Iraqi official: Referendum’s results not binding to Baghdad

CAIRO – 26 September 2017: The Iraqi government spokesperson Saad al- Hudithi said that the Iraqi government is following legal and legitimate processes in dealing with Kurdistan’s independence referendum which took place on Monday.

Hudithi told Egypt Today that “the referendum’s results are not binding to the Baghdad government.”

“Military action against Kurdistan’s government is on the table,” Hudithi warned, hinting at a possible military response against the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG).

Hudithi praised Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and the Arab League for their rejection of the referendum and their support of Baghdad’s government.

He said that the aforementioned countries expressed their rejection of the referendum of Kurdistan, adding that Baghdad intensified its contacts with regional and international countries to control the oil deals and border issues.

“The Iraqi Federal Court is the only legitimate authority that can amend and expand on constitutional articles, so only they can make binding verdicts,” Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi said on Tuesday.

In his speech during a visit to the army’s joint operations headquarters, Abadi stressed that “the referendum defies the Constitution of Iraq.”

Egypt expressed its deep concern over possible negative repercussions that may arise from holding Kurdistan’s independence referendum, said a Tuesday statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The statement said, “Egypt stressed the importance that all parties exercise restraint and not take any unilateral measures that might further complicate the situation, lead to destabilizing Iraq, and fuel an atmosphere of chaos and tension in the region.”

Egypt has also highlighted the importance of Iraqi people’s unity and cohesion in order to successfully combat terrorism and liberate Iraqi cities, which were formerly controlled by the Islamic State terrorist group.

The statement also affirmed the “importance of pushing forward constructive dialogue as the basis to reach a comprehensive and satisfactory settlement on the outstanding issues between Baghdad and Erbil.”

It also added that Egypt adheres to the unity of Iraq and its territorial integrity.

Egypt, as well as many other countries, has clearly rejected the referendum carried out by millions of Kurds in northern Iraq on Monday.

International escalation against the referendum, which Kurdistan insists on conducting, has been mounting over the past few weeks. Neighboring countries have warned of possible military intervention and further boycotts if the referendum were to proceed.