Monday, September 25, 2017

What Has Been The Middle East's Reaction To The Referendum In Iraqi Kurdistan?



Daily News (Egypt): Regional threats mount as Kurdistan holds referendum

Iraq, Turkey aim at preventing Kurdistan’s oil exports

Thousands of Kurds casted their votes on Monday in a referendum aimed at separating Iraqi Kurdistan from Iraq. According to the Kurdistan government, there were 12,000 polling stations, including in disputed areas.

In a press conference Monday, Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Region Nechirvan Barzani said, “The referendum is not a threat to Turkey or any neighbouring countries, and it is a peaceful and democratic process.”

But in light of previous international and regional opposition to the referendum, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan warned on Monday that his country might take a military action in Northern Iraq if the referendum resulted in threatening Turkey. He also announced closing the crossings to prevent Kurdistan from exporting oil.

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WNU Editor: The U.S. is trying to satisfy all sides .... Refusing to Back Kurdish Independence, White House Hopes for 'Unified Iraq' (Haaretz). The Gulf states have also been low key.

Reactions From The Middle East On The Referendum In Iraqi Kurdistan

Iraq’s Kurds vote on independence, raising regional fears -- AP
Kirkuk Kurds hail independence vote, but Arabs, Turkmen wary -- The Times of Israel
Iraq, Turkey Threaten Kurdistan's Oil Boom After Controversial Independence Vote -- Wall Street Journal

Iraqi Reaction

Iraq parliament demands troops go to areas disputed with Kurds. -- AFP
Baghdad Asks World To Stop Buying Kurdish Oil -- OilPrice.com
Iraqi MP: Like Israel, Kurdistan will cause years of war -- Rudaw
Iraq takes control of borders ahead of Kurdish independence vote -- Middle East Monitor

Syrian Reaction

Damascus rejects Iraqi Kurdish independence referendum -- Reuters
Syria Says Recognizes Only A Unified Iraq -- Tasnim News Agency

Turkish Reaction

Erdogan threatens military action over Iraqi Kurdish referendum -- The Times of Israel
Turkey tightens border as Kurds vote in independence ballot -- The Australian
Turkey Warns Iraq Kurds It Can 'Close the Valves' on Oil Exports -- Bloomberg
Turkey's Erdogan threatens to cut off oil flow from Iraq's Kurdish area over referendum -- Reuters
Turkey will only make contact with Baghdad government in Iraq from now on: PM Yıldırım -- Daily Sabah
Turkey's Erdogan to discuss response to Iraqi referendum during Iran visit: PM -- Reuters

Iranian Reaction

Iran closes border with Iraqi Kurdistan -- Arab News
Iran halts flights to Kurdish region before referendum -- Al Jazeera
Iranian leaders are quietly panicking over the Kurdish referendum -- Michael Rubin, Washington Examiner
As Iraqi Kurds Go to the Polls, Iran Warns Against 'Separatist Secession' -- Sputnik International

Israeli Reaction

Netanyahu muzzles Israeli officials on Kurdish referendum -- Reuters
As Israel Backs Kurdish Independence, Palestinians May Reap the Benefit -- Haaretz

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