Vote on Iraqi Kurdistan's Independence 'Still Possible' in 2016

The representative of Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) to the United States Bayan Sami Abdul Rahman told Sputnik that the plebiscite on Iraqi Kurdistan's secession from Iraq could take place in the coming months, adding that the majority of residents would say "yes" to the independence.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — A referendum on the independence of the Iraqi Kurdistan region can still take place this year, Rahman said.

"There is no specific date. [Iraqi Kurdistan] President [Masoud] Barzani has said that if it’s up to him he would like the referendum to take place in 2016, and that’s still possible," Rahman stated.

In July 2014, Barzani announced his intention to hold a referendum on independence in the coming months. Organizing the referendum was delayed because the KRG became embroiled in the fight against Daesh.

Barzani reiterated in March the intent of the Kurdistan region to hold the referendum by October 2016.

"If it doesn’t happen in 2016, it’s not the end of the world. A referendum is a referendum," Rahman continued. "I have to say though there are many in Kurdistan who ask why do we need a referendum, when it’s obvious to everybody in Iraq, and the entire world that the majority would vote ‘yes’ to independence."

Talking on the territorial issues, Rahman also said that the northern Iraqi province of Kirkuk should one day join Iraqi Kurdistan.

"I believe that Kirkuk will one day officially be part of Kurdistan whether it’s through a referendum or some other process. I believe that will happen," she stressed. "Of course, as a Kurd I believe that Kirkuk is historically, linguistically and culturally part of Kurdistan."

The Kirkuk province is the Iraq’s region richest in oil. Part of the province as well as other large territories in northern and western Iraq, including the country’s second biggest city of Mosul, were seized in 2014 by the Islamic State terror group.

The Iraqi Kurdistan autonomous region in the country's north is a part of the historic Kurdish region, parts of which also belong to Syria, Iran and Turkey. The region has its own government, parliament and armed forces.

The Kurds are a Middle Eastern ethnic group with the population of some 30-35 million living mainly in Turkey, Iran, Iraq and Syria.