SULAIMANI (ESTA) — Bafel Jalal Talabani said on Thursday the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) has been with understanding and political consensus to solve issues in the country.
Talabani met with Russian ambassador to Iraq Elbrus Kutrashev in Sulaimani city, according to his office.
They discussed the latest developments in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region as well as political issues in the country, Talabani’s office said in a statement.
Talabani explained his stance on the political stalemate in Iraq, saying the PUK “has been with understanding and political consensus from the beginning because today’s situation in Iraq is in a way that no party or force must be marginalized,” the statement read.
“In the name of majority, the country cannot be taken to a bad direction, and any step outside this national will will have no results,” he added.
Iraq entered a political stalemate after the Council of Representatives failed to select a president in three sessions due to disagreements between the political parties.
Under a power-sharing system designed to avoid sectarian conflict, Iraq’s president is a Kurd, its prime minister a Shia and its parliament speaker a Sunni.
“There’s still time for negotiations,” Talabani said. “The issues should be resolved on the basis of constitution and real partnership, and a government should be formed that serves and leads the country toward political, economic and social stability. This has been our goal and all of our efforts have been toward that.”
