ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — The Kurdistan Democratic Party celebrated its 72th anniversary on Thursday, President Masoud Barzani took the opportunity to point out the great strides for Kurds which can happen when they are united.

"It is time for all of us to turn a new page," said Barzani, whose birthday also falls on August 16.

Relations between the KDP and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) hit a low point during the Kirkuk events in October 2017.

"We can have great achievements when we are united," said Barzani.

Closer relations have emerged between the two parties following their success in Iraq's parliamentary election on May 12. The KDP won 25 seats with the PUK winning 18.

"KDP and PUK have reached a good agreement to hold talks with Baghdad in a united way," noted Barzani.

Several leaders broke away from the KDP to form the PUK in 1975, including its late head Jalal Talabani.


The Kurdistan Regional Government has announced it will hold parliamentary elections on September 30.

"Instead of thinking about postponing of election, it is better to think about a clean election," said Barzani, who reiterated that the KDP "is not for postponement of the election."

In other parts of his speech, Barzani pointed to Kurdish sacrifices during the Aylul revolts from 1961-1970, and the Gulan Revolution in 1976. Barzani, 72, became a Peshmerga at the age of 16.

The KDP was founded on August 16, 1946, by Mullah Mustafa Barzani, the father of Masoud Barzani.

KDP politburo member Hoshyar Zebari delivered opening remarks.



"Since its foundation, it has kept the Kurdish struggle and yearning for Kurdish self-determination and democratic and legitimate national rights going," he said.

"The party is aware it needs to be renovated always, and to seek renewal and change," Zebari added.

Rudaw