Tehran, Iran, April 3
By Mehdi Sepahvand –- Trend:
Iran says only Iraqi national colors must be allowed to fly in the country’s northern province of Kirkuk.
“The principled stance of the Islamic Republic of Iran is to support the territorial integrity and national sovereignty of Iraq,” Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qassemi said, following a recent bid by the Kirkuk Provincial Council to raise the regional flag in front of some buildings.
“We regard raising any flag other than the Iraqi flag in Kirkuk, which is governed by the federal government based on the country’s constitution, as a move at odd with the constitution and a source of tension,” the Iranian spokesperson said, the Foreign Ministry’s website reported April 3.
He added that the fight against terrorists is the most important issue of the Iraqi government and nation, emphasizing that Iran has so far supported and would continue to back the campaign.
Qassemi further expressed concern that recent moves by some Iraqi sides in Kirkuk would divert the attention and resources of the Iraqi government and nation away from the battle against terrorism.
The Iraqi parliament voted April 1 to ban the hoisting of flags of the semi-autonomous Kurdistan region over government buildings in Kirkuk.
The lawmakers passed the bill days after the Kirkuk Provincial Council decided to raise the regional flag next to the Iraqi national flag in front of some buildings.