PUK Representative in Iran: Iraqi Kurdistan Region’s Independence Referendum Buried in History

“The issue of referendum has been buried in history. When we announced that we are committed to the Iraqi constitution and the country’s unity, the referendum or any other issue which will lead to independence or separation has automatically been foiled,” Dabbaq was quoted as saying by the Iranian media on Monday.

Elsewhere, he referred to the Sunday visit by Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government Nechirvan Barzani and his accompanying delegation to Tehran and his meetings with the high-ranking Iranian officials, and said, “During the meetings, strengthening relations was emphasized and Iran underlined its willingness to mediate between Erbil and Baghdad, and the Kurdish delegation stressed safeguarding Iraq’s unity and territories and obedience to the constitution and its willingness for talks to resolve all problems.”

His remarks came one day after Iranian President Hassan Rouhani underlined the necessity for Iraq’s Kurdish community to respect the country’s Constitution and territorial integrity.

“All ethnic groups in the regional states, including the Iraqi Kurds, should attain their legitimate and legal rights within the framework of the Constitution and territorial integrity of their countries,” President Rouhani said in a meeting with Nechirvan Barzani and his accompanying delegation in Tehran on Sunday.

Barzani, for his part, appreciated Iran for its assistance to Iraq in fighting terrorist groups, and said, “We have always wanted a united and integrated Iraq and believe that all sides should be committed to the Constitution and seek solution to the problems within the framework of the Constitution.”

In relevant remarks earlier this month, Iranian Ambassador to Iraq Iraj Masjedi underlined his country’s efforts to resolve problems between the government in Baghdad and the officials of the Iraqi Kurdistan region after the latter held an independence referendum.

“Despite the challenge that we experienced with the Kurds during the recent events in Kurdistan, our relations are highly serious, good and tight,” Masjedi said, addressing a conference in Tehran.

He referred to the September 25 independence referendum in the Iraqi Kurdistan region, and said that “Iran tries to help Baghdad-Erbil relations to resolve the problem” in a way that benefits both sides.