KURDISTAN NEWSLINE

November 3, 2003

 

 

IGC President Confers with Ambassador Bremer

 

 

Baghdad Nov. 1 -- The new President of the Iraqi Governing Council Jalal Talabani met with CPA Civil Administrator for Iraq Ambassador L Paul Bremer III.

 

Bremer extended his congratulations to Talabani on this historic day, as this is the first time a Kurd has held the presidency in Iraq. 

 

The two discussed a wide array of topics ranging from the constitutional process in Iraq to improving Iraq's public outreach programs.  Both agreed that it is necessary to counter the unfair and negative press that has surrounded the Iraq issue.

 

The Patriotic Union of Kurdistan leader informed Bremer of his strategy for the month, stressing the need to combat the wave of terrorist activity in Iraq that has wrongly been labeled 'resistance'.  Talabani said "These acts are not the acts of resistance. It is an insult to the genuine and noble principle of resistance to call them such. What we have in Iraq is wanton terrorism".  Talabani was appalled that the terrorists struck the International Red Cross headquarters in Baghdad.

 

Bremer informed Talabani that the more organized and structured the new Iraqi government becomes the quicker greater sovereignty can be  transferred to them..

 

Ambassador Bremer was confident that during his tenure as President, Talabani would begin many key processes that would help in moving towards an independent and sovereign Iraq with a democratic constitution.

 

IGC President Rebuts Syrian Foreign Minister

 

Baghdad, Nov. 2 – In  an interview with the Saudi newspaper Al-Watan, the president of IGS  Jalal Talabani denounced malicious statements made by Syria’s foreign minister Farouk Al-Shara , in which he said that “the United States, Israel and the Kurds are the beneficiaries of the liberation of Iraq.” He expressed his surprise at the misleading analysis made by Mr. Shara who should be reminded that the ousting of the totalitarian and terrorist regime of Saddam is in the interest of not only of the Iraqi people but of Syria and all the people of the Middle East .

 

 

 

UK Special Representative Visits IGC President

 

 

Baghdad, Nov. 2 – Sir Jeremy Greenstock, the United Kingdom's special representative to Iraq today congratulated Jalal Talabani on assuming the presidency of the Iraq Governing Council .

 

 Sir Jeremy stressed the importance in prioritizing the tasks that are required as well as hoped for the expeditious 'Iraqization' of the security forces in the country.  "The US has announced that they intend to expedite the Iraqization of the security of the country, relying on civil defense forces to aid in this effort" he informed Talabani.

 

Talabani briefed the UK's special representative on his recent diplomatic tour of Tehran, Cairo and Sao-Paulo, stressing the importance of Egypt's positions on aiding the Iraqi Governing Council and the people of Iraq to develop the social, political and economic activities inside the country.

 

Sir Jeremy strongly condemned the terrorist actions against the interests of the Iraqi people, especially during the month of Ramadan, and offered his full support to Talabani in bringing a greater degree of stability to the small trouble spots in Iraq, as well as expressing his support to further isolate these groups from the Iraqi people.