Iraqi Kurds Leader Claims Victory in Independence Vote

 

Iraqi Kurdish leader Masoud Barzani claimed victory in the referendum vote for independence and called for a "dialogue" with the Iraqi government.

In a televised address, Barzani said "negotiations¹ are the right path to solve the problems, not threats or the language of force.” He added, "we assure the international community of our willingness to engage in dialogue with Baghdad."

On Monday, Iraqi Kurds voted on an independence referendum despite objections from the government in Baghdad, neighboring countries, and the United States.

At the voting centers in the Kurdistan Regional capital, many voters wore traditional clothes and carried Kurdish flags. Some said they believed this vote could be the start of their dream for independence coming true.

One man named Mohammad carried his young son and a flag at a voting center in the northern city of Irbil. He told VOA, “It is a true day for us … We have been waiting for 100 years for this. It is beautiful.”

Several areas reported peaceful scenes of large numbers of people voting. But before the last voter entered their decision, Iraqi leaders had already sent troops to areas disputed by Iraq and the Kurds seeking independence. Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi promised to take all “necessary measures” to keep all of Iraq united as one.

Iraqi Kurdistan Regional President Masoud Barzani has continued to challenge the country’s leadership in Baghdad. On Sunday, he said the independence vote was the will of the Kurdish people and “out of his hands.”

"Independence will allow us not to repeat past tragedies,” he added. “The partnership² with Baghdad has failed and we will not return to it."

A representative for United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called the decision to hold the vote in disputed areas especially destabilizing.

"The Secretary-General regrets that the opportunity for serious negotiations … between the Government of Iraq and the Kurdistan Regional Government, based on the constitution and in a spirit of partnership … were not fully³ seized prior to this move," the representative said in a statement.

Heather Nauert is a spokesperson for the U.S. Department of State. She said the United States is "deeply disappointed" with the decision to hold a vote for only one group of people. Nauert added that the U.S. relationship with the Iraqi Kurds would not change. But the vote will "greatly complicate⁴" Kurdish relationships with the Iraqi government and neighboring countries, she noted⁵.

Masoud Barzani told VOA's Persian Service last week that after the vote, the Kurdish government would begin talks with Iraqi officials. The discussion would include issues like borders, division of natural resources and a timeline for independence. Barzani said the process of separating Kurdistan from Iraq would take about one to two years.

Before the vote, Iraqi Prime Minister Abadi ordered the Kurdish region to give control of its border crossings and airports to his government. He also called on other countries not to import Kurdish oil.

Neighboring Iran, Syria and Turkey all have large Kurdish populations. The Iranian and Turkish governments have expressed disapproval⁶ for the independence vote. They fear it could give support to similar separatist movements in their countries.

Turkey has battled Kurdish rebels seeking independence in its southeast region for 30 years. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Turkey would close a border crossing with Iraq and could move to block oil exports.

Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Moallem rejected the vote and said that Syria only accepts a unified⁷ Iraq.

I’m Pete Musto.

Words in This Story

referendum - n. an event in which the people of a county, state or area vote for or against a law that deals with a specific issue?

dialogue - n. a discussion or series of discussions that two groups or countries have in order to end a disagreement?

negotiation(s) – n. a formal discussion between people who are trying to reach an agreement

allow – v. to permit something

tragedies – n. very bad events that cause great sadness and often involves someone's death

destabilizing – adj. causing something, such as a government, to be unable to continue existing or working in the usual or desired way

opportunity – n. an amount of time or a situation in which something can be done

prior – adj. before

disappointed – adj. feeling sad, unhappy, or displeased⁸ because something was not as good as expected or because something you hoped for or expected did not happen

complicate – v. to make something more difficult or less simple

separatist – n. a member of a group of people who want to form a new country or religion that is separate from the one they are in now

1 negotiations   

协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过

参考例句：

• negotiations for a durable peace 为持久和平而进行的谈判
• Negotiations have failed to establish any middle ground. 谈判未能达成任何妥协。

2 partnership   

n.合作关系，伙伴关系

参考例句：

• The company has gone into partnership with Swiss Bank Corporation.这家公司已经和瑞士银行公司建立合作关系。
• Martin has taken him into general partnership in his company.马丁已让他成为公司的普通合伙人。

3 fully   

adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地

参考例句：

• The doctor asked me to breathe in,then to breathe out fully.医生让我先吸气，然后全部呼出。
• They soon became fully integrated into the local community.他们很快就完全融入了当地人的圈子。

4 complicate   

vt.使复杂化，使混乱，使难懂

参考例句：

• There is no need to complicate matters.没有必要使问题复杂化。
• These events will greatly complicate the situation.这些事件将使局势变得极其复杂。

5 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

6 disapproval   

n.反对，不赞成

参考例句：

• The teacher made an outward show of disapproval.老师表面上表示不同意。
• They shouted their disapproval.他们喊叫表示反对。

7 unified   

(unify 的过去式和过去分词)； 统一的； 统一标准的； 一元化的

参考例句：

• The teacher unified the answer of her pupil with hers. 老师核对了学生的答案。
• The First Emperor of Qin unified China in 221 B.C. 秦始皇于公元前221年统一中国。

8 displeased   

a.不快的

参考例句：

• The old man was displeased and darted an angry look at me. 老人不高兴了，瞪了我一眼。
• He was displeased about the whole affair. 他对整个事情感到很不高兴。