Joint Statement by FMs of Turkey, Iran, Iraq Concerning Independence Referendum

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Following the Trilateral Meeting of Foreign Ministers of Turkey-Iraq-Iran, a joint statement has been issued concerning the independence referendum to be held by the Kurdistan Regional Government on September 25.

The meeting was held with the participation of Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, Iraqi Minister of Foreign Affairs İbrahim al-Jaafari, and Iranian Minister of Foreign Affairs Mohammad Javad Zarif who were present in New York city in the US due to the 72nd General Assembly of the United Nations.

In the joint statement, the Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) was called on to not hold the referendum the following points were underlined:

* The ministers reiterated their determination about the political and territorial integrity of Iraq.

* The referendum jeopardizes the achievements hardly won against the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS).

* The referendum will not benefit Kurds and the KRG.

* The three countries have reached on a consensus with respect to taking counter measures into consideration.

* The only solution to the issues between Baghdad and Erbil is a constructive dialogue within the framework of the Iraqi constitution.

* Common international efforts are needed to convince the KRG to cancel the referendum. (HK/TK)