KURDISTAN NEWSLINE

PUK and KDP Leaders Consolidate Kurdistan Alliance

October 2, 2002

Dukan Oct. 2 – The leader of the Kurdistan Democratic Party Masoud Barzani, accompanied by a senior leadership delegation, paid a visit for a series of meetings with the leader of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan Jalal Talabani and senior leaders of PUK today. Mr. Barzani and the KDP delegation were given a rousing welcome by people lining the streets of Dukan. Mr. Talabani expressed his delight for the fraternal visit of Mr. Barzani and his delegation and described it as another step forward to consolidate peace, amity and implementation of the allied parties’ historic agreement to normalize conditions in Kurdistan region on every level. He added: “ Achieving unity in Kurdistan region is a major step towards reaching the goal of a future democratic, pluralistic and federal Iraq.” Mr. Barzani stressed the significance of the alliance of the two major Kurdistan parties as a platform to serve the people of the region and Iraq, and towards achieving the cherished democratic and humanitarian aims of a civil society.

Both leaders expressed their deep appreciation of the role of the joint Higher Peace Committee and the four sub-committees’ work in methodically and effectively implementing the elements of the two parties normalization plan for the region and forging the new promising partnership. They also affirmed their determination to proceed for the full implementation of their agreement, especially looking forward to the forthcoming new session of the Kurdistan National Assembly, scheduled to convene on Friday October 4 in Hawler (Arbil).

Today’s meeting comes as a culmination of the implementation of the Washington Peace Agreement, 1998, which was negotiated and agreed upon under the direct aegis of the then U.S. Secretary of State Madalene Albright in Washington (Sept. 17, 1998). The Agreement covers a number of issues such as power and revenue sharing, security arrangements and unifying the administration of the whole region. The Bush Administration has continued its active involvement in encouraging the two Kurdistan parties to fully implement the accord.

Opposition groups to the Baathist totalitarian regime in Iraq are confident that the Kurdistan alliance is a prerequisite factor in consolidating the efforts to shape the future of Iraq on a democratic basis. They site the Kurdistan successful experience of achieving responsible governance during the last decade as a practical model to be emulated in the future free Iraq.