KurdistanObserver.com
Former Iraqi PM Arrives In Sulaimani To Meet Kurdish
Leaders
Sulaimani, Aug 31, (VOI)- Former Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawi arrived on
Thursday in Sulaimani to meet the Kurdish leaders on the latest political
developments in Iraq.
"My visit is meant to consolidate the relations between the Iraqi National List
and the Kurdistan Alliance," Allawi told reporters upon arrival to Sulaimani
international airport on Thursday afternoon.
Head of the secular Iraqi National List who was received by Kurdistan region
Vice President Kosrat Rasoul added "we will discuss the latest political
developments with the Iraqi President Jalal Talabani and Kurdistan region
President Massoud Barzani."
Iraqi President Jalal Talabani arrived in his hometown Sulaimani on Wednesday
coming from Baghdad, while Kurdistan President Massoud Barzani arrived in Arbil
on Tuesday after they took part in meetings for Iraqi political leaders in the
Iraqi capital.
Replied to a question as to his relation with Iraq's Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki,
Allawi said "there is no personal problem between us but the country is in a
political impasse."
"We, in the Iraqi National List, submitted a memorandum months ago to al-Maliki
comprising demands to make reforms in the government policy, but the government
did not respond to our demands and thus we quit the cabinet and that led to the
present dilemma," Allawi added.
Immediately after arrival, former Iraqi premier headed for Dukan resort, 50 km
northwest of Sulaimani, to meet President Talabani.
On Sunday, the Shiite-Kurdish alliance and the Sunni Islamic
party signed a joint statement indicating the agreement on several draft laws
that were disputed among parliamentary blocs.
Allawi's Iraqi National List, 24 seats out of 275-member-parlaiment, decided to
quit al-Maliki's cabinet on 24 August.
