Responding to reports that Erbil might agree to postpone the historic vote under promises from Baghdad to pay Peshmerga salaries or implement Article 140 of the constitution that addresses the issues of disputed areas, President Masoud Barzani warned such undertakings from Iraq would not signify lasting change in the relationship between the Region and the central government.
“After four months or so, they will reverse the situation to what it was,” Barzani told a meeting of civil society organizations and unions. “The fact is there is no trust left.”
The only way Kurdistan could agree to postpone the vote is if there is a “better alternative, better guarantees,” he said, adding that such a guarantee does not exist at the present time.
Barzani made his comments after Kurdistan’s delegation completed a week of meetings in the Iraqi capital, the purpose of which was to discuss future relations between Erbil and Baghdad as neighbours, he said.
As evidence of the broken trust between the two capitals, the delegation took with them a list of 55 articles of the Iraqi constitution they claim have been violated by Baghdad.
Because of its own failures to respect the Iraqi constitution, Baghdad cannot now use that document as an excuse to say Kurdistan has no right to hold a referendum, Barzani said.
“What constitutional article gave you the right to cut the bread of Kurdistan? What constitutional article gave you the right to violate and ignore Article 140?” he asked, noting that Baghdad has denied the Peshmerga their share of the budget but parliament took just hours to pass a law bringing the Hashd al-Shaabi under government purview and financial backing.
“It is a shame for them to mention the constitution,” said Barzani, because “every step they took was in violation of the constitution.”
Assuaging fears that neighbouring states could close their borders with Kurdistan if the referendum goes ahead, Barzani said the era of the 1960s and 1970s is over and today neighbours have great interests in Kurdistan. He predicted borders, if closed at all, would be shut for just a matter of days.
On worldwide reaction to the referendum, no country will automatically pave the way for the vote, but neither have they opposed it, Barzani said.
In his 2015 visit to the US, Barzani said he discussed the referendum with then President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden.
Obama said he understands Kurdistan’s suffering and “I respect your aspirations for independence” while stressing that the priority remains the fight against ISIS, Barzani recounted.
Biden was more upfront, reportedly telling Barzani, “I am sure during my and your lifetime, we will see the independence of Kurdistan.”
The majority of global reaction, including from the US, has been to request Erbil to postpone the vote until after Iraqi elections, which should take place in 2018.
Barzani said Kurdistan cannot wait.
“Our conviction is that after the war against ISIS, the interest, the opportunity will also disappear,” he said. “We are a little late, too. We, the people of Kurdistan, should have made this decision earlier.”
“I wish we did it two years ago. It would have been much easier.”
.jpg&w=3840&q=75)
