Randa Salim from John Hopkins University said the independence referendum held by the Iraqi Kurds in September was one of the most important events in Iraq in 2017, claiming that Kurds received unwelcomed and hard events due to the vote.

He stated in his article on the website of Middle East think tank that the referendum destroyed ties between Erbil and Baghdad, adding that Baghdad would not talk to the Kurds before the 2018general elections.

Salim further blamed disputes among the Kurdish political parties in Iraq which prevents the policies of the region from being successful.

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