(MENAFN- Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)) WASHINGTON, Oct 3 (KUNA) -- The United States condemned last week's Kurdish independence referendum vote as "without a doubt destabilizing" to Iraq's security.
The State department reiterated the US does not recognize the results of the Kurdish regional Government's referendum, which overwhelmingly supported Kurdish secession from Iraq.
The US joined nations in the region, especially in Iraq and Turkey, in voicing opposition to the vote amid concerns it would destroy the fragile national, territorial unity.
"We asked the government of Iraq to not hold that referendum because it would be destabilizing and we have certainly seen that to be the case.. You can just look at the headlines coming out and some of the threats that that country and the region has now faced, this is without a doubt destabilizing," State department spokesperson Heather Nauert said.
"We want a stable, unified, Democratic Iraq, and that has not changed, that is not going to change; we don't want any violence on any sides, whether it's in the north or whether it's with the -- with the government of Iraq. We feel that both parties -- the Iraqis and the Kurds should sit down and have a good discussion about this and what they want for the future of their country," she remarked.
Earlier, Iraqi lawmakers prevented Kurdish lawmakers in Baghdad from attending a Parliamentary session as punishment for their participation in the September 25 referendum.
Since then, the Iraqi government and parliament have taken harsh measures against the semi-autonomous region of Kurdistan, including a flight ban, as punishment for the vote. (end) hy.ibi
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