KurdistanObserver.com

IRAQ: KURDISH PRESIDENT URGES LARGE TURNOUT

President Of Southern Kurdistan Urges Large Turnout

Erbil, 14 Oct. (AKI) - The president of Iraqi Kurdistan Massoud Barzani has appealed to Kurds to turn out in force and vote for the new draft constitution in Saturday's nationwide referendum. "I ask the people of Kurdistan to turn out in great numbers at the polling stations as the constitution which has been written is a great conquest for our people, and such an opportunity will not come again," read his message.

"We must keep in mind that the elections [scheduled for December] will be held regardless of whether the constitution is approved or not, in that moment we will no longer have the power balance we have now," he warned.

Given this, Barzani argues "the Kurdish people run grave risks, and so must not let this weekend's opportunity pass by." He went on to appeal to "our Arab Sunni brothers" asking them to "vote in the referendum to free Iraq of terrorists and improve the every day life of people in all fields."

After his return to Kurdistan from Baghdad, where he had taken part in negotiations with Arab Sunni representatives on some key amendments to the draft, Barzani had declared that "the meetings in Baghdad have brought positive results and some text added to the constitution has nothing to do with us and does not entail a reduction of our rights but at the same time has given our Sunni brothers the considence to take part and vote 'Yes'."

Barzani concluded that "every political development in Iraq, if it is the fruit of common accord between the Shiites, Sunnis and Kurds, cannot but serve the interests of everyone."