America, Britain, France, Germany, the United Nations ... Continue

[yota691]

Barzani meets with representatives of four countries including McGork on the referendum

 

Thursday 14 September

 

 

Alsumaria News / Baghdad  held the President of the region of Kurdistan , Massoud Barzani , on Thursday, a meeting with an envoy of President Alamerreqi international coalition and representatives from the United Nations, Germany, France and Britain on the referendum.  "The head of the Kurdistan region, Massoud Barzani, is now meeting with the envoy of US President Brett McGurk and representatives of Britain, Germany, France and the United Nations," an informed source told Alsumaria News.  The source, who asked not to be named, said that "the meeting came to discuss the subject of the referendum of Kurdistan to be held on the twenty-fifth of September."     The envoy of US President Brett McGork arrived on Wednesday, to the Kurdistan region, and was held immediately after his arrival meeting with Hiro Ibrahim, wife of former Iraqi President Jalal Talabani in Sulaymaniyah.

[gregp]

They are shutting Barzani down!

[Butifldrm]

Kurdistan independence to lead to breakup of Iraq: Analyst

Thu Sep 14, 2017 07:24AM

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In less than two weeks, Iraq's semi-autonomous Kurdistan region will go to polls in a vote for independence. Iraqi parliamentarians have rejected the legitimacy of the vote and the central government in Baghdad which is strongly opposed to this move has said it will do everything possible to keep the unity of the country intact. Press TV has talked to Sa'ad al-Muttalibi, member of the State of Law Coalition, as well as Martin Jay, journalist and political commentator, to discuss the issue.

Muttalibi believes the independence of Kurdistan will lead to a “definite breakup” of the Republic of Iraq, emphasizing that the Iraqis will not accept the results of the upcoming referendum under any circumstances.

He also noted the leader of Iraq’s semi-autonomous region Kurdistan region, Massoud Barzani, is pushing for an armed conflict in order to gain control of the Iraqi oil-rich city of Kirkuk.

Authorities in the Iraqi Kurdistan want Kirkuk, which is divided along ethnic lines between Turkmen, Kurds and Arabs, to be included in their autonomous protectorate, but Baghdad rejects it.

The province is aggressively coveted by Kurdish authorities because it holds more than 9 billion barrels of oil reserves, with a capacity to produce more than 1 million barrels a day.

The analyst went on to say that Kurdistan already has all the rights that any independence state has, arguing that the only point is the matter of Kirkuk because without that economic power, which accounts for about 40 percent of Iraq's total oil production, Barzani cannot form a state.  

However, he said, there is no way that Iraq would allow Kirkuk to be outside the control of the central government because it will reduce the country’s oil production and affect its regional relationships.  

Muttalibi further maintained that “there is no good time” for Kurdistan to declare its independence, adding that all international and regional powers are against such a move.

PressTV-Kurdish referendum unconstitutional: Iraqi PM

The Iraqi prime minister says the planned Kurdish referendum on independence is "unconstitutional."

Nevertheless, he stated, Barzani is going ahead with the plan because he thinks creating an armed conflict will give him a better negotiating position with the international powers.

“Independence means that we will enter into a conflict which actually Barzani is pushing for. He moved his tanks and he moved a number of his special troops into Kirkuk and adjacent areas. So it seems that he understands that it is too late for him to use the referendum as a blackmail against the Iraqi government for more political gains. Now he is trying to use the status quo or the matter of fact that he is trying to occupy certain areas which are outside the control of KRG (the Kurdistan Regional Government) and hence leading to an armed conflict,” Muttalibi said.

The analyst further opined that Baghdad should negotiate the Kurdistan independence issue with its regional partners, asserting that this is a great opportunity for a regional cooperation between Iraq, Iran and Turkey in order to put an end to such attempts.  

Regional players like Iran and Turkey have already voiced concerns about the planned referendum by Iraqi Kurdish authorities, arguing that it could create further instability in the region.

According to Muttalibi, any extra points that Barzani is pushing for will become a gain to Kurdistan and a loss to the state and the people of Iraq.

Meanwhile, Martin Jay, the other panelist on the program, maintained that the political establishment in Erbil has picked this moment to move forward with the independence referendum because it believes the regional powers are tired of conflict.

He also mentioned the Kurds think that they have invested so much in the war against terrorism and so surely it is time for their change and prosperity.

The commentator further opined that the reason why the Kurds are so desperate to go for independence, knowing full well that it will lead to a confrontational situation with Baghdad, is that they feel very vulnerable.  

Therefore, he said, the Iraqi government should be much more careful and serious about the next steps it takes, given the rising tensions between the two sides.

Jay concluded by saying that Barzani does not really want independence for Kurdistan and is only using the referendum as a “leverage” to make a better deal with Baghdad.  

 

http://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2017/09/14/535109/Iraq-Kurdistan-independence-referendum-Barzani-Kirkuk-oil-production

[10 YEARS LATER]

A perpetual state of crisis 

[boosterbglee]

I DON'T THINK THEY KNOW ANY OTHER WAY! 

[tigergorzow]

UN Secretary General urges Baghdad, Erbil to start dialogue

September 14 2017 01:00 PM

Antonio Guterress

Baghdad and Erbil have to enter into dialogue to come to an understanding and resolve outstanding issues, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterress said on Wednesday.

Guterres noted this is a very sensitive stage in Iraq’s history as the country has not recaptured all ISIS-held districts yet. 

That is why we are concerned about not having a program in Iraq that achieves the demands of all components, he added. 

On Tuesday, Kurdistan Region’s President Masoud Barzani vowed to press ahead with a referendum on Kurdish independence despite a vote by Iraq’s Parliament to reject the move.

Earlier the parliament in Baghdad authorized the prime minister to “take all measures” to preserve Iraq’s unity.

Kurdish lawmakers walked out of the session before the vote and issued statements rejecting the decision.

Kurdistan Region will hold an independence referendum on September 25, despite mounting regional and international pressure to postpone or cancel the vote.

Baghdad considers the referendum unilateral and unconstitutional. Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said they will not recognize the referendum results.

 

http://www.thebaghdadpost.com/en/story/16910/UN-Secretary-General-urges-Baghdad-Erbil-to-start-dialogue