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Iraq's new US ambassador and the Kurds
29.8.2010 |
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August
29, 2010
ERBIL-Hewlêr,
Kurdistan region 'Iraq', — The appointment of James
Jeffrey as US ambassador in Iraq has been met with
mixed response among the Kurds.
While some are concerned about his extensive past
experience in Turkey, some others view him as a
pragmatic person undermining the influence his
Turkey experience may have on his role in Iraqi
politics.
Jeffrey, who has been appointed by President Obama
in July, has assumed office since on 18 August 2010.
He had served as US ambassador to Turkey since 2008.
He has more than 30 years of experience working in
the Department of State. He spent most of diplomatic
career in Turkey.
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James Jeffrey, new US ambassador in Iraq. |
In a speech he presented
in Turkey in 2008, Jeffrey expressed his admiration
to Attaturk considering him a “hero”.
“Ataturk’s legacy remains undiminished. As a soldier
who confronted foreign armies, a diplomat who stood
toe-to-toe with the Great Powers, and a statesman
who molded a modern country, Attaturk is a heroic
figure whose vision for Turkey was both sweeping and
farsighted,” said Jeffrey.
He added that Turkey and the United States of
America had been “friends” since 1923, the year of
the establishment of the Turkish nation-state in the
wake of the dissolution of the Ottoman Empire.
But Ataturk’s vision of creating an exclusive ethnic
Turkish state brought the darkest history to the
Kurds in Turkey. Since 1923, Kurds have been subject
to death,www.ekurd.netimprisonment
and cultural denial.
However, even before he assumed office, Jeffrey had
expressed his support to a federal Iraq, a system of
government endorsed by the Kurds.
Last week, he paid a visit to the Kurdistan region
with Kurdistan President Massoud Barzani and Prime
Minister Barham Salih
KRG representative in Washington, Qubad Talabani,
says that he knows Jeffrey as a friendly politician
with the Kurds.
“Jeffrey is an educated man and has a good
background of Iraq. He knows very well that the
Kurds have so much leverage in Iraq,” said Talabani,
adding that Jeffrey represent US government not
himself.
“I was delighted today to meet President Talabani
and to present my diplomatic credentials,” Jeffrey
said on August 18 as he met Iraqi President who is a
Kurd for the first time since he assumed office.
He also presented another diplomatic credential to
Hoshyar Zebari, Iraq’s Foreign Minister, who is also
a Kurd.
“It is a great honor for me to return to Iraq. I
look forward to renewing old friendships,
strengthening our ties with Iraqi leaders, and
deepening our civilian engagement for the long term
throughout this historic land.”
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