In an interview with Rudaw, Jaafar Ibrahim, spokesman and member of the Kurdistan Democratic Party’s (KDP) political bureau, says that his party will continue to stand by the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK). He adds that his party still backs direct elections for the Kurdistan Region presidency, and that it expects to win the highest number of seats in parliamentary elections scheduled for this year. Ibrahim expresses worries over the Erbil-Baghdad stand-off, saying it is “on the verge of explosion.”

Rudaw: There are a number of complicated problems between Kurdistan and Iraq. What is the KDP doing about them?

Jaafar Ibrahim: For the KDP the current internal affair is very important. How do we deal with this situation and move it forward? That is very important to us.

Rudaw: What do you mean by internal affairs?

Jaafar Ibrahim: The upcoming provincial elections and the issues between ruling parties and the opposition parties. The upcoming provincial election will be a basis for parliamentary elections and the Kurdistan presidency elections. Also, the issues between the ruling and opposition parties, if they continue, will leave a negative impact on Kurdistan. Therefore, these two issues are the most important issues to us right now.

Rudaw: After Talabani’s hospitalization, the KDP’s president and leadership visited Talabani’s Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) party several times. Does Talabani’s absence in Iraq pose any danger to Kurdistan?

Jaafar Ibrahim: Talabani has his own importance in the Kurdistan region, Iraq and the whole region. Talabani’s role is necessary for Kurdistan and Baghdad. Besides that, PUK is an important ally to KDP. We value our alliance with PUK. However, KDP believes that there are capable men in the PUK who can replace Talabani. PUK can play its role even when Talabani is away. They can preserve the alliance between KDP and PUK. We were waiting for Talabani to solve the issues between Baghdad and Kurdistan. If the problems deepen, they will leave negative impacts on the Kurdistan Region. Currently, the relation between Arab Sunnis and Shiites is moving towards civil war. The situation between the Kurdistan Region and Iraq is on the verge of explosion. It’s true that there have been meetings, but no concrete results have been gained. Until now, the Iraqi government’s military threat against the disputed areas still exists. There are many worries if the disagreements between the Iraqi government and the Kurdistan Region lead to a very unpleasant situation.

Rudaw: After Talabani’s hospitalization what did PUK expect from the KDP?

Jaafar Ibrahim: Both of us have had our difficult times. Whenever PUK has faced a crisis, the KDP has lent a hand and supported it. When the Gorran Movement broke away from PUK, PUK saw that KDP was there and was supporting PUK. And when KDP faces a problem, we will look to our ally, which is PUK, for help. Therefore, whatever PUK was expecting, the KDP has done it. The recent constant visits of KDP to PUK were to assure PUK’s leadership that KDP is there to support PUK and will do whatever it can to support it.

In an interview with Rudaw, Jaafar Ibrahim, spokesman and member of the Kurdistan Democratic Party’s (KDP) political bureau, says that his party will continue to stand by the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK). He adds that his party still backs direct elections for the Kurdistan Region presidency, and that it expects to win the highest number of seats in parliamentary elections scheduled for this year. Ibrahim expresses worries over the Erbil-Baghdad stand-off, saying it is “on the verge of explosion.”

Rudaw: There are a number of complicated problems between Kurdistan and Iraq. What is the KDP doing about them?

Jaafar Ibrahim: For the KDP the current internal affair is very important. How do we deal with this situation and move it forward? That is very important to us.

Rudaw: What do you mean by internal affairs?

Jaafar Ibrahim: The upcoming provincial elections and the issues between ruling parties and the opposition parties. The upcoming provincial election will be a basis for parliamentary elections and the Kurdistan presidency elections. Also, the issues between the ruling and opposition parties, if they continue, will leave a negative impact on Kurdistan. Therefore, these two issues are the most important issues to us right now.

Rudaw: After Talabani’s hospitalization, the KDP’s president and leadership visited Talabani’s Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) party several times. Does Talabani’s absence in Iraq pose any danger to Kurdistan?

Jaafar Ibrahim: Talabani has his own importance in the Kurdistan region, Iraq and the whole region. Talabani’s role is necessary for Kurdistan and Baghdad. Besides that, PUK is an important ally to KDP. We value our alliance with PUK. However, KDP believes that there are capable men in the PUK who can replace Talabani. PUK can play its role even when Talabani is away. They can preserve the alliance between KDP and PUK. We were waiting for Talabani to solve the issues between Baghdad and Kurdistan. If the problems deepen, they will leave negative impacts on the Kurdistan Region. Currently, the relation between Arab Sunnis and Shiites is moving towards civil war. The situation between the Kurdistan Region and Iraq is on the verge of explosion. It’s true that there have been meetings, but no concrete results have been gained. Until now, the Iraqi government’s military threat against the disputed areas still exists. There are many worries if the disagreements between the Iraqi government and the Kurdistan Region lead to a very unpleasant situation.

Rudaw: After Talabani’s hospitalization what did PUK expect from the KDP?

Jaafar Ibrahim: Both of us have had our difficult times. Whenever PUK has faced a crisis, the KDP has lent a hand and supported it. When the Gorran Movement broke away from PUK, PUK saw that KDP was there and was supporting PUK. And when KDP faces a problem, we will look to our ally, which is PUK, for help. Therefore, whatever PUK was expecting, the KDP has done it. The recent constant visits of KDP to PUK were to assure PUK’s leadership that KDP is there to support PUK and will do whatever it can to support it.

By HEVIDAR AHMED: Rudaw