President Erdogan and Iraqi PM Abadi will meet to discuss the Kurdish referendum

As circulated on the international media, Kurdish leader Massoud Barzani said on Friday the referendum would go ahead as planned. On the other hand, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan will meet with Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi and discuss concerns about the independence referendum in the Kurdish region of Iraq scheduled to take place on September 25.

Turkey, the United States, and other Western powers have warned Barzani to cancel the attempt in the semi-autonomous region and informed him about their concerns that  the elections might cause chaos at a time when all parties should be focused on the war against Islamic State fighters.

Additionally, Turkey which the largest Kurdish population in the region is known to be also concerned in case a “Yes” vote would come out of the referendum this could trigger separatist acts in its southeast, where this country has had a major problem with militants of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) for several decades.

In a statement to reporters before moving to New York to attend the UN General Assembly, Erdogan said that Ankara and Baghdad had the same opinion on the referendum to be held on September 25.