Saudi newspaper: Kurdish referendum means pressure for economic gains



Al-Sharq al-Awsat newspaper said on Tuesday that the referendum scheduled for September 25 is a means of pressure by the outgoing Kurdistan Regional President Massoud Barzani to gain economic gains and negotiate with Baghdad from the position of force.


"Experts believe that the expected Kurdish referendum on independence is a means of pressure to renegotiate with Baghdad the Kurdish economic and political share rather than the beginning of the division of the country," the newspaper said in a report issued today, The referendum does not mean the declaration of independence, but the beginning of serious talks with Baghdad. "

The newspaper quoted Karim Pakzad of the Institute of International Relations and Strategy (IRIS) as saying that "Massoud Barzani wants to get comprehensive benefits" while there are still a lot of thorny issues, "noting that" Barzani demands a greater political and economic role and recognition of the right of the Kurds to exploit Oil and export from the north. "

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