Abu al-Gheit regrets Iraqi Kurdish referendum

CAIRO – 26 September 2017: Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Abu al-Gheit regretted in a statement Tuesday holding the Iraqi Kurdish independence referendum, “despite all the Arab and international efforts that has been made to prevent it.”

In his statement, Abu al-Gheit assured that it’s still possible “to contain and control the implications of this procedure [referendum], if all of the involved parties committed to wisdom and responsibility.”

The statement also referred to the resolution adopted by the League of Arab on September 12, regarding support the unity, sovereignty and independence of Iraq, along with the necessity of respecting its constitution.

Abu al-Gheit called all Arab parties within Iraq for a national comprehensive dialogue with national and Arabian guarantees in order to avoid any possible clash that might put Iraq’s stability and security at risk.

On Monday, Iraqi Kurds voted for an independence referendum, seeking more international pressure and support for their attempts to secede from Iraq, and despite not being internationally welcomed, Kurds were nevertheless determined on carrying out the referendum.