ERBIL - Ahead of the first anniversary of the Kurdistan's independence referendum, a conference was held at the European Parliament on Monday for talks on the historic statehood event, in which the legitimate governor of Kirkuk was present as well, said the Kurdistan Regional Government's (KRG) representative to the European Parliament, Dlawar Azhgayi.

The legitimate governor of Kirkuk, Najmadin Karim had not taken part in any official political events since October 16, last year when the Iraqi army in coordination with the pro-Iranian Shi'ite militias of Hashd al-Shaabi overran the disputed territories and forced anyone who had supported the referendum out of the area.

The Kurdish envoy said in a statement on his Facebook feed that a number of Kurdish political organizations' representatives alongside Karim were attending the Monday's conference.

Kurdistan Region held the referendum on September 25, last year in which 93% of Kurdish people voted "yes", but the move received an overreaction from the federal government and other neighboring countries.

Bas News