Barzani and Talabani united against PKK
intimidates officials of illegal organization.
Speaking at Medya TV, Ocalan extends his
invitation of friendship to PUK leader Talabani
 

Feb 1, 2001
Ankara - Turkish Daily News

The fact that the two prominent Kurdish groups in northern Iraq - Patriotic Union
of Kurdistan (PUK) led by Masoud Barzani and Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP)
led by Dr. Jalal Talabani- decided to pool their resources in order to force Kurdistan
Worker's Party (PKK) out of the region caused some panic among the allegedly
high-ranking officials of PKK. Growing uneasy with fears that KDP and PUK might
launch a cleansing movement in the Spring with the support from the Turkish Armed
Forces (TSK), the PKK officials have accelerated their efforts to reach a consensus
with the Kurdish groups in northern Iraq.

Speaking on a TV program in Medya TV last Sunday night, Osman Ocalan, member
of the PKK leadership council and brother of PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan, extended
his invitation for friendship to Talabani, with whom there had been previous disputes.

In reply to questions by the TV host, Ocalan accused the United States of turning the
Kurdish groups against each other and added, "In line with the recent change in
administration, the United States should quit turning Kurds against each other and
adopt a more constructive policy."

In response to a question regarding the problems encountered with PUK forces,
Ocalan said that some positive developments were observed along with the change
in the PUK administration and continued, "I would like to address the new
administration of PUK. Despite all the painful experiences, we would like to establish
friendly relations with the new administration -- if a war policy is to be avoided and to
be replaced with new policies. This would be beneficial for both PUK and the Kurdish
public to develop and preserve national values. If war is to be insisted, then it should
not be forgotten that the Kurdish public will respond."

General Huseyin Kivrikoglu, chief of General Staff in Turkey, in reply to questions by
journalists the previous day, had stated that the PKK administration was
concerned/worried over a possible attack from KDP and PUK forces supported by
TSK in the Spring.
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The Kurdistan Observer
www.kurdistanobserver.com