KDP Leader Masoud Barzani gave signals of backpedalling for the referendum in the meeting he had with representatives from the US, the UK and the UN.

US Special Presidential Envoy for the Global Coalition to Counter ISIS Brett McGurk met with Masoud Barzani yesterday in Duhok after his meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Haydar Abadi, the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), Gorran (Change) Movement and Southern Kurdistan Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani.

The meeting the committee made up of McGurk, UN Representative Jan Kubis, US Baghdad Ambassador Douglas Silliman and UK Baghdad Ambassador Frank Baker had with Barzani reportedly “offered an alternative for the postponing of the referendum”.

BARZANİ PASSED RESPONSIBILITY TO THE PARLIAMENT

Barzani passed the responsibility to the parliament expected to open today and said: “The decision to postpone the referendum is not only up to me, it is a decision to be taken with other political leaders.” Barzani told the committee they will let the committee know their decision after they meet with other parties.

Gorran Movement Diplomacy Chamber Member Wishyar Omer held a press conference after Gorran’s meeting with McGurk in Sulaymaniyah and said McGurk told them the US is “100% against the referendum”.

THREE PROPOSALS BY THE US

It was earlier announced that McGurk gave 3 proposals for the postponing of the referendum in his visit to Southern Kurdistan. McGurk’s proposals were, “Baghdad taking steps for the issues with Southern Kurdistan”, “The US, France, the UK and Baghdad forming a committee to resolve all issues between the central government and the Kurdistan region” and “Postponing the referendum with a decree from the parliament”.

PARLIAMENT WILL OPEN TODAY

The Southern Kurdistan Parliament has been closed since October 12, 2015 and was expected to open yesterday, but it has been announced to be opening today. It was decided to reopen the parliament in the meeting between the KDP, Gorran and the PUK in Hewlêr.