Lemonde.fr | By Kendal NEZAN *

A people mistreated by history, survivors of massacres, deportations and genocidal campaigns of Saddam Hussein, organizes a referendum to peacefully express its aspirations.

Washingtonpost.com | By Qubad Talabani

Iraqi Kurdistan’s independence referendum is set for Monday. Our allies — the United States, Britain, France and the United Nations — keep calling on us to forgo the referendum and to engage, yet again, in negotiations with Iraq. We are grateful to our friends for their efforts, but the time has come for us to secure our own long-term security, prosperity and stability. The path is not clear, but we know it ends in Kurdistan’s independence — in the best-case scenario, by mutual agreement with Iraq.

Basnews.com

ERBIL — President Emmanuel Macron of France said on Tuesday that his country will not oppose to Kurdistan Region’s independence referendum scheduled for next week.

Nytimes.com

ERBIL, Iraq — The parliament of Iraq's autonomous Kurdistan region approved a plan on Friday to hold a referendum on independence on Sept. 25, ignoring opposition from Baghdad and the wider region as well as Western concerns that the vote could spark fresh conflict.

By KEMAL KILICDAROGLUJULY 7, 2017

GEBZE, TURKEY — On June 15, I began walking from Ankara to Istanbul on a 280-mile march for democracy, justice and freedom from fear and authoritarian rule in Turkey. I am the leader of the Republican People’s Party, or C.H.P., the main opposition party in the Turkish Parliament. I set out with thousands of supporters from Ankara.

By PATRICK KINGSLEY JUNE 29, 2017

DIYARBAKIR, Turkey — Gosto’s kebab shop is not the only diner on its block, let alone on its street. It is, however, the one that perhaps reveals most about the threat to Kurdish culture.

Washingtonpost.com | Opinion | Masoud BARZANI *

On Sept. 25, the people of Iraqi Kurdistan will decide in a binding referendum if they want independence or to remain part of Iraq. The vote will resolve a conflict as old as the Iraqi state itself between the aspirations of the Kurdish people and a government in Baghdad that has long treated Kurds as less than full citizens of the country.

foreignpolicy.com | By Campbell MacDiarmid | June 15, 2017

The president of Iraq's Kurdistan Region tells FP why, despite obstacles at home and abroad, he's determined to hold a referendum on independence later this year.

Co-organised by The Kurdish Institute of Paris & Soran University

Thursday, June 22, 2017
10.00 a.m. – 6.30 p.m.

Clemenceau Hall - Luxembourg Palace
15ter, rue de Vaugirard, 75006 Paris

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Al-monitor.com

Iraq's autonomous Kurdish region will hold a referendum on statehood in September, its presidency said Wednesday, despite opposition to independence from Baghdad.