CONTEMPORARY EURASIA VOLUME VII (1, 2) Contemporary-Eurasia-3new | Page 110

CONTEMPORARY EURASIA
blockade against Iraqi Kurdistan, which received support from the in-
ternational community. It is clear that the unity and stability in Iraq are
undisputable for US and regional countries. The United States strongly
opposed the referendum in Kurdistan underlining that it would support
the territorial integrity of Iraq and the compromise should be found in the
frames of Iraqi federalism.
Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, UAE expressed concern over
the independence referendum in Iraqi Kurdistan and urged to cancel it.
However, there were unconfi rmed publications claiming, that UAE
and Saudi Arabia supported the Kurds behind the scenes. According to
Al-Araby Al- Jadeed newspaper, which quoted an Iraqi offi cial in Bagh-
dad, the UAE Consul in Kurdistan, Rashid Al-Mansouri, visited a polling
station in Erbil. 36 The Iranian media also reported on the alleged support
from Emirati offi cials to the referendum of independence. 37 However,
there is no any trustful evidence, which could let insist on any support to
Erbil from the Gulf countries.
Saudi Arabia urged Kurdish leaders to call off the referendum. Saudi
Arabia’s Ministry of foreign aff airs announced that it “looks to the wis-
dom of President Barzani in not holding the referendum.” 38 Riyadh also
off ered its mediation between the KRG and the federal government of
Iraq for peaceful dialogue. 39
The UAE’s Minister of State for Foreign Aff airs Anwar Gargash wrote
in Twitter, that federalism’s fl exibility and potential, serves as a better
alternative than Iraq’s separation, especially after looking at the UAE’s
experience. 40 After the independence referendum Fly Dubai air company
announced, that will stop its fl ights to Erbil because of the ban on fl ights
imposed by the government of Iraq. Another major air company of the
Middle East Qatar Airways also stopped fl ying Iraqi Kurdistan.
The Kingdom of Bahrain expressed its confi dence in the wisdom of
the President of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, Masoud Barzani, and urged
not to rush to hold a referendum on the independence in order to avoid
36
37
38
39
40
“UAE Consul in Kurdistan visits referendum polling station,” Middle East Monitor, Septem-
ber 26, 2017 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20170926-uae-consul-in-kurdistan-vis-
its-referendum-polling-station/ (accessed June 25, 2018).
“Saudi, UAE secretly worked for Kurdistan secession: Report,” Press TV, October 22, 2017,
http://www.presstv.com/Detail/2017/10/22/539473/Iraq-Kurdistan-Saudi-Arabia-UAE-Iran,
(accessed June 25, 2018).
“Saudi Arabia says hopes Kurdistan vote will not take place,” Reuters, September 20, 2017,
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-kurds-saudi/saudi-arabia-says-hopes-kurd-
istan-vote-will-not-take-place-idUSKCN1BV1L7?il= (accessed April 11, 2018).
“Saudi Arabia “ready” to mediate Erbil-Baghdad, facilitate dialogue,” Al Arabiya English,
September 17, 2017, http://www.kurdistan24.net/en/news/0e326994-0de2-40c6-8f6d-
a5bdd6000dd8 (accessed May 1, 2018).
“UAE’s Gargash to Kurdistan: Federalism is more viable than separation,” Al Arabiya En-
glish, September 23, 2017, http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/gulf/2017/09/23/UAE-min-
ister-Gargash-Federal-system-better-alternative-to-separation-.html (accessed May 8, 2018).
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