Kurdistan Observer

Barzani Denies Kurdish-Sunni Alliance

BAGHDAD, Feb 16 -- Iraqi Kurdistan region President Massoud Barzani strongly denied that the Kurdish side entered into alliance with the Sunnis against the Shiite, affirming that the Kurdish alliance also refuses a Kurdish-Shiite alliance against the Sunnis.

Interviewed by Al-Sabah daily, published in Baghdad today, Barzani said that the conditions in Iraq require harmony.

He added that the cabinet should be made up of the four winning lists, although there is nothing wrong with the participation of the others.

He stressed saying that a ministry should not become a party center and the prime minister should not act as a leader of a specific party but all sides have to work for the nation and people.

Regarding the nomination of Dr. Ibrahim al-Jaafari as the candidate for the premiership post, Barzani said that the issue is not a personal one, "we will try to agree on a political program with respect to the desire of the alliance, where this is an internal matter, but the political program will determine the stance of the Kurdish side." He added that if an agreement is reached on the political program, regulations, work mechanism and the cabinet system then "our reply will be a yes." The Iraqi official called on the Iraqi parliament to create a new flag for the country, affirming that if this one is kept then it will not be raised in Kurdistan.