Today, Wednesday, the president of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), Bafel Jalal Talabani, gave a speech to senior and junior PUK cadres in Sulaimani's Qalachwalan subdistrict. In his remarks, PUK President Talabani addresses many pressing issues facing the Kurdistan region, especially Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) confrontations with the PUK.

He pointed to the efforts and steps of the PUK that, despite the obstacles, has achieved great success in Iraq's political process. He was also able to keep the presidency with the Kurds and the PUK and to direct a policy that would strengthen the Kurdish position.

Regarding the PUK presence in Baghdad, President Talabani said, "we have decided to have a greater presence in Baghdad as it is the front line to defend the democratic and national struggle of our people."

PUK Chief also spoke of the importance of unity within the PUK and reform within its various organizations. The PUK has initiated a reform process within its ranks and, as the first party in Iraq, held the "PUK Forum" to adopt academic research for policy making.

On KDP's unilateral moves in the Kurdistan region in diplomatic, military and administration of the Kurdistan region, President Talabani said, "we have decided to stop this unilateralism and no longer accept the situation to continue like this because the wrong path of governance must be corrected and the government must be the government of all people, cities and towns."

He also mentioned the importance of criticism to improve PUK affairs and said, "constructive criticism is always welcome, but it shall not distance us from the PUK.

The PUK leader called on the participants to continue their struggle with a spirit of comradeship and steel courage and to cooperate to strengthen and advance the ranks of the PUK. He also instructed his comrades to turn PUK offices into homes of the people as they once were.