TEHRAN – Nazem Dabbagh, a representative of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), says the Islamic Republic of Iran’s policy towards the KRG has always been based on good relation and ethnical, cultural and racial commonalities, and predicted the relation would remain good in the future.
Visiting Iran News pavilion in the 23rd Press and News Agencies Exhibition, Dabbagh reiterated that he has time and again said that Iran is more transparent and honest than other countries. He noted that from the day one, Iran has opposed the referendum in the region but it has also announced readiness to defend the rights of people in the region based on the Iraq Constitution and for the sake of unity in Iraq.
Dabbagh said that Iraqi Kurds will never forget Iran’s support against the atrocities of Saddam Regime as well as against the Daesh forces. He concluded that for Iraqi Kurds, Iran’s stand is different from others.
He went on to say that Iraqi Kurdistan referendum is a finished issue, adding that since Masoud Barzani has suspended the referendum, it is expected talks with the central government to begin soon.
He reiterated that if the Iraqi government sticks to its words and undertakings, people of the KRG will not pursue partition.
Dabbagh went on to say that the KRG officials did not mean partition by holding referendum, and it was just a sign of protest to the central government for injustice against Kurds. He reiterated that when a government does not fulfill its undertakings towards its people, it then should expect protests and reactions.
On the support of Israel from independence of Iraqi Kurdistan, he said it was just a propagation because there is no bond between Iraqi Kurdistan and Israel. He noted that most of the KRG’s officials were aware of the dangers of Israel’s support because several Arab countries like Egypt, Jordan or Qatar have embassies in Tel Aviv and such a support was aimed at creating rift.
On the future of leadership of the KRG, he said Masoud Bazani is a charismatic leader for Kurds in the region and it is not expected him to run for leadership after his term is over. He added that he would support a certain candidate or group which has not been revealed yet.
by : Mohammad lotfollahi