KDP, PUK agree to strengthen bilateral ties, support KRG, work together in Baghdad

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – Both leading parties in the Kurdistan Region met on Tuesday to discuss the formation of the new regional government and ways to improve bilateral ties to work together in Baghdad.

During the meeting, both sides agreed to reorganize and develop bilateral ties in line with the current political and economic situation as well as enhance diplomatic relations for strong support to the new Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) cabinet, the politburos of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) said in a joint statement.

The two parties decided to work together to resolve issues between the KRG and the Federal Government of Iraq at all levels and disputed sectors, underlining the need for a strong and active Kurdish voice in Baghdad, the statement read.

They also agreed to form a committee to reorganize relations between the two parties in general and create a joint stance to deal with the situation in the Kurdistan Region, Iraq, and neighboring states.

Over the past few months, ties between the two Kurdish parties have been tense, namely after their disagreements on a single Kurdish candidate for the presidency of Iraq.

The statement mentioned that both parties expressed their support toward a special committee for the formation of the new government to bring stability and the rule of law to the entire Region, including a partnership with all the parties that would participate in the new KRG cabinet.

The KDP won 45 seats in the Sept. 30 regional parliamentary election with the PUK securing almost half of it, 21, out of the total 111-seat Kurdistan Region Parliament.

The leading party recently nominated Masrour Barzani, the Chancellor of the Kurdistan Region Security Council (KRSC), as the new prime minister of the Kurdistan Region. He will be tasked with forming the new government cabinet.

Additionally, the KDP elected Nechirvan Barzani, the incumbent Prime Minister, to become president of the semi-autonomous Kurdistan Region once the post is reactivated, having been suspended since November 2017.

The party is also scheduled to hold a high-level meeting with Gorran (Change) Movement on Wednesday in Erbil to discuss the formation of the new government and the current situation in the Kurdistan Region and Iraq.

Editing by Karzan Sulaivany