Update: PUK, KDP delay meeting on government formation

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — High-level negotiating teams from the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) and Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) were scheduled to meet on Tuesday in Erbil to discuss the formation of the long delayed Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) cabinet, but it was delayed.

 

Rudaw learned around midday that the talks were delayed at the request of the PUK. Talks were expected to be accelerated following the Iraqi parliament's passage of the budget last week.

 

The KDP claims the PUK is not ready for a trilateral summit.

 

"The three-way meeting was suggested by the KDP. Gorran has agreed to it so the three sides could set out the government agenda. But until now, our PUK friends have not accepted this idea," Roj Nuri Shawais, a KDP politburo member, told Rudaw.

 

The PUK appeared ready earlier in the day.

"Today's meeting will be at a high level. Those who are tasked with future agendas will be engaged in serious talks to make decision on practical steps," a PUK spokesperson, Saadi Pira, told Rudaw.

In addition to Kirkuk and the post of Iraqi justice minister, the KDP and PUK are still at odds concerning the subjects of oil, security and military forces in the new KRG.

The KDP has held a string of talks with PUK and the Change Movement (Gorran).

There are reports that KDP has reached a good understanding with Gorran about the mechanism for the distribution of ministerial posts, but this has not been the case with the PUK.

It is expected that in the near future a trilateral meeting will be held between the three aforementioned parties, which are the largest in the Kurdistan Region.

Reporting by Sangar Abdulrahman

 

Update: 1:23 p.m.