SULAIMANI (ESTA) — The deputy of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) prime minister, Qubad Talabani, on Tuesday discussed a wide range of issues including the issues of energy and election with a senior delegation of the United Nations.
The deputy prime minister received the U.N. Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs and Peacebuilding, Rosemary A. DiCarlo, and the U.N. special envoy in Iraq, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert.
In a meeting, the official stressed holding a “clean” and “pure” election of the Kurdistan Parliament, according to a statement from the deputy prime minister’s office.
The deputy prime minister explained the obstacles before the process to the U.N. delegation, adding that they comprised of election consistencies and systems, voters list, and the minorities seats as well as deciding the fate of the election commission, the office added in the statement.
The deputy prime minister called on the U.N. to play a role in resolving the issues. He also demanded the international body to secure a “straight” election process to present the principle of real representation for the Kurdistan Region people, it added.
The deputy prime minister further spoke about the minorities and other components, saying that “They are being valued in the Kurdistan Region,” according to the statement.
The deputy prime minister also stressed they have an intent for the minorities and components to possess independent political decisions and represent their own will and be far from parties and political forces’ intervention.
Moreover, the deputy prime minister discussed Kurdistan-Baghdad relations with the delegation. He stressed finding a long-term comprehensive resolution to address the issues between the two sides, bringing political as well as economic stability.
Speaking on the energy issue, the deputy prime minister explained that they want the Kurdistan Region people to foremost benefit from the energy resources especially natural gas to fill the local needs and improve services.
Moreover, another part of the discussion touched upon the situation of the civil society in the Kurdistan Region, where the deputy prime minister had importantly pointed out the role of the non-governmental organizations, the statement said.
He named the non-governmental organizations as the “primary” pillar of civil society, adding that the organizations have critics and complaints against the political authority and political forces of the Region.
The deputy prime minister stated that we must utilize the critics and complaints.
In the meantime, the deputy prime minister praised Plasschaert’s efforts in both Iraq and the Kurdistan Region, who had always “constructively” step toward resolving the issues, according to the statement.
