As political parties in the Kurdistan Region remain divided over the formation of a new regional government, President Masoud Barzani has renewed his call for political forces to prioritize national interests.

“In light of current developments and political circumstances, all parties must place the interests of the people of Kurdistan above every other interest or objective,” President Barzani wrote in a statement on Monday.

“Guided by this principle, I call upon our brothers in the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) to sit down with the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) for dialogue, resolve outstanding issues, and bring an end to the political crisis in the Kurdistan Region,” he added.

President Barzani also expressed hope that political parties beyond the KDP and PUK would join a broad-based national government that addresses the demands and aspirations of the people of Kurdistan.

The call comes after the KDP, joined by a number of lawmakers from other political factions, reactivated the Kurdistan Parliament and elected its leadership.

The legislative body had remained inactive for nearly two years amid political disputes between the Region's major parties.