June
30, 2007
PARIS, France, -- The president of the
autonomous Kurdistan region in 'northern Iraq' will
arrive in France July 3 to hold talks with Foreign
and European Affairs Minister Bernard Kouchner,
official sources said Friday.
The talks are expected to focus on the regional
situation, and in particular the internal situation
in Iraq, where high levels of violence are still
prevalent despite increased security measures by
US-led Coalition and domestic Iraqi forces.
French Foreign Ministry spokesman Jean-Baptiste
Mattei reiterated his governments position on Iraq
Friday, saying France supported "the territorial
integrity" of that country.
Some Kurdish factions have been hinting about the
possibility of an independent Kurdistan, but this
position is broadly rejected by regional and
international powers.
Kurdistan already benefits from a large measure of
autonomy in managing its affairs and has the status
of "autonomous" region within Iraq. |
Massoud Barzani, the President of the autonomous Regional
Government of Kurdistan 'Iraq' |
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