KDP’s ‘unilateral’ Baghdad visit against spirit of Kurdish ‘unanimity’: PUK
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – KRG Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani’s “unilateral” visit to Baghdad on Saturday to discuss candidates for the Iraqi presidency has harmed the spirit of “unanimity” initially fostered between Kurdish parties, the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) has said in a statement.
Barzani, deputy president of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), led a delegation to Baghdad on Saturday evening to hold talks with several Iraqi leaders over the shape of Iraq’s new government.
The Iraqi presidency – which has traditionally been held by a Kurd since 2005 – was high on the agenda.
The PUK, which had forged an alliance with the KDP to bolster the Kurdish position in government formation talks, criticized the move.
“Contrary to unanimity, today, we heard from media outlets the news of a Kurdistan Democratic Party delegation headed by Mr. Nechirvan Barzani, deputy president of the KDP, unilaterally visiting Baghdad for talks with the Iraqi political parties on a number of topics related to the question of the formation of the next Iraqi government and in particular the post of the Iraqi president,” read the PUK statement.
The PUK accused the KDP of “unilaterally talking to the political parties in the parliament during the process of electing the speaker and his deputies”.
Although the PUK has officially announced it sole candidate for the presidency – Barham Salih – the party insists it has not taken “any legal measures for registering its nominee” because it hoped “to obtain unanimity” first with other Kurdish parties.
“But the act of brothers from the KDP does not match with the unity of the Kurdish house and unanimity,” the PUK said.
In response to the KDP visit, the PUK will now officially register its nominee for the presidency.
The party warned that such unilateral actions taken without prior consultation with Kurdish parties will only weaken the Kurdish voice in Baghdad.
“The political work together and unanimity among the Kurdistani parties in order to preserve the major interests of our nation and bolstering the position of the Kurdistan Region in Baghdad and the past experiences have proven unilateral works have never bought interests to our nation and will not do it,” it added.
Barzani, deputy president of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), led a delegation to Baghdad on Saturday evening to hold talks with several Iraqi leaders over the shape of Iraq’s new government.
KRG Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani traveled to Baghdad on Saturday evening for talks with several Iraqi leaders (clockwise from top left) incumbent Iraqi PM Haider al-Abadi, State of Law leader Nouri al-Maliki, Ataa Movement founder Falih Alfayyadh, Iraqi National Accord founder Ayad Allawi, Fatih alliance leader Hadi al-Amiri, and Hikmah Front leader Ammar al-Hakim, September 22, 2018. Composite photo from leaders' offices / Rudaw
The Iraqi presidency – which has traditionally been held by a Kurd since 2005 – was high on the agenda.
The PUK, which had forged an alliance with the KDP to bolster the Kurdish position in government formation talks, criticized the move.
“Contrary to unanimity, today, we heard from media outlets the news of a Kurdistan Democratic Party delegation headed by Mr. Nechirvan Barzani, deputy president of the KDP, unilaterally visiting Baghdad for talks with the Iraqi political parties on a number of topics related to the question of the formation of the next Iraqi government and in particular the post of the Iraqi president,” read the PUK statement.
The PUK accused the KDP of “unilaterally talking to the political parties in the parliament during the process of electing the speaker and his deputies”.
Although the PUK has officially announced it sole candidate for the presidency – Barham Salih – the party insists it has not taken “any legal measures for registering its nominee” because it hoped “to obtain unanimity” first with other Kurdish parties.
“But the act of brothers from the KDP does not match with the unity of the Kurdish house and unanimity,” the PUK said.
In response to the KDP visit, the PUK will now officially register its nominee for the presidency.
The party warned that such unilateral actions taken without prior consultation with Kurdish parties will only weaken the Kurdish voice in Baghdad.
“The political work together and unanimity among the Kurdistani parties in order to preserve the major interests of our nation and bolstering the position of the Kurdistan Region in Baghdad and the past experiences have proven unilateral works have never bought interests to our nation and will not do it,” it added.