(MENAFN- Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)) WASHINGTON, Sept 15 (KUNA) -- The White House called for Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) to call off a proposed referendum on independence and "enter into serious and sustained dialogue with Baghdad." "The US does not support the KRG's intention to hold a referendum later this month. The US has repeatedly emphasized to the leaders of the KRG that the referendum is distracting from efforts to defeat ISI and stabilize the liberated areas," the White House said in a statement late Friday.
The referendum is scheduled to take place on September 25 across Iraq's northern region of Kurdistan in the provinces of Dahuk, Irbil and Sulaymaniya as well as disputed areas outside Kurdistan such as Kirkuk, Makhmour, Khanaqin and Sinjar. The White House called the measure distracting from efforts to defeat the so-called Islamic State (IS) and stabilize the liberated areas, saying: "Holding the referendum in disputed areas is particularly provocative and destabilizing." Instead, the US urged the KRG to enter into "serious and sustained dialogue with Baghdad which the US has repeatedly indicated it is prepared to facilitate," according to the statement.
Earlier, the Kurdish parliament voted for the referendum in the face of strong regional and international opposition.
Iraq's central government has called it unconstitutional while neighboring Turkey and Iran, which have Kurdish minorities, stated their firm opposition to it, fearing it would further destabilize the region. (end) hy.gb
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