The Kurdish leadership has not agreed to give up the independence of Kurdistan
Moscow. 15 Oct. INTERFAX.RU Leaders of the Iraqi Kurds has rejected the demand of Baghdad to cancel the results of the referendum on the independence of Iraqi Kurdistan, said the representative of the Kurdish President.
This requirement of the Central government of Iraq put forward as prerequisites for starting negotiations between the parties.
The representative of the President wrote on his Twitter page that the Kurdish leadership, including the President of Kurdistan, Massoud Barzani, in the meeting called on the Baghdad government for a “peaceful settlement” of the crisis.
They were strongly opposed to the threat of solving problems by force and said it was ready to defend the territory of Kurdistan in the event of an armed attack on her.
A referendum on Kurdistan’s independence was held in September, more than 90% of its members voted in favor of secession from Baghdad.
Part of Iraqi Kurdistan has four provinces — Dohuk, Hewler, Sulaymaniyah and Halabja. They are home to 5.5 million people. The total area of these provinces is about 40 thousand sq. km.
Iraqi Kurdistan under the agreement of 1970 enjoys a wide autonomy, however, in these areas strong idea of complete separation from Iraq.
The intention of the Iraqi Kurds to hold a referendum has criticized a foreign state. In particular, against the vote were made by Turkey, Iran, EU, US, UK.