Three and a half months after the Kurdistan Region parliamentary election, the parties still have not formed the new cabinet.
This week the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) formed a committee in a bid to finally advance talks to form what will be the ninth cabinet in the history of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG).
The committee will not only tackle contentious issues like the relationship between the KDP and PUK, but it will also work on the Kirkuk problem and engage in dialogue with Baghdad, explained committee member and PUK spokesperson Saadi Ahmed Pira.
KDP members on the committee are Rozh Nuri Shaways, Hoshyar Zebari, and Mahmood Mohammed. The PUK members are Arsalan Baez, Emad Ahmed, Saadi Pira, and Aso Mamand.
The following interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Dildar Harki (Rudaw): In your latest meeting with the KDP, you decided to form a committee tasked with drafting an agreement. Who are the PUK members in the committee?
Saadi Ahmed Pira: According to a decision made in the Monday meeting between the KDP and PUK, the PUK assigned its team for the committee to prepare what is called a paper for doing politics and joint work, follow up on issues in Baghdad and Kirkuk, and for finding solutions for them.
The PUK members appointed to the committee are Arsalan Baez, Emad Ahmed, Saadi Pira, and Aso Mamand. At the earliest possible time, the committee will sit and prepare its agenda, such as visiting and contacting Baghdad, discussing Kirkuk, and whatever needs to be decided for an agreement for the KRG, to reflect a genuine partnership in it.
Is incumbent Qubad Talabani the PUK's nominee for deputy prime minister?
We have not yet spoken about the nominees. The PUK politburo is of the view that posts must be assigned [to parties] first and then
fill them with the right persons for the job. And definitely, Qubad Talabani will be one of the PUK’s nominees.
Dilshad Shahab, advisor to the KRG, says an agreement on the formation of the government will be reached by the end of this month. Do you share that view? Do you think you can reach an agreement on all the posts with all the parties within this time?
We have not set any ultimatum, but I believe a schedule will be prepared in the next meeting. The people of Kurdistan, the nature of the work, and all of our friends advise us to form a strong government as soon as possible, form a government that is capable of facing threats and challenges and will be able to resolve past problems and not repeat mistakes.
Do you support reactivating the presidency and the election in the parliament of Nechirvan Barzani as president?
This is another matter. We have not discussed it in our meetings. The government matter is clear to all, as according to law the largest and strongest bloc in the parliament is recommended to form the government and they will have a nominee to do it. On the matter of a candidate for the post of the president, we have not spoken on how it will be. This subject will definitely require an amendment to the law. The law granting power to the president of the Region must be reviewed and amended once again.
Will you accept the post of deputy president being given to Gorran?
This is not a topic for you and me to discuss. We should leave this matter until it becomes a discussion point between the political parties. I surely prefer for Gorran to be involved in this cabinet. It must have a share and reflect a genuine partnership.
What have you agreed with the KDP about Kirkuk?
The committee tasked with this subject... will meet with Baghdad because the matter of Kirkuk has two sides. One is the normalization
of Kirkuk – ending the presence of military forces in Kirkuk and returning Peshmerga to Kirkuk areas. The Peshmerga's task, along with the Iraqi army, Federal Police, and Hashd al-Shaabi, will be defending the region from terrorists, not running administrative affairs and business inside the city. The other is appointing a new governor. This person could definitely be from the PUK.
Can you make that happen or it is just a wish?
The PUK's call is that the person who should become the next governor of Kirkuk must be from the PUK.
Does the PUK agree that the governorship of Kirkuk should be separated from the formation of the KRG government?
No, they must not be separated. They are equal. We start both of them at the same time. We have an agreement with the KDP detailing that no government should be formed while leaving out other subjects. Thus, we want all the matters be resolved simultaneously through harmony and joint work. What is related to Kirkuk is related to Baghdad and other areas, too.
After 2003, Kirkuk’s governor was independent. Do you think the Kirkuk governor should be neutral at this stage?
No independent governor is needed. The PUK enjoys a majority in Kirkuk, so has all the right to seek the post. But since Kirkuk is the
city of co-existence, the governor we appoint must have the consent of all sides.
Why are you making a party-level committee while the government has formal institutions to talk with Baghdad?
Party committees do not hinder government committees. The government will have someone to work on Erbil-Baghdad relations. The official will be a government employee and will receive all the support from the government to mend ties with Baghdad.
Why is head of PUK politburo Mala Bakhtiar not taking part in the PUK-KDP talks?
You could talk to him. Not just him. Rizgar Ali, Qadir Aziz, Mahmood Sangawi, and Hero Ibrahim were not there either.
What led to the deterioration of relations between the PUK and Tavgari Azadi? You did not have a problem with them in the past. Did Barham Salih reach an agreement with Turkey to evict parties affiliated with the PKK from Sulaimani?
Tavgari does not possess any license in Kurdistan, nor do they have offices in Erbil and Duhok. This is a security-related matter. Maybe Tavgari is not adhering to security rules and regulations. It has nothing to do with the PUK, but to do with the government. So it would be better if you ask the government this question.
This week the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) formed a committee in a bid to finally advance talks to form what will be the ninth cabinet in the history of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG).
The committee will not only tackle contentious issues like the relationship between the KDP and PUK, but it will also work on the Kirkuk problem and engage in dialogue with Baghdad, explained committee member and PUK spokesperson Saadi Ahmed Pira.
KDP members on the committee are Rozh Nuri Shaways, Hoshyar Zebari, and Mahmood Mohammed. The PUK members are Arsalan Baez, Emad Ahmed, Saadi Pira, and Aso Mamand.
The following interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Dildar Harki (Rudaw): In your latest meeting with the KDP, you decided to form a committee tasked with drafting an agreement. Who are the PUK members in the committee?
Saadi Ahmed Pira: According to a decision made in the Monday meeting between the KDP and PUK, the PUK assigned its team for the committee to prepare what is called a paper for doing politics and joint work, follow up on issues in Baghdad and Kirkuk, and for finding solutions for them.
The PUK members appointed to the committee are Arsalan Baez, Emad Ahmed, Saadi Pira, and Aso Mamand. At the earliest possible time, the committee will sit and prepare its agenda, such as visiting and contacting Baghdad, discussing Kirkuk, and whatever needs to be decided for an agreement for the KRG, to reflect a genuine partnership in it.
Is incumbent Qubad Talabani the PUK's nominee for deputy prime minister?
We have not yet spoken about the nominees. The PUK politburo is of the view that posts must be assigned [to parties] first and then
The law granting power to the president of the Region must be reviewed and amended 
Dilshad Shahab, advisor to the KRG, says an agreement on the formation of the government will be reached by the end of this month. Do you share that view? Do you think you can reach an agreement on all the posts with all the parties within this time?
We have not set any ultimatum, but I believe a schedule will be prepared in the next meeting. The people of Kurdistan, the nature of the work, and all of our friends advise us to form a strong government as soon as possible, form a government that is capable of facing threats and challenges and will be able to resolve past problems and not repeat mistakes.
Do you support reactivating the presidency and the election in the parliament of Nechirvan Barzani as president?
This is another matter. We have not discussed it in our meetings. The government matter is clear to all, as according to law the largest and strongest bloc in the parliament is recommended to form the government and they will have a nominee to do it. On the matter of a candidate for the post of the president, we have not spoken on how it will be. This subject will definitely require an amendment to the law. The law granting power to the president of the Region must be reviewed and amended once again.
Will you accept the post of deputy president being given to Gorran?
This is not a topic for you and me to discuss. We should leave this matter until it becomes a discussion point between the political parties. I surely prefer for Gorran to be involved in this cabinet. It must have a share and reflect a genuine partnership.
What have you agreed with the KDP about Kirkuk?
The committee tasked with this subject... will meet with Baghdad because the matter of Kirkuk has two sides. One is the normalization
The next governor of Kirkuk must be from the PUK
Can you make that happen or it is just a wish?
The PUK's call is that the person who should become the next governor of Kirkuk must be from the PUK.
Does the PUK agree that the governorship of Kirkuk should be separated from the formation of the KRG government?
No, they must not be separated. They are equal. We start both of them at the same time. We have an agreement with the KDP detailing that no government should be formed while leaving out other subjects. Thus, we want all the matters be resolved simultaneously through harmony and joint work. What is related to Kirkuk is related to Baghdad and other areas, too.
After 2003, Kirkuk’s governor was independent. Do you think the Kirkuk governor should be neutral at this stage?
No independent governor is needed. The PUK enjoys a majority in Kirkuk, so has all the right to seek the post. But since Kirkuk is the
Party committees do not hinder government committees
Why are you making a party-level committee while the government has formal institutions to talk with Baghdad?
Party committees do not hinder government committees. The government will have someone to work on Erbil-Baghdad relations. The official will be a government employee and will receive all the support from the government to mend ties with Baghdad.
Why is head of PUK politburo Mala Bakhtiar not taking part in the PUK-KDP talks?
You could talk to him. Not just him. Rizgar Ali, Qadir Aziz, Mahmood Sangawi, and Hero Ibrahim were not there either.
[Closing Tavgari Azadi offices] is a security-related matter
What led to the deterioration of relations between the PUK and Tavgari Azadi? You did not have a problem with them in the past. Did Barham Salih reach an agreement with Turkey to evict parties affiliated with the PKK from Sulaimani?
Tavgari does not possess any license in Kurdistan, nor do they have offices in Erbil and Duhok. This is a security-related matter. Maybe Tavgari is not adhering to security rules and regulations. It has nothing to do with the PUK, but to do with the government. So it would be better if you ask the government this question.
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