The Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) and the New Generation Movement signed a political agreement on Thursday evening in the city of Sulaymaniyah in the Kurdistan Region. The agreement aims to unify the positions of the two parties in the Kurdistan Parliament and the Iraqi Council of Representatives, while working jointly to improve living conditions in the Kurdistan Region. It follows the formation of their "Balance and Prosperity" alliance. The agreement was signed by PUK President Bafel Jalal Talabani and New Generation Movement leader Shaswar Abdulwahid, in the presence of senior officials from both sides. The agreement provides for coordinating positions within the Kurdistan Parliament and the Iraqi Council of Representatives in support of political and institutional reforms, as well as drafting and passing legislation aimed at improving citizens' living standards, particularly in the health, education, and public services sectors, in addition to reviewing taxes and fees. It also commits both parties to working within the next Kurdistan Regional Government to implement a number of measures, including providing marriage loans for young people, reducing electricity and other service costs, lowering taxes and fees imposed on business owners, creating employment opportunities for university and institute graduates, establishing a specialized employment agency, and resolving the cases of teachers, temporary employees, and contract workers. At the federal level, the agreement stresses the importance of unifying positions in the Iraqi Council of Representatives on issues related to the rights of the Kurdistan Region, including the federal budget, the Region's financial entitlements, the disputed territories, the Peshmerga forces, and joint efforts to safeguard the Region's constitutional rights within Iraq's federal system. Speaking during the signing ceremony, Shaswar Abdulwahid said the agreement "is not directed against any party," announcing that the alliance is open to all political forces wishing to join it. He stressed that its primary goal is to serve citizens and mark the beginning of a new phase in the Kurdistan Region. For his part, Bafel Jalal Talabani said the agreement addresses issues that directly affect citizens' lives, affirming that the PUK and the New Generation Movement will work together to provide better services for the people of the Kurdistan Region. He added that the alliance remains open to all political parties willing to cooperate.
Note: This text is translated from the original Arabic version. Read the Arabic version:Click here
