Iraq’s Vice Presidents, Osama Al-Nujaifi and Iyad Allawi, yesterday called on Kurdish President Massoud Barzani to cancel the referendum scheduled for 25 September to “spare the country new conflicts”.
Al-Nujaifi said in a statement that “the referendum constitutes a clear violation of the constitution”, adding that the inclusion of Kirkuk and the rest of the disputed areas to the referendum is unconstitutional and illegal and constitutes a clear attack on the rights of Arabs and Turkmen in the area.
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He called on the Arabs and Turkmen in the disputed areas not to participate in it, adding that he rejects any outcome of the referendum.
Dialogue and discussing problems and obstacles in a transparent manner are the only ways to achieve unity in Iraq and spare the country any new conflicts.
Earlier in the day, the Iraqi Parliament voted in favour of rejecting the outcome of the referendum and mandated Prime Minister Haider Al-Abadi to take all measures that preserve the country’s unity.
The referendum is non-binding.
Read: Kurd poll won’t solve region’s woes: Iraqi Shia leader