KURDISTAN NEWSLINE

August 20, 2002

KDP’s Zebari Denies New York Times Story

Washington, D.C. – The head of the Kurdistan Democratic Party’s International Bureau Hoshyar Zebari refuted the claims made by the New York Times reporter Patrick E Tyler (Anti-Baghdad Talks Shunned by Top Kurd, The New York Times, August 15, 2002) that Mr. Masoud Barzani deliberately absented himself from the officials talks of the Iraqi opposition with the United States Government. In an interview with the Voice of America Kurdish Service, August 16, Mr. Zebari confirmed that the reasons for Mr. Barzani’s absence were “purely logistical and technical” and that the President of KDP has fully authorized Mr. Zebari to represent him and the party during the Washington talks. He also confirmed that Mr. Barzani and KDP fully endorse the agenda of the meetings and are satisfied with their outcome.