UN representative: The Peshmerga has become a symbol of inspiration and determination

Deputy Special Representative of UN Secretary General in Iraq, Georgi-Posten, said that the democratic experience in Kurdistan is a unique and that it is the right of the Kurdish people to self-determination.

This came during a meeting with Hemin Hawrami, Head of KDP’s Foreign Relations Office where he emphasised on the framework of the United Nations in Kurdistan. He focused on relations between Erbil and Baghdad, and stressed that it is the right of the Kurdish people to decide their own destiny, stressing that the Iraqi government is the reason for the decision to hold the referendum because the government did not comply with the Constitution.

Mr Hawrami said the KDP is committed to a national referendum to seek to establish an independent state from Iraq largely due to the central government failing to obey its promises to the KRG such as distributing oil revenue and not abiding constitution.  Ongoing problems such as not releasing the Kurdistan Region's share of budget to pay their civil servants is part of the cause of an economic crisis currently crippling the Kurdish financial status.

From his part, Mr Posten highlighted the role of the Kurdish people to establish peace in the region and speaking on the Peshmerga, he praised their courage and said they have became a symbol in the world.