Knowing Kurdistan: 13 Days

CAIRO- 12 September 2017:High level meetings are taking place on Tuesday as political rivals, the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and Gorran are meeting alongside their mutual ally, the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), to resolve deep-rooted issues in the run up to the independence referendum on September 25, and the reconvening of parliament on Thursday. The Kurdish parliament has been closed since October 2015 amidst a leadership struggle.


A Kurdish man holds a kurdish flag inside the Council of the Governor of Kirkuk in Kirkuk, Iraq August 29, 2017. REUTERS/Ako Rasheed

“Today’s meeting is of immense importance since it will resolve significant issues,” said Arif Rushdi, advisor to KDP’s politburo, to BasNews.

Although the parties need to hash-out their many differences in the wake of two years of political stagnation, top of the agenda is the reactivation of parliament. Although the majority of Kurdish parties consented to the recall of parliament, Gorran and the Kurdistan Islamic Group (Komal) were not party to the decision.

Nevertheless, “Under all circumstances, we are going to hold the session on Thursday,” said KDP MP Dana Sofi to Rudaw.

The Iraqi parliament voted on Tuesday

to reject the Iraqi Kurdish independence referendum, authorizing Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi to take necessary measures to maintain Iraq’s unity.

“Kurdish lawmakers walked out of the session but the decision to reject the referendum was passed by a majority,” Mohammed al-Karbouli told Reuters.


Kirkuk Governor Najmuddin Kareem (L) attends the referendum in Kirkuk, Iraq August 29, 2017. REUTERS/Ako Rasheed

In another display of international pressure, President Masoud Barzani met with Special Representative and Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Iraq, Jan Kubis, on Monday, to discuss the independence referendum and the general security situation in Iraq.

“The Special Representative reaffirmed the position of the United Nations towards the referendum and called for renewed efforts towards an understanding between Erbil and Baghdad to resolve all outstanding issues,” said the UN in a statement on its official Facebook page.

Regardless, Barzani has continually reiterated that the referendum is not a unilateral action, and that it has been taken by the people of Kurdistan. The independence referendum will “go ahead as planned,” read a Kurdish presidential statement.

In a collective moment of patriotism, Monday marked the 56th anniversary of the Great September Revolution.

On September 11, 1961, the Great September Revolution was declared under the leadership of Mullah Mustafa Barzani, which continued until 1970.

With political proficiency, Barzani adopted this patriotic message to advance the campaign for independence.

“The unjust bloodshed of the sons of our nation should not go to waste,” Barzani declared, “The world should hear the freedom-thirsty voice of Kurdistan.”

"The voice of the martyred and their relatives will turn to ‘Yes for Independence,’ and on September 25 will knock at the door of the entire world's consciousness."

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