The dirty negotiations continue before the referendum on independence under the leadership of Barzani scheduled for Sept. 25 in northern Iraq. Brett McGurk and representatives from Western countries are continuing to support Barzani, who wants to turn this period into an oppurtunity.
Kirkuk deputy Hasan Turan said that the negotiation process was directed by the U.S. and Western countries, adding that a delegation from these nations wanted to provide 20 residential units in the debated region to Barzani as a bribe in 2003.
The latest meeting between Iraq and referendum supporters before the poll was in Sulaymaniyah. The meeting was attended by Iraqi President Fuad Masum and Hero Ibrahim Ehmed, who respresented Masoud Barzani and Celal Talabani.
At the Sulaymaniyah meeting, President Fuad Masum conveyed the request of the Iraqi central government to abandon Barzani's referendum.
Iraqi Parliamentarian Turan said Barzani, who is managing this period with foreign forces, and Talabani were offered 20 settlement areas that belong mostly to the Turkmens and over 10,000 kilometers of land as bribery.
“Negotiations regarding the terror corridor, which is supported by the U.S., Israel and European countries, are administrated by the U.S.,” said Turan.
“Tens of thousands of square kilometers and tens of regions are being sacrificed. The fate of our region should be decided by the public,” he added.
Turan claimed that Barzani’s tactics and strategies were managed by foreign powers.
Turan also said that the referendum, initiated by Barzani, was a trap, and emphasized that 16 districts of Mosul, Kirkuk, Tuzhurmatu, Mendeli, Jelavlak, Karatepe, Diyala and Hanekin could be presented to Barzani as a bribe.
The regions presented to Barzani through U.S. and Israeli referendum blackmail consist of up to 70 percent Turkmen settlements.