BAGHDAD, Iraq—Iraq’s former Prime Minister Nouri Maliki has said the anticipated Kurdish referendum for independence will harm the long-term interests of both Iraq and Kurdistan due to “the existing circumstances in the region.”
Speaking to Rudaw on Monday the leader of Iraq’s ruling Dawa Party called the referendum “ill-timed” and hoped for the Kurdish leaders will abandon the vote.
“I don’t believe it is in the best interest of the Kurdish people,” Maliki said referring to the public vote cautiously planned before next November.
“It is in the interest of Kurdistan to stay with Iraq as it is in the interest of Iraq that the Kurdistan Region remains,” he added.
Maliki said the country’s constitution should regulate the relations between Baghdad and the Kurdistan Region and was hopeful that “consensus could be reached.”
“I think the move is premature and hopefully the Kurdish leaders will not go through with it,” he added.
Relations between Erbil and Baghdad deteriorated during Maliki’s last years in office with the Iraqi government freezing Kurdish share of national budget in early 2014.
Maliki was forced out of office after an inconclusive election and Islamic States’ (ISIS) takeover of one-third of Iraq on his watch.
Speaking to Rudaw on Monday the leader of Iraq’s ruling Dawa Party called the referendum “ill-timed” and hoped for the Kurdish leaders will abandon the vote.
“I don’t believe it is in the best interest of the Kurdish people,” Maliki said referring to the public vote cautiously planned before next November.
“It is in the interest of Kurdistan to stay with Iraq as it is in the interest of Iraq that the Kurdistan Region remains,” he added.
Maliki said the country’s constitution should regulate the relations between Baghdad and the Kurdistan Region and was hopeful that “consensus could be reached.”
“I think the move is premature and hopefully the Kurdish leaders will not go through with it,” he added.
Relations between Erbil and Baghdad deteriorated during Maliki’s last years in office with the Iraqi government freezing Kurdish share of national budget in early 2014.
Maliki was forced out of office after an inconclusive election and Islamic States’ (ISIS) takeover of one-third of Iraq on his watch.
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