Barzani attended a ceremony for graduates of the Military College of Qalacholan in Sulaimani, where he said the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) and the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) must carry out reforms in the Peshmerga forces without doubt or disbelief in the process.
"We must stay united to address current challenges and keep securing the rights of the people of Kurdistan Region,” Barzani said in a post to Twitter.
Peshmerga forces have been divided based on partisan affiliation, with large sections controlled by the PUK and the KDP.
The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Minister of Peshmerga Affairs, Shoresh Ismail, attended the ceremony on Saturday and said the ministry will continue efforts to reach an agreement with Iraqi forces to work together.
He insisted political disputes in the Kurdistan Region will not affect the unity of Peshmerga forces and stated the ministry is not affiliated with any political party.
Foreign advisors in the Kurdistan Region have urged the KRG to carry out reforms, while some units affiliated with the KDP and with the PUK have been transferred to the ministry, but the process has been slow.
The slow pace of reform in the Peshmerga ranks has caused concern for the US-led coalition forces, who have warned the ministry if reform is not carried out, the support and aid to Kurdish forces could end.
Reporter's code: 50101