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

[tigergorzow]

Abadi Shows No Opposition to Kurdistan Independence Referendum: MP

 

Basnews English

12/05/2017 - 01:33

Kurdistan

 

 

 

 

BAGHDAD — The Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi will not pose any obstacles to the process of referendum on Kurdistan Region independence, said a Kurdish member of the Iraqi parliament.

Following a meeting with Abadi on Thursday, MP Ardalan Nouralldin said they had discussed the Erbil-Baghdad relations as well as the future of their partnership if the Kurds decide to secede from Iraq.

“We asked to be two powerful friends in the region and support each other,” Nouralddin posted on his official Facebook account.

He further revealed that the Iraqi PM discussed the challenges that Kurdistan Region may face over the case with the neighboring countries, but he showed that he will oppose the process of Kurdistan independence referendum.

 

http://www.basnews.com/index.php/en/news/kurdistan/349765

[tigergorzow]

Iraqi Communist Party Supports Kurdistan Independence

 

Basnews English

12/05/2017 - 00:55

Kurdistan

 

 

 

 

ERBIL — The Iraqi Communist Party has expressed its support for a referendum on Kurdistan Region’s independence from Iraq, saying they will stand with Kurds to gain their rights.

The remarks was made by a delegation of the party who met with Kurdistan Region President Masoud Barzani on Thursday.

During the meeting, the sides reviewed the latest political and security developments in Kurdistan Region, Iraq and the wider region. The war on Islamic State (IS), economic challenges faced by the country and upcoming elections in Iraq were also on agenda.

The Iraqi Communist Party also valued the Peshmerga role in the anti-IS efforts which has led to the isolation of the extremist group.

 

http://www.basnews.com/index.php/en/news/kurdistan/349763

[ChuckFinley]

At least it was not in the coming days .  

[yota691]

Kurdistan: History with Baghdad is full of problems and partnership collapsed

Political

 Since 12.05.2017 at 11:58 (Baghdad time)

BAGHDAD - The balance of News

He confirmed the presidency of the Kurdistan region, on Friday, that the history between the province and the federal government in Baghdad is full of problems.

A statement by the presidency of the province received / scales News / copy of it, that "the region's president, Massoud Barzani, yesterday received a high-level delegation from the Iraqi Communist Party, headed by the Secretary-General of the Party Raed Fahmi and the presence of a useful Algerian, Bassam Mohi and Shomran Merkel and Azza Taman members of the Political Bureau of the party."

The statement added that "Barzani talked about the common history and full of problems between the people of Kurdistan and the Iraqi state and excesses on the principles of partnership and the Constitution, also highlighted the issue of the referendum and independence and the reasons that led to the collapse of the partnership in Iraq." According to the statement.

For his part, "view the members of the Communist Party delegation views and comments on the political process and the electoral process in Iraq, in addition to the economic and social situation of all the Iraqi people."

Also they highlighted the "relations between Baghdad and the Kurdistan region and the process of the referendum to be held in the region, and pointed to the common history and the struggle between the Iraqi Communist Party and the people of Kurdistan, and stressed that the Communist Party always stop and still with the demands of the people of Kurdistan fair."

The two sides discussed about the war against terrorists Daesh and victories achieved by the Peshmerga forces, cooperation and coordination with the Iraqi army, in addition to the terrorists at the local, regional and international levels, threats, and expressed the visiting delegation paid tribute to the courage and sacrifices of the Peshmerga forces and the victories achieved by these forces against terrorists Daesh. "Ended n 10

[yota691]

Presidency of the region: history is full of problems with Baghdad and partnership collapsed

History of edits:: 2017/5/12 10:58 • 118 times readable

[Oan- Baghdad] 
said the presidency of the Kurdistan region, said the history between the province and the federal government in Baghdad is full of problems. "

A statement by the presidency of the province that " the region 's president , Massoud Barzani , yesterday received a high - level delegation from the Iraqi Communist Party , headed by the Secretary - General of the Party Raed Fahmi and the presence of a useful Algerian, Bassam Mohi and Shomran Merkel and Azza Taman members of the Political Bureau of the party." 
The statement added that "Barzani talked about the common history and full of problems between the people of Kurdistan and the Iraqi state and excesses on the principles of partnership and the Constitution, also highlighted the issue of the referendum and independence and the reasons that led to the collapse of the partnership in Iraq." According to the statement. 
For his part , "view the members of the Communist Party delegation views and comments on the political process and the electoral process in Iraq , in addition to the economic and social situation of all the Iraqi people." 
Also they highlighted the "relations between Baghdad and the Kurdistan region and the process of the referendum to be held in the region, and pointed to the common history and the struggle between the Iraqi Communist Party and the people of Kurdistan, and stressed that the Communist Party always stop and still with the demands of the people of Kurdistan fair." 
The two sides discussed about the war against terrorists Daesh and victories achieved by the Peshmerga forces, cooperation and coordination with the Iraqi army , in addition to the terrorists at the local, regional and international levels , threats, and expressed the visiting delegation paid tribute to the courage and sacrifices of the Peshmerga forces and the victories achieved by these forces against terrorists Daesh ".

 

 

[yota691]

Kurdistan calls on the United Nations and Russia to monitor the referendum

2 hours ago

 

Twilight News / said the Kurdistan Democratic Party representative in Moscow, Khoshoa Babacar on Friday that the referendum on the independence of Iraqi Kurdistan has conducted in October / October or November this year. 

This comes at a time when the Kurdish parties agreed to hold the referendum on independence in all areas of the region. 

He said Babacar told the "Sputnik" Russian , answering a question about the date of the referendum "will be in the fall, the exact date has not yet been determined, but it will be in the fall, possibly in November or October." 

He pointed out that the Kurdistan region of Iraq will hold talks with Moscow, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on sending observers from Russia to participate in monitoring the referendum, stressing that the provincial authorities had asked the United Nations guiding the Organization observers to participate in the referendum. 

He said Babacar "Preparations are under way for a referendum in the consulates, and masques Iraqi Kurdistan in other countries, including in Russia, we communicate permanently with the Russian Foreign Ministry, in order to send observers to the Russian referendum."

 

[yota691]

Moscow lied news sent observers to the Iraqi Kurdistan referendum

Publication date: 12.05.2017 | Are GMT 11:45 |

RT

Russian Foreign Ministry building

 

 

Foreign Ministry denied Russian news about conducting consultations with the Iraqi Kurdistan about sending observers to the Russian referendum on independence for the region.

 

Mikhail Bogdanov, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister, said that the Russian side has not received any request on sending observers to the referendum, denying the words of the representative of the Democratic Party of Kurdistan in Moscow, Khoshoa Babacar, about consultations with Russia on the dispatch of observers. The expectation that Babacar being the referendum in the autumn.

On easing tension in the process of Syria, Bogdanov said that Moscow does not rule out the United States joined the Working Group on the establishment of the truce areas.

read more

Barzani: We will organize a referendum on the independence of Kurdistan soon

He stressed that there are contacts with the Americans in this regard at various levels.

He said the Russian diplomat said, currently holds this (the establishment of easing tension zones) of the three guarantor states (Russia, Iran and Turkey), and I think that we can engage the countries that have observer status in the process of Astana, and possibly other countries as well. "

[The Englishman]

ABADI HAS NOT AGREED ON KURDISTAN REGION’S REFERENDUM, SAYS ADVISOR

 

1 hour ago

Views 301

 

SULAIMANI — Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi has not agreed on holding a referendum in the Kurdistan Region, the premier’s advisor said.

Abadi’s advisor Ali Atar told NRT on Friday (May 12) that the Iraqi PM had not expressed he was convinced over the referendum in the region during a meeting with a Kurdish delegation.

The advisor added the Kurdish delegation and Abadi had only discussed the referendum.

“Abadi told the Kurdish delegation that all issues would be resolved through the constitution and dialogue,” Atar said. “The Kurdish request for independence is not new and [has been discussed] for years.”

A delegation from the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) bloc in the Iraqi Parliament held talks with Abadi on Thursday (May 11) to discuss a series of issues including the referendum.

KDP lawmaker in Iraqi parliament Ardallan Nuradini said Abadi had told the delegation the government of Iraq would not prevent the referendum, adding “Abadi has preferred not to be in a rush. The neighboring countries may accept the case too.”

Senior Kurdish officials have made calls for an independence referendum in the region to gauge people’s appetites for such a move, despite the number of crises currently affecting the KRG.

KRG Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani said on March 23 that a referendum on the independence of the Kurdistan Region was set to take place this year.

A joint Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) and KDP delegation visited Baghdad in April to meet with Iraqi President Fuad Masum, Abadi and Parliament Speaker Salim al-Jabouri and other leaders to discuss recent situation in Kirkuk and referendum on independence of Kurdistan.

The KRG and representatives from the PUK and the KDP have met with foreign representatives and diplomats in Erbil to discuss the referendum on the independence of Kurdistan.

[ChuckFinley]

No surprise here.  

[tigergorzow]

VP of EU Parliament Pledges support to Kurdistan Independence Referendum

 

Basnews English

12/05/2017 - 23:31

Kurdistan

 

 

 

 

ERBIL — Vice President of the EU Parliament, Ryszard Czarnecki, expressed support for an imminent referendum on Kurdistan Region's independence from Iraq, saying it should be held in a democratic and peaceful atmosphere.

The remarks were made during a meeting between Czarnecki and Kurdistan Region’s head of the Mission to the European Union, Delavar Ajgeyi on May 11. The two officials discussed the latest developments in the region and the future of Kurds in Iraq.

The sides also agreed to work for closer ties between Erbil and EU in the areas of potential cooperation.

The Kurdistan envoy also met with British Conservative MEP Charles Tannock. Their talks were centered on Kurdistan’s independence, for which the British politician expressed his support.

 

http://www.basnews.com/index.php/en/news/kurdistan/349881

[yota691]

Change: You must change the three presidencies in Kurdistan

20 hours ago Policy 46 Visit

 

Demanded that the MDC member of the Kurdish Shirin Reza, on Friday, changing the three presidencies in Kurdistan in order to proceed with the work of the Kurdistan parliament, while suggesting there are dialogues between the Kurdish blocs on the subject.

Reza said, that there are dialogues taking place between the Kurdish blocs for the return of the work of the Kurdistan Parliament again, indicating that there be demands that the parliament speaker of the non-block change.

Confirmed satisfaction, that "the mass stressed the need to be replaced with the three presidencies and it is limited to the President of the Kurdistan Parliament in order to resolve outstanding in northern Iraq, the problems, noting that an attempt to activate the Kurdish parliament in order to proceed with the project of the referendum to be implemented in the coming period.

She added that "the issue of employees' salaries and the process of exporting oil from the region were not of concern to the Kurdish leaders as much as the subject of the referendum and that the Movement's position is clear and explicit legal change, which is with the Speaker of Parliament and it is changed in the case of the three presidencies have changed."

[ChuckFinley]

It wI'll be interesting to see how this plays out since the UN and the EU are on board.

[yota691]

They will step down as soon as the agenda goals are full filled..... 

[tigergorzow]

Referendum Should Become a De Facto: KSDP Leader

 

He says none of the Iraqi parties recognizes the right to hold referendum for Kurds

• 
   

Basnews English

15/05/2017 - 15:39

Kurdistan

 

 

 

ERBIL— With regard to the Kurdistan Region's appeal for holding a referendum on independence from Iraq, the Iraqi parties have been divided into two fronts but in reality all of them refuse to admit the right of running the survey for Kurds, said a Kurdish leader.

Muhammad Haji Mahmud, who leads Kurdistan Socialist Democratic Party (KSDP), told BasNews that a group of Iraqi parties "with strong hostility towards Kurds tell us declare your state and let us be!"

The other group who regard themselves friends to Kurds, just say maybe it's not the right time to run the referendum as they think the process may harm them, Haji Mahmud added.

"In short, none of the Iraqi parties admits to [the right of Kurds for holding] referendum and [declaring] independence," KSDP leader declared, noting "We should create a de facto rather than waiting for the support of others."

For the due referendum, Haji Mahmud believed, Kurds should fulfill two preconditions.

"First we should settle the [internal] issues and second, if Kurds unite, then all surrender to the de facto and even no one among Kurds can stand against the referendum," he said.

 

http://www.basnews.com/index.php/en/news/kurdistan/350555

[yota691]

Kurdistan Region Parliament: to determine the day of the referendum Barzani authority exclusively

05/18/2017

 

 

 

(Independent) ... Jafar Amenki Vice President of the Kurdistan Regional Parliament confirmed on Thursday to hold a self-determination referendum for the independence of the territory of Iraq during the current year.

He said Amenki at a press conference in the building of the governorate of Erbil today that "continue to proceed with steps to activate the Kurdistan Parliament," but he also said that "until now did not specify the time for the return of parliament to work."

He said he is scheduled to hold the referendum in the fall of this year, indicating that the identification of the authority of the day giving a President of the Kurdistan region Massoud Barzani exclusively.

It began political parties and actors in the Kurdistan Region mobility internally since the beginning of this year to hold the referendum in conjunction with the approach of Iraq's expulsion from the organization Daesh city of Mosul, the largest and most important strongholds and ravaged in mid-2014.

Relations between Erbil and Baghdad strained since the federal government cut the budget of the Kurdistan Region of financial budgets since 2014 to now.

And confirm the Kurdish leadership to hold a referendum of independence this year in a move as long as the Kurds dream of achieving. (End)

[yota691]

transfer Kurdistan referendum to the highest international body

 

 Wednesday, 24 May 2017

 

Twilight News / Special Representative of the Secretary General of the United Nations to Iraq , Jan Kubis said that the Kurdistan Region officials have confirmed their intention to organize a referendum in the region end of this year. 

Said Kubiš during the UN Security Council session that the Kurdistan Region officials have declared their desire to organize a referendum for the independence of Kurdistan, noting that these officials have identified the end of this year as the date for the referendum in order to tell the world the desire of the people of Kurdistan. 

He added that the province of Kirkuk , officials said they want to participate in this referendum. 

He noted that it is likely to turn al - Qaeda terrorists to carry out terrorist activities after the end of "Daesh war." 

He Kubis said the work on the two levels of international coalition, the first problems and obstacles Wares and the second are the problems that will arise after the liberation of areas controlled by the terrorists organization "Daesh". 

He also stressed that the popular crowd law should not cause a form of provoking sectarian war and chaos, adding that girls and young people in Iraq , make up half of the population and should not be marginalized in the process of reconciliation. 

Turning Kubis in his report to the desire and the will of the Yazidis and Christians during their meeting with UN officials with their representatives, pointing out that they want the cooperation of the international community and protect them. 

He also pointed Kubis to the strength of cooperation between Kurdistan and Baghdad , the Iraqi army and the Peshmerga forces in the war against "Daesh", wishing to move the level of such coordination to the political sphere. 

He Kubis now without a dialogue created many problems, including the lack of implementation of Article 140 of the Iraqi constitution, likely to be a lack of implementation of this article to create problems in the future as well.

 

Keywords: 

[yota691]

US commander: the independence of Kurdistan is coming .. the great challenge is to Baghdad

 

 

 Wednesday, 24 May 2017

 

 

Twilight News Agency chief US Defense Intelligence / said that the efforts of the independence of Iraq 's Kurds from Baghdad is not a question of "if but when , " which represents a major challenge to the stability of the country. 

The director of the agency , Lieutenant - General Vincent Stewart during a Senate hearing that the Kurds of Iraq 's ability to understand and communicate with the government in Baghdad will play a key role in averting renewed conflict. 

He added Stewart , whose role includes the preparation of intelligence reports and not US policy - making that the independence of the Kurds is the question of "when, not what Ama..aly likely." 

"And therefore this important referendum will take place in October this year." 

Stewart said , "solving the issue of Kirkuk oil field and revenues associated with oil fields and resolve the issue of eligibility in the city of Kirkuk , it would represent a major political challenges to the Iraqi government." 

He warned of negative consequences if Baghdad could not or did not have a ready understanding with the Kurds or Sunnis. 

" The inability to address challenges associated with a political solution will ultimately lead to a conflict between all parties to resolve the issue and return to what might turn to civil strife in Iraq." 

It announced the main Kurdish parties in Iraq in April , a plan to hold a referendum on independence this year after the defeat of the organization Daesh.

 

Keywords: 

[SocalDinar]

What will the Kurdish independence referendum mean for Iraq and the rest of the Middle East?

by Tom Rogan | Jun 7, 2017, 3:24 P

 

 

Masoud Barzani, president of the Iraqi Kurdistan region, made a major Twitter announcement earlier today: The region will hold an independence referendum on Sept. 25.

It's big news, but not surprising — Iraqi Kurds have long sought independence from the rest of Iraq. And in recent months, Barzani has told various officials he would push for a referendum.

Yet timing is everything. With Mosul soon to fall to Iraqi forces, and Kurdish forces playing an instrumental combat role against the Islamic State, Barzani believes he now has the political capital to act.

 

 

While the United States might be tempted to give reflexive support to Kurdish aspirations, our diplomats must be cautious. The referendum sets Kurdistan on a collision course with Iraq, Iran and Turkey.

In the case of Iraq, the challenge is simple: Iraq doesn't want to lose vast areas of territory. That said, Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi is in a bind. He needs the help of Kurdish forces to continue fighting the Islamic State, and his position in Baghdad is tenuous.

As I've explained, Iran is seeking to restrain al-Abadi as he forges greater cooperation between various Iraqi political blocs, including Kurdish parties. But Abadi also knows that Sunni Arabs living alongside Kurds in northern cities like Mosul and Kirkuk will resist losing what they regard as natural Iraqi territory.

Meanwhile, the Iranian government has maintained generally positive relations with Kurdish political entities and it greatly values stability along its western border with Iraq. That mountainous region already enables some Kurdish groups to skirmish with Iranian forces. And on its side of the border, Iran faces a small but potent domestic Kurdish insurgent group.

Were Iraqi Kurdistan to become independent, Iran fears it would empower similar separatism in Iran.

Still, what makes Iran's opposition to Kurdish independence especially concerning is its military capacity. At present, tens of thousands of well-equipped, well-trained Iranian-aligned fighters are operating in northern Iraq. On paper, they serve under the Iraqi security establishment in order to fight the Islamic State.

But that's a pretense. The reality is that these "popular mobilization forces" are in Iraq to give Iran influence over Baghdad. And they answer to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps. If ordered to create havoc in Iraqi-Kurdish territory, they would do so.

Finally, there's Turkey.

This is the big one. Turkey is obsessive in opposing a Kurdish state, and it has good reasons for doing so.

For one, the anti-Turkish PKK terrorist group dominates the armed groups operating in northern Syria. If a Kurdish state is forged from Iraq, the Turks rightly assume that it would appropriate Kurdish-occupied territory in Syria. That would formalize a major security threat along Turkey's border.

But that's not all. In equal measure, Turkey fears a Kurdish state would destabilize its southeastern provinces. Millions of Turkish Kurds live in this area. And tensions between these provincial citizens and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's government are rising. Enveloping Turkey's main Kurdish political party into his "coup plotter" crackdown, Erdogan's thuggery is fueling Kurdish extremism. If the spark is lit in Iraq, it may quickly spill into Turkey.

Ultimately, the U.S. will have to mediate the above concerns if chaos is to be avoided. We must persuade Turkey and Iran that the Kurds would not use their new state as expansionist launchpad. We must convince the Kurds that our support requires their commitment to placating the aforementioned concerns. We must consolidate al-Abadi's government in Baghdad. And Turkey and Iran must understand that we will not tolerate an invasion of Kurdistan.

Absent U.S. leadership, great bloodletting beckons.

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/what-will-the-kurdish-independence-referendum-mean-for-iraq-and-the-rest-of-the-middle-east/article/2625249

 

[SocalDinar]

Barzani Meets with Kurdistan Region's Political Parties to Set the Date for the Referendum

 

Website Admin

 

14 minutes ago

 

 

President Masoud Barzani held a meeting today with the representatives of the political parties across the Kurdistan Region. During the meeting, President Barzani and the attendees discussed several salient issues including the upcoming parliamentary elections, the current political and economic situations and the issue of the independence referendum. 

 

The President, along with the representatives of the political parties and slates decided that the date for the independence referendum shall be Monday, September 25, 2017. It will be on that day when the people of the Kurdistan Region, as well as those living in the disputed areas, will cast their votes on whether they accept independence for the Kurdistan.

 

The political parties also agreed to resolve some of the outstanding political and economic issues prior to the date of the referendum. They also agreed to establish a special council for the referendum which will be supervised by President Barzani and that council will be tasked to form a number of teams to supervise the details of the referendum.

 

Iraqi Kurds to hold independence referendum in September

• 1 hour ago
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Image copyright Reuters Image caption Kirkuk's Kurdish-led council recently rejected calls from Baghdad to lower Kurdish flags

Top government officials and political parties in Iraq's autonomous Kurdistan Region have agreed to hold a referendum on independence on 25 September.

The date was set at a meeting in Irbil chaired by President Massoud Barzani.

A statement said voting would take place in the three provinces that make up the region, and "areas of Kurdistan outside the region's administration".

There was no immediate comment from Iraq's central government, but it has urged Kurds not to hold a referendum.

Moves towards outright independence have historically been opposed by the governments of neighbouring Iran, Turkey and Syria, as well as by the US.

   

In April, senior Kurdish official Hoshyar Zebari told Reuters news agency that a "yes" vote would not necessarily mean independence would be declared.

Mr Zebari said it would merely help Kurds press their case for "the best deal" on self-determination once so-called Islamic State (IS) had been defeated in Iraq.

Kurdish Peshmerga fighters have played a major role in the US-backed campaign against the jihadist group, which seized large parts of northern Iraq in 2014.

But while driving IS militants out of the country, the Peshmerga have taken control of disputed territory claimed by both Kurds and the central government.

It includes the city of Kirkuk and the towns of Makhmour, Khanaqin and Sinjar - locations where President Barzani's senior assistant Hemin Hawrami declared voting would take place in September.

  Image copyright Reuters Image caption The date for the referendum was set at a meeting chaired by Massoud Barzani

Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi has said holding an independence referendum now would be neither in the Kurdistan Region's interest nor Iraq's.

"The desire of our Kurdish brothers to create a country of their own is their right... and nobody has the right to deter them," he was quoted as saying by the Kurdish Rudaw news agency in April.

"But holding a referendum at this time is not right as the war [against IS] still rages, the region's situation is not suitable, and some neighbouring countries believe this move poses a threat to the nation's security themselves."

The head of Iraq's ruling Shia coalition, which includes Mr Abadi's Dawa party, meanwhile warned against any "unilateral" moves in the disputed areas.

 

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-40191713

 

Middle East & North Africa | Wed Jun 7, 2017 | 6:53pm BST

Iraqi Kurds plan independence referendum on September 25

 

 

FILE PHOTO: Iraq's Kurdistan region's President Massoud Barzani gestures during a joint news conference with German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel (not pictured) in Erbil, Iraq April 20, 2017. REUTERS/Azad Lashkari/File Photo

•  
•  
•  
•  

By Maher Chmaytelli | ERBIL, Iraq

Iraq's autonomous Kurdish region on Wednesday announced it would hold a referendum on independence, in a move the central government in Baghdad is likely to oppose strongly.

"I am pleased to announce that the date for the independence referendum has been set for Monday, Sept. 25, 2017," Kurdish leader Massoud Barzani said on Twitter.

Barzani's assistant Hemin Hawrami tweeted that voting would take place in the disputed region of Kirkuk and three other areas also claimed by the central government; Makhmour in the north, Sinjar in the northwest and Khanaqin in the east.

The president of Iraq's ruling Shi'ite coalition told Reuters in April it would oppose a Kurdish referendum. Ammar al-Hakim especially warned the Kurds against any move to annex oil-rich Kirkuk.

The referendum date was set after a meeting of Kurdish political parties chaired by Barzani, who heads the autonomous Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG).

Hawrami said the question put to voters would be "do you want an independent Kurdistan?"

A senior Kurdish official, Hoshiyar Zebari, told Reuters in April the expected "yes" vote would strengthen the Kurds' hand in talks on self-determination with Baghdad and would not mean automatically declaring independence.

The Kurds are playing a major role in the U.S.-backed campaign to defeat Islamic State (IS), the ultra-hardline Sunni Islamist group that overran about a third of Iraq three years ago and also controls parts of Syria.

IS fighters have been squeezed into a small area of Mosul, their de-facto capital in Iraq, as a push to retake the city closes in.

 

FEAR OF SEPARATISM

Iraq's majority Shi'ite Arab community mainly live in the south while the Kurds and the Sunni Arabs inhabit different areas of the north. The centre around Baghdad is mixed.

The idea of Iraqi Kurdish independence has been historically opposed by Iraq and neighbouring Iran, Turkey and Syria, as they fear separatism spreading to their own Kurdish populations.

Kurdish officials will visiting Baghdad and neighbouring states to discuss the referendum plan, Erbil-based TV Rudaw said, adding that elections for the Kurdish regional parliament are planned for Nov. 6.

Iraq has been led by Shi'ites since the overthrow of Saddam Hussein, a Sunni, by the U.S.-led invasion of 2003.

 

The Kurds have their own armed force, the Peshmerga, which in 2014 prevented Islamic State from capturing Kirkuk after the Iraqi army fled in the face of the militants. They are effectively running the region, also claimed by Turkmen and Arabs.

Hardline Iranian-backed Iraqi Shi'ite militias have threatened to expel the Kurds by force from this region and other disputed areas.

The Sinjar region is populated by Yazidis, the followers of an ancient religion who speak a Kurdish language and the group most persecuted by Islamic State. Makhmour is south of the Kurdish capital Erbil and Khanaqin is near the border with Iran.

Kirkuk's Kurdish-led provincial council earlier this year rejected a resolution by the Iraqi parliament in Baghdad to lower Kurdish flags which since March have been flown alongside Iraqi flags on public buildings in the region.

Masrour Barzani, head of the Kurdish government's Security Council and son of President Barzani, said in June last year Iraq should be divided into separate Shi'ite, Sunni and Kurdish entities to prevent further sectarian bloodshed.

 

(Reporting by Maher Chmaytelli; Editing by Andrew Roche) http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-mideast-crisis-iraq-kurds-idUKKBN18Y2NT?rpc=401&

[justchecking123]

Huge. 

[yota691]

Iraqi Kurdistan announced the organization of a referendum on independence on September 25

Wednesday, June 7th, 2017, 23:22  / 247 View

| (AP) | Announced that the Kurdistan region , which enjoys self - rule in northern Iraq and the oil - rich, on Wednesday for a referendum on independence on September 25 , despite opposition from Baghdad and the frequency of an internationally expected.  In a statement to the presidency of the Kurdistan region «it was determined on September 25 , 2017 on a referendum in the province of Kurdistan and the Kurdish areas outside the province administration».  The Kurdistan component of the three provinces in northern Iraq , a self - governing since 1991  and supports the majority of the Kurds of Iraq's population of about 4.6 million people independence from Iraq.  She added that the presidency of the region «will vote on that day residents of the Kurdistan region and the rest of the disputed areas to say that they accept independence».  The phrase «disputed areas» to areas in northern Iraq, especially the multi - ethnic and oil - rich , which Kurds claim the province of Kirkuk , as well as central authorities in Baghdad.  Opposed to the Baghdad authorities likely independence of Kurdistan and the opposition will be the most sought if the Kurds to extend their control beyond the current area.

[yota691]

September 25 as the date for the referendum in Kurdistan

Political

 Since 06/07/2017 17:58 am (Baghdad time)

Baghdad balances News

It identified the Kurdistan Regional Government, Wednesday, on the 25th of September as the date for the referendum on the independence of the Kurdistan region.

According globule sources, the news seen by / balance News /, "After the President of the Kurdistan Region meeting, Massoud Barzani, with the parties and the parties of the Kurdish leaders, on Wednesday, it was agreed to set the date of the referendum on independence in the Kurdistan Region on 25 September of the year ongoing. "

It was also agreed to hold parliamentary elections as well as regional presidency elections on 11/06/2017.

It was decided during the meeting, the formation of three committees on the referendum and headed by regional president Massoud Barzani, where the First Committee will visit Arab countries to discuss the process of the referendum in the Kurdistan region, and the formation of a second committee to visit regional countries, forming a third and final committee to visit the capital Baghdad on to discuss the process of the referendum in the Kurdistan region. It ended 29 / m h n

[gregp]

GM, Yota. Perpetual independence. Maybe this time. 

Thanks. 

[yota691]

pleased Barzani: It is a historic day

15 Hours Ago

 

 

Twilight News / Description Security Council adviser to the Kurdistan Region was pleased Barzani, president of the region and the meeting of the Kurdish parties, on Wednesday, and set the date of the referendum for the independence of the province, as a historic day for Kurdistan. 

He wrote Barzani happy in his social networking "Twitter" tweet site, seen by Twilight News, said the day was historic for Kurdistan, has been set the date of the referendum on 25 September of the people of Kurdistan will decide their fate on this day. 

And met with the region 's president , Massoud Barzani , on Wednesday, in Salahuddin in Arbil senior representatives of the Kurdish parties represented in the Kurdistan parliament was during the meeting , which was attended by Vice - President of the region and the Prime Minister and the President and Vice - President of the Independent Electoral Commission and the referendum in the region to determine the day of the referendum on Kurdistan 's independence.

[DWS112]

"United Nations" and Washington warn of the "referendum" Kurdish

June 8, 2017

Iraqi MP revealed, warnings addressed the US administration and the "United Nations", to the President of the Kurdistan region, the outgoing Massoud Barzani, of the implications of a "referendum", which intends to Kurdish authorities in the region conducted in September \ September.

 

The MP said Kirkuk province Jassim Mohammed Jaafar told the «Journal News» on Thursday, said that "the US administration and the United Nations, a warning message to the missions presidency of the region of the consequences of the referendum mentioned."

 

He predicted MP Turkmen failure to Barzani's efforts in this frantic subject, saying: "The referendum called by Barzani, will fail under the objections of some members of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) and the Movement for Change ..".

 

Jaafar said, the province of Sulaimaniya, one of the three cities of Kurdistan and the stronghold of the "National Union" led by former President Jalal Talabani and the movement of "change" also "refuses to hold the referendum after Barzani's expansionist ambitions and his desire to control the rest of the provinces of the Kurdish administration sensor".

 

It is hoped to hold the upcoming referendum, in all the different areas of Baghdad on geography between the Kurdish region, which will include the areas controlled by the "Peshmerga" Kurdish forces in the provinces of Nineveh, Kirkuk, Diyala and Salahuddin.