Kurdistan's President reinforces the need for independence.
The president of Iraqi Kurdistan, Masoud Barzani, said on Sunday that Erbil is determined to hold the referendum on independence, despite objections from Baghdad and other regional powers, stressing that the Kurds are ready for "long" negotiations to achieve peace in the region; Iraqi Kurdistan has concluded that the security of the autonomous region can only be ensured through independence from Iraq, said Masoud Barzani.
Sputnik News Agency - The president of Iraqi Kurdistan, Masoud Barzani, said on Sunday that Erbil is determined to hold the referendum on independence, despite objections from Baghdad and other regional powers, stressing that the Kurds are ready for "long" negotiations to achieve peace in the region.
Iraqi Kurdistan has concluded that the security of the autonomous region can only be ensured through independence from Iraq, Masoud Barzani said at a press conference on Sunday.
Barzani observed that the anti-Kurdish atrocities committed during the rule of former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, as well as the violence of the Daesh terrorist group, were rooted in a culture of denial that has existed for thousands of years regarding the existence of Kurds in the area.
"That is why we have come to this conclusion that only through independence can we guarantee our future, that we will not have to go through the atrocities we have suffered before," said the president of the region.
Barzani emphasized that Iraqi Kurdistan wants to establish "very good and excellent cooperation and relationships" with neighboring countries, "even if they have negative perceptions." He said that Iraqi Kurds "do not envision a military conflict" with Baghdad, adding that Kurdish forces have coordination between the Iraqi Kurdistan Peshmerga forces and the Iraqi army.
He also said that Erbil will be ready for a long negotiation process with Baghdad on the issue of the Kurdish state's borders after the vote.
"I would like to reiterate and emphasize that this referendum is not to draw the border of Kurdistan, this referendum is not to impose any status in any area — and after the referendum we will be ready to begin the long process of dialogue with Baghdad and we are ready to give as much time as necessary," he added.
On Friday, Barzani said that Iraqi Kurdistan will not postpone the referendum on independence Despite the pressure, it will remain on target date of September 25th.