A responsible source in the Sulaymaniyah province revealed today, Saturday, that there has been a setback in the mediation efforts of U.S. President Donald Trump's envoy, Tom Barrack, aimed at bridging the views between the Kurdistan Democratic Party and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, amid ongoing political disputes between the two regarding the formation of the regional government and issues related to the parliament.
The source stated, in a statement followed by the Video News Agency, that Barrack's efforts were unsuccessful in achieving rapprochement between the two parties, noting that disputes have escalated due to differing positions on the recognition of the Kurdistan Parliament and the mechanisms for its formation.
He added that the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, led by Pavel Talabani, expressed objections to the understandings and political deals related to forming the parliament, while hinting at adopting a political stance that includes withdrawing from the regional government and not recognizing the parliament in its current form, according to the source.
He pointed out that the disagreements between the two sides also concern the distribution of political and economic gains and defining the shape of political administration in the region, which has reflected on the chances of reaching a joint agreement.
The source clarified that Tom Barrack failed to convince both parties to return to previous political understandings, amid continued divergence in positions regarding contentious issues, which places the political scene in the Kurdistan region before further complexities.