Note to Correspondents from the Spokesman of the Secretary-General of the United Nations on the referendum in the Kurdistan region of Iraq
25 September 2017
In response to questions asked about the referendum in the Kurdistan region of Iraq, the Spokesman said that the Secretary-General notes that the referendum was unilaterally declared, included disputed areas under the control of the Peshmerga, and was opposed by the Iraqi constitutional authorities, Iraq's neighbors, and the international community.
The Secretary-General regrets that the opportunity for serious negotiations to resolve outstanding issues between the Government of Iraq and the Kurdistan Regional Government, based on the Constitution and in a spirit of partnership and mutual respect, were not fully seized prior to this move. The decision to hold the referendum in disputed areas, notably in Kirkuk, is particularly destabilizing.
25 September 2017
UN entities involved in this initiative
Goals we are supporting through this initiative
