Egypt worried over Kurdish referendum: FM

CAIRO – 21 September 2017: The Egyptian Foreign Ministry expressed in a statement Thursday its worry over the Iraqi Kurdistan independence referendum that is going to take place on September 25.

Long-term consequences of holding the Kurdish referendum, impacting the security of Iraq and the Middle East, should be considered, the statement reads.

Egypt is keen on Iraq’s unity and stability. Much discussion should take place between Kurdistan and the federal government of Iraq, concerning controversial issues, in order to seek mediation that would keep the unity of Iraq, the statement reads.

A referendum on Kurdish independence is to be held in Kurdish-held areas. Iraq, the US, Iran, Turkey and Saudi Arabia have previously warned against holding the referendum on September 25.

On Tuesday, President of the Kurdistan region Masoud Barzani gave Baghdad two to three days to reach a bilateral agreement, the result of which may postpone the referendum, according to Rudaw.