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Iraqi Kurdistan's Barzani, Iran declare
border PJAK rebel issue “over”
29.10.2011 |
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Massoud Barzani Arrives in Iran
October 29, 2011
TEHRAN,— Iran's Foreign Minister and the
president of the autonomous Kurdistan region in Iraq
declared on Saturday the issue of a Kurdish PJAK
rebel group which has been launching attacks against
the Islamic republic from its rear bases in Iraq was
"over."
In July, Tehran launched a string of operations
against the Iranian rebel Party of Free Life of
Kurdistan (PJAK) and began shelling districts near
the border with Iraq, killing dozens including the
rebels' deputy commander.
PJAK rebels, designated as "terrorists" by Tehran, |
Iran's Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi (R) and the
president of the autonomous Kurdistan region in Iraq
at press conference in Tehran. October 29, 2011. |
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have often clashed with Iranian forces,
sparking retaliatory bombing of their rear bases in
the mountainous border districts of Iraqi Kurdistan.
"With the good management of Mr. Barzani, we were
able to handle the issue of the PJAK terrorist group
and currently our borders with the Kurdistan region
of Iraq is secure," Iranian Foreign Minister Ali
Akbar Salehi was quoted as saying by Iran's
state-run television website.
"Mr. Barzani vowed to have the best borders from now
on so people can travel easily and not be subject to
any insecurity.... We consider this issue to be
over," Salehi added.
The state broadcaster's website also quoted Barzani
as saying: "The issue of PJAK terrorist group is
over and we hope to witness complete security in our
borders."
Iran has in the past accused Barzani's autonomous
Kurdistan region of providing the PJAK with a safe
haven along the border.
The President of Kurdistan Region, Massoud Barzani,
has arrived in Tehran on Saturday at Mehrabad
International Airport in Iranian Capital Tehran, on
an official visit and was received in the airport by
the Iranian Minister of Foreign Affairs,www.ekurd.net
Ali Akbar Salehi and Iraq's Ambassador to Tehran,
Mohammed Majid al-Sheikh.
KRG health “Dr. Tahir Hawrami “, energy ministers
“Mr.Yasin Abu Baker”, Dr. Fuad Hussein, Head of
Kurdistan Presidency ,several political officials as
well as governor of Erbil “Nawzad Hadi” and
Sulaimaniyah provinces governor “Divan , Behrouz
Mohammed Salih “are accompanying President Barzani
during the trip.
During the meeting, they discussed ways to promote
and advance bilateral relations in all aspects
between the two countries.
In September, the Islamic republic's elite
Revolutionary Guards said they had forced the armed
rebels out of northwestern Iran and killed more than
180 Kurdish rebels in a summer offensive.
A week ago, Salehi said after talks with his Turkish
counterpart Ahmet Davutoglu that the Kurdish rebel
group PKK active in Turkey and the PJAK "are the
common problem of our countries."
Speaking at a televised joint press conference with
Davutoglu, he urged "more serious cooperation"
against the rebels.
Davutoglu said: "Our joint determination to fight
against PKK and PJAK will go on in its strongest
terms. From now on we will work together with a
joint action plan until this threat of terror is
eliminated totally."
Since
2004 the PJAK took up arms for self-rule in Kurdistan province northwestern of
Iran (Iranian Kurdistan, Eastern Kurdistan). Half the members of PJAK
are women. The PJAK has over 5,000 armed
militiamen.
The group takes sanctuary in the northern border mountains
of Iraqi Kurdistan Region, mainly in Qandil
Mountain. This area is populated by civilian nomadic
Kurdish families.
Iraq, Iran, Syria and Turkey all have significant
ethnic Kurdish minorities. Estimate to over 12
million Kurds live in Iran.
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