Daily Sabah logo

Politics
Diplomacy Legislation War On Terror EU Affairs Elections News Analysis
TÜRKİYE
Istanbul Education Investigations Minorities Expat Corner Diaspora
World
Mid-East Europe Americas Asia Pacific Africa Syrian Crisis Islamophobia
Business
Automotive Economy Energy Finance Tourism Tech Defense Transportation News Analysis
Lifestyle
Health Environment Travel Food Fashion Science Religion History Feature Expat Corner
Arts
Cinema Music Events Portrait Reviews Performing Arts
Sports
Football Basketball Motorsports Tennis
Opinion
Columns Op-Ed Reader's Corner Editorial
PHOTO GALLERY
JOBS ABOUT US RSS PRIVACY CONTACT US
© Turkuvaz Haberleşme ve Yayıncılık 2023

Daily Sabah logo

عربي
  • Politics
    • Diplomacy
    • Legislation
    • War On Terror
    • EU Affairs
    • Elections
    • News Analysis
  • TÜRKİYE
    • Istanbul
    • Education
    • Investigations
    • Minorities
    • Expat Corner
    • Diaspora
  • World
    • Mid-East
    • Europe
    • Americas
    • Asia Pacific
    • Africa
    • Syrian Crisis
    • Islamophobia
  • Business
    • Automotive
    • Economy
    • Energy
    • Finance
    • Tourism
    • Tech
    • Defense
    • Transportation
    • News Analysis
  • Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Environment
    • Travel
    • Food
    • Fashion
    • Science
    • Religion
    • History
    • Feature
    • Expat Corner
  • Arts
    • Cinema
    • Music
    • Events
    • Portrait
    • Reviews
    • Performing Arts
  • Sports
    • Football
    • Basketball
    • Motorsports
    • Tennis
  • Gallery
  • Opinion
    • Columns
    • Op-Ed
    • Reader's Corner
    • Editorial
  • TV

KRG referendum won’t solve region’s woes, Iraqi Shiite leader says

by Anadolu Agency

BAGHDAD Sep 02, 2017 - 12:00 am GMT+3
Ammar al-Hakim, a Shiite leader, speaks during Eid al-Adha prayers in Baghdad, Iraq, Saturday, Sept. 2, 2017. (AP Photo)
Ammar al-Hakim, a Shiite leader, speaks during Eid al-Adha prayers in Baghdad, Iraq, Saturday, Sept. 2, 2017. (AP Photo)
by Anadolu Agency Sep 02, 2017 12:00 am

The leader of Iraqi National Alliance, mainly composed of Shiite parties and the largest bloc in the country's parliament, has voiced disapproval of next month's planned independence referendum by northern Iraq's Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG).

"Whoever thinks secession [of the Kurdish region from the state of Iraq] will end the region's problems is deluded," Ammar al-Hakim said while addressing thousands of supporters in Baghdad on Saturday.

"A unified Iraq is the only guarantee of our freedom; it's our strength and our glory," he asserted.

Al-Hakim, whose alliance holds 180 of 328 seats in parliament, added: "Experience has shown that when Iraq is weak, the region is weak... A strong Iraq -- with good neighborly relations -- is in the interest of the entire region."

On Sept. 25, residents of northern Iraq's Kurdish region will take part in a popular referendum on whether to declare formal independence from the Iraqi state.

Officials in Baghdad, however, reject the planned poll, saying it could adversely impact the fight against the Daesh terrorist group, which despite a string of recent defeats still maintains a significant presence in Iraq.

The Iraqi government also claims that the poll would violate the country's 2005 constitution and would be "of no political or economic benefit to the region's Kurds".

Turkey, too, rejects the planned referendum, insisting that the region's stability is inextricably linked to the maintenance of Iraq's unity and territorial integrity. Iran, which also has a Kurdish minority in its western areas, opposes to the referendum.

Washington also voices concern that the referendum could serve as a "distraction" from other pressing regional issues, especially the fight against terrorism and efforts to bring stability to post-Daesh Iraq.

KRG's extended control in areas disputed with Arabs and Turkmens such as Kirkuk is another contentious issue.

  • shortlink copied
  • Last Update: Sep 02, 2017 4:23 pm
    RELATED TOPICS
    fight-against-terrorism DEUTSCHE-BANK US-LIBYA-RELATIONS
    KEYWORDS
    homepage
    The Daily Sabah Newsletter
    Keep up to date with what’s happening in Turkey, it’s region and the world.
    You can unsubscribe at any time. By signing up you are agreeing to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
    No Image
    Vying for gold: Best of World Athletics Championships
    PHOTOGALLERY
    • POLITICS
    • Diplomacy
    • Legislation
    • War On Terror
    • EU Affairs
    • News Analysis
    • TÜRKİYE
    • Istanbul
    • Education
    • Investigations
    • Minorities
    • Diaspora
    • World
    • Mid-East
    • Europe
    • Americas
    • Asia Pacific
    • Africa
    • Syrian Crisis
    • İslamophobia
    • Business
    • Automotive
    • Economy
    • Energy
    • Finance
    • Tourism
    • Tech
    • Defense
    • Transportation
    • News Analysis
    • Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Environment
    • Travel
    • Food
    • Fashion
    • Science
    • Religion
    • History
    • Feature
    • Expat Corner
    • Arts
    • Cinema
    • Music
    • Events
    • Portrait
    • Performing Arts
    • Reviews
    • Sports
    • Football
    • Basketball
    • Motorsports
    • Tennis
    • Opinion
    • Columns
    • Op-Ed
    • Reader's Corner
    • Editorial
    • Photo gallery
    • Jobs
    • privacy
    • about us
    • contact us
    • RSS
    © Turkuvaz Haberleşme ve Yayıncılık 2021