International

The Kurdistan Regional Government has offered to freeze the results of the Kurdish independence referendum to give open dialogue a chance with Baghdad on the outstanding issues between the two governments on the basis of the Iraqi constitution.

A statement published by the Kurdish government Wednesday morning read that they do not want war and bloodshed to continue between the Kurdish and Iraqi forces. They have therefore decided to offer to “freeze the outcome of the referendum that was held in Iraqi Kurdistan.”

It also said that they will immediately announce a ceasefire and stop every military operation in the Kurdistan Region.

The statement continued to say that they are ready to “begin an open dialogue between the Kurdistan Regional Government and the federal government on the basis of the Iraqi constitution.”

The Kurdistan Region held a referendum on September 25 when 92.7 percent of ballots cast indicated a 'Yes' vote on independence from Iraq. Since that time, the federal government has taken punitive measures and taken control of oil-rich disputed or Kurdistani areas claimed by Erbil and Baghdad.