US urges Iraqi Kurdistan to call off independence vote

Iraqi Kurds fly Kurdish flags as they urge people to vote in a September 25 independence referendum in Arbil, capital of the autonomous Kurdish region in northern Iraq

The United States Friday urged Iraqi Kurdistan to call off plans for an independence referendum later this month, warning the vote was distracting from the fight against the Islamic State group.

Iraqi Kurdish lawmakers voted earlier Friday to hold the referendum on September 25, in the face of bitter opposition from Baghdad and protests from neighboring Iran and Turkey, which fear it will fan separatism among their own Kurdish minorities.

"The United States has repeatedly emphasized to the leaders of the Kurdistan Regional Government that the referendum is distracting from efforts to defeat ISIS and stabilize the liberated areas," the White House said a statement.

"Holding the referendum in disputed areas is particularly provocative and destabilizing," it added.

"We therefore call on the Kurdistan Regional Government to call off the referendum and enter into serious and sustained dialogue with Baghdad, which the United States has repeatedly indicated it is prepared to facilitate."

Regional president Massud Barzani, who set in motion the plans for a referendum, has kept open the option of postponing it under American pressure.

Washington opposes the referendum on the grounds that it would weaken Arab-Kurdish joint military operations, which have helped send the IS group into retreat in both Iraq and war-torn Syria.

The United States has proposed unspecified "alternatives" to the vote, to which Barzani has pledged to give a rapid response.

Comments

I don’t know Abba Kyari’s residence, says Borno Gov, Babagana Zulum

Zulum and Kyari Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, says he does not know the residence of embattled Deputy Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari, who was indicted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation for an alleged role in a $1.1m fraud allegedly committed by money laundering suspect, Abass Ramon, aka Hushpuppi, and four others. The governor also said he had never visited the suspended former Head of the Police Intelligence Response Team, who is an indigene of Borno State. Zulum issued the disclaimer via a Facebook post on Wednesday. The statement was titled, ‘Zulum and Shettima did not visit Abba Kyari, aide clarifies’. The statement signed by Zulum’s spokesman, Isa Gusau, noted that Zulum and Kyari had separately visited Shettima to wish him a quick recovery on June 30, 2021. “Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum and his predecessor, Senator Kashim Shettima, do not know the residence of embattled DCP Abba Kyari, let alone visit him, Zulum’s spokesman, Malam Isa Gusau ha...

Biden rallies NATO support ahead of confrontation with Putin.

BRUSSELS (AP) — President Joe Biden used his first appearance at a NATO summit since taking office to call on Russian President Vladimir Putin to step back from provocative actions targeting the U.S. and its allies on Monday. NATO leaders joined the United States in formally accusing Moscow and Beijing of malign actions. President Joe Biden speaks during a news conference at the NATO summit at NATO headquarters in Brussels, Monday, June 14, 2021. June 15, 2021 Biden's sharp words for Russia and his friendly interactions with NATO allies marked a sharp shift in tone from the past four years and highlighted the renewed U.S. commitment to the 30-country alliance that was frequently maligned by predecessor Donald Trump. Biden, wearing a NATO lapel pin, said that in his extensive talks with NATO leaders about his planned meeting with Putin on Wednesday, all were supportive of his plans to press the Russian leader to halt Russian-originated cyber attacks against the West, end...

Gulf States Nearing Alliance Against Iran - WSJ

US allies in the Persian Gulf are gradually approaching the possibility of participating in the fight against Iran, strengthening their position after continuous attacks that have undermined their economy and risk giving Tehran long-term influence over the Strait of Hormuz, The Wall Street Journal reports, writes UNN. Details Recent moves support America's ability to conduct airstrikes and open a new path to attack Tehran's finances. They have not yet gone so far as to openly deploy their armed forces in this fight—a line that Gulf rulers hoped not to cross, though pressure is mounting as Iran threatens to increase its influence in the energy-rich region. According to sources familiar with the decision, Saudi Arabia recently agreed to allow American troops to use its King Fahd Air Base on the western side of the Arabian Peninsula. The Kingdom stated before the start of hostilities that it would not allow its facilities or airspace to be used for attacks on Iran. This attempt t...

The PortalNews

Search This Blog