UN not taking side of Erbil or Baghdad on referendum, land disputes
UNITED NATIONS — Following the United Nations Secretary-General’s “productive visit” to Iraq and the Kurdistan Region last week, his deputy spokesperson emphasized a “national dialogue” to resolve territorial disputes, adding that the United Nations Mission to Iraq (UNAMI) has not taken the side of Baghdad or Erbil regarding the raising of the Kurdistan flag in Kirkuk, and a referendum on self-determination.
"No I don't think that it's fair,” Farhan Haq, the deputy spokesman for the UN Secretary-General said in an answer to Rudaw correspondent Majeed Gly’s question on whether UNAMI had taken the side of Baghdad.
“The UN Mission in Iraq, UNAMI, is non-partisan on these issues,” Haq said. “We do believe as I've just pointed out that they need to be addressed through national dialogue. At the same time, we are aware of the impact and importance of different symbols. And it is in that context that the UN's mission raised its concerns about this particular issue of the flag.”
Last week, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres visited a camp for displaced people at Hassan Sham, as well as meeting with Kurdish officials in Erbil and Iraqi officials in Baghdad.
"It was a very productive visit,” said Haq. “He was able to meet with the leadership in Iraq and in the Kurdistan Regional Government. And he was also able to show solidarity with the people of Iraq as they are dealing with a difficult situation including the operations that are ongoing in Mosul.
During the visit, Guterres met with Kurdish President Masoud Barzani, when the president said “we want you to hear it from us that we will hold a referendum at the earliest time, and we hope that you will show understanding on this demand of ours,” according Hemin Hawrami, a senior assistant to the president.
Haq clarified the UN’s position, highlighting the cooperation of Iraqi and Kurdish forces in the fight against ISIS, and urging a national dialogue to resolve issues moving forward.
"We respect the sovereignty and the territorial integrity of Iraq. In that context, what we've been urging is for the sort of excellent cooperation that the Iraqi federal forces and Kurdish forces have had including in their military operations to be extended into what we think is into a vitally important national dialogue at which they can resolve their particular issues with each other,”
Haq reiterated that the United Nations would like to see the Kurdistan Region and Iraq resolve territorial disputes through a national dialogue.
"Ultimately that's a decision for the Iraqi parties themselves to make,” he said. “The Iraqi government, the Kurdistan Regional Government, they need to deal with this issue with each other and ultimately it is crucial that they have a national dialogue to address these sorts of issues.”
Haq highlighted the benefits the UN sees in continued unity between Kurdish and Iraqi forces.
"But we've seen is that these groups have been united against Daesh [ISIS], and that unity has helped to have tremendous advances against Daesh which has been beneficial for the people of Iraq and we want that unity to continue.”
"No I don't think that it's fair,” Farhan Haq, the deputy spokesman for the UN Secretary-General said in an answer to Rudaw correspondent Majeed Gly’s question on whether UNAMI had taken the side of Baghdad.
“The UN Mission in Iraq, UNAMI, is non-partisan on these issues,” Haq said. “We do believe as I've just pointed out that they need to be addressed through national dialogue. At the same time, we are aware of the impact and importance of different symbols. And it is in that context that the UN's mission raised its concerns about this particular issue of the flag.”
Last week, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres visited a camp for displaced people at Hassan Sham, as well as meeting with Kurdish officials in Erbil and Iraqi officials in Baghdad.
"It was a very productive visit,” said Haq. “He was able to meet with the leadership in Iraq and in the Kurdistan Regional Government. And he was also able to show solidarity with the people of Iraq as they are dealing with a difficult situation including the operations that are ongoing in Mosul.
During the visit, Guterres met with Kurdish President Masoud Barzani, when the president said “we want you to hear it from us that we will hold a referendum at the earliest time, and we hope that you will show understanding on this demand of ours,” according Hemin Hawrami, a senior assistant to the president.
Haq clarified the UN’s position, highlighting the cooperation of Iraqi and Kurdish forces in the fight against ISIS, and urging a national dialogue to resolve issues moving forward.
"We respect the sovereignty and the territorial integrity of Iraq. In that context, what we've been urging is for the sort of excellent cooperation that the Iraqi federal forces and Kurdish forces have had including in their military operations to be extended into what we think is into a vitally important national dialogue at which they can resolve their particular issues with each other,”
Haq reiterated that the United Nations would like to see the Kurdistan Region and Iraq resolve territorial disputes through a national dialogue.
"Ultimately that's a decision for the Iraqi parties themselves to make,” he said. “The Iraqi government, the Kurdistan Regional Government, they need to deal with this issue with each other and ultimately it is crucial that they have a national dialogue to address these sorts of issues.”
Haq highlighted the benefits the UN sees in continued unity between Kurdish and Iraqi forces.
"But we've seen is that these groups have been united against Daesh [ISIS], and that unity has helped to have tremendous advances against Daesh which has been beneficial for the people of Iraq and we want that unity to continue.”