"The Kurdistan Regional Government was successful in reforging relations with neighbors and foreign countries," Masoud Barzani said at a large KDP campaign rally in Erbil.
As then-president of the Kurdistan Region, Barzani championed the referendum.
"Last year today, you decided on your fate and recorded history. I am thankful for your resilience and loyalty," Barzani said.
"I am kissing the fingers you inked on that day.”
Relations between Erbil and Baghdad soured after the September 25 vote with the central government taking harsh measures including imposing an international flight ban and sending the Iraqi army into the disputed areas.
Neighbours Turkey and Iran opposed the referendum and the international community said the timing was wrong.
"You must have been asked; why did you make this decision, what are you grievances. Instead of coming to compensate the victims of Anfal and gas attacks, they imposed punitive measures. It was not a sin for people to say 'yes' I want to live in this way. They must have resorted to dialogue," he said, criticizing the international condemnation of the vote.
The KRG offered to freeze the result of the referendum as a gesture of “good will” and to resume talks with Baghdad, but the Iraqi government called for total dissolution.
Barzani did not extend his term of president when it expired at the end of October 2017. The office of the president was suspended and the duties distributed among the parliament, judiciary, and prime minister. He remains an influential figure as head of the KDP.
No election for a new president is currently scheduled. Voters will go to the polls on September 30 to elect a new parliament.
