PUK does not want the elections' postponement to tarnish the region's reputation

P.U.K 09:49 AM - 2023-05-05

Qubad Talabani's meeting with consulates and EU representatives

In Erbil, Qubad Talabani and Darbaz Kosrat Rasul met with officials from several European consulates and EU representatives under the supervision of Rosy Cave, British Consul General. They affirmed the PUK's willingness to support any effort to reach an agreement on holding elections as soon as possible.

Daban Shadala, the deputy head of the Kurdistan Regional Government's Foreign Relations Office, attended the meeting today, May 4, 2023. Qubad Talabani and Darbaz Kosrat Rasul discussed the PUK's perspective on the election issue. He said, "The PUK supports holding elections as soon as feasible, but we demand that the elections be free, fair, and inclusive."

"The Kurdistan Region has received criticism in the past for many issues, including abuses of human rights, press freedom, and freedom of expression," said Qubad Talabani. "We do not want to receive criticism from our friends as a result of the elections' postponement. The area's reputation will get even worse."

The primary cause of friction, he claimed, was the minority quota seat issue because the vast majority of the other topics had been reviewed and agreed upon in previous sessions.

For his part, Darbaz Kosrat Rasul explained: "From the start, President Mam Jalal and the PUK requested the formation of minority quota seats. The PUK even suggested that there be 11 additional seats. As a result, the PUK views itself as the party that has done more in the past and present to protect the rights of Kurdistan's minorities."

"The PUK's lone demand is to devise a plan that ensures the quota seats represent minorities rather than political parties. "All parties should agree on our demand because it is reasonable and not too difficult to implement," he continued.

In the meeting, the delegation of consulate representatives expressed their worry that the postponement of the elections would damage the region's reputation and the institutions' legitimacy; in this regard, they called for an agreement as soon as possible.

At any time our friends and allies signal, Talabani added, "We welcome any initiative and are prepared to reach an agreement." "The only thing we want is clean, free, and fair elections so that the Kurdish people, including all minorities, feel as though the upcoming parliament truly reflects their wishes."

The delegation of consular officials, which included the Deputy Consul of France, the Consuls of the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, and the European Union in the Kurdistan Region, was led by Rosy Cave, British Consul General.

 

PUKMEDIA