President Barzani to the masses of Hawler: We sacrifice our lives for your dignity and your sovereignty and the Referendum was Misinterpreted

ARK News: Kurdish prominent leader and former president of Kurdistan Region, Masoud Barzani, during the largest public carnival of the Kurdistan Democratic Party, to support the establishment of the Party number 183 which organized in Hawler promised on Tuesday that the dignity of citizens should not be compromised or threatened, and that they will sacrifice their spirit in order to preserve the dignity of citizens, and reiterated that independence and self-determination is a natural right reserved for all people, but the Kurd’s move in last year was misinterpreted.

“It is a legitimate and natural right of all the people to determine their own fate, as you did last year on this day,” Barzani said at an election rally of his Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) in Erbil.

“However, unfortunately, it was misinterpreted. They should have asked you why did you make that decision? What was your problem? Instead of compensating the affected people of the Anfal [campaign], [Halabja] chemical attack, and displacements, they tried more retaliation,” the Kurdish leader told the huge crowd.

He reminded that the Kurdish leadership had several times made it clear that independence would not be declared the day after the referendum, and that it was a move to show the world what the people, not the political parties, want.

Barzani stated that the Iraqi government was expected to resolve the disputes between Erbil and Baghdad via peaceful dialogues and not violence.

“We still believe that it was not a bid against the constitution… Indeed, would have not resorted to the referendum if the constitution was fully implemented.”

“Fire cannot solve the problem,” Barzani reasserted. “In the past, now, and in the future, we will
continue insisting on peaceful negotiations to find a solution to the disputes.”

As for the displaced who took refuge from Kurdistan, President Barzani stressed that “they are our brothers and they are owners of the house and may not prejudice them and dignity, and demanded the masses of Kurdistan and the people of Hawler to show all respect and appreciation to those who sought refuge in Kurdistan for security and stability.”

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