Baghdad, The President of the Republic, Abdul Latif Jamal Rashid, stressed today, Sunday, the necessity of continuing consultations and meetings between the federal government and the regional government. A presidential statement stated that the President of the Republic received, today, Sunday, at al-Salam Palace in Baghdad, the President of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, Bafel Talabani, and during the meeting, the overall political, security and economic situation in Iraq in general and the Kurdistan Region in particular was discussed. The President of the Republic stressed the necessity of continuing consultations and meetings between the federal government and the regional government and adopting dialogue to resolve the remaining outstanding issues in the interest of all Iraqis. Rashid appreciated the efforts that contributed to reaching an appropriate solution to the issue of allocating salaries to employees of the Kurdistan region, and reaching understandings about the export of oil from the Kurdi stan region and its positive impact on the political, economic and social stability in the country. The President of the Republic pointed out the need to strengthen relations and consolidate cooperation between the institutions of the federal government and the Kurdistan Regional Government to implement the government program in order to provide services to citizens. The President of the Republic stressed the importance of holding elections in the Kurdistan region with the participation of all political parties in the region to ensure their transparency and their embodiment of the aspirations of the Kurds in choosing their representatives. In turn, Talabani pointed out the need to give priority to the interests of Iraqi citizens over partisan interests, indicating that the PUK continues its efforts to resolve the remaining files and issues outstanding between the federal government and the regional government and to guarantee the rights of the Kurdish people in accordance with the constitution and what is stipulated in the relevant laws. He stressed that the PUK supports holding the region's elections and is keen on the participation of all Kurdish political forces and ensuring their right to electoral practice." Source: National Iraqi News Agency