Sputnik News- After the recent Iraqi Kurdistan independence referendum vote, Baghdad refused to negotiate with Iraqi Kurdistan's authorities. Germany's Foreign Minister called for a constructive dialogue between Erbil and Baghdad in order to resolve any disagreement.




The Kurdish referendum on�independence from�Iraq�could escalate the tensions in�the region and destabilize it, German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel said Tuesday.
"We know that it was important for�many Kurds to�participate in�this expression of�free will. At the same time we express deep concerns as�this move may further aggravate the unstable situation in�the region that has become even more complicated since�yesterday," Gabriel said, as�quoted by�his press service.


The minister added that Iraqi Kurdistan authorities and the central government in�Baghdad should address the problems via�dialogue.
"We call on�all the sides to�avoid any escalation and to�refrain from�unilateral steps toward�the independence or from�compulsive actions. Unresolved issues between�Erbil and Baghdad should be discussed and solved via�dialogue," the German politician added.


On Monday, the independence vote took place in�Iraq's autonomous region of�Kurdistan as�well as�in the disputed areas de jure controlled by�Baghdad but�under de facto control of�Kurdish authorities. After 9 percent of�votes had been counted, more than�93 percent of�voters backed the independence of�the region. Iraqi authorities said that the referendum was not legitimate and stressed that they would not conduct talks with�the authorities of�Iraqi Kurdistan on�the issue of�the vote