Leader of KDP Massoud Barzani is expected to visit Ankara at the end of April amid
the increasing American pressure to topple Iraqi President Saddam Hussein
 

Apr 12, 2001
Ankara- Turkish Daily News

The leader of Iraqi Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) Massoud Barzani is expected to
visit Ankara at the end of april to have high-level talks with Turkish authorities in a bid to
evaluate the latest developments in the region. Barzani's visit comes at a time when the
two warring Kurdish factions namely KDP and Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) have
started to mend the fences.

Barzani's visit is also important as the new U.S. administration has tightened its grip on
Iraq in a bid to end the Saddam regime. Bush administration has made it clear that they
would empower the Iraqi National Congress to fight more effectively against Saddam and
asked its allies to support its new policy to which Turkey has responded cautiously.
Washington has also voiced its concern over the border trade between Turkey and Iraq.
KDP controls the border trade and profits most from the trade.

While Barzani is expected to visit Ankara soon, a series of meetings have been taking
place between KDP and PUK, sources say. Stressing that restrictions for transportation
between Suleymaniye and Irbil, two cities controlled by PUK and KDP respectively, have
been lifted, sources say two sides have also agreed on allowing those who left either
Suleymaniye or Irbil because of armed clashes to return their homes. Referring to the
killing of Irbil governor recently, sources say the perpetrators were radical muslim
terrorists backed by Iran and they were returned to KDP after being caught by PUK forces.

KDP has recently reached an understanding with PUK by which people from the
PUK-controlled region would be able to go to Turkey and abroad by using KDP-controlled
border gate.

Both KDP and PUK have close relations with Ankara and badly need Ankara's backing in
the region. Ankara had occasionally told KDP and PUK that fighting against the outlawed
Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) terrorists in Northern Iraq was essential for Turkey's
support. Two parties seem to have heeded the call to get Turkey's support.
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The Kurdistan Observer
www.kurdistanobserver.com