Barzani Calls on US to Understand Determination of People of Kurdistan



Kurdistan Region's President Masoud Barzani on Thursday urged the US to understand the determination of the people of Kurdistan for holding the independence referendum.


Barzani told a visiting delegation of senior US commanders that in the same way that the political leadership of Kurdistan understands the US concerns and comments over the due referendum in Kurdistan, it also expects the US to realize the concern and the determination of the people of Kurdistan for running the vote.


Barzani also reassured the delegation that the vote will not affect the war against terrorism as Kurdistan will remain firm on confronting terror as one of its priorities and will continue coordinating with Iraqi army and the coalition forces in this regard.


The US delegation, led by Joseph Votel the Commander of the US Central Command, highlighted the political developments and the change in the balance of power in the region.


Gen. Votel also explained in details to Barzani the US political and military strategies towards the Middle East and the Western Asia for the current phase and the future.
The US delegation also included US Ambassador to Baghdad Douglas A. Silliman, the Commanding General, Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve Lieutenant General Stephen J. Townsend, US Consul General Ken Gross and several US military advisors.


In the meeting, Gen. Votel also commended the role of Kurdistan Peshmerga forces in defeating the Islamic State (IS) and their contribution to the efforts to the major operation to free Mosul.


Commenting on the meetings between Baghdad officials and the senior referendum delegation from Kurdistan, Gen. Votel hoped the talks can bring about a solution to reinforce the stability in the area.


The delegation, which includes representatives from political, ethnic and religious components of Kurdistan, arrived in Baghdad to shore up support for running the referendum on 25th September this year.

LINK