https://sputnikglobe.com/20170713/mcgurk-kurds-independence-vote-1055528254.html

Kurds Should Not Hold Independence Vote Amid Anti-Daesh Campaign - McGurk

Sputnik International

The Kurdistan regional government should not go forward with a planned referendum on independence scheduled for September 25 due to the complexities of keeping... 13.07.2017, Sputnik International

2017-07-13T22:23+0000

https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/103722/53/1037225302_0:382:4660:3017_1920x0_80_0_0_427c3d13a78f70363c514e31430ce023.jpg

syria

Sputnik International

feedback@sputniknews.com

+74956456601

MIA „Rossiya Segodnya“

252

2017

Sputnik International

feedback@sputniknews.com

+74956456601

MIA „Rossiya Segodnya“

252

News

en_EN

Sputnik International

feedback@sputniknews.com

+74956456601

MIA „Rossiya Segodnya“

252

1920

1080

true

1920

1440

true

https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/103722/53/1037225302_0:235:4660:3164_1920x0_80_0_0_8eaa73eb5b2f9ccde7654a6ab03d5ad0.jpg

1920

true

Sputnik International

feedback@sputniknews.com

+74956456601

MIA „Rossiya Segodnya“

252

Sputnik International

middle east, newsfeed, syria, brett mcgurk, kurdish people's protection units (ypg), kurdish democratic union party (pyd), daesh

Kurds Should Not Hold Independence Vote Amid Anti-Daesh Campaign - McGurk

22:23 GMT 13.07.2017

© AFP 2023 / DELIL SOULEIMAN Kurdish children hold a flag of the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) political wing, the Democratic Union Party (PYD), and banners during a demonstration against the exclusion of Syrian-Kurds from the Geneva talks in the northeastern Syrian city of Qamishli on February 4, 2016

Kurdish children hold a flag of the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) political wing, the Democratic Union Party (PYD), and banners during a demonstration against the exclusion of Syrian-Kurds from the Geneva talks in the northeastern Syrian city of Qamishli on February 4, 2016 - Sputnik International

The Kurdistan regional government should not go forward with a planned referendum on independence scheduled for September 25 due to the complexities of keeping a cross-cultural, ethnic military coalition focused on its mission to defeat Daesh, according to US special presidential envoy Brett McGurk.

Rebel fighters of 'Al-Sultan Murad' brigade use their mobile phones inside a room near the frontline in Handarat area, north of Aleppo March 1, 2015 - Sputnik International

Military Operation Against Kurds in Northern Syria ‘Necessary’ – Opposition

13 July 2017, 22:13 GMT

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — The Kurdistan regional government should not go forward with a planned referendum on independence scheduled for September 25 due to the complexities of keeping a cross-cultural, ethnic military coalition focused on its mission to defeat Daesh (outlawed in Russia), US special presidential envoy Brett McGurk said during a press briefing.

"We do not think the referendum should happen in September," McGurk said on Thursday. "Right now [Daesh] is not finished and we have to be clear about that."

McGurk explained that the referendum held on such a fast time line would be destabilizing for Iraqi and Kurdish forces fighting against Daesh.

"[Daesh] are in Tal Afar just south of the Kurdistan region and Hawija just west of Kirkuk. The Hawija operation will be very complex and it will involve Iraqi Security Forces and Kurdish Pershmerga, so this is not the time to hold a referendum in this area."

Kurdistan Regional Government President Masoud Barzani met on June 7 with all the political parties in Kurdistan and they agreed on a September date for the referendum, according to published reports.