Iraq to close all diplomatic missions in Kurdish region

By Haydar Hadi

BAGHDAD

Parliament has announced a decision to close all foreign diplomatic missions in northern Iraq’s Kurdish region following Monday’s illegitimate referendum on regional independence.

According to a Wednesday parliamentary statement, Baghdad will demand that all foreign missions in areas controlled by the Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) relocate to other areas of Iraq outside the region.

The Iraqi government will also seal all KRG-controlled international borders and consider all goods leaving the region as “contraband”, according to the same statement.

Parliament has also asked President Fuad Masum to ensure the government’s constitutional mandate and safeguard the unity, security and sovereignty of Iraq.

On Tuesday, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi gave the KRG until Friday to surrender control of its two main airports in Erbil and Sulaymaniyah or face a wide-ranging boycott by international airlines.

Iraq’s Civil Aviation Authority, meanwhile, has called on all foreign airlines to suspend all flights into the Kurdish region by Friday.

Nevertheless, KRG Transport Minister Mawlud Bawamurad voiced defiance on Wednesday, telling reporters that the airports in Erbil and Sulaymaniyah “belong to the KRG and will continue to operate”.

“We reject this decision [by Iraq’s parliament],” he said, adding that “numerous passengers -- citizens and diplomats -- will be adversely affected by the suspension of flights to the region”.

Monday’s controversial referendum had faced opposition from most regional international actors, many of whom had warned that the poll would further destabilize the region and distract from Iraq's ongoing fight against Daesh.