Washington D.C., USA - Sept 22, 2017
1. Office building of Department of State
2. Sign reading (English) "Department of State 2201 C Street N.W."

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3. Statements from State Council on Kurdistan referendum

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Katy Collin, Mideast expert, Brooking Institution (partially overlaid with shot 5):
"Yes, it was a strong statement that they released. The United States is concerned that moves to unravel a strong democratic unified Iraqi state would be destabilizing in the region."

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Erbil, Iraq - Sept 22, 2017
5. President of Iraqi Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) Masoud Barzani greeting people
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Erbil, Iraq - Sept 22, 2017
6. Various of supporters at campaign rally

Washington D.C., USA - Sept 22, 2017
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Katy Collin, Mideast expert, Brooking Institution:
"I do not expect the Kurds to declare independence to, use it as an occasion to declare independence. I would expect them to use these results to strengthen their position and negotiation with Baghdad. The question is, from the Kurdish perspective, are we negotiating for separation, or are we negotiating for structures that will address our claims to disputed territories for revenue sharing within a unified state of Iraq. "

Erbil, Iraq - Sept 22, 2017
8. Masoud Barzani speaking
9. Supporters applauding
10. Supporter holding flag

Washington D.C., USA - Sept 22, 2017
11. SOUNDBITE (English) Katy Collin, Mideast expert, Brooking Institution (partially overlaid with shot 12):
"An independent Iraqi Kurdistan would be potentially threating to, for instance, allies and coalition to defeat IS. Certainly it is destabilizing to Iraqi neighbors that have Kurdish minorities, that have also been restive."
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Erbil, Iraq - Sept 22, 2017
12. Supporters at campaign rally
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Washington D.C., USA - Sept 22, 2017
13. Sign reading (English) "Department of State"
14. Office building of Department of State

The United States strongly opposes the Iraqi Kurds' independence referendum as they believe it will endanger regional stability, Mideast expert Katy Collin said last Friday.

The U.S. State Department said last Wednesday that the US strongly opposes the Iraqi Kurdish Regional Government's independence referendum, and urged Kurdish leaders in Iraq to negotiate with the Baghdad government instead.

The United States has been a strong supporter of the Kurdish people for a long time, and the Kurdish are an important Mideast friend to them. However the U.S. is showing strong opposition to the referendum slated for Monday.

"The United States is concerned that moves to unravel a strong democratic unified Iraqi state would be destabilizing in the region," said Katy Collin, a Mideast expert from the Brooking Institution.

Some U.S. analysts said the independence referendum may negatively affect Iraq's current Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi in seeking another term of office during the election next year. And meanwhile, the United States fears that the referendum may weaken its military operation against terrorists and escalate tension between the Iran-backed Shiah and the Kurdish.

"I do not expect the Kurds to declare independence to, use it as an occasion to declare independence. I would expect them to use these results to strengthen their position and negotiation with Baghdad. The question is, from the Kurdish perspective, are we negotiating for separation, or are we negotiating for structures that will address our claims to disputed territories for revenue sharing within a unified state of Iraq," said Collin.

"An independent Iraqi Kurdistan would be potentially threating to, for instance, allies and coalition to defeat IS. Certainly it is destabilizing to Iraqi neighbors that have Kurdish minorities, that have also been restive," said Collin.