Brussels, 7 December 2012

UNPO President Ngawang Choephel and UNPO General Secretary Marino Busdachin call on the International Community to take immediate action to counter heightening political tensions between the Federal Government of Iraq and the Kurdistan Regional Government.

On 21 November 2012, the Federal Government of Iraq mobilised a large number of military units towards the disputed areas and Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri Al Maliki has threatened the Kurdish Regional Government with military action. In response, the Kurdistan Regional Government has posted its own military forces along the border. The situation is unstable and violence is expected to precipitate at any moment.

The resource-rich region of Iraqi Kurdistan is home to 4 million Kurds who have for decades experienced violent oppression at the hands of the Iraqi Government.

UNPO President Ngawang Choephel and UNPO General Secretary Marino Busdachin urge the International Community to take immediate action and to facilitate negotiations between the Government of Iraq and the Kurdistan Regional Government. This situation must be proactively addressed in order to bring about a peaceful resolution to the conflict.

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For a pdf version of the official UNPO urgent appeal from 7 December 2012, click here.