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Massoud Barzani says Iran is "a friendly
country", we need it
31.10.2011
By ekurd.net staff writers |
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Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad shakes hands
with the president of Iraq's autonomous Kurdistan
region, Massoud Barzani, during a meeting in Tehran
on October 30, 2011. Photo: Getty
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See Related Articles
Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei (R)
meets with Iraqi Kurdistan Regional President
Massoud Barzani in Tehran October 30, 2011. Photo:
Reuters
October
31, 2011
TEHRAN,— Iraq's Kurdistan region
President Massoud Barzani described Iran as "a
friendly country", stressing the need for it,
according Iranian Mehr Newe Agency.
The agency added that leader of the Iranian
revolution Ali Khamanei received on Sunday President
Barzani.
Barzani stated that "we will not forget the
assistance of the Iranian people and government
during the hard times passed by Iraq".
"To preserve our victory, we need Iranian assistance
and guidance in this sphere", Barzani added.
Khamanei declared that "Iran will support a unified
Iraq with full stability", stressing "Iraq should be
rebuilt in order to have its rightful status".
He described the peaceful coexistence among ethnic
groups is "a precious opportunity" describing the
present situation in Iraq "relieves Iranian
republic".
He added that all Iraqi ethnic groups are " close
brothers to Iran with deep rooted relations with the
Iranian people",www.ekurd.net
stressing that "bilateral relations are good and
should be developed day by day".
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, Ali Akbar Salehi and Iraq's Ambassador to Tehran,
Mohammed Majid al-Sheikh.
During the meeting, they discussed ways to promote
and advance bilateral relations in all aspects
between the two countries.
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."
Barzani announced on Saturday that the borders of
the Iraq's Kurdistan region shall be safe according
to an agreement reached with anti-Iranian PJAK.
He added that Kurdistan does not support the idea of
any war in the area, but "we support solving the
problems between Turkey and PKK party".
"If they need our assistance, we are ready to play
this role", he confirmed.
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 Iraqi Kurdistan region, killing dozens
of PJAK members including the rebels' deputy commander.
The Iranian bombardment of Iraqi Kurdistan’s border
areas had continued for 3 months, killing and injuring many
Iraqi Kurdish civilians and causing
damage for dozens of houses and agricultural fields
in Iraqi Kurdistan region.
Human Rights Watch said on September 2, that it had
evidence that Iran may have
deliberately targeted civilians in its offenisve
against the rebels.
Kurdish local officials and an NGO in early August
reported that more than 200 Iraqi Kurdish families
had been forced from their homes by weeks of Iranian
shelling of separatist rebel bases in northern Iraq.
PJAK rebels, designated as "terrorists" by Tehran.
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.
Sources: aswataliraq.info | ekurd.net | AFP | Agencies
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