Cultural, social crises soar in Iraqi Kurdistan if separated: Iranian MP
madaresharghi A member of Majlis (Iran’s Parliament) National Security and Foreign Policy Committee said on Thursday that separation from Iraq will endanger Kurdistan Region’s economy and intensify the cultural and social crises in that region. ‘We believe that unified Iraq is stronger than a disintegrated Iraq and a separate Kurdistan,’ Valiollah Nanvakenari told IRNA on […]
A member of Majlis (Iran’s Parliament) National Security and Foreign Policy Committee said on Thursday that separation from Iraq will endanger Kurdistan Region’s economy and intensify the cultural and social crises in that region.
‘We believe that unified Iraq is stronger than a disintegrated Iraq and a separate Kurdistan,’ Valiollah Nanvakenari told IRNA on Thursday while commenting on the September 25 referendum held in the Iraqi Kurdistan Region, IRNA reported.
‘Separation from Iraq is economically dangerous for Kurdistan and will bring about unemployment and poverty for it,’ said the MP.
Referring to the diversity of population in the Iraqi Kurdistan, Nanvakenari said the region ‘does not just include Kurds. Kirkuk has Arab and Turkmen residents as well; thus the separation can lead to a civil war and fratricide.’
‘The Iraqi government should treat the issue firmly not forcibly but through diplomacy,’ said the MP.
He said that some of the Kurd parties disagreed with conducting the referendum.
Commenting on Turkey’s reaction following the referendum, Nanvakenari said, ‘If Turkey just blocks its oil pipeline to the Iraqi Kurdistan Region, no Kurdistan Region will exist anymore and residents of the Region will be hit by famine and poverty’.
Referring to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s next week trip to Iran, the MP said that one of the main points to be discussed between Iranian and Turkish officials will definitely be the issue of the Iraqi Kurdistan Region.
The Iraqi Kurdistan Region held a referendum on September 25 despite strong opposition of Baghdad.
While Iraq has lately been involved in counter-terrorism operations against the terrorist group of Daesh (ISIS) in its western areas, it is now facing new challenges over holding a referendum in its Kurdistan Region which is governed by the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), with the city of Erbil as its capital.
Efforts are underway both from inside and outside Iraq to resolve the existing problem between Baghdad and Erbil.
Iran and major European countries strongly opposed the decision to hold the referendum, which they described as destabilizing at a time when all sides are still fighting against Daesh terrorists.