SULAIMANI (ESTA) — Co-president of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) Bafel Talabani held talks with U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Matthew Tueller and U.N. Envoy to Iraq Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert in Baghdad on Monday.
During the meetings, Talabani discussed the latest developments in Iraq and the Region as well as early elections with Tueller and Hennis-Plasschaert, according to his office.
In his meeting with the U.S. ambassador, Talabani and his accompanied delegation stressed on constructive discussion to resolve issues in root between the Region and Baghdad, the PUK co-leader’s office said in a statement.
“The PUK supports any effort that makes the process of peace and unity successful, and our patriotic attempt is to rebuild trust and hold patriotic dialogue so that we can all run this country together and have real participation in succeeding experiences,” Talabani was cited a saying.
“The PUK has played a positive role since relations between Erbil and Baghdad deteriorated, and made serious efforts to resolve the issues through dialogue,” he added.
“Today, as we are in Baghdad, we want to repeat the message that we are with coexistence and understanding for the issues, and our common interests want all of us to make our differences a common point and overcome the challenges.”
Regarding unity, the PUK delegation said they would make “every effort for national unity and single voice, and Kurds should work as one team in Baghdad and we should protect the strength of the Region’s position and work to secure the national rights,” the statement read.
In his meeting with the U.N. Special Representative in Iraq, Talabani said the PUK is with coordination and understanding between the Kurdish parties and that they should work to protect the entity of the Kurdistan Region, his office said in a separate statement.
“We welcome any international effort that aims at developing the experience of the Kurdistan Region,” he said.
Regarding elections, he noted that the PUK “stresses on holding a clear and pure election, and calls on the U.N. to play an important and active role in observing the process, and in succeeding the democratic experience of the country,” the statement read.
Earlier on Monday, Talabani met with the ambassadors of Russia, China and Iran in Baghdad.
The PUK co-president arrived in Baghdad on Saturday evening and held talks with President Barham Salih, Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi and political leaders on Sunday.
