Iraqi Kurdistan Not to Abandon Idea of Independence Referendum – Kurdish Party

Iraqi Kurdistan will not turn down the idea of holding a referendum on independence, which will be held once the region is safe from the threat of Daesh terrorists, Xosawi Bebekir, a representative of the Kurdistan Democratic Party, said on Tuesday.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — In March, Barzani had reiterated the intent of the Kurdish region to hold the referendum by October 2016.

"As for the issue of the Kurdish independence, Kurds are not going to abandon the idea of holding a referendum. The referendum will be held, but as was said, now the top priority is providing security of Kurdistan and the removal of Daesh further. Without safety guarantees, it is hard to hold a referendum," Bebekir told reporters.

He added that the shape of Kurdistan after the referendum was another acute issue to be considered.

In July 2014, President of Iraqi Kurdistan Masoud Barzani announced his intention to hold a referendum on independence in the coming months. Organizing the referendum was delayed because the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) became embroiled in the fight against Daesh.