Massoud Barzani: Time for the independence of Kurdistan

Massoud Barzani: Time for the independence of Kurdistan

Tue, 02 May 2017 14:21:20

Massoud Barzani - Time for the independence of KurdistanKurdistan Region President Massoud Barzani said that the time had already come for the independence of Kurds from Iraq, noting that the first steps towards that goal, requiring a referendum.
Barzani said in an interview with French newspaper Le Figaro , ” the first stage (about the independence of the Kurds) will be through a referendum .. This will not happen within a few days.”
Barzani said “It is time for the independence of Kurdistan,” noting that the Kurds will not seek permission from one in order to conduct the next popular polled.
He considered the leader of the Kurdistan Region that the referendum is a legitimate right for the Kurds, said , “We need a mandate from the people to begin the long negotiations with Baghdad.”
He continued by saying, “We want to leave Iraq peacefully and through dialogue and negotiations , ” noting that the Kurds have tried for decades to be partners with Baghdad , however , successive Iraqi governments have rewarded the Kurdish people to destroy thousands of villages and bombing the chemical and the loss of the lives of thousands of innocent people.
He went on saying , “After 2003 , we thought through the new constitution and we are going to open a new page with respect to our rights .. but Baghdad cut off the financial budget has not fulfilled its obligations.”
He added , “as long as Baghdad refused to be real partners with them .. We intend to be good neighbors (with Iraq) .. This is what I want to say to those who are concerned about it.”
With regard to Kirkuk , Barzani said that the city ” is part of Kurdistan historically and geographically .. but this does not mean that Kirkuk only belong to the Kurds .. but belongs to all who live in it, including Kurds, Arabs, Turkmen and Christians .. do not intend to exclusivity in Kirkuk or its monopoly.”
Kurds say they are tired of successive Iraqi governments approach since the founding of the state in the twenties of the last century with respect to their cases, their rights and their fate.
The Kurdistan Region semi – independent Iraq, with official armed forces known as the Peshmerga owns and has the government and the ministries of economic and political dealings and independent.

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