Revue <strong>de</strong> Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro <strong>de</strong> la Prensa-Basln Oz<strong>et</strong>i Kurdish lea<strong>de</strong>r Talabani opposes military 20 Mar 2002 action against Iraq Iraqi Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, PUK, lea<strong>de</strong>r Jalal Talabani has said that he opposed military action against Iraq. In an interview with Turkish commercial NTV, Talabani said: "I am against a military operation. The Iraqi forces and people should bring about the change <strong>de</strong>mocratically." The following is text of a recor<strong>de</strong>d interview by Di<strong>de</strong>m Tuncay - in English with superimposed translation into Turkish, broadcast - by Turkish commercial NTV television on 20 March: [Tuncay] Our host is JaJàI Talabani, Iraqi Patriotic Union of Kurdistan lea<strong>de</strong>r. Welcome, Mr Talabani. [Talabani] Thank you. [Tuncay] Two weeks ago you were in Turkey, and you r<strong>et</strong>urned after a very short time. What is the purpose of this second visit? [Talabani] Actually, this visit was <strong>de</strong>ci<strong>de</strong>d at the beginning of previous one. It was <strong>de</strong>ci<strong>de</strong>d that I would visit Syria after my Ankara visit and r<strong>et</strong>urn to Ankara before going home. [Tuncay] You came to Ankara on the same day as US Vice-Presi<strong>de</strong>nt Dick Cheney. According to reports, you are not going to me<strong>et</strong> Cheney. Will you me<strong>et</strong> with the officials in Cheney's <strong>de</strong>legation? [Talabani] No, I have not requested a me<strong>et</strong>ing with Cheney or a me<strong>et</strong>ing with an official from his <strong>de</strong>legation. My goal in this visit is to me<strong>et</strong> with my brothers in Turkey before r<strong>et</strong>urning to my country. I have nc>plans to me<strong>et</strong> any officials from Cheney's <strong>de</strong>legation. [Tuncay] You had said, in the course of your last visit to Ankara, that there should not be any external intervention in Iraq and that this issue should be s<strong>et</strong>tled <strong>de</strong>mocratically. It seems that Washington failed to gain the support of regional countries as regards a possible operation in Iraq. What are your views on this issue? [Talabani] Actually, I am not very sure that Cheney was not exten<strong>de</strong>d support. [Tuncay] Are you saying that he was exten<strong>de</strong>d support? [Talabani] Inmyopinion, the reality is different to that reported in the media and the disseminated propaganda. I do not think that the United States is totally isolated from the Arab countries. In myopinion, the United States has very good relations with the Arab countries. There are certain doubts as to when and how the Iraqi regime will be removed, however. It is known that the United States adopted a bill to <strong>de</strong>fine the Iraqi administration. The US Congress adopted a <strong>de</strong>cision, which later became a bill during the term of Bill Clinton. However, there are no <strong>de</strong>cisions as to when and how this should be carried out. [Tuncay] In one of your statements, you said that there is a ~ibility of a change of regime in Iraq, especially before the anniversary of the 11 September attacks. [Talabani] No. This is not true, actually. One of the journalists asked me wh<strong>et</strong>her I expect a change of regime in Iraq before the anniversary of the Il September attacks. I said, yes, it is a possibility. I said that maybe it could happen. This is exactly what I said. You know we have explained our stance on a change of regime in Iraq. We want a <strong>de</strong>mocratic change of regime in Iraq. We want a change of regime with the support of the Iraqi nation. We want a change of regime to reunite Iraq, which is divi<strong>de</strong>d at present. Only a <strong>de</strong>mocratic and in<strong>de</strong>pen<strong>de</strong>nt regime can reunite Iraq. We except all the Iraqis - the Turkomans and Kurds - to contribute towards this end. A <strong>de</strong>mocratic government should be established and it should inclu<strong>de</strong> all the Iraqi people, the Shi'is, Sunnis, Kurds, Arabs and the Turkomans. [Tuncay] Do you think that the United States williaunch a strike against Iraq before 11 September? [Talabani] I am not an American policy maker. From what I hear and watch, the United States will try in one way or another to change the regime in Iraq. Not even the Americans themselves can tell when and how this operation will be launched. There are rumours. There are those who say the end of May, others say the end of summer, and still others say the end of the year. There are also those who say the operation will be launched before Il September. These are nothing but rumours. In my personal opinion, the United States has not <strong>de</strong>ci<strong>de</strong>d when and how it will change the regime in Iraq. [Tuncay] Do you support a military operation against Iraq? [Talabani] As I explained, I am against a military operation. The Iraqi forces and people should bring about the change <strong>de</strong>mocratically. [Tuncay] What if they cannot? [Talabani] We are not ready to support a foreign invasion and interference in the internal affairs of Iraq. [Tuncay] You will have a me<strong>et</strong>ing with Ugur Ziya, the un<strong>de</strong>rsecr<strong>et</strong>ary to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Which issues will you raise at the me<strong>et</strong>ing? (Talabani] I do not know exactly. I will remind him of the issues we discussed at the last me<strong>et</strong>ing. I will ask him to support and encourage the Turkish businessmen and contractors to go to northern Iraq - Kurdistan - and make contributions to the reconstruction of the region. In this way, our relations will be strengthened. Perhaps, we will discuss our relations with Syria. [Tuncay] You were in Syria before you arrived in Turkey. At your arrival, you said that you did not bring any message from Damascus to Ankara. What are the Syrian views on a possible military operation against Iraq? [Talabani] I think that the relations b<strong>et</strong>ween Turkey and Syria are so good that they do not need any mediators, especially not a mediator from Kurdistan. I think that the relations are good and improving with each passing day. Our Syrian brothers are sensitive about the interests of the Iraqi people and the "territorial integrity of Iraq. They also said that a change of regime in Iraq should be <strong>de</strong>mocratic and that unity ~,hc~lld be secured. We are a <strong>de</strong>mocratic and patriotic force in Iraq. It is our duty to protect and <strong>de</strong>fend Iraq's national unity. The Syrians, in turn, said that they are against a military operation against Baghdad. [Tuncay] Did you discuss the PKK [Workers Party of Kurdistan] issue when in Syria? [Talabani] No. [Tuncay] Do you think there can be cooperation b<strong>et</strong>ween PKK and Syria? Did you bring any message from Turkey to Syria on the PKK issue? [Talabani] No. As I said beforehand, no one asked me to carry any messages. This is an issue b<strong>et</strong>ween Syria and Turkey. Their relations are so strong that they can s<strong>et</strong>tle the issue b<strong>et</strong>ween them. There is no reason for mediation and there is no need for me to carry a message from Turkey to Syria. I think that the PKK does not have any relations with Syria at present. There is no question of a PKK presence in Syria at present. As I un<strong>de</strong>rstood, the Syrians think that there should not be any relations b<strong>et</strong>ween the PKK and Syria. [Tuncay] What is the latest situation of the PKK in northern Iraq? [Talabani] What I know, according to reports coming from the region, is that the PKK is trying to change the name of the party and adopt a name like <strong>de</strong>mocratic republic. They will eliminate the words Kurds and Kurdistan from their programmes and change their strategies and tactics. The information we receive say that they will ask for general amnesty. The PKK seeks to lay down its arms if this general amnesty is <strong>de</strong>clared. [Tuncay] How many militants are there in northern Iraq? [Talabani] I do not know the exact number, but the local people think there are some 5,000 militants. [Tuncay] What are your views on the PKK <strong>de</strong>sire to be a political power? Is this realistic? [Talabani] They have a military not a political presence in our region. Now, they are busy with other issues. They are not aggressive like before "nel they are not trying to interfere in the internal affairs of the region. We have heard that they are trying to create a new image and some of them want to work for Iran, Iraq or Syria. We do not know what they want exactly. [Tuncay] Thank you. Source: NTV television, Istanbul, in Turkish 0945 gmt 20 Mar 02 53
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