MİLLÎ GAZETE had fulfilled its historical responsibilities and had betrayed the games played in the region months ago ... But no one awakened until September, including diplomacy ... On 15 April 2017 the headline "Drawing a New Map" was on the agenda of politics and media in Turkey for a long time.
For the referendum that the KRG received unilaterally and the boycott of Turkmens and Arabs, the whole of Kirkuk province with the status of Erbil, Suleymaniye and Duhok, as well as the statue controversy, was established in Tuzhurmatu county of Salahaddin, Hanekin county of Diyala and Celavla and Karatepe towns. The referendum is also being conducted in the towns of Sincar, Mahmur, Telkeyf, Hamdaniye, Sheyhan and Zummar, Rabia, Nemrud and Bartilla towns of Mosul province, which was recently taken from DEAŞ. 7 of them were in KRG, 5 were in controversial regions, and 12 were polling in polling stations. The KRG High Commission for the Election and Referendum says that the number of voters planned to participate in the referendum, including the controversial regions, is about 5 million 200 thousand.
VOTING BOXES READY
The illegal "independence" referendum held by the Iraqi Kurdish Regional Government (KRG), which the Iraqi Federal Court announced to be contrary to the constitution, was also challenged by the countries of the region. The referendum was held yesterday, when the Turkmen boycotted and the PUK made a call to vote yes at the last moment.
TURKMENS TO BOYCOTE REFERENDUM
The Turkmen in Iraq are said to be determined to boycott a referendum to be held against the constitution of the Kurdish Regional Government in Iraq (KRG). Iraqi Turkmen Front Committee and Kirkuk deputy Erşet Salihi said, "Despite the fact that we did not want the referendum to be held in the regions where Turkmens lived, nobody listened to us. We will not recognize the results of this referendum, which is contrary to the law and which many sides are opposed to." Underlining that no Turkmen will go to the referendum and the polls, Salihi used the phrase "Turkmen will boycott the referendum."
KRG CHANGED WAY
The Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) in Iraq called on the Kirkuks to call a referendum against the Constitution. First Deputy Secretary General of the PUK, Kosret Resul, asked everyone to attend the referendum. Resul, who invited everybody to the polls in Kirkuk, argued that they should vote "yes" by participating in the referendum. The PUK was requested to postpone the referendum in the statement made yesterday morning from the Kirkuk organization.
RUHANI: THREAT TO IRAQ
Iranian President Hasan Ruhani reported that Iraqi Prime Minister Haydar al-Ibadi and the Iraqi Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) had referred to a so-called independence referendum contrary to the constitution. Speaking on the phone with Prime Minister Ibadi, Ruhani reiterated that they are against the KRG's referendum despite regional and international reactions. Noting that the realization of the referendum would "threaten the region's confidence and stability, as well as the unity of Iraq", Ruhani noted that "Tehran will support every step of Baghdad's bid to preserve Iraq's unity."
IBADI: WE REFUSE ESTABLISHING THE RACIST STATE
Iraqi Prime Minister Haydar al-Ibadi said they would not recognize the outcome of the referendum and would not allow the establishment of a racist state in Iraq (!). Speaking to the Iraqi people, İbadi said, "Iraq is facing ethnic and sectarian division. We refuse to establish a racist state in Iraq. It is not possible to impose politics politically with brute force. This is going to be a failure like the Saddam regime," he said. The ibadi said, "We will come from ignoring the referendum and we will not know the consequences. We will take steps to protect the unity of the country and the security of the citizens."
"DELIVERY" CALL FROM BAGHDAT TO ERBIL
The Iraqi government, which can not prevent the KRG's referendum, said that the referendum is a one-sided step and requested that Arbil hand over all border gates and airports to Baghdad. The Iraqi National Security Council was convened under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Haydar al-Ibadi. "The referendum is a one-sided step, and it turns things into crits. The Iraqi government is demanding that KRG deliver all border gateways and airports to Baghdad and that neighboring countries should only engage in Baghdad on oil and border issues."
NIRIRVAN BARZANI: NOT THREAT FOR TURKEY
KRG "Prime Minister" Nechirvan Barzani claimed that the referendum contrary to the constitution was never a threat to Turkey. Barzani stated that they have "very good connections" with Turkey since 1991, after they used the game in the Rotana Hotel in Erbil and said, "In a really difficult time, Turkey is the country that has helped us. We are always grateful to Turkey for their help given to KRG, "he said. Barzani suggests that the referendum in the IKBY is not a threat to Turkey: "A referendum held at the KRG is never a threat to Turkey.