Kurdistan President: “We cannot continue with this approach and our attitude will not tolerate their insolent act

Kurdistan-Region President Massoud Barzani criticized leaders in Baghdad over crude oil exports and federal budget allocations as he delivered a resilient warning over an escalating row and Erbil are to retort with such response “they [Iraqi government] would never expect.”

 

“We cannot continue with this approach and our attitude will not tolerate their insolent act but if the Iraqi government keeps on acting as they do, they will receive a response they’ll never expect,” said Mr Barzani during a ceremony for the victims of remains of 93 victims of Saddam Hussein’s murderous 1980s Anfal Campaign against Iraq’s large Kurdish minority, at Erbil International Airport, at the presence of leading officials from the Kurdistan Regional Government and international diplomats.

 

Mr Barzani stressed that his concerns do not relate to oil or budgets rather about the protection of the Kurdish identity.

 

The Iraqi government blocked sales of Kurdish crude oil citing self-governing sales of Iraqi oil is against the constitution of Iraq; which led to augmented tensions after the federal government cut the funding from the federal budget for civil servants working for the KRG.

 

“Democracy, federalism and respect for diversity is not going forward but back, there is no reason to live together in Iraq anymore. They must not imagine that they would do an injustice to the Kurdish people because we have learned to live under an injustice for past decades.” Mr Barzani said.

 

Referring to the current disputes with Baghdad, Mr Barzani added, “this will not affect our freedom from anything else,” He also said, “if the Baghdad authorities consider using this as a pressure against Kurdistan, then I say it is not the logic of the threat but with all certainty that it will be our position in mind and will not bargain our freedom after so many years of sacrifice”

 

Barzani said he had spoken during this period with Kurdistan parties and said he advised they cannot continue living with this issue and under constant threat.