Iraqi Kurdistan independence referendum

Turkey warned on Aug. 16 that plans of the leadership in Iraq's autonomous Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) to hold a referendum on independence could lead to civil war, in Ankara's strongest warning yet against next month's poll.

Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) leader Masoud Barzani will push for a Sept. 25 statehood referendum for the autonomous region in northern Iraq until the last minute, but may withdraw from the move if Baghdad and Washington meet its demands, a Turkmen leader has said. 

These days there is a single item on the agenda of the Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) in northern Iraq: The Sept. 25 independence referendum. KRG President Masoud Barzani has started a public relations campaign. On the one hand, he is making visits, and on the other, he is frequently giving interviews, cultivating the "no retreat from the referendum" perception.

Turkey reiterated its opposition to an independence referendum in the Kurdish region of northern Iraq on July 19, following media reports that Ankara had softened its stance.      

Last month, the Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) announced it would hold a referendum on independence from Baghdad on Sept. 25.

Iraq's autonomous Kurdish region said on Feb. 17 that it would halt independent oil sales if Baghdad pays its employees, but cast doubt on the federal government's ability to implement the proposal.

Two of Turkey's top officials traveled to Baghdad on Dec. 10 in a bid to defuse a diplomatic standoff with the Iraqi government over the deployment of Turkish troops in northern Iraq, Prime Minister Ahmet Davuto?lu announced during a meeting with visiting Iraqi Kurdish leader Masoud Barzani on Dec. 9.

The unity of Iraq "is voluntary and not compulsory," the head of the country's semi-autonomous Kurdish region said on May 6, while stressing the Kurds had no immediate plans to break away from the central government in Baghdad.
   

Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) President Masoud Barzani will meet with President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden during his visit to Washington next week, according to the U.S. State Department.

Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu has extended an invitation to Iraqi Kurdish leader Masoud Barzani to visit Turkey.

Davutoğlu spoke on the phone with Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi and Iraqi Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) leader Barzani separately on late Nov. 26 about the latest security situation in Kirkuk.