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NRT, 26 Nov 2017

Turkish Prime Minister, Binali Yildirim on Saturday (November 25) welcomed the interpretation of Article 1 of the Iraqi constitution by Iraq’s Federal Court in regard to the Kurdistan Region’s independence referendum.

Yildirim spoke by phone with his Iraqi counterpart Haidar al-Abadi to welcome the decision of the Federal Supreme Court that referred to the Kurdish independence referendum as “unconstitutional,” Turkish state media Anadolu Agency reported.

Yildirim and Abadi discussed bilateral relations and ways to further cooperate in the fight against “terrorism.” Both sides are in agreement to “continue dialogue and high level meetings on a regular basis.”

The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) said earlier this month it respects decision No. 122 of the Iraqi Federal Supreme Court regarding the interpretation of the Article 1 of the Iraqi constitution.

Article 1 says, “The Republic of Iraq is a federal, independent and fully sovereign state in which the system of government is a parliamentary and democratic republic, and this constitution is a guarantor of the unity of Iraq.”  

In its decision at the request of the Iraqi Council of Ministers to consider the September 25 independence referendum, the Federal Supreme Court ruled that there is no provision in the constitution that allows for the separation of any of its components [provinces or regions] provided for in Article 116 of the Constitution under its provisions.

The KRG issued a statement on Tuesday (November 14) which reads, “We believe that this decision must become a basis for starting an inclusive national dialogue between Erbil and Baghdad to resolve all disputes through implementation of all constitutional articles and in a way that guarantees all rights, authorities and status mentioned in the Constitution since this is the only way to secure the unity of Iraq.