Barzani: 'Iraq will not remain united' unless Kirkuk referendum held soon

Left: Arab residents of Kirkuk demonstarte against forced repatriation ahead of the Kirkuk referendum, which could turn the oil-rich city into Kurdish control.

Iraqi Kurdish leader Massoud Barzani reiterated his call for holding a referendum on the future of oil-rich Kirkuk swiftly, following the Constitution, and warned if the referendum is delayed long beyond the end of the year, Iraq cannot remain united.

In a recent interview with Kyodo News, Barzani, head of the Kurdistan regional government, said, "There's no way we delay the referendum one single day based on a political decision."

Asked about the consequence if the Iraqi government decides not to conduct the referendum within a few months, he said, "It is stated in the preamble of the Constitution that conditions for having Iraq remain united is commitment to this Constitution. If other parties do not stay committed to this Constitution, I think Iraq will not remain united."

Barzani, however, said Kurds would accept a delay of a few months in carrying out the referendum if it is due to technical reasons. If the committee established to implement Article 140 of the Constitution "thought they needed more time to be extended so that they can carry out (the voting), in that case, they have to ask the parliament of the Kurdistan to approve (a delay) for a limited period of time."

Read the rest at Kyodo News

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