IRAQ: LEADERS OF THE PUK AND KDP PARTIES SAY THEY ARE PREPATEDV TO FACE THREATS POSED BY ANYONE TO THE KURISH PEOPLE
Record ID:
584834
IRAQ: LEADERS OF THE PUK AND KDP PARTIES SAY THEY ARE PREPATEDV TO FACE THREATS POSED BY ANYONE TO THE KURISH PEOPLE
- Title: IRAQ: LEADERS OF THE PUK AND KDP PARTIES SAY THEY ARE PREPATEDV TO FACE THREATS POSED BY ANYONE TO THE KURISH PEOPLE
- Date: 9th March 2003
- Summary: (W6) DUKAN, NORTHERN IRAQ (MARCH 9, 2003) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 1. WIDE OF DUKAN RESORT 0.07 2. WIDE OF CHECKPOINT AT ENTRANCE TO THE RESORT 0.14 3. SLV SOLDIERS AT CHECKPOINT 0.22 4. SLV SOLDIERS WITH AUTOMATIC MACHINE GUNS DRIVING IN JEEP INTO RESIDENCE 0.29 5. SMV SECURITY 0.33 6. WIDE OF CORTEGE WITH LEADERS OF PUK AND KDP DRIVING TOWARDS THE BUILDING 0.45 7. SLV PUK AND KDP LEADERS GETTING OUT OF VEHICLES/ SURROUNDED BY SECURITY 0.47 8. INTERIOR, WIDE OF NEWS CONFERENCE 0.52 9. SCU (SOUNDBITE) (English) JALAL TALIBANI (PUK LEADER) SAYING: "The two sides are agreed to be with each other in any kind of attack against any object, if PUK attacked or if KPD attacked we must join our forces to defend ourselves. KDP and PUK have the same attitude towards Turkey. We like to have very good relations with Turkey. We like to solve all problems in a friendly way. We are planning to send a delegation to them. We had continuous dialogue with them and we hope that Turkey will respect the will of the Iraqi opposition, which was explained in the final declaration that we don't prefer to have Turkish army here in Iraqi Kurdistan." 1.38 10. WIDE OF PRESS CONFERENCE 1.49 11. SMV (SOUNDBITE) (Kurdish) KDP MASOUD BARZANI SAYING: "Will a Kurdish army enter Kirkuk if and when war begins? It's time to resort to the policy of Arabisation of Kurdish people to put an end to this policy, but it doesn't mean that our military forces will enter Kirkuk. But the people who were sent out of Kirkuk (by Saddam) should return to their homes." 2.17 12. WIDE OF MEDIA 2.24 13. SCU (SOUNDBITE) TALABANI (English) SAYING: "Yes we have contact with the United States of America and we are talking to them about the future of Iraq relations between the Iraqi opposition and the United States of America and their attitude towards the. future of Iraq and we are very glad to hear that days ago President Bush recognises that the best way to arrange relations between Kurds and Arabs and Shiites are federation. It was very good news for us. We welcomed it and we are grateful to President Bush." (Question whether United States asked for any military participation from Kurds "They haven't asked us for any kind of military co-operation yet." 3.24 14. WIDE OF PRESS CONFERENCE 3.29 15. VARIOUS, TALABANI SAYS THANK YOU AND LEAVES WITH OTHERS 3.42 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 24th March 2003 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: DUKAN, NORTHERN IRAQ
- Country: Iraq
- Reuters ID: LVAF3P262KNNNUZH5M6TE8AIIHFI
- Story Text: The leaders of the two main Kurdish parties, the Union
of Kurdistan (PUK) and the Kurdish Democratic Party (KDP) have
stated that they are prepared to face jointly any threat posed
by anyone to the Kurdish people.
Leaders Masoud Barzani (KDP) and Jalal Talabani (PUK)
held a meeting in the mountainous resort of Dukan, 70
kilometres northwest of the town of Suleymaniyeh, in the
centre of the PUK controlled area on Sunday (March 9).
The meeting was devoted to discussing ways of co-operation
between the parties within the framework of a recently created
joint command between the two parties.
At the news conference, both leaders stated they had
reached a new level of co-operation in all areas and they were
prepared to face jointly any threat posed by anyone to the
Kurdish people.
The Kurdish parties hold the position that Turkish troops
should not enter Iraqi territory under any circumstances in
the event of a U.S.-led war to oust President Saddam Hussein.
Hundreds of Turkish army vehicles moved towards the Iraqi
border area on Friday, (March 7) amid increased military
activity that the armed forces have described as security
precautions.
Kurds have run three northern provinces since effectively
breaking away from Baghdad's control after the 1991 Gulf War.
But relations with Turkey have been strained. Turkey has a
large Kurdish minority and fears the northern Iraqi example
could revive separatism among its Kurds.
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