Senior KDP, PUK officials to meet in upcoming days

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – The politburos of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) will meet soon to discuss internal Kurdistan Region matters, according to Kurdistan24 reporter Nawras Abdulla.

Among the topics to be discussed are security issues, the upcoming parliamentary elections, and support for local governments in Kurdish areas outside the control of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG).

The date of the meeting has yet to be determined.

Hiwa Geylani, a member of the KDP central committee, told Kurdistan24 "Despite our disagreements with the PUK, the budget law should be in the interests of the Kurdistan Region's people."

This will be the second high-level meeting of the two sides after the fifth Congress of the PUK. The first meeting was held in Erbil’s Pirmam District on November 7.

"We will hold this meeting as soon as possible. The Kurdish people expect the two parties to meet and discuss to achieve positive results." Rebaz Berkoty, a member of the PUK politburo, stressed to Kurdistan24.

Earlier last November, the two parties came to an agreement on the return of  Peshmerga Minister Shorish Ismail, who is part of the PUK, after his year-long absence over intraparty disputes. The two sides also set up joint Peshmerga brigades, after being pressured by Global Coalition partners to resolve their differences.

Yet to Washington and other Coalition members, the two sides have overall fallen short of forming a unified military, and in frustration, the US recently lowered the monthly stipends of the Peshmerga from $20 million to $15 million.

Read More: Peshmerga minister returns to office following over a year of absence

Editing by Dastan Muwaffaq