Tuesday, March 19, 2024

Baghdad

Iraqi VP condemns raising of Kurdish flag over Kirkuk

 Iraqi VP condemns raising of Kurdish flag over Kirkuk

Flag of Kurdistan region.

Flag of Kurdistan region.
Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) Iraqi Vice President Osama al-Nujaifi condemned Tuesday the decision by local authorities in Kirkuk to raise the Kurdish flag above official facilities as “a breach of national unity”.

In a statement, Nujaifi said the vote by Kirkuk’s local council for raising the Kurdistan Region’s flag above government facilities besides the Iraqi flag “a breach of national unity and a unilateral imposition of the will of one side.” He said it comes at odds with “cooperation and understanding among the province’s components.”

“I hope this ill-guided step is reconsidered in a way that preserves national unity,” said the vice president.

Twenty-six out of 40 members of Kirkuk’s council voted for the controversial measure, in the absence of Arab and Turkmen representatives. Two weeks ago, Kirkuk governor Najmuddin Karim issued directives to raise the Kurdish flag besides the Iraqi flag at all government facilities and on national occasions.

Kirkuk is one area where Kurdistan region disputes sovereignty with Iraq.

Kurdistan gained autonomous governance based on the 2005 constitution, but is still considered a part of Iraq. The region was created in 1970 based on an agreement with the Iraqi government, ending years of fierce fighting.

Both governments in Iraq and Erbil engaged in political spats over regions recaptured by Kurdish Peshmerga (army) troops from the Islamic State militants since campaigns against the group launched in October. While Kurdish politicians and MPs occasionally reiterated they were not going to cede those areas, Baghdad said it was expecting Kurdish troops to pull out after IS is eliminated.

The flag issue also drew condemnation from Turkey earlier this month. Its foreign ministry said in a statement that the Iraqi constitution regulated the administration of disputed areas, and added that “one-sided” actions could induce instability.

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