Faraydun Abdulqadir is former politburo member of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), who resigned from his party 12 years ago and hasn’t returned to the political landscape other than an occasional commentator. Rudaw conducted this interview via email about the situation in the Kurdistan Region, the formation of the new Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) cabinet, the state of the PUK and its long overdue congress.
Abdulqadir believes new ministers should serve the Kurdistan Region and not be merely “party ministers.” He expressed some concern about the PUK putting leadership members into the government because he believes this could negatively impact their results in next election. A strong Kurdistan Region requires a strong relationship between the KDP and PUK, he added.
Iran will find a way to avoid war with the United States because "Iranian authorities are wise" and throughout their history they have avoided war unlike Iraq and Libya, the former PUK member expressed.
This interview was published on May 13.
Rudaw: It took six months for political parties to negotiate a deal on forming the next KRG cabinet. Do you think the new cabinet will complete its term or face the same consequences as the current one?
Faraydun Abdulqadir: The eighth cabinet had a very bad luck, due to Kurdistan Region’s budget cut, falling oil prices, the war with the Islamic State (ISIS) and its aftermath along with an influx of 1.7 million refugees into the Region. This coupled with the government’s huge debts brought about a large crisis to this cabinet. But the situation for the new cabinet is better and more convenient. If this cabinet gets on its feet early and works well- oil prices have gone up and might rise further, relations between the Kurdistan Region and Baghdad are good and getting even better, Baghdad is sending nearly half a billion dollars as Kurdistan’s budget share and the Iraqi prime minister has said this will continue this year.
Moreover, the war with ISIS and terror has subsided and ISIS as strong force and state has been defeated. Refugees will gradually go
They [KDP and PUK] both need to strengthen trust in each other. 
The KDP and PUK were close to deadlock several times during the negotiations on government formation. Did you play any role in negotiating the deal?
Sometimes there were disagreements during dialogue between the KDP and PUK, which were about to reach standoff. We as loyal
In 1984, Mam Jalal said no one in the party leadership should be nominated
The PUK is filling its positions in the new cabinet with politburo and leadership members. What do you think of this?
This is questionable to me too. Who will run and develop the PUK if they all want to assume government positions, I asked Mr. Kosrat [Rasul]. I remember when we were asked to nominate some competent people for some posts while negotiations between the PUK and the government in Baghdad were underway in 1984, Mam Jalal said no one in the leadership should be nominated.
The Change Movement (Gorran) and the PUK are both taking part in the new KRG cabinet, but have very bad relations. Will this reflect badly on Sulaimani?
I don’t think this will harm Sulaimani because the PUK is the main party there. They can resolve their problems. The prime minister
should not allow party rivalry in the government. The government and all institutions in the Kurdistan Region should serve all the cities in the Region equally. The prime minister should represent all Kurdistan too, and ministers should not be party ministers. They all should have one agenda and represent Kurdistan together.
The United States is stepping up its pressure on Iran and a big problem is looming in the region. Will such a big problem have any effect on the Kurdistan Region?
The US, Arab Gulf countries, Egypt and other Arab countries were angered and upset by Iran interfering in their problems. They are also concerned by its efforts to acquire nuclear bombs and are afraid by its hegemony. The US and its friends consider Iran a danger for the security of the entire region. Iran considers the US to be a big devil and an imperial power, hence is not yet prepared to succumb to its demands. The rivalry is gradually escalating, and is on the brink of confrontation. There are many possibilities posing big dangers.
During the course of history, Iran has not succumbed easily or quickly, nor has it precipitated itself in a war to lose. I think Iranian authorities are wise enough not to do this, or choose to face the fate of Saddam and Gaddafi. I think they will at some point find a way to avoid war. And we should be very wise and take steps sensitively. We should know how to protect the interests of our nation.
I don’t think this will harm Sulaimani because the PUK is the main party there. They can resolve their problems. The prime minister
They [ministers] all should have one agenda and represent Kurdistan together.
The United States is stepping up its pressure on Iran and a big problem is looming in the region. Will such a big problem have any effect on the Kurdistan Region?
The US, Arab Gulf countries, Egypt and other Arab countries were angered and upset by Iran interfering in their problems. They are also concerned by its efforts to acquire nuclear bombs and are afraid by its hegemony. The US and its friends consider Iran a danger for the security of the entire region. Iran considers the US to be a big devil and an imperial power, hence is not yet prepared to succumb to its demands. The rivalry is gradually escalating, and is on the brink of confrontation. There are many possibilities posing big dangers.
During the course of history, Iran has not succumbed easily or quickly, nor has it precipitated itself in a war to lose. I think Iranian authorities are wise enough not to do this, or choose to face the fate of Saddam and Gaddafi. I think they will at some point find a way to avoid war. And we should be very wise and take steps sensitively. We should know how to protect the interests of our nation.
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