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

[yota691]

Kurdistan Electoral Commission announces the participation rate in the referendum

 

 Since 2017-09-26 at 08:47 (Baghdad time)

Baghdad Mawazine News

The Electoral Commission for the referendum in the Kurdistan region, the percentage of participants in the referendum on independence, amounted to 72 percent.

"Four million and 581,255 people were eligible to vote in today's referendum, but 3 million 305,000 and 925 voted," UNHCR spokesman Shirwan Zarar told a news conference.

Zarar added that "the participation rate reached 72%."

[yota691]

United States: A unilateral referendum will hold the relationship between Baghdad and Erbil

 

 Since 2017-09-26 at 09:57 (Baghdad time)

Baghdad Mawazine News

On Tuesday, the United States expressed its disappointment with the referendum on the independence of the Kurdistan region, but stressed at the same time that its historical relations with the people of the Kurdistan region have not changed because of the referendum.

"The United States is deeply disappointed by the decision of the Kurdistan Regional Government to hold a unilateral referendum on independence, including in areas outside the Kurdistan region of Iraq," State Department spokeswoman Heather Neuert said in a statement.

"The historical relations of the United States with the people of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq have not changed in the light of the non-binding referendum, but we believe that this step will increase the instability and difficulties for the Kurdistan region and its people."

"The unilateral referendum will greatly complicate the KRG's relationship with the government of Iraq and neighboring countries," the spokeswoman said.

"The battle against Daqash is not over, extremist groups are seeking to exploit instability and differences, and we believe that all parties should engage in dialogue to improve the future of Iraqis," she said.

"The United States opposes violence and unilateral movements by any party to change borders," she said.

"The United States supports a unified, federal, democratic and prosperous Iraq," she said, adding that "it will continue to seek opportunities to help Iraqis achieve their aspirations under the Constitution."

[yota691]

2017/09/26 (00:01 PM)   -   Number of readings: 509   -   Number (4027)

 

 

Nechirvan Barzani: We want to continue negotiations with Baghdad

 Baghdad / Range 
 

On Monday, the Kurdistan Regional Government renewed its desire to continue negotiations with Baghdad for the post-referendum phase, stressing that the Kurds are seeking independence that comes democratically away from "violence and war." 

"During the past years, we have proved that we are a factor of security and stability in the region and we have had strong relations with Turkey since the nineties of the last century," Prime Minister Najirvan Barzani told a news conference in Erbil after he voted in the referendum. Of assistance, "stressing" we want to move towards independence through serious negotiations with Baghdad. " "Barzani expressed his surprise at" Baghdad's request to help other countries to impose sanctions on the Kurdistan region, "pointing out that" we did not expect such a move in the new Iraq. " "We regret the statements of Abbadi and his threats that he launched yesterday. It reminds us of the Baath's unjust decisions against Kurdistan," he said, pointing out that "we are not part of Iraq, but the wrong policies of Baghdad are what led to that." In response to the accusations made by Prime Minister Haider Abadi to the Kurdistan Regional Government on the budget and the non-provision of salaries of its employees, Barzani said that "we have embarked on comprehensive reforms in cooperation with international organizations, and we do not hesitate to go to Baghdad to answer all the questions you want to answer them and no need To launch threats, "stressing that" Baghdad is the strategic depth of Kurdistan and we want to live in peace with it. " Abadi had accused the government of the region last night of failing to pay the salaries of employees and stealing oil imports.
In a related context, described the Deputy Prime Minister of the Kurdistan region, Qubad Talabani, the decision of the Iraqi Council of Representatives to oblige the Baghdad government to send force to the disputed areas, as "irresponsible decision." 
"The strongest and most appropriate response to the irresponsible decision issued by the Iraqi Council of Representatives is to cast your votes in the Kurdistan referendum," Talabani said in a commentary posted on his personal Facebook page. The House of Representatives, voted early on Monday, a decision obliging Prime Minister Haider Abadi, the redeployment of military forces in the province of Kirkuk and disputed areas.
To this, saw the Deputy Secretary-General of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan Kosrat Rasul, the Kurds are waiting from Baghdad congratulations to the results of the referendum in Kurdistan. "All the Kurdish parties did not make internal problems and obstacles, and voted yes in the Kurdistan region referendum," Rasul told a number of media outlets after voting in Kirkuk. 
In a related context, called the Amir of the Kurdistan Islamic Group Ali Babir, the great powers to redress the Kurds. "The Islamic Group decided to participate in the referendum to prepare the ground for independence," said Babir, after casting his vote on the referendum in the city of Sulaymaniyah, and his follow-up (range), pointing out that "the Kurds have been removed from the political map in Iraq .. It is time for countries to recognize Great that it has made a bad and unjust decision against the Kurds by dividing their state. "
He called the Amir of the Kurdistan Islamic Group, "the neighboring countries of Kurdistan not to follow the example of those countries and go on the approach of injustice and bad decisions."

[Butifldrm]

US: Our 'historic relationship' with Kurdistan won't change despite referendum

By Rudaw 9 hours ago

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson speaks during a UN Security Council meeting on September 21, 2017 in New York City. Photo: Drew Angerer/Getty Images/AFP

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – The US State Department has said that despite being “deeply disappointed” by the Kurdish independence referendum, its relations with the Kurdish people “will not change.”

 

The Kurdish people voted in high numbers on Monday to decide whether they want to leave Iraq. The final results are yet to be announced by the Kurdish electoral body, but a 'Yes' vote is highly expected. 

 

The vote took place despite unprecedented and coordinated pressures from regional governments such as Turkey and Iran as well as the central government of Iraq which consider the vote unconstitutional and unilateral.

 

The Iraqi parliament voted on Monday to commit the Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi to deploy troops to the areas that came under the control of the Kurdish forces after the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003. 

 

“The United States opposes violence and unilateral moves by any party to alter boundaries,” the statement read.

 

The Kurdish officials, including President Masoud Barzani and Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani insist that the referendum is not to redraw borders. They say such issues, among others, are open for negotiations with Baghdad.

 

President Barzani however repeatedly said that they will never agree to negotiate the so-called Green Line that used to separate the Kurdish Peshmerga and the former Iraqi regime before the invasion, meaning that Kurdish forces will not withdraw to pre-2003 borders.

 

Monday's statement, attributed to the spokesmen of the State Department, read that the September 25 vote “will increase instability and hardships for the Kurdistan region and its people,” and that it will will “greatly complicate” the relationship of the Kurdish government with Iraq, and its neighbors.

 

“The United States' historic relationship with the people of the Iraqi Kurdistan Region will not change in light of today's non-binding referendum,” it continued. 

 

The United States had all along opposed the timing of the Kurdish vote, mainly citing fears that it would negatively affect the war against ISIS.

 

http://www.rudaw.net/english/kurdistan/26092017

[Butifldrm]

• Policy

Newspaper: Netanyahu pledged Barzani to send 200 thousand Israelis to help establish the Kurdish state

September 26, 2017

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Media treasures / Baghdad ..

Syrian newspaper revealed on Tuesday, the pledge of Prime Minister "Israeli" Benjamin Netanyahu to the President of the Kurdistan region ended Massoud Barzani to send 200 thousand Israelis to the region to help establish the Kurdish state.

"Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has pledged to send 200,000 Israelis to help manage the affairs of the new state, which is called for expansion within Syrian territory,

And accused the Kurdistan region of "coordination with Daash in accordance with an agreement leading to the first to launch a surprise attack on Mosul, while the second take command of the seizure of Kirkuk."

The commander of the Peshmerga forces Sirwan Barzani expressed in press statements on Monday, thanked the Prime Minister of the Zionist entity Benjamin Netanyahu to support the referendum.

http://www.knoozmedia.com/260938/صحيفة-نتنياهو-تعهد-للبارزاني-بإيفاد-200/

[Butifldrm]

Kurds Raise The Zionist Flag After The End Of The Referendum In Kurdistan

Last updated 13:29 | 26-09-2017

 

 

 

 

 

 

http://www.alansaar.net/?p=78001

[yota691]

Maliki takes the tensions of the referendum to seize the presidency

Deputies coalition rule of law driving the movement within the parliament to remove infallible under the pretext of 'Hnth right' in an attempt to open the way for the return of al-Maliki to rule.

Middle East Online

Exploitation of chaos for political gain BAGHDAD - The deputies of the "National Alliance" in the Iraqi parliament, on Tuesday, they began to collect signatures to dismiss Iraqi President Fuad Masum, from his post "because of his right-wing sworn to him," and Kurdish deputies in parliament. A move that many observers believe is motivated by Maliki's ambition to take an infallible position and pave the way for a return to power. "There is a collection of signatures to dismiss the president because he was sworn in, and the matter is left to the House of Representatives to vote," said a member of the governing coalition, Hassan Khalati. He pointed out that the infallible (Kurdish) "I swear to maintain the unity of Iraq, and non-compliance with the matter means a sinner to the right." While the MP in the coalition, Badr Asma al-Moussawi, the Iraqi government to "take a stand from Kurdish officials who hold government positions, including the Iraqi president." This position announced by some Iraqi MPs to take the infallibility of the process of the referendum on the independence of the Kurds, was not issued out of discontent actually not to take a step opposed to the extent of the aim of pushing the infallible to leave his office and open the opportunity to enter Maliki, who sought to thwart the government of Abadi for the same purpose. A number of reports reported that the majority of deputies who lead the movement of the removal of infallible are mainly deputies of the coalition of state law. Maliki, who is reaping the benefits of chaos, seems to be trying to play on the card of tensions between the Kurds and Baghdad to inflame the positions of Iraqi Shiite MPs and a year against infallibility under the pretext of failing to live up to his promise to support Iraq's unity. Nuri al-Maliki is the first deputy president of the republic while Osama Najafi and Iyad Allawi as deputies in the second place. In a move to take advantage of the status quo to achieve a political gain, Maliki knows he will only achieve it under similar circumstances. Yesterday, the Iraqi parliament unanimously passed a resolution obliging the federal government to send military forces to the disputed areas, including Kirkuk to maintain security. But it seems that Maliki's ambitions will not pass easily as some parties within the Shiite house are well aware of his political ambitions and strongly reject his return to power, especially in view of the wide range of voices recognizing that he is responsible for what happened in the country, especially on the security level and the spread of sectarianism. Recognizes that the tensions of Erbil and Baghdad were due to his policy. The Sadrists are leading the political forces that refuse to accept Maliki as head of state, especially in light of the political conflict in the country and refuses to use the referendum of Kurdish secession to put the presidency of the republic as a priority. In a move opposed by regional and international forces, Monday held the Kurdistan region of Iraq referendum on secession. The Iraqi government rejects the referendum and its results, saying that it does not comply with the country's constitution adopted in 2005, and does not benefit the Kurds politically, economically and nationally. Turkey, Iran and Syria, neighbors of Iraq with large Kurdish populations, oppose the referendum, and some of them, Turkey and Iran in particular, have opposed punitive measures for Kurds that could amount to military intervention. They fear that independence will spread to their lands, especially as the Kurds do not enjoy their full rights in these countries and are persecuted.

[DoD]

5 hours ago, Spider said:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/amphtml/news/worldviews/wp/2017/09/26/iraqi-kurds-voted-in-their-independence-referendum-now-what/

 

Iraqi Kurds voted in their independence referendum. Now what?.

 

A peshmerga soldier celebrates the referendum on Monday outside a

 

 

 

I will predict the meetings between Erbil and Baghdad won't be as nice an comfortable as before. Can you just see the look on Barzani face when Abadi says were replacing the president, the governor an all the rest of the politicians involved in this vote...add that to manning and controlling all the borders and air space.

The poor ignorant people of Kurdistan remind me of the people in North Korea, just doing what their told. It wouldn't surprise me a bit if we've seen the last of Kurdistan as we know it...  

[Miamiheatnic]

Is there any excitement now? Is there any key date or anything we are looking at for good news or the like?  It’s quiet 

[Butifldrm]

Iraq refuses talks with Kurds about referendum results

PM Abadi says Baghdad will not discuss results of Kurdish independence referendum, calling it 'unconstitutional'.

 

 

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In a televised address, Abadi reiterated that Baghdad 'will not recognise the outcome' of the referendum [Reuters]

The Iraqi government will not hold talks with the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) about the results of Monday's "unconstitutional" referendum on independence in northern Iraq, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said.

"We are not ready to discuss or have a dialogue about the results of the referendum because it is unconstitutional," Abadi said in a speech broadcast on state TV on Monday night.

"Most of the problems of the [Kurdish] region are internal ones, not with Baghdad, and will be increased with the calls for separation," Abadi said, adding: "The economic and financial problems the region is suffering from are the result of corruption and mis-administration," the prime minister said.

READ MORE: Iraqi Kurds count referendum votes

Masoud Barzani, the leader of the KRG, said the referendum is not binding and was meant to be a legitimate mandate to negotiate with Baghdad and neighbouring countries over the secession of the Kurdish-controlled region from Iraq.

Erbil-based Rudaw TV, citing the Independent High Elections and Referendum Commission, said 78 percent of the more than five million eligible voters turned out to vote.

In Kirkuk, authorities declared a curfew an hour and a half before polls closed as jubilant Kurds started to celebrate.

The vote was expected to deliver a comfortable "yes", and final results should be announced in 72 hours.

'Unilaterally declared'

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed regret that the Kurds have gone ahead with the referendum.

UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said Guterres noted the referendum was "unilaterally declared, included disputed areas" and was opposed by Iraqi authorities and the global community.

The spokesman said Guterres regretted that opportunities for negotiations were not seized and viewed the decision to hold the vote as potentially destabilising.

The vote held Monday was billed by the Kurdish leadership as an exercise in self-determination. To Baghdad, the vote threatens a redrawing of Iraq's borders, while leaders in Turkey and Iran fear the move would embolden their own Kurdish populations.

READ MORE: Iraqi Kurdistan - Playing the independence game

Turkey's military confirmed that Turkey and Iraq will conduct joint military drills in Turkey along an area bordering Iraq's semi-autonomous Kurdish region.

A military statement on Monday announced a new "phase" in the military exercises that were launched last week in a clear warning to Iraqi Kurds, saying units from Iraq's armed forces would arrive in Turkey later in the evening to join Turkish troops.

Turkish army tanks prepared for exercises in Silopi, near the Habur border gate with Iraq, southeastern Turkey, on Monday [DHA-Depo Photos via AP]

The joint drills are set to kick off on Tuesday, the military said, without providing details.

The Turkish military also published photographs of Iraqi troops, including one showing them holding the flags of Turkey and Iraq and posing in front of an Iraqi Air Force plane.

Source: News agencies

 

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/09/iraq-refuses-talks-kurds-referendum-results-170926033646791.html

[Butifldrm]

 

Iraq

American witness to signing of Iraq's constitution believes many articles violated

By Rudaw 7 hours ago

Masoud Barzani of the Kurdistan Democratic Party, Hajim al-Hassani, a Sunni politician of the Iraqi Islamic Party, and Jalal Talabani of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan sit for a Transitional National Assembly meeting in Baghdad in October 12, 2005. Photo: Mohamed Mesara | AFP via Getty

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — With the Kurdistan Region holding a referendum on independence that Baghdad has deemed to be unconstitutional, a US diplomat who played a role in drafting the 2005 constitution recalls that Kurds were "very clear" about accepting and abiding by it if the central government respected it.
 
Robert Ford was in Baghdad during the drafting of the current constitution after the US-led invasion and ousting of the Baathist regime where he served as head of the political office in the Embassy. He was later posted as the US Ambassador to Syria.
 

In an opinion article in the London-based Arabic newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat published on Saturday he says the Americans were urging Masoud Barzani (leader of the Kurdistan Democratic Party) to accept compromises, if the Kurdish leadership including Jalal Talabani (leader of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan) and co-signed the new state.

 
Ford explained that Barzani had to "accept comprises for Iraqi Kurdistan to be part of a federal Iraq."
 
"If the Baghdad central government respects the new constitution, the Kurdish regional government will remain in a united Iraq," Ford recalls, describing Barzani as "very clear about the conditional agreement."
 
Ford remembers the negotiations primarily involving the Kurds, and Tariq Hashemi (then leader of the Iraqi Islamic Party), the late Abdelaziz Hakim (then leader of the Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq) and (then Prime Minister of Iraq) Ibrahim Jaafari.
 
"I remember that in 2005 the Kurdish political leaders were nervous that the Baghdad government under Prime Minister Jaaferi and a Shia majority parliament would not respect all the constitution obligations," wrote Ford. "The American government promised it would help ensure the constitution was respected."
 

The American also claimed the constitution has repeatedly not been followed:

 

- With Article 65, no second parliamentary house was established

  

- With Article 92, no national supreme court was established
 

- With Article 84, no law to govern the intelligence services was passed
 

- With Article 80, top military officers are being appointed by prime ministers without the mandated approval of the Council of Representatives
 

- With Article 9, militias are forbidden, but the government pays the Hashd al-Shaabi which "are often political"
 

- With Article 140, the disputed territories should have been resolved in 2007
 

- With Article 112, the oil law "gives both parties a role, but they still haven't negotiated how to manage the oil sector."
 

- With Article 85, no Council of Ministers was established
 
Ford highlights that the Kurds "won recognition" in the talks for the constitutionality of having their Kurdish Peshmerga per Article 121.
 
Regarding the disputed areas, Ford says even after 2007, the Americans had a "perfect chance" to facilitate a solution.
 
"There were thousands of American soldiers in the area of the disputed territories," wrote Ford, adding that Christopher Hill was then US Ambassador to Iraq and had experience negotiating settlements in the Bosnian civil war.
 
Then a few years later, Ford explained, "Washington pledged to help ensure respect for the constitution and a power-sharing deal between [PM Nouri al-Maliki], the Kurds and the Sunni Arabs."
 
The 19-point agreement negotiated in 2010 by then US Vice President Joe Biden "urged Barzani to support Maliki's second mandate as Prime Minister."
 
As ISIS gained power, the Americans were largely silent and didn't exert "serious pressure" on Maliki until the spring of 2014.
 
The Americans again brokered "power-sharing in order to win Kurdish votes for Prime Minister Abadi." Ford claims the deal has since been broken because Article 85 still remains unimplemented.
 
"And the Council of Representatives with its Shia Islamist majority last week tried to fire the governor of Kirkuk even though the constitution does not give them this authority," wrote Ford.
 
As tensions build between the Shiite-dominated Iraqi government backed Hashd al-Shaabi fighters and the Kurdistan Regional Government with its Peshmerga, Ford emphasizes that it's important for "channels of communication" to remain open
 
"It will be important for everyone to use calm words and thinking, not anger and threats," wrote Ford, who is now a senior fellow at the Middle East Institute, a D.C.-based think-tank.
 
Erbil claims Baghdad has violated 55 articles of the constitution, while the Shiite National Alliance claims the KRG has committed 100 violations. On Monday, PM Abadi ordered Iraqi forces into the disputed or Kurdistani areas, claimed by both capitals.

 

http://www.rudaw.net/english/middleeast/iraq/250920172

[Butifldrm]

International observers speak about Kurdistan's referendum process

By Rudaw 5 hours ago

Franz Obermayr, an Austrian representative to the EU Parliament, speaks at a press conference at Kurdistan's independent electoral commission in the capital of Erbil on September 26. Photo: Rudaw TV

 

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — Former and current politicians from European countries spoke about observing the referendum process in the Kurdistan Region, where on Austrian observer described Monday’s events as “free and open.”
 
They delivered their remarks at Kurdistan' Independent High Referendum and Electoral Commission.
 
Observers included Franz Obermayr, an Austrian representative to the EU Parliament and Bernard Kouchner, a former FM of France, among others.

"As we could see yesterday coming to the different polling locations and stations, we could really submit that there was excellent work, they could vote peacefully, and that what they wished. It was a free and open referendum, so far," Obermayr said. 

He was asked about whether the vote will influence the international community and particularly Europe, given the contributions of the Kurdish people and Peshmerga in the fight against ISIS.

"I think the EU has to do a lot to say thank Peshmerga," explained the representative. 

He added that the KRG in Europe has "lots of ambassadors in our countries, people of Kurdish origin," explaining he expects the question to be answered in EU in the days, weeks, and months.

The observers explained they had visited polling cities in Kurdistan, seeing women and men voting, as well as Christians, Yezidis, the displaced persons, and Peshmerga.

The former FM of France expects other capitals to reconsider previous stances regarding the independence referendum.

"I'm completely sure that all these governments will change their positions, we return to wiseness and to real consideration of reality,” said Kouchner.

He explained that the vote is the beginning of a process of talks and “not a declaration of war.”

“The Kurdish people have voted now they have to negotiate and Mr. Barzani was very clear with the beginning of negotiations that it will not change overnight,” said Kouchner
 
The commission said on Monday night final results will be announced within 72 hours for the Kurdistan Region's historic vote on independence.

 

http://www.rudaw.net/english/kurdistan/260920172

[Butifldrm]

Council of Ministers discusses the issuance of a decision to stop working Erbil and Sulaymaniyah airports

 

Iraqi Council of Ministers

money and business

Economy News Baghdad: A source in the General Secretariat of the Council of Ministers, Tuesday, that the Council of Ministers will discuss today the withdrawal of international licenses for Erbil and Sulaymaniyah airports and the suspension of work. The source, who preferred not to disclose his name to "Economy News", "The Council of Ministers will discuss today in its decision to authorize the Ministry of Transport to approach the World Civil Aviation Organization to withdraw the license of Erbil and Sulaymaniyah airports and suspend them." He added that "foreign airlines will be prevented from landing at the airports of Erbil and Sulaymaniyah as well as passage within the airspace of Iraq to reach northern Iraq." He pointed out that "the decision comes within a set of sanctions to be issued by the Council of Ministers to paralyze the economic and trade movement in the Kurdistan region."   http://economy-news.net/content.php?id=9154

[Flyboy42]

I think Kurdistan has opened a can of worms and the biggest worm to crawl out just might be that Maliki manages to seize the presidency from Fuad Masum. He will go to any lengths to get back in power, which doesn't bode well for Abadi and his safety. If so, I don't like the odds where that will leave us dinar wise.

[bostonangler]

Iraqi Kurds must give up on independence or go hungry - Erdogan

• 2 hours ago
• From the section Middle East

•  

  Copy this link

  http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-41398199

   

Image copyright EPA Image caption Iraqi soldiers joined Turkish troops for exercises on the Turkish side of the border on Tuesday

Turkey's president has said Iraqi Kurds could go hungry as a result of the punitive measures it is considering after Monday's independence referendum.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan accused the head of the Kurdistan Regional Government of "treachery" for pressing ahead with the vote despite international opposition.

Massoud Barzani should now "give up on this adventure", he said.

Mr Erdogan has previously threatened to cut a vital Kurdish oil pipeline and stop lorries crossing Turkey's border.

Turkey fears that the emergence of an independent Kurdish state on its border will stoke separatist feeling in its own Kurdish minority.

 

The results of the referendum are yet to be declared, but a "yes" vote is expected.

Image copyright AFP Image caption Some 72% of the 5.2 million people eligible to vote in Kurdish-controlled areas voted

Kurdish leaders say that would not automatically trigger a declaration of independence, but rather give them a mandate to start negotiations on secession with the central government in Baghdad and with neighbouring countries.

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi ruled out any such talks on Monday night, saying he would not discuss the referendum's results because it was "unconstitutional".

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'Sabre-rattling for domestic audience'

By Mark Lowen, Turkey correspondent, BBC News

This was the strongest rhetoric yet from President Erdogan on the Kurdish referendum. He called it "treachery" and a "threat to national security". Once again he threatened military or economic intervention, without elaborating.

Turkey is worried that independence might further Kurdish insurgency here and is concerned for ethnic Turkmen in the city of Kirkuk, which the Kurds want to be part of any future state. But there was a lot for a domestic audience - sabre-rattling to please nationalists at home.

Ankara has built a strong relationship with the Iraqi Kurds through an oil pipeline that feeds the Kurdish economy and Turkey's energy needs. And the authorities in Irbil oppose the PKK Kurdish militant group, allowing Turkish military bases in northern Iraq. Mr Erdogan warned he could close the oil valves in Turkey - but it has not yet happened.

With Turkey's notoriously abrasive president, the oratory sometimes does not actually translate into action.

• Iraqi Kurdish referendum: What is at stake?
• Iraqi Kurdistan profile

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In a speech on Tuesday, Mr Erdogan said he had expected "until the last moment" that Kurdistan Regional President Massoud Barzani would postpone the vote.

"This referendum decision, which has been taken without any consultation, is treachery," he said.

 

 

 

Media captionKexit? Iraqi Kurdistan referendum explained - by the voters themselves

"If Barzani and the Kurdish Regional Government do not go back on this mistake as soon as possible, they will go down in history with the shame of having dragged the region into an ethnic and sectarian war," he warned.

Mr Erdogan said Turkey, which has long been the Kurdistan Region's main link to the outside world, might now impose sanctions to persuade Mr Barzani's administration to "give up on this adventure that can only have a dark end".

"It will be over when we close the oil taps, all [their] revenues will vanish, and they will not be able to find food when our trucks stop going to northern Iraq," he added.

Cross-border trade between the Kurdistan Region and Turkey was worth some $5bn (£3.7bn) in the first six months of 2017, according to Kurdish officials, while hundreds of thousands of barrels of oil flow daily through a pipeline from Kurdish-controlled oil fields to the Mediterranean via Turkish territory.

Iraqi soldiers also joined Turkish troops for military exercises in south-eastern Turkey on Monday, near the border with Iraq.

The US earlier said it was "deeply disappointed" that the Kurdistan Region held the referendum, but stressed that their "historic relationship" would not change.

Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Celebrations continued long into the night in the disputed city of Kirkuk

The referendum was held in the three Iraqi provinces that make up the Kurdistan Region, as well as in adjoining disputed areas claimed by the Kurds and the Arab-led central government that are controlled by Kurdish Peshmerga forces.

The Kurdish news agency Rudaw reported that 72% of the 5.2 million Kurds and non-Kurds registered as resident in those areas had voted. Ballots were still being counted on Tuesday, with initial results expected by the end of the day.

Kurds are the fourth-largest ethnic group in the Middle East but they have never obtained a permanent nation state.

In Iraq, where they make up an estimated 15% to 20% of the population of 37 million, Kurds faced decades of repression before acquiring autonomy in 1991

[Synopsis]

1 hour ago, Flyboy42 said:

I think Kurdistan has opened a can of worms and the biggest worm to crawl out just might be that Maliki manages to seize the presidency from Fuad Masum. He will go to any lengths to get back in power, which doesn't bode well for Abadi and his safety. If so, I don't like the odds where that will leave us dinar wise.

 

I think this is a very good point, FlyBoy42!

 

My opinion is there are significant issues related to Nouri al-Maliki with regard to ISIS sweeping into Iraq and establishing the caliphate with the associated Crimes Against Humanity. Nouri al-Maliki really needs to stay in a powerful place in government to have the associated immunity and to navigate away from culpability and cast the blame for his crimes on others. I think this is a feeble attempt by Nouri al-Maliki to displace Fuad Masum and ascend to the Presidency that will have a turn against him. Hopefully in the not too distant future. There are provisions in the Iraqi Constitution to deal with Iraqi elements disrupting the cohesiveness and unity of the territory of Iraq that do not appear to be associated with the Iraqi Presidency - in this case Fuad Masum. If Fuad Masum is a Kurd, I would think it best to recuse from any position regarding the Kurdish Referendum so that there are no inferences of sectarianism. Other Iraqi Constitutional elements have been addressed and are being addressed by the associated Iraqi Government positions - namely the Iraqi Supreme Court and Haider al-Abadi as Prime Minister of Iraq. I have to ask the question, "How much more does anyone want and what contributions could Fuad Masum really make as the President of Iraq with regard to the Kurdish Referendum?" Not much, if any, I suspect.

 

However, my opinion is entities like Haider al-Abadi, Muqtada al-Sadr, Massoud Barzani, and other entities in Iraq as well as Foreign Governments (possibly most notably Saudi Arabia) are keen on eliminating Iraqi Government elements associated with Iran. Nouri al-Maliki is one key Iranian aligned element in Iraq within the Iraqi Government. Syria has had phenomenal gains against ISIS and ISIS controlled areas are steadily being taken from ISIS. A majority of Raqqa has been retaken from ISIS with the remaining areas of Raqqa likely to be retaken within weeks, if not days. The retaking of ISIS controlled areas in Iraq is gaining momentum with the retaking of ISIS controlled areas in Iraq may be completed at approximately the same time as retaking all the ISIS controlled areas in Syria. Once this is completed, ISIS will cease to be a viable terrorist group controlling any areas in this area with the associated capability of generating revenues. I suspect the momentum on cleaning up this area of ISIS financial corruption will then increase as well as published information in Iraqi and other news sources announcing the Crimes Against Humanity perpetrated by Nouri al-Maliki with the subsequent stripping of Nouri al-Maliki's roles and the associated immunity. My belief is various world powers want to tie these criminal acts, as well as Crimes Against Humanity, to Nouri al-Maliki to remove themselves from any inferences to culpability. A big loser in this scenario will be Iran since Iran has lost possibly one of it's biggest stooges in Iraq. I suspect Qasem Soleimani with outlaw Iranian militias like IMIS will also be addressed and booted from Iraq. A possible highlight to note is ole Donald walked away with an 800 million USD yacht and a 200 million USD jewel studded gold sword after visiting Saudi Arabia a while back (wuz up with THAT???!!!). The news about restored relations between Saudia Arabia and Iraq are peppering the news outlets at a pretty frequent occurrence so I suspect muscle is being applied to substantially remove the Iranian influence from Iraq. I can't imagine substantial investment from Saudi Arabia in Iraq while Iran has a significant presence in Iraq politically and militarily through the IMIS and other militias because Iran would financially benefit and continue to foment terrorism in the region that would conflict with Saudi Arabia's financial interests in Iraq and other parts of the region.

 

Well, OK, just my opinion and 

 

Go Moola Nova!

[10 YEARS LATER]

If I were Abadi: I'd leave instructions with my boys I the " Deep State " to Cap Maliki the moment he gets up to Serious Shenanigans or Abadi comes to Harm.

 

[The Englishman]

BREAKING: Barzani announces he accept the federal parliament system for the Kurdish state

[bkeiller]

So, a lot of autonomy within Iraq?

 

[bkeiller]

I smell an HCL brewing. Time to let it rip.

 

[Queensland]

According to the Abadi’s office, an agreement has been reached between Abadi and the Kurdish delegation to reactivate the 140 Article. In July 2017, and hold a general census across the province once ISIS have been driven out of some key areas the, including Hawija, Rashad and Riyaz.

 

[Queensland]

This article was issued in Rudaw.net http://www.rudaw.net/english/kurdistan/06042017 in June 4th, 2017.

 

What about your article issued regarding Barzani's announcement?

[tigergorzow]

Englishman Thanks,  DV,  The pressure cooker is getting "HOT" for all parties.  Time to rock & roll that "HCL" to a vote & published in the Gazette.

 

GO Abadi

 

GO HCL

 

GO RV / RI

[ChuckFinley]

3 minutes ago, tigergorzow said:

Englishman Thanks,  DV,  The pressure cooker is getting "HOT" for all parties.  Time to rock & roll that "HCL" to a vote & published in the Gazette.

 

GO Abadi

 

GO HCL

 

GO RV / RI

Darn right Tiger. 

[jcfrag]

Pretty nice of the stinker, considering he closed it down 2 years ago. So now he likes it again, up until the referendum is complete. Then he cans it again! Wonder how stupid these people are to fall for that one again???  😂