U.S. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken told reporters on April 5 that the United States wants to see the Kurdistan Region’s parliamentary elections go forward on June 10 and have all parties participate.

“We want to see everyone participate in those elections and to make sure that people feel that they are well represented,” he said.

In a statement released on March 18, the Political Bureau of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) announced that it would boycott the elections. 

The KDP decision came after rulings by the Federal Supreme Court of Iraq that have undermined the institutions of the Kurdistan Region, including a ruling on February 21 that eliminated quota seats for religious components.

“It’s also vitally important that the relationship between Baghdad and Erbil move forward in a positive and productive way for all the people of Iraq, including the Kurdish region,” Blinken said.

“We’re very focused on that in our conversations with the government in Baghdad as well as with officials in the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG). And again, elections are an important part of that,” he concluded.

Blinken’s comments come ahead of Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ Al Sudani’s visit to the United States, which is set to take place on April 15. 

During an official visit to Washington in February, KRG Prime Minister Masrour Barzani also met with Blinken.

“The United States has a long partnership with the KRG that is cemented first and foremost in shared values and shared interests,” Blinken said on February 26, before meeting with Prime Minister Barzani.

“We are great friends and partners, and we are very proud to say that we are American allies,” Prime Minister Barzani underscored. 

Read More: UN Envoy Acknowledges KDP’s Commitment to Timely Elections in Kurdistan

On April 2, United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) Head Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert also held a meeting with Prime Minister Barzani in which he underlined that the KRG fully supports free, fair, and credible elections unhindered by constitutional violations and interference.

During the meeting, Prime Minister Barzani invited international electoral observers to ensure a fair, credible, and transparent process.

He added that there is a need to respect the Kurdistan Region’s federal status “as well as the ethnic, religious, and national groups in it.”