Kurdistan Democratic Party MP: No Force can Cancel the Referendum

Kurdistan Democratic Party logo
Kurdistan Democratic Party logo
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Kurdistan Democratic Party MP: No Force can Cancel the Referendum

Kurdistan Democratic Party logo
Kurdistan Democratic Party logo

The right to self-determination is a fundamental principle of the United Nations and Iraqi federal government, that signed UN Charter, should respect this principle guaranteed by all international laws, said Kurdistan Democratic Party official.

MP Farsat Sofi of Barzani's Kurdistan Democratic Party, told Asharq Al-Awsat that the region had already clearly announced that the referendum does not mean immediate separation from Iraq, and stressed the need for political negotiations with Baghdad.

"Everyone remembers how people of Kosovo conducted a similar referendum in 1991, but they only exercised their right to decide their fate in 2008," Sofi stated.

The MP confirmed that Kurdistan Region Government (KRG) decided to freeze the results of the referendum due to current circumstances and the harsh reactions towards it. He did however stress that this does not mean the referendum is cancelled because it is not possible.

"There is no force in the world that can cancel the will of the three million people who voted for independence," Sofi added.

When asked about the regional government's recent decision to welcome Federal Court's ruling on the referendum, Sofi said that KRG is under enormous pressure from the Iraqi side which imposed harsh sanctions on Kurdish people.

The MP declared that taking into account the interest of its people, the Kurdish government repeatedly called for political negotiations to solve the problem, adding that this government is well aware that it can not eliminate the will of its people to satisfy the other side.

"The people who voted for independence are the ones to decide to cancel it through another referendum, which is not currently possible. Because of that, neither the Federal Court nor any other has the power to cancel on behalf of the people of Kurdistan," Sofi told Asharq Al-Awsat.

MP Sofi pointed that the federal government must respect the decision of the Federal Court, which decided to cancel all issues resulting from the referendum under its last decision. He explained that this includes cancellation of all arbitrary measures imposed by the government on Kurdistan whether it was closing the airports, or handing over of crossings and oil resources.

He called upon the government to immediately end this policy of "starving the Kurdish people".

"Health and education services are deteriorating, including other sanctions. Add to that the suffering of the employees who are the biggest part of the society especially that salaries are reduced and are not being paid," according to Sofi.

Asharq Al-Awsat asked Sofi about a solution for this crisis, and he indicated that there no other choice than entering political negotiations to resolve all the problems.

Sofi noted that the federal government banned ministers and international officials from visiting the Kurdistan region, adding that there is a serious escalation in the crisis, especially concerning the salaries and budget and displacement of civilians in disputed areas.

"Unfortunately, the federal government is working towards escalating the situation, although it is well aware that these actions will not undermine the will of our people to determine their fate," Sofi said.

The Kurdish MP concluded saying: "We will wait for the federal government to review its hostile policies towards the region. Previous regimes tried such measures and sanctions, and gained nothing from them. Its statement of good faith and response to the region's initiatives should accelerate the lifting of these sanctions and accept serious and constructive negotiations to solve all unresolved issues."



Gaza Civil Defense Says Israeli Forces Kill 18

A Palestinian mourns a relative killed in a strike on a school-turned-shelter in northern Gaza - AFP
A Palestinian mourns a relative killed in a strike on a school-turned-shelter in northern Gaza - AFP
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Gaza Civil Defense Says Israeli Forces Kill 18

A Palestinian mourns a relative killed in a strike on a school-turned-shelter in northern Gaza - AFP
A Palestinian mourns a relative killed in a strike on a school-turned-shelter in northern Gaza - AFP

Gaza's civil defense agency said Israeli forces killed 18 people on Friday, including 10 who were waiting for aid in the south of the war-ravaged territory.

The fresh deaths came as the United Nations said nearly 800 people had been killed trying to access food in Gaza since late May, when Israel began easing a more than two-month total blockade on supplies.

UN rights office spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani said most of the deaths occurred near facilities operated by the US- and Israel-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, AFP reported.

"We've recorded now 798 killings, including 615 in the vicinity of the GHF sites," from the time the group's operations began in late May until July 7, Shamdasani said Friday.

An officially private effort, GHF operations have been marred by chaotic scenes and frequent reports of Israeli forces firing on people waiting to collect rations.

The UN and major aid groups have refused to cooperate with the foundation over concerns it was designed to cater to Israeli military objectives and violates basic humanitarian principles.

Responding to the UN's figures, Israel's military said it had worked to minimize "possible friction between the population and the army forces as much as possible".

"Following incidents in which harm to civilians who arrived at distribution facilities was reported, thorough examinations were conducted... and instructions were issued to forces in the field following lessons learned," it added.

Gaza civil defense official Mohammed al-Mughayyir said that 10 people were shot by Israeli forces on Friday while waiting for supplies in the Al-Shakoush area northwest of Rafah, where there are regular reports of deadly fire on aid seekers.

- 'Extremely difficult' -

The civil defense reported six more people killed in four separate Israeli airstrikes in the area of Khan Yunis, in the south of the territory.

Two drone strikes around Gaza City in the north killed two more people, civil defense spokesman Mahmud Bassal told AFP.

There was no immediate comment on the latest strikes from the Israeli military, which has recently expanded its operations across Gaza.

Media restrictions in Gaza and difficulties in accessing many areas mean AFP is unable to independently verify the tolls and details provided by the civil defense agency and other parties.

A Palestinian speaking to AFP from southern Gaza on condition of anonymity reported ongoing attacks and widespread devastation, with Israeli tanks seen near Khan Yunis.

"The situation remains extremely difficult in the area -- intense gunfire, intermittent airstrikes, artillery shelling, and ongoing bulldozing and destruction of displacement camps and agricultural land to the south, west and north of Al-Maslakh," an area to Khan Yunis's south, said the witness.

Israel's military said in a statement that its soldiers were operating in the area, dismantling "terrorist infrastructure sites, both above and below ground", and seizing "weapons and military equipment".

The civil defense also reported on Friday five people killed in an Israeli strike the previous night on a school sheltering displaced Palestinians in Jabalia al-Nazla, in northern Gaza.

Nearly all of Gaza's population has been displaced at least once during the more than 21-month war, which has created dire humanitarian conditions for the more than two million people living there.

Many have sought shelter in school buildings, but these have repeatedly come under Israeli attack, with the military often saying they were targeting Hamas militants hiding among civilians.