President Barzani defends Kurdish rights

In an interview with the Voice of Russia, President of Kurdistan Region Massoud Barzani said the Kurds will never be the cause of breakdown of federal divisions in Iraq and adamant that the Kurdistan Region will not tolerate any violations of Kurdish rights in the Kurdistan Region. President Barzani, who was on an official two-day visit to Moscow, proclaimed: “It is our right for an independent Kurdistan, this is normal, but we do not want to achieve this dream by force.” Speaking on Russia arming the federal army of Iraq, Mr Barzani stressed it has failed and will continue to fail, “I do not oppose the federal army which is essential for the defence of the country, Iraq using such weapons in internal conflicts is what worries us.” Mr Barzani said Iraqi federal government opposes contractual obligations between the Kurdistan Region and Russian oil company Gazprom to develop oil and gas reserves in the Kurdistan.  The president however reaffirmed that Gazprom will not abandon their venture in Kurdistan and is currently in process of submitting new contractual agreement.