Political Leadership of Kurdistan without the word Iraq

[Anthea]

Kurdish legislature rejects Iraqi parliament’s rulings against Erbil

The Kurdistan parliament, in a unanimous vote on Saturday, rejected the Iraqi government and parliament’s rulings it issued in response to the Kurdistan independence referendum, describing the decrees as illegal and saying the referendum was held backed by the Iraqi constitution.

The parliament also said the general commander of the Peshmerga forces had full authority to protect areas coming under threats, namely the disputed or Kurdistan areas outside the Kurdistan Region.

The Kurdistan parliament asked the neighboring countries, notably Turkey and Iran, to respect the laws of the Region.

The Kurdistan parliament also asked “official authorities of the Kurdistan Region to implement the referendum outcome which was held on September 25, 2017.”

The parliament, whose session lasted many hours today, also announced that the closure of the borders, according to the Iraqi constitution, is not vested with the Iraqi federal government.

“The Kurdistan parliament calls upon the international community and neighboring countries and the region to respect the Kurdistan nation’s decision,” the parliament statement read.

“Concerning pursuing the self-determination right, the Kurdistan parliament assures the neighboring countries and the region that the Iraqi Kurdistan’s referendum will in no way pose a threat on the national security of any nation,” it added.

“The [Kurdistan] Region has been a factor of stability in the region,” it added.

The parliament “congratulated the victory of the independence referendum for the Kurdistan nation which showed itself to the world in a civil and democratic process, according to international laws, basis and regulations and the Iraqi constitution.”

The Kurdistan parliament also supported an earlier announcement by the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), which rejected the Iraqi parliament’s rulings against the Kurdistan Region.

After 92.73 percent of voters chose independence for Kurdistan in Monday’s referendum, Baghdad has rejected the result and issued a series of orders to ban flights, shut the borders, close foreign representations, assert control over oil exports, and deploy troops to disputed areas.

The measures were slammed and rejected by the Kurdish authorities.

Both Erbil and Baghdad are accusing the other of acting illegally and contrary to the constitution.

http://www.rudaw.net/english/kurdistan/300920178

[Anthea]

Kurdistan To Declare Independence Unilaterally
If Baghdad Refuses Negotiate

The Iraqi Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) will declare an independence of Iraqi Kurdistan unilaterally, if the Iraqi Federal Government does not enter negotiations on the terms and condictions of this move, Vahal Ali, director of communications in the office of Kurdistan Region President Massoud Barzani said on September 29.

Ali blamed the Iraqi government for a “very aggressive” stance towards the independence referendum as well as for Baghdad’s threats to cut the KRG oil pipeline to Turkey and the air flights ban over the region, according to the New York Times (NYT).

“We are hopeful that these are all temporary measures,” the NYT quoted Ali as saying. “We want this to be a peaceful transition, but if Baghdad decides not, there is a lot we can also do.”

Barzani’s spokesman emphasized that Iraqi Kurds overwhelmingly voted in favor of independence in the Monday raferendum and the KRG would be pushed to unilaterally declare independence if Baghdad does not enter in negotiations over the “peaceful” transition.

“President Barzani was obligated to conduct the referendum and now is obligated to respond to that result,” Ali said. “We’ve repeatedly said we can negotiate, but that has to be on the question of independence.”

It seems a lack of any international support does not cool off the KRG that clearly seeks to turn an northern Iraqi area controlled by its military forces into an independent Kurdish state.

Meanwhile, US State Secretary Rex Tillerson announced that the US rejects the KRG’s referendum and its outcome in an official statement:

The United States does not recognize the Kurdistan Regional Government’s unilateral referendum held on Monday.

The vote and the results lack legitimacy and we continue to support a united, federal, democratic and prosperous Iraq.

We remain concerned about the potential negative consequences of this unilateral step. Prior to the vote, we worked with both the KRG and the central government in Baghdad to pursue a more productive framework and to promote stability and prosperity for the people ‎of the Kurdistan region. These aspirations, ultimately, cannot be advanced through unilateral measures such as this referendum.

We urge calm and an end to vocal recriminations and threats of reciprocal actions. We urge Iraqi Kurdish authorities to respect the constitutionally-mandated role of the central government and we call upon the central government to reject threats or even allusion to possible use of force. The United States asks all parties, including Iraq’s neighbors, to reject unilateral actions and the use of force.

The fight against ISIS/ Daesh is not over, and extremist groups are seeking to exploit instability and discord. We urge our Iraqi partners to remain focused on defeating ISIS/Daesh.

We encourage all sides to engage constructively in a dialogue to improve the future of all Iraqis.”

https://southfront.org/iraqi-kurdistan- ... fined.uxfs

[Anthea]

Kurdistan Referendum Council to convene following mounting pressure

The High Referendum Council that lobbied for the independence vote which took place on Monday is to meet in Erbil today with the particiption of Kurdistan Region President Masoud Barzani, likely to put the word 'independence' in the council's name.

It is the first such meeting after a 92-percent vote to leave Iraq.

Sadq Jabari, a member of the Council, told Rudaw that the meeting will discuss and assess the world reaction and pressures mounted on Kurdistan, in addition to laying out a program for the next stage.

He added that the Council may change its name to the High Independence Council or the High National Council.

The meeting comes after the Kurdish parliament, that had called for the vote on September 15, committed the Kurdish government on Saturday to follow through with the mandate granted by the vote.

The Iraqi government introduced a number of punitive measures against the Kurdistan Region on Wednesday, including closing Kurdistan’s land and air entry points to the outside world, something rejected by the Kurdish government and the parliament.

The neighbouring countries such as Turkey and Iran have also said that they are ready to help Baghdad carry out those measures. While the United States, an ally of the Kurdish Peshmerga in the war against ISIS, has said they do not recognize the referendum that lacks legitimacy but urged all sides to avoid confronation or further escalation of the situation.

President Barzani has said that Kurdistan Region is ready to enter talks with Baghdad, with the support of the international community, for two years during which the two sides can agree on borders and iron out other disagreements including on oil and natural resources, to be followed by an eventual conclusion– for the two nations to live as “two good neighbours.”

http://www.rudaw.net/english/kurdistan/011020171

[Anthea]

Political Leadership of Kurdistan - Iraq replaces High Referendum Council

FORGET the word Iraq:

Political Leadership of Kurdistan

The High Referendum Council that lobbied for the independence vote concluded its work following a meeting headed by President Masoud Barzani on Sunday and was replaced by the Political Leadership of Kurdistan - Iraq.

“In the meeting it was decided to set up the Political Leadership of Kurdistan - Iraq for post-referendum work,” said Khalil Ibrahim, an attendant of the meeting.

The Kurdistan Region Presidency issued a seven-point statement following its meeting on Sunday, stressing that, under no threat or pressure, the people of the Kurdistan Region withdraw from the decision it made on September 25.

The statement also stressed the dialogue path with Baghdad in the post-referendum phase.

The full text of the statement issued by the newly formed Political Leadership of Kurdistan:

First: In the meeting, gratitude was expressed to all the citizens of Kurdistan, national and religious components as well as the political parties for participating in the referendum process with unity, unanimity, in a peaceful and civil manner. The attendants of the meeting also congratulated the Kurdistani nation for this historic victory.

Second: The meeting also expressed gratitude to the High Referendum Council for its hard work, which concluded its work after the referendum was held.

Third: The meeting stressed the continuation of dialogue with Baghdad, the peaceful message and stance of the Kurdistani nation to Iraq and the neighbors. They also welcomed the call made by Ayatollah Saed Sistani for dialogue and will be responding to his call officially.

Forth: The meeting stressed preserving the stability of the Kurdistan Region and rejected any kind of threats and collective punishment of the people of Kurdistan and reiterated its support for the Kurdistan parliament and government responses to the quick measures Baghdad took against the people of Kurdistan.

Fifth: The meeting assures the international community that the referendum and peaceful voice of the Kurdistan Region have not posed nay threats to the peace and stability of the region at all and that the main purpose of the Kurdistan nation is peace and coexistence. The meeting asked the international community to honor the will and peaceful voice of the Kurdistan nation.

Sixth: The meeting, despite expressing gratitude and appreciation for the good role media outlets played in the referendum process, stressed that the role of local media outlets should be to serve the national and patriotic interests and that the meetings’ attendants all agreed that under law, limitation be imposed against attempts aimed at opposing the nation’s right and breaking out psychological war and violating the Kurdistan nation’s victory.

Seventh: The meeting considered the unanimity and single discourse of the political parties and forces as the key for protecting the victories of the Kurdistan nation and stressed Kurdistan nation’s decision was right and urged preserving the achievements. The meeting emphasized that the Kurdistan nation durably is determined on dialogue. Depending on peaceful mechanisms, no threat or pressure could force the Kurdistan nation to withdraw from the decision it made on September 25, 2017.

The PLK-I also, in a separate announcement also welcomed an “initiative” from Iraq’s top Shiite cleric Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani who called on Iraqi authorities to respect Kurdistan’s rights and urged officials in the Kurdistan Region to resolve the two sides outstanding problems.

“The call is an important step towards preserving our principles which are the source of protecting peace and social stability and eradicating violence and threats,” it added.

http://www.rudaw.net/english/kurdistan/011020174