Barzani Calls for Kurds to Prepare for Independence Referendum in Iraqi Kurdistan

On Tuesday, December 22, Kurdish media reported that Masoud Barzani, the president of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq and head of the Kurdistan Democratic Party, has called for preparations to hold a referendum for independence from Iraq. Barzani also urged political groups and movements in Iraq to reconsider the governing system and provide Kurds and other minorities with 'an opportunity for real participation.' Last September, Barzani stated that the desire for 'independence' faces challenges such as the war against the Islamic State group, Middle Eastern crises, and falling oil prices. He added that fulfilling this desire requires 'understanding' with Baghdad. The Rudaw news network, close to the presidency of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, reported that Barzani has asked the party's leadership council to engage in discussions with Kurdish political groups to agree on the mechanisms for conducting the independence referendum. According to this report, an important meeting with the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, led by Jalal Talabani, is expected to be held soon to discuss Barzani's request, but the Kurdistan Democratic Party does not accept holding a parliamentary session to address this issue until the presidency changes from the Goran Party. Recently, following tensions between the Kurdistan Democratic Party and the Goran Party, Nechirvan Barzani, the Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Region, dismissed Goran ministers from the government. In the final statement of its last meeting, the Kurdistan Democratic Party did not mention the referendum issue but emphasized that 'Iraq, in light of the existence of diverse viewpoints, does not have a clear horizon for overcoming crises, the consequences of the Middle Eastern situation, and the multi-faceted war against terrorism.' This statement called on Iraqi political movements to reconsider the 'current situation and governance mechanisms in a way that preserves the rights of minorities and guarantees the genuine participation of the Kurdistan Region in political, administrative, military, and financial matters.' The statement also urged Kurdish groups to organize the situation in the Kurdistan Region so that Masoud Barzani and the regional government can act according to events and possibilities. Meanwhile, the Kurdistan Region's election commission announced that any referendum requires at least six months of preparation, in addition to securing funding and providing necessary technical facilities and staff. Additionally, the Lebanese network Al-Mayadeen reported, citing a Russian source, that 'a senior Kurdish official has secretly discussed the issue of the independence referendum with Turkish officials and one of the Gulf Arab countries.' This source added that 'Turkey and the Gulf countries' agreement to hold the Kurdistan referendum is conditional on the Kurds' support for the establishment of a Sunni region in Iraq.' According to this source, 'a meeting of Kurdish party leaders will soon be held in Erbil to review a plan for holding the Kurdistan independence referendum in 2016.'