The two ruling parties in Iraqi Kurdistan region, the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) and the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), have agreed on holding an independence referendum, the Iraqi media reported.
The spokesperson for the KDP, Mahmud Mohamad, said following the meeting that both parties agreed to hold the referendum this year. The joint PUK-KDP committee will start visiting other Kurdish parties as early as Monday, the KDP spokesperson added.
Mohamad also said that the Kurdish parties will open negotiations with Baghdad and neighboring countries on the issue of independence, Rudaw reported.
