Bulletin de liaison et d'information - Institut kurde de Paris

REVUE DE PRESSE-PRESS REVIEW-BERHEVOKA ÇAPÊ-RwISTA STAMPA-DENTRO DE LA PREK'iA-~ASIN ÖZETi
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Iraq; Kurdish leader Jalal Talafbani:
'Wehave a chance
to topple Saddam'
• "We were not powerful enough
before to topple Saddam'
• 'If Ankara asks me, /'1/ do my
best to enp the bloodshed'
By Emre Gökalp
Turkish Daily News
IRBIL, IRAQI KURDISTAN- Iraqi Kurdish
leader Jalal Talabani said that the Iraqi Kurds have
a chance to.topple Saddam Hussein ~at they have
, never had before, adding, "He, is in a very weak
'position, and his credibility continues to eb~
away." In an interview with the TDN at Mekteb-I
Siyasi, the head~arters of his Patriotic Union of
Kurdistan party (PUK), in Irbil over the weekend,
Talabani voiced his belief that action against Saddam
is in the offing, pointing out that the Iraqi opposition
was working more actively and more strategically
than ever before.
"I don't think that he will be brought down tomorrow
or next week or next month, but we have
never been so powerful and 'we now have real a
chance to topple Saddam, to end his regime," said
Talabani.
Talabani stated, that although the Iraqi' Kurds
have good relations with Turkey and are working
to improve those relations, they are aware that Ankara
IS trying to improve its relations with Bagh-
, dad. , ,
"But this is natural," he said. ';Since Turkey is a
member or the international community and
NATO, it must respect the resolutions of the international
community."
Regarding the tripartite meeting between Turkey,
Iran and Syria, Talabani said he felt that this
meeting did ncitbode well for the Kurds. '
"This meeting is very threatening: it is actually
encouraeing the pan-Kurdish movement in KurdIstan,
ana challenging the sovereignty of Iraq," said
Talabani. "Kurdish, Turkish, Iranian and Arab
hard-liners are our brothers and they are supporting
each other. On the other hand,democrats and
socialists and progressive elements among the
Kurds, Turks, Iranians and Arabs are also our
brothers, but they are not supporting each other. In
these circumstances, such meetings will strengthen
the pan-Kurdish movement."
Talabani also pointed out that this meeting is
not only dangerous for Iraqi Kurdistan, but also for
Turkey, Syria and Iran. He stressed, however, that
the Iraqi Kurds will not be frightened. '
"Why don't they hold a meeting to solve the
problem in Nagorno-Karabakh? Why don't they
hold a meeting to stop the civil war in Afghamstan?
Why don't they hold a meeting to solve the
Cyp,rusproblem?" ,
Wh)' do they hold a meeting to watch and to
discuss Iraqi Kurdistan?'!
Iraqi Kurdish leader Jalal Talabani
'Second cease-firè in the offing'
Meanwhile, Talabani ..alsoexpressed hisbelief
that there would be a second cease-fire between
Turkish government forces and the outlawed Ku~.distan
Workers' Party (PK,K) by the end of thiS
year if Ankara responds positively, and pledged to
do his utmost if Ankara asked him to end bloodshed.
"I haven't lost hope for a cease-fire and
peace. I think it is possible to try again and this
time succeed. If the Turkish side asks me to try for
, another cease-fire, I will do my best to end the
bloodshed," said Talabani. ,
"However, I believe that unless both sides are
convinced that they cannot achieve their goals
through violence, there will be no peac~: You will
remember that [PKK leader Abdullah] Ocalan declared
a unilateral cease-fire but there was no positive
response from the Turkish side. Both sides are
now fighting with new tactics, but in the end, both
sides will reach the co!)clusion that fighting will
not solve the problem. Ocalan is now ready to declare
another cease-fire as soon as Turkey agrees,
and I will encourage him to keep this option
open." He accepts that at the time of the first
cease-fire Turkey was not in a position to consider
a political sol!!tion, after the sudden death of President
Turgut 0 zal, which Talabani describes as a
great loss for Kurdish, as well as Turkish, people.
He also added that he had recently contacted
Ö calan to discuss the release of the kidnapped
tourists. "He responded positively and releaseâ the
hostages."