ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Barham Salih, the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) candidate for the Iraqi presidency, has broken his silence, insisting his return to the PUK was not conditional upon his nomination for the post in Baghdad. Salih, who is now in Baghdad rallying support for his candidacy, made the comments in an interview with Iraq’s state TV news channel al-Iraqiya on Saturday. Salih said his “friends” within the PUK had asked him to rejoin the party. Salih split from the PUK last year to establish the Coalition for Democracy and Justice (CDJ). He officially resigned from his fledging party following his nomination by the PUK. “I quit the PUK due to my serious criticisms and thus established the CDJ. After the [May 12 Iraqi parliamentary] elections, the CDJ asked for a national dialogue with all the parties and the PUK responded to our initiative,” he explained. “The CDJ with the PUK reached an agreement due to continued efforts from Mr. Kosrat [Rasul Ali] and Bafel Talabani and considering the dangerous situations ongoing in the Region, I deemed it crucial to rejoin the PUK. Although it was not an easy [decision], I am happy with what I did,” he added. His return to the PUK is not associated with his candidacy for the presidency, he insisted. Salih said the stability and prosperity of the Kurdistan Region is reliant upon that of Baghdad and Basra. “I believe in the territorial integrity and democracy in Iraq,” he added. The Kurdistan Region voted to separate from Iraq in September last year. Although Salih did not openly campaign in the referendum, he insists he voted for independence, but had reservations about the referendum. “From the very beginning, I had reservations about the process and thought, for resolving the issues we have, [it was important] to return to Baghdad,” Salih said. “Commitment to the constitution is the only resolution for these issues.” Seven Kurdish candidates have been approved for the Iraqi presidency. The PUK’s Salih and the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP)’s Fuad Hussein are currently front runners. A secret ballot will be held in the Iraqi parliament on October 2. Baghdad has called on the KDP, PUK, and other Kurdish parties to choose a single candidate for the post, which has traditionally been held by a Kurd since the fall of the Baathist regime. However, neither of the big Kurdish parties is willing to withdraw its nominee. Salih met with KDP President Masoud Barzani on Friday in Erbil. Salih said the meeting was friendly. “I have a tremendous respect for Mr. Masoud and he is a great figure and our meeting was friendly,” he said. Both sides issued separate statements following the meeting. Barzani said he would prefer a soul Kurdish candidate to be chosen by Kurdistani parties. Salih said he would prefer the Iraqi parliament to decide on the matter.
