The Kurds are a large stateless nation within the geographical borders of a federal Iraq. The Kurdish nation is divided into four states. South Kurdistan, which borders Iraq, has tried to achieve its dream of independence several times throughout history. Their first attempt dates back to the Ottoman Empire. The Sevres Agreement in 1920 promised independence and a referendum to the Kurds after World War I, but it was canceled because of the Lausanne Agreement in 1923, which was the first betrayal of the Kurds and the Kurdish nation. The last attempt to achieve the dream of Kurdistan’s independence was in 2017, for which a referendum was held, which is one of the ways to achieve independence according to international law.
What was the importance of the referendum for the Kurdistan Region?”
On June 7, 2017, the High Referendum Council was formed under the chairmanship of President Barzani, which set September 25 as the date for the referendum. The parties that participated in the High Referendum Council; They were the Kurdistan Democratic Party, The Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, the Islamic Union, the Islamic Movement, the Zahmetkeshan Party, the Communist Party, the Socialist Party, and the communities. Ten days before the referendum on 15/9/2017, the Kurdistan Parliament approved the referendum by a majority vote. On September 25, 2017, President Barzani issued a historic decision in the Kurdistan Region, which was the decision of the Kurdish people’s referendum in which 93% of the Kurdish people voted for independence.
“US stances on Kurdistan Region Independence Issue”
The USA considers the secession of the Kurdistan Region from the Iraqi Republic as a security threat in the region. In addition, the United States believes that the withdrawal of states will lead to the growth of terrorist groups. The United States has another fear of secession: it will be the beginning of the secession of other states. Other identities and nations demanding independence will be an incentive for all other countries. Therefore, preventing Iranian influence and preventing the secession and independence of countries determines the priority of US interests as a power in the region.
“Summary”
- The issue of Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) independence is not a new issue. Because a lot of struggle has been made to achieve the dream of becoming a state in South Kurdistan.
- The decision to hold a referendum means the resumption of the struggle of the Kurdish nation, as the largest stateless nation in the Middle East. It was another step to introduce the Kurdish people and make a demand to the international community for independence.
- The Kurdistan Region, which has its own political entity, has all the characteristics of statehood. This has led to the implementation of the referendum decision.
- A number of factors prevented the United States from declaring the Kurdistan Region as an independent state in the international community, the most important of which was to protect the interests and security of the region in order to remain the only power and prevent the influence of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
- Although the referendum did not lead to the Kurdistan Region becoming an independent state, it was a historic achievement for the Kurds and South Kurdistan.
