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Qubad Talabani, KRG US representative says
federalism will enhance unity
16.11.2006 |
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November 16, 2006
Washington, DC ,-- On Monday KRG Representative to
the United States Qubad Talabani told US government
officials, academics and the press that federalism
was vital to creating unity in Iraq and should not
be viewed with fear. Mr Talabani made his comments
in a panel discussion about Iraq at the annual
Middle East Institute Conference. The panel entitled
“Exiting Iraq” also included retired US Army General
Jay Garner, Brian Katulis from the Centre for
American Progress and Ambassador David Satterfield,
the State Department’s Senior Coordinator for Iraq.
With the US midterm elections over, Talabany urged
the Bush administration and the new Congress to
resume tackling policy issues pertaining to Iraq. He
also remarked that the panel’s title suggests a
defeatist mentality: “Exiting from Iraq must come as
a result of success in Iraq, rather than from
failure”.
He warned that enormous ramifications will ensue if
the US prematurely withdraws its support to Iraq. An
exit because of failure would be a “catastrophic
mistake” and “hand Iraq to the terrorists,” he said.
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Qubad J. Talabani, representative of Kurdistan's
government to the U.S.
Photo:CSIS |
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While admitting that much work remains to be done in
Iraq and by Iraqis especially, Talabani explained
that not all is “doom and gloom.” He detailed the
Kurdistan Region’s peace and prosperity, citing that
a recent trade show in Sulaimaniyah was attended by
over 300 international companies. He expressed
disappointment that the US does not make greater
mention of the progress and encouraged the Kurdistan
Region’s political and economic development to be
expanded upon.
The Kurdistan Regional Government’s representative
urged the US administration, in coordination with
all sectors of Iraqi society, to consider the
various ideas that are on the table and adapt to the
realities on the ground. “Working on timetables will
not result in the right outcome, and will likely
lead to failure”, he said.
Mr Talabani said decision-makers should not fear the
decentralization that is taking shape in Iraq. He
said, “Federalism is not partition, but a
unification of an already partitioned society”, as
the Iraqi Parliament has already passed a law that
determines how federal regions are to be created in
Iraq and according to the country’s constitution,
Iraq is a federal country. Finally, Talabani stated
that accelerating Iraq’s economic development should
be seriously considered, as only a sound economic
development strategy will ensure long term peace and
prosperity in Iraq.
He noted that the Kurdistan Region is undergoing a
relative boom in construction and economic
development, and that its development should be
nurtured and protected.
General Garner in his remarks stressed the strategic
significance of Kurdistan and urged that, in the
event of the situation deteriorating in Iraq,
support for the Kurdistan Region be maintained.
krg org
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