Iran, Iraq, Turkey warn Kurds against referendum

Iran, Iraq and Turkey have voiced concerns over a planned secession referendum in the northern Iraqi Kurdistan region, warning that the unconstitutional vote could fan the flames of tensions in the Middle East.

According to Press TV, Foreign ministers of Iran, Iraq and Turkey, namely Mohammad Javad Zarif, Ibrahim al-Ja’afari and Mevlut Cavusoglu made the remarks in a joint statement issued Thursday following a meeting on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly session in New York.

The statement expressed opposition to the planned referendum, warning that the move will jeopardize Iraq’s campaign against Daesh Takfiri terrorists and will lead to new conflicts across the already troubled region.

The three neighboring states also called on the Iraqi Kurdish leaders to refrain from holding the vote and underlined the need for dialog between Baghdad and Arbil to resolve the issue.

The statement also called for efforts to protect Iraq’s sovereignty and national unity.

On Wednesday, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi warned against catastrophic ramifications of a planned independence referendum in the country’s northern Kurdistan region, calling for dialog to resolve the issue.

“This referendum is against the constitution, it divides the country, and it weakens the country. I call for dialog on the unity of Iraq, we are in one country,” Abadi said during a speech in Baghdad on Wednesday.

“Now if people’s lives are dependent on the borders, we can deal with this through negotiations. Let there be dialog. But for one side and with this use of force, this will open the door for bloodshed,” he added.

Baghdad has condemned the plebiscite as unconstitutional, repeatedly calling on the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) to suspend the vote, which is planned to be held in three provinces that make up their region, as well as in disputed areas that are controlled by Kurdish forces but claimed by Baghdad, including the oil-rich Kirkuk Province.

SS