KDP and PUK unity the basis of conflict resolution, says Kurdistan Region VP

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Unification between the Kurdistan Region's two most influential parties is the basis to resolving conflict and achieving Kurdish unity, the Region’s Vice President told Rudaw on Tuesday, following a presidential visit to Sulaimani aimed at accelerating unification efforts.

VP Sheikh Jaafar Sheikh Mustafa praised Sunday's "very successful" visit by President Nechirvan Barzani to the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) stronghold of Sulaimani to mend shattered ties between the Kurdistan Region's different parties, saying all fronts "evaluated the visit with great pleasure."

"All sides see the presidency as an umbrella to bring together the political parties and resolve all internal problems, thus creating unity and solidarity in the Kurdistan Region," Sheikh Mustafa told Rudaw's Sangar Abdulrahman.

The vice president stressed the need for meetings to commence between the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and PUK first before major changes can take effect.

"All parties emphasized that unity within the Kurdish house should be above all else, starting with the PUK and KDP," he stated, clarifying that such unity must be utilized to rebuild the Region and defend its interests rather than "oppressing the people and plundering the Region's wealth."

President Barzani visited Sulaimani province on Sunday, where he met with a series of senior officials from different political parties in a bid to resolve the Region's political differences. He also attended a graduation ceremony of Peshmerga officers at the Qalachwalan Military Academy. The visit was highly commended by Sheikh Mustafa, who viewed it as an excellent step in the right direction.

Sheikh Mustafa emphasized the PUK's readiness to defend the Region should conflict arise. He said "the PUK does not consider itself as the ruler of a city or village, but considers itself as a legitimate force in the Kurdistan Region and as a true component of the Kurdish political leadership."
On the issue in Baghdad, where the two Kurdish parties have taken opposing sides in the quest to form Iraq's next government, the vice president mentioned that the PUK expressed no confidence in KDP's tripartite agreement with the Sadrist bloc and the Sunni Sovereignty Alliance, refraining from "blindly entering" into an agreement that he claims had no benefits for the Kurds.

According to Sheikh Mustafa, the KDP and PUK going to Baghdad as two separate forces does nothing but further guaranteeing the losses of the Kurdistan Region in the Iraqi parliament, as he mentioned the need for the parties to walk united to avoid "humiliating the Region" and avoid the exacerbation of the Region's stance in Iraq.

During his visit, President Barzani called for an end to party influence on Peshmerga forces and urged for reform and unification to be implemented which would incorporate all Peshmerga troops into the force's ministry, an initiative welcomed by the commander of PUK affiliated Unit 70 Peshmerga force Mustafa Chawrash.

The unification efforts are fully supported by Sheikh Mustafa, saying the Peshmerga today has institutions and is different from the force of years past who dwelled in the mountains.

"We need a unified Peshmerga army, fully trained, armed, and prepared in every way so we can protect the Kurdistan Region's achievements and reach heights that have not been achieved through this [political] army," he said.