ERBIL — Strengthening unity among the Kurdish political parties is necessary to secure the best interests of the people of Kurdistan Region, the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) said, encouraging all sides to work together in Baghdad.
A senior delegation from the KDP visited Sulaymaniyah on Monday to meet with the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) and Change Movement (Gorran) for discussions on the Iraqi political process after the parliamentary elections, in which the Kurds have secured 63 seats in total.
“This was a friendly meeting after the elections. We intend to unite the Kurdistani parties and work together in the Iraqi political process so to preserve our rights designated in the Constitution,” KDP Spokesperson Mahmoud Mohammed said during a press conference in Sulaymaniyah.
He explained that the Kurds should prevent Baghdad from limiting the rights of the Kurdistan Region to the financial entitlements only.
PUK Spokesperson Amin Babasheikh, who was also present at the press conference, said his party welcomes KDP’s initiative and it will spare no efforts in creating a united front for the Kurds in Baghdad.
“We are optimistic about the unity [of Kurds],” he added.
Both officials confirmed that the first round of the meetings did not include negotiations on the government positions, especially the position of the Iraqi president which is currently held by a PUK figure.