PUK seeks to forge post-Talabani ties with neighbours

Kurdistan Tribune – 20.2.2013 – The Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) politburo has set up three committees to deal with the party’s diplomatic ties with Turkey, Iran and Baghdad. Politburo member Ala Talabani told Hawlati that the committees have commenced their work although the PUK founder and Iraq president Jalal Talabani remains absent through his illness from the south of Kurdistan political theatre.

Two politburo members – Mula Bakhtiar and Kosrat Rasul – have recently visited Turkey and another delegation, including PUK deputy leader Barham Salih, went to Iran. The third committee is preparing to go to Baghdad. Observers have noted the absence of Talabani’s wife, Hero Ahmed, from these visits. These manoeuvres indicate that the PUK leadership wants to send a message that the party will survive and also that it wants to gain the trust that Talabani had developed with neighbouring Turkey and Iran.