SULAIMANI (ESTA) — Co-presidents of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) Bafel Talabani and Lahur Sheikh Jangi said on Thursday constructive and national dialogue between the Iraqi and Kurdish parties is necessary for the current stage in Iraq.
Talabani and Sheikh Jangi met with Iraqi politician and Sunni leader Khamis al-Khanjar, head of the Azm Coalition, in Sulaimani city, according to a statement released by the PUK co-leaders’ office.
The three leaders discussed the current situation and the political developments in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region as well as the upcoming early elections in the country, the statement read.
“We consider constructive and national dialogue between the Kurdish and Iraqi parties as necessary for this current stage, and we can maintain stability in the country through projects, common visions and the protection of public interests,” the statement cited the PUK co-presidents as saying.
“We completely believe in working jointly with our friends in Baghdad so as to preserve our common points and to activate the spirit of coexistence and acceptance of one other,” they added.
They also rejected politics that are based on nationalistic, minority-majority and self-imposed policies, according to the statement.
“We consider them as reasons for instability and for deepening problems,” the PUK co-leaders said.
Regarding the elections scheduled for October 10, the PUK co-presidents said the party was with a “pure and clean election” that is held on time, the statement read.
Referring to the formation of Kurdistan alliance between the PUK and Change Movement, Talabani and Sheikh Jangi said the alliance was a step towards unity and one voice in Baghdad.
“After the elections, the Kurdistan Alliance and the Iraqi and Kurdistan forces can meet within a broad national front to establish a new policy to protect high values and to serve the people and country together,” they added.
