Talabani, Maliki tackle PUK-Dawa relations

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: Iraqi President Jalal Talabani on Thursday said he discussed with Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki relations between the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) and the Islamic Dawa Party as well as Talabani’s expected visit to France. “I support Prime Minister Maliki’s efforts and dauntless attitudes in defending Iraq’s sovereignty in the face of terrorism and parties that seek to throw a spanner in the country’s advancing democratic march,” Talabani said during a press conference he held with Maliki after their meeting today (Nov. 12). The meeting comes amidst expectations Iraq is witnessing activities among political parties and powers as the country’s forthcoming parliamentary elections are scheduled to be held on January 18, 2010. For his part, Maliki said the meeting is continuation of the principle of permanent consultations with the president of the republic to drive the nation’s affairs in the direction that would best serve Iraq’s higher interests. “We have discussed political issues of common interests, the atmosphere of the Iraqi parliamentary elections, future challenges, bilateral relations and the issues President Talabani will take up in France,” the Iraqi premier noted. Talabani’s PUK had recently announced with its ally Iraqi Kurdistan Region President Massoud Barazani’s Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) a line of the Kurdistan Alliance bloc to enter the coming parliamentary elections. After the 2005 elections, the Iraqi government was formed from the most prominent parliamentary blocs: the Shiite United Iraqi Alliance (KIA), the KA and the Sunni Iraqi Accord Front (IAF). AmR (S) 1