PM Barzani, UN envoy exchange views on Iraqi provincial council elections
ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani on Saturday received the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for Iraq, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert.
The two sides discussed pressing issues in the country, such as the provincial council elections and the lasting disputes between the Kurdistan Region and the Iraqi government.
Both sides also stressed protecting the rights of minorities in the Kurdistan Region.
I was pleased to see SRSG @JeanineHennis today.
— Masrour Barzani (@masrourbarzani) December 16, 2023
We exchanged views on the situation in Iraq, provincial elections and ways to solve Erbil-Baghdad disputes.
We also touched on the need to protect the rights of all groups in the Kurdistan Region. pic.twitter.com/Zg66DlHcos
Earlier on Saturday, the UN diplomat met with Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani, in which she emphasized the importance of safeguarding the electoral process for provincial elections.
Read More: UN envoy, Kurdistan Region president stress safeguarding provincial election process
The Iraqi parliament dissolved provincial councils under the Iraqi federal government authority in 2019 following protests against corruption and unemployment in October of that same year.
Kirkuk has yet to witness a provincial election since 2005 due to repeated delays, sparked by political disruptions.
