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Q&A with Iraqi President Jalal Talabani
20.1.2007
Editing by Samia Nakhoul, DAMASCUS, January 18
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Iraqi leader Jalal
Talabani told Reuters on Thursday that Iraq will ask
Syria to hand over senior Saddam Hussein aides
suspected of stealing millions of dollars and
helping the anti-U.S. insurgency. Following are
excerpts from Reuters' interview with Talabani, who
is on a visit to Damascus, the first by an Iraqi
president to Syria in decades.
Q: Could your visit lead to a change in
Syria's position toward Iraq?
Talabani: I
expect Syria to affirm its declared positions toward
Iraq. Syria has previously said it supports the
political process and democratic march and it stands
against terrorism and killing innocent citizens. It
wants security and stability for Iraq. This public
position represents a moral contribution toward
strengthening security in Iraq.
We expect that Syria will take all measures to stop
terrorists from crossing and put a stop to their
activity inside its territory. There is already an
agreement to share intelligence, which will help
improve the security situation in Iraq. President
Bashar al-Assad is very responsive to our requests
and supports our goal for peace and stability.
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Iraqi
President : Jalal Talabani, a Kurd |
Q: Have you asked Syria to hand over former
Baathists?
Talabani: The
Iraqi officials concerned will ask Syria to hand
over all those wanted by the Iraqi judiciary,
including those suspected of committing
non-political crimes, such as theft and corruption.
I didn't personally ask for any suspects to be
handed over but there is an extradition agreement
between Iraq and Syria.
Q: Have you met figures in Syria linked to
the insurgency in Iraq?
Talabani: I
haven't, although I am willing to do so. I am not
sure how many are in Syria. It had been said that
Izzat al-Douri was in Syria but he is in Yemen. The
government has not yet discussed requesting from
Yemen to hand him over. We have had this information
for a while. We have been tracing his movement.
Q: What is your view on the future of Iraq's
oil sector?
Talabani: The
oil in Iraqi Kurdistan exceeds that produced in
Kirkuk, which is starting to run out. The issue of
this city must be resolved according to the
constitution. It should be turned into a city of
tolerance between the Arabs, Turkmen, Kurds and
Assyrians. Oil revenue has always gone to the
central government and should remain a part of the
general budget of the Iraqi state and not belong to
a certain province or administration. Management of
the fields would be an issue to be concluded between
the central government and the provincial government
so the inhabitants of the province are treated
fairly. We should not repeat the example of Kirkuk
where the Northern Oil Company hired 15,000 workers,
who included only 450 Kurds. Approval by the central
government is crucial to pass any oil deal. A
provincial government can negotiate with foreign
companies, but the centre has to approve the deal.
Reuters
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