SULAIMANI (ESTA) — Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) Co-president Bafel Talabani has launched election campaign in Kirkuk following his visit to the city.
Talabani arrived in Kirkuk on Sunday for a two-day visit to launch Kurdistan Coalition’s election campaign in the province.
The PUK and Gorran Movement formed Kurdistan Coalition to participate in the October parliamentary elections as one list.
In a meeting with officials of the PUK politburo in the city, Talabani said Kirkuk “is a red line for the PUK just like [late president] Mam Jalal had said Kirkuk is Quds of Kurdistan,” his office said in a statement.
“Therefore, serving Kirkuk and Kirkukis will be in the forefront of our struggle,” Talabani said.
“It is true that we had damages due to the consequences of referendum and not taking into consideration suggestions of our friend countries, but we were not hopeless and did not leave the Kirkukis for a moment,” he added.
“It is the duty of Kirkuk leadership to be the real protector of securing demands of Kirkukis and to further serve the city.”
Member of PUK leadership Sitran Abdulla told Esta Media Network that Talabani could stay more than two days in Kirkuk if it was a necessary.
“He has come to Kirkuk so that he will supervise the Kurdistan Coalition’s election campaign because Kirkuk has a special and great importance for the PUK and the Kurdistan Coalition,” Abdulla said.
Meanwhile, Fahmi Burhan, member of the PUK leadership, said Talabani’s visit to Kirkuk “is seen as historic and will help succeed Kurdistan Coalition list” in the province.
Earlier this month, Qubad Talabani, head of the Kurdistan Coalition, also visited Kirkuk as part of the list’s campaign for the early elections scheduled for October 10.
